The fishing is up and running. From surf, deck or dock, take home flounder, stripers, and drum.
Captain Frank W. Breakell, (www.brynnie-binshorefishing.com) fished on the beach in Cape May and guided Rich Selover of Eldora and John Thompson of Ocean View, targeting stripers with clam from the beach. John landed a nice 35 inch bass, Rich caught a 29 inch bass, and Captain brought in a 39 incher. Early incoming tide was the ticket. Lots of Doggies mixed in to keep things fun between the striper bites.
Sterling Harbor Marina reports drumfish in the Delaware Bay with catches improving daily. Scott Wheeler and crew of the Big Bone had six drum up to 70-pounds. Most have been caught in the Slaughter Beach area.
Flounder fishing remains good in the back bays with fish taking live minnows, squid, mackerel and Gulp! and the pictures prove it.
On the kayak fishing scene, Bill Stewart of Salem, had six flounder up to 22-inches fishing on his Hobie in the Wildwood back bay. Most of his fish were caught on a bucktail-mackerel strip combo. Frank Scirrotta of Cherry Hill, jigged Gulp! from his Outback and landed flounder up to 20 inches.
Surf fishing is heating up along the North Wildwood and Cape May beaches. Stripers up to 40-pounds have been weighed in and a few smaller black drum as well, using clam for bait.
At Frank’s Boats, the high catch of the week was Tom and Al Falla from Lansdale and Warminster, Pa. with seven nice keeper flounder. The best bait continues to be minnows and more fish are caught on the outgoing tide than the incoming. Water temperatures are still low so the best fishing is in the intercoastal waterway between markers 309 and 339. The warmer water coming off the flats helps the bite to be more active. There have been a few weakfish in the 15-16 inch range which was a nice surprise.
Sea Star III caught fluke by day and drumfish by night. Check out the pictures.
Bill (bucktail willie) Shillingford fishing out of Whale Creek Marina had a successful opening day with Fluke up to 5 1/2 lbs followed by another decent day Monday with fluke up to 4 lb. Bucktail with a scent pork rind prove to be the trick.
Don’t miss a free flounder seminar, May 26, 9 a.m., Whale Creek Marina, conducted by Bill “bucktail willy” Schillingford, local legend and avid fish tagger. Free coffee and donuts, call 231-1766.
News: May 8-The House of Representatives voted to pass the Southerland-Grimm Amendment to close the loophole created by environmental special interest groups to expand “catch shares” along the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico. For details go to www.joinrfa.org.
NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds the public that the best time to take a free hunter education class is now. Information and registration at www. njfishandwildlife.com/hntedcls.htm
Also on NJDEP’s Web site you’ll find a feature article, Big Carp Are Happening…NOW! that highlights the recent catch of a 55-pounder.(www.njfishandwildlife.com/artcarp12.htm.
Send your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. All pictures submitted are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com.
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