December Striper reports from Cape May

[CapeMayRay]

Didn't know if I was going to get in any more trips. Fishing with a flatsboat this time of year is reall hit or miss.

Couldn't believe it was December. Got up this morning to find zero wind and it was above freezing. Dressed like I was going on a polar expedition only to get out and have to take stuff off. Didn't even need gloves.

Andy, from the fly club was suppose go out with me but his daughter had a baby a couple of weeks early and he was doing what good grandfathers do. Helping out, caring for his other grandchild until his daughter was ready to come home.

Left the dock at 11:30 to catch the last of the incoming tide. Water was like sewer water. Dredge was still churning away in the inlet. Worked the north side of the jetty on the ocean side. had maybe a foot of visibility.

Fish where tight to the rocks and I would see some spearing pop every once in a while and even a fish swirl. Got the first three on sinking line with a bunker fly and the last two with a yellow/white spearing profile fly on intermediate line. All 5 fish were small. 17 1/2 inches to 21 1/2 inches but great fun with no wind and no seas.



Five fish on the fly in three hours of fishing, I was a happy camper. Had to work for the bass, catching one here and one there with a few misses. On the outgoing I tried in the back bay for a little while, but saw no signs of life and got no hits. Water back there was ugly from all the dredging.

It was great to get out after all the cold and windy weather kept me at the dockside. Today it felt like September and Dave Dewees, the new SJCFA President and I are going to try and get some more tomorrow. Just hope some of the bigger ones will be around.

[CapeMayRay]

Left the dock at noon with Dave Dewees our New SJCFA President. Nice sunny day when we started out, but a decent north east wind. Dredge was working the inlet and we tried to fish the north side of the jetty where I caught yesterday. Water was very brown, worse than the day before and with the current and the wind pushing you toward the rocks it was tough. Dave had one hit but with the wave action we moved to try the south jetty where we could work the lee side and get out of the wind that was just enough to be a pain.

The first hour Dave had two hits and I was casting a plug while trying to keep him in a good casting position. We were thinking about leaving when I hooked one on mag darter plug. Knowing there were some around I switched to a fly rod and we worked down the south side where I got the first one on a fly rod.


I was using a sinking line and a bunker fly while Dave was using a bunker fly and intermediate line. It was colder than yesterday but still one heck of a nice day for December fishing. I then got another small bass and then my third.




Dave had a couple of strikes but couldn't get one to take it good. As the day wore on it got cloudy and colder and you could see vapor. I started giving Dave a hard time and even offered him one of my bunker flies and even my rod. Determined he hung in there, switching to a chart/green/white clouser. That did the trick, he nailed a nice schoolie bass which warmed him up.




He then caught a nice sea herring. Once Dave started to catch I was done for the day and didn't get another hit. We fished till 4:00 p.m. By then the water was getting pretty dirty from the out going tide as they were pumping sand up on the beach and it was starting to get colder. We had a fun afternoon fishing together catching 5 bass and a herring. Not a bad way to spend a December afternoon.

Got stopped by the Marine Police for a routine safety and fish check on the way back to the Marina and were back at the house before dark.

[CapeMayRay]

Got in another bonus December trip. Got out with Paul Kerlinger from the fly club. Fog was super heavy this morning and we decided to go out at noon with the tide half in. Was still super foggy when we left the dock, but with the GPS we had no problem navigating out the inlet.

Was raw and damp with all the fog and you could see vapor but not cold enough where you need gloves. Started out like wild fire as we worked the outside of the north jetty. There was a pretty good swell with some decent surf in close to the beach. In the first half hour caught 5 schoolie bass and missed just as many.


I was catching on my bunker fly and Paul on a Chartreuse clouser. We thought we were in for banner day.

After that first half hour we had to work for our fish with a couple of missed strikes in between. It stayed foggy all afternoon getting super heavy and then lightening up a bit.

With the action slow on the north side we worked the outside of the south jetty and picked up a few more.



We fished for 3 1/2 hours and had a total of 9 bass and came back in with the same heavy fog. No keepers, but not bad for a foggy December day with a fly rod.

[fishsalmon]

Glad you found them in that weather.

I snuck out of work early tonight to wade again. Little tougher conditions, tide had not quite started to flow out. First that meant i could not wade out as far, second slack water. And third, light wind in my face. Still managed 5 fish with largest 19". Fish were deeper and i only brought the floating line. Friend spin fishing with me had an easy dozen on 1/2 lead head. Fish were just a bit further out and a bit deeper tonight. Tides will be good SAT morning if i can sneak out. Another awesome DEC night.

[BYRD]

Now Fishsalmon you know dang well that it was only a 3/8th ounce lead head.

Fun fishing this afternoon. You got me thinking. I actually looked in three of my catalogs at fly rods and blanks. I just don't know that I want to cross to the darkside yet.

I'll let you know about Sunday.

[fishsalmon]

Byrd,
you're right I throw 1/2 you throw 3/8 with that high end reel.

Still have to laugh about the "one grub" you brought to fish last night.

[BYRD]

Yeah that was dumb. I like your title. Backlash King. That is funny. I guess after last night I should have that title. Cleaned the reel good last night. I was amazed that very little water was in the reel after it was submerged like that. Those Stradics are freaking incredible.

[CapeMayRay]

Byrd, you will have to get that fly rod. You might find you like. I waited way to long before I got my first fly rod. I think it makes you a complete angler. You should know how to use all types of equipment try as many methods as possible.

Don't know if your fishery lasts through the winter. But for us here in Cape May, we are fishing on borrowed time as once it gets super cold, us small boaters are forced out of the game. Still hoping a few bigger fish sneak in with all the small schoolies.

[BYRD]

CMR I have used a fly rod for freshwater when I was younger. It is a lot of fun. I just have never used one in the salt. Doesn't seem like there would be a lot of places to use one. Of course there are numerous videos of people catching all kinds of fish on the fly. I asked for Gift Cards for Christmas. Maybe I will use them on a fly rod??

We have pretty much year round. As long as it stays warm it will be. Usually Jan-Mar the rivers are shut down and one must go to the Ocean to fish.

[CapeMayRay]

Should of fished Friday with it being such a nice day. Went today by my self. Left at around 2:00 p.m. with a good south west wind. Got to the inlet and the water was ugly brown. Worst it has been all week color wise. Started working the north side with the incoming tide, which was the only sheltered side.

It was a tough angle for throwing the fly and controlling the boat. Go 19 inch bass on plug. After an half hour decided to ride up the surf line right out side the waves. Saw a swirl and a little bait in 3 feet of water. Flipped the bunker fly on sinking line and had a hook up on 3rd cast getting a 21 inch bass.



Worked it for awhile but couldn't find any more fish. Tried the South jetty but the wind made fishing there impossible. Tried up on the beach south of the jetty, but they had two dredge pipes pumping muck into the surf.

Ended up trying the north jetty again to see if the water was any clean as the tide came up, but it was worse than when I started so I called it an early day and was back at the dock by 3:30 p.m.