Hey, it’s finally flounder time. They seem a little hard to find, but not impossible. Early on, sea bass, drum fish and some blue fish were filling up the coolers of local fishermen more than the highly sought after flatfish. Then as the week progressed, more word of flounder started to trickle in. Let’s get right into the report.
Captain Ray from Tide Runner Charters starts us off with word of “another good week” for his light-tackle and fly fishing charters. Bluefish were in the inlet and around the beachfront, as well as in the back. Three keeper-size stripers were also caught, then released “to be caught another day.” They came from the ocean, while the bass in the back were in the 22- to 26-inch range.
Irish Fly Charters and Captain Ken report good weekend action from the Inlet and back bay areas. Plenty of short stripers and bluefish kept the patrons busy. Sunday had fewer fish, but one “large bass” caught along a sod bank “straightened a 25-pound test swivel after a 30-second fight.” Some nice bass are still in the back.
Susie Q from the Royal Flush is up and hopes “everyone had a great winter.” During the opening weekend of flounder season, they were fishing the ocean and “bringing in sea bass, weakies, snapper blues, porgies and kingies.” A couple of notable catches went to Jeremy Hayhurst with a weakfish and Mary McCarthy with a bluefish.
The Royal Flush will be sailing two trips daily starting on Friday, June 2.
The Sea Star III is targeting sea bass by day and drum fish by night. Throw in a few bluefish and some blackfish, which went back, and you have their week in review. Sea bass pool winners (weights in parenthesis) went to Rob Conlan (4.25) and Joe DeMatteo (2.5), while drum winners were Mike Ciccotelli (30) and Ron Carroll (26). The drum fishing will continue for two more weeks, then it’s daytime fishing only.
Captain Skip from Stalker Fishing Charters reports that he is still on the bluefish. He has been weighing fish from three to 12 pounds. The blues have been hitting the poppers hard and there’s nothing better than watching a fish hit a lure on the surface.
Captain Tom from the Fishin’ Fever has had good luck recently with drum fish. He had fish to 60 pounds before the holiday weekend, then posted a video of more drum being caught on Sunday. As he put it, the “drum fish are snappin’.” Call for trip availability.
Full Ahead Sport Fishing changed gears over the weekend and went after sea bass. Captain Bob described it “as good as it gets.” On Monday of the long-holiday weekend, they went back to the bay. They proceeded to go 13 for 14 on the drum in short order, and came back in early. That beats a Monday at the job any day.
Libation Charters was out on the Saturday of the holiday weekend looking for tuna. They found one bluefin “in the warmest water.” Later they went four for five on dolphin that helped “to salvage the day.” They had what they described as “great times.”
The Sailor’s Delight Back Bay Fishing crew got their season started over the weekend with Saturday and Sunday trips. The first day saw some sea bass, dogfish and keeper-size blue claw crabs, while the Sunday trip saw the same plus blue fish and the first keeper flounder of the year, a 21 incher. The pontoon boat will be running two trips daily. Check ahead to find out their schedule.
Grassy Sound Marina checked in by reporting “a phenomenal opening day and weekend for flounder in Grassy Sound.” The flounder “were not finicky.” All baits and tides produced nice fish. Bluefish and stripers were also caught.
The opening contest winners were Tim Moore with a 23-inch, 4-pound, 11-ounce fish, and Brian Shaffer who caught a four-pound, 10-ounce specimen. Their catches, and most of the other reported catches, were made from either Turtle Creek or the area near the bridge. Other notable catches were made by Janet McCullough (23 inches, four pounds, 11 ounces) and Charlie Gould (two fish to 4.5 pounds).
Don’t forget the 11th Annual Grassy Sound Marina Flounder Tournament on Saturday, June 24. A new feature is the Kayak Division.
Over at Sterling Harbor, the anglers reported “great fishing” over the holiday weekend. Flounder, bluefish and schoolie stripers were taken from the back. Weakfish were around the inlets, and drum fish are still being taken in the bay. The bay “action should heat up right before the upcoming full moon on June 9.”
Offshore, sharking is commencing with “plenty” of blue sharks, makos and threshers. Captain Frank Hennigan went to the 30 Line, caught 17 blue sharks and returned with one mako. Also, the offshore wrecks are giving up “large” sea bass, and the canyon “edges” have tilefish. Bob and Harold Fritz found some tilefish and came back with eight, plus 20 “knot-head” sea bass.
Crabby Jack gives crabbing four claws this week.
The Avalon Lady had a nice weekend. After a rainy start to the flounder opener, they rebounded nicely to find their patrons eight keepers with the biggest going 23 inches and 4.73 pounds. They continued through the weekend and Monday with similar results. They also crossed paths with some feisty bluefish while cruising the back. They looked to have a nice crowd on board who were trying out the new pontoon boat that leaves the dock at 8:30 a.m. for a trip of four hours “or longer.”
The big sister of the Avalon Lady, the Miss Avalon, was out catching sea bass and will continue to target them. Call for their schedule, and remember that the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge is closed. Depending on where you’re coming from, you might need to leave a little earlier – keep in mind you should arrive about 45 minutes before the scheduled departure.
Boulevard Bait and Tackle has been busy with stripers, bluefish and flounder coming in the shop with many happy anglers. The biggest star was 7-year-old Cale who beached a 40.5-inch, 21-pound striper. A 32.2-pound bass was caught by another angler. Mark weighed in a 12-pound flounder, and Ken Raker caught a 6.54-pound flounder. That’s a lot of action keeping Cameron busy.
Captain Al on the Bayhound had some good trips with a lot of blues and flounder coming over the rail. One trip had a couple of baskets of blues, plus a basket that had multiple flounder in it kept the charter happy.
Thanks to Phyllis Beck who sent in two pictures, one being an 8.2-pound channel catfish and the other a 34-inch, 10.5-pound bluefish caught in Cape May Point. The pictured angler was not named. Thank you for sending in the pictures.
As you can see, a lot of fishing is going on. Get out and get involved!
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
