The back bay is alive with activity where anglers have reported interesting catches, according to Robin Scott of Ray Scott’s Dock in Margate. She said that many of her charter boats and boat renters caught 30- to 50-pound cownose rays behind her dock.
“They look like flounder when they begin to surface,” she said, “and the kids are having so much fun trying to reel them in.”
Mark Vogin and his son, Ethan, 5, brought in a 50-pounder Sunday morning.
Another interesting catch came offshore.
A rose fish was brought in by David Rubin of Margate, who was fishing for tile fish at the Spencer Canyon in 680 feet of water. The fish was about 22.5 inches and weighed 3-4 pounds.
Mike DeVeney, and his friend, Pete, of Northfield, fished for tautog caught a 20-inch tautog using green crabs. Jason Brodo caught a 3.4-pound trigger fish out of Lake’s Bay.
Everyone was catching founder in the back bay, Scott said.
The Garber family caught flounder in the 20-inch range, Lynn and Fred Simon, of Philadelphia, had four keepers and Paul Elliott and his son, Dan, caught three ranging from 18 to 20 inches.
Capt. Ed Giacomucci at Ray Scott’s Dock reported in that he didn’t catch less than 50 fish during each of his charters over the weekend.
Capt. Andy’s, also in Margate, reported that the ocean water temps have been trying to warm during the last week. The reefs and wrecks are starting to give up some flounder and sea bass as the water warms, they reported.
When fishing the wrecks, get in the middle of the rubble and loose a few rigs. Also work on the edges of the reef sites. There have been reports of bluefish being taken around the 28-Mile Wreck and the 750 Square. If the water gets any warmer, croakers should show. So far, those at Capt. Andy’s have not had any reports of any albies in the area.
Capt. Andy’s has also received reports that the kingfish are in the surf. The fishermen at Ventnor and Margate piers are doing well on them. Weakies should be making their presents known around the Ocean City Ferris Wheel soon. There has been a few sharks taken in recently.
Some catches weighed-in at Capt. Andy’s include: “Fire Escape” with Captain Craig and First Mate Greg who had eight nice keeper flounder behind Longport, including a 7.04 pounder. The Fish “N” Fun had three out of 80 in the fog last Wednesday. Corey Solomon and his dad, Lou, were on the “Darlyn Marlyn” with Captain Norm Brook and trolled the Claw on Saturday and went two-for-five on bluefin and Joel Shafer weighed in a nice 5.14-pound flounder he caught in Risley’s Channel on Sunday.
The Jessie O' fleet, out of Margate, had a great week action.
The week’s two thunderstorms produced six keepers on morning bay trip mid-week. An early thunderstorm that delayed departure on Saturday morning’s bay trip produced the big new Jackpot Pool lead fish. Jim Henhaffer of Malaga started the week aboard “Jessie O's Fish N Fun” with a 21-inch flounder. With Saturday’s storm, Henhaffer found a nice 5.4-pound fat flatty to take the lead in the Jackpot pool.
The JCC charter on Friday had tons of action with more than 100 keepers. Jigging the bait of choice, minnows, Gulp and mackerel strips have been good for this week’s keeper flounders. Sal Gattuso of Shalfont, Pa., caught a 19.5-incher and Patrick Heck, 7, of Egg Harbor Township netted a 20.5-incher.
Captain Jay on the “Jessie O II,” had incredible action with the Garafolo group last week. The group boated a 7-pound fatty along with a smattering of sea bass out on the AC Reef. Capt. Jay said has seen more fish action during his daily trips to the ocean.
Capt. Adam Nowalsky of the “Karen Ann II,” sailing from Great Bay Marina, reported that Jim McTague, who was up from Virginia to fish with his family, had a mixed bag of sea bass, tautog and porgies. Rich Salvatore and his son, Sam, caught 10- to 15-pound blues at the Barnegat Ridge. Colin Walsh took his brother Mike, from Ireland, for a fishing trip. The pair landed a handful of fish before being chased off the ocean by lightning, thunder, sideways rain and 40 mph winds.
Rob and Joan Barrett at Dolfin Dock in Somers Point reported some nice fluke in Ships Channel. Loud Cullen of Margate boated an 8-pound doormat on a bucktail with shrimp Gulp. Ed Pierce of Swarthmore, Pa., netted a 5.5-pound flounder on a shiner.
The Barretts reported that weakfish have appeared in the Egg Harbor River. Kelly Gregory of Somers Point outfished her pro-angler dad, Gregory Gregory, by a large margin. She netted herself four weakies up to four pounds.
Fluke are on the move in the Great Egg Harbor Area.
“Things seem to be in a transition,” said Capt. Brook Koeneke of the Duke O’ Fluke of Somers Point. “The Inlet is starting to produce flounder.”
Pool winners early in the week included Jane Good of Sea Isle City, who reeled in an 18-incher while her husband, James, looked on.
On Tuesday afternoon, two members of a group from the ADT company, Andrew Glaberson and Nick Colucci of Philadelphia, picked up 2.5-pound and 2.0-pound keepers, respectively, in the Inlet.
 Jessica Keller, 12, of of Marlton won the pool on Thursday with a 2.5-pound fluke. On Friday morning, Bryan Cramer, 13, of Ocean City took home the money after catching a 2.10-pounder. In the afternoon, Bill Pfeiffer of Flemington had another pool with his 2.13-pound flatfish.
In a duel between two brothers from Churchville, Bucks County, on Saturday morning, Ben Blickley, 8, pulled in a 2.13-pound fish to take the pool, besting Zach, 10, who had a 2.10-pounder.
Tom Christ of Brennan Marine in Somers Point said larger fish can be found in or near the GE Inlet. The vast majority of these fish have been caught on minnows and Gulps. Christ had more to report with offshore fishing. Ken Wallace and crew on his boat “Full Course” trolled the 40 Fathom Line and boated a 177-pound bluefin tuna. Dave Burns was on the rod. There were dragging a ballyhoo covered with an Ilander. Matt Miller and company fished on his boat “Brown Eyed Girls” and worked the Lindenkohl Canyon and had several yellowfin tuna in the 60-pound class, some nice dolphin, and they caught and released a white marlin.

Fishing Notes
The Starfish is sailing daily four-hour trips with anglers catching some seabass and throw back tautog. The Lone Star sailing from Miss Chris Marina is taking charters. Go to www.starfishboats.com
Jessie O' II second annual "Thunder Over the Boardwalk" Air Show is Aug. 20. Get the best seat in the house for this year's Air Show aboard the Jessie O' II. Cost is $35. Boat departs from Capt. Andy's Marina in Margate on Amherst Ave. at 9 a.m. Reservations required. Call (609) 412-3635.

(Fishing reports and photos can be e-mailed to Heather Holtzapfel James at heatherholtzapfel@yahoo.com , fax 465-9155 or by calling 624-8900, ext. 215. Reports need to be in by Sunday evening of each week.)