CS

The Simms staff is very solid when assembled but you need two hands to put it together. It's connected by a coated stainless steel cable, not a shock cord like some staffs. The quiver is low profile -- I've never had an issue with it catching in the current -- plus I rarely wade waist deep in strong flows because you are asking for trouble. I do think a self inflating PFD emergency use will save lives. Plus lots of common sense of course.

Simms. Has saved my ass countless times. Quiver latches horizontally to wading belt behind you. I wouldn't screw around with a stick, old ski pole, etc.

Totally agree. Nothing you can do, and I've since discovered new Block spots because Seals at Sandy Point forced me to look elsewhere...

Sandy Point was my absolutely favorite place on the planet to throw a huge Doc for scary-sized bluefish. I won't even walk up there anymore. All I have to do is check out the North Lighthouse beach cam and see the black mass of a hundred plus seals that are perpetually there now...

Sandy Point is dead to me now...

Such a terrible feeling when that happens: kill a fish unnecessarily and reinforce bad behavior with the seal at the same time.

I posted this in another forum, but should post it here, too: an essay I wrote about the seal situation on Block Island is in the latest issue of Angler's Journal. It's online and free. Can't post the link, but search "surfcaster's lament" and you will find it.

FYI: My story in latest Angler's Journal on dealing with seals at Block Island. Same issues as the Cape. Can't post link but it's up there for free. Search "A Surfcaster's Lament" and you'll find it. This conversation helped inform some of my thoughts on the story so thanks.

Here are my observations of the Edison show from the sometimes humbling and lonely corner otherwise known as the author’s booth (Let's just say I did not wear out my sharpie signing books…). I noticed the show was slightly smaller than the last one I attended in 2020 – it seemed like there was one less long row of exhibitors this time. Though Saturday was very busy at peak hours – maybe the busiest I’ve ever seen it – it seemed to drop off quickly. Friday was light when I was there, and Sunday was just average. I noticed the overflow parking areas, which used to always fill up, never did. Also: pretty stunning that a giant like Orvis wasn’t there. How could that be? Guess all of this is a COVID hangover. Speaking of: kind of stunned that virtually no one was masking – maybe .01 percent of attendees. I know one vendor who has since come down with COVID. I’m sure there are others, too. I had two friends who did not attend when they learned no one was masking. Again, no judgement either way – just an observation. Agree on relative dearth of fly tying materials. I, too, had a shopping list and was surprised to come up a little short. So there should be more, because as others noted, you need to paw through the stuff to get just what you need. Seems like a missed opportunity there by retailers. Another observation: despite all the superficial efforts by tackle companies, etc. to make fly fishing seem more diverse, it ain’t – at least based on the demographics at the show. Still mostly just a bunch of rapidly aging white dudes. And very few kids there. To me, the real value of the show is in the seminars. Where else can you bounce from how to fish wet flies, to basics of Tenkara, to the Lehigh Gorge in an afternoon, as I did? Plus, it’s always nice to bump into old friends.

Seasonal direct harvest allowed in limited areas. Check regs.

My friend saw that, which seems so strange. A seasonal restriction for non resident clamming licenses! So if you want to clam in the winter, you have to be a resident? How can that be?

He tried logging in -- he said there was no option to buy one. He's bought them in the past with no issue.

That's just it -- doesn't seem to be anywhere to buy a non resident clamming license online.

A friend of mine who lives out of state wants to join me for some local NJ clamming, but there doesn't seem to be a link to buy an out-of-state license online anymore. Anyone else notice this? As an alternative, does anyone know any tackle shops in Monmouth County area that would sell an out of state clamming licenses in person? Thanks.

Glad this has provoked some good discussion. If you are interested in further reading, you can check out something I just wrote for The Drake (fly fishing mag) on a similar subject (yes, trout anglers can fish blitzes too). Search the story "Numbers Game" on their website.