Friday, July 29, 2016: Well, this brisk north wind thing is not ...

[jaymann]

Below: A scene from an upcoming movie with the two remaining stooges. ...

Below: Never underestimate an old guy who still listens to Ozzy ... 

Below: Japan tries to outdo GULP with instant trolling squids 

Friday, July 29, 2016: Well, this brisk north wind thing is not what the prognosticators ordered. Even I wad think 10- to 12 mph top, as low pressures zipped along a weather train track laying SW to NE. But I just took a 22-mph reading out of a somewhat odd NNW direction. Regardless of the exact compasses readings of the winds, they’re easily enough to ruin most boat fishing – or at least make it a sloppy affair. Ocean water is 75.1 (Surf City beach). 

From back in my boat fluking days, I recall it was no fun to drift and overbearing wind, one demanding five ounces or way more to hold bottom. I even recall suddenly running into overblown winds while fluking yet having only lighter bank sinkers onboard. I’d end up jerry-rigging together a slew or more of one-ouncers, sometimes tying them together with mono to make a truly ugly weight wad. You knew you had a fish when you reeled in and just happened to find one on the line.

Anyway, I’m hoping this briskness dies quickly, before it blows away a big chunk of this the final July weekend. Yes, we are truly that far into summer already. I’m soon losing summer writers to the return calls of their universities. How can this be?

Surfcasting is grasses to hell and back, y doable in many area, due to so much eelgrass. 

No more success reports on kingfish. For a couple days that bite was on fire. I do know that the lower tides drive them over the deep side of sandbars. They work their way in with the rising water. Best fished at max high. Worms and fake-o worms work best when fished off rigs made specifically for kingfish. Bank sinkers keep the rig moving, which is what you want. 

Below: Homey.

I did a quick shark lookabout in surf of SB, late yesterday. Very clean. Saw one small brown but the Go-pro attached to my new full-face mask failed to "Go," pro or otherwise. Not sure I would have gotten a good image with the moderate visibility but it would have been better than seeing the "No Images," message on the camera -- meaning I did something wrong. I cut the session short with lightning fears. A dread of mine. Masked worked perfectly for the very short time it was under. I'm still going with bodyboard under me next outing. I got the largest size. Yes, I have a big head ... pit bull like. 

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Did five trips in the last four days all from the inlet back.  On two of the trips we fished the cooler water around the inlet and were rewarded with July schoolie bass on BKDs (see attached). I did spend part of one trip chumming grass shrimp for weakfish in about a hours’ time we caught and released 6 spikes. That is a good sign. Fluking remains the same with cooler incoming water have the upper hand over outgoing on the bite. Bay temperature is in the low 80s. Some cow nose rays are poking the heads around the bay so be prepared the chase one down of you hook up with one. They are strong fighting fish. I have some days open the week of Aug 1 so if want to go after fluke, weakfish, bluefish, schoolies or inshore sharks give me a call.

 Screaming drags,

Capt. Alex

www.LighthouseSportfishing.com

Barnegat Bay, NJ

 609-548-2511 

You Tube Channel: Fishing Barnegat Bay

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Bobby Boyle

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Abe Pieciak

One of the most deadly striped bass baits. Big fish little fish smash these little guys when they are being picky

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INSPECTION SUCCESS: Related to July, I had to rush my truck in for inspection, uncertain what awaited now that the state has its new streamlined inspection system, sans emissions tests for most folks.

Well, don’t I just happen to pull in when a dozen other cars are a-wait. Always a line, you say. By the time it came my turn, after 25 minutes, there wasn’t a single vehicle behind me. Had I pulled in 25 minutes later than I had …

No worries, while waiting in line, I cleaned out my front seat consoles – and found $1.23 in change. Kaching.

Oh, as to the inspection it was almost WTF?! fast. You jump out of your vehicle at the very start – after handing over the paperwork. The crew then takes the vehicle through just two stations. And it’s “Good to go.”

Oh, believe me, I went in there thinking, “I know I’m a failure, just please don’t make it too costly a fix.” Nope. I passed with flying colors … if the new colorful inspection sticker, with a bright school bus facing the driver, is any color indication. Gotta love this new inspection system, though I’m told it gets tougher on older vehicles.

SHOW SOME LOVE: I stopped by the Southern Ocean County Animal shelter, just a tad west of the inspection station. If you’re thinking in terms of adopting wonderful pets, that’s the life-changing stop to make.

The dog sector has some wonderful canines, though when I was there one mixed pit had seemingly taught all the others to bark their heads off when someone is looking in. Overlook the initial ruckus. What a personality change the dogs show when they calm down, especially when a volunteer comes to walk them. (see below.)

Currently, the shelter is neck-deep in cats, though the folks there tell me it’s sorta normal. Most look healthy and highly adoptable – if lying there sadly looking like a caged, highly bored creature is any indicator. Cats require some scrupulous feeling out prior to adoption.  

Adoption fees for dogs and cats are a very modest $55, which goes toward shelter upkeep.

NOTE: The Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter is in hurting need of volunteers. If you’re an avowed animal person, please ponder donating some time in there. Many of the animals in the shelter are worried sick and in desperate need of even a touch of human kindness. A mere friendly walkabout outside the facility is like nirvana for a dog. For cats, a touch of human kindness inside the facility is (corny alert) purr-fect, something like a social visit.  

A perfect starting point for folks wanting to offer some friendliness for shelter animals is the FRIENDS of Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter, at http://www.fosocas.org. 

Below: "I meant to do that!"

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If you don't chuckle ... 
https://www.facebook.com/JukinVideo/videos/1154381767983425/

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Jim Hutchinson Sr.

 

The captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association have been keeping their parties happy lately with a nice selection of fish. While the fish are not always large, the action has been steady enough to please the anglers. 

Captain Carl Sheppard on the “Star Fish” had a party recently which experienced some real variety. First they found some small fish in the back bay consisting of small black bass, sea robins and smooth dog fish. At the turn of the tide, some weakfish rose to the bait. They seemed to prefer gulp or small pieces of squid. As Captain Carl moved toward the ocean with the flood tide, he found both herring and cocktail bluefish on the bars right close to the breaking water of the inlet. He managed to find some small fluke on the open bottom in the ocean and on the artificial reef where he also found some short sea bass. Another trip on the “Star Fish” with Captain Tom Masterson and Mate Marlyn Graham the Barth family picked up 20 small fluke in the inlet along with some nice kingfish. In the afternoon, Captain Carl and Mate Marlyn Mike had the Dr. Brian Wilonski’s family of 10 from Princeton out. The youngsters had a ball catching 3 keeper porgies and a mess of throwback black sea bass. 

Captain Gary Dugan of the “Irish Jig” has been exploring different wrecks with success His anglers have been busy reeling in fish and taking fish home for the table. He expects fluke fishing to pick up soon, and he has been exploring different areas. He has some inshore night trips for shark scheduled and is optimistic about them. 

Captain Fran Verdi of the “Francesca Marie” reports he has been busy fishing and finding that it has been taking work to put together some decent catches.

 Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.net

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John Lane

Yft in da house

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Kevin Granfield

Official length 115 dressed 750. Stud of a bluefin that I had the pleasure of spending a quality five hours with.

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Louis James DeFusco 

 for being awesome 30 hrs of no sleep... and 
Mike Schmittand 
Trista Evans for making an amazing reel. 
Ralph Craft and crafty one customs for the sickest deep drop rods ever. The season has just begun. Can't wait to see what comes from the abyss next. Justin from 
JB Tools you rock bud. Can't wait for our next trip. 
Billy Freeman and 
Scott Cothran I gotta get you guys out !

Dog Walkers and Cat Socializers needed!

FRIENDS of Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter is a nonprofit, 501 (c)(3) tax-deductible charity, that was founded in 1990. We are an all-volunteer organization that is dedicated to the health and welfare of Ocean County, N.J. cats, kittens and dogs.

As our name implies, we have a close relationship with the county-run shelter in Manahawkin where our team of amazing volunteers walks dogs, fosters and socializes cats and kittens, assists in adoptions and arranges additional veterinary care when needed (that the FRIENDS pays for). You could say that if there is anything that will enhance the health and welfare of a shelter animal, our volunteers are there!

Over the years, FRIENDS has extended its reach beyond just helping shelter pets waiting for their new homes to include a robust kitten “bottle baby” foster program and a very successful trap, neuter and return (TNR) plan that began in Long Beach Island in February of 2012. Some of our successes include:

• Our TNR programs, which have worked with Popcorn Park Zoo, and Barnegat and Stafford veterinary hospitals to sterilize, vaccinate, chip, and either return to their colony locations or adopt out hundreds of feral cats and kittens on both LBI and the mainland.

• Our kitten bottle baby foster program, launched in 2013, which gives the tiniest of kittens a chance to survive and find happy homes.

• Our cat foster program, which takes cats who are not doing well in the shelter environment into the loving homes of our volunteers until they can be adopted.

• Our dog rescue program, which provides transport and financial backing to relocate dogs who are not thriving in the shelter environment to rescue organizations, where they will have a much better chance of being adopted.

All of the funding for these programs have been provided through grants and the kinddonations of Ocean County residents.

Please help us continue our work by making a donation. If you are interested in becoming a FRIENDS volunteer, check out this page, and if you have any questions about our TNR program, you can reach us at this address:[e-mail]

At the heart of all our ventures is the belief that everyone deserves a second chance for a happy life. Your continued donations of both time and money have provided more second chances to more deserving pets than you will ever know. We hope you will continue to help us in making our part of the world a better place for dogs, cats and kittens.

Dottie Reynolds, President

Directions: From route 72

Enter the Stafford Park complex from Route 72 at the Stafford Park Blvd. (old Recovery Road) traffic light.  Continue to second traffic light (Target entrance on the left).  At the light, turn right and continue on Haywood Road, pass motor vehicle inspection station, pass the recycling center, to the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter at 360 Haywood Road on your right.  All shelter pets are vaccinated, spayed/neutered and microchipped.  Call 609-978-0127.  Hours daily except holidays, 1 to 4 p.m., Wednesday 1 to 6:30 p.m.  Perhaps a really lucky pet will find a home in your house!

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Nova Scotia's Atlantic Sea Cucumber Plans Asian Market Expansion, Opens State-of-the-Art Facility

SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Herald News] By Andrea Gunn - July 29,2016

 

A new processing plant at Hackett’s Cove will allow Nova Scotia to grab a bigger share of the lucrative Asian sea cucumber market.

 

Atlantic Sea Cucumber Ltd. celebrated the grand opening of the facility on Thursday, thanks in part to a $500,000 loan from ACOA.

 

The company is expanding from its small location in Sambro to a significantly larger state-of-the-art facility in Hackett’s Cove. Renovations to the refurbished plant included upgrades to the walls and floors as well as the installation of a new boiler, dryer, processing line, pump and drying racks.

 

The enhancements will enable the company to increase the capacity of its cucumber-drying operation as well and undergo the Canadian Food Inspection Agency accreditation process.

 

 

That will allow the company to to export their products to Asia and tap into what a government news release calls an underutilized species.

 

About 20 workers will start at the new Hackett’s Cove facility right away. That number is expected to grow to 40 or 50 over the next few years.

 

A question-and-answer sheet provided by Atlantic Sea Cucumber Ltd. says the resource has an enormous market in Eastern and Southeast Asia where it is viewed as a delicacy.

 

The product, which is prepared in both dried and fresh forms, is recognized for it’s slippery texture and a number of purported therapeutic properties.

 

“With the opening of our new plant in Hackett’s Cove, we’re pleased to be contributing to the vitality and growth of the sea cucumber processing industry in Nova Scotia. Sea cucumbers from cold Atlantic waters are a high-calibre export and we’re committed to educating Asian consumers on their many merits as we grow these markets,” said Sam Gao, CEO of Atlantic Sea Cucumber Ltd.

 

Sea cucumber harvested in the wild off Nova Scotia have a higher value than product farmed in Asia as it is said to have more flavour, better texture, and a higher protein and nutrient content.

 

“The export market for wild sea cucumber species is expected to grow,” said David Moore, President of the Canada Sea Cucumber Processors Association in a statement.

 

“Innovative Canadian processors are developing and positioning sea cucumber products for wholesale and retail customers globally.”

 

But Dr. Susanna Fuller, Halifax-based marine biologist and co-author of the most comprehensive public study ever conducted on the state of Canada’s fish stocks, said the federal government needs to look more closely at the sustainability of the resource before celebrating.

 

She said globally, Cucumaria Frondosa — the main species of sea cucumber harvested off Nova Scotia — has been serially depleted through overfishing.

 

Moreover, Fuller said there is no science presently being undertaken at a federal level to look into the health of stocks.

 

“There’s not a scientist at DFO right now who is in charge of new and emerging fisheries, which includes sea cucumbers, and my concern would be that we’re expanding before we learn just how we can do it sustainably.”