Friday, March 30, 2018

A Ferrocious Bite

A few tries for winter flounder have not produced so much as a nibble. I had a report of a few caught at the Mantoloking pier, so we grabbed some bait and fished for three hours without a scratch. The other day we took a walk in the woods and I took along my ultra light four pound spinning outfit. A few casts with a top water plug drew some savage strikes. The pickerel were big, thick and mean as they bit off two lures. It was nice to bend a rod after a month of hard weather. Back on the flounder beat next week.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

In a Way, They Were Right

The snow began to fall around 10 am on Tuesday. It snowed for eighteen hours and around 4 pm on Wednesday only the grass was covered. It began to stick at this time and continued snowing into the early morning hours of Thursday. Right now, we are covered by about a foot of heavy, wet snow. I may be wrong, but this is the most snow I can remember falling after the vernal equinox. While it snows into April, ( think of those Easter snows of our youth) and I even remember flurries in May, I don't recall getting more then ten inches this time of year. Snow drops the water temperature, and even though the sun is strong, the season start looks like it just got a little later.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Interesting Winter Weather

Happy Spring everyone, as we are hunkered down in the clutches of another winter storm. If you don't like the forecast, just change the channel. I would have to say, that this is the most varied and inconsistent forecast in the modern times of satellites and enhanced radar systems. While most people complain about "weather men", they have been very accurate in the days of modern technology. This storm has most of them baffled. The most knowledgeable and professional forecasters are using the computer data as a tool, not like the over-hyped media that believes anything from a computer is gospel. Any way, the current media outlets are predicting between 0 and 12 inches of snow for our area. I guess they have it covered.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

The Worst Part of Winter

This winter will not give up. Last week we tried locally for flounders and it was a bust. The kayakers out in the deep were doing well with short stripers. Sunday, the local waters were mobbed with kayaks. Yesterday, we took a ride to where we left the flounders biting before the Christmas blizzard to find we were the only anglers there. Contrary to tackle shop reports, a flounder has not been caught here this spring, and we spent three hours trying for the first one. With more snow and cold in the forecast, we are not planning to try until it gets warmer, and that first flounder is still out there.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Winters Grip

We are in the clutches of the third storm in two weeks, with snow and strong NE winds. The bay was kicked up yesterday and by evening the wind was howling. Lots of fisherman have been casting for stripers at the power plant. I want to give flounders a try, but the cold waters are dirty from the storms. There was a showing of codfish this weekend, and blackfish opens in April. I will call everyone when it's time to go, be ready, only a few more weeks.

Monday, March 5, 2018

A Tough Time of Year

The longer days offer the promise of spring, but winter hangs on as another nor'easter is forecast. The last storm wrecked New England and brought us strong winds that caused problems around the state, but little here at the shore.The storm brewing for Wednesday is supposed to bring some snow. Good thing we have MLB network, there is a game on every day. And speaking of baseball, it is fun to watch how things change every season. It appears the even playing field of the past four or so years is starting to tilt, as many teams are rebuilding, while others are building powerhouses. Stay warm and safe, spring is only fifteen days away and I am expecting a good season.

Friday, March 2, 2018

Spring is Coming

We are having a late season storm, with lots of rain and some wind. The media accounts of a "nor'easter" sent the general public into a panic. It is snowing in the northern parts of the state, but the wind is actually forecast to be NW and there should be minimal impact on the shore area. Yesterday was opening day for striped bass and winter flounder and while we did not investigate local spots, we heard of a few fish caught and a large turnout of anglers. We will try for flounders locally on the next nice day.