A gale warning is up in NY/NJ Bight through late tonight, and that may be the beginning of the end for a great fall striped bass season.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands said the local bass seem to have moved out to at least Shark River Reef. “Some may hang on a bit longer as long as they still have a little something to eat, and that is getting thin. The past two days the fish we have been catching, their stomachs have been empty.

The East wind has never been my friend and today was no different, we caught fish, some did better than others but you had to fish hard to get it done. Bill V. and Big Tom were High hooks with 8 & 6 fish each. Few guys had 3 and 2 but they worked their asses off to get it done. I constantly moved to stay on top of the small readings we had to catch a couple a drift. No, it was not easy. 

We also had to stay on the nasty bottom loosing many jigs, I tried a couple times to go deeper but there were no fish there. Today may have been the swan song for us, I will see what the weather holds for Friday through the weekend then make my decision. I will never beat a dead horse. We have had another good season, if I think we can get it done by Sunday we will shape up, if not, Thank you to all who have fished with me.”

The Golden Eagle from Belmar sailed right into the main body of stripers this morning and had a great first drift on surfacing fish as everyone got their keeper and Bonus Bass. They will try again if the weather permits.

The forecast is for south winds at 20-25 knots plus gusts to 35 before gusting to 35 as seas increase to as much as 17 feet in the afternoon.

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