“My favorite time to hit it up is from mid-December through January, when you can pull off a few 10-pounders on almost every trip.”

HUMPBACK BLACK SEA BASS 50- To 80-Mile Wrecks
Two to 3-pound sea bass are legitimate fighters. But you can’t claim to have caught a true humpback black sea bass until you break the 5-pound mark.

Have you even seen a 30-inch sea bass? I did on my first offshore trip for sea bass a few years back, and when sea bass break the 5-pound mark, not only are they formidable fighters, but they take on a truly majestic look with flowing tail filaments, and vibrant blues, greens and purples throughout their skin. Not to mention the humps on their heads that make them look like raging bulls!

The 50- to 80-mile wreck trips are relatively new. During the past eight years or so, some adventurous captains decided to do some exploratory trips to find out what bites way offshore when the mercury dips below freezing. Capt. Howard Bogan of the Jamaica was one of the first offshore sea bass pioneers. On the special offshore 50- to 80-mile wreck sea bass trips that he runs, everyone usually comes up a winner.

“When the water temps dip into the mid to low 40s, black sea bass begin to move offshore to their wintering grounds, out near the continental shelf,” Bogan said.

“There’s not too much fishing pressure hounding them day in and day out 50 to 80 miles out during the month of January. That’s where to go to find the larger sea bass.”

Bottom-bouncing around jagged structure will ultimately mean bunch of lost tackle and rigs -- and when setting out, expect to lose a lot. For the most part, bottom-fishing rigs consist of a high-low setup. A 4-foot section of 40-pound leader material is attached to a 100-pound-class barrel swivel. Then a dropper loop is tied 18 inches down, and then 18 inches more where the next dropper loop is tied. A final overhand loop for the bank sinker completes the rig.

This setup is a good one, since many times, you’ll have to break off your sinker only without losing the entire rig. Place size 3/0 to 4/0 bait-holder style hooks on the loops. Bait-holder hooks tend to hold clams better, but you may also opt for Gamakatsu Octopus-style hooks in the same sizes. Hooks may be adorned with a variety of white or chartreuse bucktails, curly grub tails, Berkeley Gulp! Baits, or Mylar flash to attract attention from down below.

Sea bass should be played with caution, as anglers who horse around may find themselves losing the battle midway up. Keep a semi-tight, semi-loose drag on, as you need the muscle to bring them up from the bottom, but too much power may pull the hook from their mouths.

There are a mess of other species you may encounter -- tilefish, silver hake, conger eels, ocean pout and so on, but most anglers do not target these species intentionally.

Jersey’s winter playground is gaining more notoriety as the years pass. It’s amazing that you can actually catch more fish during the subzero temperatures than you can during the sultry heat of summertime. Forget about the sunscreen and flip-flops. Pull on your insulated underwear and sock hats, because it’s high time you found out what the meaning of winter fishing is all about!

Neither rain, nor sleet nor snow will stop the hunger pangs of the Atlantic’s fishy inhabitants. Nor will it dampen the expectations and desires of the true salt-seasoned fisherman. As a kid, I remember wishing to ride the high seas in the coldest, nastiest weather, breaking through whitecaps in the dead of winter in search of a shipwreck to pull fish off of.

It was a rite of passage to manhood, or at the very least, an adventure! The wintertime saltwater fishery is an exercise to challenge and better yourself, but remember to be prepared and pack up the proper gear for a long day on the frigid Atlantic. After all, you don’t want to be too cold to fish when the fishing is hot!