Photo courtesy: First Cast
Water temperatures are finally climbing into the range where fish and fishermen are getting happy, at least on some days. Good reports have come in from Delaware Bay, the rips, and the ocean. Striped bass still have the headlines. The First Cast and the Stalker have both scored well up the bay and are making plans to start on drumfish in the coming week. Drum have been caught and that fishing should pick up any day now. Reports of catches of good bass in the rips are now coming in as these fish move down the bay as ocean temperatures warm up.
Shore fishing has picked up, although the water temperature dropped this week, slowing down the striper and blackfish activity from the jetties and close to shore. Bait anglers did well around the jetties at Cape May Point a few days ago, but as water temps dropped, the bass seemed to slow down. Some keepers were landed.
Captain Ray on the Tiderunner reports better light tackle and fly fishing action along the beach front. A few days ago Ray landed 7 of 10 fish hooked on flies and had many other hits. Ray also reports fly caught bass from the Cape May Point jetties as well.
Although blackfish anglers didn’t fare well from the Coast Guard jetty recently, the party boats fishing the inshore wrecks are doing well. The Starlight Fleet in Wildwood Crest and other party boats are reporting decent catches of blackfish. In the past week, many limits have been filled with several fish in the 8-9.5 pound category being landed. Eight hour triips are now sailing on Friday through Sunday.
Also see Cape May Fishing Forum
Photo courtesy of The Stalker
It’s mid-April, technically springtime, yet the weather has not smiled on Cape May’s anglers. Ocean and back bay temps are hanging in the mid-low 40s and the winds have been blowing for weeks…not a great combination for early season fishing. Striped bass, blackfish, and bluefish should be running nicely now, but all are behind schedule.
There is one upbeat story. While the striped bass fishing in the ocean and back bays has been slow, up the Delaware Bay the action hasn’t been bad. The Stalker has been catching and some of the fish have been legal sized.
Most charter captains are now just about starting up and all are taking reservations for spring striped bass and drumfish trips. The Down Deep, First Cast, and Story Teller (http://www.capemaytimes.com/fishing/charter.htm) are just about ready to start fishing. The First Cast is planning its first drumfish trip on the next full moon.
Party boats are now starting to sail more. Some have looked for mackerel, but there have been no positive reports. The Starlight Fleet will be sailing for seabass, blackfish, and ling on Fridays, Saturdays, and Saturdays starting in mid-April. They will be fishing the inshore wrecks and reefs. http://www.capemaytimes.com/fishing/fishing-wildwood.htm
Note. It was clear from the vehement responses to the last blog that a salt water fishing license isn’t what anglers want. It was unanimous. Nobody wanted one. Some responses were so expressive that they couldn’t be published. So, no more comments about a salt water fishing license. We would like to hear more thoughts on that, but please keep them civil. Anglers still need something to make them a cohesive voice for our sport. Maybe some of the readers will have an idea how we can do that and end up with better lawmaking and fishing. Thanks for your responses.
Also See Cape May Fishing Forum for more fishing discussion