The Fishing Line: Fall fishing

The fall calendar is full of things to do this weekend but try to take some time to go fishing.
Sterling Harbor reports sea bass along the inshore reefs with croakers and small bluefish while the back-bay schoolie striper action continues to be good along sod banks, docks and bridges.
Clam, bunker, and Fin S type lures or top water lures like Smack-It Jrs are working the best with most action at night.
When weather allowed boats to get out, offshore action was excellent with white marlin from the 40 Fathom line and out. Donald Sowers and crew trolled up 11 white marlin on the Reely Hours out of Wildwood.
Dolphin action is good along the 30 Fathom Line at the Elephant Trunk all the way to Five Fathom Bank. An occasional wahoo can be found in the mix.
Jack Gallagher and crew of Pelican reported 14 dolphin while trolling Ballyhoo at the Elephant Trunk.
Grassy Sound Marina Fishing Report has sea bass, triggers, croakers, and snappers blues being caught.
Stripers are being caught at night and in the morning on live lining peanut bunker.
TJ Moore, Court House, caught a 4-pound trigger fish using mackerel under the N. Wildwood bridge on the incoming tide and Lauren Himes, 6-years-old, Yeadon, Pa., had a great time catching 21 throwback sea bass off the Grassy Sound Fishing Pier.
Sam and Zach Scarcelli, ages 7 and 3, from Court House, had a double header of sea bass caught on squid during outgoing tide in Turtle Creek.
John Mooers, 12 of Dennisville, had a nice striper live lining peanut bunker off the Grassy Sound Fishing Pier during outgoing tide. Plenty of crabs are also being caught in the back-bay. The Clauss crew from Willow Grove, Pa. caught dozens of crabs in the Grassy Sound area on a rental boat.
Captain Ray reports that cool temperatures and high winds made it challenging to fish but he was still able to get decent action for his charters.
When it was too rough to work the inlet and beach-front he concentrated his efforts in the back-bay shallow flats and sod banks working sheltered coves and points.
As always early mornings and evenings were prime times and stripers and bluefish provided most of the action for fly and plug fishing. The hot striper fly was a chartreuse and white clouser, fished on intermediate line that one client tied. As a bonus provided by the cooler weather they were treated to some spectacular sunsets, making the evening trips that much better.
News From The Ocean City Fishing Club: Several hundred men, women, and youngsters are expected early Saturday Sept. 19, for the annual surf fishing contest now in its 42nd year.
The Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament is open to fishing teams and individuals who vie for trophies and prizes along a stretch of beach between 16th and 59th streets.
Registration is 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. at the Intermediate School, 18th Street and Bay Avenue. Coffee and donuts will be provided and hot dogs and soft drinks served during the afternoon awards ceremony.
Fee for teams of up to six anglers, $50; individuals $10 each. Fishing 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Three local tackle shops—Pappy’s Fishin’ Stuff at 621 Bay Ave., Tackle Company at 718 Asbury Ave., and Fin-Atics at 1325 West Ave.—will open their doors at 5 a.m. to accommodate participants seeking bait and gear.
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