"For the advancement and communication of saltwater fly fishing"

      Imagine spending the night at one of the casinos, while you and your significant other enjoy dinner and a show. Just before sun up, your guide picks you at from the marina, for a morning of the best top water action you have ever seen. Sounds great, doesn't it? Some exotic destination, perhaps? Welcome to Atlantic City. At age three, I learned to swim at the town dock behind neighboring Brigantine. While growing up fishing these very backwaters every day, I still enjoy the comfortable feeling that could only come from sharing these, my home waters. Some of the best light tackle guides work these areas daily and have shared information with me over the years. Absecon Island contains the towns of (from North to South) Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate and Longport. Absecon Inlet enters on the North and Great Egg Inlet on the South side of the island. There is always strong current that feeds the many miles of fertile back bays with a constant flow or clean ocean water. Typical of south Jersey’s ecosystem, the bays are made up of a maze of sod banks. This type of structure provides feeding opportunities to the resident population of Striped Bass, Weakfish, Fluke and Blackfish, and fishing opportunities for the fisherman.

     Springtime will find the Striped Bass the first game fish on the scene. They will feed on spearing and bay anchovies at first, that is, until the Herring arrive! The Herring run will bring in a population of much larger bass than those that wintered over in our waters. Drifting live Herring or jigging Sassy Shads is a great way to catch these fish. There are many deep holes that will hold fish from time to time. Be sure to pay special attention to the areas such as Broad Creek and Meadow Cut. These waters are excellent to drift live bait along a channels edge or through a deep hole.

As the water temperature climbs to near sixty degrees, these fish will turn on a top water bite. Fish deep, moving water where the water edge touches the marsh grass. Fish the first and last two hours of daylight, especially when there is high moving water. Surface poppers, such as Stillwater Lures Smack-It Jr. will catch these fish very well. Flies are much more fun for this fishing, however! Crease Flies and Hybrid Bangers catch more than their share of fish and it’s no wonder as they can be worked painfully slow, as a big bass desires. Work your plugs and flies slowly to extent their time in “The Hot Zone”. The hot zone is from the waters edge, out to about thirty feet from the bank. This is where you are most likely to get a hit from a cruising fish.

     This type of fishing is as exciting as it can be frustrating! Fishermen often strike the fish too soon because it looks as though the fish has eaten his offering. This condition is known as “popper blow-out”. As the fish rises on the bait, the popper actually floats on the water that is being pushed up from the fish’s strike. If you try to set the hook at this point, you miss the strike. Be sure that you don’t set the hook until you feel the weight of the fish. Close your eyes, if you must!

In the fall, fish these same areas, but also spend time in the inlet fishing live eels. There are plenty of big bass in the area, and the different waters to make hunting for them that much more of a thrill.

     Blackfish also inhabit these sedge islands. Some of the most productive banks are just a minute or two rides from the casinos. As you pass under the bridge, and you make the right turn to go behind Brigantine, you will be entering Little Panama. The left side from the inlet too about half way in will produce blackfish very well in the spring and fall seasons. Be prepared with an oversized anchor, and a grapnel hook to adjust you distance from the bank. Green crabs or clams on a short shank Gamakatsu hook will catch more than their share of this inshore tog. You will need tackle that will handle up to eight ounces of weight as the current roars through this thin cut. The best action of the day normally occurs as the tide slows, goes slack, and starts up again.  Try to avoid periods of the new or full moon as this window becomes shorter during these periods.

     Weakfish and Fluke come to play here as well. Some of my favorite spots to fish for these summertime favorites is a spot called “Cross Tides”. Another is Golden Hammock Thorofare. Drifting small buck tails tipped with a small squid strip works well. Another deadly slack tide technique is to live line a large minnow hooked through the lips. Many a Tiderunner fell for this trick that works so well in this area. The end of summer will find the Weakies schooled up outside of the inlets bell buoy. These fish usually show on the depth finder as a school shaped like a haystack rising from the bottom. They will take top and bottom rigs baited with squid strips, but larger fish can be caught if you jig iron on the bottom. Fluke will often lie in this lane as well, just down current of the school of weeks. Make a longer drift, and work the bottom good!

Close to home could make this a day trip if you like, but far enough away to make it a weekend with your sweetie. New outlet stores are nearby the Convention Center, so save some energy to be sure she gets to make a catch too. That way, you will ensure a no hassle trip next week!

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