FISHING REPORTS CAPE MAY JULY 1 TO 15

CapeMayRay · 07-02-2008, 12:34 AM

Not as good as last night but still pretty good. Left the dock at 5:00 am. with father and son fly charter. As we passed by the inlet heading to the back the water was 58 degrees. Found a spot on a back flat that was 72 degrees and started fishing. Dad was more interested in seeing his son fish and sat back and watched his son and barely wet a line all night.

First fish was a nice blue that took a chartreuse deceiver and bit it off before we could net it. Little while later he got landed this one on a popping fly.

Decided to use the popping fly the rest of the night as the surface action was what he really wanted. The wind was stronger than the night before and the new moon tides where higher. The wind made it more difficult to get a good angle where I really wanted to fish so I had to go to plan B.

We managed another bass with the tide covering the sod banks but saw no signs of fish or bait to clue us in on a particular area that might be hot. I knew when the tide started out all the creeks and run offs would hold some fish.

The wait paid off. We tried a couple of spots, but found stripers feeding at a sod bank drain off. Young guy missed more fish than he caught, but the action was fast and exciting. He was finding it difficult to strip set his hook up instead of lifting the rod and was trying to set the hook when he saw the fish hit instead of when feeling the weight. I managed get him a few stripers with his biggest 24 1/2 inches.

It was a fun night but a bit cold for a July evening.

CapeMayRay · 07-03-2008, 01:27 AM

Left the dock at 5:00pm with a one person fly charter with the tide half in. Just like yesterday, as we passed by the inlet the water was 59 degrees. We headed to the back bay where we found 74.2 degree water. The wind was blowing pretty good with a decent chop and the water was dirty brown from the wind.

In the first 10 minutes of fishing we got two bluefish and I thought it was going to be and easy night. After 3/4 of and hour and not another strike we moved to the opposite side of the sound where the wind was more sheltered.

That was great, but the water there was 60 to 62 degrees and after working it and covering a large area without a strike, it was time to make another move.

Moved farther from the inlet to find warmer water and found a great looking area 4 to 5 feet deep and 65 to 70 degrees. Worked it to death with no signs of life and no hits.

Just as the sun was about to set and close to the change of the tide the wind dropped to zero so we ran to where we caught yesterday on the out going tide.

The tide was just starting to move out and right at a sod bank drain off area in 3 to 4 feet of water we found 72 degree water.
With in minutes of arriving my charter started to catch stripers. With the trip being so slow I told the charter I would put in the extra time and we would get some fish.

He ended up with 8 stripers to 24 1/2 inches. These were his first saltwater fish that he caught other than bottom fishing and was impressed with the fight they put up in the shallow water.

I even got a chance to wet a line and caught 3 myself on a popping fly and a black gurgler.

Right around 10:00 pm. the wind started to pick up again and he said he had enough fishing so we left the fish still biting and headed in. Bad night turned in to a good night by sticking it out. By the time I got the boat cleaned the wind was blowing pretty good again.

Had a great night but I am not seeing the kind of bait around that should be here. There are a few pods of fish but not spread about evenly like they use to be. You really have to search to find where they are on any given day.

CapeMayRay · 07-05-2008, 11:57 PM

Got out Saturday night with on of my regular fly charters. He had a friend with him and they could only fish for a couple of hours before their dinner reservations.

Left the dock at 5:00pm. Was just about dead low tide and I could barely get my boat out of the slip. With the incoming tide I decided to work the inlet. It was foggy and we only had 60 degree water. Working the inside without so much as a hint of life or a strike we moved to the outside. Were we got one striper on a swimming plug and missed a bluefish on the fly rod.

Tried working the beach front for weakies or sea herring and never got a hit and only had 59 degree water, so with it still being a bit foggy we move into the back bay to find warmer water.

Found some 70 degree water with a good tidal flow. Switched to a popping plug and popping fly and just as it was time to get them in they started getting some bluefish action.

I ran them back to the dock and decided to go back out myself. I tried one spot at the inlet and the water was 59 so I shot back to were we had the warm water. Within a few casts I started getting some hits and ended up with two blues and a small striper on a popping fly on floating line.

With the cold water incoming tide it was getting foggy and it was cold. I had a sweat shirt on and wearing shorts I was cold and damp, so with it getting dark I headed in early.

CapeMayRay · 07-08-2008, 12:18 AM

Got my plug charter in tonight. They were calling for thunder showers but when I left the house there was only a small one out over the ocean.

left the dock at 5:00 pm with an hour of outgoing left. With a good southeast wind blowing and dirty 66 degree water we worked the inside and the outside of the inlet rocks. Never saw a sign of bait and we never got a strike. With white caps on the ocean and heavy wave action we headed off to the back.

With close to dead low tide there are not many areas to fish. Found one in 3 1/3 feet where the water was brown and 70.2 degrees where using popping plugs we got one 22 1/2 striper real quick and worked the area to death through the last of the out and into the incoming tide catching 7 bluefish.

Moved to another area way back on a flat and tried to work a 2 foot deep area, but the strong wind blew us aground and it was too shallow to control the boat.

Moved to one last area where we had 68.8 degree water and could cast into 2 feet of water. We got two more bass to 25 inches, missed a few stripers and caught one more bluefish as the tide kept came in.

Around 9:00 we called it a night and headed in. The wind was still blowing and the water as we passed the inlet was 59 degrees making it feel pretty cold.

CapeMayRay · 07-09-2008, 12:02 PM

Tough trip Tuesday Morning. Couple did not want to get up early to fish. Left the dock at 8:30 a.m. Was not a fly charter so I had three game plans.

Started working the inlet with plugs along the rocks in 60 degree incoming tide. Conditions looked good, but no birds, no bait and no fish. Not even a strike after working it for an hour.

Switched to plan B. Flounder fishing in inland water way. We started with a nice drift and picked up two small fluke, one small blue and one sand shark. Then wind started to pick up pretty good so I went to plan C.

Set up to chum clam bellies. Drew in every sandshark in the back bay. and caught two more small blues. They were happy with the rods bending on every cast with some of the sandsharks pretty good size. Boat was mess from the chum and I had enough sun to last me the rest of the summer. (Had my 50 sun protection on.) Now I remember why I like to fish low light conditions or at night.

Was planning on doing a persaonal trip last night but a big thunderstorm came in with super high winds. We missed the direct storm but it would of been no fun trying to beat it in as it came up super fast.

CapeMayRay · 07-09-2008, 06:27 PM

Another night sitting home. Looked on the radar and saw a big green blob coming up from the south and forecast 50 to 60 percent chance of thunder storms. Went down to the boat where I could get a better view hoping to atleast get out for an hour or so.

About and hour and half left to dead low, the water was brown, good strong wind out of the southeast and a sky that looked gray.

Home tying up a few flies.

CapeMayRay · 07-12-2008, 12:23 PM

Friday night, beautiful weather, good tide and no charter. Called buddy Pete to go out fishing. Left the dock around 5:00 pm. Tide had just started going out and the water in the inland water way was 60 to 61 degrees.

We shot into the way back where we found 70 to 72 degree water and worked some flats, drain offs and creek mouths. After an hour and a half. I had one blue that hit a popping fly three times with out a hook up.

We made a move and found an area where there were a few fish. Here Pete went 2 for 3 hits catching a striper and a bluefish. We were fishing in about 3 to 6 feet of water. Not as clear as earlier in the week but still pretty good.

I had an horrible night. I went ZERO for 10 hits from 10 different fish. Checked my hook points, got hits of 5 different flies but just could not get one stick. JUST ONE OF THOSE TOUGH NIGHTS.

CapeMayRay · 07-13-2008, 01:05 AM

No fly fishing tonight but but one out of the fire tonight for two plug anglers. Left the dock at 5:00 p.m. with the start of the out going tide. Water was 61 degrees near the inlet area and we head to the back bay for warm water again.

Found 70 to 75 degree water way back. Water was a bit brown in color with a bit of weed. We worked the heck out of spot after spot without so much as a strike on the popping plugs they were using. Made a major move to cooler water 66 degrees and a little cleaner. We found some small blues working some small bait but they were really small.

After 2 1/2 hours and no fish caught we made a move to another area where we found cleaner water 70 to 75 degrees and started to pick away at small stripers until it got dark.

There were no signs that the fish were there but we caught a total of 12 bass to 22 inches and missed almost as many that whacked at their popping plug.

CapeMayRay · 07-14-2008, 12:12 AM

Sunday night had two spin anglers out. Left the dock at 5:00 pm. with the tide just about high. Another super slow nights to start out. Covered a ton of sod banks and a number of creeks, creek mouths but could not buy a fish. Water was 68 to 75 degrees and still a bit brownish with very little signs of bait. What bait we did see was all super small.

In the first three hours of fishing we had 7 hits on popping plugs with two looking like pretty nice fish, but no hook ups.

Just like the night before I was able to pull the night out with a last minute rally were they caught 7 striper up to 25 inches with a number of missed ones, but all the action came on fast with once fighting two fish at once.

Charter was happy and the action stopped as fast as it had started when it got dark and the moon came out bright and we were back to the dock by 9:30.

CapeMayRay · 07-14-2008, 12:25 PM

Went out with a plug charter this morning. Left the dock at 5:30 am. Zipped to the back flats with the low light and warm water.

On the first cast of a popping plug he got a small striper and I thought it was going to be and easy morning. I never happen. He got two more small bass to 22 inches and he got about 6 other hits in the back.

Moved to the inlet where the water was 58 degrees and worked the rocks to death and saw zero signs of life and never got a single strike.

3 bass in four hours and no signs of any blues. The sun never came out strong, it was cloudy and it should of been a lot better.

07-02-2008, 12:34 AM	#1
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 942 Credits: 1,688.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	FISHING REPORTS CAPE MAY JULY 1 TO 15 Not as good as last night but still pretty good. Left the dock at 5:00 am. with father and son fly charter. As we passed by the inlet heading to the back the water was 58 degrees. Found a spot on a back flat that was 72 degrees and started fishing. Dad was more interested in seeing his son fish and sat back and watched his son and barely wet a line all night. First fish was a nice blue that took a chartreuse deceiver and bit it off before we could net it. Little while later he got landed this one on a popping fly. Decided to use the popping fly the rest of the night as the surface action was what he really wanted. The wind was stronger than the night before and the new moon tides where higher. The wind made it more difficult to get a good angle where I really wanted to fish so I had to go to plan B. We managed another bass with the tide covering the sod banks but saw no signs of fish or bait to clue us in on a particular area that might be hot. I knew when the tide started out all the creeks and run offs would hold some fish. The wait paid off. We tried a couple of spots, but found stripers feeding at a sod bank drain off. Young guy missed more fish than he caught, but the action was fast and exciting. He was finding it difficult to strip set his hook up instead of lifting the rod and was trying to set the hook when he saw the fish hit instead of when feeling the weight. I managed get him a few stripers with his biggest 24 1/2 inches. It was a fun night but a bit cold for a July evening. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

07-03-2008, 01:27 AM	#2
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 942 Credits: 1,688.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Left the dock at 5:00pm with a one person fly charter with the tide half in. Just like yesterday, as we passed by the inlet the water was 59 degrees. We headed to the back bay where we found 74.2 degree water. The wind was blowing pretty good with a decent chop and the water was dirty brown from the wind. In the first 10 minutes of fishing we got two bluefish and I thought it was going to be and easy night. After 3/4 of and hour and not another strike we moved to the opposite side of the sound where the wind was more sheltered. That was great, but the water there was 60 to 62 degrees and after working it and covering a large area without a strike, it was time to make another move. Moved farther from the inlet to find warmer water and found a great looking area 4 to 5 feet deep and 65 to 70 degrees. Worked it to death with no signs of life and no hits. Just as the sun was about to set and close to the change of the tide the wind dropped to zero so we ran to where we caught yesterday on the out going tide. The tide was just starting to move out and right at a sod bank drain off area in 3 to 4 feet of water we found 72 degree water. With in minutes of arriving my charter started to catch stripers. With the trip being so slow I told the charter I would put in the extra time and we would get some fish. He ended up with 8 stripers to 24 1/2 inches. These were his first saltwater fish that he caught other than bottom fishing and was impressed with the fight they put up in the shallow water. I even got a chance to wet a line and caught 3 myself on a popping fly and a black gurgler. Right around 10:00 pm. the wind started to pick up again and he said he had enough fishing so we left the fish still biting and headed in. Bad night turned in to a good night by sticking it out. By the time I got the boat cleaned the wind was blowing pretty good again. Had a great night but I am not seeing the kind of bait around that should be here. There are a few pods of fish but not spread about evenly like they use to be. You really have to search to find where they are on any given day. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

07-05-2008, 11:57 PM	#3
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 942 Credits: 1,688.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Got out Saturday night with on of my regular fly charters. He had a friend with him and they could only fish for a couple of hours before their dinner reservations. Left the dock at 5:00pm. Was just about dead low tide and I could barely get my boat out of the slip. With the incoming tide I decided to work the inlet. It was foggy and we only had 60 degree water. Working the inside without so much as a hint of life or a strike we moved to the outside. Were we got one striper on a swimming plug and missed a bluefish on the fly rod. Tried working the beach front for weakies or sea herring and never got a hit and only had 59 degree water, so with it still being a bit foggy we move into the back bay to find warmer water. Found some 70 degree water with a good tidal flow. Switched to a popping plug and popping fly and just as it was time to get them in they started getting some bluefish action. I ran them back to the dock and decided to go back out myself. I tried one spot at the inlet and the water was 59 so I shot back to were we had the warm water. Within a few casts I started getting some hits and ended up with two blues and a small striper on a popping fly on floating line. With the cold water incoming tide it was getting foggy and it was cold. I had a sweat shirt on and wearing shorts I was cold and damp, so with it getting dark I headed in early. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

07-08-2008, 12:18 AM	#4
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 942 Credits: 1,688.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Got my plug charter in tonight. They were calling for thunder showers but when I left the house there was only a small one out over the ocean. left the dock at 5:00 pm with an hour of outgoing left. With a good southeast wind blowing and dirty 66 degree water we worked the inside and the outside of the inlet rocks. Never saw a sign of bait and we never got a strike. With white caps on the ocean and heavy wave action we headed off to the back. With close to dead low tide there are not many areas to fish. Found one in 3 1/3 feet where the water was brown and 70.2 degrees where using popping plugs we got one 22 1/2 striper real quick and worked the area to death through the last of the out and into the incoming tide catching 7 bluefish. Moved to another area way back on a flat and tried to work a 2 foot deep area, but the strong wind blew us aground and it was too shallow to control the boat. Moved to one last area where we had 68.8 degree water and could cast into 2 feet of water. We got two more bass to 25 inches, missed a few stripers and caught one more bluefish as the tide kept came in. Around 9:00 we called it a night and headed in. The wind was still blowing and the water as we passed the inlet was 59 degrees making it feel pretty cold. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

07-09-2008, 12:02 PM	#5
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 942 Credits: 1,688.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Tough trip Tuesday Morning. Couple did not want to get up early to fish. Left the dock at 8:30 a.m. Was not a fly charter so I had three game plans. Started working the inlet with plugs along the rocks in 60 degree incoming tide. Conditions looked good, but no birds, no bait and no fish. Not even a strike after working it for an hour. Switched to plan B. Flounder fishing in inland water way. We started with a nice drift and picked up two small fluke, one small blue and one sand shark. Then wind started to pick up pretty good so I went to plan C. Set up to chum clam bellies. Drew in every sandshark in the back bay. and caught two more small blues. They were happy with the rods bending on every cast with some of the sandsharks pretty good size. Boat was mess from the chum and I had enough sun to last me the rest of the summer. (Had my 50 sun protection on.) Now I remember why I like to fish low light conditions or at night. Was planning on doing a persaonal trip last night but a big thunderstorm came in with super high winds. We missed the direct storm but it would of been no fun trying to beat it in as it came up super fast. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

07-09-2008, 06:27 PM	#6
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 942 Credits: 1,688.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Another night sitting home. Looked on the radar and saw a big green blob coming up from the south and forecast 50 to 60 percent chance of thunder storms. Went down to the boat where I could get a better view hoping to atleast get out for an hour or so. About and hour and half left to dead low, the water was brown, good strong wind out of the southeast and a sky that looked gray. Home tying up a few flies. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

07-12-2008, 12:23 PM	#7
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 942 Credits: 1,688.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Friday night, beautiful weather, good tide and no charter. Called buddy Pete to go out fishing. Left the dock around 5:00 pm. Tide had just started going out and the water in the inland water way was 60 to 61 degrees. We shot into the way back where we found 70 to 72 degree water and worked some flats, drain offs and creek mouths. After an hour and a half. I had one blue that hit a popping fly three times with out a hook up. We made a move and found an area where there were a few fish. Here Pete went 2 for 3 hits catching a striper and a bluefish. We were fishing in about 3 to 6 feet of water. Not as clear as earlier in the week but still pretty good. I had an horrible night. I went ZERO for 10 hits from 10 different fish. Checked my hook points, got hits of 5 different flies but just could not get one stick. JUST ONE OF THOSE TOUGH NIGHTS. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

07-13-2008, 01:05 AM	#8
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 942 Credits: 1,688.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	No fly fishing tonight but but one out of the fire tonight for two plug anglers. Left the dock at 5:00 p.m. with the start of the out going tide. Water was 61 degrees near the inlet area and we head to the back bay for warm water again. Found 70 to 75 degree water way back. Water was a bit brown in color with a bit of weed. We worked the heck out of spot after spot without so much as a strike on the popping plugs they were using. Made a major move to cooler water 66 degrees and a little cleaner. We found some small blues working some small bait but they were really small. After 2 1/2 hours and no fish caught we made a move to another area where we found cleaner water 70 to 75 degrees and started to pick away at small stripers until it got dark. There were no signs that the fish were there but we caught a total of 12 bass to 22 inches and missed almost as many that whacked at their popping plug. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

07-14-2008, 12:12 AM	#9
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 942 Credits: 1,688.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Sunday night had two spin anglers out. Left the dock at 5:00 pm. with the tide just about high. Another super slow nights to start out. Covered a ton of sod banks and a number of creeks, creek mouths but could not buy a fish. Water was 68 to 75 degrees and still a bit brownish with very little signs of bait. What bait we did see was all super small. In the first three hours of fishing we had 7 hits on popping plugs with two looking like pretty nice fish, but no hook ups. Just like the night before I was able to pull the night out with a last minute rally were they caught 7 striper up to 25 inches with a number of missed ones, but all the action came on fast with once fighting two fish at once. Charter was happy and the action stopped as fast as it had started when it got dark and the moon came out bright and we were back to the dock by 9:30. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

07-14-2008, 12:25 PM	#10
CapeMayRay Crab mustard is good Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cape May, New Jersey Posts: 942 Credits: 1,688.4 Occupation: Charter Capt.	Went out with a plug charter this morning. Left the dock at 5:30 am. Zipped to the back flats with the low light and warm water. On the first cast of a popping plug he got a small striper and I thought it was going to be and easy morning. I never happen. He got two more small bass to 22 inches and he got about 6 other hits in the back. Moved to the inlet where the water was 58 degrees and worked the rocks to death and saw zero signs of life and never got a single strike. 3 bass in four hours and no signs of any blues. The sun never came out strong, it was cloudy and it should of been a lot better. __________________ Tide Runner Fly and Light Tackle Charters Cape May, New Jersey 609 884 6440 Tiderun1@aol.com Past President 2005 & 2006 South Jersey Coastal Fly Anglers

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