Striped bass and winter flounder have reopened in New Jersey, while blackfish (tautog) is on a month long hiatus until April 1. This week’s Fishing Reports for North, Central and South Jersey will have more on what to expect this week in terms of hunting around for flounder and stripers.
But what about fluke? Good question! After two months of telling fellow anglers how we should expect to learn more about the 2022 summer flounder and black sea bass regulations in the Garden State when the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council (Council) meets again on March 3, I learned that the meeting has been postponed.
I first heard about the postponement last Thursday morning by way of a phone call from Council member Bob Rush, skipper of the Starfish fleet out of Sea Isle City. I immediately sent an email to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) press office asking for corroboration. “Thanks for your inquiry, Jim. I will check and get back to you,” was the response back from NJDEP press officer Larry Hajna on Thursday morning.
As of Monday morning, February 28, I still had not received official word from Hajna and the NJDEP. However, I spoke with Council member Eleanor Bochenek on Friday who confirmed the meeting cancellation. I also heard Council chair Dick Herb on Saturday morning’s Shep On Fishing radio program on WOND radio confirm the meeting cancellation.
According to Dick Herb, the state is still waiting on final information coming from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) in order to review the regulatory options. “We’re still waiting for direction,” Herb said on WOND, explaining how the state expects that to come later in March. “We’ll talk to our advisors at the end of March,” he said, adding that anglers in New Jersey can expect to see the next Council meeting scheduled “Somewhere in the first full week of April.”
As far as hearing something official from the NJDEP Office about the meeting postponement and the status of 2022 black sea bass and summer flounder regulations in New Jersey, I stopped holding my breath late Sunday afternoon. But I know the “what’s up with fluke” question will pop up a lot this week at the Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show – presented by Discover Boating – this Wednesday through Sunday, March 2-6.
Once again, the Recreational Fishing Alliance and The Fisherman Magazine have partnered to deliver a series of seminars featuring some of the most recognized anglers at the Jersey Shore. New for 2022 are a series of fishing workshops for beginners and advanced anglers presented by Goose Hummock outfitters, along with casting demos atop a 30-foot fishing tank.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022
1 p.m. STRIPED BASS ON BAIT: CIRCLE HOOK IDEAS BY BOAT OR BEACH
(Jim Hutchinson, Jr. from The Fisherman)
2:30 p.m. KAYAK FISHING: SMALL PLATFORM, HUGE OPPORTUNITIES
(Rob English Wilderness Systems/Tackle Direct)
4:15 p.m. INTRO TO TUNA FISHING: WHERE TO START
(Capt. Phil Howarth from Goose Hummock Shops, Orleans, MA)
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2022
1 p.m. THE BEST BUFFET IN TOWN: AC JETTY FISHING
(Noel Feliciano from One Stop Bait and Tackle in Atlantic City)
2:30 p.m. INTRO TO TUNA FISHING: WHERE TO START
(Capt. Phil Howarth from Goose Hummock Shops, Orleans, MA)
4:15 p.m. SOUTH JERSEY SHEEPSHEAD
(Khoa Nguyen from Tidechasers Podcast)
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022
1 p.m. TROLLING FOR TUNA
(Capt. Eric Kerber from On A Mission Charters)
2:30 p.m. JIGGING DOORMAT FLUKE
(Matt Sorrentino from NJFishingClub.com)
4:15 p.m. SOUTH JERSEY WRECK FISHING
(Capt. Adam Nowalsky, formerly of Karen Ann II charters out of Atlantic City)
5:30 p.m. BLUEFIN AND YELLOWFIN TUNA: JIG, TROLL AND POP
(Capt. Jim Freda of Shore Catch Sportfishing)
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022
11 a.m. CATCHING JUMBO BLACKFISH
(Frank Mihalic from Century Rods)
12:15 p.m. TROLLING FOR TUNA
(Capt. Eric Kerber from On A Mission Charters)
1:15 p.m. NEW JERSEY FLUKE FISHING: SANDY HOOK TO DELAWARE BAY
(Capt. Scott Newhall of Time Out Charters)
2:30 p.m. AN OFFSHORE MULTISPECIES APPROACH
(Capt. Fred Gamboa from Andrea’s Toy Charters)
3:30 p.m. WAHOO: WHERE, WHEN AND HOW TO
(Capt. Darren Dorris from Good Chemistry II)
4:30 p.m. SPOT-LOCK FISHING: A WRECK FISHING GAMECHANGER
(Capt. Anthony Grassi and Capt. Frank Wagenhoffer of Fin Chaser Charters)
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022
11 a.m. CATCHING JUMBO BLACKFISH
(Frank Mihalic from Century Rods)
12 p.m. THE ART OF THE CAST
(Patrick Sebile from A Band of Anglers)
1 p.m. FLUTTER SPOONS FOR STRIPED BASS
(Anthony ‘Maja’ Arcabascio of
Tony Maja Products)
2:15 p.m. TROLLING MOTOR TACTICS FOR SUMMER FLOUNDER
(Capt. Brett Taylor of Reel Reaction Sportfishing)
3:30 p.m. SAT TAGS: NORTHEAST STRIPED BASS STUDY
(Jim Hutchinson, Jr. From The Fisherman Magazine)
Show hours are Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Purchase tickets online at ACBoatShow.com ($18 for adults; children 12 and under get in free). The Atlantic City Convention Center address is One Convention Blvd in Atlantic City, NJ. Look for The Fisherman staff at one of our two booths – #147 or #826 – for the full seminar lineup and to get your package of 9/0 Addya circle hooks and Fishbites FightClub lures with your new or renewing subscription.
This Saturday, March 5, the Fish Hawks Saltwater Angler’s Club will host their 8th Annual Fisherman’s Indoor Fishing Flea Market at the Lacey Elks Lodge #2518 from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The show will feature 100 tables brimming with fishing tackle for sale. Admission is $4 for adults, and kids 12 and under are admitted free with paid adult. In addition to fishing gear and guide trips, there will also be food and refreshments available.
The Lacey Elks Lodge is located at 900 Beach Boulevard in Forked River. For information and directions contact Maurice at 917-558-3620 or [email protected]. You can also check out the Fish Hawks website at fishhawksnj.com.
In two weeks, coastwide public hearings on striped bass will get underway. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has posted Amendment 7 for public comment to extend until April 15. The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold their public meeting via webinar on Thursday, March 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. For details contact John Clark at 302-739-9108. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection & Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold their webinar meeting together on Monday, March 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. For details contact Joe Cimino (NJ) at 609-748-2063 or Kris Kuhn at 814-359-5115 (DE).
The Draft Amendment proposes options to address the following topics:
- management triggers
- recreational release mortality
- stock rebuilding plan
- conservation equivalency
Get Webinar Instructions and Additional Information (ASMFC News Release)
Don’t forget, New Jersey’s back bay striped bass season – as well as winter flounder – is reopened again as of March 1. When targeting stripers in marine waters and using bloodworms or other natural, aquatic baits, be sure to employ a circle hook; that’s a requirement under Amendment 6 of the striped bass management plan.