Wild NJ Weakfishing!

[SWS Regional Reports]

Yes. You can only keep one at 13 inches. There hasn't been any changes. If you need to discuss the regs, you probably don't want to choose me to have your dialogue, I 'm a little sensitive about the situation. My charter business was founded on that species alone. I had a 17 ft. Carolina Skiff and all I did was take people grass shrimping for weakfish. I've been fishing since 1970 and if there was ever a cyclical species, it is weakfish. I have watched the peaks and valleys through the years. Well, the weakfish are back! And just because the regulations haven't caught up to reality, doesn't make me want to fish for them any less. If you're letting it prevent you, then you're missing out.

We have been clobbering 13 to 20 inch, one to three pound fish, while chumming with live grass shrimp. We have been using six and ten pound spinning tackle. Baited hooks, with shrimp, of course, shad darts, small bucktails, and even flys are proving deadly cast in the slick. Once the slick gets going, the more fish that show up, the better it is for using artificials. Their decision time is reduced as if they don't eat the offering in front of them, something else will. Our biggest obstacle has been the prescence of sand perch and hickory shad in such numbers, at times, it is hard to fish through them, but we always find a way. Fishing on both sides of the Dike as well as the west side of the bay between the 42 Buoy and the BB Buoy have all been giving up fish. Almost every trip, the fishing has turned visual with the weakfish and hickory shad eating the shrimp in plain view alongside the boat. The shad are not edible but are great sport on the light tackle usually providing a jump or two as they battle for their freedom.

If you've never been live grass shrimping before, it is something to see. It is great for every age and every level of experience. Kids love it because it is "action" on tackle that they can easily handle. It is a perfect arena for fly fishing as you can shoot your fly into a predictable "hot zone" of fish that react well to artificials. I have noticed that flys and artificials in general will often catch the bigger fish of the trip.

Here's a little video from a recent trip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqEN_hBnnfU

Here's Max DeGennaro with a 2 pound weakie that crushed his shad dart tipped with shrimp.

Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674
www.hiflier.com