Summer’s Here
After a solid week of tough fishing winds, summer seems determined to show us what it is all about. Heat and humidity leading into the weekend will most certainly drive the city folk to the water. The real question remains. How will the fish respond to this temper tantrum by Mr. Summer? Those nasty greenhead flies, a certain harbinger of heat to come, made their first appearance on my property this week. That tells me two things. First, the heat is about to be turned up a level. Second, the fish will respond by adjusting their feeding habits. How we should compensate is probably the reason you are reading this. So let’s see what the true angling experts suggest to increase your success rate.
When it comes to the ecosystem of fishing and the waters of the bays, few know as much as Captain Dave Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsman Center. He has probably forgotten as much as I will ever know! So when I am looking for the real deal, his shop is always my first stop. Yesterday, after I read about a 17.5-pound fluke being landed in the Absecon Inlet. Phil Todd of EHT, while fishing with his son Phil jr. caught this monster flatfish while fishing from the jetty on the south side of the Absecon Inlet, I knew I had to seek out Dave before my next angling excursion. From land! According to Dave, we have settled into the summer pattern with the big fish moving in and out of the inlet on the tides. This makes sense, as that put Phil and his son right in the middle of the swim route. Frank McGinley of Galloway and his crew of one put Dave’s advice to work and had a good morning on the incoming tide with over 60 throwbacks and four in the box. Bait of choice was a minnow on an undressed trailing hook. Dave also told me that he is carrying spot for the BIG Bait, BIG Fish crowd. Best bait house in the area, that’s for sure. From killies to soft shells to Gulps, if it isn’t in Absecon Bay Sportsman’s inventory, it probably isn’t available.
Captain Rich Wilkowski and the crew of the Jersey Hooker are out chasing tuna. The window to the canyons opened the Jersey Hooker took big time advantage of it. These guys do their homework and put you on the fish. The Wilmington is the place and if pictures really don’t lie, I would think they have been able to lock into some nice 40-plus-pound yellows. Matt Morrel (formerly known as Cherry), Dave Mansky, Eric Clak and Steve Irwin wient 6 for 12 on a tough bite out there. The fish didn’t seem to be holding to a particular slot. Dave Carim was also out in the Wilmington Canyon and boated a 148-pound bigeye tuna. Spencer from the shop told me that the fluking has been good from all areas around their Brick shop. A recent Hooker charter for Dave Summer boated 15 flatties up to 6 pounds and 10 keeper sea bass to ice the cake.
Toms River is at the heart of some great fishing and Captain Hippo’s Bait and Tackle is at the heart of Tom’s river. It’s a symbiotic relationship. According to the big dog up there, Lenny, the fluking has been good since the winds died and let the water clean up. Fluking in the bay has been good, especially around Oyster Creek Channel. Blowfish are still very active but the striped bass bite has slowed down a bit. First and last light fishing will increase your chances of getting a keeper bass. White perch, a personal favorite of Lenny’s, are still doing well, so give the Mathis Park area a try for some good eating fish. Not as big as during the spring spawn but still plenty of 12 inchers around. Shedder or grass shrimp will keep the action going strong. Lenny also told me that the crabbing has stayed strong and should get even better as we move into prime time. Berkley Island Park was given a two claw rating by Lenny.
Tackle Direct may be the biggest fishing tackle site on the internet but it is also has a pretty good reputation in the brick and mortar world. Their shop in Egg Harbor Township is one you need to visit if you are a hard core angler. Tm gll tells us that the channels behind Margate and Ventnor have been showing some renewed signs of life with the wind curtailing and fluking is steadily picking up. Try Risleys for keeper flounder using killies or strip baits. The reefs out front are starting to see some good sea bass action and there have been reports of nice flounder off the beaches. Small stripers and blues are active around most all of the back bay sod banks. Top water plugs seem to hold their interest as do shiny swimmers like Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows.
Lately many have come to the conclusion that it’s easier to charter a boat than maintaining one of their own. I guess that is why The Elliot team of Bay Hawk Charters in Cape May has been so busy this year. Either that or word has gotten out that they know where the fish are hiding and are willing to share their knowledge with clients. When I spoke to Mark Sr. this week, his focus was wreck fishing. Running to the inshore wrecks, they have been consistently showing good numbers each trip. Not all blue backs mind you but with the spawn on, that is to be expected. Flounder fishing has been just OK but that should get better real soon. And with the disappointing drum season over for the most part, Delaware Bay anglers are starting to put more flounder in the coolers and Mark expects that to increase as the bait starts filtering into the big bay from its spring habitat. Berthed in Utche’s Marina right over the bridge in Cape May, Bay Hawk Charters will give you their all and put you on the fish.
Just east of the causeway on the way into Sea Isle City is a bait shop that everyone hits before they go to beach or boat. Sea Isle Bait and Tackle is a fully loaded shop with a staff that knows the area because they fish it on a regular basis. When I spoke to Mike this week, they were coming off a tough wind week but it is already starting to show signs of major improvement. The inlets have been the hot spot for flounder as the skinny waters in the back are heating up and the fish seem to be moving back and forth. The sand shrks off the beach front seem to be moving on and as a result the kingfhis are moving in. Bloodworms (yes, they have them) are the best baits for kingies. The reefs are loaded with trigger fish and a good showing of porgies. Stripers are in the back and small. Top water lures will give you the best action. As an side, Mike also mentioned that his customers have been raving about Uncle Josh’s new MEAT bait. Especially if they are working the sandy bottoms for flounder. They hold up well and mimic a fluke belly. Going to need to get me some!
Go Fish Bait and Tackle is a great name for a shop! Easy to remember and direct to the point. George is the man to see when you are in the area because he can certainly tell you where to go fish. This week, he is telling me that the wrecker anglers are getting into the sea bass in a big way. Fluking is good to moderate in the bay and inlet. Best baits for the area have been Spro bucktails tipped with squid and or Berkley Gulp swimming shads. The power plant is the place to be if you are looking to fill up a basket of blow fish. Crabbing has been OK but not fantastic as it will be once the waters settle down a little more, according to George. Cocktail blues all over the beaches. Small metal will help you with your endeavors if it’s the blues you seek.
You can’t do a fishing report and not mention Long Beach Island. And as far as I am concerned, Tony Tonneson and his staff at Tony’s Bait and Tackle on East Bay Ave. in Manahawkin must be your source if you are in the area. Bait, tackle and information, they have the best. The back of LBI has some good blue fish action and stripers along the banks. Weakfish are still being caught all the way back and blow fish can be had for the price of some blood worms in the bay. Crabbing has been fair to moderate with the winds but will go nuclear once the mud settles. Along the beaches, the striper action has slowed considerably but still active when the pods of bunker move in. Early morning and night seems to be the best times to sneak up on them. Fluking is good in all quadrants of the Island; you should be looking for the cooler waters in the inlets and out front on the outgoing tides.
The beaches of Ocean City are crowded with sunbathers but just outside the breakers are some pretty good fishing grounds. According to John at Fin-Atics Marine Supply, the whole area is about to light up. Small craft warnings are down and the back bays are heating up. The Great Egg Harbor, with its deeper water is giving up more flounder and a mix of small blues. The beaches, especially down near Corson’s inlet have some king fish, flounder and blues along with the occasional weakfish thrown into the mix. The new fishing piers on the route 52 causeway are up and running and vacationers are having success with all available species. Late afternoon and early morning have been the best times to fish these fabulous new piers.
At the top of the region is the township of Seaside Heights and all the glory of Island Beach State Park. Contrary to some other beaches in the state, anglers are actually welcomed with open arms at IBSP. And right over the causeway bridge sits one of the more unique tackle shops in the State, The Dock Outfitters. With a restaurant on the first floor and a great tackle shop on the second, you can get all you want there. But wait, they also have a nice fishing pier and rental boats should you want to ply your hobby on the back bay. When I spoke to Scott this week, he told me that the beaches are loaded with small blue fish. Any bait seems to work or just toss some metal and have a good time. There are still weakfish off of Berkley Island Park. Fluking is getting better off the beaches but the inlets (Manasquan) and the DB stretch in Barnegat Bay have been the best producers. Crabbing is good and getting better since the wind died and the water settled. Stripers are still around with the latest reports have them north of Asbury Park. They are chasing bunker so take along snag hooks and get ready to do some live lining. And if you get a chance, stop by and say high to Scott and the gang at the Dock Outfitters.
In many ways, Reel Life Bait and Tackle of Point Pleasant fame is a throw back to the old days. They have no problem staying open late or opening before the crack of dawn. And when there is a special occasion they will even stay open all night to accommodate their customer base. This weekend they will be doing just that to outfit their clientele for the upcoming shark tournament. And to make it even better, they are offering a special discount on bait for the tourney. Call Reel Life for details. I spoke with Rich this week at the shop to get the low down on fishing in the area. Blues are all over the place, front back, canal and rivers. Crabbing is phenomenal. Stripers are picky but there are nice schools of bunkers all over the place, you just have to work them a little harder. Fluking has definitely kicked off to a nice start in 40-75 feet of water. The local head boats are also reporting nice catches of both ling and nice blue back sea bass. Additionally, the party boats that are doing night bluefish trips are have great success. Seems like everything is clicking in Point Pleasant and Reel Life is there to help whatever route you decide to take.
Looking for some adventure in the Sea Isle City area? Here’s an idea, how about some back bay fishing. No boat you say. No problem if you head over to Two Chums Bait and Tackle on 43rd in Sea Isle. They have not only rental boats but all the bait and tackle to outfit you fishing on the back bays. I chatted with Lou this week (inventor of Two Chums secret sauce marinade for stripers baits) and he informed me that all sorts of activity around the area is making it a haven for those on vacation seeking a little seafood for the table. Crabbing is great, Bunker the best bet with chicken necks attracting almost as many blue claws. The kingfish are back with anglers around Strathmere catching them on bloodworms and FishBytes. Sea bass fishing has been really good on the inshore reefs according to Lou. The flounder bite has been good in the back and inlets but a little slower pick off the front around Corson’s Inlet. The strong winds that probably hurt that venue but they have since diminished and that will definitely help the bite. Shark hunters heading offshore have been doing well with mako and brown sharks with the occasional thresher taken closer inshore. All told, I believe that Two Chum’s paints a rosy picture for fishing in and around the Sea Isle area.
Best Bets for the Weekend.
Summer officially began this week and apparently it decided that it needed to emphasize the point with the first heat wave of the year. With heat indexes broaching the 100 degree mark, you can bet that everyone will be flocking to the coastal areas. As such, it will be a little more difficult no matter which option you choose. The flounder seem to be moving in and out of the back, looking for cool waters. I would lay an ambush for them in the inlets and cut them off at the pass. Inshore, the reefs and wrecks are holding nice sea bass, triggers and even porgy. Tuna in the Wilmington and other offshore points is on fire but do your homework. Sharking is good and I expect to hear about some nice threshers come next week. They are due to emerge as the front runner. If the back bays and rivers are you only option, might I suggest dusk or dawn fishing. The shallow waters will heat up quicker thereby forcing the fish to seek deeper water for both relief and fleeing bait. At least that’s how I would do it. Finally, have fun but be safe. More people can mean more opportunity for trouble. It has always been my observation that high heat can cloud some people’s judgment. Remember, you only get so many good days so spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.