On Saturday March 9, 2024, IGFA Chairman Roy Cronacher landed this 26.90-kilogram (59-pound, 5-ounce) swordfish on fly! With this fish, Roy set the IGFA Men’s 10-kg (20 lb) Tippet Class World Record for the species. Roy was fishing off South Florida aboard his boat Gladiator captained by Tim Richardson when this record sword struck his fly. After battling the fish through the dark, the crew of the Gladiator were able to boat the swordfish and returned to the docks for an official weight on their certified scale.

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Sorry about no blog yesterday. My grandchildren were visiting!

A small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight through tonight. The forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots plus likely rain in the afternoon.

It may not sound like anything to do with saltwater fishing, but Dave Lilly is sure that the appearance of earthworms on sidewalks after a heavy rain is a certain sign that striper fishing will break out in NY/NJ Bight. The recent rain didn’t do the job, though some anglers are doing well up in Raritan River and other rapidly warming backwaters.

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A small craft advisory is up in that area until 4 p.m.. but by morning the northeast wind will be down to 5-10 knots. Areas of fog and drizzle are possible.

Friday is Surf Day at Saltwater Expo

Crazy Alberto Knie reminds that surfcasters will be well served by getting to the noon opening Friday of the Saltwater Expo in the N.J. Convention Center at Edison. “BIG News! Friday March 14 is Surf Friday. Seminars with some of the best followed by a Q&A Panel at 6:30 moderated by Jim Hutchinson with @thefishermanmag where one lucky attendee will walk away with a surfcasting package with over $3000 including @vanstaalofficial reel, @centuryrodsusa rod, @tactical_anglers terminal tackle kit, @jbraidusa @daiwausa 3300 yard spool of 40 pound test braid and more. Plus specialty custom plug makers selling on hand plus over 50 surfcasting exhibitors in the show. Seminars and entry included in the regular price of admission.
BIG News! Friday March 14 is Surf Friday. Seminars with some of the best followed by a Q&A Panel at 6:30 moderated by Jim Hutchinson with @thefishermanmag where one lucky attendee will walk away with a surfcasting package with over $3000 including @vanstaalofficial reel, @centuryrodsusa rod, @tactical_anglers terminal tackle kit, @jbraidusa @daiwausa 3300 yard spool of 40 pound test braid and more. Plus specialty custom plug makers selling on hand plus over 50 surfcasting exhibitors in the show. Seminars and entry included in the regular price of admission.
BIG News! Friday March 14 is Surf Friday. Seminars with some of the best followed by a Q&A Panel at 6:30 moderated by Jim Hutchinson with @thefishermanmag where one lucky attendee will walk away with a surfcasting package with over $3000 including @vanstaalofficial reel, @centuryrodsusa rod, @tactical_anglers terminal tackle kit, @jbraidusa @daiwausa 3300 yard spool of 40 pound test braid and more. Plus specialty custom plug makers selling on hand plus over 50 surfcasting exhibitors in the show. Seminars and entry included in the regular price of admission.
BIG News! Friday March 14 is Surf Friday. Seminars with some of the best followed by a Q&A Panel at 6:30 moderated by Jim Hutchinson with @thefishermanmag where one lucky attendee will walk away with a surfcasting package with over $3000 including @vanstaalofficial reel, @centuryrodsusa rod, @tactical_anglers terminal tackle kit, @jbraidusa @daiwausa 3300 yard spool of 40 pound test braid and more. Plus specialty custom plug makers selling on hand plus over 50 surfcasting exhibitors in the show. Seminars and entry included in the regular price of admission.”

A small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight through late tonight. The forecast for Friday is for northeast winds at 5-10 knots with swells up to 6 feet.

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Capt. Monty Hawkins made an exploratory trip offshore on Monday with his Morning Star from Ocean City, Md., but didn’t find any cod. He had hoped that very cold waters to the north would drive cod south as was the case in Feb. 2011 when he was able to advertise codfishing. There were a few short tautog and a couple of decent ones plus a few sea bass.

Crazy Alberto seminars at Saltwater Expo

Crazy Alberto Knie will be one of the features at the Saltwater Expo in the N.J. Convention Center in Edison from noon Friday through Sunday.

Alberto has a seminar each day of the show with an emphasis on catching a personal best bass, with Surf Friday’s presentation also featuring Fisherman editor Jim Hutchinson. Alberto will also be on Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 2.

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A small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight through Thursday afternoon.

East winds at 10-15 knots are predicted tomorrow plus gusts to 20 and seas to 5 feet.

Some inshore bottom life

Ocean water temperatures dropped quite low this year, with the result that inshore fishing results were impacted. However, the Ocean Explorer from Belmar had some better news Monday. The high hook that day had a dozen ling plus a keeper cod. Nothing great, but a good sign.

The forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for north winds at 10-15 knots before dropping to east at 5-10 in the afternoon.

Saltwater Expo coming up

The best sportsman’s Show of the year is coming up from noon Friday to Sunday. The Saltwater Expo draws all the major tackle companies and many other exhibits of interest to saltwater anglers plus seminars by top anglers and skippers. The site is the N.J. Convention Center in Edison, where parking is free.

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The forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for south winds at 5-10 knots with gusts to 20 in the afternoon.

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Vinny D’Anton reports spotted sea trout fishing continues to be hot in the Longboat Key area of southwest Florida. Most are of legal size and up to 4 pounds. This is wade fishing with a variety of lures including MirrOlures and the DOA Shrimp.

Last minute party boat trip

Capt. Monty Hawkins is taking advantage of a good weather forecast with his Morning Star from Ocean City, Md. just to see what’s out there as follows: “Offering a cod(?)tog(?)trip. Really it’s just an “I gotta go fishing” trip. Have fresh clam. Have crabs. Have an incredibly calm forecast tomorrow with air temps in the mid-40s.. Last time winter was this cold (2011) I was offering cod trips every chance I had- catching too–even occasional 10 fish limits. Are they there now? Derned if I know. I need to go to sea a day anyway so let’s go find out.

Fishing for most anything that might bite a hook then – Monday, 3/10/25 – depart 7:30 return 3 (regulars know I’ll gladly leave a half hour early if all are aboard) Trip sells out at, IDK, 4? Not really! But I sure don’t expect many with one day’s notice. Call it sold out at 12 (a number that is not going to happen.) Fare is $125.00…

The forecast for NYNJ Bight is for west winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 before going southwest at just 5-10 in the afternoon.

Stripers turning on in Raritan Bay

The water temperature jumped up in Raritan Bay this week. and stripers responded. Phil Sciortino reports from the Tackle Box in Hazlet that both shore and kayak anglers are not only catching schoolies, but even some “overs” already. The best action has been in the back of the bay and up the Raritan River. Metal lip swimmers have been effective on the bigger fish, and you can’t go wrong with bloodworms.

A small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight through Sunday afternoon. The forecast for Sunday is for west winds at 15 knots plus gusts to 30.

Bluefin tuna remain abundant in N.C.

Capt. Mark De Blasio of the N.J.-based Water Proof reported on March 5 as follows:”We saw a few beautiful days on the water in the OBX .. great fishing continues with 14 Bluefins caught or released over 2 days of fishing .. kept a recreational fish each day and released the rest ranging from 60” to 100” class”

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Windy weather continues in N.J. with a gale warning up in NY/NJ Bight until 6 p.m. The forecast for Saturday is for west winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30.

Stripers may be ready to turn on early

The weather hasn’t been cooperating lately in NY/NJ Bight. but the Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported seeing some stripers blasting into bunkers offshore as that boat was on its way out for cod. That was despite a water temperature of only 37 degrees.

Another gale warning is up at 6 p.m. through Friday afternoon. Friday’s forecast is for west winds at 25 to 30 knots.