Ran our first trip of the season yesterday (Mon). Pretty good action on the big gator blues casting topwaters behind Waretown. Ran over to my bass clamming spot in Oyster Creek to try that but we didn’t have any action. Headed back to the west side of the bay and once again, the big blues cooperated. It wasn’t “every cast” fishing but it was a good steady pick. Can’t wait to see what this next stretch of days holds. We are fishing every day Thurs to Mon. 70 to 80 degree air temps and fair weather. We have two spots on Thurs open and Sunday is still available. These are Open Boat trips so you can sign on as an individual or charter the boat for your own group.  Casting at the big blues, anchored up clamming for the bass, and maybe trolling spoons on the ocean side.

~ Capt. Dave DeGennaro, Hi Flier Sportfishing, 732.330.5674, hiflier.com

With a sad and heavy heart we share news on the passing of Thomas Deacon.

Tom was a great man, a US Navy Veteran and a passionate outdoorsman. Tom will be deeply missed but not forgotten.

I remember growing up in the shop, Tom was always around. Helping out, sharing intel and offering homemade food. He was a great cook with a love for spice. His chili was off the charts! Tom was a great friend to me and all of the crew at the shop. For many years living only two blocks away, he spent a lot of time with us. We could have been called Tom’s second home.

Shop alumni Jimmy Sahlender was a very close friend of Tom. Jimmy said, “Tom was short, on the chubby side and had a mustache. When he dressed up he wore a cowboy hat. When wetsuiting the Bar plugging he’d hook up and yell “frackin’ stripes” in Yosemite Sam’s voice. Good Times… Tom Deacon will be forever missed.”

Tom was one hell of a fisherman, an expert freshwater and saltwater angler. He was dialed in with big fish on lures everywhere he went. Thanks Tom for teaching me the finer points of fishing with lures, jigs and softbaits! His application specific rigging and fishing techniques were mastered on the fresh water tournament bass fishing circuit and utilized to out fish in saltwater.

Working for many years at the Forked River Power Plant, Tom was a master of The Creek. One of its pioneers, he fished it long before it became the booming popular fishing spot it is today. Back in the good old days, his special access gave him the ability to fish behind the gates. The stories he shared about fishing the restricted area were epic!

I’ll always remember Tom’s diesel truck with the dressed up custom Yosemite Sam artwork mud flaps and hood guard. Every time I see the Looney Tunes character I’m reminded of Tom. I’ve yet to meet a fisherman better than Tom that can compete with that mustache. I doubt I ever will.

My condolences to all his friends and family.

As per the Press Of Atlantic City’s Obituaries, Tom’s services will be announced at a later date.

I am calling this report Barnegat Bay Watershed Report for two reasons.  First, I fished a Ocean County Pine Barrens Lake this afternoon, which is part of the Barnegat Bay Watershed.  Second to highlight importance of the Barnegat Bay Watershed  A watershed is a region or area bounded peripherally by a divide and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or body of water. Barnegat Bay’s watershed is eminence.  It is fed by the Pines in areas like Warren Grove, Manchester, New Egypt and Jackson. So what happens in Jackson does not stay in Jackson. It can trickle down all the way to Barnegat  Bay and ultimately the ocean. Now on to the report.  I fished both live minnows and artificials. Landed four nice pickerel a decent bucket-mouth.  Water was clear and I estimate in the mid 50’s  The Debbie M should be splashed this week and it will be game on!  Drop me a line  (heehe) if you want to experience what the Barnegat Bay Watershed has to offer.

Screaming Drags, Capt Alex 609-548-2511

On February 2, 2017, the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board, part of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), approved changes to this coming year’s summer flounder quota for New Jersey.
It mandated a one-inch size increase to New Jersey’s current recreational summer flounder minimum size limit (raising it from 18-inches to 19-inches) and decreased the possession limit from 5 fish to 3 fish.  New Jersey is appealing this change.

In reaching its decision the Board did not determine or consider the potential economic impact of the new quota on the summer flounder industry in New Jersey.  This survey is designed to help estimate the extent of the economic impact of these recently approved summer flounder management regulations on recreational fishing.  Your responses about recent trends in harvest size, abundance, and throwback mortality will help inform future decisions that promote conservation while minimizing adverse economic impacts.

We strongly urge you to complete the survey as thoroughly and accurately as possible within the next 5 days.  The survey should only take about 15 minutes to complete.  Your participation in this survey is voluntary and your identity throughout remains anonymous.  Nowhere is your name or email requested or captured.  Your cooperation, however, is much-needed to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the results.  Please know that your answers will be kept confidential.

The link to the survey is:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/FNP5L3C

Thank you,

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

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LBI Fishing Report April 23, 2017

I fished the Inlet late morning (9am to 11-ish). Bluefish wise it was quiet. On the tog side, anglers were picking. The tog are there and some keepers are in the mix.

We got word that there was a quick short lived bluefish bite in the Inlet at the bottom of the tide.

Store staffer Max fished the bay this morning and found the blues.

Jeff also was on the bay and found them biting.

Some guys off the surf today found fish. Store staffer Rob mentioned he found action on the front beach on bait.

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Sent In: Saturday, April 22, 2017 4:26 PM
Subject: Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association

As the weather cooperates. the fishing action in the Beach Haven area continues to improve. The captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are ready to take advantage of some of this action. For the past couple of weeks the bay waters have been full of small striped bass. While keeper bas are still difficult to come by, these smaller fish are great fun on light action gear. In the past week large bluefish have been racing around the bay waters and inlet and providing a real challenge for anglers targeting them or as a bycatch. A recent addition is the arrival of table sized black drumfish.

Captain Gary Dugan of “Irish Jig Sportfishing” had a group out recently who managed 14 stripers up to 26-inches. Another trip did not have the action of the first trip, but Captain Gary’s crew managed two keeper bass of 28-inches.

Captain Matt Curtis of “Get Reel Sportfishing” reports his 24 and 26 foot center consoles are in the water and ready for some linesiders and drum to hit the deck. Captain Matt has installed new underwater LED lights on his 37-foot Sportfish which will be in the water very soon for some offshore adventures.

Captain Carl Sheppard reports the “Star Fish” is in the water with newly overhauled engines. The boat passed its annual US Coast Guard exam with flying colors and as an inspected vessel can carry up to 19 passengers. Captain Carl is accepting charters for the bass in the bay and the offshore wreck fishing.

Like the other captains, Captain Fran Verdi has been spending time scouting some of his local hot spots with the “Francesca Marie” in anticipation of some upcoming trips.

Captain Bob Gerkens reports the “Hot Tuna” is still fishing down in Morehead City, NC and will be making the trip north to Beach Haven in a few weeks. He plans on fishing all of the local canyons in early June.

Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.net. ~ Jim Hutchinson Sr.

Little out of local but thought I would share. Kicked it real old school yesterday and met my oldest son Damian and his friend Amanda @ Stockton University.  They did some yaking on Lake Fred, I fished. But time well spent together.  Having Graduated from Stockton in 1985 and fished Lake Fred my entire career it was nostalgic to be on it again. This is the first time since 85 that I wet a line there.  I saw three Ospreys, the school mascot, hunting over the Lake. Cool beans. During my Stockton Days it was something special to see an Osprey there due to the devastating effects of DDT. Those were were likely migrants.  But then again, it was something special to be able to see anything during my Stockton Days. LOL For what its worth I landed two respectful pickerel and lost a BIG one due to a lack of respect (its teeth cut my through my line).  I tried to soak in the fact that most of the trees on campus are the same ones from over 30 years ago. They now have 60 more rings then when I graduated. You see trees in temperature climate show two rings a year. Spring wood grows fast and is lighter because it consists of large cells. During the summer, growth slows down and smaller darker cells are laid down.

Enjoying kayaking fishing and kayaking sooooooo much I am thinking about offering kayaking in addition to my boat charters.  If i do it, I would offer guided fishing, clamming, nature, what ever you want type of trip around the backwaters of Barnegat Bay. Let me know if you are interested so I can figure out if I have enough clients interested. If the interest is there I’m game, are you?

Screaming drags, Capt. Alex 609-548-2511