Rack n Fin

“Them” is bluefish, and playin’ the summertime blues is a lot of fishing fun and, with a bit of culinary dexterity, some good eats after a day on the bay or out front.

In order to stay in compliance and avoid a possible shutdown of the fishery, the New Jersey Marine Council (NJMFC) voted last week by a 5-2 count to adopt the new emergency striped bass rule of one fish at 28-31 inches mandated by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission...

Crabbing is made for The Fourth. The star of the summer show in the blue crab, commonly known as a blueclaw.

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.