It was another decent week of fishing for fly and light tackle anglers with the best action in the evening with extra high tides. All of striper and bluefish action this week was in the back-bay along sod banks, creek mouths and small rip lines, according to Captain Ray, Tide Runner, Cape May.
For the fly anglers intermediate and floating lines worked best. Chart/white and pink/white Jiggie type flies along with clousers produced best. Steroid gurgler surface flies provided exciting top water action.
As usual smack-it-jr top water popping plug were the go to choice. On one trip Ray experimented with teaser flies in front of the top water plugs and had a number of fish, including one double hook up of stripers at the same time.
Grassy Sound Marina reports loads of short flounder with a few nice keepers mixed in. Crabs are also showing up at the Fishing Pier.
Sterling Harbor is also reporting plenty of short flounder in the back-bays with some keepers in the mix. Flounder are being caught along the edge of the shipping lanes in the Delaware Bay from 14 Foot Light to above Miah Maul.
The Cape May Reef was still on the slow side for flounder but they are being caught at Reef Site 11 and the Old Grounds. Anglers are working hard to get their limits.
Offshore, yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi and white marlin are being caught while trolling at the Canyons. There are still some bluefin tuna from the 30 Fathom line and out and anglers still continue to report mako sharks.
NOAA announced that the spiny dogfish stock has been rebuilt. The result is that the federal waters catch level for dogfish will increase from 12 million pounds to 15 million pounds this year.
The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced the winners of the 2009 Skillful Angler Awards Program. The program honors anglers who catch both freshwater and marine fish which aren’t of record size but are impressive and worthy of recognition. Visit njfishandwildlife.com/skwinn09.htm for results.
Send your fish stories and photos to cmiller@cmcherald.com. All photos submitted appear online at SeeMyBigFish.com.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
