For those of you who enjoy our fishing forecasts, I thought I would give you a little primer on the preparation most writers go through every week to keep you on the cutting edge of the local fishing scene. A major segment is the relationship we develop with our contacts that are much closer to the action in specific areas than we are. Obviously, we depend heavily on our advertisers play a big role in helping us prepare our reports. Most of our sources have a short window of opportunity to make their seasons a success and work hard, long hours in season to ensure that outcome. Rarely if ever, do any of our contacts deny our requests for information, even though they barely have the time to take a meal and relax when the season goes full speed. Should, for some rare reason, we not be able to reach out to one of our charter captains or shop owners, we always have a backup method for receiving their scouting report. Be it social media or an email or web site, rest assured, our ultimate goal is to give you the best available data to make your next trip a victory. Most weeks, our reports are based on phone calls but sometimes I get the opportunity to visit and thank them in person for their assistance. Such was the case this week. And for those I didn’t get the chance to visit with this week, big thanks from me and the rest of us at OTW for the assistance you provide. We couldn’t do it without you.

My first stop this week was at Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May where I chatted with owner Nick about local conditions. Flounder has been good at times, great in segments, mostly in the back waters. Drum fish seem to have concluded their spring run but the occasional straggler can still be had on clam. The striped bass bite has been somewhat limited to those chunking the big bay. The real talk of the town has been weakfish. The availability of shedder crab has really helped anglers seeking their one fish limit but white and pink Finesse like rubber baits on a lead head has been just as good. The Higbee Beach area through Cape May Point has been hot of late. Nick also told me that the head boats are doing well on the black sea bass but the flounder bite has been so-so on the ocean side. Crabbing is good. And there have been the first signs that the offshore bite is starting with scattered reports of shark and tuna in the canyons.

This is my first chance to welcome aboard Peace Token Bait and Tackle Just outside North Wildwood on Rtes. 147 and 9. Owner Mike Jung has performed his own version of “Escape from New York” and done so in a big way. Surf or sand, you would be hard pressed to find a better outfitted shop in all of New Jersey. I kid you not! And the Peace Token reputation for quality in-house tied rigs is unsurpassed in the area, but I am sure you guys and gals already know that. When I met with Mike this week, he told me that the local action was good and getting better each day. The return of weakfish to the area was once again the best news. Minnows are still tight but they have all the other baits. The back waters have been the best flounder, with Grassy Sound being a local treasure. There are small blues in the area so load up on the metal if you plan on chasing them. Berkley Gulp 4-inchShad has been a hot item lately. Water temps out front are starting to rise and the inshore fluke bite is picking up right along with it. The offshore bite is in its summer growth period and should only get better as the summer progresses. All indicators point that way according to Mike.

Stopped in to chat with the gang at Two Chums Bait and Tackle in Sea Isle City this week. Weakfish flounder and bluefish were the main topic of discussion as all were leaving their mark on local anglers. Townsends Inlet has had all three in god numbers. Berkley Gulp will work on all three as will minnows and cut baits. On the beach, small blues and fluke are starting to take the lead but they are still picking up the occasional black drum and striper. The northern kingfish invasion has begun and FishBytes or bloodworms help you fill up a cooler. Crabbing in the area is definitely starting off on the right foot and Two Chums rental fleet has been getting land locked crabbers out to the honey holes. Stop in and check out the new expanded store if you get a chance. Sandy hit them hard but they are back and even stronger.

I stopped in Fin-Atics Marine Supply in Ocean City the other day when I was in Ocean City to see what has been happening in “America’s Finest Family Resort”. Ed Bronstien, chief cook and bottle washer expressed that the really hot bite right now was kingfish off the Oceanside beaches and piers. Bloodworms and FishBites are working best with Corson’s Inlet and the Greater Egg Harbor inlet beaches the best locations to set up. Flounder catch has been decent in the inlets, better in the back and starting to move to the front. The free fishing piers (off the 9th street causeway) have had a little of everything. Crabbing has been good. For flounder, the drift off of the Kennedy Park ramp has been good as has Rainbow Channel. Ed was especially excited about return of some nice weakfish to the area. Most anglers are throwing pink or white lead heads tipped with a Finesse, Zoom or other similar rubber trailer.

Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center reports that anglers in the area having one of the best seasons in recent memory. Many bay anglers have been camping out in the cans and more than a few have been coming in with weakfish to boot. I spoke to Kurt at the shop and he told me that most anglers have been using squid or cut baits in their quest. For weakfish, Kurt suggested trying some shedder crab to up your chances. Minnows are still in high demand and short supply. But the Berkley Gulp products are also working real well with the flatfish. A 4-inch swim shad on an S and S Rattle Tail has been a winning combination. There are still some nice striped bass along the sod banks but first light and last light are your best fishing times. Crabbing has been nothing short of spectacular! And personally, I know that the blowfish bite is as good as it has been in many years. Chum buckets and clams are the ticket there with the AC rocks being the honey hole.

Team Tackle Direct reports that the of late, the best bite in the EHT area seems to be moving closer to the respective inlets as the back waters start to heat up. Good catches of kingfish reported all over Atlantic City, especially in the T Jetty area on the north side. For you plug tossers, top water action on stripers and blues has been best at first light along the sod banks. They recommend small Gibbs, Stillwater or Creek Chubb plugs. The weakfish bite in the area has slowed a bit as the cow nosed rays moved into the back but can still be found on the right tide around Methodist Ditch. On the flounder bite, the Gulp baits have been working best on a trailer hook with a Bucktail. Absecon Inlet has far out-fished the other local waters.

Chris at Better Bait and Ice in Toms River tells me the crabbing in the river has been on a steady rise and should be in full summer bloom soon. Blowfish has been the best action with fluke running a close second. Cut baits for the fluke and clam bits for the blowfish have been producing the best results. There are snapper blues all over the river and bay and can be had for the price of a small shiny lure. Chris asked me to mention that they have both killies and sand worms in stock if you are looking for them for your next trip.

If you are looking for some blowfish, head over to Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin and get that chum bucket filled up and have at it. According to the gang at Tony’s, it has been a phenomenal year for these tasty puffers. Hot spots of late have been in the vicinity of Waretown and Forked River. Fluking has been decent, Barnegat inlet areas and a slow pick off the LBI beaches. There are still some weakfish in the area, shedder crab is working well on the single tooth’s. I was also reminded by the staff that cobia also start appearing when the cow nosed rays make their appearance. No sightings or landings yet, but keep a rod rigged in case you come across them. A white Bucktail with a long strip bait or eel is the accepted standard. The Little Egg and Garden State south reefs have had the best black sea bass action to date. Fluking in the area has been a slow pick out front but should pick up soon as back water temperatures rise. Crabbing however has been fantastic in the area.

In the Brick area, the place to go for bait, tackle or just some plain old fishing talk is Pell’s Fish and Sport on Mantoloking Road. According to Pete, the Manasquan River and Bucktail tipped with Berkeley Gulp has been the way to go. That’s exactly what Elina Simonet used to get her four pound flat fish. We were also informed that the Sea Girt Reef has been the best black sea bass site of late with fish up to 4 pounds being taken there.

When I stopped in to visit with Mike Cunningham and the crew at Sea Isle Bait and Tackle, I was surprised to see the changes that had taken place in the store since my last visit right after Sandy. For one thing, the store has more than doubled in size with a whole expanded inventory. Mike has really built up the shop since he took over last year. Better bait, better inventory are making Sea Isle a must stop for any serious angler. Mike stated in no uncertain terms that weakfish have been the best target of late, even with the one fish creel limit. Shedders or white bucktails have been the key to success for those targeting them, with change of tides being the most active time. Flounder activity has been decent in the area. Kingfish are literally crowding the beaches and spot are also in the area. A small hook and a can of worms will give you some fantastic meals.

If you are looking for a way to combine a luxury ride with some fine fishing check out Saint Judith Charters in Atlantic City. You can see their boats at saintjudithcharters.com/boats.

I spoke with John at Murphy’s Hook House in East Toms River to get the low down on the top end and he confirmed that the blowfish bite started early and is still going strong. Be sure to stop in and pick up a chum log to enhance your bite. Spot and croaker have started showing up in the area. The best bite for fluke has been the Manasquan River. Still getting striper ocean side, look for the bunker and snag and drag. On the fresh water side, the reservoir is giving up some nice bass, on both the smallmouth and hybrid variety. Night bite for the hybrid has been best and the am have moved into deeper water.

I got a chance to stop in and chat with Dan Tholen at Lacey Marine in Forked River this week to try and get his weakfish secret. He has been absolutely killing them on his kayak in the evenings. Fishing a pink or while flat tail rubber on and bucktail is all he would tell me. There must be more to it. In other news, the head boats in the area have been making a real killing on both the fluke and sea bass. Sharking inshore has been better than good with blues being the biggest hook up and makos and threshers close in second. Crabbing has been good but nowhere near the peak according to Dan. If you’re looking for bait, tackle or boating supplies, Lacy marine is your best bet. Tell them I sent you.

Best Bets for the Weekend

The heat wave is supposed to break by the weekend but the humidity will remain. This means that we are in the cycle which could bring the pop up storm at the end of the day. Flounder seem to be making the transition to the deeper water as the back is starting to heat up exponentially. Weakfish and stripers are hugging the sod banks and get more active as the sun rises and sets. If you are a bait guy and looking for some sea trout action, I recommend giving shedder crabs a shot for some good action. There have been some good tuna reports on tuna in the canyon but the weather of late has been sketchy. Yellows and small blue fin and at least one nice Big Eye that I heard of. Inshore reef fishing in the south has been decent on the sea bass and not so much on the flounder side. Spot are getting a stronger foothold in the area, don’t hesitate using one for fluke. Remember, big bait equals big fish. Delaware Bay and even the back waters around Dennis have been reporting some nice croakers, they showed up a little early this year. And finally, if you are hitting the ocean, make sure you have at least one rod rigged for cobia. While I have not heard of any yet, I have a sneaky suspicion they will be around any day now. Email me if you get one. I can be reached at info@qualitylure.com. I need to catch one this year and want some advice on how you got yours. Whatever option you choose to take this week, please be careful out there. It’s now officially the summer season and sometimes people get lost in the heat. You only get so many days in the game so spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.