65
the Sun by-the-Sea
September - October 2012
“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” ~ Khalil Gibran
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Gary Sloan’s
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F sh Stor es bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb front. Imagine this scene of you standing knee deep in the surf. A Blue sky and a stiff breeze at your back, crashing surf with bait fish jumping out of the Capt. Gary with his grandchildren water. Stripers tails slapping your legs as they chase the bait. That excitement can occur as schools of bait Hello and Welcome fellow Anglers get forced to the beach by Blues or Stripers. When this article comes to print a reality will have The inshore shoals keep the best Fluke fishing into settled in my mind. The bucket list of Summer’s the Fall. Sea Bass also school back up on the wrecks activities is longer then the season will allow, as for excellent catches. The mud slough outside Herthe blessings of a warm summer fate into the Fall. eford Inlet becomes a hotbed for schools of Weaks, (okay this year I’ll say hot) The record weather Blues, and Croakers. The choices abound in the did change some patterns of fishing. The serious ocean at this time of the year. And OH did I mention fisherman is often obsessed over weather. It usu- weather. The off shore fishery is based on the tuna ally makes the difference on success or failure. If bite. Yellow fin hopefully stay within reach at the 20 we only could find a reliable source of weather in- fathom lumps. formation we all could believe. I hope you all will earmark your next Thanksgiving turkey wishbone Here’s a brain twister for Marine Fisheries. I have noticed a recent trend in Fluke fishing the past two for fulfillment of that wish. seasons. I have noticed larger Fluke but less overall Reflecting on this summer besides the hot weather, numbers of fish in general. Beachfront Fluke have the Delaware Bay had it’s worst season to date, basically disappeared. If we are releasing fish under that I can remember. The upper bay fishery, other seventeen and a half inches, where are they now. I than Weakfish and Sharks, was extremely poor. If believe the focus on only large fish (the best breedyou don’t believe me talk to someone in the Forte- ers) is a recipe for failure. Slot catches across the size cue area. Hopefully this pattern will not continue lines would be my unofficial suggestion. It worked into the Fall. The first Fall cool front eases back the for Stripers. Marine Fisheries for all its regulations pace of the island life. A good night’s sleep with and restrictions has deemed its program a success. I a cool breeze from a open window and lacking offer them a challenge to come and fish with hook the normal summer noise is a treat. More impor- and line for Fluke in this area and tell about their tantly, the cooler ocean water starts the schooling great success. of bait, and the Fall run of fish. The secret this time of year is to find where the bait and the game fish On a lighter note, now is the time to plan a trip to enwill be nearby. Whether it be Bluefish, Stripers, joy the blessing of the ocean. She holds endless unWeakfish, or Croakers. Larger Stripers will start known bounties and experiences waiting for you to to increase their presence around the bridges and explore. Such an experience with nature may make jetties. Chunking in the Delaware Bay will start to you reflect on where you are in life. Regardless of produce nice Stripers as they migrate down and your station in life, it‘s good to feel small next to naout of the bay. They should arrive in the rips by ture. Sharing this experience with someone special enriches the moment Forever. late October. The ocean should have schools of bunker for the God bless and Welcome to the Wildwood High ReStripers and Blues to attack. Snagging a live bun- union of 2012 ker and live lining him under the school can be a very effective technique. Surf fishing should also North Wildwood, NJ improve with all the bait activity on the Beach-
Capt. Gary Sloan,
Wildwoods live by the tides. . . love by the moon Fall Fishing Tournies 2012
9/7-9 43rd Annual Surf Fishing Tournament Gazebo Registration 6am. 3rd Ave. & JFK. 609-522-2955 9/29 58th Annual Pennsauken Surf Fishing Club Tournament Registration 6am. Anglesea Firehouse 2nd & NJ Ave. 856-231-9110 10/6 34th Great Fall Classic Surf Fishing Tournament Registration 6am. 15th & Beach 609.290.6480
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