It is Memorial Day weekend 2019, and the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are busy welcoming visitors and fish alike to Long Beach Island.
The big news in town is the official opening of the summer flounder season on Friday, May 24. Captain Gary Dugan of the “Irish Jig” says he is switching gears from stripers and drum fish to fluke and the great wreck fishing going on for black sea bass. He is excited about what he feels will be a “great season.”
Captain Alex Majewski of “Light House Sportfishing” notes the spring run of fish is at full throttle. He has been seeing stripers from schoolie size to over 30-inches in the back bay and inlet waters. Captain Alex especially likes fishing for these bass with artificials. He has heard of some good catches of big bass trolling off Island Beach State Park, but no word yet on snag and drop fishing with live bunker. He has also been involved with some big bluefish in the bay waters caught in just a few feet of water on topwater plugs.
Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Charters” recently had angler Mike Galindo along with his son Mason and co-worker Dave Stankiewicz on a 5-hour ocean charter looking for striped bass. After hearing of slow action on the stripers, they decided to hit some of the local wrecks for black sea bass. It was a great decision as the guys caught over 100 fish comprised of 40 keepers up to 22-inches, along with some ling, mackerel, and a small bluefish. It turned out to be a great day on the water.
Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.net.
