Rack and Fin

March through mid-April is the ideal time to explore the diversity of the Garden State’s Highlands, Shore, Piedmont and Outer Coastal Plain areas via hiking or biking.

Besides the boats, there are aisles and aisles of marine and fishing tackle products and services, apparel, nautical jewelry, boating insurance and boating class services, marine artists, fishing publications, et al.

This hunt’s expressed purpose in the Atlantic Flyway is to help put the brakes on the light goose population, estimated at 500,000 birds.

It was a packed house with standing room only that spilled into the lobby at the Stafford Municipal Building during Thursday evening’s public meeting with the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council. 

The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council (NJMFC) will be conducting a public meeting Thursday, February 13 starting at 5pm at the Stafford Township Municipal Building, 260 East Bay Avenue, in Manahawkin.

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.