Well, it would seem we have lost most, but not all, of the second week of fishing after the storm to the weather. Totally to be expected at this time of year, but oh so hard to accept. Even though the temperature rose for a few days, the damage, in the form of ice, kept the local fleet at the dock. Even some trips on Monday of the long weekend were cancelled because of the forecast of strong winds. One angler I know said that he had eight trips scheduled. Someone else in the conversation said that was a lot and asked where he got the time to do that. He is retired, but the answer was that five or six would probably be cancelled. Bottom line is you book in bulk. If the early ones go on as scheduled, then you can opt out of the later ones. Or better yet, you can fish those also. With that ratio in mind, on Tuesday, some movement began to occur as some fishing actually took place. Let’s get going.
We lead off with sad news. A recent house fire at the home Dennis McVay has created a need for any assistance possible. Dennis works at Jim’s Bait and Tackle in Cape May, and if you read the column regularly, then you have seen a report from Matt on a weekly basis from March through December. As of now, the family has only the clothes on their back. Clothing donations are being accepted, plus Jim’s has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for clothes, food and any other essential items. Gift cards are also being accepted, as well as cash or checks. If you would like to make a donation of any sort, please call Tiffany from Jim’s Bait and Tackle at (609) 425-5691.
Yes, someone got out and we have signs of aquatic life. After what seemed like forever, due to too much ice and accompanying delays, Captain Tom and the Fishin’ Fever escaped their slip. The fishing crew, led by John “Johnny Bucktails” Contello, played the quality over quantity game. The had 16 keepers for the boat, with four or five in the 10-pound class. John had two of those double-digit fish to his credit. It was not only good to see them get out, but also to see them get right back on the fish – that made it even better.
Here’s a reminder for those who obtained a Striper Tag. Remember to fill out your form per the instructions so you can remain eligible to obtain another when they are issued. They should be filled out as soon as possible and returned to the listed address.
While on the subject of things to remember to do, you can renew your NJ Saltwater Registry now and have it out of the way. Go online to the NJDEP website and work your way to the Fish and Wildlife area. The link to the registry is toward the bottom/middle of the page.
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife recently announced a record set in 2017. The Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery was involved in the stocking of 5 million fish. These fish were produced for anglers, streams and to fight against mosquitoes. Fifteen species of cold, cool and warm water fish combined to allow this number to be reached.
Northern Pike, walleye, channel catfish and largemouth bass were some of the fish going out to anglers, while fathead minnows and Gambusia, also known as mosquitofish, were released to eat mosquito larvae in stagnant waters. 5.6 million of these fish have been raised since 1991. They battle mosquito borne diseases such as West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Chikungunya.
More information about different aspects of the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery is available at www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/hacktown.htm.
I received news of a survey from Bucktail Willie, done by stripersforever.org. It examined responses from striper anglers in states along the fish’s migratory range. After interpreting the information, a small increase in the angler’s satisfaction was determined.
The numbers show that 64 percent of those responding said they caught fewer (or many fewer) stripers when compared to the previous two years. Those numbers were 66 percent in 2016 and 82 percent in 2015. Even though these numbers seem high, or negative, they are trending in the direction of more fish being caught. The responses indicate that a greater number of small fish were found along the coast. The increase in fish, even if they are small, is welcome. As these fish mature, if follows that the population should increase.
Another fact to come out of the survey shows that 77 percent of respondents stated they were catching smaller fish. The previous numbers for this category were 66 percent in 2016 and 73 percent in 2015. This development didn’t surprise those who analyzed the numbers. They have seen an increase in smaller stripers, particularly in northern states, while noticing that it is tougher to find big fish in the population. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the year classes of stripers were much better than those of the last 10 years. Think of the “year class” as an incoming class at a school. The greater amount of young students/fish that are counted, the more there should be to graduate, or grow to a catchable and breeding size and age. Hence, this results in more fish in the population. The report concluded by stating that since “harvest levels reduced very little from their highs, big stripers may become even harder to locate.”
If you get out and get some fishing in, or hear of any fishing related news you want to share, drop me a line. Also, any news of any more fishing shows or flea markets is always welcome.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
