The Fishing Line: Flounder Be-Gone

Cooling temperatures are challenging fishing schedules and strategies but reports are still good for croakers, spot, blues, and kingfish. No more flounder, but sea bass opens on Friday so that should be an added incentive to get out there. End of September into October should see the bigger stripers.
At Grassy Sound Marina, sheepshead and weakies are still coming in near the North Wildwood bridge and spot, snapper blues and mullet are making a strong showing. Crabs are less in number but larger in size.
Fran Rack, Philadelphia had a great day catching flounder reporting live bait most effective near the marina, incoming tide.
The Adam Meyer Crew, Lansdale, Pa., caught a bunch of shorts with one keeper and Tim Fehr, Philadelphia, caught a 23 inch flounder on a live snapper bluefish at the Wildwood Reef at slack tide. Rob Vevereka, Bayonne, caught 2 keeper fluke in Grassy Sound on minnows, incoming tide.
Mike Fenerty, Philadelphia, 23 inch flounder; Robert Kaiser, Wildwood, 2 keeper fluke to 21 inches plus a nice bluefish; and Karen Barlup, Glenolden, Pa., 19 inch flounder on minnows, top of the tide, fishing off the Grassy Sound Pier. The Parker Family, Deptford, had a great time catching crabs with bunker. They report catching fewer crabs but they’re bigger than a month ago, all close to 6 inches. The outgoing tide was more productive.
Check this out: Heroes on the Water helps our nation’s injured active duty and veterans from all branches of the military heal using the therapeutic qualities of fishing from kayaks. What looks like a day trip of paddling and fishing is in fact something much deeper and long-lasting. This unique kayak fishing program gives participants a chance to decompress from the stresses associated with combat and the physical rigors of rehabilitation. Participants receive basic kayak fishing and paddling instruction, angling clinics and paddling classes for beginners to the most experienced paddlers. Read more at their web site https://www.facebook.com/HeroesOnTheWaterNewJerseyChapter
Mark Your Calendars: Sept. 26-29, Atlantic City Boat Show, Farley State Marina, www.acinwaterboatshow.com; Sept. 28, Youth Fishing Tournament, Northfield, ages 5-17, 267-716-0970 or e-mail georgeforeman53@comcast.net;
Oct. 5, Pennsauken Surf Fishing Club Tournament, North Wildwood, teams and individuals, 856-231-9110 or e-mail drapple1@msn.com; Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament,
Oct. 6, Island Beach State Park, awards to winners with the largest fish of species and age group categories, www.njfishandwildlife.com/gsft.htm. Tournament anglers may be asked to verify their compliance with the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. Registration is quick, easy and free, www.nj.gov/dep/saltwaterregistry
Oct. 12 NJ Beach Buggy Assn, Fall Tournament, North Wildwood, 856-457-5532 or e-mail bucket1740@comcast.net;
Oct. 17-19, Ocean City Fishing Club, 3-day tournament, mikehayes325@gmail.com.
NEWS: NJ’s Fish and Game Council and the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is proposing amendments to the 2014-2015 Fish Code. The proposals were published in the Sept. 16, New Jersey Register, initiating the 60 day public comment period which will end on Nov. 15. The Fish Code governs when, by what means, at which locations, in what numbers, and at what sizes, fish may be pursued, caught, killed, or possessed. Information about the proposals and highlights of proposed changes can be found at www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2013/fishcode_proposal.htm
A public hearing will be held on Oct. 8, 7 p.m., NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife, Central Regional Office, Eldridge Road, Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, Robbinsville. Written comments may be sent electronically at www.nj.gov/dep/rules/comments or mailed to Gary J. Brower, Esq., ATTN: 05-13-08, NJ DEP Office of Legal Affairs, Mail Code 401-04L; PO Box 402, 401 East State Street, 4th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08625-0402
RFA (Recreational Fishing Alliance) is asking saltwater anglers to help protect access rights for New England’s cod and haddock anglers and the local recreational fishing businesses who depend on those fishermen. NEFMC is considering taking habitat protection measures which will result in new closed areas for charter/party and recreational anglers as the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary wishes to conduct a research effort in a 55-square-mile “reference area” off the New England coast. At the RFA homepage, check on the Sept/Oct 2013 newsletter on the top-right side of the page, and an article on page 21
Remember, The Fishing Line runs year round so keep sending your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. Column and pictures are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com and on Facebook. Keep them coming.