The Fourth Annual High Tides Striper Tournament took place Nov. 6, at Hinch Marina, Cape May. The tournament organized by Carpenters Local Union 1743 of Cape May county, donates all proceeds to the Brendan Borek High Tides Memorial Fund, Inc. of Avalon, a childrens pediatric cancer charity. A check was presented to Brendan Funds’ Chairman Ms. Lydia Borek in the gross amount of $38,768. A total of 72 boats fished with 53 stripers being weighed in.
First place went to Michael Senger, Erma, 49.06-pounds; Tim Shaw, Green Creek, took second place (42.56-pounder); Rob Hafele, Stone Harbor, third place with a fish weighing 39.8-pounds; fourth place was taken by Anthony Verrelli, Tranton, 39.32-pounds; and fifth place went to Mark Hlywiak, Cherry Hill, 38.83-pounds. Top honors in the children’s category went to Sean Emigholz, age 10, Pittsgrove, first place with a fish weighing in at 35.45-pounds and second place to Jake Crutchley, 11, Ewing, whose fish weighed 25.41-pounds.
The Carpenters Local Union 1743 and the High Tides Striper Tournament thanks all sponsors and anglers for their generosity and participation in this year’s tournament. (www.hightidestripertournament.com)
Speaking of tournaments, the sixth annual Fight Leukemia Fishing Tournament will take place on Nov. 20. Prizes for biggest striper, bluefish, and weakfish. Registration is $50 and includes an awards party. Pre-register by calling 602-8957 or by going to Tackle Direct, Somers Point between 6-8pm, Nov. 19. Fishing is open to back bays, surf, and boats to 3 miles out from 7 am to 4 pm and in the waters off Absecon Inlet to Hereford Inlet. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, come on out, fish hard, and support a great cause.
The tournament started as a way to honor local fisherman/surfer Chris Hagel who lost his fight with leukemia in 2005. You can get more info by visiting www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.
Now to the reports.
According to Sterling Harbor bait & Tackle chunking for striped bass in the Delaware Bay remains very good. Andy Beccari of North Wildwood weighed in a 30-pound bass measuring 45 inches boated while chunking in the lower Bay.
Bass were caught in the North Wildwood surf. Drew Applebaum of Cherry Hill, had a 38 inch striper caught on clam in North Wildwood and reported a few others caught around him. In the back bays, schoolie Stripers with an occasional keeper are being caught on clam or while plugging around bridges and sod banks. Togging remains good at the jetties and inshore wrecks.
Captain Ray was able to pick away at some small stripers in the back bay on the fly rod. The high winds made the inlet and beach front waters a bit brown so he worked the back bay areas where the water was clearer. He says he had to work hard for all our fish this week as the water temperatures were getting closer to normal for this time of the year.
He found fish at shallow creek mouths on the outgoing tides, with chartreuse buck tail deceiver and clouser flies working best, while using intermediate lines. It may be getting colder but catching a few fish warms you up real fast.
There’s still some good freshwater fishing to be had before the lake waters get real cold, continues Captain Ray. On days where there have been bad tides for fishing the back bay or were it is too windy, he’s been hitting some Cape May County Lakes and picking up some nice large mouth bass and pickerel on the fly rod. Fish still keep taking orange/yellow Mickey Finn flies. The large mouth bass seem to like the flies worked slower and the pickerel like it worked fast.
In The News: On Nov. 9, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASFMC) rejected a proposed increase in commercial striped bass quota. (RFA)
It’s a tricky season for fishing, fall always is. But don’t let that stop you.
Send your fish stories and photos to cmiller@cmcherald.com.
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?
