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Big time bassing off South Jersey shores

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The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council met recently in Galloway Township and approved new regulations for the 2016 summer flounder season. Adam Monacelli
 
Rich Magas with a nice bluefish landed in the Brigantine surf. (Photo: RipTide Bait and Tackle, Brigantine NJ)

Rich Magas with a nice bluefish landed in the Brigantine surf. (Photo: RipTide Bait and Tackle, Brigantine NJ)


 
Waves and weather put a damper on much of the fishing opportunity this week, but it looks like that’s about to change this week with summer-like temperatures and sunshine supposed to move in for the kick off to Memorial Day weekend.
 
Fluke season opened with a whimper as water temps have been uncharacteristically cold in the backwaters, but the easterly blows this week should have the temps up into the high 50’s by the weekend, which should ignite the back bay flounder bite. However, big time bassing took place off the shores of Brigantine this week.
 
“The striped bass and black drum bite is off the hook,” Andy Grossman, Riptide Bait and Tackle, Brigantine, said. And he wasn’t kidding. Cow bass and big boomer drum were assaulting the Brigantine beaches this week and a slew of weigh ins hit the shop scales.
 
Mathew Orosz had a 32-pound bass at the mid-island, Phil Moses and Josh Young weighed in bass of 32.4 pounds and a black drum. Bruce the Mailman and Gary Hill loaded up on big bass and blues. Brad String got into a nice 22-pound linesider just south of the hotel on a salted clam. Jerry Miller nailed down a 26.6-pound bass and Reds scored a 31-pound, 14-ounce bass while a 20.4-pounder was sanded by Bobby Karolewski. “We must’ve weighed in about 30 black drum,” said Grossman. “The full moon chew was definitely on and they were still biting this week.”
 
Captain John of Babu Charters in Brigantine put William Sperling on a beautiful 47 inch 35.6 pound striper using a Mojo rig. If you want to get onto the water you can call Capt. John at 410-320-9351 and book your trip. There are some huge schools of bass

Captain John of Babu Charters in Brigantine put William Sperling on a beautiful 47 inch 35.6 pound striper using a Mojo rig. If you want to get onto the water you can call Capt. John at 410-320-9351 and book your trip. There are some huge schools of bass


 
“Guys that did find fluke for opening day had them at Kennedy Park, Rainbow Channel and in Risley’s Channel,” said John Grzymko, Fin-Atics, Ocean City. “Its only about 54 degrees back there now, we definitely need the water to warm up a bit.” However, the colder waters have been favorable for bass and bluefish as a 16-pound bass was taken on bunker at Corson’s Inlet and scores of slammer bluefish up to 12 pounds have also been cruising through the inlet waters.
 
A 5.9-pound fluke caught by Nichole Kish took top honors at the Sea Isle City Bait and Tackle tournament this past weekend according to Mike Rodgers of the shop. Kish landed the flattie on a 3-ounce Spro bucktail.
 
A gator 14.5-pound bluefish hooked by Mike Willis won the bluefish category. “We saw a lot more fluke being caught in Ludlam’s Bay, Flat Creek and by the Horse Head area, basically anywhere you could find shallow water where the flounder are trying to warm themselves up,” said Rodgers.
 
Sea bass season opened up with a bang as the party boat Starfish loaded up and limited out on sea bass while fishing the 60 to 65 foot depths off of Sea Isle.
 
Noel Alago with his kids Alexander, Sierra, and Lacey helping to land this 10 pound bluefish. (Photo: RipTide Bait and Tackle, Brigantine NJ)

Noel Alago with his kids Alexander, Sierra, and Lacey helping to land this 10 pound bluefish. (Photo: RipTide Bait and Tackle, Brigantine NJ)


 
“Fluke opening day was slow due to the weather and colder than normal water temps,” reported Tammy Carbohn, Avalon Hodge Podge, Avalon. “The back bay has been running cold in the mid 50’s rather than the low to mid 60’s that it normally is this time of year.” Fluke should be in the back bays right now in some good numbers, its just a matter of getting the temperatures to spark up a bit in order to get them to feed.
 
The 8th Street jetty has continued to be a hot spot as a 25-pound drum was taken there, as well as an assortment of striped bass and bluefish up to 8 pounds.
 
“In the Delaware Bay, the drum bite was spotty this week on our side with some boats catching and boats right in the same area without a bite,” said Matt Slobodjian, Jim’s Bait and Tackle, Cape May. “It should pick up in the next week or so, the fish are usually spawning when they act this way and it doesn't last very long.”
 
Ryan Hearon of Dennis weighed in a 71-pound drum caught on the Jersey side of the bay. D-Bay is also holding some large linesiders as Jeanette Rich of Goshen proved with a 47 pounder taken on bunker.
 
Fluke season also opened with a whimper down in Cape May according to Slobodjian. “Fluke season opened but we didn't hear too much only a few fish caught in the Harbor and backwaters.
 
Fishing sounded better a little farther North in North Wildwood, Stone Harbor, and Avalon.” Sea Bass fishing opened up strong as the 80- to 120-foot depths held some larger humpbacks to put in the cooler. Note that Jim’s will be holding their annual Shark tournament on June 3-4. Call the shop for all the details.
 
I expect to report a ton of fluke, bluefish, bass and sea bass catches for next week as anglers get out and enjoy the Memorial Day weekend. Be one of the reports. Have a fantastic holiday weekend!
 
Reach Nick Honachefsky at beachnut33@hotmail.com
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The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council met recently in Galloway Township and approved new regulations for the 2016 summer flounder season. Adam Monacelli
 
Rich Magas with a nice bluefish landed in the Brigantine surf. (Photo: RipTide Bait and Tackle, Brigantine NJ)
 
Waves and weather put a damper on much of the fishing opportunity this week, but it looks like that’s about to change this week with summer-like temperatures and sunshine supposed to move in for the kick off to Memorial Day weekend.
 
Fluke season opened with a whimper as water temps have been uncharacteristically cold in the backwaters, but the easterly blows this week should have the temps up into the high 50’s by the weekend, which should ignite the back bay flounder bite. However, big time bassing took place off the shores of Brigantine this week.
 
“The striped bass and black drum bite is off the hook,” Andy Grossman, Riptide Bait and Tackle, Brigantine, said. And he wasn’t kidding. Cow bass and big boomer drum were assaulting the Brigantine beaches this week and a slew of weigh ins hit the shop scales.
 
Mathew Orosz had a 32-pound bass at the mid-island, Phil Moses and Josh Young weighed in bass of 32.4 pounds and a black drum. Bruce the Mailman and Gary Hill loaded up on big bass and blues. Brad String got into a nice 22-pound linesider just south of the hotel on a salted clam. Jerry Miller nailed down a 26.6-pound bass and Reds scored a 31-pound, 14-ounce bass while a 20.4-pounder was sanded by Bobby Karolewski. “We must’ve weighed in about 30 black drum,” said Grossman. “The full moon chew was definitely on and they were still biting this week.”
 
Captain John of Babu Charters in Brigantine put William Sperling on a beautiful 47 inch 35.6 pound striper using a Mojo rig. If you want to get onto the water you can call Capt. John at 410-320-9351 and book your trip. There are some huge schools of bass that are still South of us and I would think we will be fishing for these bass until the middle of June. (Photo: RipTide Bait and Tackle, Brigantine NJ)
 
“Guys that did find fluke for opening day had them at Kennedy Park, Rainbow Channel and in Risley’s Channel,” said John Grzymko, Fin-Atics, Ocean City. “Its only about 54 degrees back there now, we definitely need the water to warm up a bit.” However, the colder waters have been favorable for bass and bluefish as a 16-pound bass was taken on bunker at Corson’s Inlet and scores of slammer bluefish up to 12 pounds have also been cruising through the inlet waters.
 
A 5.9-pound fluke caught by Nichole Kish took top honors at the Sea Isle City Bait and Tackle tournament this past weekend according to Mike Rodgers of the shop. Kish landed the flattie on a 3-ounce Spro bucktail.
 
A gator 14.5-pound bluefish hooked by Mike Willis won the bluefish category. “We saw a lot more fluke being caught in Ludlam’s Bay, Flat Creek and by the Horse Head area, basically anywhere you could find shallow water where the flounder are trying to warm themselves up,” said Rodgers.
 
Sea bass season opened up with a bang as the party boat Starfish loaded up and limited out on sea bass while fishing the 60 to 65 foot depths off of Sea Isle.
 
Noel Alago with his kids Alexander, Sierra, and Lacey helping to land this 10 pound bluefish. (Photo: RipTide Bait and Tackle, Brigantine NJ)
 
“Fluke opening day was slow due to the weather and colder than normal water temps,” reported Tammy Carbohn, Avalon Hodge Podge, Avalon. “The back bay has been running cold in the mid 50’s rather than the low to mid 60’s that it normally is this time of year.” Fluke should be in the back bays right now in some good numbers, its just a matter of getting the temperatures to spark up a bit in order to get them to feed.
 
The 8th Street jetty has continued to be a hot spot as a 25-pound drum was taken there, as well as an assortment of striped bass and bluefish up to 8 pounds.
 
“In the Delaware Bay, the drum bite was spotty this week on our side with some boats catching and boats right in the same area without a bite,” said Matt Slobodjian, Jim’s Bait and Tackle, Cape May. “It should pick up in the next week or so, the fish are usually spawning when they act this way and it doesn't last very long.”
 
Ryan Hearon of Dennis weighed in a 71-pound drum caught on the Jersey side of the bay. D-Bay is also holding some large linesiders as Jeanette Rich of Goshen proved with a 47 pounder taken on bunker.
 
Fluke season also opened with a whimper down in Cape May according to Slobodjian. “Fluke season opened but we didn't hear too much only a few fish caught in the Harbor and backwaters.
 
Fishing sounded better a little farther North in North Wildwood, Stone Harbor, and Avalon.” Sea Bass fishing opened up strong as the 80- to 120-foot depths held some larger humpbacks to put in the cooler. Note that Jim’s will be holding their annual Shark tournament on June 3-4. Call the shop for all the details.
 
I expect to report a ton of fluke, bluefish, bass and sea bass catches for next week as anglers get out and enjoy the Memorial Day weekend. Be one of the reports. Have a fantastic holiday weekend!
 
Reach Nick Honachefsky at beachnut33@hotmail.com

 
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