ARCTEKJim

Near-record sea bass taken near wrecks


Tuesday, February 20, 2007 BY AL RISTORI
For the Star-Ledger
Capt. Howard Bogan Jr. reported that Sunday's trip to 50- to 80-mile wrecks with his Jamaica from Brielle started slowly due to a very strong current. Rough seas and the current backed off later in the morning, however, and limit catches of mixed-sized sea bass were the rule all around the boat -- including some exceptional bass, topped by an 8-pounder that took the pool for Antoine Stewart from Philadelphia.
The International Game Fish Association world record for black sea bass is a 10 1/4-pounder caught from a wreck off Virginia Beach on Jan. 1, 2000. The men's line class record for 30-pound test is 9 1/2 pounds, also from Virginia Beach, on Dec. 22, 1990. And the 20-pound mark is 8 pounds, from Montauk on Oct. 10, 1993. The rest of the recognized line classes from 2-pound up to 16-pound are less than 8 pounds. Anything over 30-pound test is considered all-tackle. The largest of all the women's line class records is 6916 pounds.
Michael Marchie of Laurence Harbor had a 7-pound sea bass in his limit catch. Piscataway anglers Dan Izzi, Roger Buratti and Hiram Torres were among others with limits. The Jamaica sails to those wrecks at 1 a.m. every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through April. Call (732) 528-5014 for information.
Also at Brielle, Capt. Joe Bogan continues to find very good ling fishing over Mud Hole wrecks in 130 to 160 feet during daily trips with Jamaica II. The numbers aren't as high as they were in January, but are exceptional for what is ordinarily a very slow month -- and even held up over the weekend despite strong winds.
Top catches from last week through the weekend included 44 ling and two cod by Andy Berko of Berlin; 34 ling, five white hake and three pollock for George Hanson from Trenton; 32 ling, two cod and four white hake by Everett Williams of Camden; and a 12-pound blackfish plus 39 ling bagged by Jimmy Weems from Reading, Pa.
Capt. Bobby Bogan said the wind blew much harder than predicted Saturday when he fished far offshore wrecks with his Gambler from Point Pleasant. Worst of all, the swell and chop were from opposite directions and, even with two anchors out, the boat was swinging over the wreck. As a result, there was only a pick of jumbo sea bass along with quite a few ling and some small pollock. Dawn Moore from Hamilton Township managed a dozen sea bass and 18 ling.
Capt. Mike Bogan had the Gambler out Sunday to the 20- to 40-mile wrecks, which are being fished on a daily basis, but he also had to fight rough seas in order to catch fair numbers of ling.
Bogan's Boating School has a Safe Boating course the next two days from 7 to 10 p.m. at Bogan's Basin in Brielle. The cost is $65 per person, and the test for the New Jersey boating certificate is taken at the end of the class. Other two-day classes are scheduled for March 14, 15, 28 and 29 as well as April 11 and 12. One-day classes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. are set for March 3, 11, and 24, plus April 15 and 28. The test-out option will be given by appointment Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Call (732) 528-3847 to register.
The 20th New Jersey Boat Show opens Thursday at Raritan Center in Edison. For directions and discount coupons, go online (www.macevents.com).
Brielle Tackle will run its final rod-building class March 5, 7 and 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. The cost is $65. Call (732) 528-5720 to sign up.

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