The Fishing Line: Need a few good fish?

Back to school shopping? Checking on class assignments? Worried about school bus routes? Go fishing. You can always do that stuff later. Why not get in a few more trips before we have to say “School.”
Reports from Sterling Harbor tell me fluke fishing remains good with fish being caught at the reefs and the Old Grounds; fish up to 7 pounds. Nice sea bass up to 4 pounds are mixed in.
In the surf, there are plenty of kingfish up and down the Wildwood beaches; use fish bites for bait, and small bluefish are being caught off Cape May Point and around the Inlets.
On the offshore scene, tuna fishing has slowed, but plenty of white marlin being are caught from Poorman’s Canyon south to the Washington Canyon. Sterling Harbor is having a mid-summer sale on all in stock Wilderness Systems kayaks. Stop by for a test ride.
Brynnie B Charters did a Daddy/Daughter trip in the back bays at night. It was slow going for awhile, but then they found the spot. Chloe nailed 5 short stripers to 24 inches using a 1/4 ounce jig with a Mullet colored worm.
Next trip Captain Frank guided Brendan and Frank Magee on a beach trip, fishing a few local beaches from Stone Harbor to Strathmere using blood worms, clam, and squid as bait. Chloe tagged along and acted as the First Mate/helper for the trip. The guys were able to land bluefish, kingfish, the usual doggies, and a ton of spot. Captain says they had a lot of action, but nothing big. Still all had a great time.
Once again, they hit Cape May Reef with Andy Majka. They back trolled over a variety of structures and rubble and were able to put together a great catch on the day. Fresh bunker was the primary bait, which they snagged on the way out, along with some clam, squid, sea robin strips, bluefish strips, and mackerel. Captain reports a fairly constant bite of flounder and sea bass all day landing 7 nice keeper flounder to 22 inches, 47 sea bass, with 4 keepers, and 2 triggerfish. Over 125 boats out there at one point.
Grassy Sound Marina reports crabs, crabs and more crabs off the fishing pier and in the back bay plus some sea bass, flounder and stripers. Jake Shoulders, Grassy Sound caught a 28 inch striper with a white rubber Storm lure on a jig head fishing Grassy Sound during incoming tide. Liz McGraw, Wilmington, Del. caught a 21 inch flounder on minnows and squid, incoming tide in Jenkins.
Frank’s Boats reports the crabbing continues to improve and the flounder catches lessen. Most all the anglers are still catching flounder but for the keepers, you’ll need to fish the holes where the water is cooler. There are several holes close by, so be sure to ask Frank where they are. Sea bass continue to provide lots of action for the kids. Best advice: Use a small hook with a small piece of squid and you’ll keep busy re-baiting the lines.
This week Captain Zig of First Fish Adventures out of Pier 88 in Sea Isle City had a mixed bag of fish. Alex Hans, 4 of Arlington, Va., caught his first flounder and Captain Mackenzie Tinner, 12 of Newtown, Pa., got to drive the boat home after their trip. Steve and Jen Fox of Fort Washington, Pa., took their girls, Lauren, 10 and Kiki, 7 fishing and found lots of little sea bass, a few sand sharks and a lot of fun.
Hope to hear your fish story soon. Send your fishing reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. There are terrific pictures coming in but not room in print for all of them. All pictures submitted are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com.