If you live in Connecticut or New York, flounder season opens for you this week. But if you are intent on landing a flat fish in the Garden State, you will need to wait one more week for the season to open. I have to wonder why that is considering the back bays in the area seem to be teeming with some monster fish right now. Oh well, ours is not the reason why. On the bright side, there are ample opportunities out there if you are looking to place a line in the water. Weakfish, striped bass, bluefish and even blowfish and a few kings are all in play right now. Come early next week, even sea bass come back into the game. The big question is where to find them. Let’s see if we can find the answer to that question and help make your search a little easier.
Starting off near my home port seems like the way to go this week and I stopped in to pay Captain Dave Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center a visit. Dave tells me that there has been a lot of activity on the beaches of Brigantine over the last week. Bunker has showed up strong and seems to be pushing the fish at the inlets. Striper fishing has been best at both inlets there with clam and bunker heads working best. Puppy drum up to thirty pounds have also been caught by anglers soaking clams. Weakfish in the area have picked up in the back, best action is at the mouth of the river, especially the Mullica. There have been some bluefish in the area but not really strong in numbers. Hopefully the arrival of menhaden will add to their numbers. Beach anglers should know that there are some nice blowfish hovering inshore on the ocean front. The water temperatures in the area are hovering around the high fifties.
This weekend looks like prime time for blues and striper fishing on board the Gambler out of Point Pleasant. Recently, they have been doing well on them and will continue to do so until fluke season opens next weekend. When possible they have used live bait but have had stripers up to 25 pounds jigging AVA’s with green or white tails. If you are looking to do some night fishing, the Gambler is running trips from Thursday thru Saturday. The boat leaves port at 7:30 pm. Half day fluke trips start on Friday May 23rd.
Matt at Tony’s Bait and Tackle on Bay Ave in Manahawkin tell me that there have been some nice striped bass taken off the beaches in LBI which coincide with the arrival of adult bunker in the area. For table fare Matt also recommends dialing the rigs down a bit and targeting some of the early season blowfish that are following the coastline. Clams will work for both species but don’t forget the snag hook in your ammo box for some live lining efforts on the bass. Drum fishermen are having some success in the inlets and in the deeper holes of the bay. It goes without saying that clams are the bait to use here. If you are looking for weakfish, go a little northwest of the shop and arm yourself with pink Finesse Swim baits or live sand worms. There are some blues in the area but not in great numbers or size according to Matt. If you are looking to put some fish in the box without braving difficult conditions, Matt suggests some of the holes in Beach Haven West. Tony’s carries most of the baits you will need and you can check their inventory on hand at their on-line bait board at http://tonysbaitandtackle.com/.
If you are looking for a boat big enough to accommodate a larger party but don’t want to get into the hassle of chartering a larger head boat, I suggest you contact Captain Kenny Namowicz of the MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant. With room for up to 25 comfortably, it’s the perfect boat for those big outing but fills up fast as the summer progresses. Captain Kenny has over 30 years of experience so finding fish won’t be the problem. The Mimi VI also does open boat trips when their charter schedule has opening so call the office a 732-740-2885 for dates. Or check out their website at http://mimivi.com/index.php . The MIMI VI is also available for non-fishing charters.
At the Route 37 Bridge in Toms River, you will find Murphy’s Hook House, a longtime favorite of mine for information this time of year. I spoke with Jim at the shop this week and he told me the word of the week has been BLUEFISH. Depending on where you were fishing them however, the bait or lure could be different. In some areas, they are only taking lures like Hopkins or Kastmasters. In other areas, only bunker is working. Jim tells me the water temps inside are in the mid-sixties while it is a bit colder on the beach side. Menhaden showed up in numbers at the beginning of the week and the blues action has been non-stop since. Fish up to 11 pounds have been weighed in this week. There are some stripers in the mix but most are still in the schoolie classification. Weakfish are in the further reaches of the Toms.
The Carolyn Ann III out of Barnegat Light will resume fishing for black sea bass on Monday May 19th when the season reopens. 6 hour trips for 50 dollars, not a bad deal. Located at 18th and the Bay, the boat breaks dock at 6 am.
In the Atlantic City area, it can sometimes be tough to catch a ride out for some good fishing. Not so if you contact Captain Mike O’Neal of the Stray Cat. Licensed for up to 19, the Cat is a great fishing platform and it’s captain has been fishing since he was old enough to hold a rod. When I caught up with Mike this week, he was heading back to port after chasing tuna and shark south of NJ. He told me that he has open boat trips scheduled for Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday next week. The target will be sea bass. Call ahead for reservations at 609-391-9630 or 609-602-1114. Mike told me he will be leaving the dock at 6 am on all open boat trips.
Lenny Hahn of Capt’n Hippo’s Bait and Tackle had the day off when I called (birthday boy) but I did have a nice chat with his first mate Sandy about the local conditions around Toms River. The locals have been doing well on Yellow Perch in the holes behind Planet Fitness. White perch have taken a little bit of a spring hiatus. The river is giving up some decent stripers and blues are starting to show themselves in the bay. Clam and bunker seem to be the baits of choice. If you are looking for weakfish, Sandy says the Oyster Creek Power Plant is the place to set up. White or pink plastics or sand worms should get you some action.
I’ve been hearing some great things about the Delaware Bay of late so I thought I would touch base with the gang at Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May. I spoke with Mike who confirmed some of the rumors I have heard in regard to striped bass and weakfish in the bay. If you are fishing from land, the point has been the hot spot for bass and further up the bay for weakies. I have been hearing some great action in the Fortescue area, especially for weakfish. Bunker has been moving in the bay nightly. And the signs are saying the drum fish bite should be coming on strong soon. Some drums are already being caught but not the migrating monsters we should start seeing in a few weeks. Not so much for bluefish yet but the Wildwoods is still holding blowfish off the beaches. I have even had confirmed reports of croakers in on the ocean side, as far up as the OC Reef. Seems kind of early for them but who is to argue with anything anymore. Hands Too is at the foot of the Cape May Bridge on the incoming side.
The Captain Robbins in Ocean City will be running this weekend for ling. I spoke with Captain Vic Taylor who told me that they killed them last weekend and they’re going to try it again one more time before sea bass reopens. Come Monday, the target switches to sea bass with a sprinkling of fluke when that goes live. The good times are coming.
Mike Cunningham told me that his customers at Sea Isle Bait and Tackle are on the fish. There are striped bass in the bays and Townsend’s Inlet along with blues up to four pounds. Black drum are hitting clam just off the beaches. Weakfish are still running on the tides in the inlet as well as the Back Bay. Now, Mike confirmed that several anglers have been bringing in croakers taken in the bay and the inlet. I have pictures to support it. This is the earliest I can ever remember hearing a croaker bite. Could the redfish and spot be far behind? There are also nice blowfish off the front beach. Mike asked me to remind you guys that his Opening day Flounder Tourney is two day this year, Fri. and Sat. To register, stop in the shop or get in touch with Mike before 6am Friday, May 24th.
America’s First Family Resort, Ocean City, is already in the summer swing of things as far as fishing action goes. I spoke with Bill Wiggins of Fin-Atics Marine Supplies there who told me the surfs and bays are all showing strong signs of activity. Corson’s Inlet has been the best place for keeper bass, with bunker pods moving in and out on the tides. Weakfish locally have also been strong further in the inlet and up towards Rainbow Channel and even off Kennedy Park. The OC beaches are open to striped bass and some decent puppy black drum. Bill tells me that they have weighed in drum up to 25 pounds with the normal size being around 15 pounds. Additionally, reports of croakers and blowfish along with a few kingfish have all been coming into the shop. Yes sir, plenty to do in Ocean City. Bill also informed me tat they have a full complement of fresh bait at the store, even nice sized minnows, another hard to get item this time of year.
Best Bets for the Weekend.
Fishing opportunities are popping wherever you look right now and the water temperatures are still a little below what I would consider being in the prime zone. That being said, it’s your call as to which species you target. The inlets seem to be the best neighborhoods for taking a keeper and tide changes seem to bring the best bait pods in. Clam and bunker is available fresh at most outlets. If I had to choose, I would use clam which gives me the chance at two fun targets, striper and drum. The window for puppy drum is tight so that would be my pick. One area of concern is bluefish that once again are playing hide and seek. The blues bite gets stronger the further north you go. For the kids, it’s a good weekend to look at blowfish, kings or croakers, all of which have made an early appearance. Early weather reports look good and flounder opens next Friday. And if you are looking for a tune up for bottom fishing, black sea bass opens on Monday, there is no better way to do an equipment shake down. The good times are here. Be careful out there, you only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.