Already facing a fluke season with tougher regulations after the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) voted for regionalization that joined us with New York and Connecticut, Jersey fishermen were shortchanged this week when NOAA Fisheries allocated the $75 million appropriated by Congress for fishery disasters in 2012 and 2013. Sandy’s damage wasn’t even worth 10 percent of that funding as N.J. and N.Y. will receive a total of $3 million for the commercial and recreational fisheries of the two states. The largest portion of that money ($33 million) will go to the New England multispecies groundfish fishery for the 2013 season, which has nothing to do with a natural disaster but rather is the result of their own fishing practices. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker fired off a letter of protest to Kathryn Sullivan, acting NOAA administrator, stating, "We are incredibly disappointed and dumbfounded by NOAA’s disaster funding decision which directly ignores its own reporting of the losses faced by our fishing industry in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. By NOAA’s own estimate, our state suffered more than $120 million in losses and a $3 million allocation for New Jersey and New York is a slap in the face to thousands of hardworking families in our fishing industries working hard to rebuild and recover." There was also a letter to Sullivan from members of the N.J. congressional delegation sent to NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Service asking those agencies to explain their votes earlier this month in favor of new regionalization measures for the 2014 fluke fishing season. Traditionally, those agencies have voted on conservation measures — but not on those affecting allocations among the states. That letter was signed by Menendez and Booker plus plus Reps. Frank Pallone (D-6th District), Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd), Jon Runyun (R-3rd), Albio Sires (D-8th), Bill Pascrell (D-9th), and Chris Smith (R-4th). They noted the opposition to regionalization expressed at the public hearing in Toms River, and concluded, "We are troubled that NFWS and NOAA would support the adoption of these new measures. We request that both of your agencies provide our offices with the rationale for your support and explain what consideration your agency gave to the adverse impacts these measures would have on New Jersey’s anglers." The Jersey Coast Anglers Association voted at its meeting this week to ask Gov. Chris Christie to request elimination the vote of the agencies on the ASMFC. World Fishing Expo The World Fishing & Outdoor Expo opened Thursday at Rockland Community College Field House in Suffern, N.Y., off the New York Thruway Exit 14B (Airmont Road), and continues through Sunday. Follow signs to the free parking. Hours are from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Family Day on Sunday when children under 11 are admitted free — and the first 100 under 12 receive a free Plano tackle box.There’s also a scavenger hunt, and youngsters should go to the Kid Fun Activities Area on the first floor to get their activities checklist stamped before visiting the grand prize booth for a free prize. Adult admission is $13; $3 for youngsters under 12; and no charge for those under 5. It’s best to buy tickets online at www.SportShows.com as only cash is accepted at ticket booths. Most national fishing tackle manufacturers have large booths at this show, including Shimano which will be introducing the Spheros SW spinning series at prices well below the top-of-the-line Stellas. There are also many other exhibits and attractions plus free seminars. Fishing in February Anglers couldn’t have asked for any better weather in February than we enjoyed last weekend, though offshore wreck fishing was just a pick. Inshore waters remain very cold, and that won’t change much for some time, even if the brutal winter moderates, due to all the upstate snow melting into the Hudson River. At Brielle, Capt. Joe Bogan said the ocean was beautiful early in the day as his fares on Jamaica II picked at cod, pollock and fat ling in 240-foot depths. Saturday’s action was on clams as Ernie Kostsitski of Cranford led the way with a 19-pound cod plus five ling. Eddy Crane from Mahwah bagged two cod up to 12 pounds along with two pollock and five ling. Jamaica II is sailing only on weekends — 3 a.m. Saturdays and 5 a.m. Sundays. Capt. Howard Bogan worked offshore wrecks on Saturday with his Jamaica for a pick of cod, pollock and a few ling almost everywhere. Some schools of pollock came under the boat, but only one or two would hit. Some were caught on jigs and tubes, but it was mostly a bait bite. Dan Signal of Trenton took the pool with a 14-pound cod and added one other plus two pollock. Eddie Cruz from Paterson had a 12-pound cod. The weather forecast for Sunday was so good that Bogan organized a last minute mid-range wreck trip, but fishing was slow with just a few cod and ling caught. Kiho Kim of Ft.Lee won the pool with a 7-pound cod. In addition to the weekly 1 a.m. offshore wreck trips on Saturdays, the Jamaica has added a 3 a.m. mid-range wreck trip this Sunday. Call 721 528-5014 for a reservation. Bogan said there were good bait readings around the wrecks, and water temperatures were 44 to 46.5 degrees. Bob Matthews, at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina, reports the Ocean Explorer was able to get out for a pick of ling, cod and pollock. Some flounder were caught from the bulkheads, but had to be returned as the season remains closed even though the ASMFC has approved a year-round recreational winter flounder fishery. The state plans to set up a March 1 opening for the future, but not until the next Marine Fisheries Council meeting in March.