Jersey striper fleet expands

The NY/NJ Bight striper bite has been hot, and more boats are getting into it

At Belmar, both the Miss Belmar Princess at 6:30 a.m. and Royal Miss Belmar at 7:30 will be seeking stripers. The Golden Eagle reported “awesome” striper action during Capt. Greg’s first trip as bunkers, Flutter spoons, Crocs and shads all worked during an all-day bite of mostly bass too big to keep plus some smaller keepers.

Capt. Ron Santee got into mostly smaller stripers on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as everyone went home with fish. Top water plugs and shads proved most effective.

Capt. Vinny Vetere has been concentrating on trolling big bass with his TGT bunker spoons. and is adding afternoon rips with his Katfish out of Great Kills. Sunday morning’s trolling produced 22 bass up to 35 pounds.

The forecast is for southwest winds at 5-10 knots with morning showers likely.

Jim Hutchinson Sr. & Jr. were fishing with Chuck Many on his Tyman from Highlands last week when they placed a Sat Tag on a healthy striper that was given the name Berkeley in honor of the Berkeley Striper Club.