It’s finally October and the Raritan bay is offering its best top water bluefish action for all. The Bay has remained loaded with blue fish from the back to the tip of the hook blue fish are everywhere. Top water plugs worked best with amazing action and competition for a well presented plug. Fish from eight to 10 lbs attacked lures two and three at a time. Blue Fish are loading up on peanut bunkers and anything you can throw at them should work. It is good practice for what most anglers hope will be a good striper run in the weeks to come.
Sea Bright, Captain Jon from Reel Fun sport fishing charters is getting ready. With the arrival of a "new" moon on Sunday and the plummeting water temperatures, it is only a matter of days when the fall Striper season should kick into full gear. Captain John is not taking any chances of missing a shot at a trophy bass.
Brielle, Captain Jerry and crew aboard the Fish Monger were at it all week bottom fishing. The crew picked away at sea bass and porgies taking double-header keepers and filling the box with a good mix. The crew ran into a few cocktail blues and an early keeper bass for good signs to come. Fish Mongers last trip boxed over 150 keeper Sea Bass, 24 Porgies, 2 Keeper Blackfish and a Bunch of blues... Over 200 fish to clean but well worth it. Captain Jerry will also be gearing up for the fall Striper run.
Do not forget to keep yourself up to date with the latest rules and regulations. NOAA announced today the temporary closure of the black sea bass recreational fishery in federal waters north of Cape Hatteras, N.C., for 180 days in response to recent landings data that showed recreational anglers might catch more than double their annual quota by the end of the year. The closure will commence Monday, October 5, 2009
Weak Fish a no show and may soon be off limits. With another poor showing anglers may be looking at a one or two fish limit in 2010 or none at all. The proposed recreational rules include limiting anglers to keeping one or two fish per day - compared to a daily limit of up to six fish now allowed in New Jersey. Another option is a shutdown of the fishery. This will just add to the economic hardships for New Jersey and New York Charter Captains.
On the New York Side, it is official. A New Recreational Marine Fishing Licenses available for purchase on the Internet or from NYS hunting and fishing license vendors. As of October 1, 2009, all anglers who wish to fish in the marine and coastal district or to fish in other state waters for "migratory fish from the sea" (such as striped bass, American shad, hickory shad, blue back herring, and alewife) must have a recreational marine fishing license. Party and charter vessel owners or operators must also possess a recreational marine fishing license, which will cover all passengers aboard their vessels.
This raises more questions and concerns on the New Jersey Side as well. New York bait and tackle shops are feeling the effects of this license almost immediately with half there customer base? With surf fishing and offshore trips just about to peak, bait shops can make or break their business in the next two months before they shut down for winter and anglers need to be in compliance. On the Staten Island side, one tackle shop has felt the ripple effect with half the customers being illegal aliens who are regulars and fish and spend money on bait and tackle. With the new license for saltwater fishing, they can no longer fish or risk being fined. They have no way of getting one for now. For more information and feedback on these topics and getting up to speed with the latest rules and regulations, log onto
www.njsaltwaterfisherman.com See what the real anglers of New Jersey have to say.
Fish On!
