Frost Fish

[gypsy]

Long Branch Pier, what memories, as a kid going out all night with my uncles and dad. Always an adventure, Whiting fishing mainly in the winter, freezing my butt off, running inside to warm up, get a hot chocolate, run back out. Never knew what king of fish would show up, guys would throw the angler fish on the pier and let the seagulls eat them, one night a stray dog came onto the pier and carried one off. That is one memory I'll have forever, the way that fat fish hung in the dogs mouth as he ran off with it. My father told me of the days of frost fishing along the NJ coast. Sounds unreasonable but no reason to doubt it. Said the whiting would get thrown up onto the sand and freeze to it, just walk along the waterline and pick them up. We also would get everyone in the car on a Sunday in the winter, head to Belmar and wait for the party boats to come in, the fisherman would put fish on the dock that they wanted to sell to pay their fare and keep the rest. We would usually get a cod, or whiting from these guys, go home and have a fish fry. We didn't have a lot of time for fishing when you live on a small farm, so this is how we would get fresh fish, now they are no longer allowed to sell their catch, don't know why . As Bob Hope would sing Thanks For the Memories

[courbeco]

I remember these days.....Especially the Magic Hour and Night Whiting boats from Belmar.....Baseball bat sized whiting. I would check the boats every night leading up the trip....All was good until the Belford and Pt. Pleasant Co-Ops wiped them out from the NY Bight area.......

[Ry609]

Really cool article! Coming from a young buck, it's sad that I had no clue this fishery ever even existed or why people even wanted to fish for them. I'm guessing they taste good? I was born in the wrong era.

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Ry609

Really cool article! Coming from a young buck, it's sad that I had no clue this fishery ever even existed or why people even wanted to fish for them. I'm guessing they taste good? I was born in the wrong era.

Very good to eat.. Better than most.
Ling are well known for being sweet and mild, just a bit soft, and don't freeze real well.. Whiting were white sweet and mild as well, and firmer than Ling.. a smoked Whiting is the best eating smoked fish of all time in my opinion.. I like smoked salmon, but IMHO, smoked Whiting are better.. I sure do miss them...
Sad part is, we had that fishing year after year, decade after decade, and then it was gone...bob

[Charlie B]

Yes smoked whiting are very good. I see them in stores now but haven't bought any in years. I don't want to support the draggers...Charlie

[NoLimit]

Originally Posted by Ry609

Really cool article! Coming from a young buck, it's sad that I had no clue this fishery ever even existed or why people even wanted to fish for them. I'm guessing they taste good? I was born in the wrong era.

Yes they taste good - ling is the best but you have to keep them cold and eat them fresh. However the striper fishing we have now is far better than back then. The porgy fishing has been better too. I would probably give up both for a return of winter flounder and fluke like we used to have.

[zhitoman]

Ling is here in big numbers

[Reel Class]

Originally Posted by zhitoman

Ling is here in big numbers

Nice catch man. As I assumed and said earlier they were likely squirrel aka spotted hake and that’s what those are. Very tasty so as long as they are large enough to fillet!

[june181901]

My buddy and I would drive from Bayonne to Princess Bay on Staten Island and fish on the Viking. Bring home couple of burlap sacksful and give them out at Slim's Cafe in Bayonne to the patrons.

[tautog]

Originally Posted by zhitoman

Ling is here in big numbers

squirrels...usually too small to bother with but you get big ones mixed in with small stripers night fishing off the sand in late fall and early winter.