JCAA endorses Option 32 fluke regs

Paul Haertel reports that the Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA) has unanimously endorsed Option 32 for adoption by the N.J. Marine Fisheries Council at their March 7 meeting in the Galloway Twp. Library. That provides three fluke at an 18-inch minimum with a long season from 5/4 to 9/25 (145 fishable days) and carries up to the spring sea bass opening. Whatever regs are selected will apply to both 2014 and 2015.

That 18-inch minimum had made it difficult for most anglers to catch a keeper, but when smaller fluke were allowed as part of a day’s catch last year many anglers found themselves releasing large fluke in order to fill the limit with much smaller ones.

The 31st Asbury Park Fishing Club’s Fishing Show takes over the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park on Sunday.

The Empire State Outdoor Sportsman’s Show is underway at the Rockland Community College Fieldhouse in Suffern, N.Y. through Sunday. Crazy Alberto Knie is a featured speaker there. Call 845 319-3976 for tickets and details.

The Atlantic City Boat Show runs through Sunday at the Atlantic City Convention Center The hours are 10-8 Saturday and 10-6 Sunday. For details visit acboatshow.com

A small craft advisory in NJ/NY Bight is up from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. The Saturday forecast is for southeast winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 and rain. By Sunday it’s down to north at 10, but with 5-7-foot seas.