Fluke action continues to dominate the inshore fishing scene. Some areas are experiencing almost all throwbacks. If you are fishing for flatties and catching only shorts, try another spot that might yield bigger fish. Kingfish action has improved, but no one can get the bloodworms that the kingfish desire. Offshore action has been hit-or-miss, with many more bluefish around than tuna for those fishing for bluefins. Canyon fishing is still spotty, with some days procuring much better than others.
Absecon Fishing Report
Dave at Absecon Bay Sportsman said that fluke action remains good. He said that there are a lot of smaller fish in the bay, but there are also good size fluke in the backwater and on the reefs. He said that the weakfish are definitely moving in, with anglers catching good numbers of school fish in the mornings and evenings. He added that he has heard of many limit catches of 3 to 4-pound weaks. Offshore, Dave said that not much is happening, except for some small bluefish and spotty Spanish mackerel action. On the fly scene, he said that action has been spotty, but more baitfish have just moved into the backwater. With the rogue schools of stripers moving around the flats and back bays, fishing in the early morning or evening should be productive. He said that the smaller, flashy flies, like small clousers, will work best.
Joe reported decent fluke fishing for those that put the time in, with many anglers taking their limit of keepers. He also commented that some anglers are catching 35 fluke, but only taking one keeper. Bass fishing continues to be good in the Inter Coastal Waterway at dusk, with the best action being on plugs. Offshore, he said that fishing for bluefish continues to be good.
George at Brennan Marine reported that fishing picked up this week. He said that the fluke bite continues to be good, with flatties being taken in the inlet and near the shore lumps in the ocean. Offshore, George said that tuna appeared last Saturday at The Lobster Claw and 40 Fingers. He added that the canyons are yielding yellowfin and bluefin tuna. Mike brought tuna to 67-1/2 pounds over the rail last week.
Sean at Waterfront called in to report an offshore canyon trip last week. He said that Tom took his 22-foot Pro-Cat to the Baltimore Canyon. During the trip, Tom landed one yellowfin and four dolphin.
Ocean City Fishing Report
I spoke to Ed at Fin-Atics who reported striper action continues to be good. He said that the weakfish action is slow, but the kingfish action is heating up. He said that the offshore action is also heating up, with yellowfin and dolphin being the prime target at the canyons. However, other sportfish are also in the area. Ed added that Mark caught a 400-pound blue marlin in the Wilmington Canyon last week.
Sea Isle City Fishing Report
Captain Erich at Red Dog Bait & Tackle reported that the fluke fishing picked up this past week, with some nice size fish being weighed. Greg weighed in a 6-pound fluke that he took from Ludlam Bay, and Mike Z nailed seven keeper fluke to 5-1/2 pounds in Flat Creek. Rich fished Townsend’s Inlet and boated four fluke to 6.95 pounds, while Lori, age 9, caught her first fish, a 17-inch fluke.
Avalon Fishing Report
Dave at Hodge Podge Bait & Tackle reported great kingfish action in the suds, though getting bloodworms has been quite a challenge. Fluke fishing in the bay has been good, with the throwback to keeper ratio improving to about 50/50. He said that stripers are hitting white Fin-S Fish under the bridges at night, but the weakfish action continues to be spotty. Offshore, Dave said that there are lots of dolphin and sharks at The Cigar, and bluefish action is good at Sea Isle Ridge.
Stone Harbor Fishing Report
Chuck at Roseman’s Marine reported excellent fluke fishing in the back bays. He said that those that put the time in to finding the holes are catching fish. He also said that there are kingfish in the surf, and stripers are also being pulled from suds in the early morning or late evening. He also said that weakfish action continues to be good in the backwater for those using sheddar crabs. Chuck said that the offshore action has been nearly nonexistent, with most anglers that are chunking for tuna ending up with blues.
Wildwood Fishing Report
Fluke action has picked up in the 60 Foot Slough area of Delaware Bay. Sea bass action continues to be good at the artificial reef and the Old Grounds. Bob Hillgen landed a 14-pound tog that he caught at the artificial reef. Offshore, anglers are nailing good numbers of tuna at the Hot Dog. The tuna chunk bite will continue to pick up, if you can get away from the bluefish.
Wildwood Crest Fishing Report
Captain Jim on the Starlight/Twilight reported that on one of the Starlight’s 4-hour trips, the Davis Family of West Chester, Pennsylvania, teamed up and landed a bucket of weakfish and flounder. Aboard one of the Twilight’s 6-hour trips, Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania resident Daniel Wittmer, age 11, won the pool with his first-ever 5-pound fluke. Captain Jim added that Washington Township resident Steve Tarantino caught his limit of fluke.
Cape May Fishing Report
South Jersey Marina said that the tuna bite is picking up at the Hot Dog. The dolphin bite has been improving in all of the canyons and offshore jaunts. There are loads of bluefish 40 miles offshore where all the anglers are chunking for bluefins. One captain, caught 60 blues while trying to chunk for tuna. Inshore, fluke action has been picking up. Weakfish action is improving, with more keepers being caught regularly.
Jim’s Bait & Tackle reported good offshore fishing at the Hot Dog, but anglers need to use lots of weight to get their baits below the bluefish. At the Baltimore Canyon, trolling action continues to be good, he said. Inshore, he said that fluke fishing has been hot at the Old Grounds and the 60 Foot Slough. Weakfish action is beginning to take off, with some keepers finally being caught.
