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The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council voted late Thursday afternoon for fluke management Option 2, which provides the longest season (May 7 to Sept. 25) while retaining an 18-inch minimum and raising the bag limit to eight. Not only was this expected, but no one in the standing-room-only crowd at Galloway Township Library in Absecon supported any other options —...
The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council voted late Thursday afternoon for fluke management Option 2, which provides the longest season (May 7 to Sept. 25) while retaining an 18-inch minimum and raising the bag limit to eight. Not only was this expected, but no one in the standing-room-only crowd at Galloway Township Library in Absecon supported any other options — even a couple that would have provided a single 17- or 17½- inch fluke as part of the limit, though with a much shorter season.
Council member Pat Donnelly of Point Pleasant, who’s also one of the state’s top fluke anglers, said he was surprised at the unanimity of opinion from one end of the state to the other in a desire for the longest possible season. Option 2 provides 142 days, and liberalizes last year’s regulations by 77 percent. Reaching limits at 18 inches has been so rare, except for Donnelly, that increasing bag limits to eight is so statistically insignificant that leaving limits at six wouldn’t gain even one day of season.
Paul Haertel reported the council then changed the sea bass opening to June 4 from last year’s May 22, in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission requirement for the Garden State to take a 40 percent cut, but didn’t set the minimum size and bag limit while awaiting action from the National Marine Fisheries Service as well as ASMFC.
Tom Paglioroli will have the United Boatmen’s Tony Bogan as a guest on his 97.3 ESPN FM radio program from 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday to discuss the council meeting.
Good news is hard to come by in this economy, but there’s some from New York as Jim Hutchinson Jr. reports that the Recreational Fishing Alliance’s effort to eliminate the marine fishing license has been successful. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a saltwater angler himself, signed legislation that replaces the license with a free registry. Thus, New Jersey anglers will not have to buy the New York license — and party and charter boat operators won’t need the $400 license to cover their fares.
The death of ex-Rep. John Adler (D-3rd Dist.) at just 51 was mourned by outdoorsmen since he was considered both a friend, both as a state senator and then in the House of Representatives.
Striped bass fishing could break open at any time. The northern fishery usually opens with clamming for schoolies in the back of Raritan Bay, but at this time last year, there was an unprecedented ocean run under diving gannets as stripers (many over 28 inches) hit shad jigs and other lures off the northern Shore.
Trophy stripers are being hooked in Chesapeake Bay. Tony Checko, author of “The Striped Bass 60++ Pound Club” reports a friend released a 60-plus bass Sunday night after it hit a 7-inch Redfin cast at a creek flowing into the mouth of the Susquehanna River in 46 degree waters.
For daily fishing information, visit my blog at nj.com/shore/blogs/fishing.
At Atlantic Highlands, Capt. George Bachert has started Mud Hole fishing for ling, cod and tog on the Angler, and Capt. Ron Santee begins his quest for striped bass Saturday with the Fishermen.
At Highlands, Capt. Stan Zagleski reported both flounder in the Shrewsbury and flounder fishermen have been among his missing customers, so he’s switching to blackfish. The Elaine B. will make its first attempt at 7 a.m. Sunday.
Capt. Pete Wagner left a hot sailfish bite at Los Suenos, Costa Rica to begin running his Hyper Striper from Twin Lights Marina for stripers Saturday. John Alexander of Middletown caught 26 groupers of six species, up to a 50-pound broomtail, on the last trip aboard Wagner’s Dream Girl.
At Point Pleasant, Capt. Bobby Bogan said Sunday’s cod trip with his Gambler provided a good start followed by a slow pick. Mike Malpass of Point Pleasant and his brother, Tim, from Brick, managed 12 cod and six ling from wrecks 40 miles offshore. In addition to daily cod trips, the Gambler runs Tuesday tautog specials. Joe Melillo at Castaways Tackle reports 20- to 24-inch stripers are being caught at night on small plugs and bucktails at the Mantoloking Bridge and in Point Pleasant Canal. Flounder fishing is good around the Mantoloking Bridge, and even from shore locations in Barnegat Bay and Manasquan River — with some impressive sizes being caught.
At Brielle, Capt. Joe Bogan said weekend ling fishing on Jamaica II was better — and some cod were also brought aboard.
The Jamaica is out of dry dock, and will be sailing open for cod 5 a.m. Saturday, and 3 a.m. Sunday. Capt. Howard Bogan Jr. noted that the Jamaica Star (formerly the Atlantis) ran Saturday’s trip, and had over 40 keeper cod. Greg Bogan, at Brielle Tackle, reported a 27-inch striper was caught during a recent evening at the Mantoloking Bridge on a Storm lure. Steve Fritts of Point Pleasant used sandworms for a 2 ½-pound flounder.
Many N.J. anglers are taking advantage of great spring fishing in the Florida Keys before local gamefishing turns on. The middle of the night is the ideal time to pursue the big migratory tarpon that often exceed 100 pounds, as they feed more readily and there’s less competition from other boaters. I joined Capt. Jeff Pfister (305 393-0369) on his center console from Dockside Charters in Islamorada at 3 a.m. two weeks ago for a run in the dark through cuts in mangrove islands to Channel 2, where the silver king I hooked on heavy spinning tackle with a live pinfish made an impressive splash on its first leap – and eventually forced us to follow it through the bridge out into the ocean before the 140-pounder gave in to the Super Seeker rod and was released.
A few hours later, I was fishing under the sun on the flats off Hawk’s Cay with Capt. Rick Killgore (800 698-5773) as he poled toward schools of 10-pound permit. It was 90 degrees and so calm that those fish were even fussier than normal, but I felt better when Capt. Sal Cursi called to say it was 28 degrees and snow was on the ground in Sewaren. The flats were like an aquarium, as we saw many tarpon over 100 pounds (those “laid-up” tarpon rarely hit), huge bull sharks, and sea turtles. One of the permit eventually did eat the live crab I cast to them before making the typical long runs on light spinning tackle prior to release.
Richard Stanczyk of Bud N’ Mary’s Fishing Marina (800 742-7945) in Islamorada arranged a reef trip with his brother, Capt. Scott, on the latter’s 56-foot Catch 22. Other N.J. anglers aboard were Vin Sparano of Waretown and Joan Salvato Wulff — a woman’s casting champion while growing up in Paterson before marrying Lee Wulff, the Izaak Walton of recent times. Since Lee’s death, Joan has been running her fly fishing school in the Catskills — but winters in Islamorada.
We had steady action chumming at anchor on the reef with delicious yellowtail snappers plus a few beautiful blue parrotfish up to 22 inches that were released. A barracuda well over 20 pounds ate one of my hooked fish, and I was shocked to be able to release it after a lengthy fight on 15-pound mono as the tiny short-shanked 2 hook tied directly to the line (necessary to fool the wary yellowtail) embedded on the outside of the upper jaw – away from the large teeth. With 42 yellowtails in the box, the skipper pulled anchor to locate some cero mackerel for Wulff and veteran flats guide Rick Ruoff to catch fly casting. On the way back, a five-foot sailfish was spotted, and Hunter, the mate, was able to find the single pilchard in a live well full of large cobia baits. The sail hit that pilchard immediately, and I released it after a few runs and jumps.
Tank Matraxia of Lyndhurst ended his long quest for a big tarpon this week during a guided day trip out of Bud N’Mary’s that produced a 125-pound release. The best of tarpon and dolphin fishing in the Keys is yet to come in the next couple of months, providing an opportunity for anglers to enjoy world class fishing in the U.S. that’s just a few hours away by plane.
The N.J. Outdoor Alliance (NJOA) will be stepping up pressure on 1st District Assemblyman Nelson Albano to hear the Pots off the Reef bill, A1152, in his Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. The Cape May Democrat has refused to do so, thus preventing a vote on the measure that’s already passed easily in the Senate, and will almost surely be signed by Gov. Christie if it gets to him. A protest will be held Saturday at Albano’s 21 North Main St office in Cape May Court House on Saturday at 10 a.m.
The IGFA Fundraising Dinner last Friday night at Doolan’s Restaurant in Spring Lake Heights was a big success, with 170 anglers in attendance. IGFA president Rob Kramer returned to Florida with a substantial donation for the IGFA Youth Angler and Conservation programs.
This Fishing Report was submitted on 4/8/2011 7:39:24 AM by Seamus and last updated on 4/8/2011 7:39:24 AM.
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