Fishing

The black sea bass is perhaps the most popular inshore gamefish along the Garden State’s inshore, and during November and December, mid-range and offshore, waters.

The eagerly anticipated Striped Bass Bonus Tag program gets underway this Sunday and runs through December 31.

Some drum, as in black drum, beating has been going on in sections of Great Bay for the past couple of weeks and it’s great to see this annual mid-April through mid-May run get rolling.

The new regs include a whopping 149-day season that extends through September 27, pretty much three weeks longer than during previous years.

Make no mistake though: the month of May is notorious for producing not only minimum length keepers but also fish in the 4-8 lb. class, with more than a few attaining doormat (10 lbs.-plus) weights.

Sixteen days remaining in the 30-day April tog season and wouldn’t you know it: a shortage of green crabs is happening as the chew is getting fierce.

For the first time in New Jersey fluke fishing history, there will be a slot limit.

The statewide trout season kicks off at 8 AM Saturday and all indications point to a bountiful opening day and beyond.

Running through Saturday, April 30, the early spring blackfish season is underway.

It’s virtual and it will start at 5 PM next Thursday, April 7.