January’s the perfect month to sit back and dream of that fish that got away and then get busy getting your tackle in order, read some good catalogs and plan on a new season of excitement, challenge, fun, and, alright, some frustration. It’s a whole new year. Be positive.
On New Year’s day with the warm temperatures Captain Ray did some freshwater fly fishing at a Cape May County lake. With the water pretty cold pickerel were hitting normal but for largemouth, crappies and sunfish you had to work the flies very slow.
Olive and brown/yellow bead head woolly bugger flies seemed to work the best. The fish were small, he admits, but when matched with light tackle it was a lot of fun, especially considering that last year at the same time the lakes were all frozen over.
The Stray Cat will be fishing cod and black fish for the winter season. The cod fishing has been very good the past few weeks and overall, the last few years have been excellent. Black fish still bite in the deep water through winter. Check the weather and jump on board. Cod rigs are available, you will need top and bottom rigs with 10 inch leaders. The cabin is heated and they plan to sail Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Reservations 391-9630.
For all fly fishermen, the biggest fly show of the year is coming up. The Fly Fishing Show is coming to the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, Jan 27,28, 29. It attracts fly fishermen and women from all over with seminars, movies, top experts. It is like the super bowl weekend for fly fishermen. Anything you want to know, buy or see will be there. Go to www.flyfishingshow.com for details.
The NJ Dep Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds all saltwater anglers they must register with the New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program prior to fishing in 2012. Registrations expire at the end of each calendar year and must be renewed annually.
The registry was established in 2011 to exempt New Jersey anglers from both having to register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry and having to pay the $15.00 federal registration fee imposed in 2011.
Anglers with a valid license/registration from another exempted state, or a New Jersey freshwater license, are still required to register (for free) with the NJSRRP. Most individual saltwater anglers ages 16 and older, as well as for-hire vessel owners/operators, must register.
For more information on registering, as well as a link to the registration website, visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2012/registry_reminder12.htm on the division’s web site.
Mark your calendars for the Atlantic City Boat Show and Fishing Expo at the AC Convention Center, Feb. 1 to 5. At $14, worth the trip.
This columnist will be on hiatus for a few weeks but check back each week because we are hoping to have a guest captain filling in. You can continue to send your fishing reports, comments, and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
