Well, the second weekend of flounder season wasn’t too much different than the first. Some nice catches, a good amount of shorts, and a large dose of windy weather. As is typical this time of year, the action is basically focused in the back bay areas. Let’s get to the reports.
Captain Paul checks in from the Sailor’s Delight. This is the new back bay boat out of Mocean Marina at the base of the George Redding Bridge going into Wildwood. They kicked off their season May 29, with their first charter getting fluke up to 22 inches, with a few snapper blues thrown in. A stiff northeast wind provided a good drift, but it resulted in a slow pick.
In the same complex is the Royal Flush. Recent trips saw some nice tog that had to be released, sea bass, and small flounder. Notable catches came from John Maloney of Philadelphia with a 1.75-pound sea bass, Sharon Wright of Media, Pa. with a two-pound sea bass, and Marty Stone from Blackwood with a 1.5-pound sea bass.
Captain Fred from Utsch’s reports that drum fish are still biting. Captain Bob Cope on the Full Ahead had six Friday, and 13 Monday. Captain Bill on the Bay Hunter returned from a recent outing with two drum, and another boat came in with five. He also mentioned that on Saturday morning most of the charter boats from the marina went out for sea bass.
Jennifer from Cape Queen Sportfishing checks in with results from the charters of May 30. The morning charter had some nice sea bass for Lauryn Bell and her dad Pat. In the afternoon, Nick Mizia’s group from Philadelphia went out for drum. Nick’s dad, Ray, brought in the only drum. Jennifer reports drum have good numbers one day, then hardly any the next.
Cathy at Sterling Harbor reports “challenging” conditions due to the wind. Flounder are in the back, and drum fish are in the 20 foot and 60 foot sloughs. Luke Dombrowski caught a 75.5-pound drum on clam. Weakfish, near the jetties, are hitting pink zooms and finesse fish. Sea bass are being caught near the offshore wreaks. Kingfish have been caught in the surf from North Wildwood to Avalon on bloodworms. Some striped bass are around the ferry jetty and Higbees beach. Sharks and Yellowfin tuna are in the canyons. Tim McGregor and Jerry Southern got a 153-pound mako. Crabby Jack gives crabbing two claws this week.
Greg Bulifant reports that Joe Gillen, fishing aboard the Y-Knot out of Wildwood, caught a nice 32-pound golden tile May 30. The fish was weighed in at Sterling Harbor Marina.
Matt from Jim’s echo’s what others are saying. The wind just won’t give up, and there are drum still near North Cape May and the Villas. He did add that some captains are going west into deeper water to get their drum fish. They are going to Tussy’s Slough, The Banana Peel, Brandywine Slough, and the Pin Top.
Congratulations to Norman Ren of Court House who caught his first drum. It went 63.8 pounds, and was caught off North Cape May. Matt says flounder are still in the back bays, and should be for a few more weeks, but a few have been caught at Reef Site 11, and the Old Grounds.
Cod, ling, and sea bass are on the wrecks from 20 to 30 miles out. Jim’s weighed in a 103-pound mako for retired Sgt. First Class Terry Dunlap of Baltimore, Md. Terry was fishing in the Wounded Warriors Project Tournament. Good job, and thanks for your service. Thresher and blue sharks are starting to show up along the 20 line.
The surf was good for some this week. Not many, but large. Stephan Kabensky of Philadelphia caught a 44.1-pound bass Saturday at Poverty Beach. Other fish weighed in went over 30 pounds, and were caught all around the cape area. Some blues are also mixed in with these fish.
The Sea Star III continues their trips for fluke or sea bass. Pool winners this week are: Ron Carroll, 2.5-pound fluke; Austin Stover, 3.25-pound fluke; Joe Beltrante, 4.5-pound fluke; Karl Klingensmith, 62-pound drum; and Ryan Eppler, 51-pound drum.
Phil Mansfield caught a 52-pound drum in the Delaware Bay May 19 with his friends Shawn Bulifant and Jim Sullivan.
Brian Dugan from Ocean City caught a 180-pound mako on the ElCid III with Captain Steve Spagnuola and Sam Delente.
Captain Ray had more wind-cancelled trips. He did manage some small stripers, bluefish, fluke, sea herring, and a few weakfish.
A few gift suggestions for Father’s Day: a pair of polarized sunglasses with the magnifiers for tying knots or reading; sun-protective clothing, hats, or balaclavas; a water-proof phone case; for beach or rock pile outings, a backpack designed with a built in rod-rack, and sections for tackle; a t-shirt from a favorite tackle shop; a rental boat trip; a pair of braid-cutting pliers; a gift certificate so dad can get something that we may not have mentioned.
Submit your fishing news and photos to Mark Robbins at mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
Lower Township – To all the folks who have been conserving water: Thank you! To those who have not: Please pitch in!
