Although summer is still two months away, the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are viewing Easter weekend as a glimpse at the light at the end of the tunnel.
Some boats are painted up in the water and stocked with new accessories and fishing gear. Others are undergoing the finishing touches in preparation for the splash while a couple are already in the water and undergoing shakedown trips.
Captain Max Goldman has the “Star Fish” in the water and has trips set up in the immediate future. He is looking to get in on the inshore blackfish action. Captain Brett Taylor of “Real Reaction Sportfishing” has already taken a couple of trips and has striped bass and blackfish to show for his efforts.
Captain Brett had an after-school trip with Bob Dodds and friends and began with great tidal conditions for striped bass. The water temperatures were a tad cold and the water slightly dirty, but they still had a few bites and managed a small schoolie bass. In the last hour they switched over to blackfish and picked through a few with some keepers in the mix.
The group did see some 20 seals around the waters inside Barnegat Inlet which provided an interesting experience. In a previous “scouting” trip Captain Brett managed a few bass from 20-29-inches on plugs.
At this point there has been action on stripers and blackfish, along with a good bite on black drum in the Great Bay area. This is a good time of the year to check your calendars and set up a fishing trip with your favorite captain.
Additional information on the captains and boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org