Preliminary indications from ASMFC is that New Jersey is going to get the short end of the stick with the new Summer Flounder regs for 2014. They voted at their meeting this week to “regionalize” the management of Summer Flounder (putting New Jersey together with New York and Connecticut) which in effect would be reallocating some of New Jersey’s quota to New York. Under this adopted plan, both New York and New Jersey would have an 18-inch size limit and a 4 per man bag with a 128 day season. Last year, if you recall (who can keep track anymore?) it was 17 ½ inches for New Jersey and 19 inches for New York. The NJMFC will now make the call on when the season will begin and end. Just to add some true logic to the equation, those fishing the Delaware Bay and surrounding areas will be permitted to keep 16-inch fluke, but will be in violation of regulations unless they land in the State of Delaware, not in NJ.
Changing rigs…..The Convention Center really should be slamming this weekend as the Atlantic City Boat Show, for the first time in recent memory, does not overlap with Super Bowl Sunday. I guess someone must have been paying attention to the fact that you could shoot a cannon off in the place on the last day for each of the past I don’t know how many years.
Your $15 dollar ticket (kids under 15 get in free with an adult paid admission) this year will get you not only a the chance to climb all over everything from Dinghies to Schooners, but a decent sized Marine Marketplace where you can see the latest in electronics, marine gizmos, and a huge variety of marine services.
I will tell you that if you are expecting to see a huge display of fishing gear this year, you may be disappointed as this really has turned in to a BOAT Show. Just about the only pure tackle dealer that is on the menu is TackleDirect (their showroom is just 10 minutes from the Convention Center) and they are not planning on bringing the warehouse with them this year. Stopping by at the Showroom on the way or the way out is a good plan if you have been stashing cash from the family accountant to buy some new tackle. There will be some manufacturers booths and I am sure some of the Marinas that have ship stores in them will be packing up some gear to bring.
This is also a once in a lifetime chance to meet some of the crew from On The Water Magazine, who will be manning booth #665. Please be sure to stop by and speak very loudly to them as it is my intention to make sure they have a Class 1 New Jersey Hangover both weekend mornings of the show. Mike Shipton and I will be bouncing in and out if you want to stop by and say hi.
All kidding aside, there really are some great speakers and seminars this year. Jimmy Fee is going to be speaking on light-tackle pelagics, the RFA’s Jim Hutchinson is going to run a couple including live-lining bunker for trophy stripers as well as grass shrimping for weakfish, and world record holder Greg Myerson will be giving tips on catching trophy bass. Also one of my favorite guys, Capt. Harvey Yenkinson will be there talking about catching monster fluke, and I can tell you first hand that this man, is the “man” Capt. Harv is a Veterinarian when he is not running the Vetcraft and after listening to him for a while you will actually believe that he can think like a fish. For a true fish-eye view, the “Diving Fisherman”, Mike Laptew will be there as well. Mike’s videos are the standard for underwater fishing photography and I guarantee you that you have seen his work either on one of the spectacular shows he has shot (National Geographic, Planet Earth, Saltwater Sportsman, Walker’s Cay) or his own series, Stripers Gone Wild. Really great stuff and worth a look.
If you are a boat owner, and want to get “sum edumacation” on your engines or hulls, there is also a section called “Fred’s Shed” which is an interactive learning center. Kind of “Do it yourself” workshops on keeping your vessel ship-shape… pretty cool concept.
Just because the boat show is in town does not mean that the whole State closes down and you can’t go fishing this weekend. I made a few calls to check on the plans of our regional head boats and, as usual, they are ready to brave the elements and take a run at the winter bottom fare.
The Ocean Explorer out of Belmar is still a “go” as of Wednesday morning, conditions permitting, with both Cod and Tog on the target list. Also, out of Point Pleasant, the Mimi IV is looking forward to 2- to 3-foot seas, but there is a chance of some frozen precipitation so…. call ahead.
Perching is a great way to kill a couple hours, at least until your fingers start to ice up. If you can score some grass shrimp and have a hot frying pan, it can totally be worth the effort.
I also want to remind everyone that this is a great time to give your local tackle shop a buzz and swing by. Trust me, those that spend a little time with our guys in the off season are mainlined into the hottest information when the weather tuns and things start gearing up. Even of you just stop in and hang for a while, it goes a long way in building your personal network. Time well spent.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Remember to wear non-marking shoes and head to the Atlantic City Convention Center. After making a beeline to the Jerky Hut and scoring that $20 bag of blistering heartburn, you can continue to salivate over the best that the boating industry has to offer. I’ll be standing in front of the Viking Yachts booth wondering why I didn’t invent the Post-it note or the pool noodle.
Stay Tuna-ed!