Dockside Café and Marina

Croakers, spot and flounder make up the majority of the catch in Great Bay according to the crew at Dockside Cafe and Marina. Keeper flounder were hard to find, but anglers fishing the deeper waters near the inlet have really improved their odds of putting a keeper in the boat. Minnows and spearing have been the top baits for sheer numbers of flounder, but keepers have been falling for live spot and larger strip baits like mackerel. The bay is also seeing some of the best sheepshead fishing of the season along with decent numbers of tog around the bridges. In the creeks, crabbing has been very good and seems to be getting even better with each passing week.

Dockside Cafe and Marina reports that many of their customers have shifted from flounder fishing to either perch or croaker fishing. The insane number of short flounder in the area, with few keepers in the mix, is likely the reason for the shift. Fishing the creeks or rivers, anglers are usually able to find at least a half dozen quality perch per outing for the table. The same is true for croaker fishing in the bay. Using bloodworms, clam strips or Fishbites, anglers report up to a dozen eating size croakers making it to the fish box. Those still hunting keeper flounder are finding the best odds by fishing large Gulp or strip baits down past the Fish Factory on the incoming tide.