The big show for saltwater anglers is back again next weekend, but in a larger facility -- the N.J. Convention & Exposition Center in Edison from Friday, March 16 to Sunday, March 18.
My striped bass seminar this year will be on Friday at 2 p.m., and once again Gary Quon with be on hand to provide every angler attending the seminar with one of his valuable Tady metal jigs. Though made to tempt west coast game fish, such as my IGFA world record 26 1/2-pound leather bass, they've proven to be just as effective on our stripers and blues -- especially with a cast-and-retrieve technique which produces a motion that's quite different from standard lead jigs.
The theme this year will be "Why not a 50" as I discuss the best bets for finding the 50-pounder that every dedicated striper angler hopes to catch during his or her lifetime. Though Chuck Many will be traveling that day, Capt. Hans Kaspersetz of Sheri Berri at Twin Lights Marina in Highlands will be on hand as usual.
There will be many other experts providing free seminars at the Expo, including Crazy Alberto Knie plus Paul Hebert and Dave Carraro of Wicked Tuna fame. Local skippers include Erwin Heinrich; Jim Freda; Gene Quigley; Jimmy Gahm; Frank Crescitelli; Frank Tenore; Brian Rice; R.J. & Cody Melton; Alan Lee, and Darren Doris. Big tog expert Pete Meyers of Run-Off Lures and Keefe Vallaro of the Bucktail Boys will also do seminars -- as will Shimano surf pro Roy Levya.
As always, just about every national fishing tackle manufacturer will be on hand with full displays, as well as many local manufacturers.
Show hours are from noon to 8 p.m. next Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. that Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the concluding Sunday. Admission is $12 for adults and $3 for those from 5 to 11. Kids under 5 are admitted at no charge. There's free parking at the 97 Sunfield Ave. Expo Center in Edison. For tickets in advance and details visit sportshows.com.
Mother Nature fooled us into thinking we were in an early spring before northern residents were buried in snow by the northeaster even though it didn't amount to much along the Shore. While cleaning up for a garage sale in April, I came across a 1972 issue of Massachusetts Wildlife in which Eugene K. Paterson of the federal Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management predicted that within 50 years climate change would raise world temperature by 9 degrees -- and will "likely banish snow from the U.S. mainland." So far, Mother Nature hasn't been impressed by such predictions.
Chuck Many got out on a friend's boat on Tuesday when the weather was good before the storm. A brief attempt at clamming in the back of Raritan Bay didn't produce any bites, but there were loads of bunkers swimming into Shrewsbury River just as has been the case for some time. Back bay clamming has been poor the last two springs, but may be worth a try by the end of the month. There usually aren't stripers under those early bunkers, but that could change at any time.
Gusty west winds this week should settle and clear ocean waters, but Many notes that all the snow where he lives in Annandale will be adding to further cooling of river and bay water temperatures.
The Ocean Explorer is hoping to fish daily at 7 a.m. from Belmar, but Sunday looks like the first possible day. They will be seeking cod, and hope that the storm will have done them some good in that respect.
As soon as waters clear, Belmar Marina should be a good bet for the first large winter flounder of the season. Bob Matthews will have worms in for the weekend at Fisherman's Den.
Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park had reports of some activity in the back bay with bloodworms and small SPs or Rapala X-Raps for school stripers prior to the storm, and that's likely to start up again as waters clear. They also heard of some flounder around the bridges and in Toms River.
The Marine Fisheries Council will hold an important meeting on setting regulations for fluke, sea bass, scup and tautog on Thursday, March 15 at 5 p.m. in the Stafford Township Municipal Building at 260 Bay Ave, in Manahawkin.
