<b>Bayonne</b>

Customers talked about no local fishing, said Capt. Akira from <b>True World Tackle</b> and <b>True World Tackle Charters</b>. “The weather,” he said. But one fished for cod on a Montauk boat, pummeling plenty of the fish, none big, but scoring lots of action. Another jigged a bunch of herring on Jamaica Bay to save for striped bass bait later this year. Apparently lots of herring schooled there. True World Tackle is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/18***</b>: The season’s first trip for cod off Montauk and Block Island mopped up on more than 400 of the fish for 30-some anglers on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> on Friday to Saturday, Capt. Alan said. So they Mohawked a solid catch, and the annual, 24-hour trips are leaving at 8 p.m. every Friday. They do fill up, and reservations are required. The boat will no longer sail on daily trips for mackerel this season, and a trip tried for them Monday for Presidents’ Day, and the fish were gone. But the trip ended up bottom fishing, and 18 cod, including four for one angler, were boxed, and so were some sizeable ling. The cod off Jersey are smaller than on the trips farther north, but the fish and ling are around. Trips will do this bottom fishing every Sunday, and daily fishing on the boat will kick back off later in the season.

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/18***</b>: Belmar’s party boats last sailed on the weekend and Monday, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>, but previously no customers really fished since the snowstorms. When the boats ran, the anglers put the brakes on lots of ling and lots of cod, but many of the cod were shorts. They also picked at blackfish, fairly good catches, in the deep waters. Green crabs and white leggers are stocked for the tog bait. The fish will even inhale clam this time of year. The mackerel boat sailed Monday, but nobody gave news on how the fishing fared. Previously plenty of mackerel, healthy sized ones, were pelted. The Miss Belmar Princess on Friday got the weather for the boat’s first long-range trip for cod off Block Island this season, reportedly smoking the fish. When the weather allows, the vessel is slated to head out every Friday evening for the fishing, returning the next day. The shop for now is open in the mornings whenever the party boats are expected to sail because of fair weather. That should be the schedule until hours are extended when more anglers begin to stir around for fish like striped bass and winter flounder sometime in March. Bob, the crew from the store and some customers will travel together to the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/marchondc.html" target="_blank">Angler’s Rally in Washington, D.C.</a>, on Wednesday. Anglers should attend.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/18***</b>:  On the <b>Big Kid</b> anglers fished at a 20-mile wreck on Sunday, limiting out on ling and piling up a few cod, quality blackfish and lots of conger eels, Capt. Ken said. Some anglers love the eels. The boat is fishing, one of the few charters sailing all winter, and the fish are snapping, and give a call to get on the waters.

Here’s a sign that the new fishing season’s coming: <b>The Reel Seat</b> opened back up this weekend, owner Dave Arbeitman said. The shop will be open Saturdays and Sundays in February, until hours are extended afterward.  The doors were originally supposed to open during the first weekend of February, but the snowstorm prevented those plans. Quite a few people showed up at the shop, and they seemed to have cabin fever and be tired of the winter’s snow. Little was heard about fishing, except that a couple of party boats including the Jamaica were able to head out for wreck fishing in fair weather this weekend. But nothing was heard about results yet. Dave last fished on an offshore trip on one of the boats in late January, and a bunch of wreckfish and some golden tiles and blueline tiles were creamed. New tackle for 2010 has been arriving at the shop. The Reel Seat is probably one of the first to stock the new PowerPro Hollow-Ace line, a hollow-core, braided line for “finger-trap” splicing. A splicing kit was available for a limited time. Anglers should attend the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/marchondc.html" target="_blank">Angler’s Rally in Washington, D.C.</a>, next week from 9 a.m. to 12 noon Wednesday, February 24. The <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/fundraiser.html" target="_blank">Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund’s Third Annual Fund Raising Dinner</a> will be held April 16 at Crystal Point Yacht Club in Point Pleasant.

The party boat <b>Jamaica</b> was finally able to be steamed offshore this weekend, an e-mail from the boat said. The weather was clear enough, and the crew tried out different wrecks to put anglers on cod and pollock. Some wrecks produced a decent shot of cod and a few pollock, and some patrons ended up with five keeper cod. Pool winners were Mike Vastolla from Lavallette with a 14-pound cod and Bill Suiter from Norristown, Pennsylvania, with a 13-pounder. A few ling also came up. Trips are fishing the 45- to 70-wrecks every Friday through Sunday for cod, pollock and jumbo porgies. The boat’s first special trip for cod at Cox’s Ledge off Block Island is slated for Friday, and the long-range weather forecast looked good, and space is available. Another is scheduled for the following Friday, February 25, and both trips leave at 8 p.m. See the schedule on the Jamaica’s Web site for further info about any trips.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/18***</b>:  Mostly ling but also a few cod, pollock and blackfish were bucketed on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. The fishing wasn’t good but was consistent, putting out an average of 5 to 15 fish per angler. Not a lot of trips were able to sail, mostly because of the weather, but a couple got out. The winter’s been a tougher one for weather. They fished in 120 to 220 feet at the Mudhole, starting to target the deeper waters. Waters on the fishing grounds were 38 to 40 degrees, and close to the beaches were 34 to 36 degrees, cold. No mackerel were caught on trips anymore, but a few herring were hooked, and usually are when the boat bottom fishes at this time of year. Mackerel in recent years typically became scarce this past weekend in the waters the boat fishes, so that was on schedule. If the area gets another snowstorm, the mackerel, wherever they are now, will probably depart for the season. Point Pleasant got no snow that really stuck to the ground this week, and mostly got rains, although lots of snow remained on the ground from the previous storms. But customers from North Jersey said 4 or 6 inches of additional snow built up there this week, and others from Albany, New York, said they got a foot.  The Dauntless is fishing all winter, is one of few head boats, if not the only one, that does this type of bottom angling through the season in New Jersey. Trips run 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Seaside</b>

“Are you waiting for somebody else to protect your right to fish?” the report on <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b>’s Web site asked. “The politicians and the do-gooders will shut down the fishery without a strong showing from the individual fisherman! Are any of you convinced that we have good fishery management? Do any of you think the size restrictions, bag limits and closed seasons make a whole heck of a lot of sense? Next it will be the saltwater fishing license. It is time to stop talking and start doing!” Attend the Angler’s Rally in Washington, D.C., next week on Wednesday, February 24, on the steps of the Capitol. Get there any way you can, but Grumpy’s is sponsoring a bus for $20 per seat. <a href="http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishing_reports.cfm" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the latest from the shop.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Snow and ice mostly kept anglers from reaching waters they wanted to fish, said the report on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site. Yet no ice was thick enough for ice fishing, so things were mostly quiet. White perch in the Mullica River and pickerel in freshwater were “the only fisheries that had any inkling of producing a fish,” the report said. Graveling Point and Pebble Beach at the confluence of the Mullica River and Great Bay will be some of the first areas to give up striped bass when striper season opens on the bays and rivers March 1. Shore anglers will beat out the catches once the fish begin to wake up after the cold. With the cold this winter, “I can’t imagine March 1 is going to be anything like fishing weather, though,” Scott said in the report. The shop offers an annual certificate for the year’s first keeper weighed in from the area. Supplies of tackle were arriving at the shop for the new season. Shimano’s Baitrunner, Tekota and Torium reels were re-ordered that were sold out. Other items difficult to keep stocked arrived already, such as 4-inch chartreuse Gulps. An expanded supply of Fin Strike Pro Series rigs and more came in. If you can’t fish, do the next best thing: browse! Tickets for $20 arrived for the Sunshine Foundation’s fishing seminar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at the Little Egg Harbor Community Center. <b>***Update, Thursday, 2/18***</b>: Fishing stayed mostly on hold, and no customers mentioned going, and some waters held ice, but even some of the freshwater lakes held open waters, Scott said. So Collins Cove on the brackish Mullica River, the popular location for ice fishing for white perch, definitely formed no ice for the angling. During recent years he’d already be hanging up the sign about the above-mentioned prize for the first keeper striper. But the cold weather, for sure, made the current time feel too early. Still, one never knows what the fish and weather will do, and anglers will no doubt try for the fish at Graveling Point and Pebble Beach on the striper opener March 1. Scott confirmed that the two annual prizes of a $100 gift certificate apiece for the season’s first striper and bluefish checked in from that area will be up for grabs this year. During some years the first striper is seen early, and during others later, and May 1 is the traditional date for the arrival of blues. Reel repairs are somewhat backed up, and bring them in to be ready for spring. Business was hopping at the shop’s Web site <a href="http://www.pennparts.com" target="_blank">PennParts.com</a>, as anglers tinkered with tackle during the cold months. The site offers every Penn part currently manufactured, many that were discontinued and other useful features, such as free online reel schematics.

<b>Absecon</b>

Nobody mentioned fishing since the snowstorms, said Capt. Dave Showell from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Ice probably prevented boats from being launched for white perch fishing up the Mullica River, angling that is usually a favorite in winter. Yet too little ice formed for ice fishing for the perch on Collins Cove, the popular spot for the hard-water angling on the river. But striped bass season opens two weeks from today on March 1 on the bays and rivers. The state’s first stripers of the season are often checked in at the store, often coming from places such as the Great Egg Harbor River and the warm, shallow flats of Delaware Bay. The shop will once again offer annual prizes for the first keeper stripers checked in during the season. Last year the prizes included a $200 gift certificate for the first legal striper, a $100 for the second, a $100 certificate for the first over 20 pounds, and a $100 one for the first over 30. This year’s prizes will be posted on the shop’s Web site soon. In other exciting news, Dave announced that he’s launching his dream: a fishing charter service in Guatemala, the world’s best location for Pacific Ocean sailfishing, he said. He and partner Capt. Dennis Wheeler, owner of Parlama Sportfishing at Marina Pez Vela, Guatemala, shipped a 25-foot Carver diesel cruiser to the country. The vessel will be the flagship of the local fleet that previously only included a couple of 23-foot outboards and a “super panga.” Dave served two years in the Peace Corp in Guatemala from 1977 to 1979 before returning to open his tackle shop and charter business in South Jersey. Dennis was in the Peace Corp in Guatemala in 1965 to 1968, living in Antiqua in the country ever since. The new operation will strive to stay within the average angler’s budget, offering a safe, quality fishing experience with local captains and mates to provide the skill to compete with international crews. Complete fishing and vacation packages, including tours to attractions such as Antiqua, the Mayan Highlands and the Ruins of Tikal, will be offered. Dave and partner expect to showcase the latest in tackle and electronics for international fishing. Check out the <a href=" http://www.fishguatemala.com/FishGuatemala/fishguatemala.htm" target="_blank">FishGuatemala.com</a> Web site. Or call Dave at 609-484-0409 or <a href="mailto:captdave@fishguatemala.com" target="_blank">e-mail him</a> for info. Back in Absecon, the shop is open, but call ahead to confirm in winter. Hours will be extended once striper season opens at the beginning of the month.

<b>Longport</b>

Too few anglers wanted to sail on an open-boat trip to fish the offshore wrecks today for Presidents’ Day, so the vessel stayed docked, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b>. But the trips are on tap to target the grounds 40 to 60 miles off for cod and pollock, and the heaters in the cabin are ready to crank. Give a call to be on the list for the trips or for the schedule. Looking ahead, anglers, up to 15 per trip, should book spring charters now for sea bass to hold the dates. 

<b>Ocean City</b>

News about fishing was at a standstill, said Bill from </b>Fin-Atics</b>. The weather was cold, and snowstorms were coming through. He heard nothing about white perch fishing up the brackish rivers that can be popular in winter, and nothing about whether any of the local party boats continued to sail offshore for wreck fishing this season. Shallow parts of the bay sometimes froze, but the bay was mostly open waters. Anglers should at least start to get more active when striped bass season opens March 1 in the bays and rivers. Places like the bay at the warm-water outflow at the Beesley’s Point power plant attract some of the season’s first striper anglers. The shop is open Fridays through Sundays, and in March will be open at least five days a week if not seven. Anglers should attend the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/marchondc.html" target="_blank">Angler’s Rally in Washington, D.C.</a>, next week from 9 a.m. to 12 noon Wednesday, February 24.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b> is always one of the first captains to chase striped bass as soon as the striper season opens in the bays and rivers March 1. He hunts the fish at places like where warmer waters from creeks flow into the bay on outgoing tides in winter and spring or areas in the bay toward the warm outflow at the Beesley’s Point power plant. Afternoons that coincide with outgoing, giving the bay time to warm, help, and he usually casts Clouser flies during that time of year. But in the meantime, Joe’s been running annual trips he offers to the Florida Keys until early spring, and he did more of that fishing this weekend, he said. Strong winds blew, and the weather was cold, but a trip managed to fish around Islamorada in the Keys a couple of hours Saturday afternoon, wrestling in a couple of bonnethead sharks, one on shrimp, the other on ballyhoo. The weather continued Sunday morning, but a trip then managed to shoot across the bay to fish near Flamingo on the mainland, pumping in redfish, speckled sea trout and ladyfish. Another trip was scheduled to fish from the Keys today, and Joe plans to give an update on that fishing Thursday. Jersey Cape is offering the charters to the Keys through the beginning of April. They fish for anything from reds, specks, jacks and other fish in the back country to sailfish and other bruisers on the ocean side. Weekend packages are available that arrive Friday evenings, fish all day Saturdays and part of Sundays, and return Sunday evenings. Accommodations can be set up for anglers, or anglers can arrange their own. See 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 recent Florida trips. <b>***Update, Thursday, 2/18***</b>: The trip Monday from the Keys met calm winds and seas, a beautiful day after the rougher weekend, and fished at Alligator Reef on the ocean side, dusting up cero mackerel and various jacks on flies and live bait. Bait was difficult to find, and Joe wasn’t asked the reason, but charters often talk about bait becoming scarce because of weather. But he located some bait at his spots in the back, and every bait dropped in the waters produced a catch. Bait can be the factor in whether a day is a banner one for the fishing, and although more fish probably would’ve been caught if more bait was available, the action was good, considering. A great aspect of the Keys is that there’s a place to fish almost no matter the weather or winds. On a calm day like Monday, deciding which fishing to take advantage of almost becomes a problem, Joe laughed. He’ll be in the Keys next this weekend, and a number of dates are booked through the season, but openings remain.

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