The Fishing Line

If you can find the time, fall fishing always proves to be exciting. Sure, the weather gets iffy, but that adds to the challenge. Check out the list of October tournaments. This season offers some of the finest fishing in Cape May County. Be a part of it.
Ron Flemming from Cape May Bait and Tackle reports snapper blues, 8 inches-10 inches have invaded the beachfront and jetties around Cape May Point. Lots of small plastic baits getting bitten in half. Cut mullet and mackerel on small hooks are picking most of them up. Croakers are still going strong there as well.
Frank Miller won last week’s prize for the biggest fish with a croaker weighing in at 3-pounds 18 ¾ inches. This is the biggest croaker so far. Brian Steinberg Jr. caught his very first fish, weighing in a weakfish at 1 ½ pound, 18 ½ inches.
Captain Koeneke, Duke o Fluke, Somers Point, voiced concern about what will happen to operations like his at the conclusion of a shortened summer flounder season. “No one knows whether people will show up,” he said. “We just don’t know what will happen, even though there are other fish to catch.” His pontoon is sailing on morning trips only, Friday through Monday.
Recent pool winners included John McBurnie Sr. of Trevose, Pa., who picked up a 13-inch croaker on the Duke.
Grassy Sound Marina reports the back-bay loaded with sea bass and a smorgasbord of croakers, weakies, kings, sheepshead, and stripers. Herring and mullet are being caught.
Captain John Sowerby, Hooked Up II, South Jersey Marina, tells me that there still is a decent bluefin bite jigging, chunking and trolling especially on weekdays with the lighter boat traffic. Many of the tuna are over 125-pounds.
Right now there are plenty of wahoo, nice size mahi, smaller yellowfins mixed right in with the bigger bluefins so it is possible to put together a pretty decent day troll trip before the night canyon bite turns on.
For the chunkers and jiggers the Lobster Claw is still holding some very good size bluefins in the 56-65 inch range with a few over 70 inches and 200-pounds.
Captain John has some nice trips planned so call him and see what you can schedule, boat cell 425-1970, home 861-2388 or cavemansportfishing.com.
News and Calendar:
Ocean City Fishing Tournament, Saturday, Sept. 20, registration 5:30 a.m.-6:30 a.m., Ocean City Intermediate School, 18th Street and Bay Avenue., up to six anglers $50; individuals $10. Fish 6:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Locations chosen by a drawing at registration, Bill Daley at 398-5625.
Oct. 4, Pennsauken Surf Fishing Club Tournament, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m., register Firehouse, Second and New Jersey avenues, North Wildwood, 6 a.m. Teams and individuals welcome, fee for participants, 856-786-0070 or asaconline.org.
Oct. 11, Great Fall Classic Surf Fishing Tournament, beach at 15th Avenue, North Wildwood, 5:30 a.m.- 5 p.m., daily, fee for participants, 758-1213 or njbba.org.
The 17th annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament, Sunday, Oct. 5, Island Beach State Park. Overall largest fish wins the “Governor’s Trophy,” length of the fish determines the winner, not weight. Register at the tournament. For more information visit njfishandwildlife.com/gsft.htm.
Oct. 18, WSFC Tournament, Sea Isle City, teams and individuals, 264-7754 or fshrwmn2505@netzero.net
Oct. 19, Fishing Flea Market, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Cape May City Elementary School, 884-9565.
Oct. 25, Anglesea Surf Anglers Tournament, Wildwoods Beaches, register, Firehouse, Second and New Jersey avenues, North Wildwood, 6:30 a.m.-7:30 a.m., fishing 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., fee for participants, 856.786.0070 or asaconline.org.
The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife Heritage Festival, Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center, Oxford, Saturday Sept. 27 and Sunday Sept. 28, free, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days, rain or shine.
Wildlife artists, taxidermists, kiddie fishing tank, exhibits by conservation organizations. Kids, ages 8 to 16 will learn how to fish and have the opportunity to cast a line in the Fishing Education Pond.
Get a head start on your Hunter Education Course with the walk through field session part of the course at the festival. Those who pass will not have to repeat this part of the course when they take their final test.
Beginner archery and shotgun ranges available each day with a free 3-D archery range, bring your own equipment.
Wolf Visions, Rizzo’s Reptile Show, Know The Bear Facts, Sportsman’s Flea Market, and food will be available.
Scheduled hearings to gather comment on the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for spiny dogfish, Oct. 7, 7 p.m., Marine Enforcement Office, Route 9, Mile Post 51, Port Republic. Contact Tom McCloy, 292-7794.
Fishers and others interested can provide input either by attending the hearing or providing written comments. Copies can be obtained by contacting the Commission at 202-289-6400 or asmfc.org under Breaking News until 5 p.m. on Oct. 16.
Check out SeeMyBigFish.com and be sure to send your fish stories and pictures to Be My Guest reporter. Send info to cmiller@cmcherald.com.