New Jersey Fishing Reports

Capt. Anthony from Barbara Anne Fishing Charters checked in with an e-mail to say he expects to obtain a Research Set Aside Fluke Permit this year. The permit allows a charter boat to sail for fluke after the regular season closes, and the catches are required to be weighed, measured and reported to the government for research. In 2009, for example, New York’s fluke season, split into two periods, was open May 15-June 15 and July 3-August 17 with a limit of two fish 21 inches or larger. Afterward, the RSA season was open August 18-December 31 with a limit of four fish 20 inches or larger. So the bag limit was also looser. The permits are auctioned, and Anthony was confident he’d receive one. He also stopped by the Fishing Reports Now booth at the Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show, saying his most recent fluke seasons were the best-ever by far, producing considerably larger and more of the fish, for whatever reasons, maybe because of the tight regulations. Both charters and open-boat trips will sail during the Research Set Aside fluke season.

Bayonne

Some customers tried for striped bass and ling from the bulkheads along the Hudson River, said Capt. Akira from True World Tackle and True World Tackle Charters. They typically use baits such as frozen bunker or clams, and nothing was heard about results, and only a few customers were around this time of year. A friend was supposed to take a trip for cod from Rhode Island. Catch True World’s display at the New York Sportsmen’s Outdoor Expo on Friday through Sunday at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.

Atlantic Highlands

A couple of the Atlantic Highlands party boats continued to sail, said Joe from Julian’s Bait & Tackle. A look at the Web sites of the two vessels he mentioned showed that one of the boats actually stopped sailing for the season as of today, and the other put customers on ling and pout, and was expected to keep fishing through the next two weekends. The report on that boat’s site said blackfishing had all but shut down because of the cold ocean, but maybe easterly winds would warm the waters. Some customers fished for ling from the head boats around Brielle. Julian’s is open 6 a.m. to 12 noon Saturdays and Sundays.

Belmar

***Update, Thursday, 1/28***: A few blackfish remained on the bite, and the fishing wasn’t good, but anglers sacked a few on the Big Mohawk, Capt. Chris said. Crabs were still available for bait, and some anglers wanted to head out. A few handfuls of the fish were snatched up on the boat Wednesday in strong winds. “It is what it is,” Chris said, and trips will keep sailing for the moment. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

***Update, Thursday, 1/28***: Mackerel started getting pummeled again on the party boat Miss Belmar Princess, after the fish had disappeared a couple of days last week, Capt. Alan said. But trips started hitting them again Sunday and through the week, and Wednesday’s trip really pancaked them, garbage cans full. He hoped the fishing holds up. Trips now found them 18 miles from shore, and previously got them 22 miles from shore. The Miss Belmar Princess is probably the only head boat fishing for macks full time in the state, because the vessel’s three engines give the speed to reach the grounds that far from shore in a day trip. Attention: The boat once again this year will steam for cod up north starting February 5. Again, the vessel’s engines allow the quickness to reach cod off Block Island, Rhode Island, a 7-hour trip tops, and last year only 6 hours. Anglers aboard knocked out great catches of cod on the trips last year, and the outings are a rare opportunity for Jersey anglers to take convenient advantage of the fishery. The 24-hour trips will leave 8 p.m. every Friday, limited to 40 anglers. The fare is $200, and reservations are required, and do fill up. For now, the Miss Belmar Princess is mackerel fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Capt. Tom from the Nan Sea J wrapped up his season, he said. Blackfishing seemed to slow down, so he’ll run no more charters until spring. Then charters will kick back off in April for striped bass and blackfish. Tom thanks everyone who fished aboard this past season.

Solid angling for blackfish, including a limit of the fish to a 17-pounder, was socked at least on Thursday on one of the local party boats, said Bob from Fisherman’s Den. He heard about no results since then. The 17-pounder was the biggest tog tugged aboard on the vessel so far this season. Trips then did have to run 2 hours from shore to 160- to 180-foot depths to find the fish willing to bite, because of cold waters closer to the coast. But they found them. Lots of mackerel were mugged on another one of the boats, and that fishing held up, and many anglers were going on the trips. But how long the fishing would last was a question. The shop is usually open until 10:30 or 11 a.m. daily.

Brielle

***Update, Thursday, 1/28***: Anglers aboard the Big Kid put a licking on cod and ling Wednesday, Capt. Ken said. Six cod were swung aboard, and a bunch of ling were plowed. Probably four or five tog were cranked in, but the fishing wasn’t done on tog marks. The boat is sailing all winter, one of the few charter boats that is, and call if interested in going. Some weekends are available, and weekdays are on tap. People were already calling to book the busy weekends in summer. Sea bass trips were getting filled, and tuna dates were starting to get claimed, among other types of charters.

About 20 cod, some pollock and ling, and limits of jumbo porgies were swung aboard the party boat Jamaica at the offshore wrecks Saturday, an e-mail from the vessel said. All the anglers clubbed a good catch, and the wrecks fished attracted plenty of life. Pool winners were Kyle O’Connor, Spring Lake, with a 14-pound cod and a limit of porgies, Gilbert Sharp, East Hampton, with a 12-pound cod, and Mike Vastola, Lavallette, with a 9-pound cod, two more cod and some porgies and ling. Trips to the 45- to 65-mile wrecks are sailing every Friday through Sunday for cod, pollock and jumbo porgies into March. Call the boat or check the vessel’s Web site for more info.

Point Pleasant</b

***Update, Thursday, 1/28***: Ling, some blackfish and a few cod – an okay catch, not great, but okay – were bucketed on the party boat Dauntless, Capt. Butch said. Plus mackerel reappeared close enough to shore for trips to go after them in the past couple of days, and patrons gathered up a fair number. The crew hadn’t expected the Bostons to school close enough to shore again, after the fish had been migrating too far offshore this season, following a brief moment when they did show up close enough and were caught. The vessel will hunt mackerel at the beginnings and ends of trips, bottom fishing the rest of the time, as long as the macks are close. Both the bottom fish and the mackerel were taken at the same grounds in waters 120 to 180 feet deep. The ocean was 39 to 42 degrees, about the same as it’s been. The weather allowed the boat to get out every day lately except Monday in the gale and rains. The Dauntless is sailing all winter long, is one of the few head boats that does in the state, and is running 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Seaside

A handful of anglers fished the surf through the weekend, said the report on Grumpy’s Tackle’s Web site. None seemed to catch anything Sunday, and no fish were checked in Saturday either, “so I am thinking they had a nice mental health day!” Grumpy wrote in the report that day. Remember to attend the Anglers Rally in Washington, D.C., from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, February 24. Buses will depart at many locations, and the staff at Grumpy’s is trying to arrange a bus leaving from the store. Or check for bus locations at the sites of the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund, the United Boatmen or the Recreational Fishing Alliance. Make a difference by attending, and every face will help. <a href=" http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishing_reports.cfm" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the latest report.

Mystic Island

Mild air temperatures seemed to increase cabin fever, and some anglers talked about going freshwater fishing, and Tuckerton Lake is always a favorite this time of year, said the report on Scott’s Bait & Tackle’s Web site. Anglers should remember to pick up a 2010 freshwater license. The report talked about a few boaters fishing for white perch on the Mullica River and tributaries last week after the cold snap, saying the fishing was worth the effort. A limited amount of live grass shrimp, the favorite perch bait, were stocked, because a friend made the effort to catch them. The friend also dropped off a bag of fresh perch fillets for dinner, after scoring a great catch on the Mullica. Scott at the shop picked up his 2010 bait-netting license so he can gather shrimp when his back feels better, he said in the report. One angler had thought about fishing for tog on Saturday and never did, but then he saw that the surf was 6 feet, left over from the northeast blow, a good day to miss out on sailing. Minnows and nightcrawlers are also stocked. ***Update, Thursday, 1/28***: Angling from private boats for white perch on the Mullica River and party boat fishing for ling, mackerel, cod and tog on the ocean was the only action, “no historic catches … but no one is really too picky in January,” the report on the shop’s Web site said.

Absecon

Boaters, instead of ice fishers like before, picked up white perch on the Mullica River, said Capt. Dave from Absecon Bay Sportsman Center. Curt who works at the shop angled in plenty. No live grass shrimp, the favorite perch bait, are stocked, though they were on hand when demand was greater when ice fishing was possible at Collins Cove on the river a couple of weeks ago. But frozen shrimp are carried. If demand picks up as the season goes on, Dave might catch more to keep alive. The store is open but during no set hours in winter, so call ahead.

Longport

Trips were called off during the weekend because of weather forecasts but probably could’ve sailed, said Capt. Mike from the Stray Cat. The weather turned out gorgeous Saturday, and winds failed to blow until 3 p.m. Sunday, even if the ocean held a fair heave. Open-boat trips are sailing offshore for tog, cod, pollock, ling or whatever bites, and call for the schedule. ***Update, Thursday, 1/28***: Trips in the next couple of days should stay docked because of the snow, Mike said. But the vessel is slated to run to the 60-mile wrecks on open trips Saturday, February 6, and Presidents’ Day or Monday, February 15, for the same species mentioned above. Trips on other days could also run depending on demand. Looking head, in spring some deep-water summer flounder trips will fish the 100- to 120-foot depths in the ocean when the flattie season opens in May. “Gobs of slobs,” he said, going the extra effort, kicking up the fishing a notch.

Ocean City

Angling will start to pick up in another month, said Bill from Fin-Atics. Though he mentioned no reasons why that will happen, participation always increases once striped bass season reopens in the bays March 1. Plus cabin fever seems to set in. In the meantime, no customers mentioned fishing, not even for white perch up the brackish rivers that usually produces in winter. But the ocean somewhat warmed, reaching 41 degrees, after dipping to 35. Fin-Atics is open Fridays through Sundays.

Sea Isle City

Some of the traveling charters to the Florida Keys fished that Capt. Joe Hughes from Jersey Cape Guide Service and Gibson’s Tackle is offering during certain periods through winter. He talked about some of the catch in the last report, but one more day of the fishing took place last Monday, he said. That was the last day in an extended weekend of the angling, and John Martin hopped aboard that morning, wrestling in several sizeable cero mackerel to 8 pounds at Alligator Reef on the ocean side, mostly on chartreuse and white Clouser flies, and some on Deadly Dicks and other jigs. Joe’s wife Marie joined Joe to fish that afternoon, and they rustled in more than two dozen cero’s to 7 or 8 pounds, mostly on flies, but some on live ballyhoos, while anchored with a chum slick at the reef. Then they pushed off the reef, slowly trolling bally’s for sailfish, hooking one that quickly spit the hook. Conditions had improved enough to fish the ocean side that day, and the ocean fishing improved through the day. During the previous couple of days winds and seas were too stiff to fish the ocean. Trips on the previous days fished the back waters toward Flamingo, landing redfish, black drum, speckled seatrout and ladyfish, covered in the last report. The weather at the time was just beginning to settle down and warm up after the record cold that blanketed Florida. Jersey Cape is offering charters in the Keys during certain periods until Easter, and the next trips will run both during the weekend before Presidents’ Day and during Presidents’ Day weekend itself. Packages are available that arrive at the Keys on Fridays, fish all day Saturdays and part of Sundays, and depart on Sunday evenings. They’re a perfect weekend getaway, and the charters fish for everything from snook, speckled sea trout, redfish, jacks and bonefish to sailfish, blackfin tuna and more. The type of fishing largely depends on the weather and is done everywhere from the back country in the Everglades to the ocean. Quite a few of the trips are already booked, and check out more info on the <a href=" http://www.gibsonstackle.com/page6.html" target="_blank">Traveling Fisherman Charters</a> page on Jersey Cape’s Web site. Also see <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a> that includes blogs and photos from these last Florida trips.