Weather playing major role in offshore conditions
Talk about a run of, how should we say, “inclement” weather. Even discounting any effects of Hurricane Matthew, the past two weeks have been downright dismal. Naturally, this is not helping the salt water fishing.
Now, if we had to have a stretch like this I suppose this was the best time to have it because the summer flounder season is over, the black sea bass season does not reopen until the 22nd of the month and you are limited to just a single weakfish and taug. Fortunately, there are bluefish of varying sizes about and the striped bass activity will be on the uptick as the water chills. Enormous schools of mullet are what is keeping the blues and stripers active. While the rocky weather seems to have moved out the spot, the mullet remain.
The striper activity is pretty much relegated to the back channels right now. Tossing out swimming poppers and plugs, especially around the sod banks has been productive all up and down the coast. We are not talking giant fish but there are some keepers in there. Probably the most consistent actions is coming after dark. Most of the bluefish can be found in the inlets and around jetties. Blowfish also seem to have weathered the weather, especially in the Great Bay area. Delaware Bay has experienced a bit of a rush on the weakies, with some hitting the 5-pound mark. And, for those of you who might not want to make a trip all the way to the coast, striper catches are coming in from up inside the Delaware River as far as Pennsville. I am not sure if you are required to have a fresh water license to fish that far up so I would check at a local bait and tackle shop to make sure you are on the up-and-up.
We received some late flounder reports from the Wildwood partyboat Royal Flush. Both Tim Smith of Conshohocken and Greg Costello of King of Prussia got keepers on one of the final trips.
As we reach the midpoint of October the traditional surf fishing tournaments hit their stride. The New Jersey Beach Buggy Association’s Fall Classic Tournament will be held this coming Saturday and Sunday in North Wildwood. Registration for this one takes place beginning at five in the morning at the Anglesea firehouse.
The Ocean City Fishing Club’s 49th Invitational takes place on Saturday the 22nd. For information of getting your team involved email the club at ocfcitasas@aol.com.
ACROSS THE BAY
Like those of us in Jersey, the folks in Delaware and Maryland are await- ing Matthew. But, barring some catastrophe, the Delmarva fishing should be getting better. Most of what was being caught before the hurricane tended to be on the small side, but more than made up for that in volume.
There were all the small blues, kingfish, short stripers, pompano, puppy drum, croakers, flounder and black drum you could want. There was an occasional larger striper weighed, including a 30-incher that was caught in the Indian River Inlet. At Herring Point there were tailor blues in abundance with a few short bass, spot and kingies. Cut mullet seems to be the bait of choice.
About the time you are reading this week’s column, Matthew will have come and gone. Let’s hope it stayed a long way out in the ocean. Good luck everyone.