Warm Weather and Hot Fishing

Not surprisingly, the Memorial Day Weekend was cold, dank and gloomy, but don’t despair. The weather forecast for the upcoming weekend looks 100% better. We tend to forget that May weather along the coast is somewhat dependent on water temperatures, especially when the wind is blowing off the water. With coastal water dropping a tad, and wind blowing strong to boot, that can make for some rather difficult fishing conditions, no matter where you spent your day. Once that water heats up a bit, I believe that the flounder bite will turn red hot. Black sea bass are already on fire and should stay that way until the spawn commences with the warmer water out front. Weakfish and stripers all over the place. All in all, there are good times to come, that’s for certain. Let’s get into the specifics.

I have been seeing some photos of big flounder taken in the Sea Isle area so I thought I would contact Mike Cunningham of Sea Isle Bait and Tackle to get some confirmation. The weakfish bite in Townsends has been good as it has been further back in places like Paddy’s Hole. Flounder and bluefish are all over the back bays. Anglers using minnows and cut bait are having the best keeper to hook up ratio but the Gulps aren’t far behind. For weakfish, Mike suggests using a white or pink swim shad or Berkley Gulp on a small lead head.

I stopped in for a short visit with Captain Dave Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmens Center to get the word on fishing in Absecon Inlet. Dave has been hitting the Main Marsh area pretty regular with success across the board. Fluke, weaks and stripers are all on the menu although Dave told me that you had to work a little harder the past few days as the water temps really dropped. They have been struggling to find 60 degrees when only a week ago, 70 was commonplace in the back. But the Captain also believes that while the bite has been good, it will so to great overnight when the water temperatures come back up. The fact that the blue claw shed has started does not hurt things either. On a side not, Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s sell some of the nicest soft shells you will ever get. I’m talking eating crabs but you can use them for bait if you want to. ABSC has the best selection of natural baits in the area, bar none. And if you are a Berkley Gulp fan, the shop has more varieties than any superstore. Check it out!

If you are looking for a more refined fishing atmosphere in the Atlantic City area, there is a new player in town that you just might want to check out. St. Judith’s Charters offers a full service fishing charter with all the amenities you could ever think to ask for. Their two ships a brand spanking new 66’ Viking Luxury yacht and a 50’ Open Bridge Viking Sports fisher meet the very definition of luxury meets function. Available for anything from half day fishing trips to Coastal trips to points unknown, The St Judith Fleet fill a niche that Atlantic City has needed for quite some time. So whether you are looking for a nice day on the water or an extended charter for some important clients, these are the guys I would check out. To learn more, see their webpage at saintjudithcharters.com.

 

If you think that Tackle Direct can only help you out when you are looking for an on-line tackle supplier, then you have not been to their super-store on Tilton Road in Egg Harbor Township. I spoke with Ed at the shop this week to see what was happening in the local water. The area behind Absecon Island has been the best bet, with Sculls Bay and Methodist Ditch have been the best producers of both flounder and weakfish. Berkely Gulp swim shads of the four inch variety are good for both species. Weakies up to 8 pounds and flat fish up to 5 have been reported. Water temperatures have been better the further back you go but Ed tells me that it should even out this week. As is the norm, an hour on either side of the tide has made for the best opportunities to put some fish in the box. The beaches have been a little slow on Absecon Island but Brigantine beaches are reporting blues, stripers and kingfish. Fresh baits or Daiwa SP minnows are the best tools for catching striped bass or bluefish of late. Kings are motivated by clam bits or pieces of blood worms but they should be taking Fish Bytes soon. Water temps on the beaches has been consistently in the mid-fifties which makes it perfect striped bass weather.

Long Beach Island is always one of the top hot spots in the upper reaches of Southern New Jersey. Deep water close off the beach makes it a great hangout for some really fat striped bass and blue fish. When I am heading up that way, I make it a point to swing by Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin before I hit the beach or water. They always have the best baits and their fully stocked tackle shop is second to none in the area. The beaches have been good lately with stripers up to thirty pounds being weighed in the shop on a regular basis. Fresh cut bunker chunks are the choice of live bait and swimming plugs for you artificial mavens. Keep some wire leader handy as there are blues all over the place. Bottom fishers are loading up on the black sea bass when they can get to their local wrecks. They are still trolling up big bass on Tony Maja’s Bunker Spoons. Clam and squid have worked well but there have been plenty of dog sharks still in the mix with the water still relatively cold. In the back, the crew at Tony’s told me that the blow fish are here and strong in Little Egg. There have some really nice blues in the inlet and weakfish in the far back. Just a quick reminder, the area was hit hard by Sandy and there are some shallows in the back, so stay alert.

The drum fish bite in Delaware Bay, I am glad to say, is still going strong according to Nick at Hand’s Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May. And, it has moved closer to its rightful area, the Jersey side of the bay, to make it even nicer. The dog sharks which made for a long day a few weeks back when the run started have slowed down a little but still present an annoyance. On the beaches, Nick informed me that the work has been a little harder but the reward has been there for those that put in the time. Nice blues and some big striped bass can be had from Poverty Beach or the North end of the Wildwoods. Most anglers are tossing fresh bunker or clams. If you are looking for nice weakfish, Nick recommends Higbee Beach on the bay side for fish up to 5 pounds. Best baits are floating bloodworms or try a led head with pink or white Zoom rubber bait. Most of the local head boats have been targeting black sea bass on the inshore wrecks with great success. Most of the head boats are up and running so pay a visit to your favorite.

 

I haven’t been in Murphy Hook House in The Toms River area in quite some time so I thought I would touch base with Dennis at the shop to get a feel for the local action. He told me that the fishing has been good in both the Barnegat and Toms River with blues being the biggest attraction. Boaters are taking fish up to 12 pounds trolling lures. By the route 37 bridge, Baker Plugs and Rebels are the hardest workers. The best striper action according to Dennis has been at night, once again by the Rte. 37 bridge. Fluking in the area has been fair to good as the waters have been very murky. Dennis believes that a few days of run off will clear the cedar water out and the activity should pick up by the weekend. There have been some nice weakfish taken locally, Mostly in Cedar Creek and by the power plant. And finally, the area has had an early kick off to the blow fish season. Good catches have been reported by more than a few anglers since the weekend. If you are looking at some fresh water action, the Manasquan Reservoir has been on fire with the crappie bite. Bass are there but heading into the spawn and can be somewhat of a challenge. But me, I would rather have crappie and bluegills all day long. A little worm or shiner and you are good to go!

I always enjoy it when we pick up a new scout and they have good information. It makes writing these reports fun. And that’s exactly what I got when I contacted Pell’s Fish and Sport in Brick and spoke with the top guy there, Pete. Look for blues in the inside bays and rivers as there are bunker in the area and they are in hunt mode. Pete told me that small AVA Jigs and Tsunami top waters have been out producing all other lately. These toothy predators are averaging 3-5 pounds and make for a nice fight and some good eats. The bass bite is mostly a night bite right now with fish up to thirty pounds being taken by anglers fishing with clam or bunker. The local beaches are producing some nice striper and blue activity, best action coming on fresh bunker or clam with the biggest fish going for bunker heads. Water temps are in the low fifties so it has been a good but slow pick. Most of the fluke action has been in the bay and river. Spearing has been the top bait. There have been some reports of weakfish but they are spotty to say the least. Those coming into the shop however, are of good size, averaging around 4-5 pounds. Pete expects the fishing to pick up as the water temps climbs and promised me better reports in the upcoming weeks. I am going to hold him to that.

The fishing has been great in the Ocean City area according to Ed Bronstein of Fin-Atic’s Marine Supply. The beaches have been giving up some nice bass and the blues are even coming in closer. The middle of the island is bait territory according to Ed but the inlets on either side have had some action on artificial lures. Flounder fishing in both inlets and the back bay has been great with more than a few boats report limits. Ed told me the water temperatures dropped a bit earlier in the week and the bite slowed down a little but has picked up once we got the sun back. Best baits for big flounder has been minnows and cut bait and Fin-Atic’s has both in stock. Ed also told me that the fishing piers off the 9th street causeway have had good fishing with the main catch being blue fish but flounder, weaks and stripers have also been on the menu there. One last note on Ocean City, the kingfish are in the surf. Blood worms and or clam bits seem to be working best right now.

While we are on the topic of Ocean City, I would like to shoot a big “job well done” to Maureen Klause of America’s Family Resort. Maureen landed a 61.85 pound Black Drum Fish this past weekend on 4-pound-test line. The fish is currently being submitted for an IGFA line class world record for black drum. If memory serves me, this won’t be her first record. Way to go Maureen!

I finally caught up with Carmen (AKA Mr. Wonderful) at Two Chums Bait and Tackle in Sea Isle City today. He was out testing one of their fleet of rental boats to see if his mojo still made them the best flounder and crabbing platforms on the east coast. Well according to Carmen they are! Just kidding. But if you looking for a way to get on the water, Two Chums has the answer. Fishing wise in the area, Carmen told me the bite has slowed a bit, which he blames on a drop in water temperatures and the full moon. He is probably right on the money. But the beach action has been steady with blues and some nice stripers being taken on clam. The local hot spot has been at Corson’s Inlet on the Strathmore side. There have been some decent black drums taken in the area as well so I would follow his advice and co with clam. Carmen also told me the locals that have been able to get out for sea bass have been doing real well with many coming in at the 15 fish limit. Two Chums is fully stocked and back from the storm. Including the elusive minnow! Stop in next time you are in the area and tell them I sent you.

 

Best Bets for the Weekend

The weather looks like it is going to warm up and hopefully that will straighten out the dip in water temps we are experiencing. And considering we just came out of a moon cycle and the blue claws are starting their shed, this is PRIME Time for fishing. It should light up big time on all available species. In the south, I would definitely target flounder and weakfish. Try using some shedder crab for both. If you can get out to the wrecks, black sea bass are prepping for the spawn and in a feeding stage right now. Hopefully the wind will lie down and give us a window. If you are in the mood for fresh water, I would target pan fish right now. They are good eating and a fun way to spend a day with the kids. Whichever option you elect to pursue, please stay safe out there. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.