mackerel/whiting

[socks]

I haven't been out in a while, does anyone know of any boats sailing magic hour trips for mackerel and whiting.

[Capt Joe]

I haven't been out in a while,

Wow, you can say that again!:)

[bulletbob]

Point Capt Joe is making is that whiting and mackerel are now very scarce in the NJ/NY area, and no boats are targeting them.. You need to go a few hundred miles north to get into any whiting, probably Mass, or New Hampshire.. Mackerel might be passing by soon, but for several years they haven't been around in numbers that would make them a worthwhile target for party boats.
Perhaps a boat or two might target them later this winter IF they come around this year.

NJ has honorable PB captains that aren't going to go out for fish that aren't there just to get some customers on board. bob

[Cuz]

Whiting in N.J.? Many, many flashbacks. Like my dad and everyone else filling coolers and garbage cans of ling and big whiting on Long Branch Pier every night all winter long. He use to take my mom, brother and myself out on the pier since I was five years old. That was in 1952. That fishing lasted for the next thirty years throughout the winter. We never left the pier when the sun came up without fish. We slept on army cots when we got tired. Then my dad would take the fish to either Roy's smokehouse in Sea Bright or Leroys smokehouse in Atlantic Highlands on Rte. 36. He exchange the fresh whiting he caught for smoked whiting at a 2 for 1 exchange. Smoked whiting is now going for $7.99 a lb. Unreal.
As I got older I fished with the originator of magic hours, Captain Joe Vasallo, on his boat Capt. Joe from Belmar. Then his son, Mickey, ran the boat for a while. As soon as the lights all around the deck were put on the fishing turned on. Everyone caught whiting. An unique experience I'll never forget. How I wish someday I can take my grand children out on a magic hour trip. But sadly enough, I don't see that happening. So good memories are all I have presently.

[Oceanista]

A reminder of days gone by...

[Jpell15]

Doesn't the Norma K do magic hour trips for ling on Saturdays?

[bigal427]

Use to love those magic hour whiting trips. They where some great times

[Capt. Debbie]

I remember as a kid in the 1960's hitting Long Branch fishing pier with dad and bro in January at night and getting whiting.

Those days are gone with .30 per gallon gas



Whiting in N.J.? Many, many flashbacks. Like my dad and everyone else filling coolers and garbage cans of ling and big whiting on Long Branch Pier every night all winter long. He use to take my mom, brother and myself out on the pier since I was five years old. That was in 1952. That fishing lasted for the next thirty years throughout the winter. We never left the pier when the sun came up without fish. We slept on army cots when we got tired. Then my dad would take the fish to either Roy's smokehouse in Sea Bright or Leroys smokehouse in Atlantic Highlands on Rte. 36. He exchange the fresh whiting he caught for smoked whiting at a 2 for 1 exchange. Smoked whiting is now going for $7.99 a lb. Unreal.
As I got older I fished with the originator of magic hours, Captain Joe Vasallo, on his boat Capt. Joe from Belmar. Then his son, Mickey, ran the boat for a while. As soon as the lights all around the deck were put on the fishing turned on. Everyone caught whiting. An unique experience I'll never forget. How I wish someday I can take my grand children out on a magic hour trip. But sadly enough, I don't see that happening. So good memories are all I have presently.

[dakota560]

Whiting in N.J.? Many, many flashbacks. Like my dad and everyone else filling coolers and garbage cans of ling and big whiting on Long Branch Pier every night all winter long. He use to take my mom, brother and myself out on the pier since I was five years old. That was in 1952. That fishing lasted for the next thirty years throughout the winter. We never left the pier when the sun came up without fish. We slept on army cots when we got tired. Then my dad would take the fish to either Roy's smokehouse in Sea Bright or Leroys smokehouse in Atlantic Highlands on Rte. 36. He exchange the fresh whiting he caught for smoked whiting at a 2 for 1 exchange. Smoked whiting is now going for $7.99 a lb. Unreal.
As I got older I fished with the originator of magic hours, Captain Joe Vasallo, on his boat Capt. Joe from Belmar. Then his son, Mickey, ran the boat for a while. As soon as the lights all around the deck were put on the fishing turned on. Everyone caught whiting. An unique experience I'll never forget. How I wish someday I can take my grand children out on a magic hour trip. But sadly enough, I don't see that happening. So good memories are all I have presently.

Most people today don't remember those days or weren't born yet to experience how great that fishery was. Back then anyone would have bet that fishery would never be destroyed there were so many fish around. It's a lesson we should all learn from. Remember the pier as if it were yesterday. It's a shame the state or federal government didn't step in and make the needed repairs to the pier for it to still be here. Was one of the best fishing spots on the coast. GREAT fluke fishing especially with big fish in late August / early September. I remember one particular day back in the 60's where there were a dozen fluke over 10 lbs caught on that pier in early September. One fish exceeded 15 lbs.! Fluke would come in from that entire rocky area, Long Branch, Shrewsbury Rocks, Rattlesnake etc. and feed heavily on the mullet and assorted bait fish starting their fall migration before heading east. Remember the big mesh basket you needed to lower down and had to work the fluke above it to get it on the pier. Everyone worked together. There were some great fluke guys on that pier all summer long. Remember a year when blow fish were insanely abundant, we caught over 500 blow fish in one day. They were so thick you could see them on the surface all around the pier. Black fishing was great if you cast under the pier to the pilings, years where you'd catch weakfish at night on all the anchovies that used to migrate by. And whiting and ling fishing like you were fishing for them in a barrel. As soon as the sun went down, they would flood into the pier under the lights and bait fish drawn in and you'd catch as many as you wanted. I don't think there will be a fishery or pier like that ever again. It's a shame in New Jersey, unlike other states, with the amount of recreational fishing we have that the LB pier wasn't restored or replaced. For anyone who experienced it, it was truly one of a kind. Does anyone remember the year an ocean sun fish was hanging around the pier for a few weeks. Crazy site to see.

[Leif]

Magic hours!! Let's go. LOL.

[Capt Joe]

Back then anyone would have bet that fishery would never be destroyed there were so many fish around.

Some of us had a pretty good idea it would end. After waters got too cold and the fish moved into the mudhole for the winter those of us fishing 7 days a week in Jan, Feb and March followed the 15-20 draggers, going in- DAILY, on their way to Point Pleasant, riding through 12,15,18 miles of dead Ling and spike whiting.
Had a pretty good idea of what was coming.:mad:

[Leif]

Some of us had a pretty good idea it would end. After waters got too cold and the fish moved into the mudhole for the winter those of us fishing 7 days a week in Jan, Feb and March followed the 15-20 draggers, going in- DAILY, on their way to Point Pleasant, riding through 12,15,18 miles of dead Ling and spike whiting.
Had a pretty good idea of what was coming.:mad:

It's a shame. My dad took me as a kid in the winter. Between the mackerel, cod, whiting, long and flounder, we were busy all winter. The last whiting I caught was in 1992 I think.

[calbo]

Used to (back in the late 70's and early 80's) go out of Belmar and Highlands all winter long. Belmar after work and Highlands on weekends. The whiting and ling were always there - would return with bushels full - freeze and smoke enough for the entire winter after 2 trips. Miss those days.

[bulletbob]

aahhh,, You guys don't know what you're talking about.. Lots of Silver Hake around.. the government says so. The gear used to catch them is safe and sustainable, and has no environmental impact- the government says so.. It has to be real.
The populations are above target population norms... NOAA says so, so it HAS to be right.. You guys are just terrible fishermen!

http://www.fishwatch.gov/profiles/silver-hake

[Leif]

aahhh,, You guys don't know what you're talking about.. Lots of Silver Hake around.. the government says so. The gear used to catch them is safe and sustainable, and has no environmental impact- the government says so.. It has to be real.
The populations are above target population norms... NOAA says so, so it HAS to be right.. You guys are just terrible fishermen!

http://www.fishwatch.gov/profiles/silver-hake

U.S. wild-caught silver hake is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations

Bahahahahah!!!

[Capt. Debbie]

How come NJ party boats don't go to George's Bank or the Gulf of Maine where NOAA says it's a hot spot? That's where they are. It may take a week at 10-12 knots to do.

NOAA just burned their whiting spot. LOL



U.S. wild-caught silver hake is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations

Bahahahahah!!!

[fishingmortgageman]

Socks, quit being Socks and go Mackerel fishing with Kevin if you want to catch them.