  |
||||||
|
|
Only dummies think there's nothing to do in Atlantic City but gamble. New Jersey offers a major slice of Revolutionary War history, a splatter of Civil Wat action, massive amounts of beach, bay and sand barrens and some of the East's best golf.
Add the finest hoagies in the land at the White House where Frank Sinatra used to send a plane from Palm Springs for special sandwiches and everyone who is anyone is on the walls.
Joe Dimagio is, naturally by the front door. Tiny Tim's near the toilet.
Nearby terrifically tacky Do Wap beach action in the Wildwoods and real recreational piers, skee ball, wooden coasters and enough 1950's decor to make one wonder if the hippie 60's were a result of eye strain. Golfers aren't left out with a couple of dozen nifty courses through the woods or in seaside links. However, the best of Atlantic City is the bays, the wonderful stretch that spaghettis along from Egg Harbor south all the way to Cape May's Victorians. These bays, like those to the south are the natal grounds of East Coast striped bass, bluefish, flounders and other species. Granted, you can surf fish off the beach where the world record striper was caught and big drum roll, but it's the flats, channel and saltwater marsh action "up close and personal" with light topwater spinning or fly gear that's the joy here.
This kind of fish demands local knowledge as the flat you run out to the action may be high and dry on the way back. So a day booked with a decent guide is a must to learn a few of the hot spots, tune tackle and get an idea about effects of wind, water movement and tidal changes on the fishing. Frank Granieri, who guides several times a week between Egg Harbor and Cape May from a trailered flats skiff has a firm handle on the action. Trailering a flats skiff makes good sense as it eliminates long runs to and from the put-in point. So you spend 90% of your time fishing, not cruising. Not that zooming along the winding saltwater creeks and across the oyster flats doesn't offer rewards. This is some of the best birding country in America and a stopover point for all sorts of migratory birds. Refuges string out north from Cape May so there's always something interesting with wings to add to one's lift lists. Besides, diving terns or sea gulls are a good indicator of striped bass, bluefish and other angling action in the back bay, in passes and even offshore. Best of all, nobody gets seasick!
|
|||||
|
|
||||||
