<b>Bayonne</b>

Boats that sailed for cod off Montauk seemed to produce plenty of the fish, according to several customers who bought tackle for the angling this weekend, said Capt. Akira from <b>True World Tackle</b> and <b>True World Tackle Charters</b>. That was the only fishing anglers talked about. Some asked about sandworms, probably for fishing off the bulkheads at Bayonne and surrounding cities for species such as Tommy cod, but no worms will be stocked until demand picks up later this season. Demand could increase soon, because bulkhead anglers will probably begin to search for striped bass when striper season opens one week from today on March 1 in the rivers and bays. Catch True World’s exhibit at the new <a href=" http://www.sportshows.com/Philly_Main.html" target="_blank">Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow</a> from Thursday through Sunday. True World is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. But the staff will sometimes be away at the show, so call to confirm then.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Customers fished on the bottom-fishing party boats from Belmar and Point Pleasant, said Joe from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. That was about the only fishing they talked about, and actual news about angling was way scarce, but the anglers were itching to kick off the new season. They looked forward to fishing like for winter flounder when the flattie season opens. The store is open every day, at least because of the shop’s ice business. But all the usual fishing supplies are on hand.

<b>Highlands</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/25***</b>: Capt. Bob from <b>Sandy Hook Fishing Adventures</b> joined the United We Fish Rally at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., yesterday, he said in e-mail. A great turn out – more than 4,000 recreational anglers, party and charter boat crews, fishing business staff members, and commercial crews – showed up, he said. They included people from Maine to Florida and from Alaska and California. An outstanding contingent from New Jersey, “most ports well represented,” Bob said, were on hand. The purpose, according to the Recreational Fishing Alliance, was to insist on reform of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, so that fisheries management will be based on science. The Secretary of Commerce needs to be afforded limited flexibility in the MSA when rebuilding healthy fish stocks, and stock assessment needs to be improved, the RFA said. Conservation, reasonable access to fish stocks and a viable fishing community are possible with minor changes to the Act, the RFA said.  “We were heard loud and clear,” Bob said, and several U.S. Congress members spoke, saying they supported the cause. “But we cannot let them forget,” he said, “(and) we must hold their feet to the fire.” Contact your Senate and House members, telling them to support Senate bill 1255 and House bill 1584 to make these changes. Bob was proud to see his fellow outdoors people come together in such unity. Was also great to see recreational crews and anglers and commercial crews work together, he said. He gave a big thanks to the businesses that donated coffee, donuts and water and opened up early to help.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/25***</b>: Fishing on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b> is probably finished for the season, Capt. Chris said. Trips had been blackfishing, and he thanks everyone who jumped aboard this past year, and hopes to see everyone again after a month or so. The boat’s new season will kick off in April.

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/25***</b>: A long-range trip for cod on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> met difficult conditions Friday, Capt. Alan said. Heavy weights had to be used for the fishing, and the boat kept swinging on anchor, but the anglers brought in about a hundred of the fish. The previously weekly trips, fishing off Montauk and Block Island, are on hold for a moment, while a new generator is installed on the vessel. More of the trips, maybe one or two, might run by mid March, if the fish still school the grounds. Only those trips, no local bottom-fishing trips that had also been fishing on the boat, will sail at that time. Afterward the boat will be docked for seasonal maintenance, painting and a Coast Guard inspection to get ready for the new season, kicking off in mid April.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/25***</b>: Cod, a good catch, were swung aboard the party boat <b>Jamaica</b> on a trip to the offshore wrecks during the weekend, an e-mail from the boat said. More than 120 were iced among the small group of anglers, and so were ling and a pollock. A good number of short cod were caught and released. Bruce Bayne from Ardmore, Pennsylvania, won the pool with a 15-pound cod, totaling eight keepers and some ling. Waters this year are much colder at the wrecks than in recent years, and many of the wrecks are holding more cod than recently. The outlook seems positive for catches on upcoming trips, and when waters were these temps years ago, the fishing held up right through April. The Jamaica is fishing the 50- to 90-mile wrecks for cod, pollock, hake and ling every Saturday and Sunday, leaving at 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Space is available on trips this weekend. 

On the <b>Big Kid</b> anglers on deck Sunday belted 13 cod to 12 pounds, Capt. Ken said. They cranked in blackfish to 8 pounds and ling to 4 pounds, too. Seas were a little rough in the morning, unlike the forecast predicted, but flattened out later. The Big Kid is one of the few charter boats sailing straight through winter, and customers each week have been knocking off catches like this. This Sunday is booked, but space is available Saturday. Tired of cabin fever? Climb aboard and catch.

Good news: The boat will be splashed for the season around March 15, said Capt. Jerry from <b>Fish Monger Charters</b> in an e-mail. Though the winter flounder bag limit became two, anglers still expressed interest, so the boat’s flounder tradition will go on, even if only a few of the trips sail. The anglers will at least be able to keep a few fish. “Just enough for a fun day out and a fresh dinner!” he said. Fish Monger fishes for the flatties from northern Barnegat Bay to the Manasquan River. Bottom-fishing for tog, ling and cod on the ocean will kick off on April 1 on the boat, and the crew also offers a couple of special cod and ling marathons to the 20- to 40-mile wrecks. Anglers kept asking about Monger’s open-boat fluke trips that sail in summer, wanting to know when they could sign up. So back by popular demand, 8-hour open trips will run, and so will the boat’s “fan favorite” open outing: 12-hour BYOB (Bring Your Own Bucktail) Monger Marathons for Fluke. The trips fish the rough bottom, where the big doormats live, bouncing bucktails and big baits. If anglers fished with Monger before or followed the reports, they’ve probably seen the trips, he said. They produced very good catches the last two years, lots of 4- to 10-pounders, many personal bests, and messes of limits when the fluke started feeding well. The crew does their best to go wherever the fishing must go for keepers, despite the tough size limit, and they hope for another great season. Even if the season was early for booking trips, half the open-boat fluke dates were already full, and check <a href=" http://www.fishmongercharters.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=267&Itemid=79" target="_blank">Fish Monger’s open-boat fluke calendar</a> to lock in dates.

Party boats that bottom fished seemed to put customers on good numbers of cod, and an angler might be able to pump up a dozen, including two or three keepers, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. But if the angler could bring home a couple of 22- or 23-inch cod and three or four to a half-dozen ling, he or she’s got a catch. Head boats that specifically targeted ling in the deep seemed to score well. A couple of the party boats that were slated to run long-range trips for cod off Montauk or Block Island were weathered out Friday. Whether they sailed during the rest of the weekend was unknown. The store is currently open Saturdays and Sundays and will be open Wednesdays through Sundays in March. New tackle’s been arriving, including Shimano’s Power Pro Hollow Ace hollow core line, new artificial baits from Hogy and a line of rods from G. Loomis, because The Reel Seat is now a dealer for the rods. Anglers should attend the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/marchondc.html" target="_blank">Angler’s Rally in Washington, D.C.</a>, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday. The two buses apiece are sold out that are departing for the rally from Atlantic Highlands and Bogan’s Basin in Brielle, but space is available on the bus from Seaside Park at Grumpy’s Tackle. Space is also available on buses from Bordentown and Wildwood. Congress members will give speeches first, and then reps from angler organizations will speak, probably taking up the whole time. 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, and anglers should buy tickets now.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/25***</b>: A good catch of cod, from schoolies to 18 pounds, was plundered Saturday on the party boat <b>Gambler</b>, Capt. Bob said. Marilyn Gold, Parlin, waxed the first of the day, a 16-pounder, healthy-sized. Thirteen-year-old John Douma, Wyckoff, won the pool with a 20-plus-pounder, drilling five keepers total. Joe Gieger, College Point, New York, lambasted eight keepers to 12 pounds and four big ling, and Gary Fekete, Byram, walloped five keepers to 15 pounds. Trips are fishing for cod, pollock, ling and hake from Thursdays through Sundays at the 20- to 40-mile wrecks and for deep-water blackfish from Mondays to Wednesdays. All trips run 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/25***</b>: An average of  ½ dozen to 1 ½ dozen ling per angler were snatched-aboard trips on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, and healthy little messes of cod – 15, 20 or 25 – were boxed around the boat on a couple of days, Capt. Butch said. No really big cod bit, but solid-sized ones or 5- to 10-pounders were bagged on average. A few blackfish also turned up. So the fishing was pretty good. Waters were 38 degrees, a bit chilly, and rains this week would probably create snow runoff that would drop the temps somewhat. Trips were able to get out a few days a week between the weather, and the Dauntless was the only local boat trying to run every day, Butch said. The vessel might be the state’s only head boat fishing daily straight through winter, like it always does. The Dauntless sails 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Seaside</b>

Only a few spots were left on the bus to the Angler’s Rally in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, leaving at 6:30 a.m. sharp from <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b>, the report on the shop’s Web site said. But that’s not good enough! the report said. Anglers need a strong showing to influence the politicians. If an angler is unemployed and can’t afford to go, sponsors are available. “It’s that important,” the report said. There was no fishing news, but at least the precipitation that is forecast for this week is supposed to be rain, not snow, in the local area. <a href="http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishing_reports.cfm" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the latest from the shop.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Short striped bass, not too many years ago, were beached today at Graveling Point, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> in the report on the shop’s Web site. He can’t see that happening this year, after the cold winter, and he teased one of the hardcore Graveling Point anglers, saying the first keeper this year will probably be landed April 2. “I don’t know what was more exciting (one day last week),” he said, “seeing a patch of grass amongst the piles of snow or that there were two robins on the patch of grass.” Spring was actually coming! he said. But then forecasts called for snow this week. Graveling Point and nearby Pebble Beach toward the confluence of Great Bay and the Mullica River always give up some of the state’s first striped bass of the year, once the striper season opens March 1 in the bays and rivers. The shop annually offers a $100 gift certificate for the first keeper weighed in from the area.  Reminder: The <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/marchondc.html" target="_blank">Angler’s Rally in Washington, D.C.</a>, takes place 12 noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday. Room was available on a bus  traveling to the Rally from the Chum Bucket in West Creek, leaving at 8 a.m. <b>***Update, Thursday, 2/25***</b>: Bloodworms will be stocked Friday, and so will green crabs, Scott said, so fresh baits will now be supplied to kick off the fishing season. The bloods will especially be on hand for the opening of striper season Monday in the bays and rivers. Anglers might be able to dunk them for a bite at places like the warm waters at the Beesley’s Point power plant farther south in Somers Point. Or maybe they could try at Oyster Creek, the warm-water discharge for the Forked River power plant farther north, though access to that area might be limited to a spot or two after security crackdowns. In other words, waters at Graveling Point and Pebble Beach, near the shop, might be too cold for stripers to feed. Surely anglers will try Graveling and Pebble, and that area is one of the state’s best for the early season angling. That’s because warmer waters from the Mullica River, combined with the shallows, located at the confluence of the river and Great Bay, serve up the linesiders earlier in the year than most places. The easy access to the shore-based fishing is also a factor. Still, the local area’s first striper catches will come from the river itself at places such as Clarks Landing, because of the warmth. Bloodworms are the bait to toss at all these spots early in the season. Baits such as clams will begin to be effective when warmer waters pick up the metabolism of the fish. By the time bluefish arrive at Graveling and Pebble, usually during the last week of April, that will mean waters will be warm enough for stripers to chew on all kinds of baits including cut baits, herring and eels. Nothing was heard about tog that favor the green crabs. But the crabs will be ready at the shop. In other news, reel repairs at the store are backed up, so bring them in pronto to be ready for spring. Business was hopping at <a href="http://www.pennparts.com" target="_blank">PennParts.com</a>, as anglers tinkered with tackle in winter. The site features every Penn part currently manufactured, many that are no longer manufactured and more, including free online Penn reel schematics.

<b>Absecon</b>

Striped bass season opens one week from today in the bays and rivers, and “hopefully something will happen then,” said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>.  The shop is usually one of the first to report striper catches each year, especially because of the annual prizes awarded for some of the season’s first linesiders that anglers check in. Last year’s prizes were a $200 gift certificate for the first legal striper, a $100 one for the second, a $100 one for the first over 20 pounds, and a $100 one for the first over 30. The fish usually come from places such as the Great Egg Harbor River and the shallow, warm flats close to shore on Delaware Bay. All the baits and tackle will be ready at the shop for the opener, and regular hours at the store will kick off then. The shop is currently open, but anglers should call ahead to confirm. Fishing news was scarce this past week, and even the avid white perch anglers on the brackish rivers such as the Mullica failed to talk about catches. The boat for Dave’s new Guatemala fishing charter operation should arrive in the country after a week. He had announced in last week’s report that he was kicking off his dream of opening a charter service in Guatemala, the world’s best location for sailfishing on the Pacific Ocean, he said.  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 his 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.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Anglers who target the season’s first striped bass, when striper season opens one week from today in the bays and rivers, will fish places such as the bay at the Beesley’s Point power plant, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. They’ll fish the warm waters discharged from the plant, often dunking bloodworms for bait. They’ll also fish on the Great Egg Harbor River, and the river’s striper fishing will really take off when the migration of herring swims upstream. Surf casters will begin to toss clams into the suds for a bass. No customers spoke about fishing lately, not even about white perch fishing on the rivers that can be popular in winter. But anglers will start to stir around when striper season begins. Fin-Atics is open Fridays through Sundays through this weekend. Hours will start to be extended beginning the following weekend. Then the doors will either be open five days or seven days a week, depending on business. Anglers should attend the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/marchondc.html" target="_blank">Angler’s Rally in Washington, D.C.</a> from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Some of the trips fished from the Florida Keys on Saturday and Sunday that Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b> is running this winter, he said. Joey Roberts and “Sea Isle Bob” climbed aboard both days, and the weather was beautiful, after windy, rough weather recently. They piled up lots of speckled sea trout, including some sizeable ones; some redfish, jack crevalles and ladyfish; a bluefish, a flounder and a 20-pound black drum; and a permit. The drum, hooked by Sea Isle Bob, for Florida was huge, the biggest Capt. Joe ever saw there. Joey landed the permit, his first-ever. They fished the back country near Flamingo on both days, and Sunday’s angling was better than Saturday’s, was non-stop action, but both days produced tons of catches. They started to fish the ocean side at first on Saturday, had some bites including a king mackerel run-off, but moved toward Flamingo after that seemed like it would be the better option at the time. 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. Back at home, Capt. Joe is always one of the first captains to fish for striped bass when striper season opens in the bays on March 1. He hunts the fish at places like the warm waters near the Beesley’s Point power plant or at creek outflows on outgoing tides that are warmer during the cooler months. Afternoons, when the waters have had time to warm, help, and Joe usually tosses Clouser flies for the catches.

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