Winter Warmup Triggers Hot Fishing
I know that the calendar says that we are dead smack in the middle of winter but lately the weather is telling me otherwise. For the last week I have been getting reports from up and down the coast of fish being taken despite the fact that we are in the dead of winter. Water temperatures, for the most part, are still in the mid-40s and the air temps have been more than hospitable. So if you have a case of cabin fever, there is a prescription available to cure your sickness. You will have to work for it but nothing in life comes cheap. As is the case more often than not this time of year, bait reigns as the king. This week, I will make an effort as always, to keep you informed as to who has it but be forewarned that you should call ahead if you need bait. Not only are many of the suppliers running on reduced schedule but they carry smaller inventories in order to keep it as fresh as possible. Let’s see what our scouts out there have to say about the best opportunities available to those willing to brave the winter doldrums and put a line in the water.
If you are in the Toms River area, Captain Hippo’s is open and waiting for your business. I spoke to Lenny Hahn the other day and he told me they are open every day (except Wednesday and Thursday) from 8 to 6. They have frozen and salted clams, a variety of worms and some eels. Lenny told me that white perch are being taken behind the old Tileco and that freshwater fishing is generally good in the upper Manasquan.
According to Captain Dave Showell at Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center, live bait is always hard to get this time of year. He does have live grass shrimp and bloodworms in stock as well as a variety of frozen baits including clam. Perch have been biting both worms and grass shrimp in the Mullica and Patcong Rivers. The blackfish bite off Atlantic City has been good on most days and great on others. Best bet for tog action is in 60-plus feet of water according to Captain Dave.
As I had previously mentioned, the blackfish bite is pretty good no matter what part of the state you are sailing from. In Cape May County, the head boats have been having very productive trips. Clam and crabs are the bait of choice with the latter being the most productive according to Mike Cunningham of Sea Isle Bait and Tackle. Mike is carrying green crab and those ever-sought-after white leg crab whenever his suppliers have them. For those of you who are tog aficionados, those white leggers are without a doubt, the best ammo you can use for massive white chins. Mike also informed me the Sea Isle beaches have been giving up some nice keeper bass lately, most being beached using fresh or salted clam. Sea Isle Bait and Tackle is open Thursday thru Sunday throughout the winter. If you are in special need of bait or tackle on other days, I recommend calling ahead.
Team Jersey Hooker and Captain Rich Wilkowski shot me a note that they will be closed this weekend thru Sunday to take care of business but will be back in action come Monday. They have been doing tons of equipment repairs and maintenance. Be sure to keep them in mind for any of your hardware tune-ups.
Long Beach Island is open for business and have already had more than a few keeper bass taken off their beaches. If you are heading out that way, don’t forget to swing over to Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin before you cross the bridge to the island. They are carrying a limited supply of live and fresh baits such as surf clams, green crabs and salted clams, as well as live nightcrawlers. They are also carrying a large variety of frozen baits to augment your endeavors. They are open 7 days a week but are operating on reduced winter hours, closing most days at three. One again, I recommend calling or checking their web site for any changes.
Up and down the coast, the party boats are out in search of the elusive blackfish and most have been doing so with great success. One in particular, The wew Big Mohawk under Captain Chris Hueth has really been banging them hard. Call ahead because space can be limited and is subject to weather conditions. Captain Hueth has consistently put his passengers on the white chins and even when they aren’t cooperating, he has went to plan B and launched attacks on ling. Recent trips have had more than a few clients reach their 4 fish limit, and fish at the 10 pound mark have not been uncommon.
Summer or winter, my go- to guys for the offshore report is the gang at the Reel Seat in Brielle. Owner Dave Arbeitman is the guy for deep-water pursuits. And while they are on winter hours (weekends 8 until 2) they still got word to me about the sea bass bite which has been gangbusters since the start of the New Year. In addition, cod, ling and tilefish are all being caught depending on weather conditions. Dave recommends that anyone looking for an offshore trip check with their favorite head or charter boat as these trips are usually booked in advance and also have limited seats available. If you are headed up to the shop you might want to check out some of the new offshore rods the Reel Seat is building again. No sense going to battle with less than quality armament. And take my word for it, these new rods are top of the line.
Soaking in the salt isn’t the only game in town for those of you suffering withdrawal symptoms. When I spoke with Tom P. (resident freshwater guru and mad scientist) at the Sportsmen’s Center in Robbinsville he was all over the trout. Any of the state-stocked streams are still giving up some nice brown trout. All you need is some light tackle and some Berkley Power bait salmon eggs according to Tommy. Garlic scent is the best bet this time of year coupled with patience. The water is colder and the fish are less aggressive.
I heard from the gang at Alex’s Inlet Bait and Tackle this week and they are on the road to recovery. As you may or may not know, Alex’s was one of the harder hit B&T’s in the Point Pleasant area and there were rumors that they were washed out to sea. Be assured that they were not and are planning on reopening as soon as possible. They still don’t have phone service almost three months after the storm but the walls and floors are finished and they are now working on cosmetics and inventory. Keep up the good work guys.
Another quick note – Island Beach State Park remains closed to the general public. No word as to when it will reopen but it’s looking like the spring run will be the best bet. Keep your fingers crossed.
I’d like to take a moment here and comment on the passing of Dave “Pops” Masch who left us far too early recently. I like intelligent people. Even more so, I really enjoy intelligent people who never feel the need to prove how smart they are each time they write or open their mouths. I never met Pops in person but came to know him through his columns and articles in On the Water. It was one section of the magazine I almost always went to first and was rarely disappointed. I always came away with new bit of knowledge. He was a teacher in my eyes; every piece he authored taught me something I did not know before I read it. When you come down to the basics, life is all about learning, and I hope I never stop doing so. I am going to miss that most of all. Finding a teacher who can pass on information to you with such ease is a talent that is difficult, if not impossible to replace. Tight lines Dave.
Best Bets for the weekend.
There are plenty of options out there if you are looking to shake off the symptoms of cabin Fever this weekend. Many of the head and party boats are sailing, most for blackfish but some for sea bass and other offshore rewards. Cod, ling and tilefish could come into play as well. I suggest you call ahead as some boats are working off reservations and seating may be limited so having a back-up plan might not be a bad idea. If you don’t want to spend a day on the water, there have been strong reports of keeper bass from the top of the state to the bottom. Remember, the back bays are closed. Also, be sure you have your 2013 NJ Saltwater Registry card with you. It’s free and simple to update. Just go to http://www.nj.gov/dep/saltwaterregistry/index.htmln and follow the step by step instructions. If you’re not willing to brave the elements this weekend, there is still plenty to do out there. The Sports show and flea market season is about to kick into high gear, so now is the time to put together your wish list. Take an inventory of equipment and keep it with you when you go. It cuts down on those impulse purchases that have you wondering what you were thinking come fishing season. Many of the shops that got nailed by Hurricane Sandy will be featuring their wares at these shows and it’s a good time to show your support. At the very least, you can show your appreciation for the service they provide all year. A few words of encouragement will go a long way. Whichever option you elect to go with, please stay safe out there. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.