Anyone who fished today probably had an experience they'll never forget -- thunder in January. It was nothing serious (I heard one clap in Wall), but the last thing to be expected in mid-winter out of nowhere. The following report from the Ocean Explorer out of Belmar described the crazy day that still provided some fishing:"1-18-14 We had a light east breeze this morning,,,,not southwest like
they said it would be..Calm ocean conditions though....Then the sky got dark
and we actually got thunder and lightning believe it or not..Surprising for
winter..The winds went west and started howling up to 30mph....We were
picking slowly at some fish,,,actually caught our nice 10lb.pool winner
during the front passing...Some other keepers here and there,,,High hook had
three keeper togs,,,some others had two keepers,,few one...Nothing great at
all but we did catch some fish...Soft baits caught fish,,,Shrimps tipped on
top of the crabs have been working including today..Even some hermit
crabs..Few ling here and there but most were after blackfish...Few short
Codfish as well,,It did get a little lumpy out there but nothing to
bad...Probably gonna be the same tomorrow so we are all set to fish!!See ya
tomorrow!"