Belmar Area Seeing Bigger Stripers

Recent fishing report around Belmar, Manasquan, Sea Girt

Hurricane Sandy

Fish-a-Thon Aims to Save Bait and Tackle Shop

Alex's Inlet Bait and Tackle counting on fundraiser to stay open

  For Marc Palazzolo, owner of Alex's Inlet Bait and Tackle in Point Pleasant Beach, the government's promise to help Sandy-ravaged businesses is just a fish tale. So he's relying on his friends and customers to help him keep his bait and tackle shop afloat on Inlet Drive, where Sandy sent the ocean barrelling into homes and businesses, leaving a soggy heap of debris and financial ruin in its wake. Five months later, Palazzolo, like so many other business owners at the Jersey Shore, is still struggling to open for good. Last week, he was finally operating on a limited basis, but the "open" sign on the door threatens to drop off the nail, like a fish wriggling off a hook. "I thought we would need $15,000 to $20,000 to clean out and re-open…

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Sandy-Battered Inlet Businesses Start to Re-open in Point Beach

Shrimp Box re-opened, Alex's Inlet Bait and Tackle and Red's Lobster Pot to follow

  Flooded and beaten to a pulp by Sandy, a few restaurants and a bait and tackle shop in Point Pleasant Beach near the Manasquan Inlet are just beginning to come back to life. The Shrimp Box and Outside the Box Patio Bar, 75 Inlet Dr., re-opened Wednesday afternoon for the first time since Sandy pushed five feet of water into the restaurant overlooking the harbor. Alex's Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop, 9 Inlet Dr., is shooting for a March 15 opening and Red's Lobster Pot, 57 Inlet Dr., for an April 17 opening. The Manasquan Inlet was rushing over the bulkhead, into the parking lot on Inlet Drive on Wednesday, as the Shrimp Box was serving its first customers since the end of October. "The Shrimp Box & Outside the Box Patio Bar is opening for …

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Fishing Friday

Early Season Back Bay Bass Fishing Tips

Striped bass season opens Friday

Striped bass season begins in the back bays and rivers March 1, and Patch caught up with Dennis Palmatier of Murphy's Hook House Bait and Tackle in Toms River for some tips. The regulations for striped bass remains two fish per angler, per day, with a minimum size limit of 28 inches. Striped bass season in the back bays and rivers runs from March 1 through Dec. 31. In the ocean, the season is open year-round. Anglers fishing Oyster Creek should keep in mind that fishing the west side of the Route 9 bridge over the creek requires a freshwater fishing license. Fishing the east side of the bridge does not, though all anglers statewide must obtain a free registration card online before fishing.

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Beach, Bay and Backyard

NJ Fish and Wildlife Offers Hunting and Fishing App

The smartphone app allows hunters, fishers and wildlife observers enhance the experience in New Jersey.

If you're searching for an access point or open space to fish or hunt, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection has an app for that. The state DEP released its new hunting and fishing smartphone app this month, allowing New Jersey nature enthusiasts to enrich the experience within the state. The free app, called The Pocket Ranger, provides spot information around the state for fish and wildlife with a mapping feature of of open spaces and access points. “This is part of the Christie Administration’s continuing effort to bring more people into our state parks and wildlife areas, to enhance offerings and make it easier and more convenient for our residents to enjoy the great diversity of fish and wildlife and outdoor recreation …

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State Updates Map of Open Shellfish Beds Safe for Harvesting

Testing showed no issues with contamination, DEP says

In addition to shellfish beds in the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers that opened earlier this month, the state maintains a up-to-date map of where it's safe to fish and harvest. Bob Martin, the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, said once water monitoring and tissue sampling found no issues with contamination from bacteria or viruses following superstorm Sandy in a body of water, the area is reopened. “So much of our coastline and our fishing industry took significant hits from the storm, so we are pleased to reopen these additional shellfish beds and get people back to work in areas affected by the storm,” Martin said.  The DEP closed all New Jersey shellfish beds to commercial and recreational harvesting on …

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Hurricane Sandy

The Surf Before the Storm

Surfers and fishermen head toward shore

Surfers and fishermen outnumbered beach walkers on many beaches Saturday evening as Hurricane Sandy approached offshore. These surfers and fishermen were at the beach in Bay Head, which is under mandatory state orders to evacuate by 4 p.m. Sunday.

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State Plans Reduction of 'No Wake' Buoys in Local Waterways

Large number of floating buoys may be a hazard, officials say

Most boaters have been there. It's night time, but channel markers are there to guide you back to your marina or boat ramp. The only obstacle, of course, is the large number of buoys marking No Wake zones that dot the path between the open bay and home port. On a busy summer weekend, the buoys can sometimes cause stress as boaters try to navigate skinny channels in the nation's most densely populated state. Boaters who equate the proliferation of buoy markers in waterways such as Barnegat Bay to a minefield of anchored obstacles will see some relief this summer, however, as the state will reduce the number of No Wake warning buoys up and down the coast. The total number of buoys, which mark areas in which boaters must slow to near-idle …

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PHOTOS: Manasquan Jr. Fishing Contest

Borough P.B.A. sponsors Saturday's event at Mac's Pond

The 43rd Annual Manasquan Policemens Benevolent Association Junior Fishing Contest for kids ages 3 through 13 was held Saturday at Mac's Pond, just off North Main Street.  Several local sponsors, including the Manasquan Elks, Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Commission and Turkey Trot, provided prizes for the competition. 

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Manasquan P.B.A. Fishing Tourney Saturday

Registration opens at 8:15 a.m. at Mac's Pond for kids ages 3-13