Tight Lines

Though I was hopeful yesterday that the Saltwater Fishing Expo would go ahead as scheduled, the ongoing concern about the coronavirus spread led to a cancellation notice today of the show that was set to open Friday.

Tady Lures owner Gary Quon was one of those who arrived just before the decision, and had to make arrangements to fly back to California right away. At least the decision to comply with other shutdowns in the area came before exhibits were set up.

Anglers should have a good day coming up. The Thursday forecast is for only 5 -10-knot winds in the morning before increasing to 10-15 in the afternoon.

At Belmar, the Ocean Explorer will be seeking cod tomorrow at 7:30. The Golden Eagle has scheduled a return to fishing on March 28 and 29.

 

With some warm weather in the forecast, this may be a good time to try for winter flounder at the docks in Belmar Marina.

Bob Mathews reports from Fisherman’s Den that some good-sized flatties are being caught every day. Warm, cunny days are usually best for the flounder bite, and that’s what’s coming up. There haven’t been any large catches, but you can only keep two at a 12-inch minimum in any case.

The marine forecast is for southwest gusts to 25 knots this evening, but only 10-15 with gusts to 20 knots by the morning. The Ocean Explorer expects to sail tomorrow from Belmar for cod.

A piece of striped bass history passed away on Jan. 25 when Charlie Cinto died at 91. On June 16, 1967, Cinto was trolling with legendary Capt. Frank Sabakowski out of Fairhaven, Ma. at 3 a.m. among the Sow and Pigs rocks off Cuttyhunk when he boated a 73-pound striper to tie Charlie Church’s world record set from shore in 1913 not too far from there at Vineyard Sound.  Cinto’s bass wasn’t recognized by the IGFA because he was trolling  a big Goo-Goo Eyes plug with treble hooks on wire line. However, he created a lot of excitement because it had been so long since such a huge striper had been caught on rod & reel.

While the winter as been mild, fishing results have been held back by wind conditions which have resulted in many boat cancellations and blow-out tides.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had a promising cod catch this week, but wasn’t able to get out again today. Small craft warnings are still up into tomorrow, when there’s some improvement to southwest at 10-15 knots — though still with gusts to 20.  Monday’s outlook is similar.

Some striper life has been reported in Barnegat Bay, but when Jerry Lasko and Maren Toleno tried it for the first time Friday evening they found their spots to be very shallow.

The Asbury Park Fishing Flea Market will be running Sunday in Convention Hall. Though the national manufacturers won’t be there, many local wooden plug makers will ne on hand.

The Canyon Runner Seminar in Freeport, Long Island will not have tickets at the door, but you can call Adam La Rosa at 732 272-4445 to determine if reservations are still possible.

 

 

 

With the blackfish season closed, offshore boaters ae seeking cod — and with some success.

Thursday was fairly calm, and just right for getting offshore to likely cod bottoms. The Ocean Explorer from Belmar did just that and managed a pick of good-sized cod (see below) and pollock plus a few ling. They saw lots of birds diving on what appeared to be bunkers.

Phil Fischer got out from Highlands the same day and ran off to 17 Fathoms where were lots of birds dipping on bait. The water temperature was 45 degrees — up three degrees in a week and a half.  He and his brother caught cod without a short, and also a few ling and small tog.

Matt Calabria of Hazlet has been worming school stripers from Raritan Bay shores, but also sent a photo to The Tackle Box in Hazllet of a 30-incher he beached today on a glob of sandworms dipped in Clam Fin-Essence.

 

 

Betty & Nick’s Tackle in Seaside Park had an odd report from Sunday of two anglers who were playing around casting poppers in the winter surf at Island Beach State Park and actually caught small stripers. Barnegat Bay is a better bet.

The Hook House in Toms River reports stripers are hitting bloodworms and small lures there. White perch are also on the worms, but there haven’t been any flounder reports.

Capt. Vinny Vetere says he’ll be displaying his bunker spoons and Ho-Jos at the Asbury Park Fishing Flea Market in Convention Hall on Sunday. Percy Wentworth will also be demonstrating throwing his famous cast nets.

Gale warnings are up for NE gusts to 35 knots tonight. The morning forecast is for north at 20-25 knots plus gusts to 35 before dropping to 15-20 in the afternoon. Sunday is looking better with southwest at 10-15 knots and gusts to 20.

 

The N.J. Marine Fisheries Council meeting set for tonight has been cancelled. The next meeting will be on May 4 at the usual site in the Galloway Township Library, Manahawkin.

The fist winter flounder report was from Monday at Shak River when James Weir of Belmar (below) brought a 14-incher into Fisherman’s Den at Belmar Marina.

Flounder pro Marty Westerfield of Wall later beat that fish with an 18-incher. Both were on sandworms.  The shop reported some more flounder being caught today, with some getting the two-fish limit at a 12-inch minimum.

The Tackle Box in Hazlet reported quite a few small stripers are being wormed from the Raritan Bay shoreline, and one angler also saw lots of bunkers.

The Friday marine forecast is for east winds at 5-10 knots before going to northeast at 10-15 with gusts to 25 in the afternoon when there’s a chance of rain.

The big one for saltwater anglers, the Saltwater Fishing Expo, is coming up from March 13-15 in the N.J. Convention Hall at Edison. As always, all of the big national fishing tackle manufactures will have full displays , along with many local firms. There will be a full slate of seminars, though I will only be there on Saturday, March 14 with a program on big stripers and the usual Tady Lure giveaway to everyone attending the seminar.  I’ll have a lot more on this event as it gets closer.

Striped bass fishing is off to a slow start, but Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park reports some are being caught on both sides of the bay with bloodworms and various small lures including swimmers. A few keepers may be among them.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar expects a nice day tomorrow, and will be sailing for cod. Though it’s windy as this being written, the morning forecast is down to northwest at 10-15 knots with gusts to 25 before switching to west at just 5-10 knots in the afternoon.

 

 

There have been scattered reports of small stripers, but Dave Lily knows that it’s still too early for a real effort. He determines that without even getting his hands wet by looking for earthworms coming out of the ground after a rain. So far, bot a single worm in Hazlet!

That being the case, you might as well take in Capt. Vinny Vetere’s presentation on striper trolling at tonight’s Hi-Mar Striper Club meeting in Bahrs Landing, Highlands. Vinny didn’t provide a time, but I imagine that 8 p.m. would be likely. Percy Wentworth will also be there to demonstrate throwing his famous cast nets.  Prospective members are welcome.

Small craft warnings are up to tomorrow afternoon. West winds at 15-20 knots with gusts to 30 are predicted for the morning.

Only 10 tickets are still available or Sunday’s Canyon Runner Seminar at Freeport, L. I.. —  and none will be available at the door for the limited event that costs $150 plus tax. Ten tickets are available at no charge for first responders and the military. Call 732 272-4445.

 

The Canyon Runner fleet, which is booking for an Oregon Inlet charter boat makes a point about the abundance of giant bluefin tuna in the offshore waters there. If you’ve never caught a giant, this may be your best shot at doing so. Trolling is also producing “meat” in the form of school yellowfins and mako sharks.  Call 732 272-4445 for info.

 

Phil Sciortino, at The Tackle Box in Hazlet, got reports of school stripers bitting after midnight for shore casters along Raritan Bay. Bloodworms are the bait. Phil saw a photo of a released bass that was definitely over 28 inches. That fishing should get steadily better in the warm days coming up.

Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina reports just a few winter flounder were caught there yesterday during the opening day for that species.

Small craft warnings remain up tonight, but the morning forecast is for only southwest at 5-10 knots before going to south in the afternoon with possible showers.