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Thursday was one of the better fishing days of the fall in Cape May County waters.

A 40-pound bass came out of Corson's Inlet, a legitimate blitz invaded Townsends Inlet and The Rips off Cape May were on fire.

Townsends Inlet filled up with birds, bunker, bass and blues Thursday. That blitz was complete with gannets diving into it.

Moran's Dockside in Avalon runs a Fall Surf Fishing tournament and both leads changed Thursday. Jeff Polhamus took over first in the striper division with a 21-pound, 12-ounce bass and Fred Cuddy is the new bluefish leader with a 10.41 catch, Jim Moran reported. The contest continues to Nov. 14.

Wesley Bandy has been weighing fish every day at Gibson's Bait and Tackle in Sea Isle City, including from the Townsends Inlet blitz. Rich Peters got a 25-pounder with bunker as bait to top the list. Bandy also weighed a 30-pound bass caught in Corson's Inlet by Matt Dever.

A 40-pound bass was likely the heaviest striper to come from Corson's on Thursday. Paul Ribble of Ocean City said Corson's had the same exciting combination of bass, blues, bunker and birds, and they were close enough to the beach for him to snag some live bunker.

He rigged one up, cast it out and hooked up with a 48-inch striper. Ribble said he saw a dozen big blues beached by other surfcasters on the scene.

Rob Barrett had a solid list of bass caught Thursday and registered at Dolphin Dock in Somers Point.

Gene Doebley was using a live spot when he got a 28-pound bass and Don Cook had a live eel that was gobbled up by an 18-pounder. Both were fishing Great Egg Inlet. Inside Great Egg off Anchorage Point, Paul Gregory and Bill Troehler connected with 23- and 20-pound bass.

Joe Eachus and Richard Coe fished Delaware Bay and returned to Dolphin with bass that were 26 and 24 pounds. Barrett reported a 12-pounder taken by Alex Saia with a bunker head from the Somers Point-Beesley's Point Bridge.

John German, who charters the Fast Pace from Avalon, ran to The Rips on Thursday and was back by 9:30 a.m. with a limit of bass, according to Moran.

Every charterboat that sailed Thursday from Utsch's Marina in Cape May limited out, reported Pete Poillon. Most of the bass on The Rips are in the teens to 20-weights. Basically, it is The Rips for quantity and Delaware Bay for quality.

From morning reports, Poillon said the excellent catches continued into Friday affected only by winds higher than they were Thursday. Poillon said Greg Frank on the charterboat Down Deep told him striper fishing at The Rips is the best it has been in the last four years.

With weather conditions expected to be decent over the weekend for the first time in weeks, there should be a sizable fleet off Cape May and in Delaware Bay.

Moran said the Miss Avalon partyboat that operates from the Avalon Sport Fishing Center began six-hour striper/slammer bluefish trips Friday. Capt. Jerry Hurd had 10 regulars out on a scouting trip and has 30 signed up for today. The Miss Avalon will make striper/blue runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Anglers have just today and tomorrow to get a qualifier for the Atlantic County/Atlantic City Surf Fishing Derby. The six-week contest wraps Sunday. John Fox of Philadelphia had the biggest striper of the fifth week at 43.63 pounds and Thomas Leehan of Brigantine topped bluefish with a 10.75-pounder.

Four other 30-weight bass were registered in the fifth week: Chris Rotondi, Marlton, 38 pounds; Vinnie DiBartolo, Egg Harbor, 35.5; Fred Shimmin, Galloway Township, 32.8; Luke McCooley, Galloway Township, 30.13. McCooley also had a 10-pound bluefish.

No weakfish, tautog or kingfish were registered during the fifth week, which ended Sunday.

Randy Swartley of Manahawkin weighed a 12.13 blue Friday for the Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic. It was caught with bunker at Surf City.

Mike Shepherd is the retired sports editor of The Press. His Shep on Fishing column and Shep's Hot Spot appear Tuesday and Saturday in the sports section. Call 609-350-0388 or e-mail:

sheponfishing@yahoo.com

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