Last day. NJ

[jode hillman]

It's been an average season for my part of New Jersey. Today was our last day and the recent cold snap had almost every boat ramp locked up solid. I managed to find open water at a local fishing port, and was able to use that to access the Marsh.

Unfortunately there was salt water ice everywhere. It made navigating and accessing my favorite hunting spots difficult. After about an hour and a half dodging the low tide and picking up a few oysters, I got to a suitable occasion.

The flight was not gangbusters, but small groups of two and three spaced out about an hour in between.

The ice was too thin for the dog to walk on and too thick to break easily. So yours truly along, with the aid of the jet sled, Was the retriever. Despite the cold temperatures it was a beautiful day.

I was able to bag some nice ducks and get back to the boat ramp much easier than I had earlier in the day because of the rising tide.

Until next year! I salute the survivors!

 

[greg setter]

Glad you got some ducks Jode.

 

[Todd Duncan Tennyson]

We'd occasionally get some runs of smelt during the last couple of weeks of the season. The river would be at high volume and the whopping tides made for inundated farms and pastures all around the region.
I'd love to be able to pick up a few oysters. That sounds good. What kind do you have over there?

Do you guys get smelt in Jersey?

 

[jode hillman]

Glad you got some ducks Jode.

Thanks Greg.

 

[jode hillman]

We'd occasionally get some runs of smelt during the last couple of weeks of the season. The river would be at high volume and the whopping tides made for inundated farms and pastures all around the region.
I'd love to be able to pick up a few oysters. That sounds good. What kind do you have over there?

Do you guys get smelt in Jersey?

Hi Todd, our native East Coast oyster is the Crassostrea virginica. They grow on pretty much any hard surface where they can attach. In the creeks you'll find them attached onto the shells of ribbed mussels that grow along the grass banks. So they are often referred to as Sedge oysters. We also have another variety that is known as the Rutgers commercial. It is the same species but it has been selected to have a thicker shell and less of a Sharp "bill". This allows it handle rougher treatment when commercially harvested. Both are delicious.

As far as I know we do not have any smelt in New Jersey. I am a little bit familiar with them from my brother-in-law who lives in Maine. They have large smelt runs during the late winter and early spring out of some of the deep water lakes. I hear they are good bait and also very tasty.

 

[Rod VanZile]

It's been an average season for my part of New Jersey. Today was our last day and the recent cold snap had almost every boat ramp locked up solid. I managed to find open water at a local fishing port, and was able to use that to access the Marsh.

Unfortunately there was salt water ice everywhere. It made navigating and accessing my favorite hunting spots difficult. After about an hour and a half dodging the low tide and picking up a few oysters, I got to a suitable occasion.

The flight was not gangbusters, but small groups of two and three spaced out about an hour in between.

The ice was too thin for the dog to walk on and too thick to break easily. So yours truly along, with the aid of the jet sled, Was the retriever. Despite the cold temperatures it was a beautiful day.

I was able to bag some nice ducks and get back to the boat ramp much easier than I had earlier in the day because of the rising tide.

Until next year! I salute the survivors!

Jode,
Do you normally shoot Teal this time of year in your area? Looks like an odd one in that bunch.
RVZ

 

[MLBob Furia]

Wow, the teal stayed around for a long time! Glad you had a good final outing.

 

[jode hillman]

Jode,
Do you normally shoot Teal this time of year in your area? Looks like an odd one in that bunch.
RVZ

Hi Rod, yes we generally shoot Green Wing's clean through the end of the season. They are hardy little bird. They don't mind the ice and snow at all. The only time they leave is if the salt water mud freezes over completely and they cannot feed.

There are five Green Wing's and a black duck in the Picture.

 

[jode hillman]

Wow, the teal stayed around for a long time! Glad you had a good final outing.

Thanks Bob.

Yes they usually stay all winter unless the mud freezes over for more than three days.

After today storm I have a feeling most of them will be heading slightly south at least temporarily.

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

Jode,

Green Wings and a Black Duck. Yer killin' me...

Two thumbs way up.

Best regards
Vince

 

[Charles H.]

Nice hunt for sure! The drakes get all the attention for plumage, but that hen green winged teal is awfully pretty!

 

[jode hillman]

Jode,

Green Wings and a Black Duck. Yer killin' me...

Two thumbs way up.

Best regards
Vince

Thank you Vince. You know they are my favorites. Ice and snow here now, looks like for awhile.

 

[jode hillman]

Nice hunt for sure! The drakes get all the attention for plumage, but that hen green winged teal is awfully pretty!

Yes she is. Very pretty for sure. I love the slight cinnamon color they get on their scapular feathers.

 

[Jay K]

Very nice Jode. You've always given great respect to those green wings. I am jealous of you guys picking away at them right till the last day. They usually leave us in numbers sometimes as early as November in the northern part of the state. One day I'll make it down that way.

 

[Jim Donofrio]

It's been an average season for my part of New Jersey. Today was our last day and the recent cold snap had almost every boat ramp locked up solid. I managed to find open water at a local fishing port, and was able to use that to access the Marsh.

Unfortunately there was salt water ice everywhere. It made navigating and accessing my favorite hunting spots difficult. After about an hour and a half dodging the low tide and picking up a few oysters, I got to a suitable occasion.

The flight was not gangbusters, but small groups of two and three spaced out about an hour in between.

The ice was too thin for the dog to walk on and too thick to break easily. So yours truly along, with the aid of the jet sled, Was the retriever. Despite the cold temperatures it was a beautiful day.

I was able to bag some nice ducks and get back to the boat ramp much easier than I had earlier in the day because of the rising tide.

Until next year! I salute the survivors!

Nice Jode!!