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Fishing News

Doormat Taken from the Manasquan Inlet Wall

steves_doormat_01.jpgThe fish was caught By Steve O'Connor on Monday August 2, 2010 on the Point Pleasant Beach side of the Manasquan Inlet at the Wall.  The fish was weighed in at Alex's B&T(literally broke a scale flopping around Grin) at 12 1/2 lbs 32 1/2 inches.  "I just couldn't believe the size of it when we first saw it," says Steve.
Steve was fishing all afternoon casting more than half way across the Inlet.  It was at least half way out across the inlet when the fish hit the yellow gulp around low tide. "At first, I thought it might have been a big blue or weakie, but after a few minutes, I realized it wasn't pulling like either one. The fish did make three goods runs on me when first hooked. I actually tightened down on the drag 3 times, worrying the same time that a boat wasn't going to come buy because I was actually casting about half way across the river like I was all afternoon when he hit."  
Steve had assistance from a fellow fisherman and his wife netting and landing the fish since he only had a 4 foot net and the low tide line is way below 4 feet.  "I believe it was the guys wife who grabbed a hold of my legs to keep me from falling over. I kept saying to this guy that were only going to get one shot at getting this fish in the net. When i was finally able to turn the fish, the guy with my net was barely hanging onto the last part of the handle and we got it in head first," writes Steve recapping the great catch"...Hardest part was when I got him to the wall, I could hardly raise. Had to carefully grab the rod with one hand up near the first eye on the pole and lift slow and steady."

Fluke Wars

ron_nuzzolo.jpgRules and regulations divide anglers in neighboring states.

The Raritan bay is shared by NewYork and New Jersey anglers; however they do not share the same rules of fishery management. In fact regulations on fluke have New York anglers giving up on a summer flounder season. The New York side is fed up and throwing its arms up in frustration over the politics involved in a fishery management rule. New York anglers are steadily catching hundreds of fish only to release them back to New Jersey angler?s .New York is currently at a 21 inch 2 fish limit per day while New Jersey recreational possession limit and minimum size remain at 6 fish per day and 18 inches. This is a major problem not only for the management of the species but also for New York businesses owners that count on a bountiful summer flounder season.

New York and New Jersey anglers are fishing the same bay for the same species. The difference is New York will never bag a keeper limit if the fish needs to be 21 inches and New Jersey only 18 inches. New York doesn?t have a chance at a fillet of flounder dinner. Fluke or Summer flounder are currently managed under an interstate plan that uses out dated information leaving the NYS DEC to manage the rules as they stand. Unfortunately the stale data is unfair and critically damaging fluke stocks in the bay. The NY DEC is currently in federal court fighting for fairness in this fishery........

Read more: Fluke Wars

Fish of a Life Time

  Frank Noto a true bass fisherman from Staten Island, landed a Fish of a Life Time this morning.
The Beauty was weighted in at Michael's Tackle
and hit 60.85lbs and was 52.5in long. Taken on a live Bunker.
Way to Go Frank
frank_noto_striper_2.jpg

1,012-Pound Blue Marlin For Jersey Man In Bermuda

Large Blue MarlinRed Bank resident John Andryszewski reeled in a 1,012-pound blue marlin on Monday, July 12 off the coast of Bermuda.  He was on a fishing trip sponsored by the Normandy Beach-based construction company Falcon Industries that left out of Hamilton Harbor on Monday morning.  Andryszewski battled the fish for nearly three hours, thanks to the captain, Kevin Winter, of the Playmate.  If caught in competition, the fish would have been worth $1 million. 

As of this week, Andryszewski's catch was the largest blue marlin caught in Bermuda this season, as well as the largest fish this island-fishing community has seen in the last two years.

  See More Pictures Here

Bunker Wars

Commerical boats frustrating recreational anglers by affecting striper fishing


By now, saltwater anglers realize the importance of adult menhaden, or bunker, and the symbiotic relationship bunker play within our ecosystem.

Bunker are the true lifeline to the entire striped bass population along the east coast. What's more, bunker are filter feeders, and without them only bacteria and jellyfish can eat the plankton floating in the water.

The complexity here is that jellyfish also eat fish fry as well as fish eggs. In short, bunkers play a pivotal role in balancing the ecosystem.

Right now, the Atlantic Coast, specifically New Jersey, is witnessing a crushing blow to its Atlantic menhaden or bunker fishery with an unprecedented disturbance to the heart of the striped bass migration.

For weeks, large purse-seining vessels have situated themselves immediately off our coast while spotter planes and helicopters locate schools.

Like clockwork, planes and purse-seine vessels work in harmony as huge nets are continually set throughout the day. Most vessels have been adhering to the state legislation requiring them to remain at least three miles offshore....

Read Full Story Here