Tom P.

While stripers and tog have been getting the overwhelming majority of the saltwater angler attention, the black drum have been rolling with a building bang that will reach a kettle booming crescendo during the upcoming weeks.

The out front (read: ocean) spring run of stripers is underway, and when it comes to out-of-the-doldrums-let’s play smash mouth, well, the opening bell has been rung.

The 2019 trout season kicks in at 8am this Saturday, and from all indications, it looks like not only a banner Opening Day, but a season as well.

It’s time to catch the biggest bass of your life...at least in New Jersey! The largemouth, not the striped kind.

Figure by this weekend, and into next week for sure as a result of the warming trend and uptick in water temperatures, the white perch will start putting the raspy lips to blood worm and grass shrimp baits.

And just like that, it’s once again legal to fish for striped bass in the bays and tidal rivers and creeks.

February is a tricky month fishing-wise.

Sea bass and ling and are providing steady fishing, with a bonus in the form of cod and winter flounder. Fluke fishing is solid in the back bays, although the bigger fish appear to be moving out front. Bluefish are more on than off. Crabbing is on the upswing.

Flounder (fluke) fishing in the back bay is torrid.

Sea bass fishing is improving by the day, and the fluke season is off to a rip snorting start.