The holiday weekend is now in the rear view mirror. The weather was a factor again, which has been the case for most of the season. Mainly it was a steady fresh wind on Saturday that was a problem. It kicked in after the Friday night rain, so people were able to at least get out on Friday. Sunday was not quite as windy, so some more boats got out. Sea bass are back on the targeted list, and kingfish, weakfish and now triggerfish are all being accounted for. Let’s get started.
Captain Ray from Tide Runner Charters gets us going. He reports that fish are coming aboard for his “fly and spin clients.” This obviously keeps everyone happy. The difference from previous weeks is that he is having to work harder to find the fish. When found though, weakfish, stripers and some nice blue fish are being caught. The stripers are coming from the back bay flats on popping and deceiving flies, while the spinner anglers are connecting with swimming and popping plugs. These stripers aren’t really schooling, but seem to be more individual fish that are out cruising the flats. Ray mentioned that most of the fish go back over the side, as a lot of his customers practice the catch and release philosophy. A few are kept from time to time, but this allows the fish to breed and ensures fish for a future generation. Another opportunity for us all sounds good to me.
The Royal Flush, fishing three trips daily, was out front doing their thing. Flounder, with Eric Elliott (Philadelphia) catching a 3 pounder and Marcy Kline (Bordentown) a 2 pounder, were represented. Kingfish, porgies, sea bass and weakfish also came aboard. Sean Pena had a weak fish, while Mary Bruner had a 3 pound sea bass. Blue fish finish out the rollcall.
Captain Chuck of the Sea Star III alerts us that fluke and sea bass are keeping his patrons busy. Fluke took all the pools from the recent trips. The largest winner was a 5.05 pounder for Arleen Kinka, while Paul Bodkin got a 4.25 pound fish, with 3+ pounders taking the rest. Frank Servocky caught his limit of sea bass.
Cathy from Sterling Harbor Bait and Tackle reports flounder are still being taken from Reef Site 11, the Cape May Reef, the Old Grounds and around the back bays. The action has slowed though. Bob Fritz (Philadelphia) got a 26 inch flounder, while Randy and Brian Harbaugh (Middletown, Del.) had nice fish to 24 inches. All those fish were caught at the Cape May Reef.
The beaches have been quiet, with a few kingfish but no bass or blues being taken. A few triggerfish and weakfish were reported from the North Wildwood rocks. The night time shark fishing scene should be starting soon.
Offshore, tuna were reported for those trolling and chunking at 19 Fathom Lump and Massey Canyon. In shore from the canyons, yellowfin and some mahi-mahi are “scattered.”
Crabby Jack grades the crabbing out at 3.5 claws this week.
The 23rd Annual Duke of Fluke Tournament is set for July 16, so call the shop for any additional information you may need at (609) 729-1425.
Grassy Sound Marina is next. They start by mentioning that the top of the tide has been the most productive recently. They are working hard for their keepers, which are comparable to last year’s numbers. They report “catching less shorts.” Mark Bell (Apollo Beach, Fla.) with four keepers to 27 inches, Mike Ciarlante (Philadelphia) with three keepers to 23 inches, and Janet McCullough and Carol Boyle with 19.5 inch twin keepers were the highlights of catches from the local waters.
The rental boat crew had a nice keeper for Natalie Lebair of Philadelphia, while Jay Hunn of Eufaula, Okla. caught a 19 inch flounder in Turtle Creek.
Captain Al from Bayhound Charters in Sea Isle checked in with reports and pictures of nice flounder for a recent charter, plus a recent trip that resulted in some tasty tuna and nice tile fish.
Also up that way, Cameron from Boulevard Bait and Tackle checked in with word of lots of kingfish in the surf, some flounder from the back and a 65 inch, 107 pound mako for Drew, Connor and Christian. This was their first shark trip, and obviously a successful one. John Mel weighed in a 4.27 pound flounder on July 4.
The Family Fisherman recently had a good run of keeper fluke, plus a nice weakfish thrown in for good measure. They fish in the back waters from Sea Isle to Ocean City.
Captains Irv and Brandon from the Miss Avalon have been putting their patrons on fluke and sea bass recently. The pictures they sent showed plenty of each and a lot of smiling faces, as everyone was happy after reeling in their fish.
Sailor’s Delight Back Bay Fishing has been getting fluke, plus a lot of blue claw crabs on their recent trips. They get the traps out for the crabs while fishing, and run so trips just for crabs. Recently they also ran their first Friday night fishing trip. This is a new feature that they will be building on. If that sounds interesting then give them a call for more information at (609) 827-8309.
Rich Reinert, a regular reader and occasional contributor, checked in with good news of finally connecting from the surf. After “an early summer of mostly spotty surf fishing,” Rich got three nice king fish from the Crest surf. He mentioned that they weren’t “the biggest, but enough to make it interesting.” Anytime you’re pulling the line from the surf and there’s resistance on the other end, it’s a good thing. Thanks Rich, and keep tossing the line in the water and letting us know how it’s going.
Congratulations go out to the “Thumb’s Up.” On June 11, Captain Matt Craig and crew participated in the South Jersey Shark Tournament. They came in first place in the Blue Shark Division, and third for the heaviest shark. A 235 pound blue shark put them on top. For their efforts they walked away with a check for $39,443. Last year they won the mako division and after this year’s divisional win, are the first boat to win any division for two years in a row.
