Rack and Fin

The gobblers are starting to strut and spread those fans, and the hens are starting to notice.

That’s until 8am next Thursday, April 1, the first of two “opening days” of the statewide trout season.

Nasty and disgusting. Tiny and insidious. And purveyors of various diseases, a few of which can be debilitating and, in worse case scenarios, fatal.

This is perhaps the most perfect time to enjoy a hike or a cycling exercise through the vast stretches of the Pine Barrens.

The springtime migration of raptors through, or to, southern New Jersey is happening, brought to light with first hearing, then seeing, an osprey make a dive into the ICW while plugging for stripers behind Ocean City.

“Nothing is over! Nothing! You just don’t turn it off!”

March roared in like lion, and with it a slow first week and weekend of the striped bass season in the back bays and rivers.

No doubt there’s sure to be a lot of head shaking going on, but the decision is final.

Known as the “Most cruel of months” because of its capricious weather, the third turn of the calendar ushers the first fishing of the New Year.

The 2021 Summer flounder (fluke) season dates will be decided at the March 4 webinar meeting of the NJ Marine Fisheries Council.

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.