There was a big crowd today at the Somerset Saltwater Expo which winds up Sunday at the Garden State Exhibit Center. Tady had promised one of their high quality jigs to the first 100 attendees at my striper seminar, but actually gave out over 200. Sunday is Family Day, when the first 100 children 11 and under accompanied by a paying adult will receive a free Plano tackle box. There will be seminars by Crazy Alberto Knie, Dave Schunke, and Bill Carson. Sunday's hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit sportshows.com for details.
Though some snow is forecast for the first day of spring, it will probably be light and wet -- and no problem for driving. Fishing may not be possible in a northeast wind, but there was some good news about Raritan Bay stripers at the Expo. Rich Swisstack was at the St. Croix booth, and reported catching seven bass up to 28 inches on clams Friday night at Cliffwood. Freshwater guide Skip Lerman was helping at Shimano's display -- and said he used clams at Morgan the previous night for a 32-incher plus shorts.