Saturday is the day for kids to partake in the fun tradition of stocking Spring Lake with trout ahead of the kids' trout contest on opening day — which is next week.
The Shark River Surf Anglers have been doing this for over 20 years and it's always a good time for the kids who get to help carry the totes full of trout from the hatchery truck down to the water. The club usually orders 500 trout, including some big trophy trout.
The hatchery truck is scheduled to get there at 9:30 a.m. The gathering point is by the monuments on East Lake Drive. It's hard to miss. Just look for the hundred or so kids running around.
Then next week, the club will hold its annual kids' trout contest, which is free to kids 15 and under, and is full of prizes. There is no registration for the contest. When kids catch a fish they bring it to the weight station to become eligible for a prize. The contest is from 8 a.m to 1:30 p.m. and signs will be posted around the lake for Kids Only Fishing Zones.
The sun should come out for the kids to stock the lake but it could be a little blustery for fishermen looking to go striped bass fishing. A gale warning was in effect for Thursday night into Friday morning. Gusts were forecast to hit 35 knots and waves were predicted to reach 7 foot peaks. However, the wind should change direction for Saturday, and blow out of the west and knock the seas down.
The bass fishing remains status quo from last week, at least around the Barnegat Bay around according to Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park. The local bass there are still nose down and worming so the the fishermen that are doing best are using live worms.
Monday is the start of the spring blackfish season. Anglers are allowed four fish daily for the month of April. Jersey Hooker Outfitters in Brick got in white legger crabs for the start.
Delaware River Shad Run
Meanwhile on the other coast, the forsythia has bloomed so that means the shad are in the Delaware River heading upstream to spawn.
Steve Merserve who operates the Lewis Fishery in Lambertville is delayed in getting started this year. The last rise damaged their bridge to the island where they set up. A couple of the bridge trestles shifted. Merserve said the bridge is "very wavy right now and will need to be rebuilt before we can open it up again." He's hoping to start fishing on April 6.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
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