The Fishing Line: Cold, Windy and Stripers

Winter weather may keep some anglers on shore but there are many hearty souls who pursue those mighty stripers.
Sterling Harbor Marina reports that striper fishing remains excellent while chunking in the Delaware Bay. Stripers turned on in the Cape May Rips, too. Tog fishing was slow around the jetties, however was good at the Reefs with the best reports coming from the Cape May Reef. Smaller stripers remain in the back bays around bridges and sod banks.
Captain Chuck on the Sea Star III reports spotty fishing since Sandy hit with 20-30 knot winds the norm. The water temperature is around 50 degrees and remains steady. Stripers are being taken in the rips and in the bay.
Captain Dan Schafer, Insomniac Charters, has been hitting the marsh in the flats skiff on an almost daily basis. Water on the flats was crystal clear with all the grass pockets visible from a hundred feet away. He saw lots of autumn activity with small
spearing in the grass, fiddlers all along the banks, winter geese, and the many eagles waiting for their next migrating meal to fly by.
Reminder: This column runs year round so keep sending your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. All pictures submitted are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com.