South Jersey Fishing Report [6/12]
Sea bass and ling and are providing steady fishing, with a bonus in the form of cod and winter flounder. Fluke fishing is solid in the back bays, although the bigger fish appear to be moving out front. Bluefish are more on than off. Crabbing is on the upswing.
Cape May:
Fluke fishing is improving aboard the Miss Chris, and south Philadelphia’s Vince Anzideo won a pool big time with a 9.25 lb. doormat. There is a fair amount of keeper sea bass also being caught.
“Kingfish are being caught on the Lady Chris,” says Capt. Fred Ascoli, and these delicious pan fryers are being joined by a few keeper weakfish.
“Good action with flounder, and there are a few keepers in the mix. Hopefully we’ll be getting more fish going into the coolers by the weekend,” observes Capt. Paul from the Porgy IV. Pool winning flatties are ranging between 4-5 lbs. Squid strips are getting it done.
Wildwood:
The two daily sorties by the Starlight are producing catches of sea bass, small weakfish and flounder. Nicky Sneathen (Goshen, NJ) was in the money with a chunky 3-lb. sea bass. Beginning this Sunday, a third trip will be added to the schedule, and departure will be at 7 p.m.
Capt. Jim on board the Atlantic Star is dialed in to the tilefish, and anglers participating in these reservation only sojourns are enjoying solid shots at this delicious denizen. Scott Taylor from Ottawa, Canada decked a 15 lb. blueline, while Otto Jensen (Fairbanks, AK) iced 21 bluelines and a limit of sea bass.
Dividing Creek:
Stumpy at Dividing Creek Boat Rentals reports that the crabbing is finally underway, and it was a 3 dozen hand line catch of big keepers by Casey and Richie from Franklinville, NJ. Philadelphia’s Ted and Jessica Stairato put 5 dozen in the bushel. Look for blueclaw action to improve as creek waters continue warming.
Sea Isle:
Good catches of sea bass and ling is the story from the Starfish, and it was a take of 13 keeper sea bass for Bill Kennedy (Philadelphia). Amy (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ put 12 sea bass in the cooler. The steady action is expected to continue.
Ocean City:
“Very good ling and sea bass fishing this week and I’m looking forward to the same this weekend,” says Capt. Vic aboard the Captain Robbins. Nolan Green (Bridgeton, NJ) won a pool with a fatso 4-1/2 lb. ling. This Saturday, it’s a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. sea bass marathon, and beginning Monday, June 16, the schedule switches to two trips a day.
Margate:
Capt. John from the Keeper tells very good bay fishing for flounder. Holly Hauser (Pottstown, PA) dragged in a monster 9.3 lb. doormat. Pete Demassi (Philadelphia) was in the money twice with fluke of 4.02 and 5.8 lbs. Other recent pool winners included Tom Fish (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ; 4.04 lbs.), Allen White (Baltimore, MD; 4.82 lbs.) Tarcelli Anthony (Vorhees, NJ; 5.08 lbs.), Larry Roberts (Philadelphia; 3.80 lbs.) and Margate anglers John Centanni and Bob Zacaria. drained pools with flounder weighing 4.72 lbs. and 5.16 lbs. respectively.
Atlantic City:
Plenty of fluke are coming over the rails of the High Roller. Elaine Berger (Egg Harbor Twp, NJ) won the Fantasy Fluke pot ($1886) and also the pool with a 2.86 lb. flattie. Paxton Holden (Pottstown, PA) put pool winners weighing 4.1 lbs., 4.14 lbs. and 3.83 lbs. on ice. Other pool winners were Mike “Colonel” Sanders (Philadelphia; 4.66 lbs.), Bob Melchioni (Little Egg Harbor, NJ; 4.24 lbs.), Chris Tabasso (Absecon, NJ; 3.84 lbs.), Russ Madison (Mystic Island, NJ; 3.17 lbs.) and Ann Marie Harris (Brigantine, NJ; 3.96 lbs.).
Barnegat Light:
“Fluke fishing is okay but should get better soon,” reports Capt. Charlie Eble aboard the Doris Mae IV. The flatties are ranging from keeper length to the pool winning 5 lb. flounder decked by Pete Bonilla (Whiting, NJ). Night bluefish is all about 6 to 10 lb. choppers.
Word from Capt. Ted on the Super Chic is that the sea bass and ling are finding their appetites for the squid and clam baits. Top weights for sea bass have been in the 3-3/12 lb. range, with the red hake between 2-3 lbs. The skipper says that he’ll have another open boat tilefish trip on Sunday, July 6 and space is limited to 10.
Capt. Lenny from the Miss Barnegat Light says it’s been fair to good action with 6 to 12 lb. bluefish. More are being caught on metal jigs than chunk baits.
Point Pleasant:
Yellowfin, bluefin to 100 lbs. and a dazzling 97 inch mako are just a few of the offshore species being caught on the Canyon Runner. There are a few openings in July and August for what is shaping to be a spectacular canyon season.
Ling, sea bass, winter flounder, cod and keeper fluke are going into the coolers of those dropping clam, squid and Gulp! baits from the rails of the Dauntless. Ed Macon (Blairstown, NJ) won a pool with a 6 lb. cod. Average mixed bag catches are between 10-15, with high hookers tallying between 21 and 24.
The Voyager is sailing for sea bass tomorrow from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and for ling and sea bass Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be a run for ling Saturday night from 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Brielle:
Good fishing for blues during both day and night sorties continues aboard the 125’ Big Jamaica. Mike Nolan (Harrisburg, PA) won a pool with a 14 lb. chopper, and it was a 17 lb. slammer for Gary Krot (Germantown, MD). Under the sun, Kroc and AVA metals are the tools, and after dark, it’s a chumming and chunking game.
It’s a fair pick at keeper sea bass and also ling on the Paramount, with the occasional cod to 5 lbs. coming over the rails.
This should be the first weekend on the water for the new Jamaica II and Capt. Joe strongly urges all planning to come aboard for fluke and sea bass to call ahead of time to make sure the boat will be sailing.
Belmar:
Depending on the day, the blues being waxed on the Golden Eagle are weighing 3 to 5 lbs. and 5 lbs. to 12 lbs. all are hitting Run Off Hammer jigs, poppers and Kroc metals, but some days it’s been a slow pick. Drifts over some wrecks are also producing a few cod.
Stripers are still hitting the deck amid the rain of bluefish aboard the Miss Belmar Princess. Bass to 35 pounds have been jigged, and Armando Virtuadaza (Leesburg, FL) cashed in with a 25 lb. linesider. The blues are running from 4 to 12 pounds and are walloping AVA-47 and Kroc metals. Pete Curtis (Matawan, NJ) iced a 10 lb. pool drainer.