With the weather forecast calling for gloomy and sometimes rainy conditions for what seems to be all this week, sticking to the back bays, surf, bridges or piers might be a good plan until it breaks.
Flounder fishing in the back bays is worth the effort if done right. George Erskine knows the waters in and around Absecon Inlet. He was fishing on the boat "Clam Man" near the Longport Bridge and racked up four keepers. Brennan Marine in Somers Point reported they were all caught on live spot.
Margaret O'Brien posted at Jingle's Bait and Tackle in North Beach Haven that the wind blew the flies off the beach and blowfish moved into the surf at Long Beach Island.
Flounder, spot and kingfish are residing in the surf all along South Jersey. Bloodworm, small pieces of clam, Fish-Bites and cut bait such as spot are used. The occasional striped bass also shows up.
There are a number of tournaments coming up.
One is this Saturday -- the South Jersey Surfcasters surf-fishing tournament at Avalon. Registration is $50 for teams of six and $10 for individuals from 6-8 a.m. at Avalon Recreation Center, 3000 Avalon Ave. Four-wheel-drive beach buggy permits are waived for the duration of the contest. Transportation to the beach will be available for those who need a ride. Prizes are for team, individual and youth. Call Dan Siteman at 609-287-8411.
Howard Sefton is running a white perch tournament Sept. 29 out of Capt. Howard's Bait and Tackle in Hammonton. Sefton said half the money raised will go to the Atlantic County chapter for multiple sclerosis and the other half will be cash prizes for first, second, third and fourth-heaviest perch. Call Capt. Howard's at 609-965-7955 for details.
