The Fishing Line: March 13

Welcome to March! The opening of the back bay striped bass season was greeted by an overnight snowstorm. Regardless of those cold conditions the first striper was caught on opening day, why wait till day two or later, and the angler claimed his bounty from a local bait and tackle shop. Other than that it was a relatively quiet week. With that in mind and extra space available, I will introduce you to someone who has turned their hobby into a nice side business that has a tie to our fishing and nautical interests. Let’s get started, just like the new striper season.
The first striper of the season has been caught, recorded and the angler, rewarded. Beau Bosley almost stopped before he started, but he didn’t let the snowy Friday morning keep him from tossing out some bloodworms. He went down to the Mullica River and for his efforts, he was rewarded with a 28-inch striper. He stopped in to the Absecon Bay Sportsman Center, presented his fish, and claimed a $200 gift certificate for landing the first legal striper of the spring season. He was also the first angler “going” on the Facebook event page which garnered him another gift certificate for $100. While waiting for the striper to hit, Beau was able to “manage a decent catch of White Perch.” Nice job Beau, in not letting the weather hold you down.   
In the past, we have looked at local artisans who have an interest that I felt others would like to know about. Today I’m going to introduce you to a lady that I have known for a number of years. A couple of years ago we were talking and she mentioned a hobby she had recently started. I asked her what it was, she told me and showed me a piece she was working on and I was immediately hooked.
Sue Wunder’s company is Brew Fin Design and her hobby, which has developed into a nice business venture, is bottle cap artwork. Yes, the same bottle caps that seal the beverages you drink. She uses them to make many different designs, including fish, crabs, lobsters, lighthouses and other nautical themed items. Other themes are fair game and limited only to her vision, or your request.
Two years ago the first “Brew Fin Fish” was made. It was a birthday gift for her daughter’s boyfriend who is an avid fisherman. He also likes craft beer. They combined the two passions and a new business was started.
After deciding what design she will make, Sue cuts the shape out of three-quarter inch plywood. She sands it smooth and then paints it black. She then takes a cardboard six-pack holder and cuts it to the shape of the wood. This acts as a decorative background which ties into the overall design. If you like a particular brand, she can use the caps and holder to accent your item. Or, if she makes a bluefish she may use blue caps and a similar colored cardboard carrier. She then lays out over-lapping caps and secures them with hot glue. She then seals the item with a hard resin, sands it, then seals it again. This process is familiar to anyone who has ever made a fishing pole. The sealing results in a product that is “fun, colorful, shiny, and original.”
Large items range from 24 to 30 inches and sell for $150 to $200. Smaller sized items run between $40 and $100. Pieces can be made upon request and there is no limit to what can be created. Once a piece is decided on, the turn-around time can be as quickly as three days to complete.
                You can check out some of Sue’s work at her page on Instagram called @BrewfinDesignsNJ. She does business on the page so that’s been a good source of getting the word out about her product. Word of mouth and repeat business also helps to grow her venture. You can also see her work at many of the local craft shows and festivals that occur throughout the area. She usually does one or two shows a month and can often be found at many Cape May events.
She will be at the Cape May Hops Festival on June 22, the Craft Beer, Music, and Crab Festival on August 3, the Harvest Brew Fest Crafts and Collectible Show on September 14, and the Oktoberfest on September 28. Your first opportunity to check out her work in person will be on May 11. She’ll be busy that day as she’ll be at the Sip Into Spring Festival in Cape May in the morning, then in the afternoon she will be going to the Slack Tide Brewery on Route 83 in Cape May Court House for a showing there. This August, Sue’s creations will be on display and for sale, at the Mad Batter Restaurant in Cape May and throughout the summer at Tortilla Flats in Avalon, where she works as a server.
Sue can also be reached at 609-602-9149. Give her a call and check out her creations.
Upcoming events: The Kayak Fishing Store in Green Creek will be launching their new website “with more cool toys than ever.” Check it out, then plan on stopping by the new store when it opens on Saturday, March 16.
This Saturday is also the evening for the Beef and Beer Fundraiser for Rusty Zeigler. It will assist him with his medical bills and expenses. Rusty is suffering from non-alcoholic liver disease and is in need of a liver transplant. The evening runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is being held at the Bellevue Tavern in Court House. Door prizes and a 50/50 will be among the evenings highlights.
Don’t forget that the Saltwater Fishing Expo will be held this Saturday, March 15 to 17 at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey. The show opens at noon on Friday and at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Go to www.sportshows.com and click on the New Jersey link or visit them on Facebook at Progressive Saltwater Fishing Expo for more details.
Our own local show, the Wildwood Fishing and Boating Expo is less than a month away. It happens on April 6 and 7 and we’ll have more details soon. Just remember to save the date.   
If you get out and get yourself a Striper, don’t forget to send in a picture. Good luck and catch’em up!
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.