Summer winding down, but summer fish here awhile

We are winding down the summer with some decent fishing. Halloween decor is popping up in stores, and that’s a sure sign that fall is coming. But the summer fish will be here for a while. The bite has been great on most days and slow on others, but everyone is having fun.  

Fishing has been great in the surf for all the usual summer suspects. The spot bite has been one of the hottest. It is hard to find Fishbites bloodworm formula and shops are quickly selling out of real bloodworms. The weekends are very busy, but only for a few more weeks. Second summer is coming and so is the point opening.  

The Flounder Pounder Open 2019 ended last Sunday. The number of fish caught offshore was crazy; the only issue was the sizes. A lot of big fish this year but a lot more of the smaller keepers that wouldn't score. Anglers fished three out of five days to bring the biggest flounder to the scales. It was exciting to watch the scales and turnovers each day. At the end, the El Nino, a boat out of New Jersey, and angler Nino Aversa took first place for $100,000. See you at the scales in 2020!

The inland bays are producing the usual small flounder with a keeper in the mix after so many short flounder. Drifting minnows or Gulp have been the best bait. Live lining a spot or large mullet would be a great idea for bigger flounder. Mullet schools are all over the inland bays, with fish on them. 

The striped bass action is great all over the inland bays. Short bass, but fun to catch, there is the occasional keeper at the Indian River Inlet. You can throw lures at the inlet for short bass or use sand fleas. The fleas work the best, and will work well at places like Masseys Ditch along the grass lines on the moving tides. The outgoing tide seems to have the best action. Find a rip with good moving water and fish it for striped bass.

 The Delaware Bay became hot not long ago for croaker. The head boats started bailing them two at a time. Great action and eating! Back the day it was Porgy for the catch of choice that was replaced croaker. There have been decent croaker caught at the Indian River Inlet and we are seeing some in the surf. They will hit just about every bait you throw at them. They may be called “hardheads” but not when it comes to eating.  Offshore action has been good for the boats getting out there, and a lot of mahi were caught during the Flounder Pounder Open.

Last, and certainly not least, crabbing and clamming has been excellent around the inland bays. Get out there and enjoy!