Fall stripers should be adding to the fun any day now and in the meantime both the Grassy Sound Marina and Sterling Harbor report productive weeks.
Wildwood’s surf and back bays were alive with finger mullet, peanut bunker, and spot everywhere and the predators were chasing them. Bluefish were most prevalent from the Wildwood surf, with some stripers and red drum caught as well. In the back bays small striped bass and plenty of weakfish are being caught near bridges and dock lights at night. During the day, the weakfish around the channel edges are taking Mirrolure mirrodine lures, Rattletraps, and Gulp!
Sterling Harbor also reports wahoo from the 30 Fathom Line out to the Canyons. Tuna have been showing up on the troll and while overnight chunking along with some swordfish. Crabby Jack gives crabbing 3 out of 5 Claws this week.
Grassy Sound Marina is seeing weakies, black drum, kingfish, blues, and stripers off the fishing pier and red drum behind North Wildwood. Don Shough, Wildwood, caught 4 weakies to 24 inches, 2 short stripers and a redfish behind North Wildwood. He fishes exclusively with Zoom. Five-year-old Amir Elston, Whitesboro, caught a 21 inch weakfish and a nice blue off the pier using mullet chunks at the top of the tide.
Mike Passamante, Bristol, Pa., caught a 19 inch black drum and some sea bass (before the deadline!) off the Fishing Pier with clams at the top of the outgoing tide. Joe Hughes, Pittsgrove, caught some nice blues, sea bass and a flounder about 20 inches that was caught and released. A 30 inch striper was caught in Grassy Sound on live mullet by the Love’s of Grassy Sound.
Captain Ray, Tide Runner, Cape May, reports fishing improving as the waters start to cool. There seems to be a good amount of bait fish to be found but you still have to work to find the stripers. The inlet and beachfront fish are becoming more active. Most of the stripers are small but a couple of keepers are mixed in.
Popping flies still remain the most effective and fun method. Using Steroid Gurglers and Bob’s Banger flies with hard fast strips on floating line are providing exciting top water explosions as the bass try to engulf the fly.
Captain Ray is still seeing a lot of bluefish action and they are hitting the popping flies as well. Most are running in the 15 to 19 inch range and exciting when caught on the fly rod, but with their teeth they have chewed up their fair share of flies. Best times have been early evening or after dark with a good strong running tide.
Ray also stopped by some Cape May County lakes and picked away at some small largemouth bass and bluegills a few times, finding that cricket patterns are getting the most action. As the water cools and clears up in the lakes, the action should start to pick up.
NJDEP: More than 20,000 trout are being released by the state Division of Fish and Wildlife. Two-year old brook and rainbow trout, 14-to-16 inches, are being stocked in 17 streams and 15 ponds and lakes and three-year old rainbow trout, 18-24 inches, are being released in state waters. All fall-stocked waters may be fished as soon as they are stocked.
Fishing for trout in New Jersey requires a fishing license and trout stamp for anglers between the ages of 16 and 70. Anglers can buy and print a fishing license and trout stamp online or can purchase a license and stamp at one of more than 200 license agent locations throughout the state. All proceeds from freshwater fishing licenses are dedicated to improving fishing in New Jersey and protecting the quality of the state’s waters both for fish and people. For stocking locations maps visit:www.njfishandwildlife.com/images/fishing/trout_fallstock_map12.jpg
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2012/fall_stocking_map12.pdf
The 21st Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament Results: Kingfish, First Place, Tyler Contento, Ewing, 13 6/8 inches; Blackfish, Teen First Place, Justin Subramanian, Pennington, 16 5/8 inches; First Place, Adult, Robert Campi, Flemington, 19 4/8 inches; Bluefish, Child First Place, Jaden Ferry, Hamilton, 17 7/8 inches; Teen First Place, Tyler Contento, Ewing, 18 inches; Adult (Female)First Place, Debbie Peterson, Pitman, 18 inches; Adult (Male) First Place and 2012 Governor’s Cup Winner: Bill Sheppard, Seaside Park, 20 3/8 inches. Visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/gsft.htm for list of all winners.
Reminders: Tautog: one fish, 15 inches, July 17-Nov. 15. Sea bass season is closed 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. and on Facebook.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
