SHARK RIVER SHINES

All of the fluke entered in the recent JCAA annual fluke tourney from Shark River were more than six pounders and the overall winner of the tournament was an even 10-pounder taken from there by Allan Mann Sr. of Sellersville, Pa.

More than 460 boats, down from last year, sailed out of ten ports for the event, but Shark River was the hot spot.

BEAR SEASON RESULTS

Black bears were taken in five of the seven counties where the 2010 hunt was held resulting in a total harvest of 592 animals according to the state.

As one would expect, Sussex County led the list with 338 bears taken by hunters with Warren County next with 112.

The average field-dressed female was 179 pounds and the average field dressed male was 257 pounds. The largest adult male was 651 pounds dressed with an estimated live weight of more than 750 pounds.

There were no hunting accidents reported for the six-day season.

EAT YOUR BAMBI BURGERS!

"Vegetarian" - Indian word for lousy shot. OK, it's an old joke but for those vegan types who cringe at chowing down on something that was once alive (how can they justify pulling those screaming carrots out of the ground?) here are some facts about a game dinner.

According to a wire service report, compared to standard red meat most game is considerably healthier. A pound of boneless elk, for example, has 496 calories. A pound of supermarket sirloin has 1,202.

A broiled tenderloin of deer is comparable to chicken in most nutritional categories except?

That would be iron. Venison supplies 48 percent of the daily value, a similar portion of chicken is only 3 percent.

And speaking of iron, what type of game supplies the most? Duck, squab (pigeon) or squirrel?

It would be the latter at 118 percent of the daily value.

See, I always said squirrel pot pie is great eating, and (without too much gravy and crust) good for you.

Bon appetit.

DEER HARVEST UP A BIT

Hunters tagged more deer in New Jersey during the 2010-11 season than the 2009-2010 period according to figures just released by Fish & Wildlife.

The buck kill was up 3.9 percent - 19,925 as compared to 19,181 and the doe harvest was up 5.6 percent - 35,478 to 33,603.

Total reported deer for the seasons just ended is 55,404. Last season it was 52,784.

ROCKS ON THE REEF

Some 6,000 cubic yards of demolition concrete that was to be dumped on the Great Egg Reef last month has been postponed until May 27, sea and weather conditions permitting. The goal of the state's artificial reef program is to provide habitat for fish and shellfish and recreation for hook and line anglers and scuba divers. The Division of Fish & Wildlife says any commercial operators who have gear set in the dumping area should haul it up or risk having it destroyed. Meanwhile the state Senate has passed S-221 - the "pots off the reefs" legislation.

ACE ROD MAKER AND REPAIR GUY

In mentioning Bill Dettmar is last Sunday's print column I hit the deuce instead of the trey on the keyboard. His correct house phone number is (908) 359-1830. You can also e-mail him at cdettmarstites@aol.com. His cell phone is (908) 625-7322.

I don't wear glasses when I type on the computer and that might be the problem. I've been transposing letters or numbers lately.

Bill just doesn't build or repair fly rods, but a full range of spinning and conventional reel rods and will make one to your specs.

I have an old saltwater glass rod I won at least 20 years ago and Bill is giving it a makeover with new guides and grip. So if you've got some gear laying around that could use an upgrade or are looking for a new toy for the coming fishing season, give Bill a shout.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the Hackettstown Hatchery and plans are under way for a celebration. Hackettstown is the warm-water fish producing facility for New Jersey anglers and has been since the trout rearing work was shifted to Pequest when that operation got up and running.