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Health & Fitness

Casting a Line: August Fishing in Ocean City

Fishing is in a lull but the crabbing at this time of year is excellent.

Fishing in the surf and back bays of Ocean City usually slows just a bit during August—and this year seems to be no exception. It’s almost as if the fish like to take a vacation, too.

There are some kingfish, spot, croakers, and flounder in the surf, according to the folks at Fin-Atics at 1325 West Avenue, but other tackle shops in our area aren’t bragging too much.

The recent oppressive heat has deterred some of us from even thinking about picking up a rod and reel. And the anglers who don’t mind a puddle of sweat as they fish must still contend with the inconsiderate morons who delight in riding their personal watercrafts through fishing lines.

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Meanwhile, the really serious anglers are biding their time until the fall striper run.

At the Ocean City Fishing Club’s pier at 14th Street, catches in recent days have included lots of sharks as well as a few kingfish and weakfish.

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The summer flounder, or fluke, have started heading into the inlets and back out into the ocean unless an occasional dip in water temperature disrupts the migration. Captain Brook Koeneke, of the Duke O’ Fluke pontoon boat based in Somers Point, believes last week’s colder water helped “chase” many of the flatfish back inside. This past Tuesday, Koeneke reported “almost non-stop action” during his morning trip, but there was only one keeper that exceeded the 18-inch minimum, at 19 ¼ inches.

“Things are slow,” admitted Bud Thomas, who operates The Sea Gull Shop on 55th Street at the south end of the island. “But crabbing has been real good.”

And speaking of blue claws … Ocean City visitors with children often ask, “Where’s a good place to go crabbing?”

An easily accessible spot is the floating dock underneath the 34th Street Bridge. Drive west out of Ocean City on 34th and make a right turn just before the bridge. The road winds around to the base of the bridge and a parking area.

First of all, put life jackets on the littlest ones in your group.

Use either collapsible traps or hand lines with a dip net. Make sure you have something to keep your catch in and that the crabs are not in direct sunlight, which will kill them. Don’t put them in a cooler filled with ice. A pair of metal tongs is helpful in avoiding a pincer attack.

Many recreational crabbers agree that an incoming tide is the most productive. But you can ignite a polite argument over what is the best bait.

Me, I’m a bunker man, preferring cut-up chunks of the oily, smelly fish also known as menhaden. Others swear by the schmalz in chicken necks and backs, which are packaged and sold in some Ocean City supermarkets at this time of year.

There are folks who believe the “aroma” of fresh squid is the best lure for crabs. Hot dogs are employed by others. I even met a lineman for Atlantic City Electric who told me he baits his traps with pieces of pepperoni!

Whatever your preference, remember that the minimum size for hard shell crabs in New Jersey is 4.5 inches, measured point to point. Have a ruler or tape measure handy, because you don’t want to be fined for having undersized crabs in your possession.

(The state record for a crab, incidentally, is 8.75 inches point to point, caught by one Raymond Ponik in Bayonne in 2009.) All female crabs with eggs must be put back in the water immediately.

Now, let’s pretend you’ve just caught a basketful of blue claws. What do you do with them? In next week’s blog, I’ll offer some tips on cooking the “beautiful swimmers.”

Ocean City-based freelance writer George Ingram is co-author of the book, Fishing the Delaware Valley, published by Temple University Press, and an award-winning member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.

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