Captain Tom Daffin is one of the premier charter boat captains in South Jersey, with more than 30 years of experience fishing off our coast.
He’s agreed to lend his expertise to us here at South Jersey Local, where we’ll feature fishing reports from him at Fishin’ Fever Charters and some of his fellow captains online weekly. We’ll then publish recaps and photos from the previous month and previews of the next in our monthly print editions.
The captains in our area are getting ready to get back in the water to go toggin’ this month after a long winter break, so we thank them for taking the time to help us out.
Without further ado, take it away Captain Tom!
Captain Tom Daffin of Fishin’ Fever Charters – Cape May
Here in Cape May, the waters are warming, summer birds are starting to show, and the fish are on the verge of starting their annual spring spawning runs.
Aboard our charter boat, the Fishin’ Fever IV, our April is all about tog, or better known to sharpies as blackfish. Blackfish season runs the whole month of April and allows anglers some great rod bending action and really good eats when landed.
Keeper size fish averaging in the three to seven pound range are fairly abundant with some real bruisers over 10 pounds, and even some over 20 punds, if the anglers are skilled and lucky enough to relocate these fish from the wrecks and rocks they live around.
We’re looking forward to starting the season on April 1. Our boat is currently full for April trips, but in May we look towards the Delaware Bay for monster black drum, and we do have availability for those trips.
Tight lines.
– Capt. Tom
Fisherman Anthony Foglio (above) aboard the Fishin’ Fever IV on a tog fishing trip last year.
This week Captain Tom also introduced us to Captain Bob Cope of Full Ahead Sport Fishing, also out of Cape May. Captain Cope is also eagerly awaiting the start of tog season.
Captain Bob Cope of Full Ahead Sport Fishing – Cape May
There are not many folks out and about fishing yet as the weather hasn’t been very cooperative, but that’s a typical March pattern. We’ve been hearing a few reports of some Striped Bass being caught in the sounds on plugs and soft baits and a few on bloodworms. A few guys have caught some white perch as well
Next week we finally get to target tog as the season opens on April 1. There’s a few of us who will be out targeting them when the wind god allows us to go.
Good luck to everyone for a safe 2025.
– Capt. Bob
Leave a Reply