Though N.J. could have had a February season for sea bass, that possibility was turned down Thursday by the N.J. Marine Fisheries Council. The problem was that the quota would have come out of the state's quota for 2018, and would have resulted in fewer days during the spring through fall seasons when sea bass are available to the entire fleet. Paul Haertel of the JCAA also noted that any overage would have then come out of the following year's quota. He noted that the council cancelled their March meeting, and will instead wait until the April meeting to set the fluke and sea bass seasons when all the information from the ASMFC is available. It looks as if we'll have the same fluke regulations as last year except that the season will last longer -- possibly to Sept. 22. Haertel noted that the ASMFC sea bass hearing which followed the council meeting drew a couple of dozen fishermen who heard the ASMFC try to justify another reduction in sea bass quota despite the stock being way over the target because the population trend has been down and they're afraid of overfishing. The Golden Eagle from Belmar has had reports of mackerel, and will sail for them on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. Also at Belmar, the Big Mohawk is planning a Sunday trip for blackfish. The Ocean Explorer got out in good conditions on Thursday and found life with some keeper blackfish on every drop. The high hooks had 3 to 4 plus shorts. The Big Jamaica from Brielle will be sailing Saturday and Jan. 20 and 27 to offshore wrecks for cod, pollock and jumbo porgies from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations on those $140 trips. Then they'll turn around tomorrow and Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. to sail to Block Island for Sunday fishing before returning at 10:30 p.m. Reservations are required for those $240 trips. Surfcasters Journal is running a Striper Day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Hofstra University Student Center at Hempstead, Long Island. In order to spread the crowd out, they will provide gift packages to the first 400 anglers who enter after 12:30. Admission is $15, and children under 12 are admitted free. For details and directions visit striperday.com.
