So far, no flounder have been reported but a few ling have been caught.
Jim Bolton By Jim Bolton
So far what I can find out about the Delaware Bay is this:
Talked to Captain Mike Rothman of the Bonanza II. He said that drum fishing has been good lately for the Fortescue fleet. He has caught a few his last two trips. Mike House of Cedarville had the big one, a 70 pounder.
So far, no flounder have been reported but a few ling have been caught.
Haase's Marina reported that Captain Ron Sutton on his "No Sweat" had three drum on Sunday. But so far they didn't have anyone come in with any flounder.
Ken at Husted's Landing said his customers Don Hitchner, Bill Tyler and Al Druly all had two good days loading up on Perch.
He also told me that the Greenwich Fire Company's Striper Tournament was won by Brandon Vantelt with a 28 1/2 incher.
Down along the coast they are catching a good variety of big blues, stripers and black drum with flounder opening up on the list.
Big blues are being reported everywhere. Hopefully it will be a busy time like it was last year. Blues up to 20 pounds have been brought in. Wow!
Quite a few stripers in the 49 pound class have been brought in and a few topped the 50 pound mark.
Black drum are being reported around the Cape and into the Delaware Bay. They were on the Delaware side and now it is mostly on the Jersey side from Brandywine Shoal over to Bud Light and Dead Mans Shoal.
Let's just hope that the decent weather holds up.
Just found out that Jay Cha (also known as Jasper) of Huck's Place in Millville caught himself a 34 inch striper Tuesday while surf fishing in Cape May.
Flounder season opened last weekend with some fine catches up and down the coast, especially in the inlets and back bays. Add to the good news is there were quite a few nice size 4 to 7 pounders reported.
More on the flounder situation next week!
Jim Bolton is the outdoors columnist for the South Jersey Times. He can be reached at 856-313-9347 or 22 Arbutus Ave., Millville, NJ 08332.