It seems it’s the same old weekend story. Wind and rain move in and the boats stay at their berths. Some fishing time is lost, but not all. There was flooding as predicted along the shore, but the storm moved by quickly. That quick movement seems to have been our saving grace. The flooding would surely have been worse if the wind and rain had continued throughout the day. Let’s hope that everyone made it through safely and that damage was kept to a minimum. Sea bass and triggerfish continue to be caught. There is something exciting for those of us who like to go kayak fishing as news of a new venue for fishing, kayak launching and just relaxing was recently made public. We also have news of a local boat relocating to a new fall/winter home. This may have been the slowest week I have experienced since I started writing this column, but we still have things to report. Let’s get started.
The Sea Star III reported that “action was good until the weekend winds slowed us down.” Captain Chuck concluded that statement by saying that “hopefully things will get back to normal when the weather calms down.” He had his patrons on sea bass and triggerfish during those recent outings with two daily pools being won by Frank Servocky. His first was won with a 4-pound sea bass, while on another day he won with one weighing 1.75 pounds. Scott Shaw also got in on the winning by weighing in a 3.75-pound triggerfish. That’s some good eating no matter whose table you end up at.
The Miss Avalon will be running a sea bass trip this Saturday, and announces that they are sailing on Veterans Day with a special for veterans and civil service employees. Fares on that day will be half-price. It is their way of saying “thank you” for your service. Get out and take advantage of a nice opportunity.
This slow period can be used as a chance to remind everyone that this is a good time to plan your fall and winter fishing excursions. If you prefer a charter or a “six-pack boat,” now is the time (actually it may be late in the process) to call them and book your trip. Don’t wait too long as many days have already been grabbed by others. There are many good captains in the area waiting to hear from you, so give them a call. There are also “open boats” where you can just show up, hop on and grab a spot at the rail. Again, the good captains of these boats are ready to serve you. Some of these boats work the backwaters if you don’t want to hit the open ocean, so that gives you a nice option. Finally, one other thing that some “open boats” are doing is running what I’ll term as a “reservation trip.” They are open to a set amount of anglers, usually between 15 and 25. You call up, reserve a spot and when that number is reached, the trip is closed. Late callers go on a “to be called list” in the event someone who registers early has to drop out. This guarantees a trip unless the weather interferes, because the boat has a set amount of customers coming. There is nothing worse than getting to the dock, getting set up on the boat and less than seven anglers showing up. The trip usually doesn’t run, because most boats that I am familiar with need no less than seven anglers to make the trip financially viable. Knowing that you have a spot on board, and the trip is virtually guaranteed to occur, allows you to rest easy as the date draws near. The 15 to 25 amount allows the anglers to move around the boat and try to find a productive piece of structure. This is particularly important when you are fishing a wreck, reef or pile of rocks. Another nice feature results when the boat can leave earlier than planned because all the anglers have arrived and checked in. Everyone is there, so it’s time to cast off. And who’s going to complain about a little more fishing time? No matter which style trip or boat you choose, act quickly and get yourself a spot at the rail so you can be there when the fish are biting. Don’t put yourself in a position of having to hear “you should have been here yesterday.” Good luck and tight lines to you.
Update: If you are planning a trip on the Cape May Lady, DON’T go to Cape May. For the fall and winter they will be sailing out of the marina located at the corner of West Rio Grande Avenue and Susquehanna Avenue in Wildwood. This is where the Royal Flush and the Sailors Delight Back Bay Fishing vessels are docked. This is also where No Bones Bait and Tackle is located. It is at the base of the George Redding Bridge. If in need of directions from your GPS or phone, use 560 W. Rio Grande Ave. as your destination.
The Ocean City Fishing Club Tournament, scheduled for Oct. 27, was canceled due to the Nor’easter that hit the area that day. The Ocean City Fishing Club hopes to reschedule the tournament on Nov. 17. Stay tuned as I will pass on any information that I receive about a definite make-up date.
The city of Sea Isle announced that they will be entering into a project to build a combination fishing pier, kayak launch area and a “passive pier” where you can just relax and enjoy the views of the back bays. The pier is scheduled to open in late 2019. The plan was introduced at a recent City Council meeting.
The pier will be modeled along a boardwalk design. It will extend out 132 feet with the center section allowing for fishing. A walkway to the left will lead to a covered pavilion while a dock area on the right will provide a handicap-accessible launch section for kayaks and paddleboards.
The area for the pier is located at the city’s Dealy Field complex near 60th Street. There is parking already available at the site.
Obviously I was interested in the fishing pier aspect, but even more so in the area where you can launch a kayak. This aspect will open up new waters to a lot of people. With the back bays already being known as a great area to fish, this will offer a new and exciting option for anyone who like to fish from a kayak.
Take care, have a good week and try to get some fishing in.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
