As noted previously. Dave Lilly of Hazlet. N.J. has a proven track record of success in predicting the start of the striped bass season in NY/NJ Bight simply by observing the appearance of earthworms on the sidewalk after a hard rain. When he called yesterday. that still hadn’t happened. Therefore, he wasn’t surprised when the Prowler from Atlantic Highlands gave it a try this week without any success. They did find bunkers, but stripers weren’t with them.
Some stripers are being caught every day in Raritan River and other backwater areas where waters are warmed by the sun, but Lilly is sure the bay and ocean won’t open up until those earthworms come out after a rain.
A small craft advisory is up in the bight from Thursday afternoon to that night. The forecast is for southeast winds at 10-15 knots by Thursday morning with patchy fog and possible drizzle.
Here’s a bit of fascinating history about Keys fishing picked up from Facebook. It was somewhat later that I met Ted there at the breakfast joint where the guides and regulars dined.
A small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight through Tuesday. The forecast is for north winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 before dropping to 5-10 in the afternoon.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Tight Lines 