Lots of highlights and information this week, including a new contributor, so let’s get right into our report.
Welcome aboard to Tammy, a new contributor to the column. She represents Avalon Hodge Podge and reports the “past week was dismal to say the least.” The weather just didn’t allow a decent day of fishing, but fish were still caught and a couple are noted here.
Karen Ferdinand and her family were drifting in the back where she hooked into a 22-inch, 3.76-pound fluke. The other notable catch went to Al Fielder who caught a 33-inch, 15.97-pound striper on mackerel at the 8th Street Jetty.
Matt down at Jim’s Bait and Tackle said that the striper bite in the surf has really slowed to the point of only a few shorts being caught. The back has “schoolies” that are providing “great catch and release fun.” He reminds those fishing for them to use in-line circle hooks to help avoid gut-hooking any fish.
Meanwhile, weakfish are still around the Point Jetties. Light bucktails with a rubber worm or floating bloodworms are working best. Tom Wismer went out at sunrise recently and was rewarded with a 6.77 pounder. He released six other fish.
Fluke are best in the backwaters of Stone Harbor, Avalon and Sea Isle. “Good reports” came in over the weekend from the Old Grounds for fluke, plus sea bass. The best area for sea bass remains from structure in the 120-foot range, so get out and give it a try.
Mako fishing “picked up” this week. The South Jersey Marina Shark Tournament had four makos over 200 pounds, and the winner weighed 310 pounds.
Yellowfin tuna were caught in Poorman’s Canyon while Big Eyes were taken from Tom’s Canyon. Bluefin were rumored to be at some inshore spots, but this couldn’t be confirmed.
Captain Ray from the Tide Runner Charters had good action with stripers and bluefish in the back. “Not many keeper size bass” were amongst the “good numbers” of caught fish, while the bluefish were of good eating size. The ocean was good for weakfish in the 15- to 17-inch range, but “occasional larger ones” were mixed in.
The Sea Star III with Captain Chuck checking in reports “another busy week” with sea bass and fluke at the “Reef.” They started to “run across some fluke” while catching sea bass. He feels the action should “improve as the water temperature warms.” Sea bass went as large as 3.25 pounds, while the fluke topped out at 5 pounds.
Cathy from Sterling Harbor Bait and Tackle mentions the weather that put a “damper” on the recent fishing. The northeast wind and rain was the culprit, but the sunny weekend was more June-like.
The back bays had fluke with keepers increasing, bluefish are still swimming around, and short stripers are hitting when clam is offered.
Drum fishing in the Delaware Bay was slower than expected, but that is “most likely due to the weather.”
Weakfish are around the local jetties and rock piles, and like bloodworms and various rubber baits.
The Cape May Reef has flounder and sea bass, but the “best sea bass action” was from “outside of 20 miles.”
Crabby Jack gives crabbing “5 Claws” and reports “some of the best crabbing he’s seen in years!”
The 24th Annual Duke of Fluke Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, July 15, 2017. Stop in to get an entry form, or go to www.sterlingharbor.com.
Susie from the Royal Flush mentioned that in addition to the two four-hour daily trips, they are now sailing a Saturday evening trip until their full summer schedule kicks in.
Bette Dructor took the honor of catching the first keeper fluke of the season over the weekend. Dave Dwyer hooked a nice weakfish, and numerous others brought sea bass over the rail. The “action is picking up” out front in the ocean.
Jim from Grassy Sound Marina hit us with word of a productive weekend for some fishermen from the marina. Youth ruled as 12-year-old Aidan Barnes caught his first keeper plus one more. He finished with a 20- and 21-inch fish. 5-year -old Owen Moore limited out while fishing with his dad. The Pizzollos, more seasoned fishermen, had four keepers to 23 inches that hit on pink gulp.
Don’t forget the 11th Annual Grassy Sound Marina Tournament is Saturday, June 24. Featured is a newly added Kayak Division, plus “great prizes, excellent barbecue and a live band.”
The Miss Avalon is catching sea bass and fluke. “The ocean has been awesome” as the report and pictures proved.
Meanwhile, the Avalon Lady has been hitting the back and putting some nice keepers on the deck. Saturday, June 10 had eight nice keepers, then on Sunday, with the Tight Lines 4-H Club aboard, three keepers made it aboard. Bill had the pool-winner that day. Call (609) 967-7455 for information about either of these Avalon boats.
The Sailor’s Delight was out cruising the back and catching flounder. Some of the keeper-sized fish actually went back over the rail as a couple of young lady anglers were practicing catch and release. Another angler who was fishing on Monday caught a 21.5-inch fish. The Sailor’s Delight has been keeping the customers busy with flounder, sharks, some skate and some fine tasting blue-claw crabs.
On June 12, Captain Skip from Stalker Fishing Charters took his “first deep-water fluke trip” of the year. The result for his fares? A limit of keeper fluke, plus “some nice sea bass.”
Boulevard Bait and Tackle checks in with a report peppered with variety, from flounder, to big blue fish, to kingfish and weakfish. They are all represented multiple times. Even Randy, the right-hand-man in the shop, got in on the action. He was in Myrtle Beach and caught flounder, plus his first-ever redfish. Good job, Randy. The biggest flounder went to Mark G. with a 7.43-pound specimen, while a 5.25-pound weakfish was caught by Art. The kingfish were taken from a local beach. The Sea Isle area is really producing.
Bradford Becker had a good day of fishing recently, and it will be one he won’t likely soon forget. He hooked into an unusual catch, and I’m sure he was surprised when he pulled up a sturgeon, the first one reported here in the column. He kept the fish in the water, released it, and it swam away healthy. I’ve heard of them from time to time in the bay, so it’s good to see that they are around. To top off his day, he reported a limit of weakfish and a “bunch of kingfish.”
Ryan Morse, a local who does a lot of freshwater angling, sent in word and pictures of a channel catfish and a largemouth bass that he caught on a recent day from the waters of the Ponder Lodge.
Save the week of August 20-25 for the 26th Annual Mid-Atlantic Tournament. As in previous years, it is based at the Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, with Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Md. being the satellite port. For further information, contact Tournament Director Aaron Hoffman at (609) 884-0177 or visit www.themidatlantic.com.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
