Maybe the best in a decade!

I can’t begin to tell you how many people in the business that I get to talk to on a regular basis as a result of doing this weekly forecast, and the monthly column I write for OTW Magazine. Not only all of the tackle shop owners and charter captains, but fisherman that I touch base with on a regular basis to get the “inside scoop”. One thing over the past three months I can tell you without having to flinch even a little… this has been the best flounder season in recent memory.

Sure, in past years, you would read about the really BIG flatties that were being caught, and see a few pictures of doormats the size of garbage can covers on line and in print, and this year was no exception. I’ve seen those 12-pound and 15-pound photos, and we even posted a few of them. The thing that makes this season different is the huge number of 4- to 8-pound fish that are being caught almost every time that a serious angler hits the water. I know for a fact, just by looking at my own numbers on the FMTuna, that both in numbers and overall weight, the anglers on my boat have put more meat in the box, pound for pound, than they have ever had before.

There are some long time anglers down in Cape May that regularly fish the Old Grounds and Reef Site #11 that may argue this point, as in past years these were the true big fish hotspots. Who would ever believe that the Ocean City Reef could rival these two big fish zones. In the Summer of ’13, it certainly did. Add in the bite that went on at the TI Reef and all of a sudden, fishing the mid-Cape ports was totally a hot strategy.

Before I hit the shop reports this week, I have a couple of “Save the Date” heads up for you, and they are both on the same weekend, September 21 & 22.

First, a good friend of mine and arguably one of the most accomplished anglers in the world today, Larry Dahlberg, is coming to town. Larry is being flown in to to help kick-off the Grand Opening of the TackleDirect Shimano Technical Center and G. Loomis Performance Center at their huge showroom at 6825 Tilton Road In Egg Harbor Township. There are only three of these Centers in the entire country and it really is an impressive display of these top brand’s products. Larry is doing two seminars each day and the Shimano Team is going to be conducting demonstrations and give-aways all weekend. Here is a link to the events page with more info : http://www.tackledirect.com/upcoming-events-at-tackledirect.html

Also that weekend is the Women’s Fishing and Fun Weekend in Cape May. A full morning on Saturday of instruction, rigging and practice for aspiring lady anglers. A seafood lunch is included, and then a 4 hour trip on the Cape May Lady (very appropriate!) to try out the new skills that everyone learned earlier that day.

Sunday’s activities are scheduled to include some kayaking in the morning and then a tour of the Cape May Winery. It is all sponsored by NJ Audubon, NJaudubon.org is where you can get the full scoop or call 609-898-8848.

Sounds like you can send the wives to Cape May for a girl’s weekend and then hang out at TackleDirect with Larry and the boys!

Also don’t forget the Atlantic County Surf Fishing Derby kicks off on Sept. 23rd. Full details at Derby HQ, Capt. Andy’s in Margate. Details at www.capt-andy.com, or call the shop at 609-822-0916 to find the nearest sign-up/weigh in shop near you.

Tried to dial up my buddy Len at Capt. Hippo Bait & Tackle in Toms River this morning and found out he’s at home in bed, and the real boss, Sandy, is running the shop. She tells me the perch bite in the river is picking up and that both weakies and stripers are being caught in the grass in the brackish water up the Toms. A 36” striper was pulled from behind the fitness center up there so it may be worth a shot.

Chris at Better Bait & Ice, also in Toms River says the snappers are still out there for the taking and the crabbing is still better than average. Some blowfish and croaker near the BB & BI and near the power plant.

In Brick, Tom at Pells Fish and Sport reports fluke still being taken on the beach by anglers, but most of them are throwbacks. Same scoop with fishing the Manasquan River, plenty of action but not a lot of meat for the cooler. Boats that have been able to get out to the Axel Carlson have been connecting with decent sized fish but it is the same story, you have to lose a load of rigs to get the bigger fish as they are deep in the junk. One customer was up at Mantoloking beach fooling around with the short fluke and ran smack into a legit bluefish blitz. They were crushing rain bait in the shallows and were solid 8-pound fish.

You are going to LOVE this story! Down the Parkway to Egg Harbor Township, the boys from Team TackleDirect connected with a monster Big Eye this week. Estimated by measurement at over 270 pounds, this fish took a topwater lure on spinning tackle by Spinal Rods owner Jesse Stainislaw aboard Carmen Rone’s Good Karma out of Margate just as it was getting dark. Jesse whipped this fish in 45 minutes without a handoff, and by the time it came close enough to gaff they had to use lights to get the gaff shot.

Over in Ocean City, the crew at Fin-Atics had a busy week in the shop with guys gearing up for the Fall run. Justin reports TONS of bait in the back with peanut bunker everywhere. There have been some small schools of mullet that have made the turn to the beachfront but the rush is not on yet. Still some spot and kingies in the surf and a few decent tog have been taken off the 9th St Pier.

Down in Sea Isle, Mike at Sea Isle Bait & Tackle says his nighttime striper guys have seen a real spike in numbers in the last week or so. Lots of action although only a few that made size. There are tons of bait in the back so it is no wonder that these guys that work the whole tide overnight are catching. A few flounder on the beach and bluefish up to 3# on split mullet or chunks. Mike is also blowing out some of last year’s umbrella rigs at 1/2 off if you are doing some shopping for the Fall run.

Up the street at Two Chums Bait & Tackle, the rental fleet is doing really well on crabs and there are a ton of little Sea Bass in the back. Tommy from the shop staff has a nice keeper striper in the back this week throwing a popper in the evening. The shop is stacked to the ceiling with gear for the fall run… loaded for bear.

Joe at Hands Too Bait & Tackle in Cape May is counting down to the end of flounder season, but his customers are still catching strong on the local reefs with decent numbers of big fish hitting the cooler when they can get out. Some nice flatties in Grassy Sound and the channel too. A few more kingfish in the surf are being caught. I think they were always there but the spot always got to the baits first. Bluefish up to 3 pounds on cut mullet in the waves.

Best Bet For The Weekend

It’s is looking kind of tough. The fan is going to be blowing North to Northwest pretty good so hitting the nearshore reefs is going to be a real challenge. Even if you punch your way out there getting a decent drift without using a tilefish weight to hold bottom is not going to be fun. The beaches should be fishable if there is a little more “west” in the NW, so a light tackle excursion to get your freezer full of panfish is a good plan, and you never know if a nice flounder or two will be your reward. I’d try plugging pre-dawn for stripers until the sun gets up and then switch over for kingies and spot. I know, not what you wanted to hear, and not what I wanted to report, but that’s fishing in September! Next week, the beginning of “Mullet Watch ’13”!

Stay Tuna-ed!