[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by bulletbob

Just wondering.. I remember when NJ party boats stopped sailing for Tog in about mid November.. It was Whiting time, and believe it or not no one gave a crap about Tog.... Fall Tog season was about 6 weeks maybe.. Started early mid Oct, and were done when the Whiting and Ling came in solid inshore.

The whiting/ling boats had decent crowds but were rarely packed, because the fish were close in, and ALL the boats sailed for them,, so there was always room. In those days, if I recall correctly most of the bigger faster boats as far north as AH would sail all winter as long as the bay wasn't locked with ice. [As it WAS some years]... I sure miss those days.

In my opinion, if the Whiting come back strong, it will take a LOT of pressure off the blackfish, as it will give guys another option... I realize it will probably never happen.
The big foreign draggers took most of them, and a lot of us recreational guys did our share of damage as well, taking home galvanized garbage cans full, and running them over to Leroys on rt 36 to have them smoked... I hope they come back, but to be honest, I fear I may never see another one.. They were easily one of my favorite fish way back when. bob

The foreign boats crushed the whiting?Our own draggers out of Belford did a number on them also.They still drag and sell ''spikes''.They still purse sien for bunker in the bay.I wonder how many weakies and stripers died as by catch.My oldest son is 40 and got in on the whiting run when he was a boy.My youngest son Jamey who mates for me is 34 and never got to enjoy our whiting run.Sad isn't it.Let us not worry about what we had let is worry about the future!