Saturday, February 20, 2016

Fishing Flea Market

Pioneer deckhand Mark (aka Big Bubba) has secured a table at the Ocean Fire Company 20th Annual Fishing Flea Market in Point Pleasant. I will be stopping bye to lend him a hand next Sunday, February 28. The fire company divers sell sinkers very cheap at this event (usually less than .10 per ounce) and it is a way to spend a winter day waiting for fishing season. The location is Antrim School, 401 Niblick Street, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742. 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.

Monday, February 15, 2016

President's Day

This is a tough time of year with nothing going on. One can only hope for a break in the weather to sneak in a trip to the Mud Hole or out to the trout streams to shake off the cabin fever. Yesterday the temperatures hovered around zero, but once again, thanks to El Nino, a storm is moving in with warm Pacific air. In a normal winter we would be bracing for snow and dealing with ice in the harbor, but rain is forecast and the long range is showing highs in the forties and fifties. Now is the time for tuning up all the gear, fixing rods and reels, and tying hooks and rigs, so you don't have to hear it from me while you are digging through a tangled tackle bag, looking for a swivel, or snelling a hook while we are on the hottest drift of the season.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Strange Winter Weather

The weather was nice enough to allow some boats to fish this week. Temperatures reached sixty degrees in some places but now it is snowing again! The big storm two weeks ago stirred up the bottom and scattered the fish that were around last month. Even though the water temperatures are relatively warm for this late into the winter there has been a persistent ground swell since the storm and the fishing is slow. Some wrecks and rock piles produce a few bites and others are completely barren, which is typical for February. There are no ling around and only a few blackfish being caught. The mackerel and herring, as well as the cod that were beginning to show before the blizzard are no where to be found but should return when things settle down. Capt. Steve has some pictures from our last trip on the Skylarker web site, as well as some good shots of the new boat. The Ground Hog says spring is coming so I guess we will have to wait for better weather to plan our next trip.