Bass season still a hit at the Jersey shore
Those persistent winds that have dogged the New Jersey and Delmarva coasts this season continue and as you are reading this yet another nor’easter should be exiting the area.
Most of the time they have not been bad enough to keep all the boats at the dock but those that have been venturing forth have not been going that far into the ocean.
Once out there you can expect quite a nice catch of seabass and numerous boats have limited-out. For the most part those oceanside fish have been in the deeper water, say anywhere from 80 to 100 feet. A few reported have been hitting the 5-pound mark.
I like seabass because they make some excellent eating. They also are extremely versatile when it comes to table fare. They can be cooked whole, filleted if large enough, cooked in a fish chowder and they are outstanding when turned into fish cakes. Several of my friends head out any day the weather permits and they load their freezers to get them through the long winter.
Seabass also are being found in the various inlets and back bays, but these tend to be on the smaller side.
The bays are filled with various baitfish and that is holding the predators inside. Tautog and kingfish have been having a feast. There even have been a couple of puppy drum reported along the beaches from LBI to Cape May Point.
The bait also is keeping the striped bass active, although most are well below the legal minimum. But, the water temperature finally has begun to drop and that should bode well for your striper anglers through the remainder of the season. One of the hottest striper areas in the past ten days is the waterway behind Ocean City’s south side where some decent sized fish have been caught. I have to wonder if any of the die-hard striper anglers hit the inlet jetties during this most recent nor’easter.
A sad reminder for you surf anglers. Last week one veteran surfcaster, Sam DeLarso of Somers Point, disappeared while fishing on the north end of Ocean City near the Longport Bridge. The water in that area can run very hard and speculation is he may have been swept out. His vehicle and some equipment were found in the area he told friends he was going to be fishing. This also is a reminder to always attempt to fish with a friend. There is something to be said for the buddy system if something goes wrong.
And, there is a happier story to report from Atlantic City where some environmental students at Stockton University have begun mentoring elementary kids in the city’s school system about fishing. The students are being taught to tie knots, choose baits and lures and how to handle a rod and reel. As hard as it is to believe, youngsters who live on an island don’t seem to be very interested in learning how to fish. I hope this Stockton program starts changing their attitude. ACROSS THE BAY >> Down in Delmarva the ocean fishing has been limited by the wind. The Old Grounds has produced some seabass and summer flounder and the Fenwick Shoal has been giving up some Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Seabass fishing had been very good but with the forecast of a nor’easter this weekend the bets are off.
On the Delaware Bay reef sites there has been some action on weakfish, croakers, flounder, triggerfish, sheepshead and blues. The Outer Wall and the ice breakers have been home to some really big sheepshead, along with small tautog and triggerfish. The upper bay continues holding perch and catfish.
If you still want some flounder for the freezer I would recommend Roosevelt Inlet where the flattie fishing had been quite good. Indian River Inlet has small blues during the day and keeper stripers after dark. Live eels are the key to that night success.
In the surf you can find a few kings and blowfish.