The Fishing Line: December Daydreams

Fishing reports are up one day and gone the next. Tog and sea bass, with an occasional blue still around, have kept anglers going out. Stripers have been hard to come by. However, our photos prove there are still some beauties to be had. So stick with it while we still have a few weeks left.
Just as the fishing was starting to improve around the inlet and beach front, beach replenishment started on the surf side of the Cape May Coast Guard base. Fly fishers report that between the muck stirred up by the dredge and flooding that stuff onto the beach, the prime spots for fishing for stripers, the water now looks like liquid mud. Since stripers needing to see the fly to eat it, fishing is almost impossible.
The Jersey Shore Beach n Boat Fishing Tournament celebrated the end of the season with a banquet at Marine Max in Brick on Dec. 5. Over 100 awards and prizes were given out. The success of their inaugural year has them planning for the 2014 season already. Look for them at the winter boat shows and expos.
Third place winners were Phil La Grossa, striper; Howard Owens, bluefish; Joe Fischler, fluke; Michael Ramm, weakfish; Eddie Endresen, tog; Dave Davis, sea bass; Jim Gffoniello, kingfish; and Albie Ridgeway, black drum. Second place awards: striper, Ed Plichta; bluefish, Walt Fisher; fluke, Phil La Grossa; weakfish, Mike Ramm; tog, Charlie Parker; sea Bass, Phil Pelligrano; kingfish, John Howell; black drum, Bob Cupo.
First place anglers were Phil La Grossa, striper; Howard Owens, bluefish; Ed Plichta, fluke; Phil La Grossa, weakfish; tog, Alex Oliszewski; sea bass, Greg Carr; kingfish, Bill Young; black drum, Robert Pettit.
The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife posted the results of the 2012 Delaware Bay Finfish Trawl Survey. The survey allows the division to develop indices for comparing the relative annual abundance of selected stocks. Data collected allows biologists to develop abundance estimates and length frequencies of estuarine-dependent finfish necessary for predicting fishery trends and harvest potential. The results of the survey can be found on www.njfishandwildlife.com/artdelbaystudy13.htm
The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife, partnering with the NJ State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ to host the next NJ Wildlife & Conservation Conference, June 6-8, 2014, in Atlantic City. The conference will address issues of groups and individuals engaged in all aspects of wildlife conservation. To develop the agenda, you are invited to complete an online survey: https://phibetagib.wufoo.com/forms/preconference-survey The brief survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. Your input is needed to help design a useful conference and make it a success.
The Fishing Line runs year round (short hiatus in January) so keep sending your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. Column and pictures are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com and on Facebook. Keep them coming.