Another week of good action in our area of the fishing world. Lots to report, so let’s go.
Captain Ray from Tide Runner Charters reports that stripers, bluefish and weakfish are still being caught for his fly and spin anglers. The warm weather and water, 83 degrees in the back bay, are presenting an obstacle. Good areas are too warm, so “sunrise, sunset or after dark” fishing is when temperatures are best.
Most stripers average 18 to 22 inches, while the blues run from 20 to 26 inches. An occasional fish over 30 inches is taken, but a number of flies and plugs are lost when these bigger ones show up.
Weakfish are in the ocean, not schooled up in any numbers, and the result is a “pick” of “one here and one there.”
Captain Mike from the Miss Chris is working the Point area and returning with kingfish, “more and more keeper weakfish,” small blues and some throwback flounder.
Recent pool winners were Bill Cerasiri with a 21 inch weakfish (plus 7 kingfish), Dave Mullagan with a 2 pound kingfish and Sergio Gomez with a 20 inch Spanish mackerel.
Captain Fred from Utsch’s reports great tuna action for two charter boats from the marina. The Full Ahead with Captain Bob had great trips on Wednesday, six Yellowfin, and one Bluefin, and another on Thursday with eight Yellowfin. They had their limit in the first hour and one-half. Wednesday also saw the Fishin’ Fever with Captain Tom return with six Yellowfin and two Bluefin tuna.
The Wednesday success worked for slip holder Dave Miller who went spear fishing and got an 8.1 pound sheepshead, plus a second about half that size. A few triggerfish also made the stringer.
Kingfish and small weakfish were reported from the south side of the Ferry jetty to the Concrete Ship, while North Wildwood is also mentioned as being good for kingfish.
Matt from Jim’s Bait and Tackle reports that flounder fishing “out of Cape May” is status quo. Translation: few keepers and a lot of throwbacks. This is true for the reefs and the Old Grounds. Delaware Reef Site 10 has less fish, but the keepers are “decent sized.” Some nice fish are still arriving from the back waters, but it is “nothing fantastic.”
Massey’s Canyon is still a bright spot for tuna fishing. Chunking and jigging lead to Bluefin and Yellowfin.
Offshore finds few Bigeyes, with the early morning in the Wilmington being the best, but nothing steady. While a few marlin are being taken, the reports aren’t very good.
The inshore troll is producing small blue fish at the Five Fathom Bank just outside the Cape May Reef. Some Spanish mackerel, false albacore and a few dolphins “have been caught around the East Lump.”
From the surf, kingfish are the best option. They are also in the Rips off Cape May. Fluke are at Cape May Point and Higbee’s Beach, resulting in a few keepers, but more shorts. Matt reminds us that the bay fluke need to be only 17 inches and you can keep four.
Over at Grassy Sound Marina, stripers, flounder and weakfish made up their week. One boat returned with one each of the aforementioned species. Kevin Hawe caught a 30 inch striper, plus a 20 inch fluke, while 5-year-old Rocco Fedele caught a nice fluke. Two 19 inch keepers were caught by Carol and Jim Boyle, Jr.
The rental boat fleet contributed a 23.5 fluke, other keepers to 19.5 inches, a 29 inch striper for Jessica Baez and a “great day” of crabbing for two 7-year-olds, Dominic Izzi and Hunter Schmitt.
The pier crew had a keeper fluke, keeper weakfish and a bunch of shorts.
Captain Chuck on the Sea Star had some fluke and sea bass for his patrons. One of them, Frank Servocky, won three pools during the week with 2.5, 3.5 and 3.75 pound fluke. Two other fluke winners were Craig Edwards and Paul Bodkin (2.85 and 2.5 pounds respectively). Two other pools were won with sea bass for Gary Wagner, 1.75 pounds, and Art Fiedler, 2.25 pounds.
Sailor’s Delight Back Bay Fishing had a good week. They were catching some keeper fluke, nice weakfish, sea bass, sharks and a lot of good-eating blue claw crabs. During the week they recorded their best fluke fishing of the summer season so far.
The Royal Flush is mainly catching weakfish and kingfish. Sea bass, snapper bluefish, porgies and throwback flounder are also being caught. The night trips are catching the first croakers of the season.
Some notable catches were weakfish by Bruce Reynolds, Randy Fisher and Stephen Peranteau. A kingfish went to Joe Dructor, and bluefish were caught by Marty Resin and Sara Contrll.
Sterling Harbor checked in with the results of their 23rd Annual Duke of Fluke Tournament. The results are as follows, and weights are in pounds.
Single heaviest fluke: 1st place – Chris Calhoun (9.40); 2nd place – Suzanne Smith (8.30); 3rd place – Dan Schafer (8.05).
Five heaviest fluke: 1st place – Gotta Habit (29.97); 2nd place – Adam Bomb (22.93); 3rd place – MoJo (22.63).
Kayak Division: 1st place – Brad Hamilton (4.57); 2nd place – Joe Muravsky (4.48); 3rd place – Ed Smith (3.95)
Duchess Award: Suzanne Smith (8.30)
Junior Angler Award: Brady Niedoba (3.33)
Heaviest Sea Bass: Clint Clement (3.10)
Heaviest Bluefish: Bill Dougherty (2.04)
Boulevard Bait and Tackle sent pictures of some nice fluke including a 6.22 pounder for Denise, and a 25 inch, 5.74 pounder plus a 24 inch, 4.6 pounder for Don Erdie amongst his three keepers.
First Fish Adventures of Sea Isle continues to bring fluke over the rail for their patrons, while catching some tuna of their own while fishing on another local boat.
Bayhound Charters, also from Sea Isle, continues with its hot July. Sharks, monkfish, fluke, tuna, sea bass and mahi-mahi have all come aboard, and the month, and summer, still have many fishing days ahead.
A couple of local fishermen sent in reports and pictures recently. Tony Primo sent word of his catch of a 22 pound mahi-mahi caught at the Cape May Reef from the Stalker II. Not long after that, Adam Sneathen reported his successful battle with a 14.04 pound Sheepshead. Good work guys.
For the ladies: a fly fishing retreat in Sea Isle City for Breast Cancer survivors. Deadline to sign up is August 5, and the retreat runs from September 30 to October 2. The website is www.castingforrecovery.org, and the local contact is Jackie Bradley at rabradley50@hotmail.com or (609) 861-3761.
