It should come as no surprise that the fishing world is in a deep state of hibernation at the moment. That doesn’t mean that some things aren’t happening in the background, though, so let’s see what’s going on.
The cold winter weather that we have been experiencing may have taken your mind off the calendar. If so, just realize that we are less than three weeks from the opening of striped bass fishing in the back waters. It’s time to get your gear ready and start preparing for your chance to get out on the water.
Speaking of getting prepared, if you haven’t taken care of your fishing gear already, then you need to break your gear down and give it a good wash in fresh water. With the cost of a quality rod and reel being very high, you need to take care of your investment.
And another thing you can do to save money, have some fun and develop a sense of accomplishment is to tie your own rigs. The act of tying a rig and then catching a fish on it is a good feeling. If that fish is a keeper, then things are even better. There are plenty of how-tos online to help you learn how to tie the knots you’ll need.
Many boats are getting prepared for the 2025 fishing season, but one is also preparing for another water-related hobby. That activity would be diving on the local wrecks, and Captain Adam, on the Atlantic Adventure, is close to having his boat ready. Adam is now accepting reservations for the 2025 fishing and dive seasons.
Another summer activity that you should prepare for now is the local summer fishing camps. Young anglers not only have fun fishing and crabbing, but they also learn about our local waters and the wildlife that inhabits the area. Safe boating skills, navigation and tying basic knots are also taught during each trip.
The Avalon Lady offers four-day camps, held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings starting July 11. The last camp of the year starts on Aug. 11 and runs through the evening of the 15th. Camp is for ages 8 and up, everyone receives a free T-shirt, and each camper will be eligible for a free afternoon trip on the Avalon Lady or the Miss Avalon so they can test their newly honed skills. Call 609-967-7455 to get more information.
Starfish Boats, in Sea Isle, also offers a summer camp on one of their boats, the Miss Sea Isle. To get more information, call 609-263-3800, or you can book your reservation online.
You can also check out the Facebook pages of the boats listed above to get more information about their offerings.
Late congratulations go out to Captain Tom from Fishin’ Fever Sportfishing Charters for winning the Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational last summer. Congratulations to Tom and last year’s crew for their great showing; I wish them good luck in this year’s edition of the tournament.
It’s still slow, and after looking at the recent forecast it appears it will be cold, icy and maybe snowy on and off through the coming week. Work on getting your gear ready for the warm days ahead, take care, and I’ll see you around.
Submit fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
