Bunkers have been appearing in Raritan Bay ever earlier in March for years, but stripers usually don’t get on them right away. However, all that has changed. Phil Sciortino reports from The Tackle Box [n Hazlet that there was blitz fishing on metal lip plugs.
The bay water temperature has been holding around 50 degrees — and the bass are hungry! Chunks have also been working.
Andreas Toy reports :
We hosted our first trip of the year with Blackfish Bobby and buddy Tom, found the fish but the tide wasn’t right, after an hour it was non stop bites with fish up to 33 inches, great way to start the season. Check out those marks on the sounder, its on!
Our first open boat of the year is Saturday March 23rd call/text 201-421-8653 to jump on.”
A small craft advisory is up tonight.. The morning forecast is for SW winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25.
The Saltwater Fishing Expo opened this afternoon in the N.J. Convention Center at 97 Sunfield Ave, in Edison. The best show of the season continues tomorrow from 10-6 and Sunday from 10- 5.
There are many seminars and presentations which are detailed at saltwater.sportshow.com — along with all other info about the Expo. Capt. Frank Mihalic posts that he has a special seminar at 12:45 Saturday on Jersey Jumbo Tog.
The Jamaica from Brielle had last minute cancellation on tonight’s11:30 a.m. tilefish trip. Anyone interested in that single opening must e-mail bigjamaica.com ASAP.
The forecast is for northwest winds at only 5-10 knots before going southwest at10-15 plus gusts to 20 in the afternoon.
Anglers without tickets for Friday’s opening of the Saltwater Fishing Expo at the N.J. Convention Center, located at 97 Sunfield Ave. in Edison should arrive well before the noon opening as there’s always long lines waiting to get in before the weekend crowds.
Admittance is $15, but only $5 for those 6-11. Friday hours are noon to 8 — followed by 10-6 Saturday and 10-5 Sunday.
All of the national tackle companies have booths at this show, which also features many seminars by famous anglers and skippers.
Crazy Alberto Knie (see photo below) promises to give up his most important secrets for catching big stripers from shore, Nick Honachefsky will add tips from N.J. beaches. and Fisherman editor Jim Hutchinson may let out some secrets about back bay striper fishing that’s already underway. Among the many captains I’ve. enjoyed fishing with over the years doing seminars are Erwin Heinrich. Jim Freda, Gene Quigley and Fred Gamboa.
For details on the Expo, visit saltwater.sportshow.com
Though there’s a chance of showers after midnight in NY/NJ Bight, the weather remains fishable with southwest winds at just 10 knots which continues into Saturday.
Jim Hutchinson Jr. reports that a pair of Stripers for the Future seminars will be held on Saturday at the Saltwater Fishing Expo in Edison, N.J.
Stripers For the Future is a research and education campaign started in 2011 by John Tiedmann of Monmouth University designed to educate with how they can contribute to the conservation and long-term sustainability of the striped bass fishery,
The first session Saturday at 3 p.m. will explore the science of catch-and-release. Moderated by Steve Liesman, founder of Save A Million Bass, this session will feature presentations on factors impacting injury and stress in striped bass : new findings from the Mass. Division of Marine fisheries on release mortality — and employing employing science-based best catch-and-release practices from Keep Fish Wet.
The second session starts at about 5 p.m. , and will be moderated by Jim Hutchinson from The Fisherman magazine. It features presentations by renowned striper anglers such as Chuck Many, John Kravchak and Alberto Knie designed to anglers with insights into best catch-and-release practice techniques from boat, kayak and surf.
Crazy Alberto is also promising more as noted today:
“SECRETS – As we are coming to the last stretch of the winter seminars, I am going to do something I never thought I would. I am referring to revealing MY BEST KEPT SECRETS to trophy fishing. There is also a lesson about what I’ve learned through the years and an open discussion about where we are today. All in all, this is very revealing, and I am not holding back. All this will be taking place at the @saltwater_fishing_expo on March 15 -17 at the New Jersey Convention Center…”
The Expo opens at noon Friday at in the N.J. Expo Center and continues through Sunday at 97 Sunfield Ave. in Edison. For details on the Saltwater Fishing Expo visit saltwater.sportshows,com Good weather continues Thursday with some patchy fog in the morning as winds are west at just 5 knots before going southeast in the afternoon.
The best sportsman’s show in the NY/NJ Bight area is coming up on Friday. The New Jersey Convention and Expo Center at 97 Sunfield Ave. in Edison is the site for the Saltwater Expo, which runs from noon to 8 on opening day before continuing Saturday from 10-6 — and Sunday from 10-5.
All the major national manufactures display at this show along with many at the local level. Several national and area fishing personalities will be on hand, including Crazy Alberto Knie, Ron Arra Jim Hutchinson Jr. , and Nick Honachefsky.
A pair of Stripers for the Future Seminars will be featured on Saturday. at 3 and 5 with the emphasis on proper release techniques. I’ll have more about this tomorrow.
For details about the Expo, visit sportshows.com.
The weather is finally changing for the better. The Wednesday forecast is for a mere 5-10 knot south wind! Stripers should be waiting for Raritan Bay anglers.
Northwesters aren’t pleasant when they are blowing, but they knock down swells and clear waters as they die out. Though there is a gale watch in NY/NJ Bight to late tonight, Wednesday looks great.
Tuesday’s forecast is for west winds at 15-20 knots before diminishing in the afternoon to 10-15 plus gusts to 25. Striper anglers casting worms from Raritan Bay shorelines should soon be back in business.
Tight Lines 