There’s no fighting the calendar.
The end of January is not usually known for good fishing in New Jersey. And when you add a wicked nor’easter at the beginning of the week, conditions were definitely not in our favor.
Even the blackfish bite that was keeping folks interested, succumbed to the winter blahs.
But even though it’s the dead of winter, the fight over New Jersey’s 2017 summer flounder regulations is alive and well with an event scheduled for Friday in Point Pleasant Beach. More on that below.
Phil Sciortino Sr. at the Tackle Box in Hazlet reported absolutely nothing going on this past week. The Raritan Bay boats have pretty much put things on hold until the spring and no one is going near the beach.
Capt. George Bachert on the Angler out of Atlantic Highlands sailed last Saturday and found it tough going. He fished in the same spot where he found tog earlier in the week, but all he caught were eels.
He moved into deeper water but discovered only more eels and a few ling. The Angler’s next move was into shallower water where there were a few blackfish, but all were shorts. The highlight of the day was a finback whale breaching about 15 feet from the boat.
Three ling caught by Jim Lewiki from Cheesequake won the pool. Based on Saturday’s trip and his feeling that the fishing won’t be improving, Capt. Bachert has decided to pack it in until the spring.
Capt. Scott Hilliard on the Prowler 5 out of Atlantic Highlands sailed on Saturday as well but found little life on the deep wrecks he targeted. It was a tough day of fishing, he reported, with eels making up most of the catch.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said we’re now officially in the winter doldrums with cod and blackfish the only action reported.
Matthews said the cod fishing is good when the boats can get out. Jim Rice of Wall and Scott Mitchell of Neptune fished on a private boat on Sunday and came back to the dock with a nice catch of cod. Fishing at an undisclosed location, Mitchell landed a 30 pounder along with some other keepers.
The blackfishing, said Matthews, has been up and down but there were some double-digit fish reported before the weather turned nasty.
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar sailed on Saturday and found the blackfishing pretty slow. He’s going to be sailing for tog again this Saturday, but that will be his last trip aboard the Skylarker until the spring.
The Ocean Explorer will continue to sail out of Belmar for cod and blackfish
Capt. Howard Bogan on the Big Jamaica out of Bogan’s Basin in Brielle sailed last Saturday and reported a pretty good day on the offshore wrecks. There were limits of jumbo porgies along with pollack, mackerel and ling.
Rich Kizman of Belmar took the pool with a 10-pound pollack. Capt. Bogan plans on sailing to the offshore wrecks every Saturday through February.
The Jamaica II hit the Mud Hole last Saturday and Capt. Ryan Bogan reported lots of silver eels but no ling. He moved inshore in search of tog but found the bite on the slow side.
He found a few fish on every drop, fishing in 90 to 135 feet. There was one tog limit reported.
Capt. Kenny on the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach continues to sail for blackfish and reported that before the storm, his fares were getting two or three fish apiece with some double-digit tog in the mix.
The Norma K III, also out of Point Pleasant Beach, will be sailing for blackfish this weekend. Capt. Matt Sosnowski has been at the dock since the storm but fished last Saturday with less than stellar results.
Capt. Jeff Gutman on the Voyager out of Point Pleasant Beach will be running his final cod trip of the year this Friday leaving at 8 p.m. Capt. Gutman reported that the fishing was good on his previous trip on Jan. 13 producing some nice cod. The Voyager is scheduled to go to the shipyard at the end of the month.
Brian Stensland at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said it’s been quiet around the shop but he expects the peace to be disturbed this Friday, Jan. 27. N.J. DEP Commissioner Bob Martin has scheduled a news conference at the shop regarding the proposed 40 percent cut in New Jersey’s fluke quota for 2017.
The event is planned for 10 a.m. at 69 Channel Drive. Commissioner Martin has said the proposed cuts would have a crippling impact on the recreational fishing industry in the state and all interested anglers are asked to come and voice their opposition to the reduction.
South of the Manasquan Inlet, reports are few and far between.
Matt at Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin said all that he’s heard of lately are a few people trying for white perch in the local rivers and lagoons with grass shrimp. Guys just want to go fishing, he said, but he hasn’t had much feedback on results.
Andy Grossman at Riptide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine said there’s nothing going on in his neck of the woods and he is keeping busy with rod and reel repairs and stocking new inventory.
On the freshwater side, the lack of ice tells the story.
Ken at Tackle and Field in Wanaque said the water is open and while some are fishing from the shore, they’re not having any luck. Larry at Newark Sinker Company in Pine Brook said it’s the same story out of there.
Fishing Forecast for New Jersey
The weather over the next couple of days looks pretty favorable so a trip for cod or blackfish is the best bet. Boats are still sailing out of Belmar and the Manasquan Inlet. There is also the New York Boat Show at the Javits Center for those suffering from cabin fever. And if you can make it, come and support the fight against the onerous 2017 fluke regulations at 10 a.m. on Friday at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach.
Many anglers caught their limit of Jumbo Porgies along with some Pollock, bluefish, mackerel, and ling