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Hooking Up Anglers Since 2011.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has stopped providing artificial reef funding to New Jersey from the Sport Fish Restoration Act because those reefs, constructed for sportfishing with monies derived from the excise tax on fishing tackle, are obstructed with strings of commercial fish pots. John Organ, of the Fish & Wildlife Service, noted in his letter to DEP commissioner...
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has stopped providing artificial reef funding to New Jersey from the Sport Fish Restoration Act because those reefs, constructed for sportfishing with monies derived from the excise tax on fishing tackle, are obstructed with strings of commercial fish pots.
John Organ, of the Fish & Wildlife Service, noted in his letter to DEP commissioner Bob Martin that “funding can be restored when appropriate action is taken to eliminate the conflicts that currently interfere with recreational fishing on these reefs.”
The Senate provided a solution to that problem recently when it overwhelmingly passed S221, the Pots off the Reefs bill. However, the companion Assembly bill, A1152, is languishing in the Assembly Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee, where chairman Nelson Albano (D-Cumberland) has refused to hold a hearing on it. The Garden State Seafood Association is powerful in that South Jersey district, and the lack of action by Albano prevents the legislation from being brought up for an almost surely positive vote in the Assembly — followed by Gov. Chris Christie’s expected signing, and restoration of federal funding. For more information and how you can participate in returning the reefs to their lawful purposes visit my blog at nj.com/shore/blogs/fishing.
Though striped bass fishing had been picky from both shore and boat, and the unprecedented ocean jigging run we had last year at this time hasn’t reoccurred, there were indications this week that better days are at hand in Raritan Bay. The first legal surf stripers were weighed in at Betty & Nick’s Tackle in Seaside Park after being caught on clams in Island Beach State Park; the cod run continues for offshore anglers; and blackfishing is improving in the ocean as waters warm. Check the blog for daily fishing updates.
Capt. Pete Wagner of Hyper Striper at Twin Lights Marina in Highlands said Monday’s warm temperatures seemed to turn bass on for the afternoon trip when the Mark Fidulli party from Garfield caught over 50 — including eight keepers.
At Atlantic Highlands, Capt. Rob Semkewyc said all but one of his 11 fares on the Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands boated a legal bass in the back of the bay Thursday, and some hit limits while lots of shorts were released. Capt. Scotty Hilliard had similar action on his Prowler as 11 keeper bass were caught and 23 shorts released.
Hilliard noted the water temperature was up from 48 degrees last week to 52.5. Capt. Ron Santee has been looking for stripers on the outside with his fishermen, but ends up in the bay to catch some keepers.
Tank Matraxia, Marty Gras, and Rob DeYoung from Lyndhurst clammed the back of the bay Tuesday morning with captains Lou Grazioso and Fletcher Chayes of Two Rivers Charters to pick 10 bass.
Matraxia put American Littoral Society (ALS) tags in all of them, with the largest measuring 32½ inches fork length — which is how the ALS measures. Matraxia had a big tagging day last year on April 14, and two of those fish were recaptured during the summer in Massachusetts. (Merrimack River and Cape Cod Bay) — bringing him up to 100 tag returns.
Matraxia returned from Islamorada in the Florida Keys last week after finally fulfilling his desire to release a big tarpon.
That silver king, estimated at 125 pounds, hit a live crab during a morning trip out of Bud N’ Mary’s Marina (800-742-7945).
Many New Jersey anglers are taking advantage of great spring fishing in the Florida Keys, especially the opportunity to catch that great game fish which provides spectacular jumps, usually weighs more than 100 pounds, and is caught on relatively light stand-up tackle from small boats in protected waters. The middle of the night is the ideal time to pursue the big migratory tarpon 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. recently 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. The flats were like an aquarium, as we saw many tarpon over 100 pounds, 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, owner of Bud N’ Mary’s, 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 — the woman’s national 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 hit the lone pilchard in the live well before I released it after a few runs and jumps.
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The Hudson River Fishermen’s Association begins the tournament season the next two days with the Hudson River Striper Derby that has weigh-in stations at Haverstraw Marine Restaurant, N.Y. and Atlantis Marina, Staten Island. This is an individual entry tournament for both shore and boat anglers. For details and last minute entry information visit www.hrfa.org.
Capt. Howard Bogan Jr. said Saturday’s codfishing on his Jamaica out of Brielle was slow, but Sunday’s cod special produced several big pollock and cod — topped by a 36.5-pound cod for Kapil Bhattkacharjee of Basking Ridge. The Jamaica will be seeking stripers at 7:30 a.m. the next two days, but the Paramount will be codfishing. Retired Shimano rep Dick Kondak of Scotch Plains fished Sunday morning with his son Greg and grandson Jackson of Maplewood on Two Rivers Charters for three keeper stripers and two shorts as Jackson (6) did the reeling on bass up to a 17-pounder.
At Highlands, Capt. Stan Zagleski managed some tog and a few cod during Sunday’s first daily blackfish trip with Elaine B. David and Phil Fischer of Maplewood fished Sunday in Shrewsbury River with their small boat, rather than running back to Keyport, but managed a 29-inch striper and three legal winter flounder.
Joe Mellillo reports from Castaway’s Tackle in Point Pleasant that some stripers are being plugged in Manasquan Inlet as well as in the surf north of there. Others are hitting jigs in Point Pleasant Canal. Flounder fishing remains good at the Barnegat Bay end of the canal
This Fishing Report was submitted on 4/15/2011 8:17:38 AM by Seamus and last updated on 4/15/2011 8:17:38 AM.
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