The Fishing Line

Croakers, weakfish, stripers, and some tuna, too, are all reported in local waters. With the crowds gone, pack a sweater (slicker, too) and go fish.
Ron Flemming, Cape May Bait & Tackle says that the tropical storm last week could have been a real bummer for fishing, but thankfully the fish hung around. Weakfish between 16 to 20 inches were caught along the beaches and jetties at Cape May Point. Gulps, Fin-S, and bloodworms were taking weakies. Local, Dan the Man, took this week’s prize with a 22-inch, 2-pound weakfish.
Croakers and small bluefish were everywhere stealing bait from the Point Lighthouse to Higbee Beach. One quick blitz of 5 to 6-pound blues showed up, short lived but nice for the guys that got on them.
More short stripers seem to be around as well, with rumors of some keepers mixed in.
“Enough action to keep people occupied, but not much fish to take home,” was the observation of Captain Brook Koeneke of the Duke O’ Fluke after a trip near GE Inlet. The pool-winning fish was a 1.25-pound kingfish that took a strip of cut sand shark. Another angler had a 13-inch bluefish.
The pontoon boat based in Somers Point is now sailing for morning trips only on Saturday and Sunday.
Croakers, weakfish, kingfish, sea bass, blues, flounder, stripers were all reported at Grassy Sound Marina. Stripers were reported off the beach in Stone Harbor and bluefish were more active in the inlets.
The Tait Crew from Blackwood, had an excellent day fishing off the beach of Wildwood Crest. They caught over 90 fish.
Sterling Harbor also reports croakers along the Wildwood and Cape May beachfront. Small bluefish are also along the beachfront and in the surf and a few sea bass are out at the reef.
Offshore, the tuna bite is slow but the white marlin bite is red hot in the Baltimore and Wilmington Canyons, along with scattered dolphin, and an occasional wahoo.
Crabby Jack gives the crabbing two claws this week.
Captains John and Diane Sowerby (Hooked Up II, South Jersey Marina) are hoping the yellowfin and swordfish bites turn on soon as they plan to fish offshore well into November as long as tuna are there and the weather, always a question mark late in the fall, allows them to get out.
They also expect to see some true Albacore tuna show up as the waters cool down. They’ll be looking for yellowfin and albacore on overnight trips. The Hooked Up II is ready if the weather and fish cooperate.
Contact 425-1970 or cavemansportfishing.com for updated reports, pictures and charter rates.
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.
2008 fall trout stocking program has been posted on the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife website. Stocking is to begin Oct. 7. All fall-stocked waters may be fished as soon as they are stocked. njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo_fall.htm or Trout Hotline at 633-6765.
Check out SeeMyBigFish.com for all the photos submitted and be sure to send your fish stories and pictures to Be My Guest reporter. Send info to cmiller@cmcherald.com.