by The New Jersey State Police have surprised small boaters with a new regulation that all those on deck during trips starting in November must wear a U.S, Coast Guard-approved life preserver. That regulation is being imposed in order to facilitate searches during bad weather months.
This applies to all aboard boats of 26 feet or less from Nov. 1 to May 1. Those in an enclosed cabin do not have to wear the life preserver while there. I hope there is an exception made for flotation suits, which are by far the safest means of fishing from a boat in the winter.
Sea bass have taken over most of the attention from N.J. boaters since that season started in Sunday’s rough seas. By tomorrow, those seas will be down to three feet in a southeast swell with southwest winds at a mere 5 knots.
At Belmar, the Big Mohawk got back into action with a pick of sea bass in many areas plus some better flurries and some porgies. The Golden Eagle got out into calm seas Monday after a week and a half of waiiting out the storm. They looked for blues and found some before adding sea bass. They will continue with that program as the bottom settles out.
The Queen Mary finally got out from Point Pleasant and ended up with a good catch of sea bass and porgies plus some exotics.
Mike Monte reports the surf has improved with a return to green waters that should start producing the fall striper run in the Monmouth County surf. Betty & Nick’s Fishing Club in Seaside Park noted the water temperature has dropped to 66 degrees, which it was when striper fishing broke open last fall.
Eric Kerber reports it only took 2 1/2 hours to load up his On A Mission party from Belmar with sea bass plus nine large bluefish.
The back country is still producing sheepshead in South Jersey, as shown by Alex Mann at Absecon Bay Sportsman Center today.
Tight Lines 
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