Get in the game!

There are plenty of options no matter what kind of angler you are right now. Offshore big game to back bay crabbers, the first weekend in August always has more choices than most have time. Let’s churn and burn through some info so you can make the most of what you’ve got for this upcoming weekend.

I am going to give you a little heads up on the weather though. As of right now (Thursday midday) winds should be estimated at about 15 kts. SW with seas in the 2-3’ range. A little early to guess-timate duration so it really could go either way. I am figuring 4’ and hoping the wave period is long enough to spread them out so out front is do-able. Back bay and beach guys should have no problems, other than a slightly faster drift and too many bikinis to distract you from your primary objective… unless that is your primary objective.

Up in Brick, Tom at Jersey Tackle is focused on the tuna, as usual. The Chicken Canyon and Glory Hole have had a pretty hot bluefin bite on smaller fish that are taking smaller lures. Cedar plugs, small jets, or the now obvious ballyhoo with either Joe Shutes or Tuna Jets in front of them have been working well. The Mudhole area has been showing great life but a surprising lack of fish, which at this time of year usually means all h*ll is about to break loose. Fluking has been picking up a little in 65’ of water on structure and the numbers are good but the fish have not been prehistoric. They are getting keepers but nothing really huge. Just a little further out in 80’, small bluefish will be chowing on sand eels and some threshers have been sighted out near the Manasquan Ridge. Back bay guys have plenty of blowfish, small blues and some decent fluke being caught.

The word from South Tom’s River comes from Len at Capt. Hippo’s: “Thar she blows!”. There are blowfish all over the place and a well place clam chum log can fill you a bucket in no time. Just drop a bottom rig down by the Research Buoy and start hauling them up. A little bonus you may get is the same as one of Len’s customers that pulled a couple of nice 22” fluke up at the same time. There are snappers in the river (great ocean fluke baits if you keep them alive) that are gobbling spearing on one of Lenny’s Lance-it rigs. Crabbing is picking up as well over by Island Heights and Ocean Gate.

Chris at Better Bait and Ice in Toms River backs up the word on the blowfish and the snappers. He has sand eels and spearing in stock, which lots of guys are using for the fluke and snapper blues. Targeting fluke near Manasquan and Barnegat inlet is a good plan with many using the Spro bucktails as a double threat weight/bait with a teaser trailer. Lots of croakers in the neighborhood to keep the kids busy too.

Over at Murphy’s Hook House in Tom’s River, Jeff added on a couple hot spots to try. You can chum up the blowfish at the BB or BI, and then drift between them for fluke, which sounds like a good backwater plan. Double Creek should also be on your stop and try spot along the way with nice fluke being taken from the usual sides if the channel.

Moving south, Dave at Absecon Bay Sportsman’s Center says that flounder fishing is still the best bet but there are lots of shorts mixed in now. A real student of the area, Dave will tell you that there are still plenty of big flatties moving into the bay and the weakie fishing is getting a little bit better. There is lots of bait in the bay with mullet and peanut bunker populations increasing, and plenty of panfish right off the docks. Croakers that are eating size and holdover spot from last year can make you quite a feast, not to mention loads of fun for the kids. Crabbing in Absecon Creek is a little slim since the commercial guys discovered the load in there and dropped a Deadliest Catch load of pots in there over the last couple weeks. There are plenty in the rest of the bay but you need to move around to find them.

Skipping over to the crew at Team TackleDirect, there has been lots of offshore action for those running south to the inshore grounds at the Hot Dog and Masseys as well as a crazy on and off bite out at the Wilmington. The worst kept secret in tuna was the bite going on at the Washington, but that water seems to have moved out and taken the fish with it. The good news is that there are plenty of manageable Big Eye connecting with anglers along with mid-sized bluefin. The jury is out on where the White Marlin are going to be for the big tourneys right around the corner. Closer to the dock, the back waters of the Downbeach area and Ocean City are still holding lots of nice flounder if you are willing to cull through the shorts. I had a couple of anglers on Saturday where we disregarded everyone’s warnings and went fluking out at the Ocean City reef. Three anglers had 9 keepers to 5# out of the same 50 yards stretch of rubble and took down second and third prize in a local tourney. We did leave 16 hand-tied rigs out there but it was worth the investment.

Ocean City, Fishing, and Fin-atics seem to all go together in a sentence very nicely and it has for years. Ed, John and the crew have been having a good season with lots of anglers taking advantage of the good back bay fishing for flounder, even though you have to catch more to keep less the last week or two. Lots of shorts mixed in. The bay is also loaded with spot and croakers big enough to keep for dinner rather than just the bait pen. Very weird year. Bridge shadow lines at night are a good stop for the occasional weakie or blue and there are still some bass in the very skinny water way in the back on the right tides. Pop in on the guys if you are nearby, they are at 13th and West Ave.

Dean from Two Chums Bait & Tackle in Sea Isle hit the southern tuna grounds late this week only to have our buddy, Jerry from Mucho Clams drop a bait on a real nice yellowfin right in front of him. Hate when that happens. The fishing down there has been hot and cold with one day’s bonanza turning in to a next day skunk. Lots of life in the area. The TI Reef and OC have been picking up a little bit and the back bay rental boats are still doing well with flounder and crabs. If you need a rental on a weekend, calling Two Chums in advance is a good idea to lock one up. The beach is giving up lots of spot and some kingfish if you can get through them. Some flounder on the beach too taking bucktails with GULP near structure. Drag them slowly and all the way in as the fish are right up in the wash.

Mike Cunningham at Sea Isle Bait & Tackle always has a couple good tips to share so try this on. There are so many spot in the surf that his guys are chunking them to chum in weakfish, and it is working. Mike also suggests taking some of those babies in to the back and dropping them into the deeper holes several keeper bass have gone for the drop, spot and reel trick. Flounder fishing in the back has stayed good, but the shorts to keeper ratio has changed radically. Dinner is still out there, it just takes more action to get it.

Two stops in the Cape May that you need to make are Hands Too and Peace Token. Nick at Hand’s Too has great local info, like you should be working the beach by the concrete ship and the lighthouse at first and last light for flounder. Over at Cape May Courthouse, Mike at Peace Token is dialed in on the tuna down south if bigger game is on your menu. Both worth the trip.

I know, it is a long report this week, but we are trying to get all the info we possibly can off the water and directly to you before you go On The Water!

Best Bets for the Weekend

Keep an eye on the seas. If conditions allow, and you have the resources, burn offshore to try and find out where these da*m tuna are going to pop up next. They pulled a Houdini on Tuesday and disappeared but they are there for sure. Almost any spot along the 30 line makes sense and the Wilmington has has a few blasts of brilliant catching in the last week or so. Reef guys, get ready to dig deep in the rubble, but the flounder are in there. Our bite only lasted an hour but it was both hot and the fish were impressive. Beach and back bay guys should lean a little closer to the inlets for more action, and be prepared to work through the smaller fish to get to dinner.

Stay Tuna-ed!