Believe it or not, better days are not that far off if you are an angler in the northeast. Yes, I know, you are most likely looking at new snow pack or some other horror that winter tends to bring, but don’t despair, relief is on the horizon. Not the immediate horizon, mind you, as we seem to be staring down the barrel of yet another icy blast. But soon, I assure you, the change will come. And when it does, I don’t want to hear any harping about how it snuck up on you. These are the times you need to take advantage of to get ready. And while we at OTW can’t always point you in the direction to fish, we can tell you what the alternatives are. Let’s see if I can find some for you.
This weekend is President’s Day and in Sea Isle City, that marks the day when all the crazies don their bathing trunks (and other costumes) and take the plunge. It’s their way of marking the end of a long winter and informing us that summer is right around the corner. If you happen to be one of those crazies (and this year the water is hovering around forty, lower than the last five or so years) and also happen to be an angler, swing over to Sea Isle Bait and Tackle if you get a chance. Owner Mike Cunningham is marking the event with a super sale of sorts, looking to free up some shelf space for new arrivals for spring.
If you are looking for something to do that is fishing related and but not affected by the snow or rain we are dealing with, there are two fishing flea markets that I am aware of this weekend. The Hi Mar Striper Club will hold its annual flea market on Feb. 15th at VFW 2179 in Port Monmouth. Cost for the event is five dollars and includes not only entrance into the flea market but a series of seminars in the morning on shark fishing, Bucktailing techniques, bottom fishing and trolling eels for stripers. You can’t get a better bang for your buck.
In Manahawkin, the Southern Regional High School fishing club will hold its annual fishing flea market in the cafeteria of the Middle School on Cedar Bridge Road. With over 90 tables of vendors, this is a great place to shore up the losses in your tackle box. I have attended this market many time and can assure you that it is well worth the admission fee of four dollars. The doors open at 8am this Saturday and the show runs through 2pm.
This Nor’easter will definitely put a damper on bottom fishing for the next five days at the very least. Most if not all of the captains I have heard from will remain tied to the dock until at least Saturday. I know the Ocean Explorer and the Big Mohawk in Belmar as well as the Mimi IV are planning to hit the water as soon as the seas calm down. I would suggest calling ahead before you make the trip. The storm is really hugging the coast as I type this and it might take a beating.
The last report I received from Captain Dave Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center, he was worried about the new rules on menhaden which were released on Tuesday. A few days later, after further examination, it looks like we should be ok this season. There may be some lean times but Dave feels we will get enough from local sources, even with the new rules. And whenever I have a bait question, Captain Showell is the man. He has been putting up grass shrimp to take advantage of the perch bite in the Mullica which has been slowly picking up.
Don’t forget this Saturday is the Grand Reopening of The Reel Seat at their new location at 707 Union Ave. Stop in and check it out. I am sure owner Dave Arbietman and the crew will be happy to see you. From the pictures I have seen, they have really expanded the operation. It looks great guys!
Best Bets for the Weekend
As I type this, the worst part of the storm seems to be past us along the coast. We still have the back end to deal with but all in all, the southern two thirds of the state received mostly rain from this storm and we will bounce back fast. It looks like the heaviest part of the storm was in the northern part of the state but from what I hear; even there it has turned from snow to rain. My best recommendations for this weekend would be to finish up the maintenance and get a leg up on the opening of striper season in the back waters. Next weekend is Surf Day at Brookdale College in Lincroft. Brought to you by the Jersey Shore Surfcasters, it is one of the best events for anyone who likes to fish from the sand. So it is imperative to clean your to-do list and make time for this one. Stop by the OTW booth and introduce yourself. Whatever you choose to do this week, stay safe out there. Winter is ebbing and you want to be ready when the real fun starts. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.