Variety of bait working down the shore

So far this month, we are seeing some of the best fishing of the season here at the south Jersey shore.

From the back waters to the canyons the reports are exciting.

For the back and inshore anglers, there is a big uptick in keeper flounder ... something we have not seen much of this year. There are reports coming from bait shops from Long Beach Island to Cape May of flatties going up to seven pounds. and the keeper-to-throwback ratio is narrowing. A variety of bait seems to be working, so I would advise taking along an assortment, so if what you are offering is not doing the trick, switch over to something else.

The old stand-by minnow and squid combo is a tried-and-true regular, but so are the various Gulp! artificials and Fish Bites. If you can cast net, some very small bunker, of which there are plenty, I suggest live lining one.

Especially in the inlets, there is a steady bite on triggerfish, taug and blowfish. Remember: There is a one-fish bag limit on taug in New Jersey, and that fish has to be at least 15 inches long.

If you thought the kingfish activity was good earlier, give it a try right now. Just about any beach up and down the coast will give you all the kingie action you could want. Just be on guard not to overcast them. These fish seem to be very close to the beach. frolicking in the surf, so a 12 or 14 foot surf rod is way too much. Bloodworms are the best but you still can do a pretty good job of filling the cooler if you are using small bits of shrimp. Just beyond the breakers there are spike weakfish, but, again, there is a one fish bag.

Heading out for some inshore trolling — one of my favorite activities — you are enticed by medium sized blues, false albacore, bonito, spanish mackerel, cobia and chicken dolphin. All of these will hit small shiny metal and run them at different distances from your boat. The tuna family members, especially, love coming right up to your boats wash.

One of my dockmates visited the area of The Cigar last Sunday and did some bottom fishing for seabass. He had a pretty good cooler full, but there were no big humpbacks.

The canyon folks have plenty to keep them busy. There are big numbers of white marlin out there, but just like off the Delaware and Maryland coasts, the tuna bite has slowed. Some blue marlin also are being found.

There has been a new addition to the William Kane Artificial reef about 9 miles off Atlantic City. That is a 100 foot by 40 foot Navy lock gate. Being an old Army guy, I’m not sure what that is; but I am guessing that it was part of a dry dock. The gate was sunk in 92 feet of water and rises to within 65 feet of the surface. The estimate is it will serve to attract all sorts of marine life for at least 75 years.

ACROSS THE BAY

The biggest news of the season, perhaps, is a new Maryland state record dolphin, or mahi. The 72.8lb. bull was caught by Jeff Wright of Cambridge, Md. It was caught while trolling in the vicinity of the Poor Man’s Canyon.

Apparently Jeff and his crew were out scouting areas for the Ocean City White Marlin Open. Too bad he caught it before the tournament started.

For most of the summer, we have been reporting slow fishing in the upper reaches of Delaware Bay. But, that may be changing.

Slot stripers are turning up at Augustine Beach, around the Woodland Beach Fishing Pier and in the various tidal creeks. The bass are mixed in with some catfish and white perch.

The bay reef sites also are jumping with a fish market assortment of species. Anglers are pulling in flounder, trout, triggerfish, blues, kingfish and blowfish. The same also holds true for the Inner and Outer Walls but there you also might find some sheepshead.

Just like in Jersey, the kingfish are abundant in the surf. A good number of spot are mixed in. Indian River Inlet has some tailor blues and there are some nice reports of flounder in Indian River and Rehoboth Bays. Spot are the number one catch at the Cape Henlopen State Park pier but don’t be surprised if you hook into a good sized summer flounder.

The Old Grounds and B Buoy have been slow recently; but that has changed and it is like the old days on the Old Grounds, especially. There are some big flounder out there.

Fenwick Shoal is harboring blues and Spanish mackerel and if it king mackerel you seek give the various inshore lumps a try.

Like the canyons off New Jersey, the tuna bite is off but the white marlin and dolphin bite is on. Some blue marlin are there, also. Tile fishing also is very good.