Fishing Report 6-19-13
The rainy spring weather seems as if it is finally going to come to a halt. Warm temperatures in the air and flounder inhabiting the deeper parts of the bay's channels are a sure indication that the summer season is here. This past week's fishing was a bit inconsistent in the back bays due to the water clarity, however when cleaner water arrived with the tides, the action seemed to pick up significantly. Try fishing for flounder in 15 to 20 feet of water, in the ICW behind Longport. The stretch from the public pier on Amherst Avenue in Margate, down to the Longport Bridge has been quite productive. Mixes of throwback, along with a few keeper sized fish have been taken. Most of the fish tend to hang around the slope, close to the docks and marinas. In addition, the south side of the Longport Bridge has produced fish along the stretch of rocks on Atlantic Avenue. Fish with mackerel, gulp, and spearing on a buck tail or a 2/0 hook and slip sinker rig. Ship's Channel in Somers Point, along with the area around Kennedy Park have been hot spots for the flounder bite as well. A few local anglers reported good numbers of throwback fish, and a few keepers mixed in.
Keep in mind that minnows are scarce and that a majority of the fishermen that are catching have switched to alternative baits. Gulp and spearing sometimes tend to out-fish even live bait. The Berkeley Gulp especially, has reinvented the way we fish for flounder with a variety of different bio-degradable, scented soft baits. They come in many styles, colors, and sizes, and so far I have not found a style that has not caught a fish. So with the current minnow dilemma we're experiencing, don't be afraid to try something new!
Offshore seems to be heating up a bit as a few local boats came in with reports of mako and blue sharks caught 35 to 40 miles from the beach. The Night Moves II that departs from Lamberti's Marina in Margate reported catching 1 small mako and a keeper sized mako (released) along with some blue sharks last Saturday according to boat owner Carl Smolinger and Capt. Joe Tuohy who was running the boat. The O'Beth, a charter boat departing from the Margate Fishing Center in Margate, reported catching a 62 inch mako as well, according to Captain Eric Jefferis. Captain Steve Bent, who runs the Free Spirit charter fishing boat out of the Margate Fishing Center, said he heard good reports of yellowfin tuna being caught in the Baltimore Canyon. He's booked to go for early next week so we're looking forward to getting a good report from him.
"Inshore" offshore, boats are reporting seabass in 60 to 80 feet of water on structure. Try the AC Reef with clams and squid on the bottom to catch these true "Chickens of the Sea" as Don refers to them for the tasty white fillets they contain.
As the surf temperatures are beginning to rise, kingfish and spot are showing up on the sandbars. Beach fishermen and anglers up on the Margate and Ventnor fishing Piers are using bloodworms and artificial bloodworms to catch them. Local fisherman Alex Sacchetti has been using spot to his advantage. He fished last week with Zack Humphreys and Ricky Guerrieri and caught 5 stripers up to 31 inches, drifting spots along the sod banks. Pictures are posted under "catch of the week".
Looking forward to a good forecast of weather and plenty of good fishing to come…
-Captain Corey
