The Fishing Line: Weather Woes Continue

A stormy Thanksgiving kept anglers close to home. Good thing football was on.
It was a great day of fishing for the 10th Annual Fight Leukemia Fishing Tournament on Nov. 22. Lots of fish weighed-in and plenty of people came out for the beef and beer fundraiser and awards dinner. Top winner was John “Spanky” Concannon with a 45.5-pound striper fishing on Captain Randy Young’s “Little Wave” off Absecon Island. Andrew and Matt Daher showing off two of the eight that were caught on the “Double Daher” with Mike Foster, Pete Downham, and Jerry Bjorklund. Most importantly over $7,000 was raised for the NJ Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This tournament honors Chris Hagel who lost his battle with leukemia in 2005.
Here’s the reminder a reader asked for: NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program, individual saltwater anglers ages 16 and older must register if any of the following criteria are met: Recreationally fish with a hand line or rod and line, spearfish or fish by hand; Recreationally fish in the marine and fresh tidal waters of NJ; Recreationally fish in marine waters outside NJ but land the catch in NJ.
Individual saltwater anglers are exempt from registering if either of the following apply: Under the age of 16; Solely fish on for-hire (party and charter) vessels that are registered with the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. NOTE: Anglers with a valid registration with the National Saltwater Angler Registry or have a valid license from another exempted state are required to register (for free) with the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. Registration with NJ will exempt you from having to register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry. Check out NJDEP’s Web site for all the details and to register online.
Here’s the rundown for the week from the Starlight and Atlantic Star: Sea bass and blackfish are being targeted by both boats, with good results. The Starlight sails for 6-hour trips weekdays and the Atlantic Star is running 10 hours on Saturdays and Sundays, reservations required.
The American Littoral Society has a Surf-Fishing Clinic scheduled for this Saturday and will offer two options: $40 Surf fishing clinic, lunch and Fishing Tagging presentation or $25 Lunch and Fish Tagging presentation. Presenter Jeff Dement will cover the basics of casting, knot tying, lure-bait selection, and “reading” a beach. All skill levels are welcome. Rods, reels and tackle provided. Children under 18 must have a supervising adult. Weather will be cold, dress in warm layers. (Info @littoralsociety.org)
The Fishing Line runs year round so keep sending your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. Column and pictures are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com and on Facebook. Check out Miller’s children’s book “Counting the Fish in the Sea: The Story of the NEAMAP Trawls” on www.epektales.com