Friday, March 1, 2013
Striped bass season opens Friday
Striped bass season begins in the back bays and rivers March 1, and Patch caught up with Dennis Palmatier of Murphy's Hook House Bait and Tackle in Toms River for some tips. The regulations for striped bass remains two fish per angler, per day, with a minimum size limit of 28 inches. Striped bass season in the back bays and rivers runs from March 1 through Dec. 31. In the ocean, the season is open year-round. Anglers fishing Oyster Creek should keep in mind that fishing the west side of the Route 9 bridge over the creek requires a freshwater fishing license. Fishing the east side of the bridge does not, though all anglers statewide must obtain a free registration card online before fishing.
Friday, March 30, 2012
After registering, hit 'em while they're hot!
While winter flounder anglers had their fill of action this week, striped bass hunters also dialed into plenty of action from the bay to the ocean. We'll go north to south. "Hot" fishing was reported from last weekend through this week on board the Golden Eagle out of Belmar. The crew battled Thursday's strong winds and, while marks were located, the bite was slow. Still, a few keepers were hauled over the rail. South winds put a damper on the action aboard the Big Jamaica out of Brielle on Wednesday, but the crew had hoped for a rebound Thursday as the winds switched west. Nothing was heard on the results. There were scaterred reports all week long about the surf bite, though few anglers participated due to the strong winds. That made the…
Friday, February 17, 2012
Spring run starts in just two weeks
How hard is this to believe? Striped bass season starts in less than two weeks! Never mind when the spring run might begin in earnest, but the Feb. 15 milestone means March 1 – the date striped bass season reopens in the back bays – is coming very soon. The "first day" of fishing for anything is always very special. But unlike summer flounder, which has opened in May in recent years, the back bay striper season is strictly a "locals only" affair. Needless to say, the spot of spots will be Oyster Creek. The warm water from the nuclear generating station's outflow provides a home to schoolie bass year-round, and as soon as anglers get the chance, it's game-on. Just remember – fish east of the Route 9 bridge. West of the bridge is technically…
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Runs of striped bass are a twice-yearly phenomenon on the Jersey Shore
If you headed to the beach this weekend in Ocean County, you were likely greeted with the sight of crowds of fishermen and what looked like fleets of fishing boats out beyond the breakers. Their quarry: the much-sought striped bass. But how much do you really know about the big, beautiful fish they're after? What it is: Striped bass belong to the Moronidae family of fishes, a collection of similar fresh and saltwater species. Individuals have darker upper bodies and light, silvery sides with about half a dozen dark, lateral lines that give the species its common name. Stripers can live as long as 40 years, and can grow to be very large. A longstanding record fish, landed in Atlantic City, weighed 78.5 pounds and measured six feet. That …
Friday, October 28, 2011
Could it be a white Halloween?
"For the first time almost ever, we might actually get 'snowed out' of a charter this Saturday, IN OCTOBER! Insanity!!!" That was the Facebook status of charter captain Allen Gonzalez Thursday night. Gonzalez runs Reel Class Charters out of Point Pleasant Beach, and posted a map of impending cold weather and perhaps some snow this weekend, if the mercury falls low enough. Though the coast looks like it will be spared from any accumulating snow due to the warm ocean temperature (which, for what it's worth, is still keeping the bass bite relatively slow) the weather this weekend does not look good for fishing. Well, perhaps for those who have Parker or May-Craft pilothouse models it'll be alright – but for the rest of us, it will be a …
Friday, October 7, 2011
Annual clinic kicks off the Shore's surf fishing season
As surf fishing at the Shore goes, there is no place where it is as celebrated each season as on Long Beach Island. For many anglers, tomorrow is Memorial Day: the kickoff of a season at the beach. But forget swimming, it's surf fishing season. The island's annual Surf Fishing Classic, a months-long tournament that will last through Dec. 4, will kick off bright and early. On the island, anglers come in droves weekend after weekend, hoping to hook the striped bass that will land them a valuable cash prize. The entire tournament is sponsored by the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, as well as local tackle shops where anglers can sign up and get in on the action. For a $30 entry fee, anglers can hit the beach armed with a chance to …
Friday, March 4, 2011
Frank Ruczynski nabbed something short of a keeper on opening day
If anyone out there is Facebook friends with Frank Ruczynski, you know the man is a trooper. I recall a few months ago reading his status updates about fishing for striped bass in 20 degree weather from here, there and everywhere across the state. I’ve yet to meet Frank personally, but he comes to mind when one thinks of an angler who puts in his time. Obviously, Frank made it out March 1, the start of striped bass season in the back bays and rivers. He was one of the few who managed to hook a bass, though we assume he threw it back – after all, when the hook is bigger than the fish it snags, well, come on. Enlarge the photo attached to this article for a full view of the “catch of the day.” Turns out Frank was one of the lucky ones. Not …
Sean Conneamhe
2:08 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
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