New Jersey & Delaware Bay Surf Fishing

Nor’east Winds Welcome 38th Anniversary of “The Catch”

Could lightning strike twice? It’s been 38 years as of this Monday, September 21 since the late Al McReynolds caught that longstanding striped bass record on the rocks in Atlantic City, and lo & behold a heavy dose of northeast winds are forecast to blow through the weekend ahead. Sure, if you would catch the record this season it would have to be released (striped bass limits in New Jersey this fall being one “slot” fish at 28 inches to just under 38 inches), but tackling a cow on the anniversary would be nice, right? It’s all about the mullet which are stacked and ready to get whacked heading into the best time of year along the Jersey Shore. Sadly, the 2020 fluke season comes to an end at close of business on Saturday, with black sea bass set to reopen again on October 8th. Our report this week from the docks of Belmar show good catches on Wednesday, with Thursday the 17th being a solid day for hitting the grounds and stocking up on the flatties. Transitionally speaking, there are other options in the weekend ahead for those looking to the surf with fluke in the sloughs and pot holes, or perhaps plugging the sedges and sod banks for stripers and weakfish. Perhaps this is the weekend for gathering up the kiddies for a little chum pot fishing in the back bay; those bait pens aren’t going to fill themselves with Cape May goodies (let the kids do the work). Check out the full video forecast with an update from last Thursday’s New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council as well.