Slugging out winter bottom fishing

Winter ocean bottom fishing is rarely fast, but the shot at a double digit tautog is often a possibility.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported a slow Saturday with very little of anything — and will try a different location on the next trip.

Capt. Monty Hawkins found some light ice in his Morning Star berth at Ocean City, Md., but pushed through into a calm sea to seek tog. His repot follows: “Not many brave souls this AM. Last time we had a winter this cold I was taking cod/tog trips – Feb 2011. Was good fishing.

Alex made a fine block deployment – we pressed on, stopping for a bit on a huge flock of gannets, the first I’ve seen all winter. Stuka dive bombers of the avian world, their plunge into the sea is at once graceful with well-honed murderous intent. Stretched out a mile and a half or so, mate Joe and the guys saw a few fish busting too. I noted their position for the annual scientific tagging cruise going on from VA Beach currently. Last I’d heard, striped bass had been scarce; moving the boat to Ocean City was in consideration. Cold as it’s been and water temps dropping fast, their target species may well have arrived down there in recent daysI pulled her back a few miles from where I’d fished Thursday.

Ehh, 25-some miles short.

Maybe more.

Bluefin tuna fishing was astounding off there that day. If I hadn’t put Monday–with its near-flat calm & warmer forecast on the book for tog…..

Winds a steady 15 NW; our first drop today instantly yielded a small sea bass, then another, then two tauglets. The pick continued and size improved somewhat.

Alas, there were no crab eating cod to be found. Maybe in another week.

John did catch a 17 inch female tog with a bright yellow ALS tag. With no growth it? ..was most likely a late summer accidental catch we tagged while sea bassing ..

Three great spots today but no double digit fish. At least some were biting. Ken to the mini-pool with a 19 inch female he released.

Monday looks considerably warmer & plenty calm. If I didn’t have it in the book already as a tog trip I’d go tuna fishing for sure.

Plenty of spots yet for Monday’s tog run. Interested? See Fish Report 1/22/25 for booking info.”

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There’s a small craft advisory going up in NY/NJ Bight from Monday evening to Tuesday afternoon before becoming a gale watch the next day.