For the fishermen of South Jersey this has probably been one of the best winter wreck fishing years as they simply cannot avoid loading up a humongous cooler with sea bass, pollack, cod, ling, ocean pout and mackerel. It is found that the winter heavyweights of cod and pollack making a grandstand in South Jersey waters.
According to a local fisherman during the second week of January, he was able to get out on the Gambler on a 40-mile wreck trip. Once he set anchor in 4- to 6-foot north seas, it was non-stop action on ling to 5 1/2 pounds, then, the cod and pollack got hungry. He told that one after another came over the rail, and the entire boat had a steady pick, eventually landing 31 cod between 10 and 18 pounds and 18 pollack up to 21 pounds.
He opined it seems that Jersey is seeing a small comeback of cod and pollack into our waters. It may have something to do with the cold winter, as water temperatures are now generally 48 to 52 degrees offshore. Capt. Jim Cichhitti reported the Jan. 6 trip as one to be remembered for filling coolers with large model humpies as limits were taken by Choi Meen of Edison, up to 7 1/2 pounds, Ralph Molinaro of North Haledon up to 7 pounds, David Kim of East Rutherford to 7 pounds, and Mike Jung of Queens, NY, scoring a 25-bag limit to 7 1/2 pounds.
