Fishing

April 1, the blackfish opener for the short shot 30-day early spring season, is going to be a washout.

The touchy weather hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm for the early season back bay and tidal river striper pursuit.

It’s all systems go for the 2023 season when it comes to summer flounder (fluke), sea bass, and porgies (scup) as per the dates, lengths, and bag limits decided on by the NJ Marine Fisheries Council last Thursday after reviewing four options and listening to public input.

The tog (blackfish) season draws to a close at 11:59 pm Tuesday, February 28.

The white perch, actually a member of the true bass family that includes the striper, is found in just about every brackish tidal creek along the Jersey coast.

Show hours are 9am-5pm Saturday and 9am-2pm Sunday. Adult admission is $7 and $3 for youngsters 6-13. Five years and younger get in no charge.

The cold snap has jump-started what will be the final push of striped bass down the Garden State coast.

The Brigantine fisherman says he headed out for his third solo trip looking for tuna, and on this trip he was able to catch one. A nice size one, at that!

Overall, 4460 rainbows will be liberated in 18 waterways in 11 counties ranging from Sussex County to Cape May County.

According to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, winter stocking is taking place at lakes and ponds throughout the state this week. Winter stocking is the last stocking of the year.

Several inlet jetties that are providing exemplary dropping for tog include Absecon, Barnegat, Longport, and Townsends.

Okay, so we have some bad weather and subsequent gnarly conditions this weekend, but it should serve to move more striped bass down the coast.