The Fishing Line

What a month August has been for fishing and the pictures prove it. Call one of the local captains or marinas and make plans to be a part of the action before it’s too late.
Ron Flemming down at Cape May Bait and Tackle says that with warmer water temps, fishing continues to improve. Solid evidence of warmer water is this week’s prize-winner Vince Sickaro, with a 7 ¾ pound, 22 inch sheepshead caught at Cape May Point jetty with crab as bait. Kingfish action is good with some close to 2-pound, caught using bloodworms around the Point jetties and Sunset Beach. He has also seen mixed catches of weakfish, fluke and croakers. Two striped bass were caught, both over 33 inches, at dusk, on a 5 inch jointed Long A Bomber. Bluefish were scattered, with some between 1 to 2 pounds.
Sterling Harbor reports similar results with water along the beachfront finally warming up to normal. Fluke, weakfish, kingfish, croakers and snapper blues are being caught along the beachfront from Cold Spring Inlet to the Cape May Canal entrance. Squid and minnows is the bait of choice. Fluke were being caught at the Old Grounds and Reef Site 11.
Offshore the bluefin tuna bite is not as red hot as it was a few weeks ago. The canyons are producing blue and white marlin, yellowfin and Mahi-mahi.
Crabby Jack gives the crabbing three claws.
Captain Ray, Tide Runner Cape May had some of the best striper and bluefish action in the back bay with a one four-hour trip producing 21 stripers and six bluefish on plugs and flies. He had good weakfish action along the beachfront with the biggest being 22 1/2 inches.
Captain Brook Koeneke, Duke O’ Fluke, Somers Point is spending most of his pontoon’s fishing time in Great Egg Harbor Inlet for summer flounder. Pool winner Laurie Hamlet, a first-grade teacher from the Southampton, Pa., reeled in an 18-inch fluke and the day before Rob Martin, also of Southampton, won the prize with another 18-incher.
Other pool winners were 8-year-old Sarah Gudas, Philadelphia, who nailed a 2.4-pound flounder with only two minutes to go before lines up; and Karen Heichel, Ocean City and Smoketown, Pa., with a 2.10-pounder.
The Mid-Atlantic marlin and tuna tournament is taking place this week in Cape May. We’re waiting for the results.
Calendar Item: Sept. 5-7, 39th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament, Third Avenue to Hereford Inlet, register at Third and JFK Avenues, North Wildwood, adult and youth divisions, 522-2955 or www.northwildwood.com.
All photos submitted will be posted to SeeMyBigFish.com. Be sure to send your fish stories and pictures to Be My Guest reporter to cmiller@cmcherald.com.