FISHING REPORTS CAPE MAY JUNE 15 TO 30TH

[CapeMayRay]

Had light tackle charter Sunday night and found the fishing to be very slow. There was light wind with a possible thunder shower predicted. We had ideal conditions but finding fish was a problem. Left the dock at 5:00 pm and decided to work the incoming tide in the inlet since it proved to be the most productive yesterday.

Not much boat traffic , the water was clean and 61.6 with no bird or bait activity. We only had one hit and miss. Worked the outside of the rocks with out a hit. Moved to the beach front and never got a strike. All areas fished we saw zero bait. We may have seen one patch of weakfish spawning on the surface but got no takers.

Shot into the back bay still working the incoming tide along sod banks of the back area flats. Worked a large area getting only getting a couple of strikes and no hook ups using popping plugs.

Moved to the other side of the sound as the tide was starting out and we worked four creeks and one outflow off the top of a sod bank. They all looked perfect with a nice outflow. The water was 66 to 68 degrees and we got no hits and saw zero bait or fish activity.

Moved to one last spot at sunset. The wind completley died to zero and here where we found some stripers. In the last hour of fishing we caught 4 stripers to 22 inches, missed a number of hits and had one good, close to a keeper size throw the hook after being on for a while and taking out a good amount of drag.

It was a very difficult night to figure out. We had about as good conditions as you could ask for yet fish and bait were no where to be found for the most part and we really covered a large area.

The guys had a good time, but I thought we should of been able to do better with the conditions. Weather was great and we got no thunder showers and were back in by 9:15.

[CapeMayRay]

Lucked out two nights in a row weather wise, but not tonight. Left the dock at 5:00 pm with sunny skies and a stiff wind out of the south. Zipped out to the inlet rocks to hide behind them and fish the incoming tide. Water was clean and it looked promising.

Had two fly fishermen from Montana that wanted to use their rods with floating and an intermediate line. They were having a bit of a time with the wind and we were only fishing for a short period of time when the sky turned very black. Popped the radio on and the severe thunderstorm watch said get out of Dodge a nasty one was headed across Delaware Bay.

Zipped back into the dock as we could see lightning in the distance and was back home before it hit the fan. High winds, heavy rain and lightning. Going to try and squeeze in trip before they leave for home at the end of the week.

[CapeMayRay]

Really tough night last night. Can't remember a night so dead. left the dock at 4:30 pm. with a fly fisherman in from Missouri who works at Cabellas. Wind steadily picked up all after noon and was blowing from the west. When we left the dock it had to be around 20mph.

Went to the beach front to hide from the strong wind. Still tough casting but very fishable. Got a couple of herring and it was dead. No signs of bait except for tog spawning. Water was 58.4 degrees.

Moved to the inlet jetties and work all sides in and out and never got so much as a bump and never saw one sign of small bait, birds or fish anywhere. Did see a couple of small pods of bunker but nothing pushing them and they were too small to even try to work.

Moved to the back bay. We had a great full moon tide and had more of the same nothing. We really covered a ton of area and could not even get a strike and again never saw any bait. Water back there was 59 to 60 degrees.

It was just about time to quit when I saw 4 herons on a flooded sod bank with a some terns. We zipped over and saw some fish feeding on top of the sod banks about 20 feet in.

His first cast with a spearing type fly and he hooked up a his first ever blue fish. It gave him a nice fight and he was impressed by their fighting ability.

That was the last blue. He started catching stripers. The action lasted about 30 minutes. They were his first stripers ever and he was using a 7 wt. rod.


When the action stopped were worked the creek mouth close by and could hear bass popping on bait. With the fishing on the night slow stayed out an hour and a half longer than normal.

Water in the creek was very shallow, 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep and 62 degrees, so I switched him over to a black gurgler and he was able to catch 4 more bass and missed one nice size fish. I was pretty sure it was a big weakies as it was acting much different than blues and bass. We had it on for about 5 minutes and the hook pulled without us ever getting to see it.


I even put a gurgler on and fished. catching two bass myself. It was 10:30 and the fish where still popping on bait. I believe they were feeding on shrimp.

He was scheduled with me for Wed morning trip at 5:00 am. and I asked him if he wanted to just keep fishing and forget tomorrow morning, but he was a bit tired so we left feeding fish and headed in.

He had to drive back to Atlantic City to make it back down in the morning.

[CapeMayRay]

Down to the boat at 5:00am. Get phone call from charter that he didn't hear the alarm but was on his way.

Left the dock at 6:00 am with the sun already up. Zero wind we headed to the beach front to try for weakies. Water 57 to 58 degrees. Found tons of sea herring and a few small weakies. Could hardly get a fly past the herring as they were super thick.

After and hour of constant action we decided to try the Inlet rocks to see if there was a change from last night and got more sea herring.

Made the move to the back bay where were looked for some bait or signs of life. Could not find a thing anywhere. Water did not look all that good. Clean but an off color and zero signs of bait.

Frustrated we moved back out to the inlet where water was better looking but had the same no bait no action to end the morning.

Only bait I saw all morning was in the marina. Small bay anchovies and real small baby bunker but not a whole lot.

[CapeMayRay]

Left the dock at 5:00 pm with father son fly charter. Freshwater fly fishermen from Ohio. Headed to the beach front with the tide coming in to see if I could get some weakies and sea herring like we did this morning.

Inlet water was 59 degrees and the beach front was 61. Along the beach there was a fair swell going but still very fishable be hind the breakers. Started them with sinking lines and one with yellow/white jiggie and the other with a pink/white clouser.

Started slow catching a few herring and then found the mother load spot where they were catching them with both hooked up at the same time. Mixed in were some small weakies just like in the morning.


Think we could of caught more weakies it we could of gotten past the herring.

After solid action for about two hours we decided to move into the back bay to search out some stripers. As we headed in the inlet I notice dark skies to the west and turned on the weather radio and heard of some nasty thunderstorms moving in across Delaware Bay.

We only got to fish for a short time in the back when we started seeing some nasty lightning, so we raced back to the dock and called it a short night. Was all cleaned up and going home when the rains came.

They were happy as they had good action and caught some fish that had never caught before.

[CapeMayRay]

LATE START THIS MORNING

Was to leave dock at 5:00 am with my two person fly charter. Got a call at 5:20 that they were running a little late. Finally got down at 5:50 so we left the dock at 6:00 am with it already bright.

Went to the beach front where we have been catching sea herring and small weakies. Both anglers were freshwater trout fishermen and they wanted to use their floating lines on their 9wt rods. Water was 60 degrees and a little brown.

After 15 minutes of them not getting any strikes, I picked up one of my sinking lines with a jiggie and two casts in a row picked up herring.

Finally convinced them to give up the floating lines and use my rods and they started getting hits and catching on almost every cast. They even caught a few small weakies. Stripping fast and long worked for the herring and if you wanted to try for weakies you had to work it slower.

After an hour of hammering the herring I asked if they wanted
to go off and look for better fish. They said they enjoyed the fast action so we stayed. After another hour and a half of catching herring we checked out the inlet and back bay. With the high sun and clear water there was nothing to be found.

Got back to the dock by 10:00. They were thrilled to of had so much action. Did talk to a friend who was out fishing the back bay early who caught some bass on popping flies. He fished 5:00 7:15

[brad regan 01]

good job ray

[OneMoreCast]

He Ray... maybe it is just a regional thing?? like weakie/gray trout dunno... but that sure as heck looks like a hickory shad to me
Anyway.. good for you.. I been sentenced to death by work for the next few weeks.. I'm going to flip out soon.. but that's a different story.. At least someone is catching..

[CapeMayRay]

OMC, I use to think they were Hickory Shad. The Hickory Shad have a rounder body. They call them saw belly herring, sea herring and a few other things. Their lower belly is very sharp. If you do not hold them from the back when un hooking they cut up your hand when the wiggle.

[CapeMayRay]

SJCFA after short club meeting with Pizza and soda, about 25 fly anglers invaded Corson's last night. Beautiful weather, incomimg tide. Most guys were throwing small jiggies and clousers and catching sea herring and small blues. I was using a big black popping fly hoping for a big guy. Had one swirl behind it and could see the herring swirling around. Just too stubborn to put the small fly on. Fun night, with great bunch of fly castors. I think I need fiberglass under my feet anymore to catch.




We only fished for a short time as many had to drive home up near Philly and go to work today.