Friday, May 18, 2012
Mild temperatures send anglers into action
There's no doubt I'm a bit late to the party this year. History holds that my boat is often one of the first in the marina and, almost always, the last boat to be hauled out. Jingle Bell Rock has played from the speakers mounted in my center console. But this year, my fishing season has yet to begin. I have a tentative appointment with my boat hauler in Barnegat to drop her in the water Monday, but that's after a spring where some busy work weeks here at Patch and marathon rounds of graduate school studying have pushed fishing to the back burner. Luckily, with formal graduation ceremonies at Monmouth University now complete, I'll continue a much more elusive educational endeavour: finding every last honey hole in Barnegat Bay! With the …
Jackson Jaguars ace Brandon Holup blanks Brick Memorial Mustangs 1-0 in OCT.
Any sports fan would have appreciated the boys’ baseball Ocean County Tournament finale between (6) Brick Memorial and (1) Jackson Memorial Thursday night. Before a noisy crowd at Toms River High School North, Jackson’s 6’7” senior ace Brandon Holup and the Jaguars blanked the opposing Mustangs, 1-0. It was a pitchers' duel from the start, as Brick Memorial also had an ace on the mound in Brian Cottrell (6-0). After Holup struck out two Mustangs in a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, Jackson scored the only run of the game in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout by junior Spencer Young that plated senior Nick Petrizzo. That was all the offense Holup would need, as he carried a one-hitter into the fifth inning, where he would …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Record number of species 'rebuilt,' report says
The summer flounder fishery has been rebuilt, a report out Monday from the federal government said. The fish species, commonly known as fluke, is arguably New Jersey's most important sport fish, and is also one of the state's most important commercial finfish species. Summer flounder joins six other species – none of which are common to New Jersey waters – that were declared rebuilt this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's annual Status of U.S. Fisheries report. A species is considered rebuilt when its stock level meets a federal target that is considered by scientists and policymakers to be considered healthy and self-sustaining. The summer flounder rebuilding effort is important to New Jersey anglers …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Rainy, windy days have limited summer flounder participation
A string of rainy and windy days have curtailed participation in the summer flounder fishery, which opened to recreational anglers a week ago. But those foul-weather fishermen who have wet a line in the last week have mostly targeted striped bass. According to a majority of recent fishing reports from local shops, most anglers who hooked striped bass recently have done so by snagging and dropping live bunker within a mile or two of the shore. Surf fishing was on and off, and even boat fishing required a bit of luck to locate a pod of bunker that was also holding bass. Some anglers found success in the back bays, however. A report from Murphy's Hook House in Toms River indicated bunker schools were found in the Toms River between Cozy Cove …
Four games make for a quick stop for locals
This week's rain has given way to sunshine just in time for Lakewood BlueClaws action at FirstEnergy Park. The South Atlantic League Affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies will be home for a quick four-game series with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The series against the affiliate of the Miami Marlins, which started Thursday with a 1-0 'Claws win, may be short but there is plenty to look forward to for the fans in the stands. Friday night at the park brings fireworks extravaganza. The second game of the series is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Saturday the Claws game goes to the dogs for Bark in the Park day. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m., with pre-game activities including a pet parade and other features for the team's four-…
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Executive committee approves proposal to add Group V
Beginning this fall, 160 high school football teams around the state will have the opportunity to win a state sectional championship, under a proposal approved by the NJSIAA this afternoon. The NJSIAA Executive Committee approved the proposal to create a Group V designation in the four public school sections by a vote of 22-5-3 at its meeting in Robbinsville, according to Jack DuBois, NJSIAA assistant director who's in charge of football. "This creates a greater opportunity for schools and for student-athletes," DuBois said. "It increases the number of teams playing in the playoffs from 128 to 160. At the same time, it eliminates 16 consolation games that schools didn't want to play anyway." The proposal also allows teams whose records are…
The NJSIAA Executive Committee is expected to vote on — and likely approve — the creation of Group Vs in the public school sections for the high school football playoffs
More local football teams will have an opportunity to play in the high school football playoffs if the NJSIAA Executive Committee approves an expansion proposal at its meeting today. In early April the committee approved on first reading a proposal submitted by Northern Highlands High School of Bergen County to create a Group V in each of the four public school sections. Currently, there are four groups in each of the state’s sections: North Jersey Section 1, North Jersey Section 2, Central Jersey and South Jersey. NJSIAA officials say the proposal would create more opportunities for the players and the teams, while some point out that it also would increase playoff ticket revenue for the organization, which has come under fire in recent …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
About 13,000 racers participate in 2012 race
A Brick resident took first place in the 2012 New Jersey Marathon's wheelchair category. About 13,000 participants enjoyed a perfect day and raced through the streets of several local towns as they raced to a finish on the Promenade in Long Branch. The race took place May 6. Brick resident Samuel Spencer, 50, came in first in the race's wheel category. Spencer finished the full marathon in one hour, 45 minutes, 51 seconds, according to race results. The race's new starting location of Monmouth Park eased parking and some traffic concerns for participants, and a shuttle service to and from the race track helped tired runners and spectators reach their destinations. Jason Page, of Durham, N.C., won the full foot marathon with a lightning …
Friday, May 4, 2012
New Jersey's prime sport fish species opens to anglers
Summer flounder season begins Saturday, and with the first minimum size limit below 18 inches in several years, anglers are gearing up for a lengthy season of fun fishing from Sandy Hook to Cape May. Fluke season needs no introduction. It's prime-time. It's a relatively easy fishery in which to participate - both bay and ocean anglers have wide access - and there are as many fun ways to catch these tasty flat fish as there are recipes to cook them for dinner. We'll begin with a rundown of the best spots (north to south) for early-season fluke, and end with a few quick reports: Manasquan River: There's no secret on this one. The Manasquan is arguably the best early season location statewide to catch keeper fluke on day one. The river …
Monday, April 30, 2012
Mustang senior Kevin Corris comes up big in his first start of the year
In a spot start — his first start of the year — Brick Memorial senior Kevin Corris was called on and delivered big time for the Mustangs. Very few stages are higher than when the Brick Memorial Mustangs and Brick Township Dragons face off at FirstEnergy Park in their annual battle. Behind the arm of Corris on Sunday night, the 'Stangs pulled through with a 2-1 win. Corris struck out 10 batters, had just one walk, and yielded four hits and one run in 5 and 1/3 innings of work. Highlighting the day for Corris was taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning as well as striking out the side in the fourth inning. "It was just his first start of the year," said Memorial head coach Evan Rizzitello. "He pitched a bit last year but we have a great …
George
8:21 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
NOAA studies predict that fully rebuilt fisheries are expected to add an estimated $31 billion to the economy and an additional 500,000 jobs. Commercial and recreational fishing currently generates $183 billion per year to the U.S. economy and supports more than 1.5 million full and part-time jobs Why dont we be honest here. Recreational fishing likely has $125 Billion of the $183 Bill and almost… more ›