The Fishing Line July 6

The weather has kept up its pattern of windy days, plus some rain tossed in, with the recent days being calm in the morning, but windy in the afternoon. Regardless, tournaments have gone on, private boaters have gotten out, and the head boats are plying away. Let’s get right to the results.       
Captain Mike of the Miss Chris reports that they have been fishing in “the Cape May channel” while bringing in kingfish, weak fish and some fluke. Highlights were a 3.7 pound fluke (Ashley Simonetti), a 4 pound fluke (Dillon Burke) and a 3.3 pound sea bass (Alex Udalovas) on the last day of their season. 4-hour trips sail daily from the Miss Chris Marina.
Captain Fred, representing Utsch’s Marina, mentions great flounder fishing. Captain Dan Olivieri had 16 keepers for his charter, while Captain Ed Chester had seven keepers including an 8.9 pounder. The Fishin’ Fever with Captain Tom Daffin had 17 keepers from the Old Grounds.
Fred also notes some 6-8 pound weak fish taken from the Cape May Inlet and areas of the back bay.
A couple local fishermen checked in with their catches. John Bilo got a 20 inches flounder, while Michael Millard, age 7, caught a 24 inch, 4.5 pound flounder. Good job young man.
Tide Runner Charters with Captain Ray provided “another great week” for his fly fishing charters. They brought in striped bass, including a released keeper-sized fish, bluefish, sea herring, fluke and weakfish on every trip. All weak fish were legal but released, including a 22 incher, but a deep-hooked one was kept. Weather, including Tuesday’s storm, played a role during the week. The Tuesday afternoon trip was cancelled which was fortunate as Captain Ray’s wind gauge at his house recorded an 81 M.P.H. gust. Smart move on cancelling that trip.
The Starlight checks in with word of plenty of anglers catching weak fish, kingfish and blues, with a fluke thrown in from time to time. Nicole Whitaker (CMCH) won a pool with a 3 pound blue, while Joe Gallagher took high hook honors for seven weak fish and two king fish on a recent trip.
Their schedule has 4-hour trips at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Night fishing goes from 7 to 11 p.m.
Matt at Jim’s Bait and Tackle starts with word that “a big ground swell” made for tough fluke fishing at the local reefs, and also at the Old Grounds. This was a direct result of our recent weather. Some fluke are being caught near the 19 Buoy and Miah Maul light, along with some small weak fish. The back bay fluke fishing is slower than normal, but Matt figures with any luck it is ready to turn on.
Bluefin tuna and dolphin are being taken on the troll and outside the 20 Fathom Line, with reports of action north to the 28 Mile Wreck.
Offshore, the tuna bite was good when the weather cooperated. Small yellowfin, plus some 40 to 50 pounders, were in the good water between Baltimore and Poorman’s on Friday and Saturday. 15-20 pound dolphin are being caught near the Pot Ball’s.
In the surf, weakfish are around the Point rock piles and Higbee’s Beach. Bloodworms and shedders work best, but bucktails and artificials also work. Doug Deep, 13, of Cape May, caught and released his first weakfish, a 13.5 incher. Kingfish and throwback fluke are also in the area.
The Royal Flush begins their summer schedule July 1 consisting of two daily ocean trips. Currently they are catching flounder, blue fish, porgies, kingfish and weakfish. Notable flounder catches, with all anglers from Philadelphia, went to Joe Nolti (2 lbs.), Joey Pellegrino (3 lbs.) and Bud Duffy (2.5 lbs.). Laurie Roskop (Lodi, N.J.) caught a 2 pound porgy.
Cathy from Sterling Harbor kicks off by looking at flounder which are being caught in the back bays, the Cape May Reef, Reef Site 11 and the Old Grounds. Good baits are mackerel strips, minnows and Gulp.
The beachfront is still giving up some striped bass, and while there, watch for the occasional drum fish as they exit the bay and migrate along the beachfront.
Offshore, the tuna were hot until “the weather turned bad.” The Wilmington Canyon provided “shots at” Bigeye, Bluefin and Yellowfin tuna.
Crabby Jack gives four claws to the crabbing scene this week.
Get ready for the 23rd Annual Duke of Fluke Tournament set for July 16. Call the shop at (609) 729-1425 for more information.
Captain Chuck of the Sea Star III is next up. He mentions that nice fluke catches are increasing from the ocean side. A few examples are Ray Strawley (4.75 lbs.), Lou Basciani (4.4) and Mike Contarino (3.4). He’s been busy with the fluke and he wants to keep it that way.
Boulevard Bait and Tackle continues to stay busy weighing in fluke and blues. Tom and Tracy continue to put a hurting on the local blue fish, as they each caught some big slammers. Julia got a nice fluke off a crab line, Preston and John got several blue fish and three keeper fluke to 5 pounds, and Dean Mel claimed first place, for now, with a 25 .5 inch, 6.96 pound fluke in the store’s yearly tournament.
Another Sea Isle based fishing boat, First Fish Adventures, was on the water and getting results. Three families from Pennsylvania and one from Idaho recently had productive days on the water. Fluke, both keepers and shorts, weak fish and sharks cooperated nicely. The Idaho family had seven keepers. I will be doing another story soon about them.
Grassy Sound Marina reported the results of their recent tournament.
First place went to Ken McDermott (CMCH) with a 4.61 pounder.; Second – Joe Muravsky (Westmont, N.J.), 4.56 pounds; Third –  John Michael (CMCH), 4 pounds.
Three Heaviest Combined: Keith Arenberg (CMCH), 10.9 pounds.
Women’s Division: Tricia Ciarlante (Phila., Pa.), 4.62 pounds.
Children: Lyle Peterson (Mickelton, N.J.), Bob Hassell (Garnet Valley, Pa.) and Rocco Fedele (Horsham, Pa.).
Daisy Mae Award (11th heaviest flounder): Mike Ciarlante (Phila., Pa.).
Pier Division: First Place – Sue Glammar (Aston, Pa.); Second Place – Savannah Kang (Cape May); Third Place – Patricia Fenerty (Phila., Pa.)
On the tournament day the wind picked up, but the anglers worked hard and had a great day.
A few days before the tournament, brothers Matthew and Mark from Florida caught 24 and 25 inch fluke behind Wildwood. A bucktail and Gulp at the bottom of the tide did the trick.
Get out, keep fishing, and maybe I’ll see you on the water.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.