1) Long Beach Island/Great Bay
Weather and water conditions are a big factor this week. Before this latest blow and after Irene, blowfish and kingfish were mixed at Intracoastal Waterway marker 110 inside Long Beach Island, according to a report from Jingle's Bait and Tackle in North Beach Haven. When conditions allow boaters to get out again, anchor with a clam chum pot and use small pieces of clam and squid on a small hook for blowfish. Kingfish will bite on bloodworm and Fish-Bites artificials. Small bluefish and kingfish have been in the Long Beach Island surf, but the current has been running strong because of the recent storms so heavy weights are needed to hold bottom.
2) Atlantic County
The water has been dirty in the back bays but small bluefish and sea bass are still being caught. A few striped bass showed up on the beaches of Absecon Island. They are taking clam, reports Captain Andy's Marina in Margate. Stripers have also been caught around the bridges at night. The surf has had kingfish, and a few spot and croaker plus some spike weakfish. Rough surf is surely going to affect fishing from the beach. Fish for tautog from the fishing pier in Great Egg Inlet. Bigger bluefish moved into the surf at Brigantine. Riptide Bait and Tackle said live or cut mullet and other strips of bait will take blues that measure 15 to 17 inches, so they are more than just snapper size.
3) Cape May County
When hurricane Irene made an appearance and left town last week, it did not take long for flounder to return to the back bays at Grassy Sound. Two keepers were caught the first day anglers went out on the pier at Grassy Sound Marina in North Wildwood. Maybe the same thing will happen after this recent blow. Kingfish were taken from the 8th Street Jetty in Avalon between storms. Kingfish were caught from Dad's Place Pier in North Wildwood on Sunday, Sept. 4,, along with some sea bass a lot of small bluefish and some short flounder.
4) Delaware Bay
No report.
5) Offshore
Obviously conditions will dictate when captains can get safely back on the ocean. Last weekend, 50-pound yellowfin tuna were trolled with ballyhoo at the 40-Fathom Line between the Wilmington and Baltimore canyons. White marlin and mahi were also reported. Sea bass, codfish and ling were on an inshore wreck. Croaker were improving on inshore wrecks and reefs.
