The striped bass fall run continues to build up, and produced some big fish for surfcasters yesterday. Vinny D’Anton got his shots with a popper during a mid-morning trip to Monmouth County beaches, but the biggest bass blasted into schools of peanut bunkers and required a change to Vinny’s legal J-hook snagging rig before engaging in a long battle. Vinny noted that another angler released a 46-incher. Betty & Nick’s Tackle in Seaside Park sent a photo on Facebook of another bass that size taken in their area – though with no other info,

Vinny noted that this did not seem to be the first blitz of fall bass in his area, though that could change any day as a N.Y. surfcaster reported great volume action over there.

RHODE ISLAND TAUTOG RECORD

23.94 pounds! That’s what it took for Vlad Vaynshteyn to topple the Rhode Island state record. Guided by the expert wisdom of Capt. Connor MacLeod of Tall Tailz Charters the titanic tog beat the former Rhody record of 22.5 pounds set just last year aboard Newport Sportfishing Charters.

A gale watch is up until 6 p.m. By morning it should be down to north at 5 knots.

Boaters were back out after the gale force west winds dropped down, and the Golden Eagle from Belmar reported an epic day with stripers of all sizes around the boat all morning. Everyone caught a keeper. and there were also slot fish and overs as shads proved to be the best lure.

Betty & Nick’s photo.

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R.I. tautog record:23.94 pounds! That’s what it took for Vlad Vaynshteyn to topple the Rhode Island state record. Guided by the expert wisdom of Capt. Connor MacLeod of Tall Tailz Charters the titanic tog beat the former Rhody record of 22.5 pounds set just last year aboard Newport Sportfishing Charters.

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The strong westerly winds are finally calming down, and anglers in NY/NJ Bight should be able to fish in comfort as seas will be dropping off to a flat calm in a forecast of northwest winds at 15-20 knots before going to 10 knots west in the afternoon.

Capt, Ron Santee managed to get into a few stripers right away on Sunday before cutting his trip with the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands short in waters rough enough to be dangerous. With a similar forecast for Monday, Rob decided to wait for Tuesday to get back on the stripers. It’s likely that the entire fleet will be on the water in the morning.

Dave Lilly is always coming up with new ideas to catch stripers and fluke, but ended up saving a trip with Wally Smith by digging into the the bottom of his tackle box.

They got into a big fleet near Breezy Point, but didn’t see much going on. Trolling all his favorite lures on wire didn’t produce a hit before Lilly found a Stretch 25 in the bottom of his tackle box. As soon as that lure was deployed on braided line he was hooked up — and that continued with everything from shorts to overs on every drop.

That long, slim lure is made by Mann’s, and enables anglers to fish deep without weighted lines or drails since the diving head digs down as speed is increased.

It seemed to be especially effective in Raritan Bay during the early striper run when they seemed to prefer herring. Why it was the only lure which worked yesterday is a mystery, though much smaller Atlantic mackerel of tinker-size are in the prey mix this year.

Lilly went to the Tackle Box in Hazlet this morning to buy another Stretch 25 only to find they haven’t had one in stock for years! However, I suspect most local anglers have some saved and only in need of new hooks after all these years.

Lilly said it was flat calm yesterday, but blowing a gale today — as is predicted into Monday afternoon with west winds up to 35 knots.

Conditions in NY/NJ Bight were good today in west winds, and boaters had plenty of shots despite the weekend crowds.

Capt. Ron Santee had his annual charter for the IBEW on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as fishing was good all day with good shots of keepers despite having to make moves to other areas every time a spot got tot too crowded and turned off the bite.

A gale watch is up for Sunday with west winds at 20-25 kno and up to 25 in the afternoon. No problem for party boats , but small boaters must exercise caution.

After having to work hard yesterday for fussy stripers in the Raritan Bay area of NY/NJ Bight, Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands said the bite was back to normal throughout today’s trip with lots of slot and bonus bass plus overs on jigs and shads. Best of all, there was less wind than had been predicted and no butt-kicking to be endured. That boat is chartered on Saturday.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar has been doing well with stripers this week while welcoming the first five vets aboard each day for a free trip. I hope many of my fellow vets have taken advantage of the generous offer.

GOLDEN EAGLE SETS FIRST OFFSHORE GIANT SEA BASS TRIP ION DECEMBER 6TH!” We are excited to have Pete Myers from Run Off Lures joining us on board! He’ll be showcasing their top-quality tackle and bringing along some great giveaways for the trip.
Our OFFSHORE GIANT SEA BASS TRIPS primarily target Giant Sea Bass & Porgies.
These trips depart at 8:00pm (departure times may vary
depending on NFS regulations) and return approximately 2:00 to 3:00pm the next day. On these trips, a rod & reel set up that has a 40 lb. braid test line with a 30 Ib. mono top shoot & leader is the preferred type of equipment. Remember, we will be fishing in 150 to 200 feet of water and the currents may be strong so your rod needs to be able to accommodate 16 to 18 oz. sinkers. We primarily use bait for these fish. Generally, these trips fish the wrecks between 50 and 80 miles offshore. Reservations are required.
You don’t want to miss this exciting fishing.”

The forecast for Saturday is for northwest winds at 5-10 knots before increasing to 10-15 in the afternoon.

Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands reported “Today you had to be on your A game with the conditions we had!!

It got nasty after the change of tide with the wind against but the guys worked hard and never quit.

We bounced around several area’s all with life but only a few that produced fish beyond a pick. You could see the guys who have been doing this a long time catching all day, Kevin & Eddie in particular. They never stopped and were in the zone. Nice mix of slots & bonus fish for the guys today. Back at it in the morning.“

Capt. Jim Freda got his Shore Catch charter into big stripers off Manasquan Inlet where they also saw bluefin tuna blasting into schools of bunkers.

Vinny D’Anton says northern N.J. striper fishing remains poor, but a N.Y. angler has had epic catches of school bass over there in heavy bait.

Betty & Nick’s Fishing Club reports shots of 24-32-inch bass on SP Minnows and sand eel teasers.

The west winds continue with northwest at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25.

The generous offer of the Golden Eagle from Belmar continues all week for the first five vets aboard each morning to fish free. Sailing time is 5:30.

Most trips have been blown out this week. but the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands got off to a good start Wednesday before doing even better as it got rougher. They are chartered on Saturday.

The marine forecast is for more west winds at 20-25 knots plus gusts to 30–just like migratory stripers like it!

Tuesday’s gale warning probably kept almost everyone off the water today, but should also turn them back on again tomorrow.

Capt. Ron Santee said it started slowly Monday on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. but ended up with hot action with mostly slot bass.

The Queen Mary boats from Pt. Pleasant got into hot nearby bass on Monday as the high hook caught 8 up to 42 inches.

The forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for more of the fishable for large boats west winds at 20-25 knots plus gusts to 30.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar will provide a free trip to the fiirst five vets each day this week, though Tuesday is a blowout.

After a tough day with non-biting bass, it was back to normal again for the Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands.

The forecast scared some off, but it was very fishable.

The forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for west winds at 10-15 knots plus higher gusts..