Lots of reports covering many facets, from age to gender, and young success to age-proven grit, which helps to lead us off this week.
Perseverance: To show steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
This definition is perfect for Natalie Kulesa (Wyomissing, Pa.) who caught her first fish, and first flounder, after trying for…..68 YEARS! Good effort, Natalie.
On the same trip her grandson, 11-year-old Owen Dautrich, caught his first fish, also a flounder. At the other end of the spectrum is 5-year-old Sam Gorkey who caught his first flounder. They were fishing with Capt. Zig on First Fish Adventures.
Capt. Fred at Utsch’s reports a tough week due to the weather. Monday had the Full Ahead get a nice catch of sea bass, with a couple cod and the Fishin’ Fever went offshore and got a few dolphin.
Most of the boats went to the Old Grounds looking for flounder after mid-week. Some were caught, but the Thursday morning storm chased the fleet home.
On Saturday, the Old Grounds again was the destination. An early returner had a couple keepers, and saw another boat get a keeper, plus a dolphin. He also saw a yellowfin tuna on the surface which isn’t normal for that area.
Newcomers to the column, Capt. Rob Eder and wife Kara of Stickem Charters of Wildwood report a productive day recently at the canyons. They totaled 10 yellowfins, a white marlin, and two mahi-mahi.
Matt at Jim’s reports the inshore tuna bite “has turned on.” From the Hambone, South Dumpsite, Massey’s Canyon, and the Hot Dog are reports of yellowfin, bluefin, and dolphin.
Matt’s friend, John Chadrow, and crew landed five yellowfin and a dolphin at the Hot Dog. Charlie Rangel (Medford) trolled the South Dumpsite, and was rewarded with a limit of bluefin.
The Wilmington is giving up some nice bigeyes on the morning or evening troll. Also there were yellowfin, and white and blue marlin.
Some triggerfish are at the rock piles and inshore wrecks, while kingfish are being taken at the rips and at Crow Shoal.
No change in flounder fishing at the Old Grounds or the reefs. That means a lot of shorts, mixed in with a few keepers.
Flounder are also in the surf as Marty Cranston (Fair Hills, Pa.) with a 5.45-pounder, and Harold Baker (Berlin) with a 6.62-pounder can attest.
Terri from the Starlight Fleet reports that catches are improving as more flounder, plus triggerfish, sea bass, and kingfish are being taken. “Big fish honors “went to Jerry Parson (Brigantine) with a four-pound flounder.
Other pool winners this week were: Ron Taylor (Stroudsburg, Pa.); Tim Robbins (Norristown, Pa.); and Janet Wilson (Sea Isle City).
Cathy at Sterling Harbor reports flounder productivity in the back bays behind Wildwood. Throwbacks rule, but some keepers get through. Steve Wagner (Turnersville) got a six-pound, 14-ounce specimen while fishing from his boat, the Lauren Yvonne.
Charles Breon (Villas) caught one that went five-pound, three ounces. Flounder, along with bluefish, are being caught at the Wildwood Reef.
McKenna Vessels, 10, of Wildwood, caught a 10-pound, six-ounce mahi-mahi near the FFB Buoy while fishing on Dad’s boat, the Miss McK+3.
The beachfront has given up a few small stripers, and some kingfish are starting to show up there also.
Crabby Jack gives this week’s crabbing three claws, as crabbing proved to not be as productive as last week.
The Royal Flush reports more variety as the water warms up.
The standard flounder and sea bass were joined by snapper blues. More kingfish and weakfish are showing up, increasing the fun for anglers.
Notable catches were made by Mark Kipper (Old Bridge) and Mary Burger of Philadelphia.
Respectively, they caught 3-½ and 2-½ pound flounder. Jim McCann (Villas) caught a mixed bag of flounder, sea bass, and kingfish.
New contributor, Grassy Sound Marina starts by mentioning the arrival of crabs “in decent numbers.” The next topic discussed was the decent amount of flounder, with some going over five pounds. The largest was a 5.9-pounder caught under the North Wildwood bridge, plus a 25-½ inch, 5.5-pounder which was one of three nice flounder caught Chip Gruff and Charlie and Steve Wunder of Court House.
Results of the Ninth Annual Grassy Sound Marina Flounder Tournament were successful after a weather change forced it to Sunday.
First place went to Frank Roberts (Woolwich) with a 5.9 pounder. second went to Robert DeHaven (Mays Landing) a 4.15 pounder, and third went to Tim Moore (Rio Grande) with a 4.10 pounder.
Winner of the three heaviest combined, was Michael Dougherty of West Wildwood. The Women’s Division was won by Savannah Kang of Cape May. The Youth Division went to Gary Spreckley, Jr. of Philadelphia. Finally, the Pier Division went to Paul Buckley of Haddon Heights.
Two other pier catches of note were by Andrew Fath, 7, who caught his first flounder, and 9-year-old Dan Couse (Mantua) who caught an 18-inch flounder.
Capt. Chuck of the Sea Star III reports fluke catches are modest, but some nice fluke are mixed in. He also mentioned croakers, and some triggerfish that started to show up this week in the bay. A few of the larger fluke: Ron Bradshaw (five pounds), Chris Mercurio (4.90 pounds), and Tino McCormick with a 4.25 pounder.
Tag ends: Mike Huff (Wilmington, Del.) caught a 22-inch flounder on the Cape May Reef, while on the Lady Chris. Next is news of a six-foot tiger shark caught and released, aboard the Yo Buddy, north of the Sea Isle Lump on July 5.
David and Matt Donnelly, both 15, and from Aston, Pa, fought it for 40 minutes.