March 28, 1997

Striped Bass

Striper catching on Graveling Point has dramatically improved! It is a catch and release fishery at the moment with about 99% throw back sized stripers.

Each day it seems that a different batch of fish are being caught. I am not sure if it is a migration to or from the Mullica River, but I am pretty sure that these fish did not winter over in the Mullica River. Resident stripers have a golden cedar water color where as ocean stripers have bright silver color. Fish sizes ranged from 10" to the very occasional 30" size striper this week. Several customers have caught and released over 10 fish in a six hour period.

Don't forget, those same customers have also had a six hour period without a bite. It has been very difficult this week to predict the good fishing periods. Best suggestion would be to fish through the top of the tide and all of the outgoing.

Bloodworms are the bait of choice for catching Graveling Point Stripers. These early spring feeders want worms, period. Some customers have taken clam bait for a backup after the bloodworms run out and have yet to report a catch. Bloodworms have been very difficult to keep in stock this year. I have been trying my best to keep larger worms in stock, but in most cases I am glad just to keep reasonable product on hand. Thank you all for your patience.

Are you ready for this??? Can you say Lymphocystis? Several anglers have reported this white foamy gross stuff attached to some Stripers at Graveling Point. It is a virus that fish catch triggered by warm water/cold water shifts. It has been said that school fish can pack so tight that they continually rub against each other causing and spreading the virus. It has no effect on the health or food value of the fish. The fins and scales may become ragged, but pose no long term threat. The white "stuff" will just disappear without any apparent reason. For a much more detailed explanation, look this virus up in a marine biology book or in the internet, but be prepared for many more long unpronounceable words.

Winter Flounder

I would love to tell you a whole lot about Winter Flounders, but I just can't. It has been so windy here again this week that it was unwise to take the boat out into the bay. A few reports of some large Winter Flounder were caught on the Route 9 bridge at the Forked River power plant. The rumor mill is that these flaties were from 15 to 18 inches. I can believe it, because when I drove over the bridge Thursday afternoon the anglers were just about shoulder to shoulder. Bloodworms and clams are the choice of bait. Anglers beware, a fresh water fishing license is required when fishing the West side of the white line on that bridge. No License is required for fishing on the East side of the bridge. Go figure?

Anybody have a metal trophy Striper tag? Throw it out. The trophy Striped Bass program is now called the Striped Bass Bonus Fish Program. If you have not already received your yellow cards in the mail, you probably did not fill out and mail your reporting form at the end of the year. Stop by and pick up an application to get in the program if you feel that you may someday need to keep a third Striped Bass of only 28". The application will also be available soon at the Scott's Bait & Tackle web site

. I was down on Mystic Island beach last week and was glad to see that there was not one bottle, can, rig wrapper or any other kind of garbage thrown about. Every year I hear about the few guys that are not so concerned about their trash. Graveling Point area has been unofficially declared a fisherman's easement zone by Refuge Managers. It is necessary to keep this area clean so that we may continue to fish there. I thank all the anglers who take extra effort to clean up after others and ask the few not so concerned to please take their trash with them.