This is going to be a short report today because of the cold and the snowstorm that cancelled trips on boats and kept some of the tackle shops closed.

The closure of sea bass fishing, usually some of the most popular and best fishing in winter, has also hampered coastal reports this season. The government recently admitted that the closure was based on invalid science and that the sea bass population is healthy enough to ease restrictions. But these things take time.

Consider participating in the angler organizations that are attempting to fight for better fisheries management, including attending the Anglers Rally in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, February 24, on the steps of the Capitol.

Coastal fishing opportunities are being taken away at a rate like never before, such as the harsh fluke regs, the two-fish winter flounder bag limit and the sea bass closure. Yet the angling community generally contends that the restrictions are based on highly flawed science and are irresponsible.

<b>Staten Island</b>

<b>Outcast Charters</b> is looking to fish for cod this week, Capt. Rob said. The last trips sailed for blackfish a couple of weeks ago, and both outings limited out with no problem, and some quality fish came up. He e-mailed photos that will be posted soon. The crew was also busy switching their Loran numbers to GPS, because Loran will be shut down February 8. They still had hundreds of pieces that needed to be switched. “It’s a shame they’re shutting it down,” he said. They used Loran a lot. <b>***Update, Thursday, 2/4***</b>: A trip yesterday did a combo of cod fishing and switching numbers to GPS from Loran, for the reason mentioned above, and the fishing went well, Rob said. No big cod were belted, but plenty of keepers were. One of the drops produced 30 to 40 of the fish, and there was action all day. So cod charters are on the menu. A few blackfish also grabbed the clam baits meant for cod, but no blackfish were targeted, and fishing for them is probably finished for the winter. The weather was great with calm seas, after a little snow in the morning.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/4***</b>: Anglers on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> filled their coolers with mackerel once again this week, after the fish had become scarce for a moment during the weekend, Capt. Alan said. But the macks returned during the weekdays, including on yesterday’s trip, getting claimed 12 miles offshore. Previously they were found 10 miles from shore, and before then were located 20 miles from the coast. The fish now were larger, with big ones mixed with mediums and smalls. Previously they were all mediums mixed with smalls. The head boat might be the only one on the coast specifically targeting mackerel, because the vessel’s three engines give the speed to reach the fish in a day trip. The speed also allows the vessel to kick off annual trips for cod off Rhode Island, where the fish usually stack up in winter, tomorrow or Friday. The weather might keep the trip from sailing, and that call will be made today. The 24-hour cod trips, limited to 40 passengers, will run 8 p.m. every Friday as long as the fish remain and there’s demand from anglers. Friday’s trip was sold out, and reservations are required for the $200 fare. This is a great opportunity for anglers to take advantage of the fishery from New Jersey. The Miss Belmar Princess will continue mackerel fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, except when the cod trips run. But when cod trips are weathered out, mackerel trips will fish instead, if the weather is fair enough. The weather could be fair for mackerel fishing close to port while too rough to make the long-range trip to Rhode Island.

The Miss Belmar Princess, sailing for mackerel, was the only Belmar party boat with enough anglers to fish today, and the trips lately scored well on the catches, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. The cold and the weekend’s snow seemed to keep people from coming down for the head boats running for tog, ling and cod. But trips for those fish are going when possible. Not a lot of tog, but some, and big ones, including a 17-pounder and 12-, 14- and 15-pounders, were bagged recently. The fish came from the deep in 140 or 160 feet. Lots of ling were looted, and a few cod were clocked. Long-range trips for cod off Block Island, known for the catches, are set to launch every Friday on the Miss Belmar Princess starting this week. Fisherman’s Den is usually open through 10:30 or 11 a.m. daily.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/4***</b>: Ten cod to 10 pounds, a load of ling, scores of the fish, and five tog were slam dunked yesterday on the <b>Big Kid</b> at the Mudhole, Capt. Ken said. So the catch was great, and the ling fishing was especially super, and the weather was good, a calm, pleasant day once some morning snow cleared out. The Big Kid is chartering straight through winter, one of the few opportunities to fish on a charter this season. The crew is read to sail for cod and ling.

Offshore wreck fishing on the party boat <b>Jamaica</b> was weathered out through the weekend, an e-mail from the boat said. But good catches were clubbed by all anglers on the last trip the previous weekend, covered in the last report. About 20 cod, some pollock, some ling, and limits of jumbo porgies were boxed. Pool winners claimed fish including a 14-pound cod, a 12-pound cod and a 9-pound cod, and plenty of life swam around the wrecks targeted. Trips are fishing the offshore wrecks for cod, pollock, hake and jumbo porgies every Friday though Sunday into March. <b>***Update, Thursday, 2/4***</b>: Cod fishing was good at Cox’s Ledge off Rhode Island, and two special trips will fish the wrecks there for the catches on the Fridays of February 19 and 26. Departing at 8 p.m., the approximately 24-hour trips are limited to 44 passengers, and the fare is $210. Boarding is after 6 p.m. in the order that reservations are received.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/4***</b>: Mostly ling, some blackfish and some cod – okay catches, all right, averaging about a dozen to two dozen fish per angler – were mopped up on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. A healthy little mess of cod, probably 30 fish, no big ones but keepers to probably a 12-pound pool-winner, were knocked down on Tuesday’s trip. Mackerel occasionally swam into the waters fished and were decked. They seemed to move close enough to shore one day and not another, and maybe the commercial boats scattered them. But for example on part of one trip some of the anglers filled their 5-gallon buckets with the Bostons. Trips fished in 120 to 200 feet, and the boat is bottom fishing, but if macks are around, trips will go after them at the beginning or end of the outing. Waters were 38 to 40 degrees, depending on the day. On sunny days, the temps might reach 40 or 41, and on others 38 or 39. Trips got out on most days lately because of fair weather. The boat stayed docked yesterday, apparently because the snowstorm scared off enough anglers to go. The Dauntless sails all winter long, is one of the few, if not the only, head boats that do this type of fishing all winter from the state. It runs 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/4***</b>: One angler who e-mailed a report through <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site said he kayaked 75 white perch in 3 hours, Maureen said. He failed to say the location, but that was probably the Mullica River, because he was a local. In any case, she at least guessed perch were caught from the river, though nobody else mentioned fishing. Collins Cove, the popular perch hangout in winter, on the river just north of the Parkway Bridge, probably wasn’t frozen, because only the edges of the lagoon at the shop were frozen. Besides being known for perching from boats in open waters this time of year, the cove is <i>the</i> most popular spot in the state for perch angling through the ice. Anglers already had one shot at the ice fishing this winter, scoring lots of the slabs. The fish often school the cove in winter to escape the colder currents of the river. Again, that was the only scoop on fishing heard. Reel repairs were backed up at the store by now. Get them in to receive them back by spring fishing. Orders from <a href="http://www.pennparts.com" target="_blank">PennParts.com</a>, the shop’s site featuring every Penn part available and more, including reel schematics anglers can use free, was busy as ever, as anglers tinkered with tackle in the cold months. But actually the site has become busy year-round.

<b>Absecon </b>

A few white perch were wrangled up from the Mullica River, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Collins Cove, a popular spot for the fishing on the river in winter, was yet to freeze through the weekend, despite the cold weather. Some customers launched boats to fish the cove in Saturday’s snowstorm, and had planned to head back Sunday. If waters were free of ice enough for boating, they certainly held no opportunity for ice angling. The cove, where the fish gather to escape the colder currents of the river in winter, is the most popular place in the state for ice fishing for the perch. The shop is carrying no live grass shrimp, the favorite perch bait, like it did when the cove a few weeks ago froze enough for ice fishing. But frozen shrimp are carried, and if demand for the bait takes off enough, Dave usually catches and stocks the live ones. Striped bass season reopens in the bays and rivers one month from today on March 1. The shop is usually the first to report striper catches each year, and the fish usually come from places such as the warm flats of Delaware Bay or the Great Egg Harbor River. The store usually offers big prizes for the first through third keepers weighed in and the first that top 20 and 30 pounds. Stay tuned for details. The store is open, but call ahead to confirm in winter.

<b>Longport</b>

The snowstorm forced trips to stay docked on the <b>Stray Cat</b>, Capt. Mike said. Eight inches of snow dumped on the local area. That was more than predicted and more than nearby towns. But open-boat trips are fishing the 40- to 60-mile wrecks for tog, cod, pollock, ling or whatever turns up, and charters are also sailing for that fishing. The next open trips are slated for every Saturday and on Presidents’ Day this Monday. They’re also set to run every holiday including Ash Wednesday on February 17 and on Good Friday and the next day or that Saturday. None of the trips will run on Easter but will sail other days whenever enough anglers want to go. Call for availability. Strictly charters will begin to run when sea bass season reopens in April, and book now if you want to ensure a date.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Some of the party boats steamed on long-range trips like 18-hours long for cod and such catches, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. He knew about one fishing from Wildwood and others leaving port from up north. No customers mentioned other fishing, including white perch angling on the brackish rivers that can be popular in winter. The ocean close to shore was cold or 35 to 36 degrees. Once waters warm, fish will start moving around. Striped bass season reopens March 1 in the bays and rivers, and angling activity will pick up then. Some of the first stripers of the season are caught locally at places like the warm-water discharge at the Beesley’s Point power plant and the Great Egg Harbor River. Fin-Atics is open Fridays through Sundays but will also be open Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 15. Afterward Bill will play by ear whether he starts to extend hours as the fishing season approaches.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b> is traditionally one of the first captains to start striped bass fishing as soon as the striper season reopens March 1 in the bays and rivers. More on that in a moment. For now, he’s running traveling charters to the Florida Keys during certain periods until Easter. The next two weekends, including Presidents’ Day weekend, will be the next times he’ll offer the Keys fishing, he said. He might also run the trips the following weekend. The trips so far this year hooked everything from redfish, speckled seatrout, snook, black drum, cero mackerel, ladyfish and more in the back country to false albacore, sailfish and blackfin tuna on the ocean side. 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 some of the last Florida trips. In Jersey, Joe begins his striper fishing in March at places like creek outflows that push warm waters into the bay at the time of year. So outgoing tides are ideal, and ones that coincide with afternoons, when the sun has time to contribute to the water’s warmth, are helpful. He often tosses Clouser flies to the fish. Sometimes he’ll fish around waters that the Beesley’s Point power plant warms, too. He goes after the fish the moment the weather makes the angling feasible.

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