Family Fishing Cape May New Jersey

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By Harriet Porter


The waters of New Jersey have some of the greatest fishing in the world, with many species during months when the water is warmer and some that stay year-round. Anytime is good for family fishing Cape May area, but the best time is in summer, when the croakers arrive.

Fishing in New Jersey is very seasonal. Some species are there year-round, while other are only found in the warmer months. Croakers are small fish, usually less than twelve inches in length, and they are plentiful in the summer. They're perfect for kids, because they don't take much strength to land but put up a furious fight for lots of excitement.

A fun way to go after croakers and many other species off Cape May is to join a party boat. They fill up fast on week-ends, but week-days often have room for last-minute applicants. These family-friendly boats are inspected and licensed by the Coast Guard, so they are clean and safe. They have cabins, bathrooms, and friendly crew members who love to show kids a good time.

Cape May Peninsula is where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. The Rips are a world-famous fishing ground at land's end, where strong tidal currents and off-shore winds often create high-standing waves. Sandbars and deep holes contribute to the turmoil. It's not a place for young fisher-folk, but it is incredibly exciting and scenic. The whole family will like seeing the action from a distance and watching the waterfowl that are fishing, too.

Watching the wild water of the Rips and the birds that come to prey on the bait-fish is sometimes enlivened by a sight of Bottle-nosed dolphins or even a Hump-backed whale. Gulls, pelicans, and terns are always about, but even the rarer kittiwakes, jaegers, gannets, and storm-petrels can be seen. Kids like the fact that all of these are also catching fish.

It's recommended that children be seven and older to go on the off-shore boat trips. There are four-hour excursions that are about all the excitement smaller kids can stand. Teens may be interested enough for the six to eight-hour day trips, which is a long time to spend on the water. However, the time goes quickly when it's all new and exciting. Those really into the sport of game-fishing will like night trips after the large, strong bluefish.

There is all kinds of ways to catch fish: surf-casting from the beach, trolling the shallows in the back bays, and throwing a line off a jetty or a bridge. Kids might like crabbing off a pier as much as anything else. If part of the party doesn't want to catch anything at all, the Victorian town of Cape May is a charming place, full of sights and shops. Those left on shore will have as much fun as those who venture out on the water.

Cape May, the town, is full of great restaurants, charming shops, museums, and activities for all ages. The beaches are great, the ferries fun to ride, and both hotels and B&Bs ready to make things comfortable and fun.




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