Fishing Report for Manaquan Inlet to Delaware Bay
Big Stripers and Tuna Time!
Weather this time of year is always subject to some mysterious patterns and of late it has certainly lived up to that reputation. Late April, we hit the 90s on more than several occasions. May found us shrugging of what seemed to be feet rather than inches of rain. And here we are in June. The thermometer outside the den read at 44 degrees this morning. Since I live just off the Absecon Bay, where water temps have read as high as the low seventies already, my first thought was that it needed to be recalibrated. We rarely go that far below the water temperatures this time of year. Rain and wind have been the normal for the last two weeks and I suspect it has played a role in some areas but not all. Let’s see what the people in the know have to tell us.
The fishing in Tom’s river has been about as good as it can get of late. From blues to stripers to white perch and now fluke, it has been a fantastic start to the year. That’s according to the gang at Go Fish Bait and Tackle in Tom’s River. And it’s not only the fish that are biting up there. Crabbing has been unusually good for this early in the year as well. They are absolutely killing them in the bays. White perch have slowed up as can sometimes be the case after the spawn. Blues and stripers are off the beaches with fresh bunker or clam being the best attractant. And George also told me that the blowfish have moved further out towards the inlet mouths but the warm water around Oyster Creek are still showing strong signs of life.
Captain Rich Wilkowski of Jersey Hooker Bait and Tackle is a fishing degenerate. And I say that out of envy not in a bad way. With both a tackle shop and a charter service, he lives in the best of both worlds. I tried to reach him for this report but he was heading off to the deep in search of species suitable for sushi, if you get my drift. I have heard talk of nice water around the Baltimore and Wilmington and if I had to guess, that is where I think he might be. I will be sure to confirm those co-ordinates when he gets back.
According to Dave Showell, owner of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center, the blue claw crab shed is over. But the flounder run in Absecon Bay is only just starting. Wet. Windy and cold weather of late have kept the big hauls down but the bite has been strong for those who brave the conditions and put a line in. Weakfish are still showing up further in the back, best where the rivers meet the bay. Dave pointed me towards the mouth of the Mullica when I asked for his secret spot. Dave also told me he received his first shipment of spot, long a striper candy but also quite useful if you are targeting doormat flounder. And according to Captain Dave, the Absecon Bay has been giving up more that its fair share of giant fluke since the season opened.
In Egg Harbor Township, you can always bank on Tackle Direct for both high end or hard to find gear. And they will also give you the best scouting report if you ask them. According to Tom at TD, the canyons have been reporting nice catches of yellow fin tuna along with the occasional bluefin. Anglers venturing to the deep offshore water have also had some good success with tilefish and closer inshore, the local reefs have giving up sea bass limits on a regular basis. For flounder and weakies, the back bays will still give you the best chance of taking home some dinner fare.
For some of the finest angling in the state, Cape May is the place to set your sights on. Convenient to Delaware Bay, many fine inshore reefs and even cutting some time off of many fine offshore grounds, Cape May has many assets that make it a haven for anglers. Mark Elliot Jr, captain of Gone Fishing IV out of Utches Marina, just over the bridge in Cape May. When I spoke with the captain this week, black sea bass was the main topic of the conversation. The inshore wrecks have been consistently proving to be loaded with them. Yes, they are getting drum but the pick has been slow. Stripers are still in the bay on the chunk and the flounder have been somewhat relegated to the back bays where the water is a bit warmer. There have been some sharks taken mostly mako the closer offshore holes like the Elephant Trunk but high winds have prevented most from pursuing them. Captain Mark told me that this weekend should provide a real opportunity to get out to the canyons and some of the good tuna bite that has been there for the last couple of weeks. You have been warned!
Sea Isle City is more than just a vacation spot that turns on and off when school lets out for the summer. It has some fine fishing opportunities for those in the know. That’s why I look to Joe at Two Chum’s Bait and Tackle whenever I need some info on what to use and where to go when I am in the area. This week, it would appear that there are plenty of fish to go around right off the Sea Isle Beaches. Flounder in the back bay, according at the shop, are doing well despite the high tides and the bad winds. Tap dancer rigs are out catching other rigs and a single minnow is the best bait. Freddie Payne also located the weakfish in the back, catching and releasing 3 up to 20 inches. On the front beach of Sea Isle, Joe Gallo tagged two keeper stripers up to 36 inches using Joe’s clam bellies which he marinates in his own patented secret sauce. Did I mention that Two Chums are the king of bait in that area? If not, then the news is out!
Wind, tides and rain have held back many of the anglers in the Brick area, according to Bob at Jersey Coast Bait and Tackle. That doesn’t meaning they are catching, just that the tactics need to be adjusted to meet the conditions. Fluking is good around the Mantalopin Bridge but few reports from elsewhere. It would seem that most are sticking to the front beaches chasing blues and bass. Trolling stretches or spoons has been the best producer, but finding the menhaden and fishing live bait is as good as it gets. From the beaches, Bob told me that fresh bunker is the bait most successful anglers are using. Additionally, the customers at JC have been killing the blue claws in the back. That is the really great news.
Looking for a boat rental or a class bait and tackle shop around Barnegat Bay? Then I unconditionally recommend The Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights. Just over the causeway bridge in Seaside Heights, they have all of your fishing and recreational needs in one place. When I spoke to them at the shop this week, they had a variety of suggestions in regard to fishing the area. Crabbing has been absolutely fantastic according to Scott. Early and strong for this time of year. Bass and blues fishing on Island Beach State Park have been good but the fish have been a little smaller than in past seasons. Two Bit road has been the hot spot of late. Fluking is starting to turn on but the keeper to throw back ratio is still high. If its weakfish that floats your boat, grass shrimp are the key and Berkley Island Park is place. Best chances occur dusk and dawn.
I always enjoy visiting Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant if I am in the area. It’s a shop with strong roots and years and years of local knowledge. If you have never been there, I strongly recommend you pay them a visit. When I spoke to Ronnie at the shop this week, he once again provided me with a wealth of information to share with you guys. Bass are still going strong, in the northern sections of the region. You beach bums can expect schoolies on bunker or clam and the boaters trolling will have acess to the bigger fish. All the way up near Sandy Hook, the bigger bluefish seem to have established residency. Good reports on sharks, mostly mako and the blue variety. There have been some threshers spotted close inshore but none actually brought in according to Ronnie. Fluking has been a little slow in the area, but with this weather and tide, that is to be expected. Sea Bassing has been really good of late and they have been served up with nice side of ling. And if you are looking for some fast action, head over to the canal and catch up some medium blue fish using a 4-inch rubber shad. Take a bag of them with you as the toothy ones have been pretty hungry lately. You have been warned!
Ocean City has some new additions to it’s fishing spots and I think you may like them. When I spoke with Ed Bronstien at Fin-Atic’s Marine Supply this week, he told me that 2 of the 4 new fishing piers off of the route 52 causeway are open and anglers are already having good success on all varieties of local species. He has had flounder, weaks, blues and stripers brought into the shop that were caught off the piers. He also told me the third pier; the one closest to the old circle should be open shortly. Finally, the state is working with us instead of against us. In other news, Ed relayed that the 18th Street lagoon has been holding some nice keeper flounder as well as the area back behind the airport. There have been some reports of kingfish on the beaches but nothing to write home about. Ed believes it was a change in water temps recently that shut them down a little. Stripers are still being taken off the beaches, mostly by either of the inlets that pinch OC on the north and south. There have also been good reports of weakfish in the far back reaches of the bay, but with the limit set at one, few are coming through the shop. Sea bass has been good at both the GE and AC Reefs for those willing to brave the elements. All in all, Ed told me it looks like it is going to be a very strong season.
Best Bets for the weekend
If it were up to me, I would target two species hard and heavy this weekend. Flounder in the back and sea bass off the wrecks. Odds on, they are your best bets for action. If you have limited time available, you could have some fun plugging the sod banks for blues and/or bass. First and last light are prime time. Water temperatures have some down a bit and astronomical high tides may hinder you a bit so factor that into your calculations. The blue claw crab shed is over and the crabbing has been extraordinary for this early in the year. From Tom’s River south, it has been about as good as it can get for crabbing. And the little known secret that you read here first is that there has been some pretty decent weakfish action this year. Grass shrimp and shedders are your best baits but a white bucktail and a pink plastic or Gulp will work just as well. Plenty to do and the weather looks to be shaping up real fine. On a final note, a big thumbs up to the crew of the Royal Flush in the Wildwoods. I went out on a private charter over the weekend which was a combination Memorial Service and fishing trip. Weather conditions were less than ideal to say the least. We also had a heavy number of land lubbers who lets just say, didn’t have the best sea legs. The crew of the Royal Flush did an outstanding job all day dealing with everyone on board. Great job guys! Whatever you opt to do this weekend, please be safe. Summer is almost upon us and it can get hectic out there. I will see you on the incoming.