“Snow, Anyone?”-Fishing report-12-23-09-By Bob Misak
It’s been a while since we last posted a report, but things are on the down slide as boats are being taken out and everyone gets ready for the holidays. The L.B.I. Surf Classic had one of the best years in recent memory even though only one forty lb. fish was weighed. That fish was the winner, caught by Mike Kane in the first week of the eight week bass blowout. Congratulations to Mike as well as Randy Matlack for taking the cash for bluefish with a 16 lb. plus mega-gator. Believe it or not, thirty bass came to the scales that were well over the thirty lb. mark, and bluefish were caught by the ton, making this year one for the books! Many thanks go out to the five shops on the island, Jingles, Oceanside, Fish-heads, Surf City, and Barnegat Light bait and tackles for huddling together with Michele Cuff and the folks at the chamber of commerce for their relentless work this year. And also, congratulations to the ladies winners, Linda Hollins with a 31 lb. bass, and Joann Sullivan with her 11.81 lb. blue. The Jr. Winners, Ian Walker, Kevin Schuler, Brennan McAllister, and Zack Weidenhof were the only four juveniles to take advantage of the weekly money up for grabs. Congrats guys and we hope to see you in future tournaments everywhere! But most of all, thanks once again to the senior winners Mike Kane with his overall winning 42.69 lb. bass and Ray Sullivan with his 14.69 lb. gator. The Sullivans were a major force to be reckoned with in the derby in 09’ and it’s great to see families out there doing what they love together. And thank you to the rest of the seniors who put a lot of big bass up on the board this year, and make the derby what it has become today; one of the most successful surf tournaments on the east coast! So we’ll see you next year as we fish with each other while we fish against each other!
Last weekend I actually ran into Joe Carmelengo and he was in a mad dash for Brant Beach, and he said the birds were all over. That was probably the last I would see of the surf dogs because as I write there is two ft. of snow outside my door.
When the weather calms again I imagine you can get on a head boat and go out and try to get some blackfish, but I’ve been seeing pictures of cod fish surfacing, so I’m guessing winter is here to stay. There has been a hush hush on whether or not the recreational guys will get to fish for flounder this spring and there has been rumors circulating that it will be a closed season. I do know that the fike nets are out but even those guys have seen a cut in regulations. You can always grab some bloodworms when they come in and go to the trusty ol’ Oyster Creek for some winter bass fishing. It truly has been a great year and even though we saw a lot of regulation changes regarding sea bass, tog, fluke, and winter flounder, everyone seemed to make the best of it and I saw a lot of smiling faces this year at the boat yards and the tackle shops, which is what we like! So that’s it for me this year, and Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and good luck and great fishing to all and to all a good night!

Barnegat Light Bait and Tackle
1501 Bayview Ave.
Barnegat Light, NJ
(609) 494-4566
Website www.barnegatlightbaitandtackle.com
Email info@barnegatlightbaitandtackle.com