Capt. David Showell guides back bay fishing trips in the Greater Atlantic City, NJ area estuaries. I am your host, Capt. Follow this link for details. Dave Showell
Striped Bass are the specialty, but also offered is Summer Flounder, Bluefish, Weakfish and whatever else is in season and grabs onto your hook. If you want to experience the very best of Back Bay and Near Shore fishing for Striped Bass, Summer Flounder, Blue Fish, Weakfish and all the other varieties of fish that swim in the waters flowing from Absecon Creek and to the surrounding waters from Lit
tle Egg Inlet to the north and Great Egg Inlet to the South of the Greater Atlantic City, New Jersey area you have come to the right place. David Showell, and I have been exploring these waters well over fifty years in pursuit of fish, working as a commercial clam digger, guiding waterfowl hunters, capturing all kinds of baits for sale in the shop at Absecon Bay Sportsman Center and for the last twenty years I have been a Coast Guard Licensed Captain and have guided hundreds of anglers to the fantastic fishing this area has to offer. After all this experience I have developed my favorite method of fishing which in most cases is using live bait primarily for Striped Bass. After several changes over the years I believe I have found the almost perfect back bay and near shore fishing boat which is a 20' Scout Dorado model. Powered with a 175 hp 4-stroke Suzuki outboard has proved itself a fantastic piece of machinery. This motor has extended my range and gave me unsurpassed reliability and utmost confidence to get to the fish and more importantly to get home safely. In addition, I have upgraded the electronics to the new Lowrance Ti2 with full side scan which should allow me to find fish in the shallow environments that I have been more and more each year. My secret weapon is a Minn Kota 110 lb thrust bow mounted trolling motor which allows me to stay positioned exactly as I want which is to put a bait in front of a hungry Stripers Nose. Spring and Fall are Striped Bass Migration times and this is stretching longer every year. I have been targeting Striped Bass in early Spring and late summer in the Mullica River avoiding the long trip around the inland waterway by trailering my boat to Chestnut Neck Boat Yard which is in the middle of the one of the best Striped Bass Estuaries in New Jersey if not the world. Constant action casting lures on light tackle in shallow water is amazing fun. Most of the fish are under the 28 inch size limit, but if you want to take home dinner, I participate in the New Jersey Bonus Striper Program which allows anglers to take home a dinner bass between 24 and 28 inches. https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/bonusbas.htm
I do most of the Fall Striped Bass Fishing in the back bays and thorofares, especially early in the season. I particularly like the wilderness area behind Little Beach Island which is part of the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. This is a beautiful area and probably the farthest you can get away from occupied housing in all of New Jersey. Even with today’s fishing pressure I can often fish an entire tide without seeing another boat. Fishing trips general run a minimum of 4 hours actual fishing time and I take a crew of from one to three anglers for a total cost of $$400. I fish strictly according to the best period every day utilizing my knowledge of Sun Rise, Sun Set and the periods of the tides. I usually like to fish the top of the tide and my favorite periods are days when the High Tide is close to sunrise. Since I like to be on the water when the first light breaks in the east, so plan on getting up early! Because there is only one truly “Best’ time to fish each day I will only run one trip a day just to make sure no one misses Prime Time. I will run a “Full Day Striper Trip” on request. This will be a solid eight hours on the water and will usually hit a high and a low change of tides. Again I will carry up to 3 anglers for a total price of $550. I put the price for three anglers because I find that fishing is most effective when limited. The boat can legally and safely carry a fourth angler, but this will limit the type of fishing that we can do and will definitely restrict us to the back bays or inlet. I realize there are groups that can’t be broken up so if you require a fourth man there will be an additional charge of $100
Trips include all of the fishing tackle you might need including spinning and conventional tackle by many of the best manufactures such as Shimano, Penn Tsunami, and others. Everything I use on the boat is available for sale in the store. It also includes all the terminal tackle such as hooks leaders and when appropriate lures including leadhead Jigs with the best of Berkley Gulp which in many cases can out-fish Live Bait. This year 2021 In-line Circle Hooks are required for all Live and Natural dead baits. I personally do not agree with this, but if we are heading out for a Striped Bass trip, I will not have any J-Hooks onboard. Once Flounder season starts, I will have the right stuff to put those tasty flatfish onboard. However if there is a decent chance to hook up with some decent stripers, that will be my first choice. I always have the best Live Bait selection on board. Included in the price is 1 dozen live Spots whenever available along with Eels, Clams and Mullet. I usually take some fresh bunker and the cast nets are always on board to load up with the freshest baits possible. If you want to experience this type of fishing this fall I suggest you get in contact with me as soon as possible as the available days are filling up fast. I'll answer emails [email protected] or Facebook Messages, but a phone call is quicker and I can get you reserved. Call me at 609-484-0409. If I'm not in the shop and you want a trip please ask for my cell phone number for voice or text. I Hope to see you aboard soon,
