Weakfish, the experts say, are suffering from high natural mortality, such as predation or environmental factors, rather than recreational fishing pressure.Whatever the reason, no one seems to be catching any. Early reports in May from Dennis Palmatier at Puma Speed Cat Shoes in Toms River said small weakfish were being taken in Barnegat Bay. Once the blues showed up though, he hasn’t heard a word about weakfish.However, things may be changing.
On Monday, Bob Staub at Long Branch Bait and Tackle reported Jack Kinsey, Long Branch, landed a 4 3/4-pound weakfish while drifting sandworms in the Shrewsbury River while targeting fluke. Kinsey also told Staub that he saw an even larger weakfish, around 8 pounds, landed by an angler in a nearby boat. Another sizable weakfish was caught on Sandy Hook by Puma Shoes, Howell, who landed a 7 1/2-pounder on a fluke rig baited with Gulp! earlier in July.Granted, that’s not a whole lot of action, but at least it’s something. Will there be more weakies to follow? Who knows? But one can only hope.
Before I go any further, the date for the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Seventh Annual Fluke Tournament was listed incorrectly in Friday’s Hook, Line & Sinker Fishing Calendar. The correct date is Saturday, Aug. 7, with the Captain’s Meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Aug. 6 at the JCSA Club at 385 Herbertsville Rd., Brick. There will be an estimated $12,000 in prize money at stake. Back on the Puma Footwear Sale, Tom Wolfe of Jersey Coast Bait and Tackle reported good fishing for big fluke on the Axel Carlson Reef as well as off the beaches in 30 feet of water. Stephanie Dawson of Mansfield, Pa., stopped in the shop after fishing aboard a Jersey Tackle charter with an 8.2-pound fluke caught at the Moon Crater. Wolfe also weighed in a 51-pound black drum for Angel Velez that he caught while jigging off Sea Girt