Boaters have another fine day with NY/NJ Bight stripers

Just as expected. boaters encounted few problems in finding hungry stripers today, though the same didn’t apply to all surfcasters.

Mike Monte remains surprised by the lack of small bass in Monmouth County waters despite an abundance of sand eels. He fished among at least 40 surfcasters early this morning at Belmar and only heard of one bass being caught there. Some stripers likely came in sometime during the the day along the Jersey Shore, but it’s unusual for so many to crowd into an area not already producing.

There was no such problem for the fleet. The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported a solid day of striper fishing with everyone bagging a keeper and many adding a bonus bass. Some overs were released during long drifts.

Capt. Ron Santee, Jr. reported another fine day on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as follows:”Back out again to where we left them biting yesterday. Had to wait for the change to get things going.

Plenty of bird life but it did take a bit for the fish to settle up and start chewing hard. Once we got the current it was game on.

Lots of first timers out with us today, once they got the technique on how to do it they were in the ball-game.

Gary and Henry put on another clinic fishing up in the bow with double digits each.

Several bigger fish in the mix, no record breakers though. NW to West for the next several days don’t miss the bite. The fat lady is warming up with the swan song

small craft advisory is up through Sunday afternoon. The forecast is for west winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25.