Tight Lines

There’s only a chance of some light snow tomorrow, so fishermen should have no problem getting to the World Fishing & Outdoor Show at Rockland Community College Field House in Suffern, N.Y. — quite unlike the very first edition of that show which was buried in snow until Sunday. They haven’t had any such problem since then.

Friday’s hours are from 1-9 p.m., and parking is free. Visit Sportshows.com for details, including seminars and other attractions.

Boaters can head south to the Atlantic City Boat Show in Convention Hall which also continues through Sunday.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported a nice day on the ocean though the bottom life in deep water wasn’t too active. There were some blackfish including 3 or 4 keepers plus a cod and a few ling. Tomorrow is the last day to fish for tog, and a lot of money is on the line in the seasonal pool.  They plan to fish even deeper to try for that money tog.

The weather forecast isn’t as good as it was projected to be last night,  The northeast wind is up to 10-15 knots with gusts to 20. Saturday is predicted to be northeast 15-20 knots with gusts to 30 and a chance of rain or snow.

The World Fishing & Outdoor Expo opens tomorrow in the Rockland County Community College Field House at Suffern, N.Y. Usually referred to simply as the Suffern show, it boasts full displays from virtually all the major manufacturers of fishing tackle. Lots of anglers always arrive for the Thursday opening at 2 p.m. so they can cover the 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibits without having to fight weekend crowds. Closing tomorrow is at 9 p.m.

Adult admission is $13, but you can save $3 on a weekday admission by buying on line at Sportshows.com and using the promo code POSTCARD. Information about seminars and other attractions is available by visiting that site.

The Atlantic City Boat Show opened in Convention Hall today, and runs through Sunday.

Though cold, today’s weather was an improvement over those strong west winds. There may be some light snow or rain tonight, but the morning forecast is for only 10-15-knot north winds and 2-foot seas. The Ocean Explorer is scheduled to fish for blackfish tomorrow out of Belmar.

There was a good turnout at last night’s JCAA Open House Meeting in Brick. Those attending got an update on conservation issues from Tom Fote, and Paul Haertel provided a slide presentation on the many activities of the JCAA in behalf of the state’s anglers. Though primarily a club organization, they also welcome associate members who pay $25.

The JCAA Fluke Tournament has been moved back to its original tournament starting spring slot, and the 25th anniversary event will be contested statewide on Saturday June 15.

The JCAA Open House begins at 7 p.m. with pizza in the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Building at 385 Herbertsville  Rd. in Brick, The phone number I had in last night’s blog for Paul Haertel, so he’ll know how much food to bring, was wrong. My old eyes are better at spotting fish than reading small numbers. Call Paul at 973 943-8201,

After all that howling west wind, the ocean should be calm tomorrow when the Ocean Explorer sails at 7;30 a.m. from Belmar into a forecast of northeast 5-10-knot winds and a 1-foot sea. They’ll also sail Thursday to finish the blackfish season. The forecast Thursday is for 10 knots again, but with a 3-foot sea.  The seasonal pool will be decided that day, and it’s up to $4100.

The Atlantic City Boat Show opens tomorrow at Convention Hall and runs through Sunday. The World Outdoor & Fishing Expo starts Thursday in Rockland Community College Field House at Suffern, N.Y. and also runs through Sunday.

Those who would like to enjoy the excitement of giant tuna fishing have the rare opportunity of reserving an open boat seat aboard the Canyon Runner now sailing out of Oregon Inlet, N.C. and hooking giants every day.

Friday and Saturday are available at $550 a person all in (including tip) with a limit of four. Call Adam La Rosa right away if interested at 732 272-4405. There’s also room on a free trip March 11 for active or retired military.

The JCAA is holding an open house at its Tuesday night meeting so clubs and individual anglers can see how that organization operates on behalf of the state’s anglers and may be interested in joining in that effort. The 7;30 P.M. meeting is in the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Building at 385 Herbertsville Rd,. Brick. Light refreshments will be available at 7. There is no charge, but please call Paul Haertel at 973 843-3201 so he can order enough.

Coming up this week are the Atlantic City Boat Show in Convention Hall from Feb. 27 to March 3 — and the World Fishing & Outdoor Exposition at Rockland Community College in Suffern, N,Y, from Fen. 28 to March 3. Admission for the latter is $13, but you can get a $3 reduction by buying online at Sportshows.com and using the promo code POSTCARD for Thursday and Friday.

The Jamaica from Brielle got in Saturday’s offshore wreck trip that produced lots of big porgies plus a few ling, pollock and white hake. It wasn’t as good as the previous trips due to a strong current, but the high hook still bagged over 40 scup. Mark Myricks of Jersey City won the pool with an 8-pound pollock, That trip will be run again at 1 a.m. this Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are required. Call 732 528-5014.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had a couple of nice days before the big winds arrived. On Friday they had a half-dozen keeper blackfish, a cod and ling plus a couple of pollock while fishing deep waters. After three tog and a few ling  were boated Saturday, the current got too strong in the deep, and they were surprised to find lots of bottom life in shallower waters. There were only a few keepers, but over 40 shorts were released. They hope to get out again this week before the blackfish season closes.

Storm warnings for west winds up to 60 knots and 10-foot seas remain up until 6 p.m., but then the winds will diminish gradually. Because the winds have been west, seas will settle in short order. It will be down to northwest at 20-25 knots Tuesday morning– and just north at 5-10 with one-foot seas on Wednesday.  Thursday looks fishable at northeast 10-15 knots.

It’s taken a long time to get started, but west winds gusting to 70 knots are predicted this afternoon. The strong winds are expected to only diminish slowly from the northwest through Monday afternoon, and the first fishable day may be Wednesday. The winds took awhile to arrive as by 1 p.m. the reports from all stations were under 20 knots, and calm at Sandy Hook — though seas were six feet at the Barnegat Buoy.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar got in two nice days before today. On Friday they fished deep waters for a half-dozen keeper blackfish plus a cod, ling and a couple of pollock. Saturday produced three legal tog in the deep before the current got too strong. A move to shallower depths surprisingly encountered good action even though only a few keeper tog were found among 40 shorts on both crabs and clams. They hope to get out again this week before the tog season closes.

The JCAA is holding an open house for possible new members at their Tuesday night meeting in Brick. I’ll have details in Monday’s blog.

A storm warning has been posted for Sunday. The rain to start the day is no problem, but when the clearing west winds take over there could be gusts up to 50 knots which will continue into Monday.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar did find some blackfish the last two days, but won’t be fishing until mid-week. More about this tomorrow.

You can stay dry tomorrow as the Philadelphia Fishing Show finishes up in the Greater Philadelphia Expo at Oaks from 10 a.m. to 5 p. m.  John De Bona of The Fisherman said the new 100% fishing show was packed today and is a major success. For details visit phillyfishingshow.com or call 732 330-5674.

 

 

 

The National MarineFisheries Service has responded to the ICCAT determination that mako sharks re overfished and that overfishing is occurring by tightening both commercial and recreation regulations in Amendment 11 to the management plan for that species.

Commercial shark fishermen will still be able to keep makos  of any size, but only if they come in dead on the longline and gill net gear that’s allowed. When I started the shark management plan as a member of the first Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Plan, longliners were reluctant to accept any minimum size  no matter how small, and  insisted on retaining dead makos in any plan. Of course, that would mean that every mako big enough to bother with would be dead. However, the new rule only applies to commercials with an  Electronic Monitoring System which automatically provides photographic evidence as the gear is retrieved.  The total catch is restrained only by the quota.

Recreational fishermen face much tougher regulations as the minimum goes up from 54 inches fork length to 71 inches for male makos — and to 83 inches for females. There is no separate quota as the catch is restrained by the restriction of only one legal-sized shark per boat. Makos have to be very large before giving live birth to a few pups.  That’s a prescription for disaster with all the pressure on them now, but pregnant females seem to have found a way to avoid contact with fishermen as their capture would be so unusual that scientists would fly anywhere to inspect one. That may be the reason why small makos have been relatively common in recent years.

Fishing conditions were fine today, and Saturday continues to look good with an east breeze of 5-10 knots and 2-foot seas as there’s only a chance of rain when the wind shifts to southeast in the afternoon, Unfortunately, that doesn’t last into Sunday when southeast winds of 15-20 knots shift to northwest with gusts to 25 in the afternoon.

The Big Jamaica sails at 1 a.m. from Brielle for it’s weekly Saturday trip to offshore wrecks loaded with big porgies. They’re also scheduled to do the same thing Sunday. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar  was scheduled to fish for blackfish today, but there was no report or any plans for the weekend posted by 5 p.m.

The Philadelphia Fishing Show runs through Sunday in the Greater Philadelphia Expo at Oaks. .Weekend openings are at 10 a.m., with Saturday’s closing at 6 p.m. and Sunday’s at 5. Admission $10 for adults, $5 for kids 5-12 — and free for those younger. There’s free parking, and seminars by such pros as Nick Honachefsky who has one on surfcasting for sharks. For details visit phillyfishingshow.com  — or call 732 330-5674.

Tomorrow’s Canyon Runner Seminar in the Huntington Hilton at Melville, N.Y. is almost sold out. Be sure to call Adam La Rosa at 732 842-6825 before driving out there.

The hot giant tuna run continues in North Carolina as the Canyon Runner boated ithier second 115-incher of the winter season. Adam La Rosa also reminds all who missed the Canyon Runner Seminar in Atlantic City that there are only a few $99 tickets left for Saturday’s seminar at the Huntington Hilton in Millville, Long Island.  They’ve also set aside 10 tickets which are available at no charge to the military or first responders. Call Adam at 732 842-6825.

 

Capt. Jim Freda will be speaking at the Canyon Runner Seminar on inshore tuna techniques.

It was a February day to remember until the southwest gusts came up in the afternoon, but it looks fishable for blackfish in the morning with northwest winds at 10-15 knots with some gusts to 20 before diminishing to 5-10 in the afternoon. The Ocean Explorer has enough customers to sail, and will depart at 7 a.m. from Belmar.

Saturday is looking even better for the 7 a.m. offshore porgy trip on the Jamaica from Brielle (732 528-5014).

The Philadelphia Fishing Show opens at noon Friday and continues through Sunday in Greater Philadelphia Expo at Oaks.

Check tomorrow’s blog for the new mako shark regs.

The new Philadelphia Fishing Show opens Friday from noon to 7 p.m. in the Greater Philadelphia Expo at Oaks., 100 Station Ave, Oaks, PA 19456. This is a 100% fishing show run by Capt. Dave De Gennaro, who skippers his Hi Flier out of Barnegat.

The admission is $10 except for kids 6 to 12 who pay $5 — with no charge for those younger. There’s free parking, and seminars arranged by The Fisherman magazine are included. For info visit phillyfishingshow.com, or call 732 330-5674.

Coming up next week are the Atlantic City Boat Show in Convention Hall from Feb. 27 to March 3, and the World Fishing & Outdoor Exposition in Rockland Community College at Suffern, N.Y. from Feb. 28 to March 3.

We finally got some snow from this storm at the Shore, but it shouldn’t be a problem for long. Small craft advisories are up this afternoon for east winds up to 20 knots, but they should diminish after midnight . Thursday starts at 10-15 from the west with possible rain, but there’s an increase to 15-20 in the afternoon. Yet, there’s a drop to northwest at 10-15 by Friday morning — and the weekend looks good. The Ocean Explorer got out Tuesday from Belmar for a nice day at sea with good life on the bottom, The high hook had three keeper blackfish, six others were boated. Two big tog broke off in the wreck, but there were no cod on that trip. Check with the Ocean Explorer for the next fishing day.

 

This has been a tough year for winter fishing in the NY/NJ Bight so far, but it wasn’t always like that.

Even as foreign fleets were taking vast quantities of ling and whiting from the Mud Hole, the Jamaica and Paramount were still sailing daily at 7:30 out there for the same species in almost any weather. Some days the fishing was good, and on others there was still enough for almost everyone to bring home dinner. That fishing came back after the 200-mile limit went into effect before local draggers destroyed it again with small mesh nets.  If there were mild, calm days such as we’ve experienced this month, those party boats would have been packed,  I don’t know if anyone knew about all the big sea bass and porgies that were on far offshore wrecks at that time. but the Jamaica wouldn’t have been running almost to the canyons for them when there were fish to be caught locally at a modest fare.

There were also runs of cod on inshore clam beds at that time. On the front cover of the old weekly Anglers News of Feb. 26, 1970 there was a photo of Arthur Anderson of Long Branch with 10 cod (which all look to be in the teens or better) that he caught aboard the Jamaica on the clam beds south of Manasquan Inlet. There were also daily fishing ads for the Jo-Ann III at Atlantic Highlands; the Satellite from Highlands;, the Zephyr from Bayonne; the Viking II from Staten Island;  the Cock Robin from Point Pleasant; the Ranger IV from Sheepshead Bay;  and the Miss Belmar — as well as the Viking Starlite and Viking Skipper at Montauk.  Today we have occasional blackfish trips by the Ocean Explorer for a species that wasn’t targeted during that era.

I was living on Long Island in those days, and the Freeport party boats were enjoying fine winter codfishing at times. A column by Frank Keating in the old Long Island Press on Jan. 21, 1969 noted that the Freeport and Montauk fleets all left anglers on the docks as they sailed early with capacity weekend crowds, The fishing was worth it. At Freeport, the Starstream reported over 500 cod Saturday, and the high hook Sunday on Capt. Al bagged 27 cod  on the inshore cod grounds a half-hour from Jones Inlet.

That kind of fishing may not be available, but the wind forecasts are pretty good. Wednesday winds are predicted to be northeast at just 5-10 knots before going to southeast in the afternoon with 1-foot seas. Some snow may fall at that time.