02.12.25 Nice to see the kids all grown up...

      There are some things that make my job worth it. I can tell you if you're going to make any good money in nursing, education isn't that track. But what does make the pain of a lower salary tolerable is the joy you get seeing your students out in the real world. 

     I met Mary in the fall of 2002 when she started at Essex County. Over the next two years, through hard work and dedication, and through thick and thin, she persevered and graduated and successfully passed her NCLEX licensure examination this past July. 

    This week while teaching clinical at Clara Maass Medical Center I found her holding down her position in the Emergency Department. While she found it hard to break from calling me Professor we talked like colleagues. There's some thing to be said, and to be proud of, when the apprentice passes by the master. If you or your family find yourselves in the CMMC ER and Mary is your nurse you're in good hands. 

02.11.25 Is this going to be a trend?...

      A month or so ago I wrote a post regarding wintering over striped bass. I touched on things happening north of the border and in known wintering over waters such as the Housatonic River in Connecticut. While the ASMFC close to punt any changes in regulations for 2025 things are brewing inside state waters from the south to the north.

     While we're still trying to determine if the ocean side 28 - 31inch slot is good for the striped bass populations plenty of places still allow harvesting of smaller fish for the cooler. New Jersey's Striped Bass Bonus Program allows for anglers to harvest fish 24-28 inches. On January 17th Maryland published their regulations for 2025 for recreational and charter boat fisherman allowing one fish in the Chesapeake Bay with a size limit of one fish 19 - 24 inches. That goes from May 15th till July 15th and from August 1st through December 10th. There's a closed "season" from July 16th through July 29th, which I think was once their "Trophy Fish" season. Pennsylvania allows anglers fishing the Delaware River to keep one fish 22- 26 inches, from April 1 - May 31st. 

     But an interesting thing came out of Connecticut this week when Senator Brandon Chafee put up proposed  bill H.B. 6248. That bill calls for the moratorium on fishing for striped bass in the lower Housatonic. The reason, "To restore the population of striped bass in the lower Housatonic River." Chafee, a Democrat, proposes this on the heels of talks of "No Harvest" and "No Target" during the ASMFC meeting in December, both of which failed to be included in any change of regulations for 2025. 

     So while the push is to protect large spawning striped bass we continue to target, and kill, the smaller fish from 19- 31 inches up and down the East Coast. The smaller fish are still spawning fish, just not of the magnitude of the larger females. Killing the smaller fish, which are the future of striped bass, and targeting the last few decent, at best, spawning year classes is a death knell for the striped bass' future. 

While I am sure Chafeee ruffled some feathers up in Connecticut will the future of protecting the striped bass down to the individual states and the rivers and bays that fall within their jurisdictions? Some talk the talk but then push to satiate the shareholders, both recreational and commercial, but using the data and "science" to skew the numbers but all the while allowing more, and smaller, striped bass to be harvested. 

02.10.25 That big ship didn't go anywhere...

     As I talked about in an earlier post the SS United States, a 1,000- foot long ocean liner, was scheduled to begin its journey south to Alabama this past weekend. It was stopping there before being sunk as part of a reef building project off of Florida. The ship was purchased by Okaloosa County, Florida and will be sunk about 20 miles southeast of Destin, Florida. 

     The ship has sat at Pier 82 since 1997. It was supposed to be moved temporarily to Pier 80 before making its way down the Delaware River to the open ocean before landing at Mobile, Alabama. If successful it will be the largest artificial reef project in the world. 

     The United States Coast Guard's delay in the two-week journey has been ruled "indefinite" with no new target gate announced. Honestly, I'm thinking this could go down as one of the greatest maritime tow jobs ever completed, or the biggest debacle ever to be witnessed by millions of people. 

     While the idea seems to be right and noble, I'm not sure if all the logistics, and common sense, were considered. If anything goes wrong in the Delaware River it will surely 

cause an environmental and economic disaster. In addition, how will all those shad, herring and striped bass get past it? I can just imagine this thing turned on its side somewhere in the Delaware River, hopefully not near any of the bridges it needs to be navigated around. 

     The SS United States was the flagship ocean liner that was built completely in the United States. It holds the record for the quickest transatlantic voyage by going from New York to England in 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes. Sadly it has sat for years after being stripped of all of it's beauty and elegance and is now just a hulk of a ship, which could, possibly, become home to all types of marine life off the coast of Florida, or in the Delaware Bay. 

02.09.25 Is it a Super Sunday?...

      Today all eyes, well as least 120 million, well 240 million if everyone that has two, will be watching Super Bowl 59 tonight when the Chief's play the Eagles. That's a lot of people. For us, who moved down into Eagles country eight years ago, all that is The Birds is evident everywhere you go. While the big game is playing down in New Orleans this year the signs of fandom can be seen just about everywhere in and around Philly. I'm sure it's the same in Kansas City. For me I hope the Eagle's win, kind of for Saquon Barkley, and kind of not for Patrick Mahomes. 

     Last year when Joe Biden was our president it was the same thing. Just a pause in the nuttiness of all things politics for a day when social media, television and cable, and the airwaves were focused on the big game. This year Donald Trump is in office and on this day the same hype and anticipation for the 630 PM start is in the air. 

     It's been a few weeks since Trump took office. While I'm no fan of politics, politicians, and Trump, it's easy to get drawn into the fevor and quagmire that is news, both real and fake. Depending on who you watch and who you talk to these days are either the start of a new beginning or the end of the world. While things are bigger than us, meaning country and worldwide affairs, most of us just continue to do what we do with little change in our day to day lives. 

    Yesterday, just a day before the Super Bowl, Theresa and I were out and about for the usual "we're both off on Saturday rounds". It started with a drug test to re-up my Captain's license, a trip to the Trenton Market and the Dollar General, then a final stop at Wegman's across the river in Yardley, Pa. At each stop I looked for signs of the end of the world but surprisingly didn't find any. 

     The days of every house having a political or social movement sign are gone. The ones that are still up are in the yards of people that don't do such a good job of staying current with their homes upkeep. Remember a few years back when planting a sign in your yard let everyone know who walked or drove by that you were "On the right side". That's all gone these days. Also gone are all the billboards and signs regarding Covid and all things vaccines. That's a good thing, as hopefully that scourge and pandemic is behind us. What's funny is if you drive down 95 through Philadelphia there are still Kamala Harris billboards up, maybe they plan on switching them up to the ambulance chasing lawyer ads when the weather gets better. 

     While some folks always have their heads in the sand as to what's going on in the world around them there's something to be said for keeping your head down and your energy and focus on ourselves and our families. Yes, everything is big and global now, maybe more so than ever, but are things really all that bad?

     Without knowing all the ramifications of "Putting America First" I must say I'm all about putting America first, while not putting anyone else down. I do believe in taking care of our country and citizens, and its visitors, first, before lending a helping hand to those around the globe that need it. When something happens abroad, I hope the world responds, each doing what and as much as they can for the greater good. But we have been doing too much for too long, at times abandoning, and hurting, the United States. It's akin to being told to put your own oxygen mask on before helping the person seated next to you on a plane. 

     But if you're going to go "America" then there are sacrifices and practices you have to be willing to make. The internet, now global, has killed local mom and pop brick and mortar shops for the ease and the cost of cheap products made overseas and delivered to our door within hours. We preach one and practice another. Most of us have become used to not living within our means, and then complaining about those basic necessities which are the biggest draws on our checking accounts. 

     In my visit to the Trenton Market, Dollar Tree, and Wegman's, which represents a cross section and the diversity that is Mercer and Bucks County, I didn't see the division that was once seen as soon as you went outside your house or drove to work. On this day it was all things green and Eagles. From cheesy dollar store items to expensive charcuterie platters, everything and everyone, just about, was brought together by todays game. That's not to say everyone, some have left the NFL a few years back when social issues and the sport became too polarizing, and some never cared "about a stupid game". 

     If I cared enough, and with just a click of a mouse, I could immerse myself into all things bigger then my day to day life. There's Trump, and Musk, and DOGE, and the border, and Gaza and the Israelis and the Palestine's, and all the changes that are being made by the current president, who, pretty much ran the table during the election in November. I don't know what's good or bad with all of it, but I do sense a lot of people are running scared, but who really knows, the only thing I can look to are the biased reporting and presentations between FOX, CNN, The New York Times, and The New York Post just to name a few. 

     Sometimes old things need to be blown up and started anew. That could be from something as easy as a room remodel, new landscaping, your own health and wellness, and I guess even parts of our government and the people that run it. But as I have learned, blowing things up are only good if you have a solid plan for a rebuild. And for that to happen you need most of the people that are involved onboard. 

     Since Trump took office here's some of the things that I have seen that has brought people together, or not. Wildfires decimated counties in California. The fly fishing shows continue to make their tour across the country. We've had two airline tragedies occur in the United States. Beyoncé won the Grammy's. Luka Doncic was traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers, if you a basketball fan. Gas prices have come down a few pennies for each gallon. Egg prices continue to be unstable. To note, we purchased two-18 packs from Wegman's yesterday for $15. If we went organic we would have paid more. And with that I'm sure the price of chicken wings is up these days. How many wingless chickens are there leading up to today's festivities? 

      I have to admit I get sucked into the routine of checking my phone, from the first thing in the morning to last thing at night. Most of the time it's on Facebook, where I get sucked in into quick videos of dancing couples, things fishing related, Dave Portnoy's pizza reviews, and memes or shorts poking fun at people, which is usually themselves doing it to themselves. But there's also updates and connections made regarding family and friends who welcome a new edition to their family, the death of a loved one, or a kid going off or graduating from school, and of course hero shots of the one that didn't get away. 

     It also includes checking the news, I don't know why I do that but I do. It's usually biased one way or another and doesn't lead to fact finding and allowing the reader to decipher what is real vs fake. But not all the news is bad. Yesterday I saw that a large group of tourists were heading out 

to sea for an 11-day cruise board "The Big Nude Boat". In a time of "crisis', as some would say, and with so many unknowns yet to be answered, 2,300 people planned, and paid for, the opportunity to be united with like-minded, and unclothed folk, to come together for a winter vacation. There's no MAGA or BLM hats or shirts, no Chief's or Eagles jerseys, just good old stripped down boobs and asses, some I'm sure padded with too much adipose tissue, enjoying the suns warmth while criss-crossing the Caribbean. I don't know what that scene looks like but I'm sure for every 10 you see there's a 2 strutting behind them to ruin whatever moment of excitement hits your brain and your loins. That's for guys and girls on board I'm sure. 

     But for most of us today will mean too much food and drink, a late night in front of the tube (if it's a good game), a shortened sleep, and an early day up and at it tomorrow morning doing that we do. If we, and I, just turn it all off, and take care of ourselves and ours, while ready to help someone everyday, those that pull the big strings won't be able to make, or ruin, our lives.

     For sure we will wake up divided, and for some pissed off. Pissed off at who won, how the refs interfered, how the half-time was great, or not, and how much money, they say 1.39 billion will be wagered today, was won or lost, from the office pool to the internet gaming sites. It will be a 24-hour social media and news dump until someone or something (T)trump's the days news. And then we'll be back where we started on Friday, looking for the next thing to hyper focus on and be pissed off about. 

02.08.25 Trying to figure out who the good guys are....

      Above is a just a quick illustration of how some of the 14 parties as part of the ASMFC Management Board voted this past week on one issue regarding Addendum III to Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for striped bass. That's a lot in one sentence.

     Trust me, I can't come up with this stuff alone and look to the insight and work done by Charles Witek, who pens the One Anglers Voice blog, HERE, Jim Hutchinson of The Fisherman magazine, and additional press releases and published articles. While I do my due diligence in attending the virtual meetings and offering public comments it's daunting to figure out and know, correctly, how this all runs and what it's all about. But when I'm twisted up I look around to those that have a better understanding of it all, even if I don't always agree with the positions I read. 

     What I do know, or believe, is that fisheries management comes down to money and politics. This isn't PETA holding bare-your-breasts (for men and women) sit-ins for the betterment of the striped bass. Behind our favorite fish are shareholders, like commercial and recreational interests, as well as industry sectors- like tackle shops, tourism, and the like, which all want a part of the cash that goes with pursuing, and either killing and eating, or catching and releasing, striped bass. 

     The ASMFC Board consists of voting interests from 16 "parties". There's the 12 states along the East Coast, one district, that's the District of Columbia, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, and two federal agencies in NOAA and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. So that's 16 all together.

     Each "interest" puts forth three representatives to make 40 commissioners with the exception of DC, the PRFC, NOAA, and USFWS, which each have one. The three are broken down by 1) The head of the state's marine fisheries department, 2) A member of the state legislature, and 3) A governor's appointee who has "knowledge and interest in the fishery"- per the ASMFC website. 

     So New Jersey, who I think is the the devil reincarnated in regards to striped bass management, brings forth the following to the ASMFC Board. They are,

1) Joseph Cimino, ASMFC Chair, from the NJ DEP

2) Jeff Kaelin, from the LUND Fisheries (Commercial)

3) Senator Vin Goal

     There are two "ongoing proxies", Heather Corbett, of the NJ DEP, and Adam Nowalsky, a former head boat Captain out of Atlantic County, former ASMFC commissioner, and current member of the NJ Marine Fisheries Council representing Atlantic County. 

     So first what is a "Ongoing proxy". Well, there's two types of proxies. According to the ASMFC the "Ongoing proxy serves in the Commissioners stead whenever the Commissioner is not in attendance and will represent the Commissioner at any/or all board meetings unless there is a named proxy for a specific board". Now there's also a "Permanent Proxy" which ...replaces the Commissioner in all aspects and appears on all lists as the Commissioner-in-fact".

     Hey I get it. There's a meeting, you wife is about to deliver your first child, and you need a fill-in. That way the world doesn't get held up by you not casting your vote. But to have someone jump-in all the time? C'mon man. Please. Are we that dumb out here? 

     I always wondered about all of this because I could never understand while Adam Nowalsky is always around and throws a monkey wrench in anything good for the striped bass. So basically he IS Senator Vin Gopal when it comes to the ASMFC Board, but remember just "on-going". 

     Senator Vin Gopal must be really into fishing and striped bass to be on the Board. It's open to any member of the state legislature and I am sure among them here in New Jersey there's a die hard angler amongst them. I Googled "Vin Gopal and fishing or striped bass" and got a fishy related Bill that he co-sponsored. It was back in 2022. That bill looked to make the first

full week of June, "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week". Impressive. Looking into some of the Whereas's, you can read all that is good about New Jersey and fishing,

     Now, let me be clear. Yes, fishing and kids and families are just nice. I loved fishing with my kids when they were little, but they never took the bait. When I'm into the zone and doing my thing the last thing I want to see is some parents introducing their kids to the sport. Sounds horrible, yes. Introduce them to the sport in July. At times seeing kids fishing is like hearing them at a fancy restaurant when you're trying to celebrate something or do some adulting after a hard day. And when you drag them down to catch a blitz and then pimp them out on social media, well, I just can't. 

     The best is "Fishing and boating are also believed to many to be significant stress-relieving activities", well, for me, when it comes to fly fishing for striped bass, I find it anything but stress-relieving. I'm usually   frustrated and pissed off, but I guess that works for me. 

     Joseph Cimino is a busy guy. He's the head of the New Jersey DEP and represents New Jersey on the NJ Marine Fisheries Council, the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Shellfisheries Council, the ASMFC Commission, and the Mid-Atlantic Marine Fisheries Council. He's been in the fisheries game for a long time coming from the Hudson River, down to North Carolina, then Virginia, before coming to New Jersey. So he must know his stuff. 

     Jeff Kaelin is the Director of Sustainability and Government Affairs at LUND Fishery which is located down in Cape May. He's buddies with those at the Garden State Seafood Association which is made up of commercial operations, mostly based down in Southern New Jersey. A list of those members can be found on the GSSA website as seen below. 

     My point there is there might be a slight bias on Kaelin's part when it comes to the discussion of commercial and recreational fishing for striped bass. Now his buds aren't commercially fishing for striped bass in New Jersey but you know what I mean. Those commercials, and the head boat operators, and the charter operations that do fish for striped bass, dock their boats at the same marinas, and sit down and have a beer at the same bars. Does he represent the fly rod anglers? 

     So when I look into why things may go sideways with managing striped bass I have to just lay it down and kind of decipher if there are any trends. First, do the states vote along the same or party lines? Are there some states who have a more commercial interest vs a recreational one, or both, and how does that affect how they vote? Do the people we send to the commissions and boards truly represent the constituents or shareholders they claim to? We don't have a commercial fishery here in New Jersey.....but.....

     As 2025 turns into 2026 heading into our 2029 rebuilding goal for the striped bass the can will get kicked further down the road and the alliances between the states and voting members of the board will strengthen. Like a phone call, ring ring, "How are you going to vote?" 

     All I know is I can't wait to fish and share a tide with Vin Gopal this spring. Hey he's from Monmouth County and surely knows those good early spring spots to wet a line. 

02.07.25 ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board meeting held this week...

     While we know that regulations will remain the same for 2025 as they were for 2024 the insanity of meetings and kicking the can down the road continue. I like to think I have a gently grasp on this madness but I easily get twisted around from time to time. 

     This weeks nuttiness? What's the difference between a benchmark and stock assessment? Well I got a little help from AI when I Googled the question. So here it goes. Well first let's look at the upcoming assessments .

     Every two years, I think, there is a stock assessment (SA) to determine what is the current status of the striped bass population. And then there's a benchmark assessment (BA) which is an assessment to determine where certain triggers and thresholds are set to determine if the striped bass are "good" or in need of protection in the way of changing regulations for commercial and recreational anglers. 

     It is during the benchmark assessment that they determine things like overfished and overfishing. Above you see the results 2018 BA. You can see that since 2012 we have below the threshold for female spawning striped bass, or SSB. 

     The last stock assessment was completed last year, 2024, with the next one due in the fall of 2026. That's one of the reason the a-holes at the ASMFC punted for taking no action in 2025, "Let's just wait for the 2026 SA". But during these winter meetings held this week there was discussion on the timing of the 2026 SA and the 2027 BA, which would overlap and reported just months apart. 

     In order to determine things NOAA's Marine Recreational Reporting Program, or MRIP, has to be considered and that data changes each year. It's a flawed and inexact science. Trust me. But I have been told to "trust the science", and at times warned that challenging that could be detrimental to "the cause". Having a voluntary and confusing survey doesn't sound like solid data collection. Example, "Did you fish today", Did you fish last month". Yada yada. 

     What we are looking forward to is panic. Remember everything we have been doing has been in anticipation of rebuilding striped bass by 2029. Well folks, we're getting close. And the truth is there's two things going on here, shareholders (commercial and recreational) vying for the same fish, managers not wanting to look stupid, and all the people involved in it with a politically and financial gain. 

     I understand why people flake out on the ASMFC. They gave up on writing letters and listening to the meetings. No one listens to the public, the representatives only look out for their own, and meanwhile the striped bass suffer, which in the end will affect all of the shareholders, the striped bass included.

02.06.25 I forgot how much I like SF Blends....

...and Steve Farrar. Last night I sat in on MOF and listened to Steve explain the history of SF Blends, him and fly fishing, and how he ties simple flies. I have watched him and been coached by him for several hours over the years starting back in the 1990's when he used to visit The Fly Hatch or we worked the booth at TFFS where he would tie at Choinard's booth. 

     So I've watched Steve at the shows, the Atlantic Saltwater meetings, and 1:1 at his home. He's always ready to help another brother out. In fact, if you'd like to see him at work just do a quick search on You Tube or check out the ASWF website, and HERE you can see hims tie up a MV Baitfish, one of his original creations. 

     Steve is one of those no-eyes guys, which I am not, and I have tied tons each way over the years. Again, the statement can be true that eyes are more for the tyer than for the fish. But what Farrar does tie in is a contrasting throat color, usually red, that I don't see many doing these days. 

     So last night it was a nice hour long conversation about all that is him and SF Blends. It was all going good until I sniffed a little tariffs/imports/"current President" bait which Stevie didn't bite on. I have to say I could tell it wasn't just a supply chain question. 

     Steve talked about his flounder fly, which is sick, and I have fished before and caught a bass on. Funny, he has never fished one, or of course, caught a fish on. But between the tie and the tungsten along the bottom these things swim beautifully, and easily give you that "puff" when they touch the bottom. Try one of these while sight fishing and and you'll see how crazy good they are. 

     So after suffering through a remote ZOOM class this morning I got motivated to spend some time reconnecting with SF Blends. I forgot, over time and with Squimpish Flies materials, how much I like tying with Steve's blends. First I had to find one of those "purchased too many blend" bins and recall how I tied with them. It all came back to me pretty good and I just tied with the blends but added some saddle hackle inside and finished them with some faux jungle cock eyes. 

     Above is what I came up with. That fly hasn't been groomed, combed, wet, Plasti-Dipped, or trimmed. That's the way it sat in my vice after a quick 5 minute tie. While I could have been a tad more creative with contrasting colors along the sides I'm confident this will get eaten by something someday. 

     I still have a container of Plasti-Dip which Steve talked about last night. He was the one that introduced me to it and in using the bottles which are coated inside to prevent the dip from coagulating. Orvis sells them, but not the coated versions. I also took his advice about using 

tungsten powder mixed with acrylics to weight down crab flies. While dumbbell eyes are good, this weight on the bottom really allows them to sink, and glide, along the bottom. If you try it the only advice I could give, and something Steve always told me when tying, "Less is more". Too much tungsten and they get a little difficult to cast and are splashy.

     SF Blends are available just about everywhere. Fly shops first, if you have one within a short drive, or you order them from a shop online. I won't talk about the other options. Remember, Steve starting blending synthetic fibers and flash, and you can mix the different colors before you tie them in. Add some hackles inside for a Flatwing style and some bulk along the hook, or keep them sparse and let the silhouette and the tail action of the fly get noticed. Don't forget to add a little dark or peacock herl along the back to really make the fly noticed in the water. Also, Steve was big in using colored markers for some of the detail, like his flounder fly, which is tied using all white blends and then colored. 

02.05.25 Join Steve tonight on Masters of the Fly...

      Join Steve Farrar of SF Blends fame as he does a fly tying session on Masters of the Fly. It's free and you can join in tonight by registering at mastersofthefly.com. 

     Steve is just a love of a man who is selfless in sharing his passion of fly fishing and fly tying. I've had the pleasure of joining him on the beach, on the Vineyard, and at his house. The guy is just a wealth of knowledge and is always willing to help out, teach, and share. He's is one of the best.

02.04.25 Changes to the beaches from the South to the North....

     We'll see if "AC is Bangin'" this year. That's a catch phrase from One Stop Bait & tackle which calls that jetty home. The latest beach replenishment project in New Jersey just finished after 1,278,000 cubic yards of sand were pumped onto Absecon Island with some of it near the Absecon Inlet. That at just a cost of $38,000,000. The picture above is standing on the jetty looking towards the Ocean Casino Resort, originally aka Revel. 

     That jetty is a crowd favorite for those from "Monopoly City" and is known as a great eel soaking place. On one side you have, well had, a great pocket on higher water, and on the other 

the opening to the inlet with Brigantine Beach just across the drink. It's a great place for post-spawn stripers to stop over for a night of revelry and a good meal on their way up north. Below is a updated picture after the project was just about completed.

     If you look up a bit you can see the nub of a groin there which is known as the Vermont Avenue Jetty. It was there in 1978 when Al McReynolds landed what was the once World Record striped bass which weight 78 pounds 8 ounces. 

     You know the problem with "nourishment". Any troughs and pockets get destroyed which holds crustaceans, shellfish, and baitfish, which attracts predators. What you wind up with are gently sloped beaches that extend forever, until the ebb and flow of tides pulled the sand off the beach forming sand bars. And that sand south of the jetty and inlet will migrate north with the littoral current and shoal up. Below you can see how the beach and the groins and jetty looked before the pumping began. 

     The beach sits in front of the Ocean Casino Resort and is a big draw for guests and locals alike. So I am sure the money and politics of it all came into play. Tourists means money. Money means politics and this time Frank Pallone isn't involved, that's Congressman Chris Smith's territory. 

     Ocean County will get the pleasure of their beaches being replenished as work is about to begin from this week into the summer. Below is a tentative schedule,

• Seaside Heights and Park (Jan & Feb)
• Ortley Beach (Feb and March)
• Lavalette (March)
• Bay Head into the Manasquasn Inlet (During the spring)
• Mantoloking (During the spring)
• Brick Beaches (Early summer)
• Toms River - Northern beaches (early summer)

     This go around will cost just $73 million dollars. The last Ocean County project, completed in 2019, had a price tag of $130 million attached to it. According to the Asbury Park Press $2.6 billion has been spent replenishing beaches since 1922 and $500 million of that since 2012 when Sandy hit. 

Just in time for the fall. "New Jersey and You", and striped bass, perfect together. 

02.02.25 "I like big flies and I cannot lie..."

 

        Let's face it sometimes striped bass, and other swimming predators, just like the meat. While those in the trout game live and die by "matching the hatch" the same can be said, in a way, for those that like to fish for opportunistic eaters like striped bass. It's hard to believe that sometimes especially when you're throwing a size 2 albie flies into snot bait the guy next to you is catching them on a six-inch pink Hogy. Or when you have a beautifully tied almost exact replication of a sand eel and the spin angler next to you is getting them on a needle plug. 

     While we all like to think "I'm dialed in" one has to admit that sometimes you've just tossed your offering into the path of a patrolling striped bass and they chose to check it out, which they can only do with their mouths. And if your "bait" has six or nine hooks in it there's a good chance that their "sampling" of your plug, metal, or fly, will hook them. Winning! I guess.

     Big flies, let's say those tied porportionally correct on a size 6/0 hook or greater, have been all the rage for the last, let's say, eight years. Bob Popovic's Beast Fleye, which has been in the making since the early 1990's, hit the vices all across the world with some tiers maybe even surpassing, I mean visually, the Master himself. That's not disrepectful, that is what Bob would want. He would take that as a win. 

     Again this year at TFFS fly tier's tables were loaded with all types of big flies. Above is the lot that Brendan Gomez had readied for the show. Let's be real, his flies, along with some of the other more well known talented tiers, create beautiful pieces of art that can be displayed or fished. Of course the concern is that a 60-100 dollar fly may find its way into the fly-shredding mouth of a bluefish, or lost with a bad knot on a big fish or hard backcast. 

     While I have seen Bob walk the shows admiring, and respectfully critiquing, the work of tiers showing their Beast Fleyes, or large Hollows, or Bulkheads, I think he was more impressed with tiers expanding, not necessarily improving, the core foundations of what he brought to fly tying. He was, with a shred of doubt at first, intrigued with the possibility of building large flies with metal shanks, something that Blane Chocklett brought to fly tying. He was also impressed with Jason Taylor's use of different materials in building those bigger flies which was different then with only using bucktail. 

     While Gomez's work above is impressive in its own right, does it represent, as they say in the Capital One commercial, "What's in your wallet?" As Bob would say those bigger flies have a time and a place. If you happen upon a blitz of bass crashing through peanut or adult bunker then you're in. If you have just dropped a larger Deceiver in the current and it looks to irresistible to eat then you might get a strike. But, in order to really maximize your effort on the beach and boat being in the ballpark of "It's what's for dinner" really helps. 

     So yesterday after hours of schoolwork I decided I needed a break. I went into my fly tying room and placed a AHREX Bob Clouser 5/0 hook into my PEAK LIRS vice. (How's that for product placement, which does zero for me in the end). I was in the mindset that in order to do productive fly tying cranking out a large fly would be what I needed to do. But after some January practice sessions, along with time sitting at the Squimpish booth, I have enough arrows in the quiver for the start of the season. 

     I then looked over to my smaller PEAK vice. One I use for smaller "normal" everyday flies, which is what gets the job done most of the time. Small baitfish patterns, crabs, eels, and worms probably make up a large part of their opportunistic eating when it's not balls to the walls blitz feeding. 

     

      That's not to say that when there's no bait around, but stripers are on the move, that a larger fly or metal lip won't get bit. I attribute a lot of that to reaction strikes rather than something trying to eat to satiate a hunger. Couple opportunity, with annoyance, and you're gonna get slapped. I see that moreso when fishing in rivers, where a oversized multi-hooked plug gets hit 1,000 feet from where the angler stands because it swam from in front of a holding spot to behind it where bass maybe pointed into. The bass is thinking "Get the f&%k out of here" while the angler thinks they just out fooled a 30 pound fish. C'mon man.      

     So if you are an early season fly fisherman and need to stock up on flies don't forget to downsize and go smaller. While yes, most anglers are trophy fish hunters, there are a large percentage of us who enjoy just fishing for fishings sake, and are just as trilled for a properly swam fly getting eaten as they are fishing for giants during a blitz. 

     Think of your own diet. Do you sit down for a Denny's "Super Slam" breakfast every morning or finish the day at the "All You Can Eat" Korean buffet? No, it's finger or fast food throughout the day between those big chow-down orgies like you might see next weekend during Super Bowl Sunday. Sometimes smaller is better, at least in the water, but not in the bedroom. 

02.02.25 History repeats itself in the Potomac...

      In a purely striped bass way when I think of the Potomac River I think of one of the natal rivers that are a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Sadly, this week the Potomac River was the site of a plane crash between and American Airlines passenger plane and an Army helicopter that killed 67 souls on board. The mid-air collision occurred near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

    It was just a few weeks past the 40th anniversary of Flight 90 that crashed into the Potomac after striking the 14th Street Bridge. Both incidents occurred on the water's boundary between the states of Virginia and Maryland. In that crash 69 people were killed with only one crew member and four passengers surviving. 

     In 1982 there was no cable TV, no social media, and the coverage was only extended beyond the local or national news broadcasts. During major events they would break into local television programming to bring live coverage. 

     During the rescue efforts in 1982 a civilian on his way home from work stopped to see what was going on. it was during the dead of winter and rescuers on land and from the air had been trying to save the five survivors who were trapped and frozen in the Potomac. 

    Lenny Skutnik watched from the shore and later said he couldn't stand to watch the woman struggle and suffer anymore. He decided to jump in the river and swam to save Pricilla Tirado, whose husband and infant son died in the crash. While the efforts of the first responders can't be minimized the actions of Skutnik cannot be overlooked. 

I think the true heros are the everyday people who stop and act, and risk their life, to save another. 

     In addition to the Potomac crash Philadelphia had a crash last night that killed seven. In that crash a medical airplane carrying a 6-year old and five others perished. Sadly, the girl had just completed life-saving medical treatment at the Shriner's Hospital and was returning to Mexico. A woman on the ground perished in that incident. 

It's during these times we must think of the people that are deeply affected by these tragedies and thank God, or whoever our higher power is, that it wasn't you or your loved ones, that have endured such a horrible event. 

02.01.25 And the show must go on...

     Last Sunday I was looking through my stash from The Fly Fishing Show. I wondered if other attendees had a similar take. While I am sure some guys and gals were sitting down in front of a new vice, or maybe making some casts in their frozen yards with their new rod set ups, most of us had things tucked into our pockets or in small bags as we left the show. But those small purchases can add up. 

     What I realized after last weekend that stickers have become the new brochure and business card. Stickers are cheap, especially if buy them by the 1,000s. Just a quick online search found a company that'll do 1,000 stickers for $300, which includes the initial set up. 

     My collection this year wasn't impressive. It was like a disappointing Christmas morning when you were a kid. Some things I scored from the show are, a Jeff Currier striped bass mug that Theresa surprised me with, some AHREX hooks, of course some BUZFLY tails, some Squimpish materials, a Joe Nicosia fly, and some straps I won at the AFFM afterparty. Tom Lynch split his two beer glass winning's with me so I have a HMH leather wrapped glass for when I like to sit and sip a Guinness. And of course I fell for the fish measuring orange balls, more on that in the future. But then I also got a little somethin' somethin' that I'll see if it works before I break it out for all to see. One of those great idea zero chance of it working things. 

     While I'm not a freshwater fly tier many at the show were and jumped to the Tightlines booth where there were tons of Collins Hackle Farm saddles and capes to choose from. From the 

sounds of it this was a Holy Grail kind of find and I saw several people with long stringy things drapped over their arms as they looked through the bins. The above collection was posted by Jersey guy John Collins, who I know as one of the Catskill method fly tiers. 

     During this week, while I was in the trenches at school and at the hospital, I thought of those folks who take their fly fishing traveling show on the road. While "Having a good show" is great if you're a one day and done person, like me, several "do" the circuit. They either follow The Fly 

Fishing Show around or jump in and out of shows that are relatively close to home. But let's look at Brad Buzzi. His bucktails are a major draw at every show. Yes, you can get them elsewhere but it's hard to find a more consistent and affordable source. Each year I see lots of activity at his booth but this year I noticed less and less bucktails as the days wore on. He told me he had a great show which also means his stock gets depleted. So this week he was busy down in the BUZFLY basement finishing up tails for the upcoming Atlanta show.

      Above is Joe Cordiero's, of Flatwing fame, car which he must put 50,000 miles a year on as he goes from Maine to Florida and other points east and west. And at each show he sells he wares, as well as online. While selling is good keeping up must be another thing. I mean how 

many naked chickens can there be at these feather farms? Do they kill them and take their feathers, saddles and capes? Or do they give them haircuts and it all just grows back? 

     This weekend is the TFFS at Atlanta. Many of the vendors and tiers that did Edison make the 850 mile trek south. That's a lot of time, miles, and money to do part of the circuit. A guy on the perimeter of the show floors selling high end flies may make enough to cover his costs and might be able to give his wife a few $20 bills when he gets home but really how much do you make. I kind of liken it to when I guided up on the Delaware River. Driving from New Jersey, gas, tolls, lodging if I didn't sleep in my truck, lunches, shuttles, and the guide fees really cut into my bottom line where I had to question was I running a business or supporting a hobby? Thank God for the tips, which I really don't like, as I think it is just an expected thing and awkward at the end of the day, especially for those don't have it like that. Do nurses get tips? Teachers? How about a box of donuts or an apple. Just shut up. 

     The Edison show was big to the eye but as I discussed was made up of a lot of vendors packed in a single 10 x 10 or 20 x 10 foot booths. There were a lot of destination and guide operations and not all that many suppliers and shops that made picking and shopping part of the show.  

     Thankfully shops like Tightlines from New Jersey did the hard work which satiated those who attend the show as their yearly one-stop shopping event. And while there was always attendees at their booth, and at the register, there is such a huge investment in time, work, and overhead to be able to bring it all to the show. Sadly, the internet and online sales have taken such a big chunk of the fun of attending these shows to the point where a ShopRite bag grabbed from the truck is all you need to carry home those stickers and the few items you may have purchased. 

     The Atlanta show is in day two of the three-day weekend. You can see the size of the venue compared to the Edison show. While I have never been, it looks like it could be a one-dayer. I matched up the booth numbers with the list and saw several vendors who were at Edison

so they have seen a market, or a business need, to take the show on the road. Again, gas, tolls, lodging, food, beer, staffing, and don't forget the initial costs of the products they are trying to pimp out. It's a hard-knock life this fly fishing industry and everyone is competing for their slice of a very niche pie. I see those in charge don't spring for the show floor carpeting. Guys, it does make a difference. 

      The Fly Fishing Show tour heads to Washington, then Denver, and California, before finishing up in Lancaster, PA, which I might attend this year. The only other show that I do over 

the winter months is The Long Island Fly Fishing Expo which this year is held on March 8th in Hauppauge, Long Island. If I can couple that show with a stop over at our friends house in Nesconset that weekend then I might see if Theresa is down for it. Otherwise it's a long drive there and back for a single day show. 

     We're a month away from some of the opening and closings of waters where striped bass are known to haunt. Down south we will see parts of the bays and tributaries close while up north here in New Jersey our back bays and rivers open March 1st. If you are dialed in to a fishery 

then you know a lot of it is all about water temps and flows. Looking at the early predictions they are calling for a wet February, either snow or rain, with higher than normal temperatures. Perfect. Give me good flows and tolerable air and water temps and I'm happy and ready to kick off 2025.