Summer fishing has been ‘gangbusters’ along the shore

Boy, so far this summer fishing has been gangbusters here along the shore. We continue dealing with some wind issues, but nothing like what we were handed during the spring.

Let us begin in the back bays and inlets. Huge schools of peanut bunker continue inhabiting these waters and when there is so much bait the predator fish will hang around for the easy pickings. Three or four years ago we had such a peanut influx and the fishing remained hot long after it should have had its summer cool-down.

Some rather large keeper flounder have been taken. Most of these bigger flatties are being found in the southern part of Cape May County, say behind the Wildwoods and Avalon. But, the attraction not only is flounder but spike weakfish, sheepshead, kingfish and triggerfish. Up in the rivers expect to find fairly abundant perch and perhaps even a striper or two. Kingfish remain the target of opportunity in the surf and from the various fishing piers.

Heading toward the inshore artificial reefs you also will find flounder. My recommendation is try the Cape May and Wildwood reefs where the action seems pretty good.

As you head out beyond the reefs put out some feathers or spoons because the bonito, mahi and false albacore have turned-up. I honestly don’t know of anyone who eats false albacore but they are fierce fighters and will give you all you can handle on appropriate tackle. Just release them unharmed when you get them to the boat.

Moving into even deeper water some nice sized cobia are being reported but you also might find gaffer-sized dolphin, bigger bluefish and some football tuna. The fabled 28 Mile Wreck and The Cigar would be good places to start. At last report there also were lots of sharks in those waters, mainly blues.

And, as you visit the canyons, the number of white marlin is on the upswing, but the main draw continues to be yellowfin, bluefin and big eye tuna. I haven’t heard of any blue marlin yet.

I close with a personal note to a great lifetime angler, my wife Gwen. It will be 47 years ago tomorrow that at 3 PM we walked down the aisle of a church in Cincinnati. I love you sweetie! ACROSS THE BAY >> It seems like there are plenty of fish in Delaware Bay and the surrounding waters but for some reason they seem small for this time of the year. There are spot in the lower bay waiting for some angler to toss a bloodworm their way. The lower bay reefs sites are producing triggers, small trout and blues, some flounder and, of course, kingfish. But, none of these are of bragging size.

The Cape Henlopen State Park Pier is providing spot, kingies and short trout. Short trout also are around Beach Plum Island. Some flounder remain in the Rehoboth Canal and the Indian River Inlet has small croakers, spot and flounder during the day and stripers at night. Live eels are recommended for the after dark angling. And, just as it has been for the past month or so, the surf seems loaded with kingfish.

For whatever reason, fishing slowed out on the inshore reef sites. There are flounder and sea bass there but not in numbers like the previous week.

The offshore tuna fishing also tapered off a bit from last week but the dolphin have moved in to fill the gap. Personally, I would prefer to catch a dolphin than a tuna. The deep water tile fishing continues very good.