Hot, Hotter, Hottest. Those are three words that I believe will be best for describing both the fishing and the weather for the next couple of weeks. There is really nothing you can do about the weather. You take what you get and do the best with it. But the fishing, that’s another story altogether. Stick with On the Water and we will help you adjust your tactics to make the most of the balmy days of summer. Believe it or not, the water temperatures (one of my favorite indicators, as you may already know), have cooled off a bit in some spots. Finding variations in water temps can be a great way to get on the fish.
What would a fishing forecast be without some mention of the Delaware Bay? So I got a hold of the crew at Off the Hook Marina in Cape May to get the lowdown. The summer doldrums are firmly in place down there but that is not to say there isn’t good fishing. Flounder and blues are being caught with fairly decent keeper to throwback ratio on the fluke. Minnows and cut baits are the options of choice for hook dressing with some penny colored Gulps thrown in for good measure. The reefs outside the bay have been the best producers. Sea bass and triggers are having a good season and croakers are plentiful. Stop in and see Chuck and Mary at Off the Hook and tell them I sent you. Hopefully, they won’t hold it against you.
I gave Ed Broadstien a call at Fin-Atic’s in Ocean City to find out what is hot in northern Cape May County. If I am planning on wetting a line at Corson’s Inlet, GE Inlet or anywhere around the front or back of Ocean City, Fin-Atic’s is always one of my first stops. This week, Ed told me that there are a variety of options available to the anglers in the area. If you get out early morning or after last light, the sod banks and bridges are loaded with stripers. Topwater lures are the ticket to success. No boat, no problem according to Ed. The Ocean City beaches are giving up tons of kingfish on bloods as well as some healthy flatties. Both inlets are holding flounder as they seem to be starting their annual migration from back to front. And if you are hankering for some blue claws, get your gear together. The back bays are absolutely alive with them for those willing to brave the normal onslaught of insects that come along with a day of crabbing. Ed recommends the shallows of the Patcong for best chances of a filling a bushel basket.
Atlantic City may be the hot spot for gambling in the state but it is also a great place to get out fishing if you are looking for a brief respite from the tables. If you are looking for some aquatic action then stop by One Stop Bait and Tackle on Atlantic Ave. and owner Noel Feliciano can hook you up with everything from bait and tackle to the hotspots that only the locals are supposed to be privy to. The best bet this week are flounder and kingfish according to Noel. Bloodworms for the kings with and strip mackerel or squid will work just fine to put some flounder in the box. The jetties off Absecon Inlet have been known to hold some trophy-sized tautog and even though the current limit is only 1 fish per day, it’s still well worth the effort for a tasty, crab-eating, rock dweller. The water temperatures have been dropping into the mid to high 60s this week and the bite has been steady.
Probably the best surf fishing in New Jersey can be found at Island Beach State Park in Seaside and people that know that area the best are the gang at Betty and Nick’s. Best baits, best tackle and best info. For as long as I have been fishing, that’s been the case with Betty and Nick’s. Water Temperatures have been in the low 70’s which sets up perfectly for fluking and blues in the surf. You will probably need around 4 to 5 ounces to hold bottom off the beach. Strip baits as well as live killies are working best. The inlets have been producing a little of everything from fluke to blues to triggers and blackfish. Mornings have been a little foggy with this heat and winds off the water, so be careful if you are heading out on your kayak or small boats. Lavellette has been giving up some nice fluke to the kayakers there.
The offshore bite is still on according to Dave Arbeitman at the Reel Seat in Brielle. The difference being, you need to work a little harder for your prey now as opposed to following the scallop boats. As I was speaking with Dave, he was busy building some of their world famous “glow in the dark” squid spreader rigs. Bluefin are being caught at the Chicken Canyon and yellowfin are being taken on the troll with spreaders. Al Bessemer on the boat “Linda B” out of Manasquan had a great weekend with more than a few yellowfin, big mahi and also released several blue marlin. I understand that some of the yellows were caught on the standstill using butterfly jigs. Pulling ballyhoo has been working as well. Like Dave said, they are out there but you need to have the right ammo in your gun. Stop in and see the guys at the Reel Seat if you are up north. If their not carrying it, chances are it’s not something you would need anyway. These guys are offshore pros, bank on them!
Best bets for the weekend.
Up and down the coast, heat is on the menu. But the water temperatures are jumping all around the place. Find the dividing lines and you will find the fish. There are still big keepers in the back if its fluke you’re looking for and the beaches are also producing some nice fish. If you want to fill up your cooler, think kingfish and head south. If you are looking for linesiders, get up early or fish the dark in the back sod banks and bridges. Topwater lures like Smack It’s by Stillwater lures are a good choice.
Finally, I would like to throw out a big thank you to all the tackle shop owners out there. Ordinarily, I save this for the end of the season. But this week, at the height of vacation season, I had the opportunity to meet with some of you in person. It occurred to me that no matter how busy your shops are, you never push me off when I pry info out of you for our readers. You guys and gals have a short window of opportunity to make your money and yet you always find time to talk to us hacks. For that I would like to thank you now. For the rest of you out there, what are you waiting for? So, get ready, get set and GO FISH!