1) Long Beach Island/Great BayStriped bass are keeping contact with schools of bunker on Long Beach Island. Boat anglers, kayak paddlers and surfcasters snag bunker and hook them up live. Margaret O'Brien at Jingle's Bait and Tackle said to look for "nervous" bunker, which indicate the presence of stripers. Two 40-pound plus bass were caught Tuesday morning, June 7. One from a kayak by Steve Warren of Beesley's Point that went 43 pounds, 3 ounces and another from a boat by David Ryon of Beach Haven that went 43-14. Chestnut Neck Boat Yard in Port Republic weighed a 40-pounder caught by Bob Mulholland outside. Chestnut Neck registered some weakfish, including at least one more than 5 pounds.
2) Atlantic CountyDrift for flounder in the channel between Margate and Longport bridges. Dave London (Margate)and Steve London (Cape May) had 10 keepers and a 30-inch striper drifting those same waters inside Margate on Sunday, June 5, reports Robin Scott from Ray Scott's Dock in Margate. Ditto James Texada of Villanova, Pa., with four keepers. The shallow waters off Kennedy Park in Somers Point, Rainbow and Ship Channel have keeper flounder. Also try Methodist Ditch, Risley Channel and Lakes Bay. The Duke of Fluke pontoon partyboat had a couple of "hot" trips, according to Capt. Brook Koeneke. He has his customers using the traditional minnies and squid in the flats south of the causeway off Kennedy. Kingfish are strong in the surf, and the anglers on the Ventnor Fishing Pier are loading up.
3) Cape May CountyKingfish are awesome in the surf at Avalon. Jim Moran from Moran's Dockside in Avalon said that kingfish are biting on bloodworm and Fish-Bites along the beach between 40th and 55th streets. Paddy's Hole behind Avalon holds flounder. Moran's weighed a 7 1/2-pound flounder for Gary Twiggs of Clermont. Frank Jankowski is sending rental boats from Frank's Boat Rentals in Strathmere to Intracoastal markers 317 and 319. Most of the rentals fishing that stretch are coming back with keeper flounder. Minnow is the main bait for flounder, but Gulp artificials are better as water warms. Striped bass have slowed but not disappeared in the surf at Cape May and North Wildwood. Croaker showed up around Higbee Beach Jetty.
4) Delaware BayBlack drumfish are a slow pick at Pin Top and Brandywine Slough.
5) OffshoreTuna fishing turned on big time at the canyons and some of the other offshore grounds. Yellowfin tuna weighing between 20 and 60 pounds dominated, along with bonito. It's a trolling action with spreader bars, ballyhoo and green machines. The west wall and tip of Wilmington Canyon are two top spots, along with Baltimore and Spencer canyons. Mako and blue sharks are spread throughout, and the first thresher was caught at Reef Site 11 off Delaware. Bluefish have been trolled at Atlantic City Ridge and 25 miles off Barnegat Inlet. Sea bass are mixed with codfish and ling on some of the inshore wrecks, and Atlantic City Reef.
