Wow. Winter returned quickly during our recent nor’easter. The Friday wind, rain then snow sealed the fate of the weekend. There was to be no fishing as everyone kept their boats lashed to the dock. Before that though, I had heard of a few stripers coming from the back waters. Unfortunately they weren’t caught locally but in the neighboring Atlantic County area, which is still good as the fish are close. Also, if you couldn’t get to the recent fishing flea market in Ocean City at the Intermediate School, don’t fret. The weather caused a cancellation of the original date, so the show will be rescheduled. Let’s check out what else went on.
It’s a good week to finish up the 2017 fishing review from Bucktail Willie. Previously, we read about Bill’s results concerning stripers and summer flounder. When the stripers return, the bluefish are usually not to far behind. That first wave of early season bluefish usually consists of some big fish. With that in mind, we will check out Bill’s review of his encounters with those toothy critters.
Bill noted the blues “showed up” in mid-April. Those first ones were “big, lean and hungry.” The average size of these April fish was 33 inches. The largest two fish both stretched to 40 inches. That’s 40 inches of muscle, teeth and attitude.
These fish did some damage to Bill’s equipment. One pole was snapped, while one of his reels had its gears stripped. The transition to May, and the first two weeks in particular, “saw similar action” with “slightly smaller” fish. The average size for May registered 26 inches, with the first two weeks having the largest fish.
June saw a disappearing act, “unlike recent years,” and this resulted in only a “few” bluefish being caught during the remainder of the summer. The fall run “was almost non-existent.”
If you get a chance to pursue a school of these big fish, do it. The fight is something you will relish for a long time. Better yet, if possible, try fishing for them from a kayak. I’ve caught them from mine, and they will definitely tow you around. It’s a real blast.
Bill described his next fishery, weakfish, as “poor.” It can be summed up rather quickly. He “found one in April” that was also his biggest of the year. It measured 26 inches. The rest of the year gave up only three more fish with none being over 16 inches. That is the definition of a poor year.
Sea bass arrived in mid-August and hit “any” and every bait dropped down. They stayed into early November. Of all the fish caught, only one was of legal size and it was caught out of season. Bill tagged his “normal 120 plus” but made every effort to stay away from them. He even caught them on large lures that were being used to target striped bass.
After speaking to other anglers up and down the coast, Bill reports that the results were pretty much the same: a healthy population of small sea bass that should allow for the regulations on sea bass to be lessened. There will be plenty of sea bass to replace those that would be caught with revised rules. Another thing that these small sea bass are doing is “chewing on summer flounder fry moving in from offshore spawning grounds.”
Spot, a favorite of striped bass, had a “short run.” These were the prime size for striper bait, but the run in the area where Bill fishes “didn’t last long.” However, he concluded this section by saying he caught “enough to keep me happy.”
The final miscellaneous catches of his season consisted of “several large rays, seven kingfish, some blowfish and one stargazer.” “2017 was not one of my best years with less than stellar fishing and engine problems.”
This series of reports from Bill chronicled one man’s season of fishing in the back waters of Cape May County. By recording it from April through November, we saw when certain fish arrive and the order you could expect them in. It also showed the importance of the back bays and creeks as a nursery for all the species that we fish for during the year. I hope you enjoyed it and realize how important this area is to the future of our hobby.
Out and about: Don’t forget that the Saltwater Fishing Expo is this weekend, March 16through the 18, at its new location of the New Jersey Convention Center in Edison. The show opens Friday at noon and 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Seminars, various how-to classes, as well as something new, Fishing 101 Interactive Learning Stations, will be offered. Poles, reels, tackle, cooking items and clothing are just a taste of what you can expect. Lots more fishing and boating related items are available. There is an admission fee for adults, with a lesser fee for children 5 to 11 years old.
Update: The Ocean City Intermediate School had to cancel their flea market scheduled for March 3 due to the potential flooding resulting from that weekends nor’easter. The good news is that the show has been rescheduled for April 14 from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. Thankfully the weather didn’t stop the show, it just delayed it a little. Take advantage of the new date, save up some more money and head out to the show.
One week prior, on April 7 and 8, is the Wildwood Fishing and Boating Expo. The show opens both days at 9 a.m. Seminars, boat displays, custom rods and electronics will be available to check out. Also, vendors with tackle, jigs, rigs, sunglasses and clothes will be on hand as will captains and representatives of various fishing boats. Lots of vendors will be on hand with items mentioned above, plus many more things. The lot parking at the Convention Center, as well as street parking, will be available. The address for the Convention Center is 4501 Boardwalk in Wildwood. There is a small fee to get in, and kids under 12 are free. Call your friends or family, come out to the show and get in the fishing spirit. For additional information or a vendor packet, visit www.fishingexpowildwood.com.
Another show to plan for is the being sponsored by the Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club. Three seminars will be conducted by long-time members of the club on Saturday, April 28 beginning at 3 p.m. The venue will be the Strathmere Fire Hall at 9 Commonwealth Ave.
The Summer Flounder category will be handled by Bill Shillingford and Herb Hollinger. It will examine lures, rigs, baits and techniques to use when targeting flounder. The Surf Fishing segment also looks at rigs, hooks and baits, plus the important art of casting. Randy Rouch and Bud Lyon handle this segment. The final area, Inshore and Ocean Fishing, looks at techniques and fish found on our local reefs. The presenter will be Brian Roirdan.
Vendors will be on site, a $100 gift certificate will be given away following each presentation, and beverages and snacks will be provided. For more information, please contact Sallie Callahan at (717) 979-1131 or bsji911@comcast.net.
Lots of good activities are going on, the fishing should slowly ascend in quality and quantity, and the opening of tog season is less than weeks away. Get involved because things are happening. Take care, and I’ll see you around.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
