Drums Beating, Bass Biting, but Fluke Floundering
It seems like it was only yesterday when I was breaking down my equipment, getting ready for a long winter break from fishing. Well, here we are at Memorial Day, starting the cycle all over again. With the exception of tautog, the Jersey angler has a better than average opportunity to put some keepers in the cooler. Blues, stripers, fluke, sea bass and yes, even weakies are all being caught up and down the coast by those willing to soak a line in the salt. Water temperatures from north to south are hovering around 60 degrees and that sets up for near prime fishing. One issue has been the wind, but the upcoming weekend forecast looks like we may even see a reduction there that will certainly enhance conditions. Memorial Day is when we honor those who have fought to protect our freedom. If you get a chance, thank a vet this weekend. Even better, consider taking a vet fishing with you. They served you, now is your chance to repay the debt. Now let’s get on to the scouting report.
Team Tackle Direct may be the biggest on-line purveyor of fishing gear in the world but it also has a first class brick and mortar facility on Tilton Road in Egg Harbor Township. This week, the consensus in the shop was flounder in the back bays will give you the best opportunity for dinner fare. Gulp, squid and mackerel strips matched with live minnows or spearing are the best attractants. If you are targeting linesiders, topwater plugs are starting to work well as the water warms up. Use metal, like Hopkins or Crocodile and a wire leader if bluefish are your goal. Risley Channel and Scull Bay are both giving up nice fish, up to 5 pounds.
As a surfcaster, I am always on the lookout for the latest and greatest lure that is going to help me land the big fish. That’s why whenever I am on Long Beach Island, I make it a point to stop in Oceanside Bait and Tackle in Brighton Beach. They have a great selection of custom and production lures there, and with their ongoing tournaments, Oceanside is always a good source of information. When a talked to Val this week, she told me that the weather has been somewhat restricting angler’s access to the water but it looks like that will improve this weekend. Stripers are a slow pick off the sod banks in the back with plugs and off the front beach using fresh bunker heads. Bluefish seem to be focused on the front beaches at this time. The drum bite is on in Barnegat with fish up to 65 pounds being boated using fresh clam. Fluking has been decent in Great Bay on the outgoing tide especially in the areas from marker 123 to 127. Live killies or strip baits are still out producing artificial baits. Val also informed me that there are still some blowfish around, so load up on small hooks and have at them.
I stopped in to chat with Captain Dave Showell at Absecon Bay Sportsmen Center today to see how his soft-shell crab operation is doing. For me, it’s just not Memorial Day without a few of Captain Dave’s crabs on the menu. It’s also a good sign that there are weakfish in the bay. And based on my observation, both are just about at their peak. Eian Donati, the boy wonder, has had weakies on almost every trip this week. With shedder all over the place, that does not surprise me. Stripers are hitting plugs in the dark in high water, so plan on getting up real early or staying up real late if that is your goal. Summer flounder is in high gear and Berkley Gulp and fresh strip baits have been the top fish finders. If you are a Gulp fan, I recommend you stop in the shop and check out their selection. You would be hard-pressed to find a shop with a larger variety. Small blues are all over the bay, so Dave advised me to load up on metal and wire leaders. Always sound counsel this time of year.
In Brick, the man to see about fishing is Captain Rich Wilkowski of Jersey Hooker Outfitters. Between the shop and the boats, there isn’t a harder worker in the area. I receive more reports and pictures from him than any other proprietor out there. The word of the Day from Captain Rich – sea bass! The reopening of the season last week has so far been very good. No dogfish to speak of but the reefs have obviously benefited from the shut down. Stripers are still going strong for those willing to pull a spoon or Mann’s Stretch diving plug behind the boat. Fluke have started off a little slow, but not that different from most years. The rivers and backwaters are the most active right now if you are seeking flatfish. The Jersey Hooker runs plenty of open boat trips on their boats, so give them a call or stop by the shop when you are in the area to check on availability. You will not be disappointed.
In Sea Isle City, if you are looking to outfit your fishing trip, be it bait or tackle, you are going to need to visit Two Chums Bait and Tackle. As an added bonus, they also have a fleet of rental boats ready and waiting for you to take out for a day of back-bay adventure. I spoke with Jack at the shop this week and he told me the hot spot was any section of the beach with rocks. From Townsend’s Inlet all the way through 54th street, stripers can be had for the small cost of a bunker head. Outgoing tide before or after dark seems to work best but they are being picked all day long. Small bluefish are all over the place. The flounder bite has been decent but recent storms have muddied the waters a bit and the big keepers are playing hard to get. Hopefully this weekend will settle things down a bit and bring the lunkers out of hiding. Evan Foulke weighed in a 3.5-pound flat fish this week that he coerced out of the Townsend’s Inlet area. And the big fish of the week was weighed in by Mike Hasenpat who brought in a fat 41-inch striped bass that tipped the scales at just over 25 pounds, taken on fresh bunker. Good job Mike.
Just across the bay from Long Beach Island sits the borough of Manahawkin. Easy access to the bay, ocean and feeder rivers. And Tony’s Bait and Tackle has bee serving the area for as long as this writer can remember. Whenever I fish up that way, it’s a mandatory stop for fresh bait and to replenish the tackle box. And they always have some fresh information on local hot spots. This week, I spoke with Matt at the shop and while the weather has held the local anglers to a low level, there are still fish being landed. Matt’s pick of the week was black sea bass, with several local anglers heading out to the wrecks and doing well, with a few even hitting their limit. Owner Andy Tonneson also noted that a recent scouting trip on the LBI beaches revealed bunker just off the surf being blasted by blues and bass. I would think that fresh bunker heads would give the surf slinger the opportunity to pull some fish on the sand. In the back, there are still some blowfish hanging out around the bridges and blueclaw crab pots are getting better results every day. With crabs going into the shed, there has been reports of keeper weakfish in the area but remember, the possession limit is still one. Small blues are all over the back bay. There have been some reports of that weakfish cousin, drum fish, so load up on some extra clam if that’s your game plan. Tony’s definitely carries the best bait selection in the area and has a great inventory of artificial attractants like Gulp and Fishbytes so stop in if you are in the area.
Ordinarily, it’s the angler that tries to lure the fish onto his or her hook. But this time of year, the roles are somewhat reversed. The beating of the drum (fish) is a sound that always brings the hordes of fisherman to the Delaware Bay in search of that big cow during their annual migration. I spoke with Taylor at the Off the Hook in Cape May this week and he told me that while there have been some nice ones weighed in, strong east and south winds have kept many of the boats in their slips. The striper bite however, is still red hot. Charter Boat Clean Sweep came in with a crew and 12 nice fish the other day out of Delaware Bay. Several were in excess of 40 pounds! Way to Go Captain Tim! I understand that all fish were taken on the chunk. In other news, there have been strong reports of weakfish action in Herefords Inlet just west of the bridge. If you are looking for action, that would be my suggestion. The sand soakers are still doing well all the way from the Wildwoods around to the concrete ship in Cape May.
Ocean City has several new fishing piers in the area if you are looking for a convenient place to drop a line in the bay. According to Ed Bronstien, chief cook and bottle washer at Fin-Atics Marine store in Ocean City, they have been getting some good play with some good results. Located on the southwestern side of the new Rte. 52 causeway, each pier is built over areas that for years have been fishing hotspots. Stripers, blues and weakfish could always be had there and I am sure it will remain very active. In other news, flounder in the bay has been getting better each and every day, weather permitting. Out front on the beaches, the surf anglers, especially those fishing in the dark, have been strong with the stripers. Bunker is the bait of choice but artificial lures like the black bomber have been gaining ground in the recent polls. Farther up the Great Egg Harbor River, white perch have been good if you can find the right holes. The Patcong has also been giving up nice catches of perch. Shedder crab or grass shrimp are bringing in some nice perch up to a pound and a half. Not a bad area for crabbing but the shed is on so they may not be as active this weekend. Just a thought if you are looking for an alternative with the kids.
Best Fishing Bets for the Weekend
Memorial Day weekend is upon us and the fishing should be good no matter what you target or where you go. The back bays present opportunities for the sod-bank pluggers, take your topwater gear and shun the light. Summer flounder don’t know that they shouldn’t arrive until June 20th and are already going strong in the skinny waters. Spearing and strip baits are working good as are the artificial baits like Berkely Gulp. Weakfish seem to be making a rebound this season, try a white bucktail with a pink plastic. And I have a strong feeling that the drum fish will be pounding the Delaware Bay heavy this weekend. Plenty of options, that is for sure. And if weather prognosticators are correct, the heat will push just as many visitors to the coast, making for a hectic extended weekend. So whatever you decide, have fun and be safe out there. Life is too short to waste a day. See you on the incoming.