Be My Guest - Karen Hernandez, Swedesboro, landed a record-breaking 15-pound striped bass while fishing with Mark Adams on the Noreaster II. Her name was added to the “wall of fame” at South Jersey Marina.

The Fishing Line
By CAROLYN MILLER

A Nor’easter in May? What a storm. Things are calmer now and boats are back in the water. The news gets better everyday.

Captain Joe Pritchard, Schmedley Charters, South Jersey Marina reports that there have been some decent size sea bass taken off the reef and some other hangs. He says most of the stripers are up the Delaware River doing their happy thing, but there has been a pick at some nice size fish.
The drum bite had a late start, but things are finally starting to go. He had a couple small puppy drum and later in the week, the bite was fairly decent with four small puppies and one Big Mama tipping the scale at 74 pounds, the season-high weight so far.
So much for fuel prices, Joe counted 147 boats out that night. The bite is really on the upswing now, so, pick a date and give him a call, 463-0857.

Captain John Sowerby, Caveman Sportfishing Charters, is expecting some great drum fishing with the full moon and he reports awesome stripers caught last week up and over 35 pounds. They were caught on fresh bunker but way up the bay and a 35-40 mile ride from Cape May.
He thinks we should see some post spawn fish moving down towards the mouth of the bay shortly and will go for them when they arrive along with the black drum. If interested in the up coming 2008 shark tournaments out of Cape May which includes South Jersey, Jim’s Bait and Tackle and the Off the Hook shark tournaments in June, call 425-1970 for details.

Captain Jim McClintock from Fins&Grins had a very good trip inshore sea bassing. There was non-stop action of sea bass, togs, and even a couple plate size porgies. He plans to continue sailing daily as well as evening trips for open boat or charter.
He also agrees that the drum fishing should pick up with bigger fish moving into the bay and the bigger stripers sliding out of the bay. Call 522-2770.

Captain Ray, Tide Runner, Cape May, knows this past week was tough, new moon tides and lots of rain. On the days he fished he was able to get school size bass, blues and sea herring on the fly rod using yellow and white jiggies and small bunker flies and sinking lines. The best action was around the inlet rocks and way back in the warm shallow creeks. He is catching but has to work for all the fish.

Drum fishing is good on the Jersey side of the Delaware Bay with fish up to 70 pounds being caught, according to reports from Sterling Harbor. Sea bass action is picking up from the Cape May Reef out and there are plenty of founder in the back-bays; of course they must be released until May 24.
Bluefish are still around in the back-bays with an occasional striper. Some weakfish and speckled trout were caught around the jetties with Jigs or bloodworms.

The following is a news release from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Commission's Horseshoe Crab Management Board has approved Draft Addendum V to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crab for public comment and review.
Based on the most recent surveys of horseshoe crabs, it appears that management measures in previous plans are resulting in increased horseshoe crab abundance.
However, horseshoe crab management is a multi-species issue. Despite the positive signs in population growth of horseshoe crabs, red knots, one of many shorebird species that feed on horseshoe crab eggs, show no sign of recovery.
Copies of the draft will be available by June 13. Mid-Atlantic states will be conducting public hearings. For more information, contact Braddock Spear, Senior Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator for Policy, 202-289-6400 or bspear@asmfc.org.

Check out SeeMyBigFish.com and be sure to send your fish stories and pictures to Be My Guest reporter. Send info to cmiller@cmcherald.com.

Cutline:

1) Bill Gordon, Cape May, weighed in this 7 1/2 pound speckled trout caught near Cape May Point. He has entered his catch in the Cape May County 2008 Fishing Tournament.

2) Captain Joe Pritchard took a drum fish charter out on the Big Game and came back with four beauties, one tipping the scale at 74 pounds; the season-high weight so far.

3) Fins&Grins had a successful trip with Wilson's Flooring guys from West Chester, Pa.

4) Sue and Ed Barr from Haddonfied with a striper caught on a rubber swim bait. (Captain Ray)