Fishing

The New Jersey Conservation Officers Association says its officers were responsible for catching several people following an illegal fishing complaint.

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.

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.