May 11, 2008 - Hey Folks,

A DIFFERENT BOAT, a DIFFERENT NAME,
but the SAME CAPTAINS and CREW, and the SAME GREAT FISHING TRIPS!

Captain George and Captain Dan, formerly of the TEAL are now running our new boat, the ANGLER.   Our new boat has a lot more fishing room, especially in the bow and stern, and we think you will really enjoy it.

We look forward to seeing you at the dock.

Captains Jeff Gutman, George Bachert and Danny Seich

ANGLER FISHING REPORTS

We only had fair fishing on Saturday, May 10 and there was a big swell remaining from Friday's stormy weather.   High hook had around 15 Ling with some Sea Bass and Flounder.  Lots of Blackfish came over the rails, but were tossed back since the season is closed.

The weather will be no good for Monday and we will not sail.   The ANGLER has a charter trip on Saturday, May 17 and we are canceling our regular morning trip.




Summer Flounder (Fluke) stocks are in good shape and the biomass is at the highest levels ever recorded.   However, we cannot say the same thing for the fishery.   In spite of great progress in rebuilding Summer Flounder stocks, another round of federal quota cuts are on the way for 2008 and the National Marine Fisheries Service has threatened to ban fishing for Summer Flounder in 2009.

We all want sustainable fisheries so that we can continue to enjoy fishing and ensure that our kids can do likewise when they grow up, but this situation is ridiculous and the time has come to stop it.

You can help by supporting the SAVE THE SUMMER FLOUNDER FISHERY FUND.   The SSFFF is a non-profit organization made up of party and charter boat owners, tackle and bait shop owners, tackle distributors, bait wholesalers and others whose livelihoods are dependent on a healthy and vibrant recreational fishing industry.   For plenty of additional information, visit the organization's web site at www.SSFFF.net.

The SAVE THE SUMMER FLOUNDER FISHERY FUND has two important goals:

1. Support HR 4087, which is an emergency legislative intervention that will enable fisheries managers a reasonable level of regulatory flexibility.  The organization will work with existing angling lobbying organizations and public sport fishing advocacy groups such as the Recreational Fishing Alliance who have the structure and contacts already in place, along with the proven ability to get things done in Washington.

2. Generate private funds for a comprehensive scientific stock review.  The organization will hire independent marine scientists to generate the data needed to prove that the current summer flounder population targets and stock rebuilding deadlines are dangerously punitive, ridiculous in their intention and truly unnecessary.

Right now, the organization needs your financial support to fund these political and scientific goals.   Please send a donation to:

SAVE THE SUMMER FLOUNDER FISHERY FUND
PO Box 86
Brielle, NJ  08730

Two upcoming events will benefit the SSFFF and we encourage you to grab your fishing rod and participate.

MAY 20-25: BRADLEY BEACH SURFCASTERS - STRIPED BASS TOURNEY FOR SSFFF

MAY 24: NO BONES BAIT & TACKLE - SUMMER FLOUNDER TOURNEY FOR SSFFF

Click here for details on these fundraiser tournaments.

The ANGLER supports the SAVE THE SUMMER FLOUNDER FISHERY FUND and we urge you to make a donation.

















We had good fishing on Tuesday, May 6.   Rich Engle from Fairlawn, NJ won the pool with a big Ling.   (Ed also won the pool yesterday, May 5, for back-to-back wins.) Ed Aspril from Boonton, NJ had loads of Ling plus a 16½-inch Porgy and some nice Blackfish.   Archie Stewart from Nutley, NJ had some nice Founders as well as our biggest Sea Bass to date, and Hank bagged many Ling double-headers.  A few Bluefish and Fluke also made the scene.  What a perfect day!







May 3 - LING fishing has been REALLY GOOD lately.

On one of our recent Flounder trips, Archie Stewart (photo on left) caught a 22½-inch Fluke that he threw back since the season isn't open yet.

On the same Flounder trip, Ed Carlson's grandson (photo on right) caught his very first Blackfish.








April 28 - Winter Flounder fishing appears to have petered out and we went bottom fishing at the Scotland Grounds on Friday and Saturday.  LING fishing was VERY GOOD, and we also caught some Blackfish.

The wet and windy weather kept us at the dock on Sunday and today.   We will not sail on Tuesday, April 29, but we will fish for LING on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 and THURSDAY, MAY 1.

PLEASE NOTE: We have a charter trip on FRIDAY, MAY 2 and are canceling our regularly scheduled 7:30 AM open boat trip.


Ling fishing was poor on Thursday, April 10, but the Flounder fishing on Friday, April 11 was as good as it gets with high hooks in the twenties.

John Vinasco (photo on right) from Bellville, NJ caught the 17½-inch pool winning Flounder.  We will go Flounder fishing again on SATURDAY, APRIL 12 and SUNDAY, APRIL 13.

We have our annual US Coast Guard vessel inspection on MONDAY, APRIL 14 and we NOT be sailing.

Captain Danny will start our DAILY NIGHT STRIPER fishing trips next FRIDAY, APRIL 18 at 6:30 PM.




Fishing was good on Thursday, April 3 with high hooks of 25 to 30 Ling and 250 to 300 fish on board.   Dave Goldberg (photo on left) from West Orange, NJ won the pool with either one of the Cod or Blackfish he caught.  Dave also put 13 Ling into his bucket.

The next few days we will be flounder fishing which should now start to get good in Raritan Bay.










On Wednesday, March 26, we Flounder fished on the Shrewsbury River.  Pete Digiovanni (photo on right) from Midlothian, VA caught our first double-header Flounder of the year and 10-year-old Bill Bredamus (Photo on left) from Harrison, NJ won the pool with a 16-inch Flounder.

Just a reminder, we will be fishing for LING and BLACKFISH starting FRIDAY, MARCH 28.








For the season opener, Jim Hennessey (photo on left) from Atlantic Highlands, NJ won the pool on Sunday, March 23 with a 14½-inch Flounder.   We had better fishing on Monday, March 24, but it is mostly on the change of tide around the Quay.   Ken Raabe (photo on right) from Wallington, NJ had four keepers and a nice 16½-inch Flounder to win the pool.

On Saturday, March 22, we had good Ling fishing at the Scotland Grounds with 150 to 200 boated for a dozen people.   We also had some Blackfish and Cod.   This is very early for Ling at Scotland and it is a nice surprise.

WE WILL SAIL FOR LING AND BLACKS EVERY DAY STARTING FRIDAY, MARCH 28.

If the weather is no good for ocean fishing, we will sail for Flounder, but Ling will be our first choice.  Everyone should bring rods for both kinds of fishing.

We will fish for Flounder when the water warms up to 50 degrees and we can spend the day in the bay or ocean.  This should be in a couple of weeks.   As always. our main goal is to put together the best catch possible.


The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife met Thursday, March 6 and made their final choice for this year's Summer Flounder (Fluke) regulations.  FOR 2008, THE NEW JERSEY SUMMER FLOUNDER SEASON WILL OPEN ON MAY 24 AND CLOSE ON SEPTEMBER 7.  THE MINIMUM SIZE IS 18-INCHES AND THE POSSESSION LIMIT IS EIGHT FISH.

In addition, WEAKFISH regulations became more restrictive; the possession limit has dropped to six fish per angler.   Lastly, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission declared New Jersey has not complied with mandatory management measures for BLACKFISH and has ordered a closure of the season on April 1, 2008.


January 10, 2008

The ANGLER will make its LAST FISHING TRIP OF THE SEASON ON MONDAY, JANUARY 14. We will start our annual maintenance shortly and we look forward to seeing you in the spring.

If you still want to catch a few fish this winter, we invite you to take a trip on our sister vessel, the VOYAGER.   Starting January 15, Captain George will be running bottom fishing trips on the VOYAGER EVERY TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM through the end of March.   The VOYAGER sails from the dock at Fishermen's Supply Co., 69 Channel Drive, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.   Click here to visit the VOYAGER web site.


The ANGLER sailed Christmas week and we did okay with Blackfish, but the Ling fishing slowed up due to the easterly winds. The ANGLER will be sailing for a few more weeks depending on the weather.   We may get out on Friday, January 4, but it looks like Saturday, January 5 is a sure bet.


Our sister vessel, the VOYAGER is an 85-foot all aluminum supercruiser powered by two NEW turbo charged diesel engines making her fast, spacious and very comfortable for deep sea fishing.   The VOYAGER sails from the dock at Fishermen's Supply Co. located at 69 Channel Drive in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.

Click here to see the 2008 VOYAGER FISHING SCHEDULE.

Visit the VOYAGER web site at www.VoyagerFishing.com for more information.

Just as a reminder, the ANGLER and the VOYAGER are open party fishing boats and you don't need to make reservations (except for our offshore tuna and wreck trips on the VOYAGER.)   This applies to all of our regularly scheduled morning and evening fishing trips.   Like other party boats, we work on a first come, first serve basis, so all you need to do is arrive at the boat anywhere from one to one-half hour before sailing time.   Please call our office at 732-872-0744 for the latest fishing reports.