Fishing

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

The “poor man’s salmon” as it’s been referred to for endless generations, the annual springtime spawning run of the American shad is full thrust in the Delaware River.

The Dangerfield of the Garden State’s freshwater fishing scene, for sure, oftentimes raising the ire of those targeting largemouths when intercepting their spinnerbaits, plastics, topwaters, and jerkbaits.

One of the largest saltwater fishing tackle shows along the east coast is going full throttle at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center in Edison this weekend.

The touchy weather hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm for the early season back bay and tidal river striper pursuit.

It’s all systems go for the 2023 season when it comes to summer flounder (fluke), sea bass, and porgies (scup) as per the dates, lengths, and bag limits decided on by the NJ Marine Fisheries Council last Thursday after reviewing four options and listening to public input.

The tog (blackfish) season draws to a close at 11:59 pm Tuesday, February 28.

The white perch, actually a member of the true bass family that includes the striper, is found in just about every brackish tidal creek along the Jersey coast.

Show hours are 9am-5pm Saturday and 9am-2pm Sunday. Adult admission is $7 and $3 for youngsters 6-13. Five years and younger get in no charge.

The cold snap has jump-started what will be the final push of striped bass down the Garden State coast.