It looks like we may have some hard sailing in front of us, just in time for the biggest holiday weekend of the summer. You may want to keep a sharp eye on the horizon and better yet, the most accurate weather service you can find if you have plans for a fishing trip this weekend. Strong winds and big crowds will most likely be your biggest road blocks this weekend but hopefully not to the point where that you need to cancel your plans. A farsighted angler always has a backup plan held in reserve. That’s where our On the Water fishing forecasts can pay dividends. We can give you some options should Plan A go to hell in a hand basket.
If you are in Ocean City for vacation this weekend and find the beaches too crowded to soak a line, consider hopping on one of the fine party boats in the area. The Miss Ocean City and the Captain Robbins on Bay Ave are two that come immediately to mind. Owned by Captain Vic Hartley, either can provide a platform to fish the front or back waters of the area at a very reasonable cost.
I touched base with Andrew at Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin who told me that the best game in that area right now is between the anglers and the fluke in the bay. There are also blues in the bay, up to five pounds. Most anglers are using metal on the bluefish and Gulp Swim mullets, live minnow or spearing on the flounder. Blowfish have yet to show up in the bay in any great numbers. Ocean side, the beaches have been a little quiet this week by Andrew expects the kingfish to start wandering in which should spice things up. Night anglers are still getting some nice browns off the beach and inshore reef fishermen have reported that the bite is still a little inconsistent on the reefs. One day the fish are there, the next day they aren’t. Blue claw crab enthusiasts are seeing better numbers for their efforts. Don’t forget to check out the live bait board on Tony’s web site before you hit the water.
Anyone who tells you the only thing to do in AC is gamble hasn’t stopped in One Stop Bait and Tackle there and chatted with owner Noel Feliciano. The Jetty jockeys and sand anglers are having a banner year and not just on striped bass and flounder. The king fish have moved into the area in nice numbers along with some really nice croakers. Worms are working on both. In addition, there are trigger fish on the rocks and Noel suspects there may be some sheephead in and about the rocks. Flounder fishing is still very strong in the Absecon Inlet and AC beaches north. Minnows are the best working bait. I asked Noel if he has had any blowfish and he told me that there was an early run but they went silent. He expects they will show up again any day now. The past three or four years have been great for blowfish in the area. Most of the local anglers don’t chase them thinking they are not here but those who do are rewarded with buckets full. Don’t believe me? Stop in One Stop on Atlantic Ave and check out the pictures on the door.
Big Chris at Better Bait and Ice in Toms River is going gung ho over the local crab bite. With a sloe or no bite on the blowfish, it’s a great way to keep the kids entertained or put some food on the summer picnic table. That’s not to say the fluke bite is off but it has slowed down and moved towards the inlets according to Chris. For bait, the favorite this week seems to be the color Pink. Be it pink squid strips or Gulp swimming mullets, which is the color of choice. Snapper blues in the bay chasing bunker are also an option. Tossing metal or small bait setups like spearing should get you some action. Chris also told me that customers are doing well on Largemouth bass in the local holes like Manasquan Reservoir and the pond at Ocean County Community college.
In Gardiners Basin of AC fame, the High Roller, a pontoon boat that patrols Absecon Bay and inlet is ready and waiting to give you a break from the gaming tables. The HR sails twice daily at 8 and 1 targeting flounder and any other bay species. Rental rods are available and bait is free. Captain Mike Tabasso has been putting the boat on the fish with four pound flatties usually taking the pool. Gulp Swim Mullets and minnows seem to be the hot bait this week. Most of the action has been further up towards the creek but that can all change depending on conditions. One of the nice things about a boat that sails twice daily, seven days a week is the Captains like Mike almost always know where to put the boat when things change. And that experience usually pays nice flat dividends.
With the black Sea bass reduction in play effective July 1st, the Carolyn Ann III out of Barnegat has adjusted its hunting to target fluke and sea bass. The boat sales daily at 8am and returns around 3pm. Cost of a trip is 50 dollars for adults. The CA will also be doing a fireworks cruise to Seaside on July 4th, weather permitting. Call the office at 609-693-4281 for specifics.
In Harvey Cedars you don’t need a boat to get at the nice fluke. Owner Bill Heitzmann of Bill’s Surf and Tackle there told me that this week has been very good in the surf for big flat fish. Anglers are using Bucktails with a dropper loop above and squid minnow or Gulp bait with great success. Bill says the fish are hanging just inside the surf line. In the bay, no sign of blowfish yet but flounder fishing has remained good and there are snappers all over the place. Crabbing is getting stronger every day.
In Point Pleasant Beach, you have a multitude of options to choose from when you are looking for a party boat fishing experience. If a proven track record is high on your list than you need to check out the 90’ Gambler. During the week, the Gambler has two half day fluking trips with the first breaking port at 8am. They also do night blues fishing for blues on Friday and Saturday and Thursday night deep water run for cod, ling and squid. This week, the Gambler is firing on all cylinders. Pool winners on fluking trips have been in the 8 pound range. Blues on the night trips have been very good with 10-12 pound fish commonplace.
Ever have days when you regret not fishing. I had intentions of jumping on the Stray Cat and heading out on Tuesday to take advantage of one of Captain Mike O’Neil’s open boat trips. Winds predicted at 20-30 out of the south scared me off. When I spoke with Mike today, he told me they killed the flounder with fish up to 5 pounds. The 53’ Stray Cat is a custom Down-easter that easily worked those conditions. I am still kicking myself. Mike told me that he has two open boats scheduled for next week on Tuesday and Thursday. In offshore news, Mike told me that recent charters have killed the yellow fin tuna from the Baltimore south. They also found a warm water eddy at the Bacardi last week and beat them up in close. Mike tells me that the Mahi bite has also been exceptional lately. If you are looking for an offshore, inshore or day trip for more than the standard 6 pack, this is the boat. The Stray Cat is licensed to carry 19 but they try to keep the trips down to 10-12 people, still comfortable on a boat with a 19’ beam. The Cat is berthed in Seaview Harbor, just over the Longport Bridge in EHT. Check it out.
When I go looking for big game info in the south, one of my first stops is Team Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township. I spoke with Captain Ed Berger there who told me that there is an offshore bite in the south but Hurricane Arthur is almost certainly going to reset the table. Even though it should most models having it moving further out to sea by the time it treks north, it is still going to cause some turbulent conditions at the very least. Ed feels that even getting out of the inlets will be a trial as huge amounts of water are being pushed in daily and it will only get worse as the storm nears us. That being said, Ed and the team are gearing up for the upcoming ICAST fishing Manufacturers show and will once again be putting hundreds of videos up on the net showcasing new innovations in the industry. Ed also teased me with a rumor that Tackle Direct will be unveiling a major new project in the upcoming months. To put in in Ed’s words – Stay Tuna’d.
Lenny Hahn at Capt’n Hippos in Toms River tells me that the bluefish have moved into the river in very strong numbers. The area around Mathis Park is almost a guaranteed day of fun. Small chunks of bait or a metal lure is the best way to have hours upon hours of fun catching blues up to 3 pounds. Fluking remains solid in the bay but the throwback ratio has increased as is typical for this time of year. Lenny suggests the area around BI to BB Buoy and using squid or spearing will increase your odds of keepers. Crabbing in the area is also on the upswing in all the usual places. Lenny asked me to pass along his wishes for a safe and fun 4th weekend.
I put a call in to Betty and Nick’s in Seaside to see how the conditions at Island Beach State Park are shaping up in front of Arthur. Brian informed me that the constant South East blow we have been dealing with has certainly stirred the vegetation up in the area. And also that the fishing , while not for the faint of heart, is still fair to middlin. Fluke is the main target and the main bait are Gulp Swim baits. But anglers are still putting the occasional bass on the beach along with some blues. The best action has been on the bay for fluke. Brian also indicated that the local head boats are doing good on the fluking and those venturing out for blues at night are coming back loaded. It looks like this weekend woill bring some big surf so anything is possible. Brian’s advice is to stay tuned to the weather reports and watch John’s report on FB.
If you are in the Cape May area and looking for some special piece of equipment or some quality hand tied rigs, then you must pay a visit to Peace Token Bait and Tackle in Cape May Court House. Owner Mike Jung prides himself in having one of the best stocked a lowest priced shop in all of south Jersey. And his hand tied rigs are second to none in more than a few states. When I spoke with Mike this week he told me there is still a strong flounder bite in the ICW. Spearing, minnows and Gulp New Penny Manta Shrimp are the local favorites this year. Delaware bay is loaded with croakers and the Cape May Point jetties are even giving up some trigger fish and sheephead. Local crabbing is red hot. Wildwood beaches are starting to see some nice flounder and croakers as well.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Unfortunately, it looks like we will all be at the mercy of the weather gods and what will hopefully be tropical storm Arthur by the time it reaches us tomorrow. Friday looks bad, Saturday looks to be a recovery day and Sunday can be the best bet. If everything goes as predicted which is rarely the case. So if you have a primary plan, I would suggest putting in a backup in case surf and winds put a damper on that strategy. There are plenty of places to fish where the weather effects can be softened. Be careful around the inlets as this storm and the recent winds will be pushing in huge volumes of water and that makes for some dicey conditions. Don’t take chances, play it safe. And be careful out there. In addition to rough weather it is a holiday weekend. And a lot of times it’s the other guy who causes the problems. Have a great Fourth of July and meet back here next week for even better fishing. See you on the incoming.