First weakfish of the morning
The early rise was tough but quickly forgotten. The sun peeked from the crystal blue atlantic. The outgoing tide formed an eddy in front of me. Moments later I felt the distinct thump of a weakfish hit. Great way to start the day! Flounder fishing on tap this afternoon. Update to follow.
Captain Gary with his 6.5 pound summer flounder
Captain Gary remains zeroed in on the back bay flounder, his heaviest this morning was 6.5 pounds. A six pound flounder usually takes first place in the Grassy sound marina’s back bay flounder tournament.
I caught two 20″ keeper back bay flounder today. I fished for 40 minutes. The water temperature at the top of the tide was 63 degrees, 5 -10 SW wind and the water clarity was excellent.
The weakfish bite has slowed due to the spawn. The weakfish could be seen swimming around the structure but they were not interested in any lures. The stripers picked up the slack. Wayne caught a quality short striper on a smoke colored zoom. His first fish of his annual Jersey fishing vacation.
Wayne with a striper he caught while targeting weakfish.
The key today was the right bait (artificial) , and the presentation. I found the flounder in very shallow water. I reached the bag limit in less than one hour. Captain Gary on the double touch also limited out today fishing in deeper back bay water. Today was an excellent day for flounder fishing for sure. The water temperature was 61 degrees on the top of the tide. The wind was SSW. The fishing pressure was very light .
Weakfish, during yesterday evening’s weakfish trip I targeted a new spot with friend CJ . CJ caught and released a nice weakfish. I had one spit the hook. We fished for about 45 minutes.
CJ as he released his weakfish.
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I made my first flounder trip today. The water was 55 – 59 degrees with a 5-10 NNE wind. Two hours of fishing produced 4 keeper flounder and 7 shorts. Planning on fishing for weakfish during both sides of the low tide later today. I am on a quest to catch weakfish from different spots around the Cape and peninsula of Cape May County, NJ . Some spots are holding good numbers of quality weakfish, due to baitfish and water clarity, other historically good areas are missing the conditions . Knowing the indicators of productive saltwater can save time and bypass frustration.
CJ Polhamus with his 30″ spring tide runner weakfish
Summer flounder season 2014 is underway.
Slaughter beach on the Delaware Side of the bay is still producing black drum. That spot is a 12 mile run from the Cape May canal. The good news for fishermen docked in NJ is the black drum have set up on our side of the bay. Bob Lasko and crew boated nine black drum on a recent trip, some topped out at over 60 pounds. Jason and crew won the middle twp. drum fish tournament with a 89 pounder. If you want to catch a black drum now is the time.
The summer flounder opener was good. However, here in Cape May County most of the flounder caught were under the 18″ size limit. Gary had three nice size keepers. Reeves and crew boated 7 keepers . Debbie from the Grassy Sound marina reportedly weighed in a nine pounder. I have been busy catching spring weakfish. I will make my first flounder trip this week and I will post the results. The water temperature in the back bay today was 62 degrees on the top of the tide.
Cj with a spring tide runner weakfish
Ed Teise with a beautiful tide runner
The leader of Moran’s weakfish tournament Kevin C..
Jason took first place in Middle TWP’s 2014 drum tournament. Today he found success again with weakfish.
Frank was rewarded for allowing time for fishing during his vacation.
Jack caught this 34″ striped bass on his fly rod.He was fishing in the back bay.
This 37.5 ” striper put my weakfish gear to the test.
Bill with one of his many 2014 weakfish.
One of a few I caught today
Most of the weakfish were around 5 pounds with the biggest weighing in at 7.1 pounds at the spot I was fishing today. The striper fishing broke wide open today on the ocean beaches of Cape May County. Many fishermen limited out on stripers and most had black drum mixed in. The Delaware Bay side was on fire also with some 30 pound class fish being caught on black bombers from the beach. Bluefish were caught in the same area also. It has been many years since I have seen fishermen lined up fishing for weakfish like they were today.
Ben and his 5.5 weakfish 5-13-2014
Today I was fishing with a flounder fishing legend Dr. Gary L. on the Double Touch. It was a beautiful morning, would have been even better had I remembered the high-test bug spray. His customized flounder rig and jigging style has added numerous giant (10 pound plus ) back bay flounder to his credit . He has also won an impressive number of flounder tournaments including back to back first place wins at the Grassy Sound Marina tournament. Today’s scouting mission was successful, three summer flounder were boated and released, along with two short striped bass.
The high hook for weakfish this season so far has 30 weakies. His heaviest is 7 pounds, the average size is about 4.5 pounds. The bite window is small, but they are being caught throughout Cape May County.
Captain Gary
There was at least one nice tide runner weakfish caught today in a back bay area of Cape May County. A few nice summer flounder were caught and released in grassy sound today also. There was also some weakfish caught by perch fishermen in their fyke nets in Atlantic County today. There was one confirmed 24″ striper caught from the beach yesterday.
Spring weakfish On The Water TV show:
Ken's Dock 