Fall has officially arrived for the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association. However, balmy temperatures and warmer than usual water temps point to summer still hanging around.
The captains received sad news recently with the death on September 18 of Captain Jimmy Zavacky. Captain Jimmy was the well-respected captain of the boat “Reel Determined” and well known for his expertise on catching tuna. His influence on the BHCFA was monumental as he had served as president and treasurer and was the current vice president at the time of his death.
Peter Clark of the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife service has announced that a recently deployed barge on the Little Egg Inlet Reef will officially be named the “Captain Jimmy Zavacky Memorial Reef.”
Recent high winds and seas have slowed area ocean fishing, but the BHCFA captains are looking forward to October 1, and the re-opening of the black sea bass season and calmer fishing conditions.
Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sportfishing” has had a couple of outings in bay waters. His anglers have been taking home meals of blowfish along with kingfish and large spot. There are still fluke in the bay, but very few that are keeper sized.
Captain Jonathan Kelly of “LBI Sportfishing” had a remarkable trip this past week. He headed out for tuna, and his 5-man crew had their limits of nice yellowfin by 9:30. Then on the way in, they encountered a school of mahi and quickly had constant action boating 25 in just 30 minutes. Captain Jonathan will be fishing for black sea bass and tuna until the striper action arrives in November.