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Southern Xew JerseyRecreational Cli notte

I I I

A Guide from

Cape Nayto Pennsville

I I I

NBA/ !ERSEYMAINE SCIENCES

CONSORTIUM

and

I'ublicaiion A'N JSG-82m 78

Southern New JerseyRecreational Climate

RLlTGERSCampus ot New Brunswick

A Guide fromCape Nayto Pennsville

'I'his puhlication was producedhy the New .Iersey Marine AdvisoryService a prop>ram of the cooperativeI' x!enston Service and Lhc Sea !rantVrof>ram of the New Jersey MarineSciences .'onsortium! and the. NationalOceanographic Data Center, part ofN !AA's Environmental f!ata andInformation Service.

AU'f HORS:

Richard DeAngelis

Envin>nmental 1!ata andInformation Service

James D. Murray

New .!ersey Marine Advisory Service

CONTENTS

Beach Weather 19

2020

214

5 521

22

23

24

25

25

Southern New JerseyRecreational Climate

Introduction

Vacation Weather

Good Outdoor Weather Days

Boating Weather

Good Sailing Weather DaysSailing WindsWinds

VtsibilfticsSeas

Tides and Currents

Thunderstor msHurricanes

Coastal Hurricanes

Boating Facilities

Locations ofDelaware Bny Pacilties

Delaware BayFishing

Most Commonly Caught Pishin Delaware BayFishing WeatherWater Temperatures

12

13IS19

A Guide from

Cape Mayto Pennsville

Good Bench Weather DaysBeaches

SightseeingMuseums andEducational Facilities

Winter

Winter Weather

Safety

Safe Boating

LightningHypothermiaCold Water Drowning

Sunburn Prevention and Treatment

Wind Chill EquivalentTemperatures

Biting InsectsJellyfish

AdditionalPublications

Photo Credits

23

23

Wt24

24

Introduction ew Jersey is noted for itsindustry, wide sandybeaches, and boardwalks.Millions of people vacationon the "Shore" eachseason � many trying to

escape their urban environment. Thedestination often overlooked by vacationersis New Jersey's portion of Delaware Bay.Secluded beaches, excellent fishing andboating, and a relaxing rural atmospherepunctuated by historic villages combine tomake the South Jersey Delaware Bay shoreone of the state's best kept secrets.

The purpose of this publication isto provide the vacationer with tools to moreeffectively plan and enjoy a vacation alongthe Delaware Bay. As an aid to vacationplanning, the brochure describes generalweather information, To get the most out ofyour excursion, a guide to the full range ofrecreational faci!ities is included, And toensure a safe vacation, safety tips areprovided to help you cope with weather-related dangers.

Apr May Jurr Jul Aug Sep Oct

8 18 21 19 18 16 10Millvllle

6 16 22 20 19 18 9

7 19 23 23 22 20 10

Dover

Nlllrlugton

A day is considered a good sailing day if using the 7 a,m� lo a,m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. observations!:~ windspeed of 7 16 knots occur two or more times~ precipitation occurs not more than twice~ visibiHty reaches 2 miles or more at least twice~ temperatures of 6PF or more occur at least twice

4

Good Sailing Weather Days

ay through Septemberprovides many days of finesailing and boatingweather, The table belowindicates just how good theweather is on the average.

MiahManllShoal Dover Salem

SW/E

53/70

SE/NW N/SE

60/60

13/10

27/50

3/6 0/3

SW/E SW/SESW/SE

54/46

7/11

48/68

1/4

23/56

2/3

SW/SE

34/62

1/2

SW/SE N/S

18/42

0/0

55/42

3/3

S/S

24/52

N/SE

33/59

SW/NW

62/51

6/3 1/2over 16 kt %!

NE/NW

55/41

15/14

N/E

39/64

2/4

27/45

2/1over 16 kt %!

NW/SE

32/48

NE/NE

55/48

18/24

N/W

40/64

2/7 2/6

Winds During the boating seasonwinds are often generated by the BermudaHigh; this results in a south.to southwestflow across Delaware Bay. They are oftenreinforced, deflected, or opposed by theland-sea breeze system, which sometimestakes control,

A land-sea breeze effect can occurany time there is a land-water temperaturedifference. It is most pronounced insummer, when this difference is greatest andpressure gradients are often weak. As theland heats up rapidly during the day anonshore flow is generated. While thesebr',es are often out of the south andsoutheast, directions may vary with thetrend of the coast. Reinforced by prevailingsoutherly flow, windspeeds may climb to 15

Sailing WindsMorning/Afternoon

, Prevailing Directions

MAY 7-16 kt %!

over 16 kt %!

Prevailing Dh'ections

JUN 7.16 kt %!

over 16 kt. %!

Prevailing Directions

JUL 7.16 kt %!

over 16 kt %!

Prevailing Directions

AUG 7-16 kt %!

Prevailing Directions

SEP 7-16 kt %!

Prevailing Directions

OCT 7-16 kt %!

over 16 kt %!

to 20 knots, At night as the land cools fasterthan the water, the flow is reversed. Thisland breeze is weak and may be nonexistentif it opposes a prevailing wind. Conditionson Delaware Bay are complicated by theocean breeze system, There are also localareas where windspeeds decrease during theday on the water.

In general from May throughSeptember winds blow at 7 to 16 knots, anideal sailing range, about 50 to 80percentofthe time, most frequently during theafternoon. Strong summer winds areuncommon but most likely occur duringafternoon or evening thunderstorms.During spring and fall they are oftenassociated with low-prcssure systems andfronts.

Vistbiltties During the boatingseason visibilities are usually good. Theydrop occasionally in fog or rain. I'og is likelywhen the Bermuda High is displacednorthward and generates easterly orsouflteasterly winds, originating far out inthe Atlantic. It akso occurs when a frontstalls to the south. These advection fags aredense in the morning and may burn off or liftsomewhat during the day. On land thisoccurs from the surface up, bu tover water itoccurs from the top down. When the CapeMay-Lewes Ferry encounters summer fog, itis usually accompanied by light winds. Thefog signal logs indicate that .July throughSeptember are the most fog.free monthsover the Delaware Bay and lower DelawareRiver. Haze, smoke, and rain can restrictvisibilities to fess than 10 miles, but rarelyto less than 1 mile; a heavy shower maybriefly reduce the visibility to less than Imile.

Seas Waters of the Delaware Bay andlower Delaware River are often placidduring the boating season. Wave heightsremain less than 2 feet most of the time.Choppy seas may occur with a stiff seabreeze, particularly if it is blowing over along fetch of water. Prolonged strongsoutheasterlies or northwesterlies can raiseseas to 5 feet or morc in the deeper waters;this is unusual in summer, but occasionallyoccurs in spring and fall. The Miah MauilShoal Lightship observed seas greater than2 feet on just six to seven days per monthfrom June through August. Just inside theentrance to Delaware Bay 15. to 25.knotwinds often raise 2- to 4-foot seas.

Tides and Cuzz ents Along the southJersey shore there are usually two high andtwo low waters a day. Tidal ranges increaseprogressively from about 4.5 feet at thebay's entrance to 6 feet near the DelawareMemorial Bridge. Strong winds fromextratropical and tropical cyclones cancreate surges of four feet or more on top ofthese normal ranges.

The currents produced by floodand ebb tides in the Delaware Bay range upto three knots. In general they run towardthe northwest on Hood; north of Stony Pointthey follow the turns of the river, I loodmaximum takes about one hour to reach theCobansey River entrance and about three

hours to reach Salems Cove. By Ibis timethe surface currents at the bay's entrancehave reversed and ebb tide has begun. Thisflow is toward the southeast throughsouthwest. The maximum ebb spreads upthe bay and river, taking several hours toreach Wiirnington. Strongest currentsusually occur in deep water or in narrow,constricted wnterways. Their strength isinfluenced by the phase of the moon. Bothdirection and strength may be altered bystrong winds.

In the lower bay, along the capeshore, tides must be carefully observed. Lowtides expose extensive tide fiats whichcause problems to the unsuspecting boater.Newcomers to the bay may launch theirboats, enjoy a day's fishing, and then findthey must wait several hours for the water torise to get back to shore across the exposedtide flat.

Thunderstorms While they developduring any season, thunderstorms are athreat mainly from April throughSeptember. Inland they blow up to anaverage of two to seven days pcr month;along the shore and over open water, theyare less frequent, They can be widespread orscattered. Ahead of a cold front they canorganize into vicious squall lines that kickup strong gusty winds and choppy seas.They even may bring hail. It is said that thethunderstorrns that form over the DelawarePeninsula are more likely to produce severeweather than those that move in from thewest. "Air mass thundcrstorrns" arecommon throughout the summer, This isthe familiar late afternoon and eveningactivity triggered by warm, humid, unstableair from the south. Near the bay and theocean, daytime thunderstorrns are ofteninhibited by the blocking action of apersistent sea or bay breeze. This breeze,which can penetrate several miles inland,not only provides a barrier, protecting theshore, but also encourages cumulusbuild-ups, which may lead to thunderstormacflvity along its leading edge. Late in theday or evening when the system breaksdown, the thunderstorms may drift acrossthe coast and out over the water.Observations at the Miah Maull ShoalLightship andby the Cape May-Lewes Fenyindicate very little daytime thunderstormactivity.

Vlsibllities During the boa lingseason visibilities are usually good, Theydrop occasionally in fog or rain. Fog is like! ywhen the Bermuda High is displacednorthward and generates easterly orsouflteasterly winds, originating far out inthe Atlantic. It also occurs when a frontstalls to the south. These advection fags aredense in the morning and may bum off or liftsomewhat during the day. On land thisoccurs from thc surface up, bu tover water itoccurs from the top down. When the CapeMay-Lewes Ferry encounters summer fog, itis usually accompanied by light winds. Thefog signal logs indicate that,luly throughSeptember are the most fog.free monthsover the Delaware Bay and tower DelawareRiver. Haze, smoke, and rain can restrictvisibilities to less than 10 miles, but rarelyto less than 1 mile; a heavy shower maybriefly reduce the visibility to less than 1mile.

Seas Waters of the Delaware Bay andlower Delaware River are often placidduring the boating season. Wave heightsremain less than 2 feet most of the time,Choppy seas may occur with a stiff seabreeze, particularly if it is blowing over along fetch of water. Prolonged strongsoutheasteri ies or northwesterlies can raiseseas to 5 feet or more in the deeper waters;this is unusual in summer, but occasionallyoccurs in spring and fall. The Miah MauilShoal Lightship observed seas greater than2 feet on just six to seven days per monthfrom June through August. Just inside theentrance to Delaware Bay 15. to 25 knotwinds often raise 2- to 4-foot seas.

TMes and Cstzzents Along the southJersey shore there are usually two high andtwo low waters a day. Tidal ranges increaseprogressively from about 4.5 feet at thebay's entrance to 6 feet near the DelawareMemorial Bridge. Strong winds fromextratropical and tropical cyclones cancreate surges of fear feet or more on top ofthese normal ranges.

The currents produced by floodand ebb tides in the Delaware Bay range upto three knots. In general they run towardthe northwest on flood; north of Stony Pointthey follow the turns of the river. I loodmaximum takes about one hour to reach theCohansey River entrance and about three

hours to read> Salems Cove. Bv this timethe surface currents at the bay's entrancehave reversed and ebb tide has begun. Thisflow is toward the southeast throughsouthwest. The maximum ebb spreads upthe bay and river, taking several hours toreach Wiirnington. Strongest currentsusually occur in deep water or in narrow,constricted waterways. Their strength isinfluenced by the phase of the moon. Bothdirection and strength may be altered bystrong winds.

In the lower bay, along the capeshore, tides must be carefully observed. Lowtides expose extensive tide flats whichcause problems to the unsuspecting boater.Newcomers to the bay may launch theirboats, enjoy a day's fishing, and then findthey must wait several hours for the water torise to get back to shore across the exposedtide flat.

Thuoderstoxms While they developduring any season, thunderstorms are athreat mainly from April throughSeptember. Inland they blow up to anaverage of two to seven days pcr month;along the shore and over open water, theyare less frequent. They can be widespread orscattered. Ahead of a cold front they canorganize into vicious squall lines that kickup strong gusty winds and choppv seas.They even may bring hail, It is said that thethunderstorms that form over the DelawarePeninsula are more likely to produce severeweather than those that move in from thewest. "Air mass thunderstorms" arecommon throughout the summer, This isthe familiar late afternoon and eveningactivity triggered by warm, humid, unstableair from the south. Near the bay and theocean, daytime thunderstorms are ofteninhibited by the blocking action of apersistent sea or bay breeze. This breeze,which can penetrate several miles inland,not only provides a barrier, protecting theshore, but also encourages cumulusbuild-ups, which may lead to thunderstormactivity along its leading edge. Late in theday or evening when the system breaksdown, the thunderstorms may drift acrossthe coast and out over the water.Observations at the Miah Maull ShoalLightship andby the Cape May-Lewes Ferryindicate very little daytime thunderstormactivity.

Name of Facility

1 yes yes no

no no

noyes yes

no yesno

no yesyes

Bill's PlaceNot Available

10 yes no

12 yes no no

Bree-Zee-Lee Yacht BasinOcean Drive, Cape May, NJ609/8844849

Cape Island Marina WestU.S. Highway No. 9Cape Nay, NJ609/884.0177

Utch's MarinaU.S. Highway No. 109Cape Nay, NJ609/884.2051

Tony's Marina RailwaySchellengers LandingCape 1Vlay, NJ609/884-8781

Roseman's Boat YardRoseman LaneCape 1Vtay, NJ609/884-3370

Pharo's Marina1263 Lafayette St.Cape May, NJ609/884-4309

Jackson's PierWildwood Ave. 6 BayVillas, NJ609/886-5983

Bayview MarinaOak k Delaware Aves.Villas, NJ609/886-3676

Captain Sam's PlaceReeds Beach RoadReeds Beach, NJ609/465-7840

John Gant Marina, inc.Bay Shore RoadDias Creek, NJ609/465-5782

Dennis Creek PubBc LaunchNot Available

Boat4 on LaunchMap or Ramp Slips Rentals

no yes no

3 yes yes no

no yes yes

yes no N/A

yes yes yes

Boat¹ on LaunchMap or Ramp Slips RentalsName of Facility

13

no yes

yes no no

16 yes yes no

Robinson's Penny Hill Boatyard 17Dorchester, NJ609/785-0100

yes Vcs

Fensil's MarinaNot Available

19 no yes yes

20Rosado MarketNot Available

noyes no

21 no yes

22 yes yes noDouble A MarinaFortescue, NJ

23 yes no

24 ycs no

0 D BaitFortescue, NJ

yes

yes

25 yes yes yes

26 yes no yes

Bat tey's MarinaMatts Landing RoadHeisierville, NJ609/785-0682

Snyder's Driftwood MarinaMatts Landing RoadLeesberg, NJ609/785-9825

Anchor MarinaMatts Landing RoadLeesberg, NJ609/785-9899

Boatworld MarinaBox 238 River RoadLeesherg, NJ609/785-9878

Port Norris MarinaOgden RoadPort Norris, NJ609/785-1205

Sever Dam Boat RentalsOld Bever Darn RoadNewport, NJ609/447.4013

Myers MarinaDelaware Ave.Fortescue, NJ609/447.3703

Fortescue Captain' sAssociationFortescue, NJ

Hopley's Boat RentalsGandy's Beach, NJ

yes no yes

yes yes no

Name of Facility

29 no yes no

30

34 yes yes no

35

10

Bobo's Gandy's Beach MarinaGandy's Beach, NJ609/447-3731

Pollino's MarinaMoney Island MarinaNewport, NJ609/447.4103

Bay Point MarinaJones IslandCedar CreekCedarvilie, NJ

Moore's Boat YardP.O. Box 277Cedarvillc, NJ609/447-4896

Husted's MarinaRockville RoadFairton, NJ609/451-6195

Fahton MarinaMain StreetFairton, NJ609!451-3220

Cohansey's CasinoGreenwich Pier RoadGreenwich, NJ609/451 9488

Hancodc HarborBridgeton, NJ609/455-2610

Barber's Basin Ltd.Tilbnry RoadSalem, NJ609/935.2628

Marlboro MarinaSalem Pennsviile Rd.Pennsville, NJ609/935-1610

Boatk on LaunchMap or Ramp Slips Rentals

27 yes yes ycs

28 yes yes yes

no yes no

31 yes yes no

32 yes yes no

33 yes yes no

no yes yes

36 yes yes no

Locations ofDelaware BayBoftting Facilities

11

12

bundant fishpopulations and a largevariety of speciescharacterize theDelaware Bay fishery.Most of the commonly

caught species are migratory, spending onlypart of the year in the bay. The seasonbegins in earnest in mid- to late April whenschools of black drum and weakfish greysea trout! begin entering the bay to spawn.Twenty-five to thirty pound drum arecommon and in recent years large numbersof 8-12 lb. weakfish have been taken. Thebest fishing is by boat. Charter and parlyboat services are available in Ca'pe May,Dorchester, Fortescue, and a few of thecreeks with access to the bay. Over fifteenboat rental facilities and twenty-eight boatlaunches also offer access to the water,

Crabbing and clamming arepopular activities in the bay and itstributaries. A license is required forrecreational clamming and is availablethrough the New Jersey Department ofEnvironmental Protection, Division of Pish,Game, and Wildlife. Clamming is permittedfrom Monday to Saturday from sunrise tosunset. Clams must be over I'k inches long,The visitor should avoid clamming in

potentially dangerous waters. Whenapplying for a license, a map is availablewhich depicts waters dosed for the taking ofshellfish. These waters are primarilyassociated with human activities and arelocated near the most densely populatedareas of the bay. A license is not required forcrabbing when using hand lines andcollapsible pots, but i s needed for the use ofpots. A minimum width of 3 inches forshedders and 39' inches for hard shell crabsis required.

In the summer months bluefishand summer flounder enter the scene.Increasingly, several shark species havebeen sought by Delaware Bay anglers. A fewcharter boats are available to give thevacationer a chance to battle one of these200 pounders. Good fishing usuailycontinues into late October, During theseason, winds seldom prohibit a fishermanfrom leaving shore in the lower bay.Generally, when north, noriheast, andeasterly winds create large waves in theocean, the bay remains relatively protected.Conversely, west and northwest winds chumup the bay, but the ocean side of Cape Mayremains relatively calm. Strong winds fromthe southeast. are the exception.

WHITE PERCH, Morone ainertcanas.Perch, black perch, stiff-back perch, blue-nosed perch. Distinguishedfrom striped bass by having the spiny and soft dorsal fins connected andthe second and third anal fin spines of chai length, In striped bass thedorsal fins are separated and the second spine of the anal fin is shorterthan the third.

Largest recorded 4% lbs,; avg. 'ts to '0 lb.; over 2 lbs, unusual.

Resident, schooling, anadromous. Occur in fresh and salt water. Duringwarm months most white perch occur in the lower section of tributarystreams, During spring adults inove upstream to spawn in fresh water;during winter they retreat downstream to deep water, some to 120 ft. inchannels and deep holes.

Taken all year, best fishing in mid-March-May and October-November.

Bottom fishing, live lining, chumming, jigging, and casting froin shoreor boats.

Shrimp, worins, clams, and small silversides or killifish; also smallspoons, spinners, jigs, and wet or streamer flies,

Size;

Hafittsr

BLACK SEA BASS, Centroprfstfs strtata.Black wiil, sea bass,

Largest recorded 8 lbs.; tackle record 8 lbs.; avg. '4 to Ys ib.; over % ib,unusual.

G~arious and migratory. Lives on or near rock or shell bottom andaround wrecks, pilings, wharfs, rock jetties, or breakwaters. Black seabass occur in the lower half of the bay and are most common near theentrance, During warin months they occur in depths to 50 ft.; duringcold months they migrate out of the bay and into deeper ocean water.

May-October,

Most caught in water warmer than 55'F from 10-30 ft, deep by bottomfishing from drifting or anchored boats. A few taken from shore bybottom fishing.

Squid, crabs, clams, worms, shrimp, and cut fish.

Hahftsr

Season:

FishingMethods:

STRIPED BASS, Moroit saxalts,Rock, rockfish, striper. See white perch.

Largest recorded 125 lbs,; tackle record 73 lbs.; avg. 1-2 lbs.; over 401bs. unusual,

Schooling and anadromous. Occur in fresh, brackish and salt water overany type of bottom. During spring adult striped bass inove toward theupper bay and into fresh-water rivers to spawn, During summer theyschool in lower portion of tributaries and the open bay, During the fallthey usually feed along the shore and creeks. During the winter, stripedbass concentrate in deep portions of the bay and in lower tributaries, indepths of 20-150 ft,, but are active enough to be taken by anglers inwater warmer than 39'F.

13

Most Commonly Caught Fl8h in DelaN are Bay*

All year, best fishing in rnid. March.IVtay and late September andDecember.

FishingMethods:

Baitsr

Casting, bottom fishing and live lining from shore; these methods plustrolling, jigging, and chumming from boats.

Worms, clams, soft or shedder crabs, shrimp, eels and weighted-bucktails, spoons, jigs, feathers, plugs, and imitation eels orworms, Check with the New Jersey Department of' EnvironmentalProtechon, Division of I'lsh, Game, and Wildlife for size, quantity, andseason regulations.

BLUEFISH, Pomatorrsus satatrixBlues, small fish called tailors, tailor blues, or snappers,

Largest recorded 35 lbs., tackle record 31 lbs. 12 oz.; avg. It to I'k lbs.;over 5 Ibs, unusual,

Size:

Pelagic, schooling, and migratory. Bluefish occur usually near thesurface but sometimes throughout the water column. Numbers canfluctuate greatly from year to year. In years of abundance, bluefish occurthroughout the bay in salt and brackish water.

May-October, best fishing September-October.

Casting, bottom fishing or live lining from shore; these methods plustrolling, jigging, and chumnung from boats. Most bluefish are caught inwater of 62-75 F within 45 feet of the surface.

Habitsr

Seas orr:

Fts hingMethods:

Spoon, weighted-bucktails, jigs, feathers, tube lures, and plugs; alsoclams, worms, eels, and small baitflsh.

Size:

Habits:

Bottom fishing from shore; this method plus chumming from boats,FishingMethods;

8aits: Worms, shrimp, soft mabel, clams, and cut fish.

GREY SEA TROUT, Cynoseion regalis.Trout, grey trout, sea trout, weakfish, grey weakfish.

Largest recorded 30 lbs.; tackle record 199< lbs�' avg. '4 to r4 lbs.; over 4Ibs, unusual except in May where many fish may exceed 8 Ibs,

Schooling and migratory, Most abundant in the brackish water of thebay and river mouths. They are found over any type of bottom, but favorsandy areas, especially with eel grass beds. Shoal areas and old oysterbeds are also popular sport fishing areas.

She:

Habitsr

SPOT, Lefostomus zauthurus.Norfolk spot, Ocean View spot, Iayafette. Distinguished horn silverperch by having a dark shoulder spot and a slightly forked tail. Incontrast, silver perch have no spot and their tails are nearly square.

To 2'4 lbs.; avg, '4'h lb.; over 1 lb. unusual.

Most occur in salt and brackish water, a few in fresh water. Thesebottom feeders usually aggregate according to size, and frequenf. sandor mud bottom and shellfish beds. Adults are migratory; young fish mayremain in the bay all year, many in deep holes or channels during winter.

May or June-October or early November; best fishing mid-August, earlyOctober.

FfshfngMethods;

Baits:

ATLANTIC CROAKER, Mkropoyon undufatas.Cmaker, hardhead,

To 5 Ibs.; avg. '4 to % lb.; over 3 lbs. unusual.

Migratory. A few occur i n nearly fresh water, but most occur in salt andbrackish water froin a few feet below the tide-line to depths of 45 feet.This bottom feeder occurs on mud, sand, gravel, or rock bottoin andaround shellfish beds, rock piles, and wrecks,

Mid.April or May to late September or October; best fishing June toearly July.

Bottom fishing, jigging, and Chumming from anchored or driftingboats. Some caught by bottom fishing from shore,

Shrimp, soft or shedder crabs, clams, and cut fish; also jigs andweighted-bucktails.

Steer

Habits:

PVs1dngMethods:

BLACK DRUM, Pogonfas eeornis,Drum; fish less than 8 lbs. called puppy druin. The young arecharacterized by four to six broad black bars on their sides.

Largest recorded 146 Ibs.; tackle record 111 lbs., puppy druin avg. % to2 lbs., and large fish 25-35 lbs., over 80 lbs, unusual.

Migratory. In large aggregations during the spring migrations butusually solitary dunng fall. These bottom feeders occur on any type ofbottom, but prefer mussel, clam, or oyster beds. Often aroundbreakwaters, jetties, pllings, bridge abutments, and piers.April-October or mid-November.

Bottom fishing, live lining, or chumming from shore or boats. Castingor trolling is also effective for sinai 1 fish but large fish do not ordinarilytake a fast-moving bait,

Clam, soft or shedder crabs, shrimp, and ciit fish; also spoons, jigs, andweighted-bucktails,

Season:

FtshfngMethods:

NORTHERN FLUKE, Parctfchthtjs dentatas.Flounder, summer flounder.

Largest recorded 30 lbs.; tackle record 20'h lbs., avg. I to 1'/ lbs�over 8lbs. unusual.

Migratory. Live on mud, sand, sand. shell, gravel, or rock bottoin andaround wrecks, During warm months most occur in the lower portion ofthe bay, Small fish occur in brackish water, a few in fresh water; largefish occur in salt water. Usually feed near bottom but will pursue prey tothe surface.

15

May or June to midMtober or November; best fishing May,September, and October. Most are caught a few feet from the bottom indepths of 6 to 45 feet.

Bottoin fishing, live lining, casting, diuinming, and jigging from shore;these methods plus trolling from boats,

Shrimp, squid, silversides, mullet, soft or shedder crabs, worms, clams,mussels, cut fish and live killifish. Also spinners, spoons, plugs, jigs, andweighted-bucktails,

Late Aprff or May to October or November; best fishing late May toSeptember in water warmer than 61'F.

Bottom fishing and casting from shore; these methods plus chumming,live lining, and trolling near bottom from boats.

Killifish, squid, silversides, clams, worms, and cut fish; also iigs,spinners, and weighted-bucktails,

FishingMethods:

Baits.

SMOOTH DOGFISH, Musteius canis.Shark. Often miscalled sand shark. Distinguished from other sharks byhaving two spineless triangular dorsal fins of nearly the same size, arounded, flat snout, the fifth gill opening behind original pectoral fin,and small, low, flat teeth.

To 20 ibs., avg. y4 ibs,, over 10 lbs. unusual.

Migratory. Occur from the tide. line to depths of 600 feet or more inwater of 42' to 72'F, Often found on or a few feet above the bottomalong the open ocean shore or in estuaries; occasionally in fresh water,More active during night than day,

May to December. Most caught from July to September in depths lessthan 60 ft,

Size;

Habits.

Season:

FishingMethods;

Bottom fishing from shore; this method pius churnrningfrom boats.

Bafts: Squid, clams, crabs, worms, and cut fish.

SANDBAR SHARK, Carcharhinus mitbertLShark, brown shark, ground shark, Distinguished from other sharks bythe large first dorsal fin vertical height exceeds 10 percent of total bodylength! originating over the middle of equally large pectoral fin, and bya distinct ridge along the back between the dorsal fins,

To 230 lbs.; small ones averaging 30-50 ibs� large ones 120-160 lbs.;over 230 lbs. unusual,

Size:

Migratory. A bottom dweller common both inshore and offshore butusually seen at the surface only when crossing a shoal area or whenchummed to the surface. Adult fema! es enter bays in early summer togive birth to their young. Large males remain offshore and are seldomseen at this time, A newborn sandbar shark is about 2 ft. long andweighs 2% lbs.

June-October; best fishing August-September.

Most adult sharks are caught in depths from 60 to 150 ft. by bottomfishing or chumming young sharks in bays by bottom fishing.

Cut or whole fish, clams, eels, crabs, and squid.

Season:

FishingMethods:

Baits:

Size:

16

BLUE CRAB, Cailitsectes satridus.Crab, blue crab. Males are called Jimmies; females, sooks; those bearingeggs, sponge crabs. Crabs about to shed their shell are called sheddersor peelers, they are called soft crabs immediately after shedding andbefore a new shell hardens. Size is usually expressed as the width of theshell across the hack measured from spine tip to spine tip.

To 10 inches; avg. 5.6 inches; over 8'h inches unusual.

Habits: Occur in salt, bmckish water on mud, sand, sand-shell, and gravelbottoms. Especially abundant in mouths of streams and rivers aroundeel grass, During warm months crabs frequent shallow water; duringcokl months crabs seek deep water and may embed themselves in mud.Active in water warmer than 50'F, Adult males tend to concentrate inthe upper reaches of creeks and rivers; adult females tend to rennin inthe open bay.

Mid-March or April to mid-November; best crabbing late .July toOctober.

AsMrtgJtfethodsr Hand lines or crab traps from shore or boat,

Baits: Whole or cut fish or scrap meat. Check with the New JerseyDepartment of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish, Game, andWildlife for licensing, size, and season information.

* Source: Arrgter's Caide to the Urrtted States Atlaatic Coast,Bruce Freeman and Lione! Waiford; July 1976, Seattle, Washington.

17

Fishing Weather

MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT

Nillville

51/73 60/82 66/87

1 5 10

7 6 7

3 5 4

Mlah Naisll Shoal

rainy days

thunder days!

5 5 5

1 1 1

5 3

0 0

67/87 65/85 59/79

13 8 3

7 8 6

7 6 2

Wilmlngf on

52/73 61/82 66/86

1 5 9

7 6 5

5 6 6 6 3 1

Cape Nay

53/67 62/76 67/81 67/80 62/75 53/66

0 1 3 3 ' 0

5 5 8 6 5 5

Salem

+ mrg/aft temp�F! 57/68 64/74 69/79 70/80 63/73 50/60

+ average minimum and maximum' less than 0.5 day

18

+ mrg/aft temp '1'!

days w/90'1' or more

rainy days

thunder days!

+mrg/aft temp F!

days w/90'F or more

rainy days

thunder days!

+ mrg/aft temp 'F!

days w/90'F or more

rainy days

thunder days!

+ mrg/aft temp 'F!

days w/90'F or more

rainy days

thunder days!

53/75 62/83

1 8

7 6

6 6

64/84 56/77 46/68

4 1 0

8 5 5

5 1 1

64/84 58/78 47/68

5 2

6 5 5

~rereseeffSNl~rso r .~l ~

Water Temperatures 'F!

MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT

Delaware Lightship 53 64 72 74 71. 63

74 71 62Brealnvater Harbor 59 68 73

58 68 73 73 71 63Cape Nay

Philadelphia 64 74 79 79 74 64

~r~ssssshessm tffsstssssrrsrss ~rrffssroy;urrosffrsrsrsesssss~

4 P. I=A : I.I O'I= AT I.I I= I? 4

o oey uo~rffr x ff

~ he south Jersey shore offerst plenty of good sunbathing andswimming weather during June,July, and August. Temperaturesare pleasant, skies are sunny,and breezes gentle. The

following beach day table indicates howmany of these good days you can expect, onthe average, from May through September.

19

Good Beach Weather Days

Dover NlllvilleWllsntrsgton

517272111

5 923

19 9

516242210

MAYJUNJULAUGSEP

A day is considered a good beach day if fusing the 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p,rn. FST observations!:~ air temperatures of 80'F or more occur at least once,~ windspeeds are less than 17 knots at least twice.~ visibilities are greater than 2'6 miles at least once,~ rain occurs no more than once,~ cloudy skies 9/10 or overcast with ceilings of 20,000 feet or less! do not occur more than twice.

Beaches

20

The Delaware Bay contains manymiles of relatively unused sandy beaches,which offer a striking contrast to the morecrowded beaches of the Atlantic Coast. Forthat solitary walk or picnic one shouldconsider the beaches of the bay.

Generally, the beaches are narrow�6.60'! and more abundant in the lower bay.From Cape May to Pierce's Point the beachis continuous for ten miles, Access is easy.

From North Cape May a scenic roadparallels the beach for four miles. Movingtoward the upper bay sandy beaches becomesparce, but most access roads to the bay leadto beaches, such as Moore's, Reed's,Thompson's, and Candy's Beach. Entranceroads to these beaches are shown on theNew Jersey state road map. Parking canusually be found along the road near thebeach.

r eeping entertained on therainy days is no problem.South Jersey's Delaware Baycoast has something tointerest everyone � fromwindow shopping in the

Victorian Village of Cape May tobirdwatching in a hotspot termed one of the"top dozen" in the United States, Someselected examples follow:

Cape May Point State Park.Located three nhiles west of the city of CapeMay, the park is an area of 300 acres offreshwater marshland, woodland, andbeachfront. Permissible activities includenature observation, picnicking, fishing, andhiking.

Cape May and East Point LightLocated at Cape May Point State Park,Cape May Light is reportedly the oldestlighthouse that is still U.S. Coast Guardcommissioned as a navigational aid. Therehas been a light at the cape since 1744, Thepresent light is 165 feet high and can be seenfor nineteen miles. Built in 1849, East Pointlighthouse is located on East Point Roadand Delaware Bay near Heislerville. It ispresently being restored by the MaunceRiver Historical Society.

Blrdwatching and Nature Study.A national wildlife refuge Killcohookj andseven state Fish and Wildlife ManagementAreas border the Delaware Bay, containingvast expanses of marsh and estuarinenatural environments. Cape May isconsidered one of the "Dezen BirdingHotspots," a must stop for avidbirdwatchers. Over 360 species of birds havebeen recorded in Cape May. The best seasonis during the autumn migration, as thepeninsula configuration channels birds tothe point, Over 200 species have beenrecorded in a single day, Another must stop

is the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary locatedin nearby Stone Harbor, New Jersey.Established in 1947, the 21-acre-sitecontains as many as 6,000 nesting herons.Excellent views of nesting herons can beobtained from the parking lot.

Museum and EducationalFacilities

Located at the New JerseyDepartment of Environmental Protection'sBivalve office, The Oyster Museum containsoystering artifacts dated from 1730, Nearbyin Millville is Wheaton Village, a recreated1888 glasstown featuring the world's largestmuseum of American glass. Furiherupstream near Hancock's Bridge is theSecond Sun, a ferry boat doubling as anenergy information center, It is locatedadjacent to the Salem Nuclear Power Plant,

Located near Salem, Fort MottState Park is an 1870 fort overlookingDelaware Bay. Twh! thousand-four hunderedconfederate soldiers were buried at Finn'scemetery on the park grounds. Picnickingand fishing are popular activities at the park.

2l

bile winter oftenseems like anendless processionof dull, cold, rainydays, with theproper clothing

there are many pleasant days for outdooractivities, The migratory low-pressuresystems that rake the bay are responsible fora variety of weather conditions, They bringgusty winds, rain, or snow and heavy cloudcover. They are often followed by migratoryhigh-pressure systems from the interior.This variable weather includes markedtemperature fluctuations. Whiletemperatures often drop below freezing theyare just as likely to climb into the upperforties OF! and low fifties, even in January.Clear, sunny days are as common as thosewith precipitation. Brief, stormy periodsalternate with clear, crisp days and withstretches of relatively mild weather.

Winter Weather

51/32 63/428 816 16

54/34 65/437 7

52/32 62/417 8

49/35 61/447 7

Wllmlngtonmax/min temp 'F!precipitation daysdays clear to partly cloudy

Dovermax/min temp �F!precipitation days

Millvlllemax/min temp 'F!precipitation days

Cape Maymax/min temp F!precipitation days

NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR

55/36 43/26 40/24 42/256 6 7 617 15 14 14

57/38 46/29 44/27 45/275 7 7 6

56/35 43/25 43/25 45/265 6 6 6

57/41 46/32 42/29 45/296 6 5 6

Safe Beating. A boating excursion,on the Delaware Bay or up the CohanseyRiver, requires attention to weatherconditions. Before setting out check localweather and sea conditions. Obtain thelatest weather forecast for the area. Marineforecasts updated every six hours, or more ifconditions warrant, are available from AMstations in Atlantic City and Mornstown summer!; these come directly fromNational Weather Service offices atspecified times. Even better are the NOAAWeather radio broadcasts, These arecontinuous programs over VHF-FM radiostations. They can be received twenty-fourhours a day up to about forty miles andinclude such information as marineforecasts, weather observations, weatherradar submarines, tide reports, and specialsevere weather bulletins, Stations servingthe bay are the Atlantic City station atKHB-38 �62,40 MHz! and the Lewes,Delaware broadcast on �62.55 MHz!WXJ-94. Near Philadelphia you can tune inon KIH-28 �62,475 MHz!.

When on the water watch for theapproach of dark, threatening clouds, which

23

may indicate a squall or thunderstorm; asteady increase in wind or sea; and increasein windspeed opposite in direction to astrong tidal current. Heavy static on yourAM radio may indicate thunderstormactivity.

Lighting. Lightning occurs inconnection with thunderstorrns and is ahazard both on water and on land. Morepeopleare killed by lightning each year thanby tornadoes or hurricanes, Thunder iscaused by the explosive expansion of airheated by the lightning stroke. Whenlightning is close, the thunder is a sharpexplosive sound. Because the speed of lightis about a million times that of sound, therough distance, in miles, to a lightningstroke can be estimated by counting thenumber of seconds between lightning andthunder, and dividing by five, During athunderstorm the safest place to be isindoors or even in a car. Don't use anythingelectrical or flammable and don't touchmetal. Get out of the water and off smallboats. When no shelter is available, seekprotection in ditches or under headhigh

Wind Chill Equivalent Temperatures 'F!At 40

and overAt 30 mphAt 15 mphCalm air

-6.22-38-54-70-87

-2.18-33-49.64-78

9-5

.18

.31-45-58

3020100

-10-20

trees. Avoid hills, open spaces, and talltrees, On large boats stay below deck ifpossible. Keep away from metal objects thatare not grounded to the boat's protectionsystem. Don't touch more than onegrounded object at the saine time. Whenyou feel an electrical charge � if your hairstands on end or your skin tingles-lightning may be about to strike you,Drop to the ground immediately.

A person struck by lightningreceives a severe elechical shock and maybe burned, but they carry no electricalcharge and can be handled safeiy. A personapparently dead can often be revived byprompt mouth.to-mouth resuscitation,cardiac massage, and pro! onged artificialrespiration.

Hypothermia. A dangerousoverchilling of the lxxly causeshypothermia, During late autumn, winter,and early spring any outdoor activityundertaken without proper clothing andplanning for the weather can lead to it. Evenduring the summer a prolonged immersionand/or long exposure to cool winds whileyour body is wet can produce hypothermia.

The best cure is prevention andthe best prevention is common sense,Remember that wind chill factor affects youmore than just temperature alone. Wearclothing suited to the weather and youractivity and warm up often. If you get wet,dry off and warm up quickly. Avoid alcohol,Although you may feel warmer whiledrinking alcohol, you will actually getcooler inside through dilation of surfaceblood vessels, which increase the loss ofheat, If you engage in water sports, considerusing a wet suit and getoutof the wind after

being in the water if you are cold. Boatersshould know special cold water survivaltechniques and consider equipping theirboats with insulated survival suits. Sc<information list for special publications.!

As hypothermia sets in, thevictim willshiver, turn bluish, and feel cold.Then he or she will stop shivering andbecome numb. Mental awareness will beimpaired, This is the danger point, Beginimmediate rewarming of the trunk, neck,and head and seek medical attention. Don' twarm the arms and legs and don't givealcohol. In such an emergency, a bathtub,sleeping bag, or body-to-body contact maybe used for warmth.

If you fall into cold water andcan't get back into your boat, think beforeyou swim for shore, Swimming will chill youquickly and limit your range to less thanhalf-mile. Use the HELP heat escapelessening posture! if alone or huddle withother people. This will extend your survivaltime in cold water.

Cold Water DrowningNear. drowning victims in cold water less

than 70'F'! show much longer periods ofrevivability than usual, Keys to good revivalare immediate cardiopulmonaryresuscitation CPR! and administration ofpure oxygen, Don't bother with the totalrewarming of the patient now. The wholerevival process may take hours and willrequire medical help. Don't give up. Theimmediate steps are important.

Sunburn Prevention andTreatment Many vacations areruined or disturbed by sunburns,particularly in May and June when

individuals have not had much exposure tothe sun. Both sand and water reflect thesun's rays, making beach users and boatersespecially susceptible to burning. Althoughthe duration of exposure to the sun dependson factors such as fairness of skin, sunintensity, degree of reflection, and previousexposure, the best advice is to be overlycautious, especially your first day in the sun,Often bad sunburns can occur beforediscomfort is felt. When boating, make sureyou carry extra protective clothing.

A variety of ointments areavailable commercially, and will providerelief. If ointments are not available,bandages soaked in boric acid, tannic acid,or vinegar will suffice. Avoid direct sunlightuntil the condition is gone, Do not popblisters or peel the flaky skin, or raw soresmay appear,

Biting Insects I,ike most coastalareas, the bay has i ts share of biting insects,notably greenheads, gnats no-see-ums!, andmosquitoes, Gnats usually appear innuisance numbers in early Niay, They aremost active in early morning and late

evening, parhcularly if the wind drops. Oncalm nights after sunset, the gnats aresometimes followed by mosquitoes. Mostcommercially available insect repellantreduces the problem, The Rutger's 6-12repellant has been a local favorite.

When using beaches, greenheadscan be annoying, Research has indicatedgreenheads are attracted to light dothing.I'or the home or resort owner, traps can bebuilt which attract and kill greenheads. Theplans are available by writing to the addresslisted at the end of this brochure.

Jellyfish Jellyfish populationsfluctuate, and in years with largepopulations, jellyfish can be a problem forthe swimmer, If the swimmer comes intocontact with the tentacles, painful stingscan result, Treatment includes applying asaturated baking soda solution or talcumpowder for several minutes. Do not rinsewith water. Another very effectivetreatment is to apply meat tenderizer, whichdenatures the poisonous protein, Otherusually handy substitutes include olive oil,sugar, or ethyl alcohol,

25

Available from: New Jersey Marine Advisory ServiceP.O. Box 549Marmora, N.J. 08223

FREE

FREE

FRF.E

Available from: Cape May CountyDepartment of Public AffairsBox 365Cape May Court House, N.J. 08210

FREECharter and Party Boats of Cape Nay County

Fishing in Cape May County, prepared by i.ou RodiaHistoric Points of Interest on the Jersey Cape

FREE

FREE

Available from; Cumberland County Tourist Information Center, Inc,Route 49Bridgeton, N.J. 08302

Interesting Things to Do - to See - to Shop for in and aroundCumberland County, New Jersey FRFE

Available from: New Jersey Division of Travel and TourismP.O. Box 400Trenton, New Jersey 08625

FREEA Listing of New Jersey CampsitesScenic and Historic Tours of New Jersey, Crossroadsof the Revolution FREE

FREE

FREEYour 198 ys Beach Guide

Yom 1980's Vacation Guide27

From Catch to Kitchen or Catching and Cooking Your OwnFish Dinner, Susan Bonsall, Description and recipes of some importantNew Jersey fish species.

Water Safety and You, Susan Bonsall. Safety tips for boatersand swimmers.

Greenhead and You, Elton J, Hansen and Stuart R. Race. Informationon building greenhead traps.

Photo Credits

COVER:

Page 2:

Page 4:

Page 12:

Page 19:

Page 20:

Page 22:

Page 23:

Page 25:

Page 26;

Joseph N. Bowen, Jr.

Joseph N. Bowen, Jr.

James D, Murray

Carole L. Bowen

Stewart Tweed

James D. Murray

James D. Murray

Stewart Tweed

James D. Murray

Joseph N. Bowen, Jr,