There was a fire yesterday at theBelford, N.J. Seafod Co-Op, but it appears the damage wasn’t as severe as at first suspected. The marshes were blackened, but when Dave Lilly checked the area today the old building was standing and looked as if it would be operational.

Th Ocean Explorer got offshore from Belmar yesterday and found some of the targeted cod along with a few ling while fishing on a flat ocean in warm temperatures. They plan on fishing for cod daily. The marine forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots in the morning before increasing later to 15-20 with gusts to 25.

While looking through Facebook recently, I was surprised to see a post from party boat historian Mel Deak noting that Capt. Barry Goldman passed away on Feb. 22. I knew that Barry had been in bad health for a long time, but never got word of his death at 86.

Barry was one of the best-kown characters on the Jersey Shore when I started writing my saltwater fishing column for the Star-Ledger. He ran his charter boat Ol’ Salty II out of Belmar, and ended up his career as a second captain for offshore trips on the Voyager from Point Pleasant.Though born in Perth Amboy, he acquired his love of the ocean as a kid summering in Deal. While reading his obituary, I was surprised to find that he had a degree in Geology from Cornell University and worked in a wide variety of jobs. Leon Hess was a cousin, and Goldman joined him in the oil business for some time.Goldman left his son David to continue the family link to sportfishing, though Capt. David charters a Raritan Bay center console and specializes in striped bass as well as the tuna his dad preferred..

The weather is looking much better as tomorrow’s forecast is for sunny and mild with temperatures in the mid-forties as southeast winds will be only 5-10 knots. The Ocean Explorer plans to sail for cod from Belmar.

The Tackle Box in Hazlet reports there’s aleady been school striper activity with bass to 32 inches from Raritan Bay shorelines at Leonardo, Cliffwood Beach and South Amboy. Tommy Karindrakas of of Long Branch, who released the first keeper last week, did it again with a 12-pounder. Both bloodworms and sandworms are working.

Up Front Bait & Tackle in Keyport had their first bass to weigh as Bob Wavro had a 28-incher that went 8.6 pounds.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar found lively bottom Saturday that produced a keeper cod and two pollock plus a few ling from among the bergalls. With better weather, they will try to get out every day. The morning forecast is for northwest winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 before Wednesday looks great with 5-10 east and seas at 2 feet or less.

Chuck Many has been releasng red drum at Hilton Head, South Carolina;

After a lot of hard northwest wind, Sunday looks very nice. The marine forecast is for northwest at a mere 5-10 knots and just 2-foot seas or less. As a result, the Ocean Explorer from Belmar will be sailing or cod.

Paul Haertel of the JCAA is still unhapy with the unanimous voe of the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council to adopt the status quo fluke season of May 22 to Sept. 10 instead of the opton of a later-opening that would have provided more fishing days. He noted that most of those attending the meeting favored the longer season as was the case with 725 out of 826 who replied to the state survey. Paul further noted that solid majorities of all sectors wanted the longer season with the exception of fishermen from Atlantic County. That brings up the question of wether there’s any reason to bother responding to surveys or going to Council meetings if their opinions are not valued?

The Jackson Crossing Indoor Fishing Flea Market concludes from 8-5 Sunday at 21 S. Hope Channel Road in Jackson, N.J. Call 732 859-0020 for details. Masks are required.

Chuck Many visited Hilton Head, South Carolina to catch red drum and the small but colorful black drum shown below.

Though 73% of those answering the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife survey favored the option of a later but longer fluke season, the Marine Fisheries Council last night decided to retain the same season as last year — May 22 to Sept. 19. That was favored by most South Jersey anglers. More about this tomorrow.

Indoor fishing flea markets return the next two days at Jackson Crossing, N.J. The address is 21 S, Hope Channel Rd., Jackson. Masks are required for the 8-2 event, and there’s a $2 entrance donation to Jersey Coast Anglers for fishing outings for special needs kids and disabled vets. Call 732 859-0020 for info.

A small craft advisory is up through Saturday morning, but northwest winds will be moderating over the weekend. The morning forecast is for northwest at 15 knots with gusts to 25 before dropping to 10-15 knots Sunday morning with only early gusts to 20.

The N.J. Marine Fisheries Council is meeting at 5 p.m. to set 2021 regulations for summer flounder and cobia.

The only issue on fluke, as noted in recent blogs, involves the season — with South Jersey wanting to open as early as possible while northern anglers prefer to hold off in order to get in some late summer fishing that also provides a slightly greater number of fishing days. I’ll have the results tomorrow.

Small craft warnings are up through Friday afternoon. Unfortunately. the weekend forecast has changed and the northwest wind will not drop down until Saturday night — though Sunday and Monday still look good. The morning forecast is for northwest at 20-25 knots with gusts to 30.

It’s windy now, but west winds should result in a calm ocean as northwest winds drop to the 10-15-knot range over the weekend.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar is holding off making its first cod trip as the marine forecast for tomorrow is northwest at 15-20 knots with gusts to 30 before increasing to 20-25 plus gusts to 30 later in the day.

In addition to the big striper caught in the back bay yesterday, the Tackle Box in Hazlet also had word of a few shorts in the same area. The cold winter should delay a striper run in theory, but big bass were caught in Raritan Bay by the third week in March last year — and you never know!

Chuck Many wasn’t in N.J. for the March 1 internal waters opener, but while visiting his daughter at Georgia Tech he fished in Lake Lanier to get his striper season started.

Most years it takes some time in March before even short stripers start hitting baits cast from back bays after the internal waters season opens on March 1, but yesterday the first striper from the back bay was a beauty! The Tackle Box in Hazlet reports that Tommy Karindrakas released a bass of about 20 pounds on a blood worm ball soaked in Fin Essence

The marine forecast is for southwest winds at 15-20 knots with gusts to 30 before dropping in the afternoon to 10-15 with gusts to 25 knots,

The ocean was fishable Sunday, and most of the rain held off as anglers on the Ocean Explorer from Belmar closed the blackfish season in hopes of overturning the seasonal pool leaders though none over 6 pounds were caught along with a few cod, pollack and ling (see below). That boat will shift over to the latter species on the next fishable day — perhaps Wednesday or Thursday.

Not only does the internal waters striper season open today in N.J. but also the winter flounder season with a limit of two at a 12-inch minimum. It’s mostly a shore thing now, but Bob Matthews may have a rental skiff or two available at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina.

The marine forecast includes a gale warning through Tuesday. The morning forecast is for northwest winds at 25-30 knots with gusts to 35 plus the possibility of light freezing spray early.

Though ocean waters are open all year for N.J. striped bass, there is a closure in internal waters which ends on March 1. Don’t expect any great fishing in very cold waters, but some anglers will be trying with worms or very small lures.

A gale warning will be going up for Monday evening through Tuesday. The morning forecast is west at 5-10 knots with showers before increasing to northwest 15-20 with gusts to 25 knots, Gusts to 40 knots arrive tomorrow night.