March 1 marks the opening of striped bass season in the back bays. No, not this weekend yet, but next Friday, is the glorious day we can legally cast a line in the backwaters in attempts to land a bass.
From reports I have been hearing, the warm water discharges and power plant areas have been holding a lot of stripers, which are being inadvertently hooked by anglers searching for stray bluefish, weakfish or even speckled trout that sometimes winter over in the warm water.
Riptide Bait and Tackle, Brigantine, is all set to reopen March 1 in anticipation of the back bay striper fishery as well as for surf fishing opportunities out front.
Andy Grossman, owner, states, “They finished the beach replenishment and you can now go all the way up the north end, but please be careful as there are hazards and objects that Sandy has dug up, so do proceed with caution. There should be plenty of new fishing holes as Sandy and the beach fill have changed a lot of things around.
Will Bruce’s Hole still be there? Will the Hotel give up the first fish? Hopefully we will see soon.” The shop will be fully stocked with clams and bloodworms for that first early-season striper, whether it’s from the beach or the back bay.
Nick, Honachefsky is a professional fishing writer who focuses on angling up and down the coast of New Jersey. Contact him at beachnut33@hotmail.com.
