Tight Lines

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) reports that their Striped Bass Management Board will be meeting on March 26 from 1-3 p.m., and that will be available to the public via Webinar. Details will be posted as the meeting gets closer.

A gale warning is up this evening through Friday afternoon in NY/NJ Bight. Friday’s forecast is for west winds at 25-30 knots shifting to northwest at 20-25 plus gusts to 35 in the afternoon. The shows also look like a better bet on Saturday. which starts out at west 10-15 with gusts to 20 before getting stronger in the afternoon.

After the clearing northwest winds, fishermen should be back in action this weekend — or can stay warm at a variety of shows.

Surfcasters will be well-served at Surf Day in Brookdale Community College on Saturday where Crazy Alberto Knie will be featured in a 1 1/2-hour presentation.

The Philadelphia Fishing Show in the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks runs from Friday to Sunday and features many seminars. Call 732 330-5674 for details.

The New Jersey Boat Sale & Expo opens Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the N.J. Expo Center at Raritan Center – and continues to Sunday. Adult admission is $15, with kids under 12 admitted free. Parking is free. For info visit JerseyBoatExpo.com.

A small craft advisory comes down tonight. Thursday’s forecast is for northwest winds at 10-15 knots which shift to southwest in the afternoon.

The Ocean Explorer plans to take advantage of that forecast to fish for blackfish tomorrow.

The annual Surf Day presentation is coming up on Saturday, and includes a special 1 1/2 hour seminar by Crazy Alberto Knie.

Today’s snowstorm in NY/NJ Bight was hopefully the last blast of mid-winter before anglers start catch school stripers as early as March.

A gale warning is up until 6 p.m. Clearing northwest winds at 20-25 knots with gusts to 30 move in tomorrow.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had a nice day of bottom fishing yesterday which produced a few keeper tog up to 6 pounds. They will resume running after the ocean settles down.

A gale warning is up in NY/NJ Bight for Tuesday morning to afternoon as a northeaster moves into the area..

Winds will be northeast at 30-35 knots before moderating to north at 25-30 in the afternoon. Snow and rain in the morning will be all snow in the afternoon.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar didn’t find much life while blackfishing Sunday, though a 10-pound tog took the pool — and a few other big tog were busted off. There were four keepers and some shorts plus a few ling.

AFTCO sent this shot of a big yellowfin tuna with the extended fins which used to be referred to as being Allisons and thought to be a separate species. It was caught off La. by Drew Mejia.

Though Monday morning looks good, a northeaster is predicted to arrive after that midnight in NY/NJ Bight with 30-knot northeast winds plus rain and snow.

The morning forecast is for north winds at 5 knots before going south in the afternoon.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported a poor bite in deep waters on Saturday with only the valuable pool winner plus some shorts. They’ll probably be fishing tomorrow while seeking a seasonal tautog pool winner worth over $2.000.

The NY/NJ Bight area has been blessed with some beautiful calm and warm weather this week, but you’d best take advantage of it because a northeaster is expected to hit Monday night with snow included.

The Sunday forecast is for northwest winds at 10-15 knots — dropping to 5-10 in the afternoon.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar picked away yesterday at a few keeper tog and ling plus a “beauty of a cod”.

Jim Hutchinson Sr, reports “Bonnie and I slammed the sheepshead fishing with Fintastick from Homosassa, Florida. ” Plenty of good eating ahead!

George Poveromo has Jimmy Johnson aboard for fishing off Key Largo on his World of Saltwater Fishing Sunday at 8 a.m. on Discovery Channel.

Sorry about that screwed-up headline yesterday, but if you read the blog there was good news about a showing of keeper pollock from deep waters where the Ocean Explorer from Belmar was blackfishing. Though there was still lots of bergall action out there Thursday in beautiful and mild weather, there were no cod or pollock. They did boat a few ling and legal tog.

Saturday’s early forecast looks good for that fishing as the day starts with southwest winds at just 5-10 knots before increasing to 10-15 with gusts to 20 in the afternoon. There’s a chance of showers.

Only a few anglers showed up for yesterday’s blackfishing trip on the Ocean Explorer from Belmar, though it turned out to be a beautiful winter day at sea. There were only a few keeper tog in deep water along with a keeper cod, a ling and a surprise showing of keeper pollock topped by five for the skipper. With decent weather ahead, they plan on continuing daily trips.

The NY/NJ Bight forecast is for south winds at 10-15 knots.

It may seem like a daunting task, but anglers actually have a good chance to win a boat and motor or many lesser prizes by entering The Fisherman Dream Boat contest which requires subscribing to that publication.

Most winners have had boats of their own, but that’s not necessary as all of the species involved can be caught from party boats. For instance, you could start out in May with the spawning run of porgies in Peconic Bay where 2-pound minimum scup are routine. If you rent a skiff there and change techniques there’s also a chance to catch a qualifying fluke (6 pounds), weakfish (5 pounds) , or sea robin (2 pounds) in the same day. After that you could get in on the summer run of doormat fluke off Nantucket. If you don’t fish for sea bass all summer, that;’s no problem as there are plenty of 4-pound minimum knuckleheads on party boat offshore wreck trips. Blackfish (7 pounds) are most abundant inshore in the fall. The 15-pound minimum on bluefish has become the toughest nut to crush.

You don’t have to compete with professional fishermen as captains, mates and everyone else involved in the fishing industry are ineligible — even outdoor writers!

A good bet for becoming eligible is to subscribe at the Fisherman booth in many upcoming outdoors shows where those signing up receive a $20 credit card for Shurhold boat cleaning products.

Thursday’s forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for northeast winds, but only at 5 knots before going south in the afternoon.

The annual Hi-Mar Striper Club Fisherman’s Flea Market and Seminars is coming up Saturday from 8-2 in the Port Monmouth VFW at 1 Veterans Lane. This event is always mobbed, so it’s advisable to get there early for a parking space. Adult admission is $5, with kids 15 and under admitted free. For info visit fleamarket@hi-mar.com.

A small craft advisory is up through Wednesday afternoon in NY/NJ Bight , The morning starts with northeast winds at 15 knots plus gusts to 20.