Capt. Gary's Fishing Report

Hello and Welcome to all anglers. Anglers are the most optimistic people in the world. Anyone who has the passion of fishing flowing thru their veins, generally brings their A game of humanity on the day of fishing. I am always amazed even after a bad day of fishing they seemed to assure themselves, that the next trip will be a great trip. That thinking has been severely tested on several occasions this season. I also enjoy the instant comrade of the fishing fraternity. Strangers till they board the Adventurer, soon to converse as if friends for life. God you have to love the civility in contrast to the real world.

The weather certainly had been the top story of most conversations. The level and duration of the heat has set the records for sure. The lack of rain also has been responsible for drought restrictions in most of the state. However for the local fisherman the fluctuations of the inshore water temperature has been surprising. Ten degree swings of water temperature overnight has been nothing unusual. This has impacted the local fishing on many days. We are in late August without any decent showing of bluefish or croakers inshore. The sea bass and fluke have taken the brunt of hooks for the lackey’s who have failed to show. The few weakfish we have seen look like hatchery size fingerlings. We have had some nice size fluke but the numbers are low and the throw back ratio is insane. Someday it will dawn on us that the 16 inch fluke and 12inch sea bass we are throwing back are being scooped up by the commercial nets. They can kill 14 inch fluke and 9 inch sea bass. Doesn’t seem fair does it? I hope someday recreational anglers will unite and demand equal access to fish and fair treatment by Marine Fisheries. Anglers may not have the paid lobbyists like the commercial fishery, but they sure represent a larger block of votes. I think its time we use this clout, and identify the elected officials who really care about our angling interests.

The fall fishing which used to be the highlight of the season will probably be a shell of past years. If last years restrictions take place this year the only fish not closed were croakers, and a very limited tog season. Fluke is slated to close around labor day. Who knows about sea bass, since Marine fisheries can flex their muscle and close the season any time regardless of facts.(like last year) The last few years, stripers in the ocean have not arrived until late fall when weather made trips difficult. Anyone for crabbing.

The Adventure crew shared some special experiences this past summer with many patrons. Whales around the boat on four different occasions. Great sightings of large sharks and sea turtles. The thrill to watch the hooking up some blue water mahi by a young boy who was delighted. Daily sightings of bottle nose dolphins became routine. My personal favorite sighting was a Bald Eagle in the Cape May Canal. Although fishing has tested us this year, mother nature rewarded us with many other pleasurable moments.

So get out with a friend or loved one, and create a memory to share and relive many times over in the future. Of course, the fish size will grow with each telling of the big catch.

Captain Gary Sloan,
The Adventurer, Wildwood, NJ