Some captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are putting their boats in the water while some have already been putting fish in the coolers for some satisfied anglers.
Now that warm weather appears to be around for good, the fishing in the Beach Haven area has begun to turn on. The striped bass population is increasing practically on a daily basis. The throwback sized fish still outnumber the keepers, but many anglers are returning to dock with their share of fishing dinners. These fish are off the beach, in the inlet, and scattered around the bay waters.
Once the water temperatures got above 50-degrees, ravenous bluefish appeared. The first blues to arrive ranged from 3-8 pounds, and now some smaller ones are making their presence known. Drumfish have been gobbling up clams intended for stripers, especially in the Great Bay and Grassy Channel areas. Finally, there have been some tiderunner weakfish caught, mainly at night on artificial lures.
Captain Fran Verdi of the "Francesca Marie" has been fishing for 4 weeks. He slammed the blackfish on the inshore wrecks until the season ended and now is concentrating on striped bass, blues, and drumfish.
Captain John Lewis on the "Insatiable" is just about ready to go in the water. He reports he has been watching a warm water eddy that is slowly making its way toward the coast. He is hoping for some early season hot tuna fishing just like the past few years.
Captain Carl Sheppard reports the "Star Fish" is in the water and ready for another season. He has had the boat inspected and conducted safety drills for the captain and crew to meet the Coast Guard's exacting standards.
Captain Lindsay Fuller reports the "June Bug" is still at her winter quarters in North Carolina and will be getting a late start of the fishing season. A delay by mechanics in working on the boat's electronics has put things behind schedule. Once everything is perfect, Captain Lindsay will be heading back to Beach Haven for his share of the action.
Complete information on the boats and captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.fishbeachhaven.com