“Let the games begin”-Fishing report-03-05-10-By Bob Misak

Welcome, people, to the 2010 fishing season and report section of Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle! Basil and Nicky are busy ordering up rods, reels, tackle, and clothing, etc. for the opening of the shop in a week or two.

There’s actually a little bit of action going on here and there, and the guys fishing the ol’ trusty Oyster Creek are doing great on the short bass, with rattle traps and finesses on jig heads being super productive in the evening hours. The bass season inland is now open, and if you can muster up a 28 inch fish, he’s dinner! It’s been a long winter and a tough one at that with the white stuff overwhelming at times, especially when you had that snow shovel in your hand. By the way, the boys working at Oyster creek are blocking the bank off with a large barge right at the moment, so I think access may be denied for a few days. Just a head’s up.

I’ve heard some good things about the perch fishing here and there, with most of the fish being caught all along the Toms River, starting at the yacht dock and heading towards rt. 9. If you can find some live shrimp this is an excellent way to shake off that cabin fever. I catch my shrimp by putting waders on and scratching the bottom of the bay with my boots, dragging an eight ft. seine behind me. I hold both sticks and just walk backwards, twisting my feet to shake em’ out of the mud, and although it’s a bit of work, it gets you the bait you need for perching.

I’ve heard scattered reports of short fish being caught on the surf from Island beach, but the participation isn’t there, it’s too early for most guys.

As you may or may not know, our laws have been tweaked big time, mostly with limits. The winter flounder season will actually open, but there will be a two fish limit per angler per day. I bet that’ll send a lot of guys back to the Shop-Rite for cat food and corn, avoiding the chum thing, unfortunately. Also, our weakfish stocks have been determined by the “fish-sperts” to be in dire straits; one weakfish will be allowed per day. The tog limit will be lowered to four fish per day just in time for the spawning season, and that’s what I’ll be waiting for! The spring tog season on the south jetty is phenomenal, and the first few weeks are insane if you spend your time.

I drove past a couple of the boat yards in Waretown and they’re busy as beavers getting boats ready to go back in. It’s March, man! It’s time!

I for one will be totally happy to get out of the house and away from this computer for a while, and besides that, I spent most of the cold winter hanging around with Basil! I’ll fill ya in on those totally radical adventures as the year goes along. I’m willing to bet that the 1^st guy out on the beach will be Bob Massa, and he’s been pretty good at banging big fish early in the year. Next week I’ll fill ya in on the season dates. Good luck and let’s hit it!