At this point the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association have still been unable to get any productive fishing in.
There are several reasons for this, all of which are naturally tied in with the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy.
Many of the boats which had been removed from the water have still not yet been refloated. The captains are all busy getting their own homes back in order and helping others with problems. In addition, although access has very recently been established to Long Beach Island, there are still many services not yet operating. One of these is a source of fuel for the boats.
There are reports that striped bass have arrived in force in the Barnegat Inlet area and have made their way to the south. Although the beaches are still in ragged shape, some surf fishermen have been able to get on the beach and have been scoring well on bass from just legal size up to 20-pounds. There have also been reports of bass in the bay waters feeding on live eels and live spots.
Most of the local bait and tackle shops also received extensive damage so getting a steady source of bait is a bit of a problem. Margaret O'Brien at Jingles Bait and Tackle reports she is in her shop and has been able to get some fresh bunker.
Many of the local fishing tournaments have been cancelled. This includes the Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic and the Striped Bass Tournament sponsored by the Stafford Township Police.
Additional information on the association can be found at www.BHCFA.com or by calling 877-524-2423.