The Fishing Line: Fishing, the perfect antidote for shopping

Can you believe it’s December already? While others go shopping, you’re better off fishing.
Chunking for striped bass in the Delaware Bay remains good. Striper action in the Cape May Rips remains very good with live spot being the bait of choice. Sea bass action is good from the Reef all the way out to the 20 mile wrecks.
Togging is excellent around the jetties and inshore wrecks while using crab for bait. Schoolie stripers are still being caught around the sod banks in the back bays on clam or swimbaits. Surf fishing in North Wildwood remains good with striped bass and large bluefish pulled from the suds.
Captain ray says the best action was in the back bay working creek mouths, point breaks and run off areas. Most of the fish were small but they provided great sport on light tackle. Again the go to fly was a chartreuse buck tail deceiver fished on intermediate line. Still have to work hard for all the fish but there is enough to make for good fishing.
The NJDEP will hold a public forum to discuss freshwater fisheries culture, research, management and recreational angling, Dec. 4 at the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery in Warren County. The forum will begin at 10 a.m. Another forum will be held in south Jersey on Feb. 26 at the Batsto Village Visitors Center in Wharton State Forest.
Anglers are invited to share their views and recommendations for the future of freshwater fisheries research and management in New Jersey with staff biologists. This forum is of particular importance as fisheries staff will soon be developing recommendations for regulations changes for the 2012 Fish Code.
Pre-registration is not required but is appreciated, and will ensure that all attendees can be accommodated. Call 908-236-2118 or e-mail njfwfish@earthlink.net. http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2010/fishforumnorth10.htm on the division’s website.
The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that four hundred reef balls are ready for deployment on Dec. 16. The Cape May Reef is located 9.1 nautical miles east of Cape May Inlet. Commercial fishers who have gear in this area must move it or risk having it destroyed. The deployment is subject to weather and sea conditions. For further information contact Hugh Carberry at 748-2022.
Op-ed by the head of the IGFA on Bluefin published this past week in papers around the country: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/18/19
Send your fish stories and photos to cmiller@cmcherald.com.