Tom P.

They always seem to know when the tough times are arriving.

The birds know, that is.

This weekend’s forecast of 50 to 60-plus degree temperatures will surely fuel the hot perch bite that was momentarily stalled by Thursday’s cold front.

After a break for the muzzleloader and six day firearm deer seasons, the Division of Fish & Wildlife will once again be releasing ringneck pheasants and bobwhite quail on select wildlife management areas (WMA).

The traditional six-day firearms deer season starts Monday, December 9 and runs through Saturday, December 14.

Well, the “Big Tog” crab crunch is underway, kicking into gear the middle of last week.

The general consensus is that there’s two, maybe three weeks remaining for the opportunities to catch ‘n ice keepers, along with the occasional fat cow mama.

With the inevitable arrival of colder water, the bigger blackfish are moving in from the wrecks and structures in deeper water.

Whitetail deer mating season (aka “rut”) is 95% on, and, to put it mildly, the bucks will be love loco for the next two, maybe three weeks.

It’s a striped bass explosion along the northern and central stretches of the Garden State coast, and these are nuclear detonations for sure, going by the sizes of the linesiders.

This week’s blow set the clock running for the last week, maybe two, of crabbing before the crustaceans settle in the mud for the winter.

Segment A of the two-part New Jersey black bear season opens Monday and runs through Saturday, October 19.

The statewide archery season for deer opens next Saturday, and if you have not been out scouting spots, getting bait on the ground and/or getting the trail cameras up, well, get to it!