By John Spinelli
If you ever considered fishing as a hobby, summer is the best time to learn.
In addition to the warmer weather making for pleasant excursions on a river, a lake or the ocean, New Jersey Fish and Wildlife recently opened the summer flounder, bluefish and black sea bass seasons.
According to a study of Google trends data by Captain Experiences, an online platform for booking outdoor sports guides, the number of fishing licenses issued has increased by 10% nationwide since 2019; New Jersey is now the 11th highest state for fishing licenses.
The same study noted how the COVID-19 pandemic positively impacted fishing and other outdoor activities.
“Fishing is among the nation’s most popular pastimes, with more than 50 million Americans that fish each year,” said Mike LaFirenza of Captain Experience.
“The growth of fishing has also become an important component of conservation and habitat restoration efforts in the U.S., as revenue derived from fishing licenses helps finance federal, state and local programs for wildlife protection,” he said.
So, how much does it cost to get a fishing license? In New Jersey, a saltwater fishing permit is free! Registration is required if you are over 16 years as data is collected for state marine wildlife research. For freshwater fishing In New Jersey, a minimal fee and educational class are required. However, if you fish on a party boat out of the local marinas, you do not have to be registered at all.
Some local bait stores shared advice for both river and ocean fishing. Despite their names, the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers are actually estuaries and count as saltwater fishing due to the water’s salinity and the species living there.
Mike Pinto, from Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright, offered some advice for local anglers.
“On the surf, people have been catching bluefish,” he said, with striped bass on the “top water” in Sea Bright and Sandy Hook.
For bait options, Pinto suggests plugs for bluefish and clams for bass. “Fluke are now starting to show and customers said they are catching them off artificial Gulp! or spearing,” he added. (Gulp! is a water-based polymer in a variety of scents that works as well as live bait, some say.)
“I would recommend fishing by the Oceanic Bridge area in Middletown,” Pinto said, noting boasters should be careful of drifting in the strong currents of the rivers.
The owners of Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands also offered advice for new anglers this summer.
“From what customers have said to us, they have been catching striped bass by Rumson. The Portland Point area seems to be an underrated new spot right now,” said Joe Julian.
The best way to learn about fishing is from an experienced fisherman. “My biggest advice is simply go down the beach, check it out, talk to anglers already there, and scout it out. It’s all about testing it out,” Julian said.
He also suggested using nature to your advantage: “Paying attention to the tides and birds” can also indicate where the best places to fish are.
Steve Spinelli (the reporter’s uncle) of Skylarker Charters in Belmar said the spring fishing has been “phenomenal.” As a captain for over 25 years, Spinelli confirms that “fishing really is for everyone,” and this season is shaping up to be a good one.
“We’ve been fishing 100 feet of water mostly on clams or jigs off the Shark River Inlet and Asbury Park. Things are starting to heat up,” he said.
For more information about registering for or obtaining a fishing permit, visit the NJ Fish & Wildlife website at dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing.
The article originally appeared in the May 23 – 29, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
