Sunday, August 31, 2014

Enjoy Family Fishing Cape May

By Harriet Porter


Catching fish is an outdoor activity that people of all ages enjoy. For a day trip or a vacation, family fishing Cape May will make memories to last a lifetime. The sport is best for children in summer, when the croakers come into the area, but it's a year-round activity here.

The fish called croaker seldom gets more than twelve inches long and is easy for a child to land. They fight fiercely and give kids a real thrill. Moreover, they are plentiful in the New Jersey waters, so they provide a lot of action that everyone will enjoy.

They are favorites of kids out on a party boat, one of the specialty boats for beginners or the not-so-serious. Party boats have high rails for safety, cabins and bathrooms, and trained staff who love to help kids have fun on the water. The crew is happy to help both young and older bait their hooks and land their catch. The US Coast Guard licenses and routinely inspects these excursion boats, so they are equipped with all safety gear.

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.

It's a dramatic sight, made even more so by the throngs of predatory birds and maybe even Bottle-nosed dolphins or Hump-backed whales. The kids will enjoy seeing these wild fishers, and birdwatchers will find The Rips fascinating. Many different kinds of gulls and terns compete with kittiwakes, pelicans, storm-petrels, jaegers, gannets, and larger fish for the small bait-fish.

Wildlife can be seen from the party boats, too. Half-day trips that take about four hours are suitable for kids over six, while older children might enjoy the six or eight hour ones. Eight hours is a long time on the water, but lots of action when the fish are biting makes the day go by quickly. Many fish are too small to be kept, but kids like catching and releasing them anyway. For those who are older and seem really interested, night-fishing for bluefish is exciting.

Boats are great, but the family can also fish other places. There are quiet back bays where even toddlers can explore the sport in safety. Surf-casting and trolling is fun, as is fishing from the bridges and jetties around town. Crabbing is a favorite of small children, who love lying on the dock and watching their chicken neck attract blue crabs.

Those who don't want to fish can have a wonderful day - or a whole vacation of days - exploring the charming Victorian town of Cape May. There are historic houses, museums, exclusive shops, and great restaurants. The beaches are breath-taking. Luxury hotels and period B&Bs are waiting to make your stay comfortable, guide you to local attractions, and tell you all about the area.




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