Though the forecast is marginable for smaller boats, the big party boats may be able to fishoffshore wrecks in northwest winds.

The Saturday forecast is for NW at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30. That still may be comfortable on the big party boats, and the Golden Eagle from Belmar is planning to make the run. Remember that the sea bass fishery closes at the end of the month.

Wind is the enemy of winter fishing, and that may be a problem with south winds of 30-40 knots in NY/NJ Bight through Friday.

The sea bass season is coming to an end on the last day of the month., and big party boats are sailing trips almost every day in order to get in the almost daily limit action on the biggest sea bass of the year. The same wrecks also produce big porgies, ling, and large bluefish. Don’t miss out on the best and biggest sea bass of the year as these trips usually produce limit catches for all and a possible personal record. Surprisingly, it’s often warmer out there than at the dock.

The forecast for NY/NJ Bight is a small craft warning with southwest winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30 which shouldn’t bother those big offshore party boats.

Vinny D’Anton says it appears that the northern N.J. surf may have produced its last striped bass of the 2025 season some time ago as even the most dedicated slept in after 18 1/2 inches of fluffy snow carpeted the beach. If so, this will be the earliest end to the season in my memory as I was always able to pick away through January during the many seasons I fished there before moving to Florida. With the climate change prediction of ever warmer winters, I thought I might be still into surf bass in February eventually. Yet, this December was probably the worst ever in that area — and all the pros seem to have given up.

Tomorrow’s weather looks a lot better with NW winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 before cropping to 5-10 in the afternoon.

At least the surf should be calm as yet another gale watch is up through tomorrow in NY/NJ Bight. There’s been no recent news about stripers, but blackfishing has been holding up.

Following up on yesterday’s blog, I’m sorry to report that Mike Monte has returned to Nantucket after getting shut out in his historic northern N.J. surf hot spots during his annual trip back to family roots. No one fishes harder or better than Mike, and he normally releases dozens of school stripers during daily efforts at dawn in his favorite spots. Yet, Mike couldn’t catch a single bass in weeks of trying. It’s very late to expect a change for the normal January pick of school bass, but you never know unless you try when conditions are good.

The forecast is for southwest winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25.

N.J. surfcasters are mystified about the lack of the annual fall run of small stripers which has been going on for so long that everyone has taken it for granted. It traditionally started in November with blitz fishing that produced doubleheaders under birds feeding wildly in white waters, before settling into a steady pick well into January. There were a few days when some unusually big bass followed peanut bunkers within reach of surfcasters, but the mass of smaller bass in the N.J. surf has never appeared, On the other hand, anglers have been getting completely shut out at what should have been prime times.

Some of this may have been due to a lack of bait in the surf aspeanuts disappeared and sand eels haven’t shown up in any quantity. Veteran surfcasters who normally would be picking away have been getting completely shut out during a period which is usually prime — and Vinny D’Anton reports that most have given up trying to catch something during frigid mornings. During many years of fishing the northern Jersey surf I was always able to pick a few bass through January, but that doesn’t appear likely now.

Up to this point, there hasn’t been any indication that the striper population is in trouble — but what has just happened with the schoolies is a danger sign.

The forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for west winds at 15 to 20 knots plus gusts to 30.

Chuck Many actually became a musky expert before becoming the most successful private boat sriper skipper along the Atlantic Coast. Through it all, Chuck enjoys variety fishing — which leads to the following competition.

I wouldn’t consider myself an expert freshwater fisherman by any stretch, but do target and catch multiple different species. That served me well in the year long NJ Mutispecies tournament, which just ended this past week. Took home the Ship & a bunch of species awards! Look forward to 2026 and a whole new Saltwater Division. Hopefully everyone will join and we will expand it throughout the state. If you fish NJ at all, what about this.”

Chuck with N.J. musky

The NY/NJ Bight forecast is for west winds at 25-30 knots plus gusts to 40 and afternoon snow showers

The Pig and Parrot wants to congratulate the crew of The Experience on their massive 904-pound tuna, officially weighed in and docked at Brielle Yacht Club. Definitely

The forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for southwest winds at 25-30 knots–and a gale watch s up for Wednesday.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported a very good first far offshore wreck trip as there were sea bass limits up to almost 7 pounds plus some porgies and a few bluefish and a 15-pound pollock. The next trip will be on Dec. 13 by reservation.