Fish On
Anglers are looking forward to a new year
RON NUZZOLO
With the 2007 season behind us, I look forward to an even better one ahead in 2008. Last year was a year with big fish in all categories.

To start, bait fish like peanut bunkers are the true reason why we all enjoyed a great year. Peanuts were in the hundreds of millions along the entire coast and enjoyed warmer ocean temps for most of the year.

In return, spring striped bass seemed like they were in bigger numbers and the schools stayed healthy. Fall bass was even more insane, with schools that seemed endless along our shore right to the end of December. Anglers had a blast off the beach with all you can catch and release, and so did the boaters.

Bluefish filled the gaps and were back and in good-size numbers with an average blue at 8 to 10 pounds anywhere along the coast. Fishing for weakfish in the bays also remained solid, with some big fish mixed in that have not been seen in previous years.

Winter and summer flounder season were bringing in record-size fish not seen in more than 20 years, and they were eating peanut bunkers.

Technology in 2007 was showing it can only help increase the monitoring and health of our oceans and bays.

The year 2007 was a healthy season in all categories - except fuel prices. The Garden State had many captains retire early for the 2007 season. Fuel prices were so high that they raised the price on everything, including bait and tackle and even dock space at the marina. Hopefully, technology in 2008 will help ease these and other issues by having more anglers heard through organized sites where information, facts and knowledge can be shared to help one another and the sport.

Fish on.