It’s going to be tricky for the recreational fisher to keep up to date with the fishing regulations this year.

Please be sure to check with your bait and tackle supplier for the latest information before you head out.

As I write this, the NJ Marine Fisheries Council has sent a proposal to the state and the federal regulators proposing new guidelines to accomplish a 25.6 percent reduction in the tautog catch, hoping to stop the ban on tautog fishing due to go into effect April 1.

The proposal for recreational fishers will go into effect the day after it is officially approved. So until that happens, the ban is in effect April 1.

The new guidelines read: Jan. 1 to April 30, 4 fish at 14 inches; May 1 to July 15, a closed season (this is their prime breeding time); July 16 to Nov. 15, I fish at 14 inches; Nov. 16 to Dec. 31, 6 fish at 14 inches.

This should certainly be an acceptable reduction; however, the date it gets approved is the unknown entity now.
As always, I’ll do my best to keep you up to date on any and all changes that affect us here in the county.
Now, some good reports:
The Atlantic Star, Wildwood Crest, continues to have success going out for sea bass. Scott Wishart came home with 22 sea bass and the pool winner at 6.5 pounds. The next day Kai Hao, Flushing, N.Y. caught the limit and the pool winner at 6.7 pounds.

Now that the winter flounder season is open, I hope to be getting some more good reports.

More News: Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed legislation imposing a moratorium on harvesting horseshoe crabs in New Jersey. Fines for the continued harvesting of horseshoe crabs will be $10,000 for the first offense and $25,000 for each subsequent offense.

A Delaware fishing license is now required for anglers aged 16 and over fishing the Delaware Bay and Delaware River between the upstream tip of Artificial Island and the Delaware-Pennsylvania state line. In that section of the river, the Delaware state boundary extends to the New Jersey shoreline. When fishing from shore in New Jersey along that section of the river, a Delaware fishing license is NOT required. Delaware fishing license information can be found at http://www.fw.delaware.gov/Fisheries/Pages/NewFishingLicense.aspx

April 4-6 – Wildwood Boat Show and Fishing Expo, Wildwoods Convention Center, Fri: 2 p.m.–8 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., $6 adults, $4 children 12 to 18, under age 12 are free. www.wildwoodsboatshow.com.

April 6 – Fishing Flea Market, Cape May Convention Hall, Beach Drive, 660-7650, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., $3, children 12 and under are free.

April 19 – Ocean City Marlin and Tuna Club, Inshore/Offshore Seminar featuring Len Belcaro and Peter Barrett. Chuck Richardson, Tournament Cable Tackle ballyhoo rigging demo with circle hooks, 9 a.m.-noon, break for lunch and 1-4 p.m., Waterfront Marine on Bay Ave. in Somers Point, free.

Safe Boating Course, April 5, May 3, May 17, June 21, and July 26, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Avalon Senior Center, sponsored by the Avalon Free Library. U.S. Delsea Power Squadron will teach basic safety, seamanship, boat handling, boat types, rules of the road, navigation aids, regulations, adverse conditions, trailering and introductory piloting. Upon successful completion of the exam, the NJ Boater Safety Certificate will be issued.

Class limit 20 people, registration required, call Frank Leone 398-2649. Course is free; payment of $25 for materials and license fees.

Be sure to send your fish stories and pictures and Be My Guest reporter. Send info to cmiller@cmcherald.com.