About this column: An update on local fishing, reeled in every Friday on Patch!Related Topics:Belmar, Fishing Report, Manasquan Inlet, barnegat inlet, jersey shore fishing, and long beach islandLocal captains reported better action over the past week this week, as the winter cod and ling fisheries began to heat up.
High winds kept the party boat Gambler at the dock earlier this week, but the last time lines were dropped, fishing (more specifically, catching) was good.
"On Monday, we had a good catch of ling and a few cod," Capt. Bob said on the boat's website. "Bill Bryne of Toms River caught about two dozen ling, an 8 pound purple hake and a 6 pound cod. Weather permitting, we'll be fishing everyday."
There were some good numbers reported on board the Jamaica II party boat out of Brielle as well. "The wreckmasters" are running 12 hour and 14 hour cod-long combination trips these days. Ling have been found in the deep on recent trips, a report from the boat said.
Dale Isaacs, of Manchester, hauled in 44 ling and one cod on a recent trip; Rob Vallone of Tuckerton hooked in 35 ling.
A few miles north, the Big Mohawk is still targeting blackfish. There's a certain reward to hauling a blackfish over the rail this time of year, and there's no better boat to do so than the Big Mohawk, the Shore's most well-known blackfish boat. Though weather got in the way the past few days, trips over the past week have produced fish 12 pounds and above, according to reports from the boat.
"Super fishing" was reported on Thursday's trip, and Capt. Chris wrote on the boat's website that he expected to sail bright and early Friday.
"If it is anything like today, you won't be disappointed," he said. The boat sails at 7 a.m. daily from the Belmar Marina.
Anecdotally, we're still hearing reports of stripers being reeled in from the surf. Yup, I repeat, it's Jan. 20 and we're still hearing about striper fishing! For those brave enough to hit the beach (or lucky enough to have a beach buggy in which to warm up in between casts) it sounds like artificials are working best. Avas never disappoint, and Hopkins lures are a good old standby. Try areas such as the Seaside pier and Island Beach State Park for your best chances.
We've also heard about some stripers being beached on LBI. If you want to fish the island, the best chance is going to be in the northern portion of the island. The island "dips" westward near Surf City and Ship Bottom, and while these locations can go crazy during the height of the season (often when baitfish find shelter in the aforementioned 'dip'), you'll want to focus on Barnegat Light, Loveladies and Harvey Cedars in these odd times of year. Personally, I'd take the walk out to the end of the south jetty and see what bites, but that's just me. If you do so, be sure to be very, very careful of the ice that can form on the jetty rocks this time of year. Things get slippery quickly out there; same goes for Manasquan Inlet.
By the way – anyone notice some big time shoaling near Manasquan Inlet's south jetty in Point Pleasant Beach? I took a walk out to the end of the jetty the other day as the tide was going out, and was surprised to see a sandy beach forming at the edge of the inlet near the rocks. If it were summer, I may have been able to set up my beach chair there, just feet away from the mouth of the ocean. I'm going to be calling the Army Corps folks this week to find out what's happening and will report back (hopefully) in the coming week.
In any event, send photos of your winter catches this way – daniel.nee@patch.com and we'll feature them here in the column!
Friday 20 January 2012
Cod, Ling Catches Up On the Party Boats - Point Pleasant, NJ Patch
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