Fishing Report Cape May Aug 1 to Aug 15 - Page 2

CapeMayRay · 08-09-2008, 12:37 AM

ABSOLUTELY THE WORST FISHING TRIP OF THE YEAR.

Left the dock at 4:30 pm. with a SJCFA member that booked a fly fishing trip. I was all excited to get him into some good fly fishing action as we had a great tide and I had great expectations.

Wind was blowing around 20 to 25 mph from the west all day. When we got to the back bay flats we found them as muddy as they can get, full of weed and a nice chop. We worked them for a bit and I decided we should make a move and find better water.

On the way we bumped into Ken Kelly (Irish Fly) he was just coming back from where I was heading and said the water there was just as bad. Hearing this we tried another area. Water was bad there and the wind was a pain.

After an hour of fishing and not on hit anywhere we moved to the beach front to escape the wind and found conditions good but the water was as dirty as the back. We worked it and got zero strikes.

Next move was to work the Inlet rocks. More of the same brown water and no strikes.

Figured if we had bad water everywhere we might as well go to the back bay again where we would at least have a decent tidal flow. Just as we were heading in a small front blew in. It looked like a thunderstorm and we had some sprinkles and the wind was now into the 30mph range.

Got to the spot where we were going to fish and I decided enough was enough. We would quit and do the charter another day.

Can not remember a day so bad, where you couldn't even get a single bite anywhere and where the water was brown everywhere. Especially this time of year.

CapeMayRay · 08-09-2008, 11:10 PM

Make it two bad nights in a row. The water went from cold last week to super warm and with the strong west winds again the water looks like mud in the back bay.

Left the dock at 4:30 pm with a perfect tide for evening fishing. Found the water in the back 75.6 at the start of the outgoing and the water looked like mud. You could only see the lure down 6 inches under the water.

Worked several spots and they all were the same ugly brown. We caught one mercy blue but that was the only strike.

Moved to the beach front and found the water a little better but still pretty bad. We never got a strike or saw any signs of life and the wind was now blowing pretty good out of the southeast and it was starting to get a bit choppy.

Checked the back one more time on the way in and water was now 78.2 and just as brown. So again I shorten our trip and called it an early night and we will try again when better conditions are available.

Can't remember it being so bad everywhere as you can usually find some decent water with fish some where.

CapeMayRay · 08-10-2008, 04:15 PM

What a crazy week. Had some of the best fishing early in the week and by the end of the week some of the worst fishing. Water temps increased 14 degrees and the water quality went from super clear to looking like liquid mud. I don't know what it did but it really killed the fishing. I can usually find some fish some where, some way, but have not been able to do so the last few days.

Today we have had thunderstorms all morning and the wind in blowing in the upper 20's gusting to around 30. Just took a look at the water along the beach and it is dirty and rough and the back bay still looks brown.

Just canceled tonights husband wife fly trip. No way we could go out and catch or have any fun. Even with the good tide, I wouldn't want to even go out on a personal trip and I will pretty much fish in anything as long as I think I have a shot at catching.

CapeMayRay · 08-12-2008, 11:15 PM

Well, let's make it three bad trips in a row. Had a free night and I invited Dave Dewees (President of SJCFA) and Jim Evans to come down for a fun night of fishing. It was a fun night of fishing with two friends from the fly club but the catching was poor.

We left the dock at 5:00 with a perfect high tide. We headed to the back bay to work the out going tide and found 68.6 degree water. The water was still a ugly brown color. (not sure if it is silt or algae bloom but flies could not be seen 6 inches to a foot under the surface.

Dave and Jim are excellent fly casters and they worked a number of flies to death. We hit all the right spots that should of held fish and not even a bite. We moved to one last area and worked a nice tidal flow that always holds a few fish and Dave managed one small bluefish on a yellow crease fly, but the whole area was dead.

We did see some bait fish here and there during our search but there were no fish feeding on it.

Checked the inlet and the ocean front before I left on the trip and the water there was also very brown. Not sure what is going on but do know the fish are not feeding with the conditions we have.

Three good tide nights and three bad nights of fishing. Something is wrong and I do not know what is causing it.

We had a great night kidding around but it would of been a lot more fun with a few fish to reel in.

CapeMayRay · 08-13-2008, 11:22 AM

I am getting depressed. Went out early this morning with a one person charter. Perfect tide, low light, calm seas. Worked the back flats, points, etc. and could not even get one strike. The water is still a sick green-brown and you can only see down 8 to 14 inches. Seeing some bait on the surface here and there but basically the areas I normally get fish in are totally dead.

Moved to the inlet and the beach front and found the water no better. Temps aren't bad from 66 to 69 degrees but I feel like I am fishing in a pool gone bad. I have had bad trips in the past only catching a few fish but at least could get some hits and a few fish.

This is the third charter in a row where we could barely get even a strike. This morning after three hours of fishing and the guy was good we didn't even get one strike. I cut our trip short.... third straight trip canceled early.

Something changed since last Wednesday. Since then I have shorten 3 charters canceled one due to ugly brown green water, the poor fishing and did a personal 4 hour trip were we had one strike and one small blue, that if it was a charter I would of quit early. I just canceled tonights trip as I do not think it is even worth going out and trying.

I have had bad days before, some from tough conditions and some from poor decisions on areas to fish but have never seen a string of days like this were it is just super bad everywhere and zero hits anywhere. Maybe need some full moon tides or a northeaster to flush things out a bit.

Lucky I have to go away for a couple of days and didn't take any more charters till Friday. Just hope something will change the situation. Beating a dead horse it no fun at all.

CapeMayRay · 08-15-2008, 10:38 PM

Tried to get out tonight with 2 person fly charter. Got down to the dock around 5:00 pm. and were greeted by a thunderstorm to the south of Cape May. Decided to sit watch the lightning and see if it would pass.

After an hour and 3/4 with now a good wind out of the south southeast and no signs of it getting any better we officially cancelled.

About 15 minutes after getting home the storm finally moved on and the wind died a bit and the skies cleared. Just wasn't in the cards to get out tonight. Was anxious to see if the super high tides with the full moon had changed things. Water at the dock didn't look anything too great.

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08-09-2008, 11:10 PM	#12
CapeMayRay I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 1,112 Credits: 2,655.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Make it two bad nights in a row. The water went from cold last week to super warm and with the strong west winds again the water looks like mud in the back bay. Left the dock at 4:30 pm with a perfect tide for evening fishing. Found the water in the back 75.6 at the start of the outgoing and the water looked like mud. You could only see the lure down 6 inches under the water. Worked several spots and they all were the same ugly brown. We caught one mercy blue but that was the only strike. Moved to the beach front and found the water a little better but still pretty bad. We never got a strike or saw any signs of life and the wind was now blowing pretty good out of the southeast and it was starting to get a bit choppy. Checked the back one more time on the way in and water was now 78.2 and just as brown. So again I shorten our trip and called it an early night and we will try again when better conditions are available. Can't remember it being so bad everywhere as you can usually find some decent water with fish some where.

08-10-2008, 04:15 PM	#13
CapeMayRay I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 1,112 Credits: 2,655.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	What a crazy week. Had some of the best fishing early in the week and by the end of the week some of the worst fishing. Water temps increased 14 degrees and the water quality went from super clear to looking like liquid mud. I don't know what it did but it really killed the fishing. I can usually find some fish some where, some way, but have not been able to do so the last few days. Today we have had thunderstorms all morning and the wind in blowing in the upper 20's gusting to around 30. Just took a look at the water along the beach and it is dirty and rough and the back bay still looks brown. Just canceled tonights husband wife fly trip. No way we could go out and catch or have any fun. Even with the good tide, I wouldn't want to even go out on a personal trip and I will pretty much fish in anything as long as I think I have a shot at catching.

08-12-2008, 11:15 PM	#14
CapeMayRay I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 1,112 Credits: 2,655.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Well, let's make it three bad trips in a row. Had a free night and I invited Dave Dewees (President of SJCFA) and Jim Evans to come down for a fun night of fishing. It was a fun night of fishing with two friends from the fly club but the catching was poor. We left the dock at 5:00 with a perfect high tide. We headed to the back bay to work the out going tide and found 68.6 degree water. The water was still a ugly brown color. (not sure if it is silt or algae bloom but flies could not be seen 6 inches to a foot under the surface. Dave and Jim are excellent fly casters and they worked a number of flies to death. We hit all the right spots that should of held fish and not even a bite. We moved to one last area and worked a nice tidal flow that always holds a few fish and Dave managed one small bluefish on a yellow crease fly, but the whole area was dead. We did see some bait fish here and there during our search but there were no fish feeding on it. Checked the inlet and the ocean front before I left on the trip and the water there was also very brown. Not sure what is going on but do know the fish are not feeding with the conditions we have. Three good tide nights and three bad nights of fishing. Something is wrong and I do not know what is causing it. We had a great night kidding around but it would of been a lot more fun with a few fish to reel in.

08-13-2008, 11:22 AM	#15
CapeMayRay I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 1,112 Credits: 2,655.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	I am getting depressed. Went out early this morning with a one person charter. Perfect tide, low light, calm seas. Worked the back flats, points, etc. and could not even get one strike. The water is still a sick green-brown and you can only see down 8 to 14 inches. Seeing some bait on the surface here and there but basically the areas I normally get fish in are totally dead. Moved to the inlet and the beach front and found the water no better. Temps aren't bad from 66 to 69 degrees but I feel like I am fishing in a pool gone bad. I have had bad trips in the past only catching a few fish but at least could get some hits and a few fish. This is the third charter in a row where we could barely get even a strike. This morning after three hours of fishing and the guy was good we didn't even get one strike. I cut our trip short.... third straight trip canceled early. Something changed since last Wednesday. Since then I have shorten 3 charters canceled one due to ugly brown green water, the poor fishing and did a personal 4 hour trip were we had one strike and one small blue, that if it was a charter I would of quit early. I just canceled tonights trip as I do not think it is even worth going out and trying. I have had bad days before, some from tough conditions and some from poor decisions on areas to fish but have never seen a string of days like this were it is just super bad everywhere and zero hits anywhere. Maybe need some full moon tides or a northeaster to flush things out a bit. Lucky I have to go away for a couple of days and didn't take any more charters till Friday. Just hope something will change the situation. Beating a dead horse it no fun at all.

08-15-2008, 10:38 PM	#16
CapeMayRay I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 1,112 Credits: 2,655.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Tried to get out tonight with 2 person fly charter. Got down to the dock around 5:00 pm. and were greeted by a thunderstorm to the south of Cape May. Decided to sit watch the lightning and see if it would pass. After an hour and 3/4 with now a good wind out of the south southeast and no signs of it getting any better we officially cancelled. About 15 minutes after getting home the storm finally moved on and the wind died a bit and the skies cleared. Just wasn't in the cards to get out tonight. Was anxious to see if the super high tides with the full moon had changed things. Water at the dock didn't look anything too great.