Tomorrow is the day! The 2018 season of fishing for striped bass in the back water becomes legal. The water will be cold and the fish will be sluggish. Get your bloodworms or clams ready, as they will be looking for an easy meal. They won’t be active and chasing lures, so put an easy meal out that they can find through its scent. Who knows, maybe you can score some fresh striper for the table. Also, don’t forget your Salt Water Registry card. As the commercial used to say, “Don’t leave home without it.” Tog are still being caught and we’ll cover that, but don’t forget they’re about to go out of season for the month of March. We’ll also look again at the approaching sea bass and summer flounder seasons as some confusion on them still reigns. Let’s get started.
The Cape May Lady got out not once, but twice over the long weekend. Sunday had a private charter taking over the boat for a trip that targeted blackfish. They put together a good crew and a good trip. By day’s end, the description of the trip was that “the fishing could have been a little better” but such is the way of “February fishing and everybody on the trip knew what to expect.” In spite of a challenging day, Saad Soliman caught “two beauts” with the pool-winner “teetering” right near the 10-pound mark.
The Monday trip saw “the best life so far this year.” They actually had more keeper blackfish than anglers aboard. That’s a nice ratio to have if you’re one of the lucky anglers. The pool-fish took the scales to the 11-pound line, a keeper pollock hit the cooler, and “enough bergals” were caught that “another batch of bergal burgers” became a real possibility. To clear up any confusion, bergals also go by the name cunners. Hopefully the increased signs of life will continue for the remaining days through the end of the winter season, which finishes on Feb. 28.
After checking around and seeing and hearing questions about the recent New Jersey Marine Council meetings and proposed regulations (reported in last week’s column), I received a message from Bill Shillingford. He, too, saw and heard many questions about the approaching sea bass and summer flounder seasons. It seems many people are putting out beliefs, or wishes, of what the seasons will be. Bill sent me a clarification of the situation and I’ll pass that on.
Looking first at the sea bass situation, we find that it is “basically the same as last year.” The exact dates of the fishing seasons will have to wait till the New Jersey Marine Council meets in March. The allowable poundage for each state has been provided to them. Finally, there remains a slight chance of a “extra couple of weeks” to occur after fluke season and before the fall sea bass season. A couple extra weeks of fishing would be economically huge to the local boats and shops.
Next is a look at summer flounder. First, the allowable catch increased 17 percent. Next, New Jersey is looking at three possible options for its flounder fishing seasons. They will range from 100 to 104 days. The seasons could open as early as May 15 or as late as May 25. That early opening date is nice because it would allow for fishing while the waters are quiet. The later the opening day occurs, the closer we are to the Memorial Day crowds that will surely be hitting the water. The closing of the season will occur between Sept. 8 and Sept. 22. The legal size of a keeper will be 18 inches while the bag limit will be three fish.
The options mentioned above will be discussed by New Jersey advisors (of which Bill is one). They will come out with a consensus and recommend it to the Marine Council for their meeting in early March.
As a result of the guidelines that have been established, and with New Jersey becoming a stand-alone region, there will be no public comment sessions this year. However, the public can comment on the available options before the previously mentioned Marine Council meeting in early March.
As Bill concluded, the confusion of these seasons is due to trying to hit a “moving target since Nov. 17.” From that, anglers can see and appreciate the time and effort that goes into establishing the regulations we fish with. We may not like them, but they are something we must live with. Bill also mentioned that “clearly there is some improvement over last year.” With a potentially earlier and longer summer flounder season and a couple more weeks of catching sea bass, he’s correct.
The news of a summer flounder tournament came out this week. The date of the 12th Annual Grassy Sound Marina Flounder Tournament has been set. Save the date of Saturday, June 23. The theme this year will be: E-A-G-L-E- S, Eagles! If you have any ideas on a design that incorporates “an awesome flounder graphic” with the champions theme, then let the folks at the marina know. They’re on Facebook or at www.grassysoundmarina.com. It’s worth a free shirt to you if your idea is chosen. Good luck.
Out and about: Don’t forget that this Saturday, March 3 is the Ocean City Intermediate School Fishing Flea Market. The doors open at 9 a.m. and the show runs till 1 p.m. 90 tables of new and used saltwater and freshwater gear await. A small admission fee gets you in the door. The show benefits the seventh and eighth grade fishing club. Come out and help support the students as they raise funds for their club. The school is located at 1901 Bay Ave., Ocean City.
Another show that you want to remember is the Saltwater Fishing Expo. The dates of the show are March 16 through the March 18, and it will take place at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, N.J.
Tightlines, the local 4-H fishing club, will be holding its next meeting on Monday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lockwood Center at the fair grounds on Dennisville Road. It’s at the same complex as the local community college. They are looking to grow the club and new members are being accepted. Fishing-related subjects such as knot tying and rig making, community service projects, and helping with the annual 4-H fair are just some of the activities the club does each year. If you’re interested, please plan to stop by. For more information, call the local 4-H office at (609) 465-5115.
If you get out, good luck and let me know how you do. Hope to see you around.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
