As with much of the northeast coast, high winds and extremely large swells kept boats at the dock in Beach Haven. The captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association used the forced time off to tend to various items on their boats that might have needed attention. With the summer flounder season in New Jersey closing on Tuesday, September 5, the captains hope the weather conditions subside and the fish are still around that were present right before the nasty weather.
Last weekend Captain Ray Lopez had the Jayhee Cho party out for a trolling trip at the Barnegat Ridge on the “Miss Liane.” The group managed to boat multiple false albacore and one nice Bonita. Captain Ray also had the Jamie Cusmano group out on the “Miss Liane.” Sporty conditions mandated fishing inside in the area of the Barnegat Inlet. There was plenty of action there as multiple black sea bass, fluke, sea robins, and sand sharks were caught.
Just before the ocean became roiled up, Captain Carl Sheppard had a group of eight avid anglers out on the “Starfish.” Fishing structure in the ocean, the group reeled in the first triggerfish of the season and ended up with four to take home. Also going in the cooler was a nice 20-inch fluke. Captain Carl remarked the whole group did well with the youngsters aboard maybe even out-fishing their parents.
Captain Gary Dugan of the “Irish Jig” reports he is optimistic and keeping his fingers crossed that the fluke are still around this weekend. Once that season ends he will turn to wreck fishing until the stripers arrive.
Additional information on the captains and boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.net.
