There’s no sugar coating it. Fishing is tough.
Winter is supposed to be a bit bleak, but there’s usually some fish to be caught. Hardy anglers braving the elements should expect to be rewarded with blackfish, cod, ling or mackerel.
Not this year.
And If it wasn’t for the action taking place through the ice, the fishing picture would be truly grim.
Despite some rain and rising temperatures, the ice has been holding up in parts of the state thanks to colder nights.
Dino at Garden State Bow and Reel said the ice was good over the weekend but some soft spots were developing. He said there were a lot of perch and pickerel caught at Silver Lake and in the local private ponds.
There were some muskie caught at Budd Lake, he reported, along with Northern Pike. He believes the ice will hold on through February.
Billy at Tackle and Field in Wanaque isn’t so sure about that, reporting that the ice was getting thin at some lakes and ponds, especially along the edges. There were folks still fishing Greenwood Lake but it was getting a little risky, he said.
There were crappie and perch being caught at Splitrock Reservoir over the weekend, but he hadn’t heard much since then.
Ron at Fins and Furs in Newfoundland said the ice is holding up on the smaller lakes and ponds except for around the edges. One needs to be careful when getting on the surface.
Those smaller lakes and ponds are giving up crappie and perch and he did hear rumors of some big musky coming out of Greenwood Lake.
Laurie Murphy at Dow’s Boat Rental on Lake Hopatcong reported that the ice on the lake is still 6 to 8 inches thick but there is thin ice along the shoreline due to thaws and refreezing.
Anglers can still get onto the lake from the dock at Dow’s.
The fishing slowed down from previous weeks, but Murphy reported there were perch and pickerel caught over the weekend along with a 4-pound largemouth and a 2-pound smallmouth. There were also a few walleye caught.
The next ice fishing contest on the lake will be held on Feb. 11 as long as the ice remains.
Larry at the Newark Sinker Company in Pine Brook said there was little to report from his freshwater customers and absolutely nothing going on for the saltwater guys.
That could change at any time, but right now, the bite in the ocean is slow.
Mel Martens from Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said he hasn’t heard of much being caught offshore in the last few weeks. Even when the weather is good enough to sail, the fish just aren’t there.
The prevailing view is that the cold water is responsible for the poor fishing, but it’s been just as cold in prior years with much better results.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar reported that the only boat still sailing out of the marina is Capt. Bobby Quinn’s Ocean Explorer. The shop is open every day but, with hardly any traffic, he’s been closing up around noon.
The Ocean Explorer sailed last Sunday morning in the rain and found very poor fishing. Capt. Quinn called it the worse day he’s seen yet with most spots practically lifeless.
He was hoping to sail on Wednesday morning but only a few anglers showed up in the cold and wind so he elected to wait for a couple of days before trying again.
The folks at Brielle Bait and Tackle said it’s been very quiet there. The Big Jamaica and the Jamaica II, which have been sailing for ling and jumbo porgies, haven’t sailed for a few days but are hoping to get out this weekend.
Brielle Bait and Tackle will be holding rod building classes on Feb. 5, 7 and 9 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night. The cost is $90.
Capt. Matt Sosnowski on the Norma K III hasn’t sailed for the past several days either. There haven’t been enough anglers showing up to make the trip. The Norma K III will be sailing just Saturdays and Sundays for blackfish through February.
Capt. Kenny Namowitz on the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach finally called it a season. His last few trips proved to be a struggle for blackfish so he’ll be waiting for the spring to sail again.
The Voyager out of Point Pleasant Beach still has a few spots open on its Block Island cod trip scheduled for Friday leaving at 10 p.m. Capt. Jeff Gutman has Block Island trips scheduled for every Friday through February.
Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Heights said there is not a lot going on fishing wise, but the shop will be holding its annual Northeast Rod Builders Gathering this Saturday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 with food and drink. It’s also the final weekend of the storewide sale with 10 percent off everything in the shop.
Fishing Forecast for New Jersey
There’s been a couple of very cold nights this week so the ice in the northern part of the state should be in fair shape for the weekend.
You can also get some relief from cabin fever and attend the Raritan Bay Anglers Fishing Club’s Annual Fishing Flea Market at the Rutgers Student Center at 126 College Ave. in New Brunswick from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $5 and children under 12 are free.