Tight Lines

Though it’s still very early after a rugged winter for striped bass to turn on in Raritan Bay, you will never know if you don’t try.

Shore anglers should try bloodworms or clams — especially on incoming tides during sunny days that warm the shallows.

Boaters may be able to find productive spots by searching with their fishfinders. That was the case a few years ago when Chuck Many hadn’t been able to a single bass during early March to get the season started on his Tyman before I joined his crew for another try. While looking off Perth Amboy, a few marks showed up on the fishfinder — and we soon had a bite going with shorts until the last worm was gone. While heading back to Highlands during a calm mid-morning we were surprised to spot a swirl. Blind casting with jigs and shads produced a steady bite of shorts — and one even hit a popper!

The Wednesday forecast is for northwest winds at 5-10 knots before going northeast in the afternoon.

Those seeking to break the ice on stripers in Raritan Bay will usually find incoming tide to be the best bet. Melting ice makes for cold waters on the ebb, while ocean waters are warmer and encourage feeding. Southeast winds at 5-10 knots are forecast along with snow and rain..

Winds will be

With the March 1 opening of N,J, back bays, it shouldn’t be long before this year’s first striped bass is recorded. It will probably be a short from around a bay bridge. but you never know.

The Monday forecast doesn’t look good. with north winds at 10-15 knots plus gust to 20 before shifting to northeast 5-10 in the afternoon.

It shouldn’t be as bad, but more snow is predicted for NY/NJ Bight/. Rain may be included with winds being north at 10-15 knots.

It may be just a formality. but New Jersey back bays open for striped bass and winter flounder on March 1. Stripers may be picked on seaworms, jigs and small plugs around bridges and in Raritan Bay, Flounder have been almost a dead issue in recent years, but some may be hooked on worms or mussels by casting from the Belmar piers.

It will be warmer at the Atlantic City Boat Show which winds up March 1 in Convention Hall.

The Saturday forecast is for southwest winds at 5-10 knots,

Vinny D’Anton reports from Sarasota that the latest drop into the thirties didn’t seem to bother shallow water fish. The water temp was back up to 63 degrees this morning. Vinny started with live shrimp and was surprised that live bait didn’t work though a switch the Mirrolure Miradine produced a 20-inch sea trout which is big for that species.

Calm weather is predicted in NY/NJ Bight with east winds at just 5 knots.

After what just happened in NY/NJ Bight. it’s looking better with a forecast of southwest winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25 and likely snow.

The northeast took a pounding today from Winter Storm Humberto, and it will take some time to come back from it in a clearing northwester. There were gusts up to 83 knots on Nantucket.

It’s already snowing and there’s a lot more to come as the northeast will be out of action for days.

Sorry for the blog,.but a family party went into overtime before we looked up and saw the strange-looking moon. I’ve fished many moons over the years, but never saw anything like it.