Fall fishing has been challenging but there are sea bass, stripers and blues to be had.
Sterling Harbor Marina reports surf anglers fishing the Wildwoods beachfront had an excellent week with bluefish, kingfish, weakfish, and occasional stripers. There are some red drum in the surf, too. Red drum need to be 18-27 inches to keep. The bait of choice has been fresh mullet.
The offshore tuna bite has been slow but there have been some nice wahoo and mahi-mahi caught from the 30 Fathom line and out. Capt. Frank Hennigan and crew of “Avalanche” out of Wildwood, had 2 wahoo over 65 pounds and numerous mahi-mahi while trolling east of the Hot Dog.
In the back bays it is a fall smorgasbord with weakfish, small stripers and snapper blues. Crabby Jack gives the crabbing 4.5 out of 5 Claws this week.
Grassy Sound Marina confirms these reports with bluefish, snapper blues, weakies, and stripers (mostly shorts) being caught off the Fishing Pier and in the back bay. Puppy drum and blues are also in the back and off the beach.
Sam Ellis, Scotch Plains, caught a 20 inch weakfish off the pier on clams at the bottom of the outgoing tide. The Wildwood crew has been catching lots of bluefish and snappers during both tides. Madison Whelan, Swedesboro, caught her first striper using live mullet during outgoing tide near the marina.
Captain Dan Schafer, Insomniac Guide Service LLC, got out with Bill and Ken. They picked up two fish then headed to a flat that would keep them in front of the fish for the remainder of the trip. They found most of the back water brown until they poled on the grass flats where they had ‘gin clear’ water clarity.
A few days later, Captain Dan took Chris and Kellie and found a few bass but most of the strikes were the non-committal type so they fished for tog and by the turn of the tide had a steady bite with fish to 6 pounds.
Reminders: Tautog: one fish, 15 inches, July 17-Nov. 15. Sea bass season closes between Oct. 14 and Nov. 1.
Utsch’s Marina Striped Bass Tourney, Oct. 27-29, 884-2051.
Send your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. All pictures submitted are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com.
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