Here we are in May and there are no more good excuses not to get out and fish. The bait and tackle shops are waiting for you. And so are the many experienced charter boat captains we have in the county.

Marie Smith of Clayton New Jersey with a bluefish caught behind Wildwood on a popping plug. She was fishing with Captain Ray, Tide Runner.

Here we are in May and there are no more good excuses not to get out and fish. The bait and tackle shops are waiting for you. And so are the many experienced charter boat captains we have in the county.

Captain Ray, Tide Runner, Cape May is back and reports that the Cape May Inlet areas and back bay have come to life. Bluefish, 19 to 22 inches, provided great fly rod and light tackle action. These are a great size for eating. Clouser and bunker flies worked for fly anglers and smack-it poppers and rapala and Yo-Zuri plugs for the spin anglers.

He also found good size sea herring around the inlet rocks and caught on flies, which were kept for bait. Good numbers of fluke are in the back bays and must be released until the season opens later in May.

Open for business and back with their reports are the Algards at Sterling Bait & Tackle. They tell me tog fishing is excellent at the inshore wrecks and the Cape May Reef. Jim McClintock, FinsandGrins, limited out on tog at the reef and weighed in a 12-pounder.

In the Surf, big stripers were reported at Poverty Beach using clam for bait. John Duncan weighed in a 23-pound striper caught there. Two to three pound bluefish have invaded the back bays but striper fishing was on the slow side there.

The 100-foot Atlantic Star, Wildwood Crest, will be running offshore tile fish trips leaving at 12:30 a.m. and returning at 6 p.m. Trips limited to 25 anglers. Call for exact dates, 729-7776.

Captain John Sowerby, Hooked Up II, South Jersey Marina, will be running a couple of afternoon make-up trips for small parties for black drum on the Delaware Bay the week of May 12 and will be doing a make-up trip for drum on May 10 and Mother’s Day, May 11, 425-1970 or ww.cavemansportfishing.com

An exiting program “Let’s Go Offshore Fishing!” will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, May 16 at the Lower Cape Branch Library, 2600 Bayshore Rd., Villas. Charlie Langan of South Jersey Marina will give the presentation. For information call 886-8999 or visit the library’s website at www.cmclibrary.org

DVSA Surf Fishing Tournament, Saturday, May 10, Municipal Marina Bldg., 346-42nd Place, Sea Isle City, register 5:30 a.m., fishing 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 624-1427.

Middle Township Drum Fishing Tournament, noon, May 16 to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17. Registration forms available at www.middletownship.com or call 465-8743.

Boating Safety classes, Price Hall, Seashore & Academy roads, Cold Spring, May 17 & 31, eight-hour session, $45, 889-8575.

Be sure to send your fish stories and pictures and Be My Guest reporter. Send info to cmiller@cmcherald.com and be sure to check out our new Website www.seemybigfish.com