Saltwater / Jetty Report: Rod building class
We are now forming rod building classes starting in February. For more information please click here..

2/20/2011
Not as much wind as yesterday but the temps are in the 20's this morning. Flip flop weather but hey it is NJ in Feb. what do you want? Oh and for those who thought the snow was over, I have seen it snow in April. Let's just hope last Thursday and Friday is a taste of what is to come in the next few weeks. Of course the fishing reports are not good but give it a few weeks and we could be hearing of that first keeper striper being caught. Graveling Point down in the Tuckerton area or the sod banks in Barnegat Bay are the best bets to land that first striper. A lot of people will fish bloodworms this time of year but other will use salted clams. What ever you are going to use I am sure you will catch that monster striper early this year.

2/19/2011
Wind, wind, and more wind. Did you know it is windy? Well don't think anybody will be out fishing today surf or party boat. Only thing I heard is because of the nice weather the past few days the party boats have been loaded with people wanting to get out. They had some good catches of cod with a few ling and pollack thrown in. Now would be the time to bring us those broken rods or reels that need to be fixed. Because of the warm weather we had a bunch come in the past few days. As it gets later the time to get them back will be longer.

2/18/2011
Don't get used to these nice warm days as the weather people are saying a chance of that four letter word (snow) for Sunday night and Monday night. And some rain during the day Monday. Right now that is all they are saying. Don't worry the warmer days will be here very soon. Only thing I am hearing is that the cod fishing from the party boats is going pretty good right now in 175 to 200 foot of water. I heard that on Thursday a 38lb cod was boated. The 30 to 40 mile wrecks is where the bigger cod are being caught. The 20 to 25 mile wrecks have a lot of school sized cod but a lot of keepers are also being caught. Some ling were being caught as well. So if you need to get out maybe you need to jump on a party boat.

2/17/2011
Now that there is some nicer weather some people will most likely be out fishing. Of course the rumor mill will be in high gear since everybody wants to be the first one to catch the first keeper striper of the new year. Most the time the first one comes from the bay some place. The first one could also come from Graveling Point down in the Tuckerton area. Who knows because if you don't get out and fish it won't be you. Regs for a lot of fish will be set next month, so keep an eye on that too.

2/16/2011
With the temps in the 60's later this week some should be fishing. Also the wind has died down. As far as any fishing reports there isn't any. But you wait there will be soon. Also don't get fooled by this warmer weather as the weather people are saying rain or snow this Monday. We are still in Feb. and I have seen it snow all the way into April, so we are not out of the woods yet.

Bay Report: 2/20/2011
Winter flounder season will be here soon. Well the end of March anyhow. I have not heard of any changes yet so it would be 2 fish at 12 inches March 23 to May 21. But before winter flounder the bays open striper season on March 1. Most the time the first keeper striper is caught the end of March or some time in April from the sod banks in the back of Barnegat Bay. Lets hope it will be a great season for all types of fishing and crabbing from the bays this year.

Just remember, many marine species are managed on a coast-wide basis with seasons and limits required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. They then must be approved by The NJ Marine Fisheries Council. The Council usually addresses these issues at their March meeting with the management measures being effective in mid- to late April or early May. This means winter flounder and striper regs could change next month. For information on salt water regulation changes you can call the listen-only line at 609-292-2083 or check out the regulations website. There is a link to the website on the left hand side of this web page.

2/17/2011
Only thing I can report is that striper season opens in the bay on March 1. Other then that there is nothing.

Fresh Water Report: 2/20/2011
People are coming in and re-stocking their tackle boxes and dropping off reels and rods to be fixed or cleaned. Most can not wait till the weather breaks so they can get out there (most do not ice fish). I hope it will be a banner year for all of you. No fishing reports yesterday I bet because of the wind. It was very nasty. One thing I can tell you is that striper season will open March 1 until March 31 then re-open on June 1 on the Delaware River. Don't forget to catch stripers up to the Calhoun Street bridge you must be registered with the federal government's National Saltwater Angler Registry Program. The law states that you must be registered if you "Fish for or catch anadromous species (striped bass, shad, river herring) in state tidal waters". The cost this year is $15. If Governor Christie would sign bill A823/S1122, NJ would have a free registry. To read more please click here.

2/19/2011
You can tell cabin fever has set in to most as the past couple of days a bunch of people in the shop going out fishing. Right now ponds and lakes still have an ice cover but where there are spill ways and such you can most likely fish. Did have a few reports some I wasn't told where but pickeral is the best bet. As for the ice fishing pickeral and bass with some crappie are being caught from the Assunpink Lakes, with pickeral and bass from Prospertown Lake, some crappie and pickeral from Miry Run (tech pond). The power plant in Trenton on the Delaware River is still a good place to fish as well. Small mouth and large mouth bass with a few crappie and catfish are being caught.

2/18/2011
With the nice few days we had everybody wants to go fishing but they didn't know there is still ice. Ice should still be good even with the warmer temps we have had because there was 10+ inches on most lakes and ponds. Also this time of yesr live bait is the best bet but if you must fish something else make sure you are fishing slow. If you think it is slow fish it slower.

2/17/2011
As the weather is getting nicer more and more people are starting to fish. Only problem is most ponds and lakes are ice covered. We do have full stock of shiners and fat heads. I didn't have any reports yesterday.

2/16/2011
A lot of people are ready to go at it, I guess because of the warmer weather. Don't forget that there is still plenty of ice. I had a few customers think that most of the ice is gone. It is going to take some time for the ice to melt because there is 10+ inches of it. If you are fishing the ice start to be very careful with the warmer temps we are going to have. I am getting a load of fatheads, medium and large shiners today, so I am loaded for the weekend. As for the fishing reports only thing is a few fishing the power plant.

2/15/2011
Had a few more reports this weekend. See what nicer weather does. The people ice fishing the Assunpink lakes had mostly bass and pickeral but some crappie were also caught. It was bass and pickeral for Prospertown Lake as well. Had a report from Rich that he fished Miry Run (tech pond). He reports "Only had one pickeral in two hours of fishing and that was fishing six holes. Much less action than the day before". Had a few reports from the Trenton power plant that a bunch of small mouth bass were caught along with a few large mouth bass, crappie, and catfish.


Fisherman Fred's
2222 State Highway 33
Hamilton, NJ 08690
Phone: 609-570-8035
Fax: 609-570-8036
http://www.fishermanfreds.com