The weather looks like it might play a role in local fishing at least part of the weekend.
Fishing for flounder in the back bays and casting for kingfish in the surf might be a better bet than going out into the ocean to the inshore reefs. There is evidence that some of the bigger flounder are migrating to the wrecks, reefs and lumps inshore. There are still lots of flounder in the bays around the area and in the surf at Long Beach Beach Island.
A report from Oceanside Bait and Tackle in Brighton Beach on Long Beach Island described a couple of 12-year-olds from “Central Jersey” outfishing the locals with 25 flounder, including two 20-inch keepers, and 15 kingfish.
Kingfish and spot dominate the surf at Ocean City and some of the other stretches of beach all along South Jersey. Bloodworm and Fish-Bites are the best bait.
The word had spread around that there was a strike brewing by the guys who harvest bloodworm in Maine. Mike Baldea, owner of Mike’s Baits in Baltimore, said Friday that there is no strike, but worms are in short supply because of high tides in Maine. Bloodworm are picked at low water, and he said the mud was not exposed for long. Mike’s Baits delivers to South Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, and Baldea said he has plenty for local tackle shops because there is less demand in hot weather.
* * *
Become a fan of Shep on Facebook at Facebook.com/ShepOnFishing
* * *
Mike Shepherd is the retired sports editor of The Press. His Shep on Fishing column and Shep’s Hot Spot appear Tuesdays and Saturdays in the sports section and daily on-line. Call 609-350-0388 or email sheponfishing@yahoo.com.
You can also hear Shep’s on-air fishing reports Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 6:05 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and 7:05 p.m. on WOND 1400 AM and on our website:
