The Fishing Line: Happy 2013

Happy New Year! Cold January days are perfect to clean out your tackle box, peruse the latest catalogs for new gear, and learn to tie some new flies. And dream of a fishing season with fair winds and fish aplenty. On a happy note, the sea bass season is now open with a 15 fish limit at 12.5 inches. If you can’t get fishing, there are two local fishing expos that are worth your time.
The Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series, Jan. 5, Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, A.C., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. George Poveromo, host of George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing and Editor-At-Large for Salt Water Sportsman, will headline the program along with Gary Caputi, field editor for Salt Water Sportsman and several of our local Cape May captains. For details go to www.nationalseminarseries.com
The popular Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show will be held over five days, Feb. 6-10 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. The expo features hundreds of new motor and sailboats, gear and accessories, and exclusive boat-bargains. You can take advantage of interactive instructional seminars, entertainment, meet-and-greets with boating stars and an alligator handler catching a 200 pound gator.
The Marine Marketplace will feature exhibitors with the latest boating technology and gear for both motor and sail enthusiasts, including navigation systems, fishing gear, fish finders and water sports accessories.
Visitors can meet Captain Dave Marciano from National Geographic’s Wicked Tuna, who is owner of Hard Merchandise, a fishing boat that is the embodiment of the bluefin fishing industry in Gloucester, Mass.
There will be activities for the kids, Miss GEICO and the P1 28SS Panther Race Boat, free seminars, and a grand prize. There’s a Power Boat Docking Challenge for ages 16 and up. Novice and experienced boaters will use a full size boat helm, racing against the clock while steering their craft down a 20 foot “lake.”
Admission to the AC Boat Show is $15 for adults (16 and older) and free for kids. All the info can be found at acboatshow.com
Next week will be the last column for a couple of weeks. The Fishing Line begins a brief hiatus. Columns will resume Feb. 13. But keep sending your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. Column and pictures are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com.