Block Island cod trips starting up

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Block Island cod trips starting up
By DAN RADEL • STAFF WRITER • February 12, 2010

At least three local party boats will begin making the run up to Block Island to fish Cox's Ledge where the cod fishing produced excellent catches last year. The Miss Belmar Princess and the Voyager have trips scheduled to depart tonight at 8 p.m. and return early evening Saturday and the 125-foot Jamaica will make their first trip next Friday, Feb. 19.

The boat ride is about six to seven hours from the Shark River and Manasquan Inlets depending on ocean conditions. All three boats have bunk rooms to catch some sleep, heated cabins and hand-rails and a galley to grab a cup of coffee or warm up some food.
"We came back from our first trip to Block Island last year with over 250 keeper codfish. Most were between 5 and 8 pounds but our pool fish was a 30-pounder caught by Richie Mansfield," Captain Jimmy Elliott of the Miss Belmar Princess said.
Elliott's second trip was even better with landings of over 500 cod. It was the type of fishing that New Jersey anglers hadn't seen in years, at least not in the waters off New Jersey.
The boats typically set up about 3 a.m. on the Ledge and either drift or anchor depending on the conditions. Both jigs and clams are recommended and boats will be supplying clams. Trips are limited and anglers should call ahead and make reservations.

On the local fishing scene, 9960 Search was the word this week from the captains as the Loran stations were shut down on Monday. Loran receivers on the boats continued to search for the lost signal but only read 9960 Search. Loran-C, which had been in use since World War II, was considered an antiquated system and was terminated this year by the federal government.
"We noticed it as soon as we left the inlet on Tuesday morning," Captain Willy Egerter of the Dauntless said referring to the lost signal.
Captain Egerter said the ling fishing has been holding steady. They have been taking anglers out to the Mud Hole where catches have been averaging 10 to 20 fish a man in depths of 120 to 220 feet. Paul Sterco of East Brunswick won a pool this week with an 8-pound pollock.
The mackerel fishing which was red hot last week, tapered off this week as the fish are moving further to the east. Catches were scarce on the Miss Belmar Princess's Tuesday trip.
"I read the fish around the edge of the Mud Hole but they weren't biting," Captain Jimmy Elliott reported.

aqualung · Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:44 am Post subject:

Where is that guy from?? Didn't mention any of the local boats, like the FF,IC,BH,SO,SB HC Wink

tbob55 · Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:20 am Post subject:

Looks like a New Jersey story.Can you imagine ridin on a boat that long for small cod?

bigoutdoors · Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 1:09 pm Post subject:

new jersey