As of tomorrow, toughest days of summer should be mostly behind us. Water temperatures are starting to return to the level they should be this time of year and some of the best fishing of the year is in front of us. I haven’t heard of any cobia sightings this year so far but also haven’t given up hope that a few will show up. Sheephead and trigger fish are around so tie up some special rigs for these tasty critters. I’m also starting to get some decent reports of peanut bunker in the back water so it’s time to dust off the cast net and add it to your arsenal. Nothing a flounder likes better than a live peanut dangling from the end of a set-up. In my opinion, Flounder fishing remains strong but slow. By that I mean the more big fish are being taken but the overall catch seems measured at time. If you put the time in and adjust your tactics on the fly, you should be rewarded. My take on this is that colder waters due to upwelling have made the fish somewhat lethargic and you need to adapt or die. Changing spots and or techniques is almost mandatory if you want to have a good day catching. That’s just my opinion. Let’s see if I am reading the signs correctly.
The 90’ Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach is reporting that the fluke bite has been picking up of late and some bigger sea bass have moved into the area or at least come awake at last. Their night wreck fishing trips have been producing nice ling mixed in with keeper cod, squid and snowshoe flounder. They have also added Friday nights to their schedule. Please note, the August 7th night trip is sold out. Don’t forget, they have some offshore tuna trips (open boat, reservations required) coming up at the end of August. Contact the Gambler at 732-295-7569 for availability and dates.
John Yak at The Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights reports that crabbing off their rental boats and dock has been nothing short of spectacular lately. Local beaches are giving up some small blues and nice flounder. Conveniently located right off the causeway, Dock Outfitters has everything from rental boats, a top notch bait and tackle store and even lunch. It is a must stop for a day of fishing or crabbing in the area. Oh yeah, they also have a free fishing and crabbing pier on site.
I bumped into Captain David Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center when I was out walking the pooch this morning. He was taking a charter out for some bay flounder adventures and had stopped to cast net some peanut bunker which are showing up in good numbers. There are also good numbers of spearing around the Brigantine Bridge. Both are excellent flounder baits at this time of the year. Speaking of flounder, there are plenty still being taken in the back waters and inlet. There are also trigger fish and kingfish in the inlet as well as some hefty tog around structure there. If you are looking for striped bass action, fish just off the deep holes and throw a small top water plug like a Smack-It and you should see plenty of action at first and last light.
At Bill’s Surf and Tackle in Harvey Cedars, the talk of the day is the beach action. Fluke and snapper blues are the best bets right now. Bill told me that he is recommending his customers try strip baits for the fluke. Anglers stripping down a bunker are having good hook up ratios. Of course, squid and Gulp baits are having success as well. There are kingfish in the suds as well. If you are targeting sharks, Bill tells me that night bite is best. In the bay, its snappers and crabs working the hardest. The rock piles at the inlet are letting some nice blackfish out of their grasp. Asian crabs are the best producers but some are having fun using clam.
In America’s Number One Family Resort, Ocean City, It fish on time. Pat at Fin-Atics Marine Supply tells me the only thing that is left to resolve is the inconsistency of the water temperatures. When they rise, the fishing has been fantastic but a couple of days of south winds and the temps can fall ten degrees in a day, shutting the bite down. That being said, the best bite has been in the back and inlet mouths where the water temps have been more stable. Pat recommends looking for the deeper holes in the back and setting your drift off the edges. All the summer baits are producing but on some days you need to work harder. With tog opened up again, try the Ocean City-Longport Bridge. The GE and Ocean City Reefs have been the best inshore fluking grounds. On the beach, Pat tells me that Corson’s Inlet is your best bet. King fish and fluke are the prime target. There have also been some night striped bass taken there. Most are local fish up to 30 inches if you are lucky but action is action.
Lenny Hahn at Capt’n Hippos Bait and Tackle in Toms River informs me that the snapper blues have saturated the area. From Huddy Park all the way to Ocean Gate all you need is some fresh spearing and a Lenny’s Lance-it Rig” and you are guaranteed success. Lenny also tells me that crabbing in the area has gone bonkers with in the Toms and bay. Fluking in the area is best around the BB buoy but the throw back to keeper ratio has risen to about 7 to 1.
In Cape May, the new guy in town, Peace Token Bait and Tackle in the Court House is certainly racking up a reputation for top line equipment and great pricing. Owner Mike Jung has certainly established his shop in the area quickly. Fishing in the area has been good to great, depending on your target. There are still nice flounder being caught in the ICW but throw backs have been outnumbering the keepers about 6 to1. Keeper tog has been reported at most of the rocks from Townsends Inlet all the way south to the Cape Many Point. Bigger fluke are being reported on Reef Site 11 if you are up for a ride and the Old Grounds have been day to day. Crabbing in the area remains good to great. The Delaware Bay is holding croakers inside and some nice fluke at the mouth. There have been some good reports of dolphin at the inshore pots as well.
John at Fishermen’s Supply in in Point Pleasant tells me that the best fluking in the area is around the high tide, Bass are still hitting rubber like Finesse in the canal and the Railroad Bridge at night. Offshore, the 100 Square is holding some nice long fin and there are yellow fin in the Toms. All are being taken on the troll. There have been some spotty reports of swordfish in the region at night as well. If you are looking for blue fin tuna, the Chicken Canyon was the last place they were active. Sportsmen trolling rigged ballyhoo are having the best hook up ratios.
Ed Berger, one of the Captain’s on the good ship Tackle Direct tells me to keep a lookout for their new TV show, Fish Mavericks which premiers next Wednesday on NBC Sports. And when Ed isn’t hawking TV shows and selling premier fishing tackle, he is out testing it in the local area. He tell me that the kingfish have invaded the Absecon Island are being ransomed for the price of some Fish Bytes or Bloodworms. Some nice flounder are still being taken of the beaches as well as the occasional striper or tog around the rocks on the north or south end of the island. Inshore, the GE and OC reefs have been the most productive but the water temps dropped again this week, so that is open for discussion. Ed also tells me that some decent sized dolphin have filtered in to the lobster pots so keep an eye out for floating debris and you might get some mahi for the table.
Some short notes to clean the house:
The Duke O’Fluke (Somers Point) is sailing twice daily in search of flounder and blues in the Greater Egg Harbor. The 45’pontoon boat with a covered deck and restroom facilities is a great way to get the family out on the water while on vacation. No reservations needed. Two trips daily at 8am and 1 pm.
Tony’s in Manahawkin is reporting that the fluke in the bay are still going strong. Oyster and Double Creeks are red hot. Spearing, live minnows and Berkeley Gulp Swim Mullets are top baits. Crabbing is best in the back creeks. Inshore bite is starting to improve at all the local wrecks and reefs. Offshore, the tuna (yellow) bite is the talk of the boating crowd. Looking for bait? Check out Tony’s Bait Board on their website.
I spoke with Mike at Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park who tells me that they had a 31’ striper weighed in at the shop by an angler drifting for fluke with a whole squid. Some nice cod came into the shop for a weigh in as well by unnamed anglers fishing the deep water. The beaches have been good at night for sharks and decent during the day for fluke and blues.
Noel Feliciano of One Stop Bait and Tackle in Atlantic City and Gardeners Basin tells me that the bite is still on in the Absecon Inlet and beaches. Kingfish and flounder are the best action with some tog and trigger fish thrown in for good measure. Noel has the best baits in the county and there is no one who carries more bloodworms at a cheaper price.
Captain Vic Hartley has two boats to help you get some fishing in while on vacation in the Ocean City Area. The Captain Robbins sails twice daily for Oceanside flounder fishing. On weekends, the Captain Robbins puts out to deeper waters to expand its repertoire with ling, sea bass and cod. Weekend trips are 8 hours. The Miss Ocean City also sails twice daily seven days a week for bay adventures on fluke and bluefish. Both boats are berthed on Bay Ave in Ocean City.
The Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach has two trips daily for fluke. Be at the dock at 8am or 2 pm and you are good to go. No reservations are needed. According to Captain Matt Sosnowski, fishing has been tough but decent. Keepers being caught are usually big. Pink and white Berkley Gulps have been the best producers with squid spearing combo’s trailing a close second.
The High Roller in AC reports they are still whacking the flatfish in Absecon Bay and Inlet. Pool winners have averaged around the 4 pound mark. The High roller is berthed in Gardiners Basin in AC and sails twice daily.
John Bushell at Betty and Nicks in Seaside reports that there are peanut bunker not only in the bay but they are also starting to see them in the surf on Island Beach State Park. Great baits this time of year. There have been some nice fluke taken out of the surf on both Gulps and live baits. Blues are there as well but on the small side. Shark hunters are having the best success in the dark.
Best Bets for the Weekend
The weatherman isn’t painting a pretty picture for this weekend but he has been wrong in the past. And considering that rain on the weekend has been a rarity this year, I guess we can give them one. Wind on the other hand, has been this summer’s scourge. Specifically, wind out of the south, which is haunting us again this week. It cools down not only the water but the fish living under it. They are still there but get that much harder to hook up with. There are plenty options available this weekend but much of it depends on the aforementioned weather conditions. Worst case, stick to the bays and you will find some warmer waters and some decent fish. Don’t limit yourself to flounder if the bite gets stubborn. There are trigger and tautog around the rocks and I suspect a sheephead or two. There are fish off the beaches and jetties, Kings and Flounder being the best eating routes. The reefs, if you can get to them are productive but stingy so you will need to put in your time. Offshore, with the temperature gradients aren’t anchored down this year so do your homework. What was hot last week may not be this week. But then you guys already know that. Just be careful in whatever you do. See you on the incoming.