Post Labor Day lack of patrons, terrible winds, leftover swells from tropical storms, and everything else, made the start to the fall fishing season less than exciting. However, the latest reports still had some productive fishing, and this week has already gotten much, much better. (Captain Chuck, Sea Star III). So don’t give up. Yes, the water is a very perplexing color but these are the last few days for flounder. The season closes Sept. 25.
Sterling Harbor is reporting the same inconsistencies post Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Katia. Scott Wheeler of the Big Bone out of Wildwood, came up with seven keeper flounder up to 5-pounds at the Old Grounds and snapper blues and croakers are biting off Cape May Point and just off the beach.
In the surf there are snapper blues and an occasional striper being caught. Joseph Good, 10, York, Pa., pulled a 30-inch striped bass from the Wildwood Crest surf using finger mullet for bait.
In the back bays, schoolie stripers can be caught on soft plastics or top water plugs toward dusk, mainly on the high tides around the sod banks.
Grassy Sound Marina reports lots of sea bass and snapper blues caught off the fishing pier along with some flounder. There were also some stripers caught in Jenkins at the top of the tide on clam and crabs are still plentiful in the back bay. Matt Capone, Steelmantown, caught a 22-inch, 5-pound flounder on shedder crab and squid in the Delaware Bay. He also had some snapper blues.
Offshore, mahi-mahi can still be found. Check out the pictures from Captain Jerry String.
Frank’s Boats could have had a crabbing tournament for all the great pictures he sent in. They’ll all be up on the Herald’s Web site. Check out Fishing and Boating on the Community tab.
NEWS: Atlantic coastal states have scheduled hearings for public comment on Draft Addendum V to Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden: New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife Sept. 29, 7 PM, 33 Washington St., L.M. Hirshblond Room, Toms River. Call Peter Himchak, 748.2020.
Saturday, Sept. 17 is the 27th Annual Kids Freshwater Fishing Tournament at Scotland Run Park in Clayton, 8:30-11:30 AM. The tournament is free for kids 18 years and younger with boating and non-boating categories. Call 856-881-0845 or Sportsman’s Outpost,, 856-881-3244. Sportsman’s Outpost and Sterling Harbor Bait & Tackle will be offering free kayak demos at the park starting at 9 AM.
Captain Skip Jastremski wants to remind you that fall striper season isn’t too far off and folks are already booking charters. Call972-5218 or e-mail stalkerfishingcharters@yahoo.com
Send your fishing reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com
Sea Isle City – Why are we paying two construction officials hundreds of thousands of salaries and they can’t even have buildings that are destroyed by a fire demolished in a timely manner. It’s been 7 months. We…
