The long-awaited preliminary striped bass stock assessment shows that the most important inshore game fish along most of the northern Atlantic coast is overfished — and that overfishing is occurring.

Triggers in the Striped Bass Management Plan have been tripped, and there was only one vote at the recent ASMFC Striped Bass Board meeting against asking the Technical Committee to provide the commissioners by the next meeting in May with recommendations for reductions in mortality that will bring the stocks back to desired levels.

Since this was only a preliminary report, there’s little chance of any reductions being made this year. However, there could well be some significant changes proposed for 2020. Some commissioners may instead favor changing the trigger points which they may feel are too conservative. That’s a reasonable approach in the cases of sea bass and summer flounder as the original statistics were very questionable due to recreational catch figures from decades ago being little more than guesswork — and the obvious abundance of those species. In the case of stripers, there were good catch statistics over a long period of time — and most coastal anglers are complaining about the quality of  the coastal migrations. The N,J.-N.Y. area has been fortunate in having the Hudson River stock to provide a good local fishery with that stock which usually doesn’t migrate as far as  those from the Chesapeake and Delaware bay areas.

This will surely be a contentious issue as commercial and some charter interests seek more quota while sportsmen are more concerned with having a larger stock to fish on even if most have to be released.

Correction: Before sending out yesterday’s blog about the ASMFC decision to maintain status quo regulations on sea bass I forgot to eliminate the reference to the Mid-Atlantic Council in the first paragraph.

Needless to say, today was another blowout. A gale watch is up through Wednesday night, but the weekend is looking better.  West winds of 20-25 knots with gusts to 40 on Wednesday drop a bit to west 15-20 with gusts to 30 on Thursday. There are only southwest winds of 10-15 knots on Friday, but with a chance of rain in the morning and a likelihood in the afternoon.  Saturday may be fishable after all that ocean-calming west wind as the forecast is for northwest 10-15 knots with only 2-4-foot seas and a chance of rain.

The N.J. Fish & Game Council meeting went on as planned this morning, but the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association meeting tonight has been postponed

Fred Golofaro, editor of The Fisherman magazine Long Island edition, had good news about the passage of bunker bills in both the N.Y. Assembly and Senate that will prohibit bunker seiners from operating in N.Y. waters. I thought that had been the law there for a long time, but Golofaro said there was a “sunset”  provision which opened up the opportunity for seiners last year. There had been an unusual  run of bunkers into Peconic Bay, but the seiners even went there and cleaned them out completely. The governor is expected to sign that legislation.

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA) is holding an all you can eat beefsteak dinner and fishing seminar on Saturday in the Forked River Tuna Club, at 18 Bay Avenue. The $50 ticket also covers the seminars by the JCAA’s Paul Haertel on fisheries issues and Anthony Arcabascio of Tony Maja Tackle who will detail trolling his father’s spoons for big bass. Haertel needs a count by Thursday. Call him at 973 943-8201 for tickets.

Surf Day will be presented Saturday at Brookdale Community College, 5 Newman Springs Rd. in Lincroft from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with numerous seminars. For details visit jerseyshoresurfcasters.com. The New Jersey Boat Sale & Expo runs from Thursday through Sunday at the N.J. Convention Center in Raritan Center in Edison. Fishing seminars are also available. For info visit jerseyboatexpo.com.

Fishing flea markets continue, with the Southern Regional H.S. Fishing Show at Southern Regional Middle School, 75 Cedar Bridge Rd, in Manahawkin from 8-2 on Saturday. Admission is $4, and free for kids under 12.

The Salt Water Anglers of Bergen County Fishing Flea Market runs from 9-3 Sunday  in the Hasbrouck Heights VFW at 513 Veterans Place. Admission is $5. Call 973- 234-9618 for info.

The  Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council voted last week to maintain  the same regulations for sea bass as were in effect last year as per the following press release:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was formed by the 15 Atlantic coastal states in 1942 for the promotion and protection of coastal fishery resources. The Commission serves as a deliberative body of the Atlantic coastal states, coordinating the conservation and management of nearshore fishery resources, including marine, shell and anadromous species.
1050 N. Highland Street • Suite 200A-N • Arlington, VA 22201 703.842.0740 (phone) 703.842.0741 (fax) http://www.asmfc.org

Arlington, VA – The Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board approved status quo measures for the 2019 black sea bass recreational fishery (see Table 1). This action is based on the recommendations of its Technical Committee, which found that status quo measures are not likely to exceed the coastwide recreational harvest limit for 2019. Based on the most recent most stock assessment, the stock is estimated to be above the biomass target and not experiencing overfishing.

Table 1. 2019 Black Sea Bass Recreational Management Measures State Minimum Size Possession Limit Open Season ME 13″ 10 fish May 19–Sep 21; Oct 18–Dec 31 NH 13″ 10 fish Jan 1–Dec 31 MA 15″ 5 fish May 19–Sep 12
RI 15″
3 fish Jun 24–Aug 31 7 fish Sep 1–Dec 31
CT
Private/Shore 15″ 5 fish May 19–Dec 31 Authorized Party/Charter 15″ 5 fish May 19–Aug 31 7 fish Sep 1–Dec 31 NY 15″ 3 fish Jun 23–Aug 31 7 fish Sep 1–Dec 31
NJ 12.5″ 10 fish May 15–Jun 22 12.5″ 2 fish Jul 1–Aug 31 12.5″ 10 fish Oct 8–Oct 31 13″ 15 fish Nov 1–Dec 31
DE, MD, VA, & NC (North of Cape Hatteras) 12.5″ 15 fish May 15–Dec 31
The Board also approved proposals from Virginia and North Carolina to participate in the February 2019 recreational fishery specified by NOAA Fisheries. The season will be open from February 1-28, 2019 with a 12.5 inch minimum size limit and 15 fish possession limit. To account for any harvest in February, Virginia and North Carolina will adjust their management measures later in the season, if necessary. Recreational anglers should verify regulations with their respective states.

FISHING REPORTS:

The Jamaica from Brielle had another great trip to far offshore wrecks with many limits of big porgies. That trip was run on Sunday rather than the usual  Saturday to avoid the high winds. There were a few ling and cod added to the catch. Roger Buratti of Piscataway won the pool with a 9-pound cod. Those Saturday trips at 1 a.m. will continue through February plus March 2. Should there be a bad forecast, they will be postponed to Sunday if better weather is predicted. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations.

The Canyon Runner continues to enjoy outstanding giant tuna action out of Oregon Inlet, N.C.. The Matt Motzitis party caught a giant Thursday, and had a wolf pack blast of four giants on at once Saturday — before hooking up with a giant in seconds on Sunday.

Those who didn’t make the sold-out Canyon Runner Seminar at Atlantic City can make up for that when the event is repeated Saturday on Long Island at the Huntington Hilton in Millville. Call Adam La Rosa at 732 842-6825 to determine if any tickets are still available.

The weather is turning on us again, with a gale watch up for Tuesday. East winds of 20-25 knots with gusts to 30 plus snow, sleet and rain increase to 40 knot gusts along with rain and 9-foot seas in the afternoon.  Wednesday is better with a shift to west winds of 20-25 knots with gusts to 40 which will start flattening the ocean. By Thursday morning it drops off to west at 15-20 knots before diminishing to 10-15 in the afternoon.

Our break from midwinter weather will be coming to an end Monday night, but there’s one day left to enjoy a 5-10 knot northeast wind with seas of less than one foot despite some light snow. After that we’ll be in for much stronger NE winds.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had a nice day at sea on Sunday, with a pick of keeper blackfish and a cod. They’ll be out again in the morning in search of the big tog that evaded them today.

There was better news from much further south as Ric Gross of Point Pleasant reported he fished last week with Capt. Chase on Reel Rival from Boynton Beach, Florida as they had lots of action in 75-degree waters with triggerfish up to 4 pounds, , mutton snappers to 2 pounds and , porgies to 12 inches. Sounds good to me.

The marine forecast looks great for fishing Sunday and almost as good on Monday before a return to poor east conditions on Tuesday. Sunday’s winds are forecasted to blow 5-10 knots west with 1-foot seas after today’s west blast knocked the swell down.

The Big Jamaica sails at 1 a.m. for offshore wrecks that are loaded with porgies as illustrated below.  Call 732 528-5014 to reserve a possible opening. Both the Big Mohawk and Ocean Explorer will leave Belmar at 7 a.m. for blackfish.

The Hi-Mar Striper Club had its usual big turnout for their fishing flea market. I met several blog followers there, and passed the word about the blog to many more who will be joining us.

Sad news Friday was the passing of Capt. Joe Occipinti, Sr., whose Little Hawk was an imposing sight on the Raritan Bay striper grounds. His son, Joe Jr., will carry on running that large group charter boat from Atlantic Highlands.

There were small craft warnings up today, but they’ll be replaced by a gale warning at 6 pm. that extends ino Saturday. The good news is that even though Saturday is a blowout, there’s plenty to do  ashore before the northwest wind flattens the ocean for what looks like a perfect Sunday with 5-10 knot west winds  and a one-foot sea.

The Hi-Mar Striper Club Fishing Flea Market runs from 8-2 in the Middletown VFW on One Veteran’s Lane off Rt, 36 in Port Monmouth. I’ll be selling new and used tackle there as well as my last book — The Complete Book of Surf Fishing. Stop by and say hello. The $5 admission also includes seminars which start at 8:30 with Anthony Arcabasxio on trolling Tony Maja bunker spoons for big stripers. Capt. Derick Bielitz follows at 9:30 with inshore tuna fishing from his Fisher Price. The Zagorski brothers provide their blackfish secrets at 10:30 — and Jeff Dement discusses the ALS tagging program at 11:30.

Further south along the Shore, Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park has the Northeast Rod Builders gathering from 10-4, with a $25 admission covering breakfast and lunch.

The Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar will go on all day at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Hall Hotel, Call 800 448-7360  to determine if any tickets are available.

The Jamaica from Brielle postponed their Saturday offshore porgy trip to Sunday, and will sail at 1 a.m. that day. Reservations are required. Call 732 528-5014.

Blackfish party boats should be back in action on Sunday.

The Hi-Mar Striper Club Fishing Flea Market is coming up Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p, m. in the usual site at the Middletown VFW at 1 Veterans Lane off Rt. 36 in Port Monmouth. This is the largest event of its kind in the area, and the $5 entry fee also includes free seminars which begin at 8:30 with Anthony Arcabasio of Tony Maja Tackle.

I’ll be there with lots of new and used tackle  plus my surfcasting book,  Capt. Vinny Vetere of Katfish Charters will be showing  the TGT spoons which he purchased recently as well as his Ho-Jos.  I’ll have more about this event tomorrow.

George Poveromo’s Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar returns to N.J. at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Hall   on Saturday with Nick Honachefsky as co-host and a full day of speakers ranging from local pros to the leading daytime swordfish skipper in the country — Capt. Nick Stanczyk of Islamorada. Call 800 448-7360 for tickets.

The weather is taking a nosedive on us, with small craft warnings tonight going to a gale watch Friday for northwest winds in the afternoon into Saturday — but it drops down on Sunday to a modest 5-10 knots.  As a result, the Jamaica from Brielle has postponed their Saturday offshore wreck trip for jumbo porgies to Sunday. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had poor blackfishing Wednesday after having been into trophy tog the day before. There were some short blacks, but only two keepers and a cod. Due to the weather, they won’t be sailing tomorrow or Saturday, but hope to get out on Sunday.

The Ocean Explorer posted a belated report of catching the big tautog on Tuesday to challenge John Snook’s 13 pound, 8 ounce seasonal pool leader  A couple of 10-pounders were boated, but the big news was the 13-pound, 10 ounce tog that was a mere 2 ounces bigger than the leader. Yet there were no tears from John Snook since he was the one who caught it. The Ocean Explorer crew still expects to find an even bigger blackfish before the pool is awarded. There were also a few cod and pollock hooked on Tuesday’s trip.

The huge break in mid-winter weather is changing. The forecast for Thursday has gone up to 10-15 knots northeast with a chance of light rain in the morning.

Vinny D’Anton said shore fishing picked up in Sarasota after the water temperature went back up to 65 degrees. They had actually been hoping for it to drop below 60 degrees in order to kill off any remaining trace of he red tide which killed so many fish a few months ago. Vinny hooked some small spotted sea trout on a DOA Shrimp and added large ladyfish on a MirrOlure.

 

The World Fishing & Outdoor Exposition moves into Rockland Community College at Suffern, N.Y. from Feb. 28 to March 3. The opening on Thurs,day will be the day to go for anyone named Rod or any derivative of that name as they will be admitted free with proper identification. This show attracts full displays by all of the major fishing tackle manufacturers.

Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park hosts the fourth annual Northeast Rod Builders event on Feb. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $25, which includes breakfast and lunch. There were 50 rod builders there last year.

Surf Day is coming up Feb. 16 from 8:30 a.m. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Brookdale Community College.

The Salt Water Anglers of Bergen County will hold their fishing flea market  on Sunday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p,m.in the VFW, 513 Veterans Place, Hasbrouck Heights. Admission is $5, with kids under 12 admitted free.  Call Craig Zincavage at 073 334-9618 for info.

The mild calm weather continues another day as the wind shifts to northeast though at only 5-10 knots. It’s the same for Thursday, but with a chance of rain in the morning.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had a flat calm Monday that included a few ling plus a keeper cod and pollock while Skip had an 8-pound blackfish along with another keeper.  An Ocean Explorer tog is pictured below.

There was no change in the outstanding fishing for big porgies on far offshore wrecks during Saturday’s weekly trip by the Jamaica from Brielle. Porgies were read 40 to 50 feet thick, and high hooks bagged up to 40. There were a few ling, white hake and whiting. A 6-pound ling caught by Kurt Austin of Washington, D.C. ran away with the pool over a 3.5-pound porgy by Randy Rizz from Philadelphia.  The Jamaica will make that trip again at 1 a.m. Saturday. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar  fished a bit further offshore than they have been on a calm Sunday. The water temperature was  just over 60 degrees There were only a few blackfish up to an 8-pounder plus congers and good bergall action on bottom. The seasonal pool  is building up, and they are concentrating on trying to find big tog.

The incredible mild weather continues tomorrow as 5-10 knot west winds are predicted — though fog is possible. Even a wind shift to northeast on Wednesday brings only a 5-10 knot breeze.

The weather is exceptional for mid-winter, but the blackfish bite has been slow. The Ocean Explorer from Belmar fished on Saturday and had a few keeper tog along with lots of congers and some dogfish. There was plenty of life on bottom as bergalls were hitting, and the water temperature was mild for January at 41 degrees. It got rough that afternoon, which may have affected the results.

The weather forecast is so good for Monday that boats may find it hard to anchor without swinging in the swell. Winds are predicted to be only 5 mph, and that continues much of the week except for Tuesday afternoon.

Enjoy the game!