Tom P.

Whitetail hunting opportunities continue starting Saturday with the opening of the statewide January winter bow season.

The Christmas season is for wishing, but no wishing is needed right now as the fishing for the likes of white and yellow perch, sunfish, and crappies is in hot mode.

Old news is good news. And the news that won’t get old is about the continuing torrid striped bass bite that’s still going on along the south Jersey coast.

The NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife will resume its ringneck pheasant and bobwhite quail stocking schedule starting this Saturday after a two-week break for the six-day firearm and the antlerless deer seasons.

“Legs of white, the tog will bite,” as the adage goes.

The six-day firearm deer season commences half-hour before sunrise Monday and concludes half-hour after sunset Saturday, December 11.

The last of the autumn run of stripers is underway, and if the numbers are any indication, it looks as if bass will be caught through December.

The NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife’s third round of trout releases, the “Winter Stocking”, takes place today and tomorrow in 19 select lakes and ponds in the northern, central, and southern regions of the state.

Sure, there are still plenty of big bass around, many exceeding 35-pounds with more than a few in the 40 to 50-pound class being caught, but the numbers are nowhere near what they were a couple of weeks ago.

Tog anglers have been waiting patiently for the possession limit to bump to the five mark from the one fish limit. It starts tomorrow, November 16, and will continue through December 31.