The Fishing Line: Spring is Here

Spring is here and if you haven’t cleaned up your fishing gear yet, you better get to it.
Are you paying attention to the latest regulations and restrictions affecting fishing? You need to be more involved these days as our neighboring states and NJ put their own spin on limits and licenses.
Why can’t we have one license (permit…registry, call it what you will) for all saltwater fishing on the east coast (like a driver’s license)? It’s going to cost us, one way or the other, to set up any registry that is of value for data collection.
I’d rather pay one fee and be able to fish Maine to Florida, all year long. Maybe it would be better to let NOAA run the registry and manage the data. This eliminates the states from mishandling the funds and creates one central database. Maybe there are enough savvy, honest folks who could be hired to do this right. Ultimately it’s the federal government that is going to pass the laws regarding regulations.
Whatever New Jersey decides to do, it better be soon. Any registry or licensing system will need an impressive PR campaign to get the word out and this season is picking up fast.
More legislative news from RFA: U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) re-introduced legislation designed to promote both sustainable fisheries and healthy fishing communities. If approved in the House, The Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2009 would amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to include limited flexibility for fishery managers when setting annual limits on managed species including summer flounder, black sea bass, pacific rockfish, gag grouper and red snapper. Full report at RFA’s Website.
If you are heading out these days, be sure to send me your reports.
Offshore fishing continues to be successful for the Atlantic Star out of Wildwood Crest. Captain has been fishing on three or four wreck spots picking fish all day, with most people catching their limit or close to it.
Recent trips saw Jeff Gross, Vineland, with 20 sea bass up to 4-pounds and an 8-pound cod, pool winner. Vince and Paul Illuminate, Bordentown, Pa.; Larry Tripp, Landsdale, Pa.; Lisa Russo, Wildwood; Eric Lau, Queens, NY; all caught the limit on sea bass up to 6-pounds.
Another day John Kusmanick, Woodbury; Jim and Graham Neville, Townbank; Val Bashenko, Estell Manor, each caught the limit of sea bass. Tile fish were no stangers on board and Peter Kania, Bullville, NY, won the pool with a nice 12 pound tile.
Martin Bergen, Vineland; Billy Pagan, Kleansburg; Jeff Vieser, Metuchen; Harry Brown, Wildwood; and Steve and Walter Morenski, Shamong, all limited out on sea bass.
2009 Greater Avalon Fishing Tournament all year long in the community. Complete an entry card available at local marinas and secure a weight-master’s signature on the card. Cards are returned to the mayor’s office, Avalon Borough Hall, 3100 Dune Drive, 967-5924.
Marinas where entry cards are available include: Hodge Podge, 2389 Ocean Drive, Avalon; Anchorage Marina, 885 21st Street, Avalon; Moran’s Dockside Marina, 14th and Ocean Drive, Avalon; and Smuggler’s Cove, 370 83rd Street, Stone Harbor.
Categories for fish include: dolphin, flounder, striped bass, tuna (bluefin and yellowfin), weakfish, drumfish, bluefish, tautog, and sea bass.
Don’t forget Cape May County runs a year-long tournament, as well. Find their information at www.thejerseycape.com
Open House at the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center, (9 miles west of Hackettstown on Route 46 in Warren County) April 4 and 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, trout raising facility, fishing activities for kids, Fishermen’s Flea Market, 908-637-4125, or njfishandwildlife.com/peqoh09.htm
Mark your calendars: trout season opens April 11.
Check out SeeMyBigFish.com and be sure to send your fish stories to cmiller@cmcherald.com. This column appears first online at capemaycountyherald.com