The flounder season kicked off on Saturday, with thousands of anglers hitting the water. Fluke were plentiful, though most were throwbacks, averaging one keeper in 5-20 fish caught. With fewer boats on the water this coming week, it will be easier to do some serious fluking.
Keeper bass continue to be taken from both boats and from the beach. Anglers fishing near Poverty caught a few keepers and one fly angler, named Dutch, took 28 and 30 inch fish, just off the beach. Both were returned to the water. Fish of that size are prime breeders, so all anglers should think about releasing more in this size class. Sure, you can legally keep them, but we do need to protect the stock for the future.
Black drum slowed for a bit, but that should only be temporary. The Down Deep charter boat (http://www.capemaytimes.com/fishing/charter-downdeep.htm) reports drum to 50 pounds in the past week. Legal Limit charters has also been catching drum, with fish in the 40 pound range (http://www.capemaytimes.com/fishing/charter-legal.htm). Now’s the time to book your drumfish trips, before the drum season is over. We have several more weeks before things wind down for these hefty fish. For other charter drum fish boats, see the Cape May Times charter boat pages.
Finally, bluefish have made their presence known around Cape May. Both the Tiderunner and Irish Fly (http://www.capemaytimes.com/fishing/charter.htm) report small bules are filling in between the striped bass and herring. These fish are in the 1-3 pound range and are a ball on flies.
The South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers held their annual fly fishing outing at Corson’s Inlet on Thursday May 21, with more than 25 club members participating.
Lined up along the sodbanks and out closer to the inlet, members caught a couple dozen fish. Small bluefish predominated and none seemed to be larger than about 18″. In addition there were Atlantic herring and hickory shad, as well as a couple of flounder and one or two striped bass. One of the flounder was keeper sized, perhap 19-20′, but it was promptly thrown back. All present were happy and all fish were returned to the water. Fly of the day was a chartreuse clouser, which seemed to catch more than other flies used.
Courtesy Tiderunner
Striped bass fishing has really picked up along the Cape May beaches and jetties, not to mention the action is still going on up Delaware Bay. Fishing for bass has been good from the usual places such as Poverty Beach,the Cape May Point jetties, and a few other spots. Capt. Ray of the Tiderunner landed and released a 36″ bass on a fly while fishing from a boat off Cape May. From his boat we watched two keeper bass caught from shore on lead-heads tipped with rubber. Clams ares producing from the beach and some fish are keepers. Back bay stripers have not arrived in any numbers, probably because the water temperatures have been too cool. The sun has simply refused to shine in the past week or so.
Along with bass on the beach front are good numbers of Atlantic herring. Although most people do not eat these fish, this is the species that many Europeans eat. Though not large, they are great fun on a fly rod. A 3″ clouser minnow with chartreuse and white bucktail and some flashabou took the herring. They are great little fighters and some of the larger herring run to more than 16″. If the bass aren’t biting, herring can put a smile on your face.
Now’s the time to jump on a charter boat for black drum in Delaware Bay. There are reports that the drum run has started. A few have also been caught from the beaches. This action should last through the month and into June, but don’t wait. Some of the charter boats offer split charters or serve as open boats to fill in small charters. Some of the boats at this link provide the opportunity for anglers to score on 30 pound plus drum - http://www.capemaytimes.com/fishing/charter.htm. Landing one is a real tug of war, not to mention that they provide some fine eating.
Not much word on weakfish from Cape May Point jetties or elsewhere, although they should be here soon. Similarly, the cool water has probably held up the back bay bluefish run. With waters in the 51-52 degree range, it seems like most fishing is a couple weeks late. Anglers generally enjoy a spring run of racer and tailor blues in mid-late April.