Tom P.

Fun is found in the bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish, aka “sunnies”, the ubiquitous panfish that no doubt many who today take a rod in hand started out catching these cooperative and sassy shallow water headbangers.

Not last minute, but last call, because with 10 days remaining in this first portion of the segmented sea bass season, and the capricious weather patterns (read: wind and more wind), there might only be a few shots remaining to take advantage of what continues to be an unbelievable stretch of cooler-filling action.

The diamondback terrapin was once abundant along the Garden State tidal salt marshes and estuaries until its delectable flesh, and fancy as a pet, led to unregulated capture, and nearly proved its demise.

Small waters hold BIG bass. As in largemouths with barrel bellies.

This late May through June stretch is about as good as it gets when going for the Bay Grand Slam. Striped bass. Bluefish. Fluke. Weakfish.

Sea Bass season runs May 17-June 19 (it runs again July 1-August 31, October 1-31, and November 1-December 31; bag limits vary)

The early season (this year it opened May 2; same as ‘22 and nearly a month earlier than previous years) traditionally is the time for the South Jersey flounder bite to make its mark.

The April portion of the split seasons concludes Sunday, April 30, and while the first week was spotty, as expected, the second week showed rapid improvement to the point where four fish limits were being dropped in coolers and buckets with smile-wide regularity.

The eagerly anticipated statewide trout season opener kicks off at 8 am this Saturday, with an opening count of 184,500 rainbows spread over 171 waters from Sussex County to Cape May County.

April 1, the blackfish opener for the short shot 30-day early spring season, is going to be a washout.