This week was a little slower than expected. The bad Saturday morning weather was probably just enough to keep some boats tied up at the dock, which wasted most people’s day. The four-hour boats at least had the afternoon to recover by getting one trip in for their day. Windy weather through the week didn’t help. With the 4th of July upon us, we can hope for better weather for the crowds that will accompany the holiday, and that will hopefully translate to even better fishing results. Let get going.
Captain Mike from the Miss Chris has a “mixed bag” of fluke and weakfish to report. There have been good days with both species contributing to the final count. Now you can add in “some nice fat kingfish.” Trips run at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. A new offering, a 6 p.m. trip, will be for Delaware Bay fishing for the remainder of the season. Also, private charters for an evening are available and will be offered into the fall.
Captain Chuck and the Sea Star III had a “challenging” week as the weather made things interesting. Getting a good drift was difficult but they still “pulled some nice fluke anyway.” Some limits were also achieved. Mike Jung and Jerry Levin caught their limits. Mike also won a pool with a 4.75-pound fish. Other pools with weights in parenthesis went to Gary Agness (3.65), TJ Brida (2.25) and Jason Davis (3.5).
Captain Ray from Tide Runner Charters had good results when he could get out. The rainy, stormy days coupled with some windy conditions ate into his patrons fishing time. When they got out, the back bays, plus the high water at dusk or dawn, proved to be the ticket to success. Small stripers, and bluefish in the 20-inch range, plus an occasional bigger one, provided the action. Captain Ray feels that “around the new moon, the fishing should remain pretty good,” especially when coupled “with the recent drop in water temperature” in the back.
Matt, representing Jim’s Bait and Tackle, starts by mentioning “very good” tuna fishing, when the weather cooperates. The Baltimore Canyon was the best area with reports of yellowfin, bluefin, big eye and even a few longfin.
Closer inshore bluefin and yellowfin were taken on the troll at the Hot Dog and Hambone areas, as well as the Tea Cup.
Fluke fishing has been “best” at the Old Grounds “around the coral heads.” Reports of better action at Delaware Reef Site 11 are also being heard. The Cape May Reef saw slowed results due to the sea conditions, namely the swells.
Kingfish and spike weakfish are showing up in the Delaware Bay at the Punk Grounds. Spikes are also in the Bayshore Channel, plus some are reported in the Rips.
The Cape May Beach bite is slow. Fluke in the surf can be caught at Cape May Point and Sunset Beach. Most are small, but some fish went up to seven pounds. Buck tails and strip baits work well, as do gulp swimming mullet on a quarter ounce jig heads. Floating bloodworms of shedder crabs pieces around the rocks early in the morning is a good way to try for weakfish. Small bucktails also work.
Off The Hook Bait and Tackle has been busy with fluke and tuna. A highlight occurred for 8-year-old Brady Niedoba who caught his first yellowfin tuna. Another young angler who had a “first” was Nathan Trainer who caught his number one keeper fluke. Good job, guys.
Another good word is that Rusty, the store manager, is out of the hospital, and back home. Good to hear you’re home, Rusty, and get better.
Captain Bob on the Full Ahead changed up his game and struck out from the dock for bluefin. He took his charter out and they succeeded with plenty of fish that helped to “keep the group happy.” They topped out with fish around 90 pounds.
Cathy with Sterling Harbor Bait and Tackle reports very good action as the fluke bite at the Cape May Reef improves as the weather allows. Scott Wheeler limited out from his boat, and that included a 5.5 pounder.
The sharking and tuna catches have improved offshore, as more are “coming back to the docks.” The fishing is good from “Poorman’s Canyon all the way to the Wilmington Canyon along the 100 Fathom Line.”
Small weakfish and kingfish are in the bay at 60 Fathom Slough. Use top and bottom rigs with squid strips.
The back bays still have nice fluke which are hitting gulp, mackerel strips or minnows. Nice weakfish and striped bass have also been taken back there.
Crabby Jack says it was a 5 Claw week. He’s emptied his traps frequently and when asked why, replied, “Because there are too many crabs in them.” That’s a good problem to have.
The Miss Avalon had a good weekend with trips that produced flounder, kingfish and triggerfish. Plenty of throwback seabass added to the action. They are fishing every day, plus their dolphin and nature cruises begin Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m.
Boulevard Bait and Tackle was busy again as an angler named Michael caught a six-pound flounder at the Townsends Inlet Reef. Talia Smerecki got an 18-inch keeper, while Ryan got a 22-inch, 4.23 pounder. Both came from the back bay. Linda Labanoski caught a 19-inch fluke on a minnow. There are also some bluefish still around, as a young boy named Jake proved so with his catch near the inlet.
Patrice Chambers sent in word and a picture of a 27-inch flounder she caught on spearing and gulp while fishing behind Wildwood.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
