Morning Fluking

Fished with Darryl, Sean, and Jenna. Started off fast and furious with the fluke biting well. We caught over 15 with a few of them coming close to being legal. Finished the morning by pulling on the big sharks some more. Of course, the big sharks were the favorite. Fun day.

Afternoon Action

Fished with Dave, Dave, and Chris. The boys wanted to pull on big fish so we did. Had an unusual catch of a 40 pound stingray at the first stop. We moved and caught sandsharks to 20 pounds. Finished the day catching fluke before calling it a day.

Back Bay Action

Fished with Mike and Mike. No stripers were around on the flats so we moved to do some bottom fishing and caught some flounder. Little Mike wanted to pull on some big fish so we caught some big sharks to pull on big fish.

Ten Pounds in Twelve Inches

Fished with Tom and Alex. We caught several stripers to 29 inches and ten pounds on poppers in very shallow water. We also had a few bluefish as well. The fish were busting from time to time and we had boils that we could cast to. We were not flyfishing but all of the fish presented in a way that would have been catchable on the fly. The biggest fish was caught in around a foot if water. Cool bites.

Striper On the Flats

Fished with Dad and my brother Matt. It was supposed to be sunny and nice but it wasn't. The fish didn't mind though. We had stripers to 27 inches on poppers and jigs plus blues to four pounds. Did not flyfish but conditions were great for it. Boiling fish in a confined area. Also caught flounder but the wind made the catching tough.

Back Bay Action

Fished with Dad today. We had quite the variety. Caught fifteen fluke with one keeper. Moved to the flats and had two stripers and several blues to four pounds on the fly and on poppers. Great flyrod action with fish boiling at our feet. Went out later in the day with clams and caught several sharks to twenty pounds plus a few more fluke. Things are improving!

Flexibility

Fished with Mike and Dennis. Our initial game plan was to throw poppers to shallow water stripers and blues. We had a great tide. We caught a keeper fluke right off the bat. The weather had other plans though. The wind was supposed to drop out and it didn't. Instead of calling it quits, we decided to make the best of it. We rerigged and decided to bait fish. While no stripers were caught we had fun catching big sandsharks to 20 pounds on clams. Sometimes you have to play the cards you're dealt.

Back Bay Mixed Bag

Fished with John and family on his 13th birthday. We caught several flounder but the fluke bite never really materialized. Made a move to fish with clams and caught a bunch of big sharks to 15 pounds and a nice striper. Pretty cool birthday present!

Topwater Blues

Fished with Julio and Sergio R today. Had a great time with bluefish on poppers on the flats. We also had fish on jigs. The shallow water action is starting to heat up.

NJ Saltwater Angler Registry

All anglers fishing in saltwater over the age of 16 need to register for the free saltwater fishing license in NJ.

However, any person fishing with me DOES NOT need a license as they are covered under my license.

The fines for not having this FREE license are STEEP and start at $300 for the first offense. I know this is absurd and there is a movement to lower them but be safe and make sure you have it. They ARE enforcing it.

It takes three minutes to get the license.

Here is the link to register:

http://www.nj.gov/dep/saltwaterregistry/index.html

I will be installing a lawyer compartment and filing cabinet on my boat to hold the fifteen different papers from seven different governmental agencies in multiple states that I am required to have in order to enjoy my freedom on the water. They will make us all pirates eventually.

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.CaptainJoeHughes.com
609-827-3442

First Weakfish

There aren't many around anymore but here is the first one I've seen this season. The weakfish was caught by Pat on Joe's boat who was fishing right next to me. Way to go!

Sunset Blues

Snuck out at sunset and the blues were biting. Caught a few on the fly before heading home. The bass and blues have been setting up nicely for the flyrod lately. There have been concentrated pockets of fish that make it ideal for the long rod.

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.CaptainJoeHughes.com
609-827-3442

Stripers on Poppers

Fished with Jodi C today. We caught several fluke, bluefish, and two short stripers. The stripers were caught on poppers and were the first bass of the year caught on topwater lures. The bass are biting on the flats and this fishing will only get better. We would have had more bass but it's Mother's Day so we left em biting.

Opening Day Fluke

Took my favorite client out today for some fluke. Dad as usual caught the biggest and the most. Two keeper fluke and we called it an afternoon.

Striper on Clams

Fished today with Dave W and his friend Kevin. We clammed a short striper first and then caught a few flounder and a blue. The wind made the fluke fishing tough.

Sea Isle Bait and Tackle

The new shop will open this Friday May 6th. They will have everything you need for flounder season and more! The new store is located where Gibson's Tackle was last year. Visit us on the web at www.seaislebaitandtackle.net

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.CaptainJoeHughes.com
609-827-3442

Sea Isle Bait and Tackle

I am pleased to announce that Sea Isle Bait and Tackle will officially open on May 6th! The new tackle shop will be located at 42nd and Park Road in Sea Isle. The new shop will be in the same location as the former Gibson's Tackle. Stop in and say hello! Mike Cunningham is the new owner. The new store will be a work in progress but will come together quickly. Here is the website for the new store:
www.seaislebaitandtackle.net

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.CaptainJoeHughes.com
609-827-3442

Beautiful Day

Fished with the Mikes today. We had around six blues and released around twenty fluke. Most of the fish were caught on GULP! shrimp and 1/2 ounce jig heads. Fluke season opens May 7th.

Blues and Fluke

Fished Saturday with Dave W and his friend Frank. We caught blues to three pounds and released around a dozen fluke. Wind made things difficult but the fish are here.

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.CaptainJoeHughes.com
609-827-3442