Offshore hurricane puts a hit on great conditions

The canyon and offshore fishing off the Jersey and Delaware coasts had been going great guns over the past couple of weeks, then that hurricane out in the ocean put a clamp on any boats intending to get out there Thursday and Friday and possibly even Saturday. By the time you are reading this the storm has headed for parts unknown and the seas have quieted down and the big guys have started back out there.

Prior to the choppy waters there were all sorts of good reports. Of course, the various tuna family members made up the bulk of the catch, but there also were some billfish, including blue marlins taken. Then, toss in an assortment of other popular offshore species, such as mahi, king mackerel, bonito, false albacore and down deep the tile fish. The closer you get to shore you also may hookup some slammer bluefish. I would think anywhere from the 28 Mile Wreck to the Cigar should get you some blues.

Anglers hitting the artificial reefs are finding some summer flounder and plenty of black sea bass. Just remember, there is a two sea bass limit currently in Jersey waters.

Speaking of summer flounder, by now you would expect the bulk of them would have moved out of the serene waters of the back bays in favor of the deeper offshore areas. While, that has happened, there remain an unusually large number of flatties in the back. And, some of these are doormat size. I have reports of fish over 7-pounds and many running from 4-to-5 pounds. My recommendation is to seek out the deeper holes where the water probably is a bit cooler.

If you enjoy fishing from the jetties you can expect to find good numbers of triggerfish and sheepshead hiding in the rocks. Out on the piers and beaches the kingfish is king. Bloodworms are the key to success.

And then, there is something else lurking out there that will test your tackle and skill as an angler. That something else would be huge sting rays. These are powerful giants and can have a wingspan over 5 feet. Should you be fortunate enough to get one to your boat or into the surf the best thing to do is cut