The New York boat show should offer most boaters and anglers an opportunity to stretch their legs and their wallets this weekend while other will explore offshore wrecks for what promises to be a good cod fishing season.
Most of December saw fishermen taking advantage of the end of the sea bass season, but none better than a group of Montauk locals that enjoyed what was an outstanding day of fishing on the Tuesday before the New Year aboard the Viking Starship.
Fishing pieces south of Block Island the anglers picked away at cod and sea bass until the skipper made one stop that found the mother lode. Every angler aboard took their limit of sea bass as the rods start bending as soon as the bait hit the bottom. I was told that on that day 13 different species came aboard that included cod, sea bass, ling, pollock and monkfish. It was a day to remember.
Most charter and party boats that have been cod fishing, at least when the weather has allowed them to leave the dock have found cod and ling at offshore wrecks off the south shore of Long Island.
Those of you heading to the Javits Center will find lots of yachts, budget friendly boats and tech toys for the big boys as they say. Everything you need to know about the New York Boat Show, which will end Sunday, can be found at http://www.NYBoatShow.com.
The weather the past week or so saw many ponds and lakes freeze and with that anglers get out on the ice to fish. There is one big change in New York’s ice fishing regulations.
In waters where ice fishing is permitted, anglers will be allowed to use up to three lines and five tip-ups except as noted in special regulations for specific waters. Previously, ice anglers could use just two lines with five tip-ups.
According to a recent New York DEC survey, ice fishing participation has doubled over the past 10 years.
The use of fish for bait is very popular when ice fishing, and bait fish may be used in most but not all waters that are open to ice fishing. Go to the DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov for a list of special regulations by county to find out where bait fish can and cannot be used.
ken.moran@nypost.com