Hey! Let’s hurry up and wait. As we move through the third month on the calendar and get closer to an anticipated increase in fishing action, it seems we get farther away. The two recent nor’easters, and the threat of a third, has put a real damper on an already limited fishing scene. The advantage of this dead-time is to use it to prepare for when the weather is better.
The Cape May Lady got out recently for a Sunday cod trip. Anglers were exploring some different targets and looking to zero in on the fish. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to find any cod, but they were able to land some nice blackfish. The sad element of that part of the story is that blackfish are currently out of season. It will be chalked up as valuable information for April when they are back in season. They were able to catch some very large bergalls, with Ken Raines being the most successful angler. Hopefully the weather will allow for a few more trips for cod, but with the recent pattern we have been experiencing, it’s tough to tell how that will work out.
A couple of local anglers who took a jaunt down south over the weekend, as in North Carolina, had a “great tuna fishing trip.” Robin and Mike Jung from the Peace Token Fishing Tackle store fished Saturday and “went one for one” by landing a 79-inch, 300-pound blackfin tuna. That one was hooked by Mike. They went back out Sunday and completed a “one for three day.” The one, though, was a 700-pound blackfin tuna. That fish, caught by an angler named Robert, was released “on the surface.” As Robin explained, that “second giant” couldn’t be kept “because we killed the boat’s giant on Saturday.” Regardless, “it was a great time.”
A trip for this weekend is being set up, so I hope to have news this weekend about its success. This column will be out after the trip, but if you’re interested for any future trips, contact Robin. He will know if any more trips will be planned and can give you the information you need.
News of a new boat at a local marina reached me recently. The Miss Chris Marina Fishing complex is getting ready to welcome the new Miss Chris, a 70-foot all aluminum Gulf Craft. She will have two brand new 575 horsepower John Deere diesels. Other features include upper deck seating, new electronics to find the fish and the ability to handle 60 patrons at a time. She will be the new four-hour/half-day boat at the Miss Chris Marina. Captain Mike Scanlan will be at the helm, and will have Captain Jim, who was a long-time mate, plus Captain Stan available. Rounding out the crew will be Judy, Gavin and Jim. Thanks, Captain Jeff, for the information, and we look forward to working with you and your staff this summer.
Another show in our area will be the Cape May Fishing Flea Market on Sunday, April 15. It runs from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. at the Cape May Elementary School which is located at 921 Lafayette St. The show will feature new and used items, various antiques, and many rods and reels. Nautical art, apparel and boating equipment will also be offered. Hourly door prizes and food will be available. A small admission fee will be charged, but kids 12 and under are free. Get your extra or unwanted gear together and get a table. For additional information, please call (732) 330-5674.
The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council was scheduled to meet on March 15 to discuss the summer flounder season and determine the season, bag limit and size. If it is not determined then, I heard word that the decisions will be addressed at the April meeting. The regulations for the upcoming blackfish seasons may also be set during the March meeting. I’ve read from two different sources, the NJDEP website and a well-known fishing magazine, about the place of the meeting, and two different places were mentioned. I’ll wait and check out the results of the meeting when they’re released, then let you know what regulations were established.
That will wrap it up for this week. If you get out, be especially careful if you go out on the sod banks. They’ve been flooding fairly regularly lately with the high tides, the moon phases and the stormy weather. Watch for any soft or loose areas that may cause trouble with your footing. Good luck and let me know how you did.
Submit your fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
