Barry Heffernan wins the American Striper Association 2002 Sandy Hook Open, his 28-foot True World Marine out of Sandy Hook Bay Marina. Heffernan's regular partner, Willie Strehl, brought along his son, Dustin, from Highlands who nailed the winning 32.77-pounder that beat a 32.55-pound bass Tony Arcabascio, Staten Island entered.  Third Place went to Brian on the "Pluggin Pole", and fourth to John Mattuecci fishing w/ Jamie Gibbons. ASA allows only one entry per boat.

FLUKE SEASON OPENS

Capt. Stan Zagleski of Elaine B. from Highlands reported a limit fluke catch in Saturday's terrible weather for Jim Balbis of West Paterson. John Fregals from West Orange won Sunday's pool with a 5-pound fluke, and C.J. Rutledge of Newark had a limit up to 4 pounds yesterday.

At Atlantic Highlands, Capt. Chad Hacker said some daytime bass trips of the Sea Fox were slow last week, but limits were the rule at night. Thursday's pool went to Mike Grueer of Wayne with a 15 1/2-pound striper, while the winner at night was Roland Drago from North Haledon at 27 pounds. That boat will continue running two trips daily for bass.

Capt. George Bachert reported better fluking on the Fishermen, with decent action down the beach yesterday before conditions changed. Upon returning to the bay, Frank Hope set an early party boat standard with a 7 5/16-pound fluke. Chris Kube of Clifton won Sunday's pool with a 3 3/4-pounder.

Capt. Tom Buban said 16 1/2-inch keepers haven't been abundant on his half-day Atlantic Star, but he's encouraged by the spread of fluke in every area he has tried.

Julians Bait & Tackle reports

Flounder really turned on in this area over the past couple of days. Excellent flounder fishing at Gravely Point in Shrewsbury, and over by the Quay Restaurant. Anglers have been coming off such party boats as the Teal and the Sea Fox, with bags of flounder fillets. The bass are still along the beaches. Good spots are the Spy House in Leonardo and the Ferry Dock in Atlantic Highlands. Mainly the bass are being caught on clams. Ling and Blackfish are being caught offshore.

March 28th, 2002

Did I mention that the Clean Ocean Action Flounder Tournament is being held at Bahrs Landing this year. It is free and there are tons of prizes. 1st place wins $500.00!!!

http://www.cleanoceanaction.org/Calender/UpComEvents.html

Winter flounders are the big question mark as the stocks have been greatly depleted by draggers working over their offshore summering grounds. The best action so far has been in Shark River during sunny, mild days. There also has been sporadic flounder catches in Barnegat Bay and Manasquan River. The Shrewsbury and Navesink have been slow to start, though they should turn on any day now if the warm weather holds. The river runs will probably die out quickly as early-spawning females head to sea, leaving only undersized males behind. The best bet should be sometime next month when larger flatties gather in Raritan Bay, at Romer Shoal and off the Cedars.

Striped bass already are providing pretty good action for both surfcasters and those casting from Raritan Bay shorelines and the Rumson Oceanic Bridge. I saw a few nice fish on the sidewalk last night as there must have been 25 guys fishing the full moon. I will bring my camera tonight! This is primarily a bait fishery, with clams producing most of the surf catches while seaworms are usually the best bet in Raritan Bay.

The Striped Bass Advisory Panel accepted a motion by Star Ledger fishing reporter Al Ristori, to make circle hooks mandatory a couple of years ago, and most of the panel that met Wednesday in Washington still supports that position. Yet the Striped Bass Management Board didn't go along with mandatory use and the present draft of Amendment 6 simply urges states to develop public relations/education campaigns about their benefits.

Those benefits were spelled out scientifically in a study of hooking mortality by Maryland in which they found that 10 percent of released stripers eventually died while there was less than 1 percent mortality on those taken with non-offset circle hooks. Given that huge disparity, there is no question that every striper angler should use circle hooks whenever possible.

Whereas most methods of reducing mortality also affect the success rate, this is that rare case where sportsmen can have their cake and eat it, too. Circle hooks are simply more efficient when used properly. As long as the fish turns away with the bait, swallowed circle hooks pull out and catch in the jaw. All the angler should do is dip the rod tip toward the water and reel tight. Striking as you would with a standard J-hook is the only way to prevent the circle hook from working. Indeed, a rod left in the holder will often do the job.

An important point is to use only non-offset circle hooks. Some manufacturers have offset models that make them easier to bait, but such hooks will also catch in the stomach and gills as is the case with J-hooks. The 7/0 Eagle Claw L2004 Black Pearl for soft baits such as clams, and 8/0 or 9/0 sizes for larger cut baits. Circle hooks also work fine with worms and smaller or slim live baits like peanut bunkers and eels. I've had success with adult bunkers, though treble hooks are certainly more efficient in the case of bulky live baits.

Law enforcement representatives at the ASMFC were initially opposed to mandatory circle hooks, but are now only concerned with getting a definition of allowable circle hooks should they be required. None of us want to see "hook police" boarding boats, but a circle hook requirement will be readily accepted by the vast majority of concerned fishermen. The tiny minority who simply don't care about the resource will continue to kill bass needlessly, but the significant savings overall may well be enough to lower the 8 percent mortality presently charged to recreational releases. That release mortality may exceed the number of bass intentionally kept and reducing it even a percentage or two could be the difference in maintaining current regulations or having to cut back in 2003.

Anglers can hardly criticize the wasteful practices of commercial fishermen if they're unwilling to adapt techniques that will reduce their own release mortality. The difference between 10 percent and less than 1 percent mortality cannot be ignored, especially in high mortality fisheries such as with clams, which are sucked down so quickly that gut-hooking with standard hooks is a huge and otherwise unavoidable problem. Even without any regulation to obey, every sportsman should utilize circle hooks for dead bait fishing simply because it's the right thing to do for the resource we treasure.

February 19th 2001

NJ 15th Annual Boat Show Open Feb 21st.

The show will be open from 1 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The Show formerly held in Asbury Park now features boat loads of show room space.

Gateway Marine, Route 35, Middletown, is bringing fully equipped models of Yamaha's Century Boats from 21 to 32 feet to the show. Prices range from $28,000 to $140,000. The flagship Century 32 will be on display in a walk-around fishing model with live-aboard accommodations, according to Charles Vonstetten of Gateway. Features of the Century 32 include an aft berth with sit-up head room; a V-berth-convertible dinette and galley with a sink, stove, microwave and refrigerator; and a pullout pantry. "The 32 Century has air conditioning, heat and a diesel generator," Vonstetten said. "It sells to guys who fish the boat hard, and live on it as a summer home. All of the walk-arounds have upgraded stereo systems."  Vonstetten said the Century 32 is a good boat in heavy seas, and has plenty of room in the cockpit for fighting and handling fish. Century, which has been making boats since 1926, was acquired five years ago by Yamaha, and Vonstetten said the line has since been upgraded from entry level to move-up models in fit and finish.

"We are offering manufacturer rebates specific to each boat at the show," Vonstetten said. "Gateway will also be showing 2000 and 2001 models it acquired from other dealers through a special deal with Century. They are priced around dealer cost and are great bargains."

Gateway's exhibit is to include the Century 29 center console with Yamaha's new four-stroke, 225-horsepower outboard, redesigned 26-foot walk-around and center-console models, a 23-foot center console and a 21-foot walk-around.  "The center consoles are all loaded, including T tops and outriggers," Vonstetten said. "All of the boats have at least two batteries -- some have four -- freshwater sinks and showers, saltwater wash-downs and huge in-deck fish boxes."  Century models from 23 feet up include marine heads with holding tanks inside the center console.

Tom Morford Jr., owner of Atlantic Yacht Sales, Middletown, said two Stamas models, the 29 Tarpon and the 310 Express, will be exhibited at the show. He said they both incorporate the best of both fishing and luxury boat amenities.  "Stamas spends a tremendous amount of time in the molds, and actually lays out the stringer system in the mold for strength and rigidity," Morford said.
"The interior of the 310 Express is finished in teak and holly for a luxurious and warm feel," he said. "They have a lot of range, in excess of 250 to 300 miles, and can cruise at 30 knots."
The 29 Tarpon is available with a four-stroke Yamaha, a Yamaha inboard diesel or a MerCruiser. Morford said the boats are moderately priced for high-end boats with the 29 Tarpon starting at $105,000 and the 310 Express at $135,000.

Tickets are $8.50, or $6 for children 12 to 17; children are admitted free. Admission for senior citizens is $7 Thursday and Friday.

Winter FIshing Report

Capt. Scotty Hilliard found Friday's bottom fishing in a south wind to be exceptionally slow. Thirty fishermen aboard his Prowler V from Atlantic Highlands managed only 90 ling though Hilliard made seven drops. That fishing should bounce back, but such days aren't uncommon during the winter when fish seem to turn off with changes in conditions.

Rumors of school stripers being caught in the surf at several locations continue to circulate, and bass are definitely being caught by boaters off South Jersey. Clams continue to produce in areas being worked by clammers off the mouth of Delaware Bay.

Ling were available in even shallower waters that night. Dave and Phil Fischer of Maplewood have continued to fish all winter with their Fisherman VI out of Highlands. The previous weekend they were disappointed with only a pick of ling on a Mud Hole wreck, so Saturday night they tried drifting Scotland in hopes of catching whiting, but instead found good action with ling in only 70 feet.

January 16th 2001

I mentioned that the Striper season was over in N.J. but that was only inshore. Offshore, 3 miles and out is still open and is still red hot!

Capt. Rob Semkewyc  ran his last trip from Atlantic Highlands with the Sea Hunter, but that doesn't mean it's all over for the striped bass he has been seeking. As of Friday, they were just as stacked up on the bottom between the channels as they have been for the past two weeks.  Sea Hunter, caught stripers between the channels Friday with the average angler catching and releasing between 25 and 30 school bass. Semkewyc has stopped sailing until late March.