Southern & Central New Jersey Fishing Report 5-10-2012

Fishing Report for Barnegat Bay to Delaware Bay

Flukin’ Starts Strong in South

The preliminary data on last weekend’s opening day of summer flounder season is in, and while the results have not been finalized, it looks like we are going to have one great year. Even though the day started out foggy, damp and cold with a perigee “super moon” and its associated high tides, there was a strong showing of anglers and an impressive list of fluke brought home to the table. Summer may be officially weeks away, but for most New Jersey anglers, Saturday made the wait seem well worth the while. One thing I did recognize almost immediately was that the farther south you fished, the better your odds of keeper flounder. Linesider and blues still dominated the northern tiers of the state but we in the south finally got some payback. From all reports, the south has risen again!

I like to start close to my home port even though I didn’t get out this weekend. My mother’s 80th birthday has to take precedent over a few fish in the cooler. But not to worry, I still have my sources hard at work. One of the very best is Captain Dave Showell, owner-operator of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s center. If he’s not around the shop, chances are better than not that he is out on Absecon Bay on a charter or gathering bait. And he is always running some kind of contest for weighing in fish. So it literally pays to seek out his sage advice on fishing. Last week’s 7.5-pound fluke caught by Eian Donati was the big flat fish to date. But many others breached the 3-pound-plus club on opening day. The McGinley Family, (Frank , Sean and 12-year-old Ashley) came home with 4 keepers on opening day. Not bad for 4 hours on the water. Berkley Gulp and squid strips were the key according to high hook Ashley. And don’t give up on the stripers yet. Captain Dave had the Mangino family out on one of his back bay charters and not only did they pick up several nice striped bass (up the river and on big jerk shads), but they also brought back three keeper flounder to round off the trip. And even though the possession limit is only one fish, Dan Scull brought in one weakie to go along with his keeper fluke.

Michael of Sea Isle Bait and Tackle reported a great opener to the flounder season, even with the full moon, fog, patchy showers, big tide and wind. The shop weighed in a bunch of fish in the 3- to 4-pound range, and the big winner of the opening day flounder tournament was David Rothmel with a 5-pound, 2-ounce flounder. All three of the top qualifiers won prizes, including a year-long subscription the On The Water Magazine.

It is only the second year of operations for Two Chums Bait and Tackle in Sea Isle City but you would think these guys have been at it for decades. Their bait selection is second to none in the area and their fleet of rental boats is top of the line. Flounder is the top species in Sea Isle these days, but I also understand that the crabbing has been off to an early start as well. Evan Foulke had a catch of fluke weighing in at just over 6 pounds. That’s a good start.

As I had mentioned, the further south you moved along the coast, the better your odds are for putting some keeper flounder in your cooler. To prove that assumption, I checked in with the gang at Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin. And while there have been a few keeper fluke brought in to the shop, they definitely aren’t the hot topic there. Stripers are still the numero uno target species, especially out front on Long Beach Island.  Bunker heads are the top-producing bait, but the boaters trolling Tony Maja lime green bunker spoons are doing quite well. In the bays, bluefish, fluke and weakfish are all playing second fiddle to the blowfish bite. Barnegat Bay has been the most productive area if you are looking for variety. And if you are targeting weakfish, the area from Waretown to Forked River has been good, if not spectacular at times. Sandworms or pink Fin-S increase your chances substantially. But remember the possession limit is one fish per angler.

Every time I walk into the new Tackle Direct superstore on Tilton Road in Egg Harbor Township, I am simply blown away.  The staff there has developed  one of the largest inventories of tackle in all of New Jersey and also can tell you the all local hot spots. This week, they are recommending that local anglers give Skull and Lakes bays behind Ventnor a look if you are after keeper flounder. Try Berkley Gulps (especially chartreuse) or squid strips to increase your results. The area off of Kennedy Park in Somers Point has also shown good potential. Water temperatures are closing in on 60 and that is always a good omen. The striper catch has been better in the back off of the banks then on the front beaches but Brigantine beach has been running contrary to the points farther south. Not so many bluefish, but plenty of schoolie bass, especially at first and last light. The bigger fish have been taken off the beaches at night with clam and fresh bunker.

On Long Beach Island, I always make it a point to stop in and visit with Val at Oceanside Bait and Tackle in Brighton Beach. My favorite form of angling is plugging from the suds, and there are few shops as close to my home base that carry such a wide variety of custom plugs. Bodega, AH Custom and Carolina are just a few of the plug line that they carry at Oceanside.  And Val always has some specials running to go along with their seemingly never-ending fishing tournaments. The current tournament goes on through June 23rd and has daily as well as end prizes. LBI has yet to light up for fluke but some have been taken. The main target is the striped bass with blues as an added bonus. Roman O. picked up a nice 14-pound linesider on clam off the north end of the island. And local Kurty has been doing real well targeting blues as well. He weighed in a 9-pound blue that he caught on fresh bunker. Blowfish are inundating the back bays with worms being the best attractant for these tasty exotics. Water temps are still a little cool for the crabbers but it won’t be long according to Val. Stop in and check out the shop if you are in the area. You will not be disappointed.

Ocean City may have recently shot down the BYOB amendment to their charter but they aren’t prohibiting the catching of fish locally, which is for certain. According to Ed Bronstien, there have been some puppy drums taken off the front beaches, specifically down towards Corson Inlet. The back has been giving up some stripers off the sod banks mostly in the 24 to 30 inch range. Artificial lures like black Bombers and Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows are working well. The water temperatures behind Ocean City have hover consistently in the high 50’s so fluking should be good this upcoming weekend according to Ed. Opening day had it’s share of keepers but foul conditions kept the catch down a little. Gulp, minnow and squid were the best baits.  If you are in Ocean City and looking for up-to-the-minute scouting reports, stop by the shop on West Avenue (just south of 34th street) and tell them I sent you. The gang there will point you in the right direction.

We will wrap things up this week with a Delaware Bay report. Drum are starting to beat their tom-tom’s in the bay according to Matt of Jim’s Bait and Tackle in Cape May. The incoming tide at night on the Delaware side of the bay would be your best bet. It’s not a consistent bite yet but it should light up soon. On the striper side, fishing has been good from all beaches from Wildwood up through Cape May Point, wrapping around to the Delaware Bay. In fact, according to Matt, the surf dancers have been doing much better than the boaters. Bait must be hugging the coastline. Flounder have been hit or miss and only in the back with skinny water. Water temps close to 60 all around the area should have that bite steadily getting better. Sounds like a plan to me.

Best Bets for the weekend.

There are plenty of options on the board if you are looking to get out this weekend. Early forecasts indicate that this weather will move out and we will have closer to prime conditions. Stock up on your bug spray as the gnats have been nasty.  Flounder are getting better each and every day, especially as we get closer to the crab molt. Not many big bluefish in the south, but plenty of bass. Arm yourself with fresh bunker and clam and hit the beaches. Best plugs are swimmers and divers this time of year so go with those. If you only have one choice for bait, take clam, you may get a hookup on some drumfish along the beaches. They are definitely moving the coast. I saw a picture of a 5- to 6-foot sand tiger shark hooked in LBI off the beach, so you never know what you may run into. Fluking is best in the back bays, the further inland you can go the better you will probably do. The weakies that have been caught were deep in the back bays so make sure you have some pink in your arsenal and maybe a little shedder oil to bring them in. Have fun, be safe and catch ‘em up. Life is too short to waste even a moment.  See you on the incoming.