There’s certainly been no lack of gale warnings recently, and the latest runs from Saturday morning through Sunday morning. Saturday starts with east winds at 25-30 knots plus gusts to 40 in the afternoon. Rain is forecast in the morning before turning to sleet. Spring is right around the corner — I think.
Jim Hutchinson Jr.. editor of The Fisherman, submitted the following summery today:
On Monday, March 14, 2022, the New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) & Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will co-host a virtual public hearing starting at 6 p.m. to gather public input on the Atlantic Striped Bass Draft Amendment 7. The meeting is expected to last two hours.
A 2019 stock assessment concluded that striped bass is overfished and experiencing overfishing. In 2020, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) implemented an 18% reduction in the fishery to end overfishing and begin rebuilding the striper (these included new slot fish regulations to protect larger spawning class fish, plus the circle hook bait restriction to lower release mortality rates). A new striped bass stock assessment will be undertaken later this year.
Fishery managers believe we are currently exceeding our fishing mortality target for striped bass, and thus cannot rebuild spawning stock biomass (SSB) until that issue is addressed. In response, ASMFC initiated Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) which considers several management measures to help rebuild SSB back to mid 1990’s level.
The last time a new plan amendment to the Atlantic Striped Bass FMP was adopted was in 2003 (Amendment 6). Since then, ASMFC said their understanding of the striped bass fishery has changed considerably, and results from the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment have led managers to discuss a number of prominent issues facing striped bass management.
https://s0.2mdn.net/5526773/1646671137509/banner.html
Among the potential management options being discussed at the virtual public hearing are time and area closures (a minimum of two weeks during the spring or fall season when New Jersey has the most directed trips) to help reduce the overall fishing mortality (F). The potential closures being discussed are aimed primarily at reducing the mortality rate on released stripers, thus any potential closure would be aimed at targeting restrictions and not exclusively harvest, meaning there would be no “catch and release” striper fishing either.
Also in the Amendment 7 suite of proposed options are public comment options which address a rebuilding plan for striped bass and use of “conservation equivalency” on a state-by-state level are a series a potential management triggers aimed at growing the SSB level. A highly complex part of the current Amendment 7 debate, these management triggers are like “trip wires” to determine when regulators are required to take corrective management action.
Some of the “triggers” currently used are based on different combinations of F and SSB, where others are based on levels of striped bass recruitment that being young of the year (YOY) stripers leaving the spawning areas each year.
Official public hearings are now underway along the Atlantic Coast, some in-person and most in virtual form.
Stakeholders can provide input by attending one of the upcoming public hearings, with New Jersey and Pennsylvania scheduled for Monday, March 14. Comments are due back to comments@asmfc.org by April 15, 2022.
Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/6557659292797688075
Friday’s forecast is for south winds at just 5-10 knots.
Following is a release from the HRFA about next month’s striper tournament ;
Click here for online registration!
https://thehrfa.org/machform/embed.php?id=21523
PO Box 421
Cresskill, New Jersey 07626
PO Box 421
Piermont, NY 10968
The forecast for Thursday is for north winds at just 5-10 knots before going to east in the afternoon.
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The wind is dropping out, but rain and snow is in tomorrow’s forecast for NY/NJ Bight.
The forecast is for east winds at 10-15 knots, which should be fishable in Raritan Bay for those seeking early stripers.
The Ocean Explorer from Belmar took advantage of a flat calm Saturday to try bottom fishing for cod that produced a couple of keepers plus shorts along with six ling and plenty of dogfish and bergalls which indicated that bottom temperatures are rising. They’re waiting for a good forecast to give it another try.
The forecast for tomorrow is northwest at 15-20 knots with gusts to 30 as small craft warnings are up through Tuesday afternoon.
It’s time for stripers — a worm appears
Dave Lilly has a surefire method of predicting the start of the Raritan Bay striper run which involves nothing more complicated than viewing worms coming out of the ground after a rain.There was only a light drizzle today, but Lillly spotted one worm at Hazlet — and that make
s it official! As previously noted here, Lilly also saw pods of bunkers in the back of the bay last week when the water temperature was already 43 degrees. The first stripers are more likely to be interested in clams or seaworms than bunkers.
The gale warning posted yesterday turned out to be a false alarm as Lilly noted that it was actually calm.
Monday’s forecast is for south winds at 10-15 knots before increasing to 20-25 knots in the afternoon plus a chance of showers.
Capt. Joe Massa and friends visited Costa Rica during Super Bowl week and caught three sailfish (including the one jumping on the leader) plus a blue marlin.
I hope anglers took advantage of a fishable day, as that changes tonight as a gale watch is up for Sunday.
Southwest winds at 15-20 knots increase to 20-25 in the afternoon with gusts to 30.
Morning showers are likely.
Nick Honachefsky reports his Saltwater Underground show on fluking will air at 4:30 p.m. Sunday on the Sportsman Channel.
George Poveromo’s TV show features blackfin tuna and sailfish off Miami Beach before adding tarpon on the way back during the 8 a.m. screening Sunday on the Discovery Channel.
It’s much too early. but striped bass fishing is already well underway in Raritan Bay plus the back bays and rivers along the Jersey Shore. The vast majority are shorts, but keeper-size bass have been included — and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of a big bass being hooked during what looks like a perfect winter day tomorrow.
Raritan Bay waters have been in the mid-forties. which is good for bait fishing with clams or seaworms — as well as small lures. Back bay light tackle anglers are using bloodworms, paddletails, small swimmers, jigs and soft plastics.
The Saturday forecast couldn’t be much better as west winds at just 5 knots are predicted before afternoon when it switches to south. If you can handle two-foot seas, that’s the day to fish as things start changing Saturday night — and Sunday starts with southwest winds at 20-25 knots plus gusts to 30 — and showers,
The Atlantic City Boat Show runs through Sunday at the Convention Center.
There has been no retention of Goliath grouper allowed in Florida or federal waters since 1990, but Florida has decided to open a very limited season next year.
It appears that only 200 in the 2-3-foot range will be involved in a permit system. Originally known as jewfish, these shallow water giants held their own in the past even with no regulations at all before spear fishermen discovered their spawning areas where they were sitting ducks for power heads. Since the closing they’ve made a great comeback and are now considered to be a pest by many anglers as it’s become difficult to get any decent-sized grouper or snapper up from a wreck before a Goliath takes it first.
Though there’s a small craft warning up through tonight, the upcoming forecast is very good. Friday’s prediction is for northwest at 5-10 knots before turning southwest in the afternoon.
The Ocean Explorer from Belmar plans to sail for cod on Saturday.
The Atlantic City Boat Show is underway at the Convention Center through the weekend. Adult admission is $17, but kids under 15 are admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult. Free seminars are included.
The forecast is for northwest winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25 — but calm seas are predicted for the weekend.
Tight Lines 