Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari says “Fishing in Ocean County continues to be bountiful in the Fall”
Photo provided by Jim Hutchinson Sr.
Ocean County, NJ – Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari has spent decades advocating the vibrant fishing industry which thrives on Ocean County’s aqua-cultural landscape.
“From the Barnegat Bay to the lakes and of course the Atlantic Coastline, fishing is a premier recreational and commercial sport in our region.” Vicari states, ” Clamming, crabbing, bay fishing, surf fishing and deep sea fishing are all much-loved past-times which offer many months of pleasure and economic benefits to our historic maritime destination.”
For the latest update on the current fishing activities in Ocean County waters, see the latest fishing report from the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association:
Cooler weather has come to Beach Haven, and the striped bass are beginning to show up. The captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are ready to troll spoons and fish live bunker on a “snag and drop” basis. These bass are good sized already with 20-pounders and even a 40-pounder or two coming across the gunnels.
In addition to the stripers, the black sea bass season re-opens on October 22, and that should be a true bonanza if recent catch and release results are any indication. These sea bass are big and in good numbers on structure and artificial reefs within a short trek of the inlet. The daily bag limit for black sea bass is 15 fish, and limit catches are a distinct possibility. These fish make great eating and freeze very well.
At this time the BHCFA captains are finding a great deal of life in the ocean within a couple of miles of shore. There are large schools of bunker along with lots of bird play working over feeding schools of bluefish and false albacore. These false albacore, or little tunny, make poor table fare but they fight very well for their size with 5-8 pound fish common. There have also been some spottings of whales.
To see about getting in on some of this fishing or just to learn more about the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association, go to www.BHCFA.net.
Fishing report and photos provided by Jim Hutchinson Sr. and the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association
