It is hard to believe that we are already past the Labor Day Holiday but here we are. For some of you, especially those back in school, the end of summer can put a real crimp in your fishing activity. For others, it can be the best time of the year. Most of the summer fish are still hanging tight in the area and some of those will start to migrate south which opens up some exciting new opportunities to explore. Bigger blues are already showing up north of us and hopefully they will stay closer to the coast this year as the waters cool off. There are indications that the bunker in the area is thick as well and that could be a good indicator for bass. The thing about fishing, especially this season it would seem, is that things change from one day to the next. Hopefully our fishing forecast can help you see the patterns. In the end, it’s all about the hunt. Our goal is to make it a little easier for you to catch. Let’s see what our front line scouts have to tell us this week.
I spoke with Captain Mike O’Neil of the Stray Cat in Longport this week about the inshore fishing in the AC area. Mike told me that he believes the flounder fishing the last three weeks or so is about as good as it has ever been. And that saying something coming from a guy who has spent most of his life chasing them for pay. Pick your spot or bait and you should have action as Mike tells it. It’s rare when one of his charters on the 56” custom down-easter comes in with out a 5+ pound flatfish in the cooler. If you never fished off the Stray Cat, you don’t know what you are missing. For groups larger than 6 and smaller than 20, it’s the perfect boat for a charter. And Mike does several “open boat” charters each week. Check it out if you get the chance.
Mike Jung at Peace Token Bait and Tackle in Cape May Court House reports that fishing remains strong at the southern end of the state. There are nice sized croakers in Delaware Bay and off the local beaches. The inshore reefs have been very productive for flounder. North Wildwood, close to Herefords inlet has been the prime spot for kingfish using bloodworms as bait. Crabbing in the back waters of Wildwood remains good. If you are willing to travel even further south, the Old Grounds and Reef Site 11 have finally shown some consistency with big fluke being the norm and even some nice sea bass. Don’t forget that expanded sea bass limit is in place for a few more days. Mike also informed me that the Elephant Trunk is still holding dolphin, yellow fin tuna and some really nice wahoo. There are also lots of false albacore in that area. The southern canyons are all reporting good numbers on white marlin.
The Mimi VI (Point Pleasant) had a great open boat canyon run last week and another scheduled for this weekend. But don’t be sad if you missed booking a limited seat on those trips because they have two more scheduled for October. Seating is limited to 12, which makes it a very comfortable trip on a 62’ boat. There is also an open boat canyon trip scheduled for 9/15 but I am not sure if it has filled up. Call Captain Kenny Nimowicz for details and availability at 732-370-8019.
As previously mentioned, the Duke O’Fluke will continue to prowl the waters behind Absecon Island and Ocean City until the summer flounder season winds down in a few weeks. Captain Brooke Koenke tells me that the fluking remains decent in and around the inlet and the best bait have been minnows. The Duke is cutting out its Tuesday and Thursday trips but continues to sail twice daily from its berth in Somers Point. The Duke is a 50 covered pontoon boat that offers a great way to get out on the water where you have a better shot at keeper fish this time of year.
John Yak at The Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights reports that the fluke fishing off the surf in Island Beach State Park has been “very good” in the last few days. Bucktails tipped with Gulp or strip baits are the number one producer. There are also blues in the surf, mostly snappers but bigger fish move in periodically. Metal, as always is the best tool for catching them. Crabbing off the docks and rental boats at the Dock Outfitters remains good. There is some talk of blowfish in the back but with their scarcity this summer, few people are targeting them. Take a chum bucket out on your next bay excursions and you may get a surprise.
The Gambler Deep Sea Fishing Boat has really been lighting up the scales at the dock lately with fluke op to 6 pounds taking most of the daily pools on the boat. Add in some nice bluefish and sea bass and you have a well-rounded party boat. Most of the seasoned anglers on the 90’ Gambler are using bucktails with Gulp baits but strip baits are working just as well. Thursday and Friday evenings are wreck fishing adventures and Saturday night is reserved for chasing the big bluefish. At the nd of the month, the Gambler will start it offshore canyon hunts for big fish. Seating is limited for these overnighters so call or check the website for more information.
John Bushell Jr. of Betty and Nick’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside is reporting that the action of late at Island Beach State Park has been nothing short of tremendous. Anglers tossing bucktails from the sand are having a great time with fluke and the amount of legal sized fish seems to be on the upswing. John also says that the blues in the surf are starting to get bigger as well with plenty of 4-5 pound yellow eyed devils showing up. There are good amounts of bait in the wash and the water is cleaning up. If you don’t have an adequate supply of metal in your tackle box, better stop at the shop and pick up a few extra. You don’t want to miss the bite because of equipment shortages.
So I open up the Philly Inquirer the other day and who do I see staring back at me from the front page. None other than Noel Felciano, owner and resident AC fishing expert of One Stop Bait and Tackle there. Naturally I called him to break his stones a little and first thing he tells me is that the fishing remains strong off the beaches and jetties of Atlantic City. Noel tells me that there are big croakers and kingfish in the wash as well as some decent sized bluefish. Flounder are still hitting on bucktails but the size has come down a little. As it has been most of the summer, there is a fantastic amount of bait on the surf. You will find everything from peanuts to spearing and shiners. Anglers fishing the rocks are still pulling up tog and the occasional trigger fish. As he has told me almost every week this summer, this has been one of the best seasons off the beach in all the years he has owned One Stop.
Captain Ed Berger of Team Tackle Direct is my go to guy for inshore fishing in the Absecon Island, Brigantine area. Ed tells me that most of the local reefs inshore have been lit up recently. Sea bass are still a no show but flounder fishing has been downright crazy the last couple of weeks. The AC, GE and OC Reefs have all been consistent and that is a good thing. Top baits are strip and Gulp Green or White Grubs. There are croakers a little higher up in the water column if that is your preference. So out a little further and you should be able to lock into some dolphin around the Lobster Pots or troll up some nice Albies and Bonito. If you are looking for more specific reference points, swing by Tackle Directs main store on Tilton Road in EHT and ask for Ed, the GM. He is always looking for someone to talk fishing with.
Curt at Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center tells me that fishing in the area is still “pretty good” and that we are seeing a little more variety these days. The flounder bite has slowed down a bit but there are smaller to mid-size blues in the bay and inlet taking advantage of the volumes of bait. There have been some weakfish in the mix as well. Nothing huge but fun to catch none the less. The best action these days is at any of the inshore reefs and wrecks. Striped bass along the sod banks are in the 21-27 inch range and can be caught on a bucktail or top water plug. First and last lights, especially with the change of tide are the best times to target the bass. Captain Dave Showell reminded me that he is having a big “end of season” sale at the shop through the weekend. Check out his discounts on all the Berkeley Gulp products if you get a chance.
In Ocean City, some of the best fishing time comes along after Labor Day and this year it looks like it will be a little late. According to John at Fin-Atics Marine Supply in OC, we seem to be in a mid-August pattern as opposed to an early fall one. The beaches are giving up the usual small blues, flounder and finally some croakers in the suds. Best place to find big fluke is the GE or OC Reef. John says that there are some kingfish around but not in the numbers that they should be. Spot are also a no show this year. With the late warm up, John thinks we may still have a shot at some of those and redfish if the weather holds up. I am not as optimistic on spot but have a hunch we may see the return of some redfish to Corson’s Inlet any day now. Stay tuned. Crabbing in the area is still going strong, John recommends the area under the 34th street bridge.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Labor Day has come and gone but summer fishing is most certainly still with us, at least for a few more weeks. And with the diminished crowds, it can be a much more enjoyable experience, take my word for it. So if you are looking for a strategy, I would go bottom fishing. In their infinite wisdom, the powers that be have expanded the black sea bass limit to fifteen through the weekend. So you have that going for you as well as flounder which are red hot as I write this. The offshore bite is strong but you the best of that is still to come. So I would look to putting some flounder in the cooler while we still have a few weeks left in that season. There are also some nice bluefish in the area. If you are fishing deep enough, you still may have a shot at some ling and your one tautog limit. And if you are really lucky, a few trigger fish or sheepshead. Yup, that would be my choice. Whichever option you choose to avail yourself of, please stay safe out there. Fishing is meant to be fun but safety should always come first. See you on the incoming.
good report helps me out a lot where i’ll catch the incoming.