September 21, 2026 - 10:33:14
Down at Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May, Will stated some nice flounder were laying right in the suds out front off Cape May, while triggerfish and sheepshead have been biting really well off the local rockpiles with some sheeps pushing 7 pounds and more. Blackfish are mixed in with the catches. Word was of a few pompano caught in the suds on the oceanfront side on sand fleas. Kingfish and croakers are feeding big time on the Bayshore beaches on Fishbites and bloodworms.
September 21, 2026 - 10:33:08
A call to the folks over at Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May got us another favorable prediction for October’s fishing. They told us most lakes and ponds are in very good shape for the fall fishing due to September rains. Fall fishing started early in some places with the second half of September seeing bass fishing picking up in Ponderlodge Lake and other local waters. We also got word of good white perch fishing in the tidal streams, while cedar waters are seeing some good pickerel fishing early because of the good water levels.
September 21, 2026 - 10:33:03
Will from Hands Too Bait & Tackle lamented that there was zero news on southern canyon tuna and marlin this past week, but closer in there’s been consistent action with mahi in the 2- to 10-pound range at the southern lumps. Deadly Dicks, Clark Spoons, epoxy jigs and pitch baits the dorado fillet makers.
September 21, 2026 - 10:33:03
Nick at Hands Too Bait and Tackle tells us that the flounder season ended on a good note with anglers finding limits of fish on the deepwater wrecks and reefs. The nor’easter will knock off the very last three days of the season for anyone who was looking to venture offshore. That same storm has gotten the mullet, spearing, and peanut bunker whipped into a frenzy in the back bays. They have been slowly moving out in small schools, but they are really on the move now and that typically triggers the “fall” run here in Cape May. Some anglers report catching a few stripers and blues along the sod banks recently of SP Minnows and topwater lures. Togging is also improving as the water cools with plenty of fish inshore, including under the local bridges and all along the jetties. Offshore action should only get better with current reports telling us that there are plenty of false albacore on the lumps within 20 miles being caught on the troll, and more mahi are showing up at the pots.
September 14, 2026 - 10:18:56
Down in Cape May at Hands Too Bait and Tackle Will said good things were happening as flounder were on the chew out front as well as at the Point. Triggerfish and tog are hanging around the rocks en masse. Smaller bluefish moved in with a couple choppers mixed in. A couple of pompano were hooked in Sea Isle and Will said they were big enough for the frying pan. Croakers and kingfish are available on the Delaware Bayshore beaches and larger model weakfish up to 24 or 25 inches have been striking bloodworms and pink Zooms.
September 14, 2026 - 10:18:52
Campground lakes and ponds continue to see some good bass, pickerel and panfishing in the lower part of the state according to sources over at Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May. However with the kids back in school numbers of anglers camping and fishing has dropped off big time, as usually happens this time of the year, we were told. Ponderlodge and some of the local waters are seeing decent catfishing on cut bunker and some good panfishing, we were told.
September 14, 2026 - 10:18:47
Nick from Hands Too Bait & Tackle says a few yellowfin in the 40- to 65-pound class were being picked off on the troll in the local canyons at first light. The mid-range pots continue bubbling with mahi to 10 pounds that are inhaling pitched squid heads and also sardines. Canyon pot areas are yielding mahi to 25 pounds on trolled ballyhoo. Not to be overlooked are the cooperative blueline and golden tilefish in the 250- to 450-foot reach.
September 14, 2026 - 10:18:41
Hand’s Too Bait and Tackle reports that the week was full of chickens around the pots and flounder on the reefs, plus plenty of action for land based or inshore anglers. With two weeks to go in this year's flounder season, the offshore action couldn't be much better. The deeper water wrecks and reefs are producing limits of keepers to 6 pounds. The Old Grounds have been especially productive recently with numerous customers reporting quick early morning limits, plus sea bass and triggerfish. That has allowed those anglers to do some exploring while out there and have found that the pots are loaded with chicken mahi on some days, and bulls on other days. Moving inshore, the summer flounder bite is fantastic, but keepers are hard to find. Dozens of shorts have been making up the catch for the back bay boaters, but the keepers are elusive. Other back bay action includes croakers, spot, and sheepshead, while the inlets are giving up tog, porgies and triggerfish.
