The Fishing Line May 25

Well, we are now past the opening of fluke season, but the drum, stripers and blues are still ruling the roost. The pictures I’ve seen show some pretty big drum. The two largest I’ve heard of went 72 pounds, with one from the bay and the other from the beach in Brigantine. A very close 70 pounder was also reported. The bay seems to be giving up a lot of quality fish, versus large fish, so that is a good exchange. Reports of stripers continue to drift in as well, not in great numbers, but rather a steady manner. News of bluefish from the local backwaters and the beach front in Sea Isle continue to arrive. Many are reporting a number of flounder being thrown back, but very soon it will be legal to keep them. We even got word of a nice speckled trout caught recently. Let’s see what we have this week.
Captain Chuck on the Sea Star III leads off. He had his two weekly drum trips, and they produced fish from 26 to 72 pounds. His fish were taken between Slaughter Beach in Delaware, and from our side of the bay. His pool winners were John Frasca (Dennisville) with a 72 pounder, and Neil Kosilla (North Cape May) with a 70 pounder. A couple of other anglers got their first drum of the year, so a lot of people left the dock happy.
Matt from Jim’s Bait and Tackle is next. Striper fishing starts his report and it’s getting “pretty good” along the North Cape May beaches and rock piles. A couple fish were weighed recently that went close to 38 pounds. More fish are moving north along the beaches with “The Point,” Wildwood and North Wildwood beaches showing more activity. Fresh bunker was a popular bait in these areas.
The boats on the bay side are doing well, also. From the ferry jetty north towards Reeds Beach, and about a quarter-mile offshore has been a productive area. One boat had three bass in the 20 pound range, while another had a 34 pounder.
Drum have started to bite on our side of the bay as Zach Robson and Dave Duckenfield had five drum to 50 pounds. Arty Mansfield had two drum to 40 pounds from the 20 foot Slough.
Chris Daggett caught and released an estimated four pound weakfish from a Point jetty while fishing a buck tail. Matt feels that warmer water will cause an increase in the appearance of these fish.
Captain Ray from Tide Runner Charters delivers his message next. The weather finally allowed him to get out. He was rewarded with a lot of small stripers that measured around 20 inches. He said some areas were covered with small stripers as they seem to hit on every cast. That’s “always a good sign for future years.” Also caught was a nice 19.5 inch flounder that went back over the rail.
Captain Ray concluded with the observation that as the water warms, more weakfish and post-spawn stripers moving into the ocean and going north should show up.
 A couple more Cape May boats, Fishin’ Fever Sport Fishing Charters and the Lady Chris, had successful trips with stripers and drum respectively. The stripers on a recent trip totaled eight for the six anglers. A third boat, Stalker Fishing Charters had their skiff out, and the patrons were doing great with the top water blue fishing. Fish to 15 pounds were taken, and there were fish on “just about every cast.”
Grassy Sound Marina checked in with news of two tournaments. Due to when I received it, the opening day fluke contest will be done, but the 10th Annual Grassy Sound Marina Flounder Tournament is set for Saturday, June 25. Check with Jim or Debbie for more details.
The Sailor’s Delight has been doing some early season charters. Some sharks and skates have provided action, plus the blue claws are starting to come out of the mud and are finding their way into the traps being provided. A feisty nine pound, 11 ounce blue was recently caught by George Nomikos. He was out with the guys as part of his bachelor party activities.  
Boulevard Bait and Tackle sent in word of a number of nice blue fish being caught recently. The heaviest went 14 pounds and was caught Monday morning. Most were in the eight pound and heavier range. A catch of particular note was made by Tony Bologna as he weighed in a 27.5 inch, 5.67 pound speckled trout. That’s the first one of them I’ve heard about in a while.
First Fish Adventures sent word of Paul Black Jr. and a nice flounder he caught recently. Well, the fish went back, but I’m sure they’ll be out looking for it and others of its type when fluke season opens.
I recently received a message from a contributor from last year. I hadn’t heard from Rich Reinert in a while and wondered if all was well. I’m sorry to report that his wife passed, and this was the reason for not hearing from him. Rich, I’m sorry to hear of your loss. From your message, it sounds as if you have been getting out fishing, and that’s good to hear. Hopefully, that will be a sense of therapy for you, and hanging out with others of the same interest will also help you recover from your loss. Keep fishing, and let me know how you are doing.
Good luck too everyone who gets out this coming weekend, as I hear it’s supposed to be a wet, nasty one for the flounder opener. Whatever finned quarry you go after, let me know how you did.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.