Tight Lines

During their most recent meeting, the ASMFC Striped Bass Board reviewed Addendum 11 to Amendment 7 of the Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan and recommended very few changes. The ocean recreational fishery would remain at one striper in the narrow 28-31-inch slot with the same seasons where applicable. Over 2,000 public comments were submitted, and the consensus was for status quo. All sectors of the fishery would retain 2022 season dates.

In Chesapeake Bay, the slot limit will be 19 to 24 inches, with 2022 regs and season dates — though the commercial quota will be reduced by 8 percent.

The NY/NJ Bight forecast is for northeast winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 plus 3-5-foot seas from an easterly swell that may result in rough inlets.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar enjoyed the sun on Saturday, but blackfishing remained tough with just a few keepers and two dozen shorts in a lumpy sea. The seasonal pool is up to $4,000, and there’s a good chance of hooking a winner on one of the deepwater wrecks they’re fishing.

Anglers in NY/NJ Bight look to have another fishable day coming up as the forecast is for north winds at only 10-15 knots.

Chuck Many continues to come up with good fishing in Hilton Head, South Carolina, such as the red drum pictured.

It’s not often that there’s a good weather forecast on the weekend in NY/NJ Bight, but the prediction for tomorrow is for north winds at only 10-15 knots,

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar was out today in good ocean conditions, but blackfishing was slow. However, they are looking forward to working more deepwater drops which may produce the seasonal pool winner.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio of Water Proof reports “

Our commercial season has come to a close but we will be fishing for the next two months out of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Bluefins are there in great numbers and there has been a sprinkling of Yellowfin and Bigeye in the mix. Just like 2023, we are seeing many more recreational sized fish from 100-200 lbs being caught as well as the true Giants up to 700lbs. It’s truly an incredible fishery ..

We have a few February dates remaining so come on down…”

+4

3

The NY/NJ Bight forecast is for north winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25. Sunday is looking better with north at 10-15 knots,

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar got out Thursday for a few keeper tog along with shorts and bergalls in 130-180 feet.

Comment

Share

You never know what you may catch when fishing a live shrimp over rough bottom in the Everglades. During the recent trip Crazy Alberto Knie and I made there with Paul Castelli on his 15-foot duck boat, we were seeking sheepshead and spotted seatrout, but also hooked a puffer, a tiny gag grouper, a small sea robin, a “whiting” (actually a gulf kingfish), and a fish we couldn’t identify.

With bold black stripes on its side and neon blue scribblings on the head, I figured this photo by Paul would be easy to find in the many tropical species books I have in my library — but so far there’s been no match. Any ideas?

The forecast for Friday starts at just 5-10 knots northwest before increasing to north at 10-15 plus gusts to 20 in the afternoon. Unfortunately, Saturday isn’t looking good with north winds of 15-20 knots along with gusts to 25.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar will continue to try getting out to fish for tautog in 130-180-foot depths as shallower waters have been unproductive.

The Viking Fleet reports “The “Cadillac”… 144ft Viking Starship is hauled out for routine maintenance and USCG inspection. Each of the 6 Montauk based Viking boats must be hauled every 2 years for the United States Coast Guard to inspect the bottoms of the boats, ensuring structural and watertight integrity. We are often asked what we do in the winter. Well, if we are not fishing, it is maintenance, maintenance, maintenance! We are still sailing for Cod on the 104ft Tank, the Viking Star. Did you know… both the 144ft Viking Starship and the 104ft Viking Star were designed and built by Captain Paul Forsberg Sr? He designed them specifically to be the most stable and safe fishing platforms in the northeastt from the Gulf of Maine to George’s Banks to Nantucket to Coxes Ledge to the far east and southern Canyons and everywhere in between.

I remember making a solo trip to Montauk as a high school kid to catch my first big fish (20-30-pound) cod and pollock) on the Star at Coxes. What a thrill that was!

Thursday’s forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20.

“Snows are less frequent and less deep. They do not often lie below the mountains more than one, two, or three days, and very rarely a week. They are remembered to have been formerly frequent, deep, and of long continuance. The elderly inform me the earth used to be covered with snow about three months in every year. The rivers, which then seldom failed to freeze over in the course of the winter, scarcely ever do so now.”

Those comments on climate change were made by a prominent Democrat — Thomas Jefferson in describing Virginia weather in 1785!

The Boston Globe is a knee-jerk liberal newspaper, but it also has a very wise columnist who “tells it like it is”. Jeff Jacoby used that quote from Jefferson in this week’s Arguable column while cautioning against panicking about a slight rise in temperature which has greatly reduced worldwide loss of life in contrast to periods of colder weather while providing wealth which allows us to deal with climate changes.

The Al Gore description of climate change involves both higher temperatures and a lack of rain. We do get periods of such weather, but I doubt if those living in N.J. feel they haven’t seen enough rain lately. Of course, stormy weather doesn’t count because it’s the result of climate change. In other words, it’s impossible to be wrong.

The result of Gore’s prediction would result in higher water temperatures sending species heading north while NOAA Fisheries told N.J. anglers to learn to fish for red drum. The result has been a mass of seals so thick during winter in the Shrewsbury River that it’s seemed at times you could across the river on their backs. Southern New England has been overwhelmed by seals that had never been a problem at all, Meanwhile, the red drum remain to the south instead of returning to the Jersey Shore where they were they were the major inshore game fish under the name of channel bass a century ago.

Yesterday’s mention of the blue marlin on fly opportunity in Guatemala included an error as I noted it came from Jim Jordan rather than Jake Jordan.

A small craft advisory is up until 6 p.m. Tomorrow starts with northeast winds at just 5-10 knots with a slight chance of precipitation in the morning.

The Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar series lands in Atlantic City on Saturday, Feb. 3 as George Poveromo brings his annual event to Resorts Casino. Nick Honefchesky is the co-host, and local experts such as Capt. Al Crudele III will provide their secrets to success, Tickets are $65, and info is available at nationalseminarseries,com.

Capt. Jim Jorden sends “Greetings from “The Costa Rica Blue Marlin Schools” 2024 aboard “Dragin Fly” out of “The Los Suenos Resort and Marina” in Costa Rica!

As most of you know our school weeks during June, July, and August are usually sold out 9 months to one year in advance. Today I received word from a good client that he had to cancel his prime week (July 7 to 13, 2024). This is a great opportunity for someone who has the desire to catch multiple Blue Marlin on Fly using IGFA rules for fly fishing. “

If interested, e-mail me at cristori@aol.com — and I’ll have Jim get in touch with you.

A small craft warning is up through Tuesday afternoon. The morning forecast is for northeast winds at 10-15 knots. There is a coastal flooding warning along the Jersey Shore.

A gale warning is up until 8 p.m.. but it doesn’t get a lot better in NY/NJ Bight tomorrow with north winds at 20-25 knots before dropping a bit to 15-20 knots in the afternoon.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar found poor blackfishing inshore when they were able to get out in fishable weather. but will try further offshore on their next attempt when the weather is favorable.

As noted yesterday, there will be east winds to contend with in NJ/NY Bight on Sunday. Small craft warnings are up from the morning to Monday afternoon. East winds at 20-25 knots get even worse as it increases to 25-30- northeast in the afternoon plus rain.