The Fishing Line: Good Action, Plus an Unusual Catch

Lots of good action, an unusual catch, and a flounder weighing double-digits highlights this week’s report. Get on board, get a seat by the rail, and let’s get started.
Capt. Fred at Utsch’s reports that flounder started to bite at Reef Site 11, as well as the Cape May Reef. The Old Grounds also gave up some fish, but not in great numbers. He hopes an increase in water temperature will result in more catches.
Steadiness covers some other fisheries. Sea bass fishing is about the same, a few cod are being caught, some makos are still being taken, and tuna and golden tile fish are being caught at the Baltimore and Wilmington Canyons.
Fred wants to remind readers of the Ladies Bluefish Tournament in July, and several flounder tournaments that will be coming up. I’m sure more information will follow.
The Sea Star III and Capt. Chuck report good flounder, with some sea bass mixed in. A few bigger flounder won pools for Mike Morris (3.5 lbs.), Bob Steinmetz (3.85 lbs.), and Tyler Theurer (4.5 lbs.). A 1.5 pound sea bass won a pool for A.J. Avis.
Capts. Andy and Mike of The Cape Queen reported successful sea bass trips recently. Pat Sicillia and party (Bensalem, Pa.) got 14 keepers and four ling cod. Don Park and friends (York Haven, Pa.) had 19 keepers plus two ling cod, a 21-½ inch cod, and 17 bluefish. Both parties had over 100 throwback bass each.
The Royal Flush checked in with word that they are fishing out front in the ocean. They are catching flounder, sea bass, kingfish, and a few weakies. Notable catches were recorded by Rob Shryock (Chadds Ford, Pa.) with a 2-½ pound flounder; Mary Young (Philadelphia, Pa.) had a two-pound flounder; Joe Danford (Frankford, Pa.) with a kingfish; Danyl Sims (Swedesboro) with a sea bass; Joan Thornton from the Poconos caught a nice flounder; and Jimmy Merkel (Ludlow, Mass.) landed a nice weakfish.
Cathy from Sterling Harbor tells of good flounder action in the back bays with throwbacks out-numbering keepers. The biggest one recently went to Allan Lehman (Greencastle, Pa.) with an 11.37 pounder caught while kayak fishing.
He caught it on a minnow, and made it interesting by beaching it, after realizing he had forgotten to bring a net. Word of improved flounder action at Cape May Reef, and Reef Site 11 is encouraging. Joan Reid (Woodbury Heights) weighed in a four-pound, 11 ounce flounder caught on a minnow and squid combo at the Cape May Reef. Joan was fishing with her husband Bill, on her boat Hog ‘Em All. They caught five keepers and lots of throwbacks. We conclude our flounder report with a reminder of the 22nd annual Duke of Fluke Tournament on July 11. Contact Sterling Harbor for more information.
Weakfish action remains good around the jetties and rock piles with Mirr-O-Lures, pink zooms, and bloodworms being the hot baits. A recent notable catch was made by Bill Henfey, Jr. He had an eight-pounder on a pink Zoom, caught near Cold Spring Inlet.
Shark fishing remains strong near the Cigar area, and the 20 Fathom Line. Plenty of Makos, browns, blue sharks and hammerheads are being caught in those areas. A hint for good sharking: look for water with temperatures near 65 degrees.
Finishing the Sterling Harbor report, we have Crabby Jack giving crabbing 4 claws this week and reporting that the local Wildwood crabbers experienced another good week.
Next is Capt. Paul on the Sailor’s Delight. Half his weekend, Saturday, was salvaged, while Sunday was lost to the early rain. Saturday was good for the three M’s group (Mike, Matt, and another Mike) from Cherry Hill in the morning as they had a mixed bag of croakers and flounder. The afternoon was owned by the Sulkowski’s from Pittsburgh, Pa. as they got a large haul of croakers.
Monday had flounder and croakers, as well as some nice blue claws for the Murao family. Kevin Horoff and his wife (Bucks County, Pa.) got their share of croakers, crab, and sharks. Capt. Paul concludes by mentioning that the amount of croakers has increased over the last ten days. He said they move often, and disappear almost as quickly as they’re located, “but we have been fortunate so far”.
Capt. Ray of Tide Runner Charters lost a few trips to thunderstorms, then fought some high winds that made for less productive trips then desired. The best fishing was in the evenings on the back bay flats during high tide. Small stripers and blues provided the action for anglers on both fly and spinner gear.
What a teacher: Ray was helping a patron learn how to cast a spinner and the lady caught her first fish. It was one to remember. A 15.35 pound bluefish that hit a popping plug in 2 ½ feet of water, 8 feet from the boat. The light rod had 12 pound test line. Job well done by both student and teacher.
Also; Bailey Kelly, age 5, caught his first fish, a croaker. Actually, he caught three on just six casts, released them, and “he out fished Grandpop” as grandpop proudly reported; Pat Kelly (Fox Chase, Pa.) caught a pool winning 21-inch flounder aboard the Lady Chris; Kevin Morris was fishing recently and made an unusual catch of a seahorse that was “connected” to his bait, as his grandmother reports; Steve Clark (Avalon) fishing alone caught, then landed, a 66-inch, 79-pound cobia weighed in at Moran’s in Avalon Thursday (June 25).
On Father’s Day the local 4-H fishing club, Tight Lines, went out for a morning trip on the Family Fisherman out of Sea Isle. The heavy rain had moved through, and only a light shower remained, before the sun came out. A nice amount of throwbacks were caught, and a good time was had by all.
Hope to see you out there somewhere wetting the line, and maybe putting dinner in the cooler.