Happy, happy Thanksgiving. Fish or turkey, whatever you choose, have a great day. If it’s a striper you are looking for, they are here just in time for the holidays.
Striped bass fishing in the Delaware Bay and Cape May Rips is gradually and some large bass are being caught while chunking in the Delaware Bay, according to reports from Sterling Harbor. Rick Brennecke and crew from Springfield, Pa., chunked the 60 foot slough area of the Delaware Bay and angler Joe Brennecke landed a 43 pounder measuring 46 inches. The Cape May Rips have also produced some nice fish, while drifting eels or live spot but it has been hit or miss.
Sea Bass fishing has been good at the offshore wrecks at 150-200 feet when the weather allows. Togging has been excellent around the rockpiles and inshore wrecks. Kayak anglers Charles Breon of Villas, and Jim Dickinson of Rio Grande, reported a limit of tog on green crabs at the Cold Spring Inlet jetty.
In the back bays, Captain Ray is still catching schoolie-size bass on chartreuse/white clouser and Jiggie flies using sinking line. With the colder weather dropping back bay temperatures, Ray is seeing better action around the inlet jetties and beach front. In the back the fish seem to be in the deeper creeks or points where there is a good current flow. Weather is the toughest part about fishing at this time of year with a flyrod in an open boat. The cold isn’t too bad but when you get those high wind days it gets brutal.
Atlantic Star has been out on 10-hour sea bass trips with all aboard catching their limits. Had Birchmeier, Cherry Hill; Tony Wilde, Edison; and Spencer Sprague, Villas, were among those going home with limits of nice-size fish. The boat also made a tile trip producing plenty of fish to 35-pounds. The Starlight is now targeting blackfish, running 6-hours, 10-4 on Fridays and Mondays.
NEWS: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Dec. 8-11, Royal Sonesta, 550 Light St., Baltimore, 410-234-0550, public is invited. Briefing materials will be posted at www.mafmc.org/briefing/december-2014 as available.
From the latest edition of RFA’s Making Waves: “After months of debate along the Atlantic Coast with regard to striped bass, a one fish at 28-inch coastwide limit was accepted by fisheries managers – but with conservation equivalency in play, many saltwater anglers may soon be surprised at what a 25 percent reduction actually looks like!”
The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is notifying boaters, recreational and commercial fishermen and divers that 36,000 cubic yards of dredge rock will be deployed on the Shark River Reef Site this as part of the division’s Artificial Reef Program.
For information including reef coordinates and locations where the rock will be deployed, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2014/reefrock11-14.htm
Jersey Shore Beach N Boat Fishing Tournament will award the season’s top anglers with cash and prizes Dec. 9, River Rock Restaurant & Marina Bar, 1600 Route 70, Brick, 6- 9 p.m., $20. (beachnboat.com)
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. Check out Miller’s children’s book “Counting the Fish in the Sea: The Story of the NEAMAP Trawls” on www.epektales.com
Stone Harbor – Bob Ross thank you for all your years of volunteer service to the community of Stone Harbor. A Lifelong resident And property owner. 10 years on school board, 6 years on zoning board they can't…
