The hot temperatures and unpredictable thunder storms are really challenging the fishing. But, as always, in Cape May County there are plenty of fish stories to keep us interested.
Captain Frank W. Breakell, Brynnie-B Inshore Fishing, had Roy Green from Ashland, Pa., son Jake, friends June Bug and Emma on board for a back bay trip. They drifted and anchored on a few spots using herring, mackerel, squid, and clams for bait. Jake landed 2 short flounder and a sea bass, June Bug managed a short flounder, small doggie, and a few sea bass, while Emma was the Sea Bass Queen. They also landed several Mother-in-Laws (Oyster Crackers). Captain says, “Kids had a good time and were a pleasure to have onboard.”
On another trip, Captain Frank took Pat Murphy, Dublin, Ohio, and friend Bill out for a trip to some wrecks just offshore, a few lumps, and then some spots in the ICW behind Stone Harbor, Avalon, and N. Wildwood. They had a ton of hits, but only a few hook ups. They had a large shark swimming up to the boat while on a lump and a huge school of herring hung around for awhile. Several schools of bunker came through and they did manage to land some small blues, herring, and sea bass.
Out at Cape May Reef with Andy Majka of Lake Forrest, Ill, they boated 5 keeper flounder, 8 sea bass, 2 keepers, a trigger, a Porgy, a few doggies and a skate. Captain ran into some herring and bunker, which made for great fresh bait.
Bill (bucktail willie) Shillingford fishing out of Whale Creek Marina in Strathmere had a good week on striped bass catching 3-6 bass every morning on incoming tide. One evening tide produced 5 bass on top of the tide at dusk. Bass ranged from 22-33 inches. Willie notes, “This was a pleasant surprise given how warm the water is.” All but one 33 incher were returned with an ALS yellow tag. Fish were caught on live spots and surface poppers. Fluke fishing has slowed but still a few legal size fish to be found.
The folks at Frank’s Boats agree. Keeper flounder were a little tougher to find but a few were brought in. The slightly cooler water from Flat Creek to the bridge has produced flounder action. A medium to light rod, 6 feet or under works best and will give you the right feel when the bite comes. Frank’s wife, Candy managed to out fish him and pulled in two nice 18.5 inches flounder.
The highlight has been the crabbing. There are plenty of crabs out there and as they shed and get larger so does the number of keepers.
Grassy Sound Marina reports crabs are plentiful in the back bay and off the Pier. Sea bass, weakies, bluefish and croakers are also being caught. Some flounder although it was a slower week there, too. They are catching stripers at the very top of the tide along the sod banks on poppers.
Erin Meng, Secane, Pa. caught 3 flounder with one at 21 inches fishing during incoming tide with minnows in Great Flat Thorofare. Jude Piskorick, Hazleton, Pa. caught a 20 inch flounder and some sea bass fishing the outgoing tide with mullet near the Stone Harbor toll bridge.
Brian Tierney, Court House, and Steve Nowelski, Philadelphia, each had a keeper flounder at the top of the tide on minnows and squid off the pier. Joe McAllister, West Chester, Pa. caught some sea bass and an 18 inch weakfish in Turtle Creek. He was fishing the outgoing tide with pearl white Gulp.
NEWS: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council released a final report summarizing the ideas, concerns, and recommendations for the Visioning and Strategic Planning Project. Common themes included: a lack of confidence in the data that drive fishery management decisions; Stakeholders not as involved in the Council process as they can and should be; Different jurisdictions and regulations among the many fishery management organizations result in complexity and inconsistency; need for increased transparency and clearer communications in fisheries management; ecosystem and food web should be considered to a greater extent in fisheries management decisions; Stakeholders not adequately represented on the Council; Pollution is negatively affecting the health of fish stocks. Visit www.savingseafood.org for the latest industry news.
CALENDAR: The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Aug. 13-16, Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown, 21 N. Juniper St., Philadelphia, 215-496-3200. For online access to the meeting, register at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/836113225.
Send your fishing reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. There are terrific pictures coming in but not room in print for all of them. All pictures submitted are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com.
Cape May County – Inept, clueless, inadequate don't even scratch the surface of "NOLA's" police chief, mayor and governor, I cringe at the thought of two more major events happening soon, did you…
