March of 2026 has finally arrived, and although there are still a couple of weeks until spring officially arrives, the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association cannot be criticized for looking forward to the upcoming fishing season.
March 1 marked the official beginning of open season in New Jersey for catching striped bass in the waters inside the Atlantic Ocean. To be truthful, the bass are still trying to warm up from the frigid waters of winter, but they will soon be looking for food, especially clams and bloodworms.
There have been a couple of early season reports of bass being caught in various creeks and rivers. The waters of Great Bay and shallow waters of lower Barnegat Bay will have bass popping up very soon.
The captains of the BHCFA have been spending the winter engaging in several ways to prepare for this season’s fishing. After carefully putting their boats into winter storage, they have already begun to get their craft ready. Cleaning, painting, and mechanical work are tasks for every spring. All fishing gear is gone over with upgrades an annual occurrence.
Captains have been attending various fishing and boating shows over the winter spreading the word about the BHCFA while also giving and attending seminars at many of the shows.
Some fortunate captains were able to take time off and head south to warmer climes where they were able to get some fishing in.
Many fishing dates for this season are already filled, meaning that interested anglers should start to plan their fishing trips in the near future. Also, any teenagers interested in the popular “Junior Mates” program this summer should consider signing up.