Despite very cold temperatures and strong winds, it will be warm in the Middletown VFW, on Veteran's Lane off Rt. 36 East, where the annual Hi-Mar Striper Club's Fishing Flea Market and Seminars will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $5. Striper pro Chuck Many leads off the free seminars at 8:30 with Catching & Releasing Striped Bass. Many is the most dedicated of area striper anglers as that's all he fishes for from April to December with his Ty Man from Gateway Marina in Highlands. He wrapped up last year by winning both the 40-Hour Hi-Mar Fall Striped Bass Tournament and the 46-Hour Big Bass Shootout in Staten Island. The Bucktail Boys follow at at 9:30 with Bucktail Techniques for Fluke, and Capt. Chris Bauer of Longshot Charters discusses Bottom Fishing Tips & Strategy at 10:30. Dozens of retailers and anglers will be selling fishing tackle and boating supplies at bargain prices, including me since my wife has ordered a cleanup of the garage. The N.J. Boat Sale & Expo will run in the N.J. Convention & Expo Center in Edison from Feb. 18 to 21. The Recreational Fishing Alliance sponsors a series of seminars at that event which has an $8 entry fee. However, tickets are available online at JerseyBoatExpo.com at $6 for a limited time. Those who missed the sold-out Canyon Runner Seminar in Atlantic City can greatly increase their offshore expertise by attending the Feb. 27 Long Island Seminar at the Huntington Hilton. Some $99 tickets may be available by calling Adam La Rosa at 732 842-6825. With northwest gusts to 45 mph and temperatures so low that we may set a record Saturday night, fishing may be a problem this weekend. We can't be too upset about that as El Nino provided us with a mild start to this winter after we suffered through two straight brutally cold and snowy winters. There were decent fishing conditions last weekend. Capt. Ryan Bogan reported his last trips with Jamaica II from Brielle produced some cod, pollock and ling plus even a few mackerel. Billy Watson of Lonsdale, Pa. won a pool with a 19-pound pollock while adding another pollock along with two cod and five ling. Carl Jameson from Philadelphia totaled three cod, two pollock and five ling. That boat sails at 5 a.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays plus President's Day, Feb. 15 -- and at 3 a.m. Saturdays. The Golden Eagle from Belmar sought out mackerel both days last weekend, but found only scattered numbers among many herring that were jigged. There's been no sign so far of the large mackerel schools usually found locally during winter -- even as the spring runs have been failing for many years. The International Game Fish Association's New Jersey Representatives announced their 19th Annual Fund Raising Banquet and Auction will be held on Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at Doolan's located on Route 71 in Spring Lake Heights. Hosted by New Jersey representatives Rich Keller, Dave Matagiese, Jeff Merrill and Gene Nigro, proceeds from the evening will benefit IGFA's Junior Angler and Conservation Programs. Last year over 175 guests attended and nearly $19,000 was raised for these IGFA programs. Over the past 18 years this event has raised nearly $250,000 making it one of IGFA's most successful fund raising events on their annual calendar.A cocktail hour precedes a deluxe hot and cold buffet dinner followed by the Fishing Tackle Bonanza Auction where thousands of dollars worth of fishing tackle including rods, reels, line and lures donated by major tackle manufacturers and local tackle shops, plus jewelry, marine artwork and other fishing related items and accessories will be given away. Numerous fishing trips have also been donated by local charter boat captains. The Grand Raffle is back again and includes a Shimano Tyrnos 30 two-speed reel spooled with Power Pro line and matching Tallus rod, as well as several other valuable prizes. A silent auction and a Tricky Tray raffle will also be held and will include fishing trips, tackle, clothing, gifts, artwork and more! Every attendee will receive a commemorative gift from IGFA.Reservations are limited to the first 225 people and can be made by sending a check for $75 for each person drawn to IGFA and sent to: IGFA Banquet, c/o Jeff Merrill, 918 Houston St., South Plainfield, New Jersey 07080. For further information contact Jeff Merrill at 908-451-1110 or via e-mail at jeffmerrill2@verizon.net.