Extra Tourists Flock To Jersey Shore As Weather Heats Up
By John Ostapkovich
OCEAN CITY, N.J. (CBS) -- With our area in the grip of summer's swelter, people were looking to cool off at the Jersey shore.
The sun was blazing along the Ocean City boardwalk on Monday, where beach tag monitors and gulls kept their separate watches. Michelle Gillian, head of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, says even at the high point of tourist season, a heat wave brings more.
"People start to realize they don't want to be in the city anymore, which is a bright idea, and they want to be down at the seashore," she said. "and we're so lucky we have the beach, the boardwalk and the bay and those cool breezes just lift your spirits."
Breezes also push sailboats, delighting students of Pat Leonardo's Ocean City Sailing Foundation.
"The wind glides through your hair and the sun's shining brightly and whenever you get a bit too warm you jump in the water. It's at least five to eight degrees cooler every time I come down here."
Jay Rodriguez of Philadelphia, who was fishing underneath the Ocean City causeway, may have found the biggest awning of all.
"Yes it is, very very cool here," he said. "This my second time here. Normally we were out here and got one bite and here we are now. We've been here since 7 (o'clock) in the morning."
Across the island, in the bay, former Philadelphia resident Frank Brady had his eyes on bigger fish.
"Kayak, stand-up paddle board," Brady said, "so we're setting up crab traps and flounder fishing at the same time."
Brady says the water has warmed a bit and that's turning the bite on.
