What are you waiting for. Get out there, even if it’s just a practice run. Check those regulations before putting the fish in your box.
Bill (bucktail willie) Shillingford fishing out of Whale Creek marina had a good week on short stripers. Fluke week by bucktail willie went back with a ALS yellow tag. Remember, if you catch a fish with a yellow tag please take the time to report the tag info as the data is critical for future regulations.
Speaking of regulations there are petitions in most tackle shops asking for a State line change in determining Fluke regulations. Currently the entire State is in the NY region and South Jersey is a much different fluke area. Petition is asking to split the State with southern half going into the Delaware region with a four fish limit, 16 inch size and 365 days fishing vs NJ/NY region of five fish at 18 inches and 128 day season. Action is needed quickly in order to have any opportunity to split the State in 2015. If you want to get involved in getting this changed, our elected officials need to hear from you. Senators, congressmen and State elected officials need to hear from concerned fishermen
Captain Ray saw some decent action on the fly rod with nice weather, calm seas, and 50 degree water. Up to now it was just Atltantic Sea Herring taking clousers fished on sinking line in the ocean, but this week they got the first stripers of the season on the flyrod. There were around in good numbers but all very small in the 12 to 17 inch size. All were caught on chartreuse/white clouser flies. On one trip had 33 of the little dinky ones. On 8wt flyrods they were a lot of fun and they were all released in good shape to be caught another day.
On another trip on a windy afternoon, Ray caught 8 stripers and 2 sea herring. The stripers were still small in the 15.5 to 18 inch size. Ray says it’s a good sign that there are small ones as in a couple of years they will be a more sporting size. Out with Ray, Dennis Marquis of Danboro, Pa, had a sea herring caught on a fly and released and Ben Marquis brought in a small striper and released it.
Our friends at Sterling Harbor report drumfish on the Delaware side of the Bay near Slaughter Beach with weakfish in the back bays of Avalon, Stone Harbor, and Wildwood. Surf anglers saw some action with some black drum and schoolie stripers with an occasional keeper, mainly on clam baits. Capt Joe Gillan of the Y-Knot out of Wildwood, had a great trip out to the Baltimore Canyon and loaded up on tile fish up to 26 pounds.
Sea Star III is on the prowl for drumfish and stripers, sailing daily 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. with drum trips Wednesday and Saturday nights 4-10 p.m.
Stray Cat Charters fished the wrecks looking for Ling, cod, Pollock. Captain says you could not get to the bottom without catching a sea bass; drifted off the wreck and still caught them. “Nice bass, loads of sea bass, best sea bass I have seen in years. But, oh well.” Stray Cat will run open boat trips, May 19, 20, and 22, 6 a.m. May 25- 26 is a combo trip, fluke and sea bass, 6 a.m.
NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife stocked 2000 trout in ten waters last week in addition to the allotments previously announced. Brook trout, weighing almost a pound each, will be stocked in Dahnert’s Lake (Bergen), Indian Lake (Bergen), Diamond Mill Pond (Essex), Verona Park Lake (Essex), Roosevelt Park Pond (Middlesex), Burnham Park Pond (Morris), Barbour’s Pond (Passaic), Oldham Pond (Passaic), Lower Echo Park Pond (Union), and Milton Lake (Union). Each waterbody will receive 200 brook trout. For more information http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/trtinfo_spring14.htm on the Division’s website.
CALENDAR: Middle Township is kicking off its 10th Annual Middle Township Drum Fish Tournament with a Captain’s Meeting May 15, 6 p.m. at Atkinson’s Tavern, Route 9, Court House. Two big days of fishing starting at noon May 16 and ending at 2 p.m. May 17. If weather is an issue, fishing will be held on May 17-18. Final weigh-in at Smokey’s Marina, Reeds Beach, May 17, noon-2 p.m. Pick up an application at the Middle Township Municipal Clerk’s office or download at www.middletownship.com. Information available by calling Suzanne Stocker, 465-8722 or sstocker@middletownship.com. Benefits the M.T. Department of Recreation.
May 17, Surf n Land Fishing Tourney, Brigantine. Contact Bob, 610-461-6132
May 17, Nuncio Bruno Kids Bluefish Tournament, Absecon Saltwater Sportsmen, Chestnut Neck Boatyard, Port republic. Go to www.abseconsaltwater.com
May 18, Governor’s Cup Surf Fishing Tournament, Island Beach State Park, registration starts at 6:30 a.m. or online at www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/gsft.htm
June 4-7, South Jersey Shark Tournament, 884-2400.
June 7, RFA Fluke Tourney, Bass River, $75 per boat before May 24, $90 after. Boundary lines have been extended this season, south to Absecon Inlet and north to Barnegat Inlet. Info at www.joinrfa.org.
The Fishing Line runs year round so keep sending your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. Column and pictures are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com and on Facebook. Check out Miller’s new children’s book “Counting the Fish in the Sea: The Story of the NEAMAP Trawls” on www.epektales.com
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
