The official start of summer is still three weeks away but for anglers, the real start of the summer fishing season is when those bottom dwelling flatfish become legal again in the Garden State. And from what I have been hearing it was a very successful kickoff to the season. Not as many limits as I have seen in some years but plenty of bigger fish taken in the southern parts of the state. Hopefully all of you out there were prepared and had victorious expeditions. If not, keep reading and we will help you through the rough patches or guide you to even better outings. Our scouts are the best and never fail to share the secret to victory.
With water temperatures out front still moderate, now is the time to shoot for sea bass and ling. In the Ocean City area, the Captain Robbins Party Boat is one boat that will get you to the fish. I spoke with Captain Vic Taylor this week and they are heading out daily. Over the weekend, they did well on the sea bass with pool winners in the 19” range and many nice ling. Vic also tells me that he is expecting the Robbins sister boat, Miss Ocean City, to start sailing come mid-June.
According to Mike Cunningham owner of Sea Isle Bait and Tackle, the bite is still on in the area. Weakfish and flounder in the back bay area. For weakfish, Mike tells me that anglers using pink or white are still doing the best. For fluking, he recommends either minnows or Gulp Manta Shrimps in the new penny color. Off the beaches in Sea Isle, the main catch of late is blues and stripers. Anglers are using clam for the most part but fresh bunker is coming in a close second. Mike tells me that the croakers which were crowding the beaches a week ago seem to have moved on for the time being. Likewise for drum fish. Speaking of surf fishing, Sea Isle B&T is now carrying the Coastline Surf System, a backpack with legs that enables you to carry all your gear onto the beach with ease. If you get a chance, check it out and let me know what you think.
Quick reminder. The Greater Atlantic Bluefish Tournament is next Saturday, June 7th. For more information, check out their website – gabt.com.
On the Toms River, I like to seek out the gang at Captain Hippo’s Bait and Tackle to get there perspective on the fishing. I spoke with Sandy at the shop this week who told me that water temps are on the rise and the fishing is picking up with it. The white perch catch seems to be getting better. Blowfish are starting to move into the bay so watch your bait. Fluking is still so-so but the bluefish are bigger towards the beaches. Snappers are starting to filter into the river. The beaches are still giving up some nice striped bass on both clam and plugs. Boaters are having the best success trolling Maja Spoons. Sandy told me to tell everyone that they are now carrying the full complement of S&S Rattletails. Best bucktail on the market for the money.
The Gambler Fishing Boat, a 90’ party boat out of Point Pleasant Beach, is now sailing twice daily for fluke at 8am and 2pm. On Thursday thru Saturday, Captain Bogan will be running twilight Striper/Blue trips. With cooler water temperatures right now, the action has been a slow but steady pick on the fluke and will only get better as the water warms. On the striper front, both jigs and live bait have had a steady flow of fish over the gunnels.
I’ve already detailed the fishing conditions in Sea Isle but if you want to get at the good flounder and weakfish bite, you may need to get out on the water. If you don’t have access to a ride, I suggest you give the gang at Two Chums Bait and Tackle a call and set up a reservation for one of their rental fleet. Need something better? They also have a couple of bigger pontoons available for you fishing pleasure.
The life of a bay man isn’t an easy one, but most enjoy it none the less. And for Dave Showell, Captain and owner of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center, it seems to be the perfect life. And few do it better than Dave. The reports I have been seeing from Dave indicate that the season is in full swing after a long cold winter. Stripers, blue and drum fish have been infesting the waters off Brigantine Beach. Flounder, weakfish, striped bass and blues are doing well in the bay. And the species that seems to make Dave the happiest every year, the blue claw crab are starting their shed. Dave has his shedding tables working full time for the next few weeks, catching them just as they begin to molt. It is the real sign for him that summer is in full blossom. I know I will be taking home some whales for the dinner table as well as some smaller shedders for enticing weakfish and perch. Fishing always seems to get better during the shed. My advice is to get there before it is over. Even though he harvests thousands, they go fast.
Mike O’Neil of the Stray Cat on Longport Blvd in EHT likes to think of himself as one of the best kept secrets in South Jersey. His boat, the Stray Cat is licensed for up to 22 passengers and can carry that very comfortably. Captain Mike does mainly charter work but when dates are available, he will do open boat trips. Yesterday, he did sea bass and ling and had more than a few limits. Next week, there will be open boat trips on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The boat breaks dock a 7:30 am and I would call ahead to save a seat. The Stray Cat will fish for anything in season but its offshore that lights Mike’s fire. He told me that they are only a couple of weeks out before the nice Bluefin start filtering onto the Cigar. Might just have to give that a go.
In Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island, my main scout is Bill Heitzman, owner of Bills Surf and Tackle. This week, Bill tells me that the blues have switched from their liking of metal and plugs and will now only accept bunker chunks as an acceptable alternative. Striped bass are taking both clam and bunker off the beaches but boaters are having success dragging spoons. The bay is starting to give up some nice weakfish to sand worms or plastics in pink or white. Bill also has some dyed squid strips that might do the trick on weakies as well. Most of the fluke chasers are staying in the bay and inlet with some success. Waters are starting to warm up and that will only get better.
There is still time to enter the 34th Annual South Jersey Shark Tournament which takes place on June 4th thru the 7th. Full information about registration is available at: http://www.southjerseytournaments.com/index.php
The drum season is in full swing down in Delaware Bay according to Nick at Hands Too Bait and Tackle of Cape May. The action is on both sides of the bay but Nick tells me that Poverty has been the recent hot play. Best action has been in the dark on the outgoing tide. Elsewhere in the Cape Area, the striper bite remains hot at the Point with anglers using clam and or bunker bringing home fish up to 40”. There are weakfish in the bays, Nick suggest using shedder crabs to match the hatch. The flounder bite is going strong, mostly in the ICW and other areas of the back waters. Minnows and cut baits seem to be out fishing some of the artificial enticements. If you are looking for some fishing to pass the time with the kids, Nick says the croakers, small blues and even king fish remain in the area.
The Duke O’Fluke out of Somers Point, a 45’ pontoon boat is sailing twice daily from its home port on Bay Ave. Only a hop, skip and jump from Ocean City, it a great option for putting the family on the water while you are down on vacation. The Duke sails twice daily, two four hour sessions in search of fluke and blues in the Great Egg Harbor area.
At Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin, you can depend on several things. First and foremost, they will tell you where the fish are. Second, you will get some of the freshest bait around. This week, they are reporting that the fluke fishing in the clam stakes and the area around 139 buoy has been the best place to set up. There was also some action reported in Double Creek . The best striper bite was north of the inlet and the best way to fish for them has been pulling a spoon. There has been some striper action, along with blues, off the Red Water Tower in Beach Haven. Blowfish are slowly starting to filter into the bay.
Now is the best time to get in some fishing in the Ocean City area, before the schools all let out. I had a long talk with Justin at Fin-Atics Marine Supply in OC and he agreed with me. Corson’s Inlet remains the hot spot with the bunker coming in and out there on the tides. Many of the bigger bass, bluefish and weakies are being taken in that general vicinity. For flounder, the back waters are your best bet. Justin has weighed in more than a few 5+ pound fish since the season opened on Friday last. Just yesterday, he documented a 7.26 fluke caught in the back of Corson’s by George Rowen. The fishing piers off the Ninth street causeway have been yielding some nice fish as well. The beaches on the north side of OC have had some kingfish activity already, always a welcome change.
Best Bet for the Weekend
From the looks of the extended forecast, we may get a little break from the cold damp weather we have been dealing with most of the week. Water temperatures are slowly inching up on the Oceanside so I am thinking that the tide changes should produce the best activity for flounder enthusiasts. I am starting to hear some rumors of a tight minnow market and if you are finding that to be the case in your area, I have an alternative. Spearing is often overlooked bait in South Jersey, and this time of year, they are plentiful in the area bays. Match the hatch is always good advice. Just a thought to help you get some bigger fish in the boat or beach. Speaking of local baits, the blue claw crabs are starting to molt and that should tell you that shedders could be good bait as well this weekend. Especially if you are targeting white perch or weakfish. Blue and stripers are starting to chase the tide changes as the bunker is moving in and out of the inlets. Position yourself in these areas on the tidal moves and you should increase your odds of some nice action. Whatever option you choose to partake in, please stay safe out there. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.