Making your Holiday Wish List? Consider these suggestions for Santa!

Story by Tom Vassallo

Well...it's nearly here...the cold air is rolling in and a lot of us are winterizing our boats and packing away the tackle. Only the hardiest of Jersey's anglers will brave the windy, cold beaches and the long, cold trips to the offshore wrecks. While those hardened souls brave the wind and seas for those tasty wreck fish, most of us will be sitting by the heater thinking about replacing gear and tackle in preparation for the warmer temps of Spring. Well, if you are like me, sharpen your pencils and get that paper...it's time to jot down some ideas for your holiday gift list to put in your letter to Santa. Then comes the long wait to see if Santa drops some of those presents around your tree! First off...the stocking stuffers...you know, the small things that'll fit in the old "sock". If you're writing your letter to Santa, make sure you put some new plugs on your list to replace that old Bomber that the blue fish have chewed the paint off of. A great lure for you guys chasing "old linesider" is a Daiwa SP Minnow. There were an awful lot of stripers landed this fall season on those little swimmers. Another great lure that mimics a tasty sand eel is a Tsunami Eel. These things look great and have some darn good action when the bass are chasing those little buggers up and down the beach. You can find these gems and more at a Bait & Tackle near you. Some of our friends at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown, FishBonz Bait & Tackle in Forked River, the Hook House in Toms River, the Dock Outfitters Bait & Tackle in Seaside Heights and Absecon Bay Sportsman Center in Absecon can help you find those stocking stuffers and maybe some new metals for your box as well!

Now if you are really thinking ahead and you want THE lure for the spring striper season, you just gotta get some bunker spoons. If you want the hottest bunker spoon available right now, do yourself a favor and put a Tony Maja spoon on YOUR Christmas list! Tony Maja manufacturers and sells an entire system including the E-Z outrodder, rods, reels and other accessories. You can tell Santa to pick some up at your local Bait & Tackle or find a dealer in your area at tonymajaproducts.com.

But if Santa's pockets are a little deeper this year, there is nothing better to have in the box than a group of handmade wooden plugs. A nice "Danny", a needlefish and a pencil popper are necessities in every sharpies' bag. When the bass are blitzin' on the beach, there's nothing like a wood floater or slow sinking wood plug to get those bass to hit. Locally, there are some lure builders who can supply you with the ones you need at a great price. Try "Black Label Plugs" in Forked River for a well built plug at a fair price. They hold up...and they work!

Well as we go beyond the stocking stuffers, we'll move up a notch. Maybe your reels have seen a few too many years and a lot of salt and sand. Add one or two to your list for the holiday. There are some great deals this time of year on reels and rod/reel combos. You can't go wrong with the old tried and true Penn, but don't be afraid to try some of the other reel makers out there either. I have a place in my heart for Shimano reels, but AVET reels are worth a try and are 100% Made in USA! Creekside Outfitters in Waretown is around the corner from my home and has all three in stock, but you can find a great deal on a reel at your local Bait & Tackle including the Hook House, FishBonz, The Dock Outfitters or visit Dave Showell down at Absecon Bay Sportsman Center.

Well if you are an angler who thinks you have EVERYTHING...think about a custom-made rod! Nothing says "class" and "style" like a custom inlay. Believe it or not, you can get abalone or even snakeskin wrapped around your own custom creation. The guy to talk to? Give Ed Rea from Big Ed's Custom Rods in Toms River a call SOON if you think you want one of those laying under the tree come Christmas morning! Santa's gonna need a little "lead time" to have that ready.

I'm more of a landlubber who'll be fishing from shore 9 times out of 10. I think it's about time to replace my old chest waders with something that's going to keep me a little drier on the rocks or on the sand. So number one on my holiday list is a pair of neoprene waders. If you are a duck hunter, many are available in a camo pattern, so you would actually get some double duty out of those. (That may help to convince the wife...uh..."Santa"... that they are a great deal as well!) There are also some lighter weight polyester waders that some prefer to the bulkier neoprene...but that really depends on what type of weather you'll be doing most of your fishing in. Check your local Bait & Tackle including the ones I've mentioned already.

For those of us who either never owned a boat or sold the one we had, a great gift would be a guided fishing trip on a local charter! If you really want to get out to where the fish are and where the birds are working the bait, there are a lot of great charter captains who can lead you right to the action. Forget your pole and the bait...these guys can take care of it all. If you are up in the central part of the state, look up our buddy Capt. John Meisenbacher at "Off Duty Sportfishing". You'll find him at Clark's Landing in Point Pleasant. He'll sell you a gift certificate for you and a few buddies to have a trip you'll remember for a long time. If you are in the southern areas of the state, you can't go wrong with a booking or a gift certificate from Capt. Dave Showell of Absecon Bay Fishing Safaris. When others are wondering where the fish are, Dave is putting them in the boat!

Well...since we are stepping up in price on our list, you know that your trailer lights aren't working, the tires are dry rotted, the bearings are shot, one of the rollers is missing and the hardware is pretty much rusted solid. Yeah, the salt water at the Shore really wreaks havoc on our trailers! If Santa is feeling a bit more generous this year, it might be a great time to replace that rusted hulk with a brand new trailer. You can be haulin' and launchin' in style next spring. Jersey Shore Watercraft & Marine Center in Waretown has new Venture trailers in stock and ready for delivery. They might even put on a nice red bow so it fits in for the holiday when you park it in your driveway.

Well, last but not least, if Santa thinks you've been REALLY, REALLY good, then he might think you deserve a brand, spankin' new outboard for next spring! You know you've been wanting a nice four-stroker for that oil-free ride to your favorite spring bluefish or bass spot. Check out the deals at your local marina for your favorite brand. If you are undecided, visit Tom Mackie at South Harbor Marine in Waretown for deals on a new Suzuki and tell him FishinJersey.com sent you. But if you are the type who has always been partial to Mercury, see Doug Blood at Blood's Marine in Lanoka Harbor. Replacing that engine in your inboard/outboard? Stop in and talk to Spencer Hondros at Spencer's Marina in Waretown. He'll help you with your Volvo/Penta or Mercruiser upgrade.

Happy Holidays to all! May your Holiday Gift dreams come true! Best wishes for the New Year, too!