Atlantic City and Brigantine, NJ March 2020 Fishing Report
This report covering the late February and early March fishing front for the Atlantic City and Brigantine area. It is being written with the wind howling. The report will include the latest proposed striper regulations, bluefish regulations, along with where fluke and sea bass regulations are probably going. There will also be an update on the small striper and perch fishing. The tog season will close at the end of February, and will probably reopen in April.
New Jersey made a striped bass proposal to the federal fisheries regulators that called for 1 fish slot limit for a striper of 28 inches to less than 38 inches. This proposal will be reviewed and hopefully passed by the feds in April. As usual, striper season will open for the back bays, and inlets on March 1 following last season’s regulations. The new regulations will probably be implemented April 1. New Jersey has proposed the continuation of the striper bonus tag for a fish between 24 inches to less than 28 inches with the bonus tag program starting on May 15 instead of September 1.
The bluefish bag limit will be three fish for the recreational fishermen, and five fish for the for-hire sector of the fishing community. The fluke and sea bass regulations will probably be about the same as last season’s size and bag limits. A mid-May opening for sea bass, and a later in May fluke opening is projected.
It is looking like the March 1 striper opening will see plenty of short stripers available in the rivers. I’m anxious to see how the warm winter will affect the striper fishery. February saw a good catch and release fishery especially for those in kayaks. A good white perch bite was on for most of the past month with grass shrimp and blood worms working well.
I plan to launch Babu III soon after Easter unless the warm winter has the fish chewing sooner.
Babu Charters will start the season focused on striper and bluefish. Starting mid-May with the sea bass opening we will also include wreck trips and offshore shark trips.
Customers are starting to book now. If you have a specific date in mind, you should book ASAP.
Tightlines,
Capt. John Wilkinson
wilk@erols.com
410-320-9351
New Jersey made a striped bass proposal to the federal fisheries regulators that called for 1 fish slot limit for a striper of 28 inches to less than 38 inches. This proposal will be reviewed and hopefully passed by the feds in April. As usual, striper season will open for the back bays, and inlets on March 1 following last season’s regulations. The new regulations will probably be implemented April 1. New Jersey has proposed the continuation of the striper bonus tag for a fish between 24 inches to less than 28 inches with the bonus tag program starting on May 15 instead of September 1.
The bluefish bag limit will be three fish for the recreational fishermen, and five fish for the for-hire sector of the fishing community. The fluke and sea bass regulations will probably be about the same as last season’s size and bag limits. A mid-May opening for sea bass, and a later in May fluke opening is projected.
It is looking like the March 1 striper opening will see plenty of short stripers available in the rivers. I’m anxious to see how the warm winter will affect the striper fishery. February saw a good catch and release fishery especially for those in kayaks. A good white perch bite was on for most of the past month with grass shrimp and blood worms working well.
I plan to launch Babu III soon after Easter unless the warm winter has the fish chewing sooner.
Babu Charters will start the season focused on striper and bluefish. Starting mid-May with the sea bass opening we will also include wreck trips and offshore shark trips.
Customers are starting to book now. If you have a specific date in mind, you should book ASAP.
Tightlines,
Capt. John Wilkinson
wilk@erols.com
410-320-9351
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