The Fishing Line

At South Jersey Marina, 180 boats joined the Shark Tournament, June 13-14. The contest had a 200-pound minimum on all sharks. As a result, 287 releases were reported and surely there were more than that.
The big prize winners were: Post Game, Capt. Steve Fanelli, 582-pound thresher; One More Cast, Capt. Len Andalis, 347-pound thresher; Tashtego, Capt. Rick Popovitch, 308 pound hammerhead. No Mako or blue sharks weighed in. Pictures at sjmarina.com.
The Hooked Up II fished the SJM Tournament and caught five makos, two blue sharks and one brown shark.
Captain John Sowerby says tuna have shown up in the canyons earlier than last year. He is ready to do tuna fishing soon and is looking for small parties or regular charters to join him. He’s offering early season reduced rates, 609-425-1970 or cavemansportfishing@comcast.net.
Friday the 13th was a lucky day to be out fishing. Captain Joe Pritchard, Big Game, identified a warm body of water near Spencer Canyon. He reported the release of the first white marlin of the year. He also had a bluefin tuna, a yellowfin tuna and several dolphin in the box. The heaviest dolphin weighed 22 pounds.
That’s a positive signal for the season. The charter boats at South Jersey Marina are all equipped and ready to go. Call 609-884-3800.
Speaking of Friday the 13th, it turned out to be a lucky day for five members of the Procopio family from Clinton as well. Using live minnows on an afternoon trip in Broad Thorofare on the Duke O’ Fluke, Somers Point, they took home five of the nine keeper fluke that came over the rails that day. “They just kept catching fish,” said Captain Brook Koeneke. “I’ve never seen a family take five out of nine keepers.”
Earlier in the week, Ben Fisher, 8, Meyerstown, Pa., landed a 19.75-inch flattie, and Matt Lamelza, Ocean City, caught an 18.25-inch fluke.
On Father’s Day, the pool winner was Kathleen McNamara, Ocean City, with a 3.25-pounder from the north side of Rainbow Channel during an outgoing tide.
That same spot produced two big fluke on another day, too. The biggest—a 26.5-inch, 7.5-pounder—was caught by 9-year-old Gavin Dewert, Westfield, Pa. The youngster refused any assistance in reeling in the nice flattie, according to relief Captain Bob Edney.
But, alas, Gavin wasn’t in the pool. That prize went to Lee Kostic, of Philadelphia, with a 25-inch, 6.11-pound flounder a short time after Gavin caught his fish. Larry Friedel, who owns the Seventh Street Surf Shop in Ocean City, took home a 21-inch flounder.
The Duke O’ Fluke is using cut mackerel and squid for bait.
Warm weather provided hot fishing action for Captain Ray’s charters this week on the Tide Runner, Cape May. He reports keeper size weakfish took yellow/white jiggy flies and Berkley power baits on jig heads along the beach front and jetties.
The best action on bluefish was in the back-bay where flats drained off into deeper water. Smack-it-jr. Topwater plugs and popping flies provided exciting surface action.
The striper action was a little slower but he managed a few on almost every trip with one nice keeper that was caught on a black clouser fly after dark. The key to catching has been low light time periods or after dark.
Bill (Bucktail Willie) Shillingford fishing out of Whale Creek Marina, was catching short stripers early in morning on poppers. Fluke fishing slowed a little but the size increased with a total of eight legal size fluke this week.
Sterling Harbor reports excellent flounder fishing in the back-bays, with the best bite being on Berkley Gulp 4 inch white swimming mullet fished on a bucktail or leadhead.
Mako sharks being caught but they’re on the small side. Chaz on the Reel Classic out of Wildwood boated a 180-pound Mako.
There has been great surf fishing along North Wildwood beaches with reports of some keeper stripers. Andrew Applebaum, Cherry Hill, had a 33-inch striper off the beach.
Crabby Jack gives the crabbing four claws this week.
Recent entries in the Cape May County 2008 Fishing Tournament: Ryan Tozour, 13, Woodbine, Crappie (Calico Bass), 2 pounds, Dennisville Lakeside and Reed Keller, 15, Villas, black drumfish, 60 pounds, Hand’s Too Bait & Tackle, Delaware Bay, on the Boat: Mrs. Sandy with Capt. Bob Gettner.
Important News:
As of June 17, a clamming license is now called a Shellfish License, and is required for harvesting all species of benthic mollusks with the exception of conchs, which are covered by commercial regulations, and a new non-resident Commercial Shellfish License was established.
The new statute means that anyone who wishes to harvest hard clams, soft clams, surf clams, oysters, bay scallops or mussels, needs to obtain a Shellfish License.
Since these changes are implemented in the middle of the calendar year, the existing 2008 Clamming License will have all the rights associated with the new Shellfish License. Visit njfishandwildlife.com/marinelicenses.htm