Any Spearos as South as Cape May?

[Jersey Jim]

I started spearing fish at the jetty in Cape May last year (Wildwood side) but don't know of anyone in that area. I live an hour north of there, in Pittsgrove, NJ (next to Vineland). Last summer I saw someone spearing from the rocks and one guy in a boat another day, so there must be other spearos around.
I'm new to this board, but have been free diving about 6 years, and SCUBA diving many more. Could anyone tell me who's in the area to dive with, or how many? The last group of free divers I dove with, met at a quarry 2 hours or so north of me in Nazareth, PA. Many have heard of it, Dutch Springs. We used to go to Lancaster too because Dutch Springs only went to 100' in one spot. I just don't like the freshwater thing, and the drive was pretty far.
I look forward to meeting some of you guys.

Jim

[joselisa]

Jim
I live in Medford and dive alongth coast. Many times we go to rhode Island. Would be gald to hookup.

My cell is 609 7602445
Jose fernandez

[Jersey Jim]

Thanks Jose. Have you ever dove the Cape May jetty? I sometimes cut out of work at 3 pm and get a couple hours in, tides permitting. It's really the only closest place for me to dive. Look forward to meet you when the weather warms up. Jim

[jriggs]

yeah....there's a bunch of us!!!!!!!

[njfisherman11]

Hey Jim, my names kyle i live down in Sea Isle from may-sept and spearfish whenever the vis. is good. I usually stick to the jettys out on the beach (10-15ft of water) but occasionally i'll go out to the coast guard jetty in the Cape May Inlet. I've also been looking to meet up with a few more spearos. I've got 4 other friends i usually go with but sometimes its hard to get together with conflicting schedules. Hit me up sometime this spring if you want to meet up daladiesmank11@hotmail.com if you shoot me an email i'll give you my cell # as well.

[Mako993]

Have you guys ever speared the Dollar Bridge there? Did so this past summer, but had no luck. Current was very strong that day, and I probably spent more time hanging onto the bridge piling that actually hunting for fish :)

[33fish33]

I spear off the coast guard jetty nearly every other week in the summer. If you would like, Ill keep you posted when things started up again. Normally, its me and some brothers out there. But, there's a good amount of other spearos that hit that spot. Its a nice one.

[33fish33]

Dollar bridge is tough. The viz and current are only good for about 15 minutes at slack tide. We should hit the coast guard jetty, much nicer.

[njfisherman11]

I'd have to agree with you on the jetty....all the togs and triggers you want as well as stripers and flounders. One day last summer we were coming back into Harbor View and the gas attendant told us he weighed in a pallock that someone speared off the jetty. I found it a little hard to believe but the water temp was a little chilly that weak so anything is possible. Anyone ever try to shoot a large tide runner there? Could imagine they spook easily. Saw a few asian guys catch about four on rod and reel and the smallest was about 10lbs.

[Jersey Jim]

33Fish33, glad to hear you frequent the Jetty often. We are sure to link up once the season starts. Have you seen anyone use a pneumatic gun? I use a Mares Cyrano, and it shoots farther than the vis usually is. It's about 28" long. I see most guys use the band guns though. What are the advantages of the band guns other than silent and no loss of power at deeper depths?
Jim

[Jersey Jim]

Kyle, glad to hear there are guys around Sea Isle too. I was just down in your area yesterday looking for free boat ramps at Corson's inlet and Somers Point. I turned around right about in Sea Isle. Do you know of any free ramps there? Townsend's inlet is exactly the same distance to the Ocean City artificial reef as the reef is from Great Egg Harbor inlet. I speared some nice tog at that reef last summer. I like the fact that it's only 5 miles off the Strathmere beach. The various patch reefs there are at shallower depths, but I remember 65' on many dives at one particular patch. I like the fact that it's close in case the weather looks like it will turn bad.
Jim

[njfisherman11]

Jim, yes there are two free loading ramps in Strathmere, one is at the end of Taylor street and the other is behind the trailer park in Strathmere (not sure of the street name). Right now i free dive but i plan on getting scuba cerrified sometime this year. The OC. Reaf is a decent reaf and i fish it often throughout the summer, next time your out there, check out the TI reef, it is a very nice reef, its only 4 miles from TI inlet. Although it is only about 3 yrs old it has already proven to hold some nice size fish. I see you have an 18' Parker, very nice boats! I own a 13' boston whaler, i know its nothing big but on a good day with a nice west wind i can go to the TI reaf without any problems. I also have a Yamaha vx110 deluxe wave runner that i plan on using to get out to the coast guard jetty. When you were at Corson's Inlet did you see the toll bridge? I have wanted to dive that really bad i know most of the bridge posts are in about 10 ft of water but below the tole area is about 20 ft and it holds big flounder, togs. stripers, and i've even heard of a few drum being spotted. While i'm down there May-September, i manage My Wife's Rod and Reel Repair Shop right off of Rt. 9 and Sea Isle Blvd across from the Super Wawa. Stop in and we can chat one day.

[Jersey Jim]

NJFisherman11, Good deal on the Whaler and getting certified this year. It's good to be able to switch back and forth when the mood strikes you to scuba. I was just on the Strathmere marina website and Google Earth. I see where Whale Creek Marina is, and it's convenient for me to drive to. That one is at the end of Taylor, and I thought I had to pay to launch there. Is this the one you mean? Also the one behind the trailer park, is that the one on the end of Bayview Drive and Prescott? That definitely looks free. I am going to have to take another drive again.
I didn't consider Townsend's Inlet, only because my reef book didn't have that one it it. When I spoke with the guy who runs the reef project last summer, he advised me they are coming out with a 3rd edition last October. I need to get down to Jim's tackle in Cape May and get a new one. Then I can replan my ramp strategy. If I use TI, the NOB's marina is only a mile and a half from TI, and not "no-wake" area it looks like on the map. However, I think I would have to pay for that one. I don't mind going out the 5 or 6 miles to OC reef, but the 4 mile one might be too shallow for good vis? I'll try anything once.
I look forward to stopping in and talking to you on one of my recon. trips to the shore before the season. Am getting psyched now!
I used the toll bridge, but didn't notice directly below. We'll have to check that out one day at slack tide too.

[njfisherman11]

Yes, the ramp at the end of Taylor st. is right by Whale Creek Marina, the loading ramp is nothing fancy just a bunch of stone laid down. However it is free, and there is plenty of water there at low tide. The ramp behind the trailer park is decent, but parking is tight and its a very difficult ramp to use at low tide because where the concrete ends there is a lot of decent size rocks that make the trailer sit unevenly.

[Jersey Jim]

NJF, thanks for the insight. So do you mean the ramp near whale Creek Marina is not part of that marina? I assume the marina charges for their launches? As far as Taylor St. having plenty of water to launch at low tide and the other one not, I would think the smaller creek would be trouble at low water from what I saw from Google Earth sattelite photos. Of course, I haven't been down there yet to check them out. A guy at work tells me Corson's inlet doesn't get marked anymore because the sand keeps shifting around. I don't think he's used it more than once, or might be just going by here say. Do you know of people going out of Corson's without much trouble? It is really in an ideal location for the reef I like.

[njfisherman11]

The ramp on Taylor st. has nothing to do with Whale Creek Marina, there are actually several houses between the marina and the ramp. Like i said the ramp there has a nicer drop and can be used at any part of the tide, the only problem with the whale creek ramp is when your leave the creek to get to the main channel, you need to read the banks carefully because certain areas of the creek get skinny. I learned to navigate whale creek by following another boat in that docks there. I would not recommend going out Corson's Inlet, i have done it 2 times on my whaler and several times on the wave runner and its extremely shallow. Your friend is correct the sand bars in Corson's Inlet shift every year and it seems like it just keeps getting worst. You can almost walk from Strathmere to OC. I was also told that certain insurance companies will not cover you if something happens in Corson's.

[Jersey Jim]

NJF, This board is paying off already. I would have made a regretful mistake had I not discussed this with you. Well, on to plan B. Guess I'll find a ramp with easy access to Townsends inlet. Nob's boat ramp heading into Avalon is a clear 1.5 mile shot to the inlet bridge, or the Avalon Anchorage Marina on 21st street is a 1.8 mile trek to the TI bridge. That will be about a 9 mile run to the OC reef from the TI bridge. Anything I should be aware of at TI?

[njfisherman11]

When going through TI always remember to keep an eye out for large tuna boats. It seems like theres a never ending supply of them going in and out all day. Also when heading out follow the buoys towards the 8th st. jetty then when you get past the jetty you have to go south for about 200yards and you'll see a red and a green buoy across from each other once you go through those buoys then it's alright to head out east and make you way north to the OC reef. If you look towards the left side of TI you'll notice the sand bar with the large breakers around it. Here are some photos of a blowout tide in TI, hope they help you some. http://www.myfishpix.com/gallery/data/500/ti1.jpg
http://www.myfishpix.com/gallery/data/500/ti2.jpg
http://www.myfishpix.com/gallery/data/500/ti3.jpg
http://www.myfishpix.com/gallery/data/500/ti4.jpg
http://www.myfishpix.com/gallery/data/500/ti5.jpg

[Jersey Jim]

NJF, Thanks for the great pics and warnings. These 2 Google Earth pics of TI show the sandbar you spoke of. These images are probably 5 or more years old. Do you think my pics show the sandbar location accurately? Also in the other pic, look at the marina way on the left of the screen. This shoujld be NOB's marina I think. Since it's on the way to Avalon it's still on the way, and should be a good fast run to the bridge. I think it measures only a mile and a half. So is the inlet pretty much the way it's shown in this old pic?

[njfisherman11]

Yes, Jim those pics are accurate. I've never heard of Nob's marina but if its anywhere near Avalon Point Marina, then its only a 2 minute run to TI.

[Jersey Jim]

NJF, Nob's marina should be the marina at the extreme left in the lower of the 2 pics I attached (pic not showing ocean sandbar). It should be the marina on the road into Avalon just before it takes a S.E. dip in direction. However, I see the adjacent marina in the same pic that looks as if it would provide a launch into the main channel. I will take another drive this weekend and check out the two marinas, or even the one at Avalon itself. I won't get my hopes up with that one, as it probably has less parking and must be more expensive. I think TI is my best bet for when I don't use Cape May. The drive is direct and a little shorter (just under an hour), and I like the fact that the inlet is only about a mile from the ramp. When you said to beware of large tuna boats, did you mean commercial boats, private or charter boats? Sometimes they can be useful to follow into a rough inlet though.
So to clarify, using my first pic, did you recommend (once leaving the inlet) to head north to the OC reef by passing the sandbar on its west side then head north, or to the south of it and then north on it's east side?

[njfisherman11]

NJF, Nob's marina should be the marina at the extreme left in the lower of the 2 pics I attached (pic not showing ocean sandbar). It should be the marina on the road into Avalon just before it takes a S.E. dip in direction. However, I see the adjacent marina in the same pic that looks as if it would provide a launch into the main channel. I will take another drive this weekend and check out the two marinas, or even the one at Avalon itself. I won't get my hopes up with that one, as it probably has less parking and must be more expensive. I think TI is my best bet for when I don't use Cape May. The drive is direct and a little shorter (just under an hour), and I like the fact that the inlet is only about a mile from the ramp. When you said to beware of large tuna boats, did you mean commercial boats, private or charter boats? Sometimes they can be useful to follow into a rough inlet though.
So to clarify, using my first pic, did you recommend (once leaving the inlet) to head north to the OC reef by passing the sandbar on its west side then head north, or to the south of it and then north on it's east side?

Head to the south of it then on it's east side, like i said you have to head south and go through the 2 adjacent buoys then head out north east to the OC reef. You can go out to the West side of the sand bad but you would have to follow someone else doing this and save the track in you GPS. I usually stay clear of the west side though. There are several privately owned large tuna boat, charter boats, party boats, and commercial fishing boats that use TI on a daily basis.

[taimenz]

i live and fish and spear cape may. we try to keep it quiet down here all are welcome but the fish spook easily. the tides only let up for a little while and the vis isn't always there. my friends and i have been diving it for a long time the first time i went down was in 96 last year i was disappointed i guess it became the new rage and there were some of the smallest taug you could imagine by the end of the year with holes in them all over that rock pile. also alot of the people i saw had no clue on safety. otherwise the rock pile can be alot of fun and like one other guy said about the bridge you do have to time the tide you only get 15 - 30 min on a good day if there is vis. all i would like to see in our area is people to start being a little more respectful, careful, and discreet. the last thing we need is the coast guard to start pushing us off that jetty it took years until we could surf there and the still come in to kick us out occasionally

[jriggs]

i live and fish and spear cape may. we try to keep it quiet down here all are welcome but the fish spook easily. the tides only let up for a little while and the vis isn't always there. my friends and i have been diving it for a long time the first time i went down was in 96 last year i was disappointed i guess it became the new rage and there were some of the smallest taug you could imagine by the end of the year with holes in them all over that rock pile. also alot of the people i saw had no clue on safety. otherwise the rock pile can be alot of fun and like one other guy said about the bridge you do have to time the tide you only get 15 - 30 min on a good day if there is vis. all i would like to see in our area is people to start being a little more respectful, careful, and discreet. the last thing we need is the coast guard to start pushing us off that jetty it took years until we could surf there and the still come in to kick us out occasionally

nicely put...................:thumps:

[waterman482]

i live and fish and spear cape may. we try to keep it quiet down here all are welcome but the fish spook easily. the tides only let up for a little while and the vis isn't always there. my friends and i have been diving it for a long time the first time i went down was in 96 last year i was disappointed i guess it became the new rage and there were some of the smallest taug you could imagine by the end of the year with holes in them all over that rock pile. also alot of the people i saw had no clue on safety. otherwise the rock pile can be alot of fun and like one other guy said about the bridge you do have to time the tide you only get 15 - 30 min on a good day if there is vis. all i would like to see in our area is people to start being a little more respectful, careful, and discreet. the last thing we need is the coast guard to start pushing us off that jetty it took years until we could surf there and the still come in to kick us out occasionally


Its ok tai you have a home here!besides we kill all the big bass here!

[taimenz]

granted we all have a home here and all have a right to what is here but a little respect needs to be given. not to me or anybody else but to the area and what were all after. if there is no respect given thats when it gets ruined. i don't like to see people who didn't do there homework punching holes in fish especially not legal sized fish and i see these people. there under gunned and uneducated. we all need to learn somewhere, thats the fine line.

[taimenz]

the only problem is we have all the fun down here

[waterman482]

the only problem is we have all the fun down here

Yeah right LBI puts cape may to shame in every aspect! chicks,bars,waves,spearfishing but its ok tai you always have a boat and a place to stay here

[njfisherman11]

i think i smell a little one on one tournamnet lol

[jmik90]

Yeah right LBI puts cape may to shame in every aspect! chicks,bars,waves,spearfishing but its ok tai you always have a boat and a place to stay here:lol::yup:

[taimenz]

maybe in the chicks, bars, waves, and fish but we have brady

[waterman482]

maybe in the chicks, bars, waves, and fish but we have brady

Brady hahaha. He's always coming up to the shell for thunder thursdays and he seems to like the Barnegat inlet quite a bit he even talked about redoing the bedroom downstairs to his liking

[jriggs]

and don't forget that along with brady......you get Jake, which makes things twice as crazy!!!!! :D

[pirate_diver]

I LOVE THAT JETTY! It is an excellent, inshore, shallow to deep spot. TONS OF FISH. Togs, triggers, and strippers out the wazzoo, have also seen some nice size sheepsheads, spadefish, blues, a few flounder, and even a lone cobia (it was way short though). The pain in the ass is getting to the jetty...long ass walk if you don't have a boat.

The dollar bridge is tough, not too mention the crap load of boat traffic on any weekend. Hit the jetty it's better anyway. If you are headed into Cape May from the bridge, the first left you can make is the driveway to the coast guard LORAN unit. There is a free parking lot. You have about a 1.5 mile walk from the lot down the beach, but it's not bad (worse part is lugging fish back, but can you really complain then?) I like the tip of the north jetty. It's also good inside the inlet, but the boat traffic can be rough. The coast guard base side jetty is excellent too, but you need a USCG ID to walk to it, or a boat...neither of which I have.

Jim, I speared there the past two summers before moving to Key Largo for work. I will be back up this summer (mid to late august) for my vacation, and you can bet that with no need to work I will be hitting that jetty A LOT! I'll pm you when I get to town in a few months (I stay in Sea Isle, Stone Harbor, Wildwood, West Cape May area...yea I move around a lot).

I can't wait to get back up there and hit up that jetty.:D

[pirate_diver]

i live and fish and spear cape may. we try to keep it quiet down here all are welcome but the fish spook easily. the tides only let up for a little while and the vis isn't always there. my friends and i have been diving it for a long time the first time i went down was in 96 last year i was disappointed i guess it became the new rage and there were some of the smallest taug you could imagine by the end of the year with holes in them all over that rock pile. also alot of the people i saw had no clue on safety. otherwise the rock pile can be alot of fun and like one other guy said about the bridge you do have to time the tide you only get 15 - 30 min on a good day if there is vis. all i would like to see in our area is people to start being a little more respectful, careful, and discreet. the last thing we need is the coast guard to start pushing us off that jetty it took years until we could surf there and the still come in to kick us out occasionally

I hear ya on that. Trying to dive those jetty's on the weekend SUCKS. It's almost as bad as down here in the keys during the on season. It's ashame they never harass the damn H&Ler's that load up on undersized EVERYTHING, over the limit, and make multiple runs to their cars (I am sure you know the ones I am referring to).:mad:

[Jersey Jim]

Mike, definitely keep in touch when you plan to get up here. There are several shallow (45-65') artificial reefs only 4,5, & 10 miles offshore as well. They were good for tog last year. I hit the jetty late in the season and shot mostly tog and some large trigger fish. Saw some stripers o the jetty too but was too late in the summer. Just got a new water pump & T-stat in the boat this week and am stoked to go! Keep in touch. Jim

[pirate_diver]

You can count on that Jim. I will have all the time in world for the few weeks I am home (paid vacation time is GREAT), so I plan on doing nothing but hit the water as often as I can.

[33fish33]

Hey Jim. Im interested in spending maybe a week in may or june down in cape may (this is in addition to my weekend trips). Was thinking I could try to schedule with you guys and tag along. I could help pay for gas or something. Let me know.

[Jersey Jim]

33Fish33, Sorry I haven't been on the board for a week or so, just got your message. Sure, be glad to have another diver aboard. Is safer that way, and sometimes it's hard to put a trip together with everyone's schedule. My job will most likely be going to 12 hour shifts in a couple of weeks. This will give me 80 more days off a year, working no more than 2 and 3 consecutive days. With working only 50% of the year's days, it will open up many more opportunities for diving. Stay in touch. I hope to dive with Kyle (NJfisherman11) from Sea Isle City this season too. He really knows the area.
I don't always get on the board, but I check my e-mail several times a day. I think it's listed in here. Everything's ready to go except maybe a new suit this year. I still might be able to squeeze into one of my old ones. We'll see in a month.

How much do you get out to this area? Sounds like you are planning more diving this year. That's a good plan!

Jim

[captgfb]

Hit me up at captgfb@comcast.net when you are going to be in the area. My brothers and I live and free dive in CM county.