The Fishing Line: Catch them if you can

Catch them if you can. It’s flounder, blues, triggers, and croakers in the mix. Bluefin and Mahi-Mahi are offshore. It’s a tricky time of year when many species are on the move in our local waters.
Grassy Sound Marina reports that kings, weakfish, croakers, and triggerfish are being caught off their Fishing Pier.
Mullet are starting to show up in the back bays and short stripers are being caught with clams during incoming tide.
Joe Pryor, Southampton, Pa., caught a 20-inch flounder near the Stone Harbor toll bridge using minnows and squid and the Bohrs, N. Wildwood, had two keeper flounder using minnows early in the morning near the marina.
Pat and Audrey Cavanaugh, Haddonfield, caught a 16-inch weakfish also near the marina.
Bob Ahlum, Mason, Ohio had lots of action on a Grassy Sound rental boat during incoming and outgoing tides in the Turtle Creek area. He caught 2 keeper flounder using minnows.
Crabbing is excellent there, too.
Sterling Harbor Marina reports good flounder fishing at the Cape May Reef, the Wildwood Reef, Reef Site 11and the Old Grounds. Todd Spence and crew of the Rajun Cajun had their limit of fluke to 7.5-pounds from Reef Site 11 and the Old Grounds.
There are reports of a hot croaker bite in the Wildwood back bays a few days ago, near the Sunset Lake area.
Offshore, the Lobster Claw area has been the best producer of bluefin tuna.
The Sterling Harbor Kayak Fishing Team participated in the Pt. Pleasant Elks Tournament. Chris Parson, of Cape May, won first place with a 29-inch flounder and Charlie Labar, of Philadelphia took third place with a 22-incher. Justin Fesler of Court House won first place in the “Other fish” Division with a 48-inch smooth dogfish.
Captain Ken Kelly tells me that croakers are being taken in the flats area off of the intercoastal waterway on both flies and cut baits. Recent charters have caught several croakers on cut bait and flies fished on the bottom. Croakers can be good sport on a fly.
Latest entry in Cape May County’s year long fishing tournament: Robert Pacilli of Mullica Hill, 8-pound 7-ounce fluke caught July 11 at Sight II, on the Plumbers Paradise with Capt. Whan Noadbo.
The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife wants crabbers to be aware that Chinese mitten crabs have been caught in New Jersey waters, including Barnegat and Delaware Bays. Mitten crabs are native to Asia but have invaded portions of northern Europe and California.
Biologists want to gather information on any mitten crabs caught this year or in recent years to determine their current distribution. The crabs are easy to identify and the online mitten crab poster lists characteristics and some information on the species.
If a mitten crab is caught, it is important to document as much information as possible and take a picture of the crab for identification and proof of capture. For more information http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2009/mittencrab09.htm
Mark your calendars: Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Tournament, South Jersey Marina, richest marlin and tuna tournament in the world. Fish Cape May or Ocean City, Md. Call 884-1600.
All photos submitted appear online at SeeMyBigFish.com. Be sure to send your fish stories to cmiller@cmcherald.com. This column appears first online at capemaycountyherald.com