Tight Lines

Sorry for missing a day, but my wife and I plus four dogs were driving back to N.J. from Ft. Myers yesterday. Then I had a problem getting back on the internet today.

The weather is looking great for mid-winter. The Friday forecast is for north winds at just 5 knots in the morning with a chance of light rain before shifting to southwest in the afternoon.

The Jamaica from Brielle hasn’t been able to get out on one of their Saturday 1 a.m. trips to far offshore wrecks for jumbo porgies, cod and pollock so far — but Saturday looks great with a forecast of  5-10-knot north winds. Call 732 528-5014 for the required reservations.

On shore the featured Saturday attractions will be the Canyon Runner Seminar in Atlantic City and the Raritan Bay Anglers Association Fishing Flea Market in Edison. More about them tomorrow.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar took advantage of an ocean without ground swell to get out for some pretty good action with large keepers plus a cod and a few ling. Wednesday’s forecast is for northwest winds at just 10-15 knots — perfect conditions for a tog bite.

West winds did their job and knocked down a big swell. That should set up a good shot of blackfish not too far offshore plus a shot at some cod and ling. The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had poor fishing Sunday when there was a big ground swell, but they’ll be sailing into probably calm seas with northwest winds at 15-20 knots. Light winds dominate the rest of the week.

The Canyon Runner Seminar on Feb. 1 in Atlantic City is almost sold out. Adam La Rosa had reports from Oregon Inlet that bigeye, yellowfin and bluefin tuna have all arrived in their offshore waters where La Rosa will be booking charters this winter on a 55-foot custom Carolina. Charters start at $2,295, and open boat fares at $699. Call 732 272-4445 for tickets and info.

 

Small craft warnings remain up through the afternoon, but better days are coming. Monday’s forecast is for west winds at 15 knots with gusts to 20 and flurries.The Big Mohawk from Belmar is waiting for better blackfishing conditions, and will wait until Thursday and Friday before sailing reservation trips. Call 732 974-9606 to secure a spot.

The weather is fine in Palm Beach as I get ready to give my youngest daughter, and former mate on my charter boat, Cyndi away to Luis Gonzalez at their wedding in St. Ann’s. Luis is also an avid angler and boat owner.

Small craft warnings are up through late tonight in NY/NJ Bight, but will then shift to a calming west at 15 knots plus gusts to 20 tomorrow.

The Fisherman magazine will be hosting the last three winners of their annual Dream Boat contest from 1-2 p.m. in the Steiger Craft booth at the New York Boat Show. Included is Garrett Weir, who lost the 2018 contest on a tiebreaker, but went on to run way with last year’s Dream Boat.

After a period of fishable weather, a small craft advisory is up from late tonight through late Saturday night.

Saturday starts with east winds at 20-25 knots with gusts to 30 — and 6-8-foot seas plus rain. A west wind Sunday will knock down that sea a bit as it blows at 15-20 knots with gusts to 25 as seas drop to 4 to 7 feet.

Monday may be fishable for the Mimi VI blackfish special from Point Pleasant which is limited to 15 fares at $120 for a 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. trip. See photo below along with a used surf shot that got attached to it.  Call 732 370-8019 for reservations.

The New York Boat Show at the Convention Center, and the Fly Fishing Show at the NJ Convention & Expo Center in Edison, continue their runs through Sunday.

Looking ahead, The New Jersey Boat Sale & Expo will move into the Edison facility from Feb. 13 to 16.

Calm seas should prevail tomorrow morning as the forecast is for just northeast at 5-10 knots before it goes to east at 10-15 in the afternoon with gusts to 20 in the afternoon. A small craft advisory goes up late Friday night through late Saturday night.

Not only should blackfishing be possible, but there’s an opportunity to release a 50-pound striper at Cape Charles, Va. on a last minute opening aboard Sho-Nuf Sportfishing Charters. Call 757 710-0098. The Fisherman magazine also reports that codfishing has finally broken out at Montauk.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reports the ocean was flat calm Wednesday and there was lots of life on bottom — though it was mostly short blackfish. Some keepers plus cod and ling were boated. The Big Mohawk will also sail open from Belmar for tog at 7 a.m.

Though the weekend looks poor at this time, the next two days appear to be ideal for blackfishing which is still holding up inshore due to the lack of very cold water.

The  forecast for Thursday is just west at 5 knots with seas of one foot or less. Getting set on anchor may be the biggest problem for blackfish boats.

At Belmar, the Ocean Explorer reported good Tuesday blackfishing (see photo below) with many of the tog in the in the 5-8-pound class and some limits along with a few keeper cod and ling. The Big Mohawk will also be sailing open tomorrow at 7 a.m.

At Point Pleasant, the Mimi VI is sailing open Mondays and Fridays in January from 6:30 to 4 with a maximum of 15 passengers for a fare of $120 that includes all crabs. Thursdays and Saturdays will be limited to 25 at 7 a.m. with green crabs provided for an $80 fare. Call 732 370-8019 for reservations.

The Jamaica from Brielle is hoping for weather good enough on Saturday when they’ve scheduled a trip to offshore wrecks for jumbo porgies, cod and pollock at 1 a.m.  Call 732 528-5014 for reservations.

The Feb. 1 Canyon Runner Seminar in Atlantic City is almost sold out, but they still have five free tickets for active or retired military. Adam La Rosa is also offering $50 off on tickets for First Responders. Call 732 272-4445.

Rio Zancudo Lodge in Costa Rica recently had a group from White Water Marine on Long Island at the camp to enjoy a run of yellowfin tuna in the 80-110-pound class plus a 180-pounder. They also caught blue marlin and the range of inshore species from snappers to roosterfish.

The New York Boat Show drops anchor in the Convention Center tomorrow and continues through the weekend. Weekday show hours are from 4 to 8:30 p.m.  Admission is $16, but you can get a discount by buying in advance. Military and First Responders receive a $3 discount on Wednesday by showing ID at the box office.

Light winds bode well for anglers the next two days. It’s northwest at just 5-10 knots Wednesday and north at 5 knots Thursday. The Big Mohawk from Belmar will sail open tomorrow for blackfish at 7 a.m., and reservations for Thursday can be made by calling 732 944-9606.  The weekend looks like a blowout, and Friday may also be out due to an expected “giant” swell which is a killer for tog fishing.

It wasn’t any bargain in Florida this morning as temperatures dropped to the 30s and northwest winds produced a chill advisory. I had to switch to “big boy” pants,  and my hands were cold for only the second time ever in Florida as I briefly fished a pond in Ft. Myers to catch a small bass on Gulp in order to keep alive my streak of not getting shut out any morning since coming down in November.

There are only a few days left in which to bid on everything from fishing tackle to dream trips throughout the world in the 36th  IGFA International Auction. Don’t hesitate to check out all that’s available by visiting info@igfa.org.

Capt. Jim Freda of Shore Catch Charters will be among those providing seminars at the Fly Fishing Show being held this weekend at the N.J. Convention & Expo Center in Edison.

The Canyon Runner Seminar in Atlantic City on Feb. 1 is almost sold out. In addition, there are 10 tickets still available for active duty and retired military. Call 732 272-4445.

Capt. Paul Eidman of Anglers for Offshore Wind Power will be presenting a free 6 p.m. seminar regarding that situation on Feb. 6 in the Forked River Tuna Club at 10 Bay Avenue.   Call Eidman at 732 614-3373 for additional info.

Chuck Manny continues to enjoy great catch and release striper action at Cape Charles, Virginia on his Ty Man. When some friends had to back out of a half-day trip last week, Manny trolled by himself to release seven of the roe-laden bass from 35 to 51 pounds. That brought the boat’s 50-pound bass total up to 17 this winter.

Light west winds should provide great fishing conditions in NY/NJ Bight this week. The forecast for tomorrow is northwest at just 5-10 knots.