Grab your hooks and get ready to kick some bass
Whether you prefer saltwater to sweet water, striped bass or black bass, your preference is about to make a splash with the opening of New York’s largemouth and smallmouth bass season. It opens on Saturday, but freshwater anglers looking to do so on the state’s dime will have to wait until June 27 to take advantage of New York’s free fishing weekend.
New Jersey anglers had an opportunity to fish Garden State lakes and streams on the arm last weekend, but no one gets a free ride during the 24th Annual MidAtlantic Marlin & Tuna Fishing Tournament. However, the entry fee has been reduced to $2,500. That’s $3,500 less than previous years and it includes the costs for six anglers and all tournament dockside functions including dinners, drinks and entertainment.
Held out of the Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May and Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Md., on Aug. 16-21, participants can also enter a half-dozen Calcuttas. More information on the event is available by calling Bob Glover at (609) 884-2400 or visiting www.themidatlantic.com.
As for striped bass, many linesiders that managed to avoid being hooked when they migrated up the Hudson River to spawn haven’t been as lucky on their way back. The fish are being caught around bridges and other structures on fresh bunker and live eels during the early morning and nighttime hours.
One of those migrates — a 50-pound cow — was caught the other night by Taylor Strom of Locust Point while fishing aboard the Island Current Fleet III (917-4177557). The fish was taken near Captains Island in 60 feet of water on a fresh bunker chunk.
John DeCuffa of Jacks Bait and Tackle (718885-2042) reports fluke fishing is also good with five- and six-pound flatties fairly common. That is good, but maybe not as hot as it is in Nantucket. Fishing out of Hyannis on the Helen H (508776-8435), Bill Battista of Breezy Point thought he netted the pool fluke with the nine-pounder he caught, but that was quickly overshadowed by the 11.7-pounder Bill Novack of Island Park brought over the rail. Minutes later Novack’s fish was eclipsed by the 15.1-pound flattie Bill Byrne of Toms River reeled up.
Meanwhile, the New York Metropolitan Outdoor Writers Association has taken its last breath. About a dozen of us bid our final farewell during a gathering at Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant in Long Branch, N.J. last week. Some of you may remember the organization as the Rod and Gun Editors of Metropolitan New York and many may have even attended one or more of its dinners during its 80 years of existence. But much the same as the remaining members, the group has gotten old.
While none of the founding members was there to say goodbye, they and others were remembered with a toast and a minute of silence orchestrated by Vin Sparano, who at 81 is the group’s senior member.
Now that doesn’t mean the former Outdoor Life magazine Editor in Chief has retired his quill pen. Universe Publishing recently released Sparano’s latest tome, “The Complete Guide to Fresh and Saltwater Fishing.” With more than 600 color photographs, the 368-page book provides every thing you need to know about fishing for sweet and saltwater species in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step manner. The ultimate do-ityourself fishing guide, the book is available online or at better book stores.
Dropping anchor till next time.