Though it’s still early for the migration, there seem to be plemty of hard-fighting stripers available even if they’re too big to keep.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported: “E BASS BITE WAS ON RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO!

It was a VERY GOOD day of STRIPER fishing. We found big areas of birdlife and it didn’t disappoint. There were BASS working on top and plenty of action around the boat. On some drifts, we had a number of BIG STRIPED BASS on. All the fish today were OVERS and were safely released with the largest at 49″.

The weather will keep us at the dock tomorrow (Monday) but the forecast looks great for Tuesday and beyond 

Capt. Ron Santee had a similar reports from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands as the south wind came up earlier than expected — but the bass hit better as it got nastier. He will also take a day off due to the forecast of 20-25 mph southwest winds with gusts up to 30 plus possible afternoon showers.

Though the volume of early stripers is encouraging, catching them is another matter.

Capt. Ron Santee reports about today’s trip on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as follows: :“Plenty of bait with bass blowing up in all area’s.

Problem was they were very tough to catch!! We would get set up, they would move and pop up a hundred yards away. This went on all day!!! We managed a couple fish just to add insult to injury, they were too big and had to go back. Encouraging though to see the fish are here, hopefully they bite better tomorrow.

Sailing everyday 7:00AM, first boat “

The Golden Eagle from Belmar got into the stripers yesterday and caught some — but all were “overs” and released.

Sunday’s marine forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for south winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 before going to 15-20 and gusts to 30 in the afternoon.

Though it was nothing special. the Virginia young-of-the-year report was on target

“Preliminary results from an ongoing long-term survey conducted by researchers at William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS suggest that an average year class of young-of-year striped bass was produced in the Virginia tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay in 2025. The 2025 year class, representing fish hatched this spring, will reach fishable sizes in three to four years.

The Batten School & VIMS Juvenile Striped Bass Seine Survey recorded a mean value of 5.12 fish per seine haul in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay. The 2025 value is similar to the historic average of 7.77 fish per seine haul and represents an improvement over the previous two years of below-average recruitment in Virginia tributaries.”

After a long period of easterly winds, anglers in NY/NJ Bight should see a move to the west tomorrow. After starting north at 5-10 knots, there’s a change to west at 5-10 in the afternoon.

After a storm almost as bad as Sandy was, boaters have been slow to return to action. However, the Big Mohawk from Belmar will start again on Saturday with daily sea bass. while the Golden Eagle from that port is seeking out bluefish every morning.

The marine weather forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for north winds at 15-20 knots before becoming 15 knots in the afternoon.

That was the assessment of Vinny D’Anton provided today while noting the damage created by the nor’easter this week. Millions of dollars of dredged sand has disappeared and left clifts preventing access to the beach. He wonders whether the money to fix that situation will be available.

Other areas along the Jersey Shore also lost access areas as flooding was widespread,

A few anglers have tried to find an area of clear water to cast into, but the only report of some small stripers came from Staten Island.

The forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for north winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25.

Though a small craft warning is up through late Wednesday, fishing may begin even sooner in protected areas as anglers hope to see signs of the fall striper run,

Wednesday’s marine forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for north winds at 10-15 knots before increasing to 15-20 in the afternoon. Waves will still be up to as much as 8 feet.

It will take a few days to recover from the storm, but anglers will be looking for a start to the fall striper migration

The storm has been destructive, but there are better days ahead,

There was good news from Betty & Nick’s Tackle in Seaside Park as they reported cuts in the beach due to the huge waves — but no street flooding at all.

Capt. Ron Santee would have liked to return to bottom fishing with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, but suspects the huge swell will make that sport a gamble for days to come. Therefore, he’s switching to striped bass on Thursday with a 7 a.m. departure. The fare is $90.

Though the storm warning will be coming down, the remaining big swell will require caution at inlets and on the beaches.

Just before the storm moved in, Fisher Price IV got in a day of seeking large stripers in the NYNJ Bight area by drifting live baits for a good sampling up to almost 30 pounds. It was too early for migrating bass, though that run may start kicking in after the nor’easter moves off this week. Those large bass can be identified by the purple sheen on their backs — and usually carry sea lice on their bodies.

Dante Soriente has a well-deserved reputation as a bigeye tuna specialist, but has established standards inshore with giant tautog topped by a 21-pounder. He further notes:”Erik and Myself went North to visit a dozen tackle shops! Day 2 on way south we stoped at a random pier and picked up 2 dozen Green crabs! We fished for about an hour and caught a bunch of 12-18 inch #blackfish right before we were about to leave I threw a whole green crab down on a 1 oz @magictail_outfitters #togjigs in Black and hooked a hammer! Fish just swam off with the jig! What a battle it was in light tackle took drag about 6 times before we got to see it! Was just shy of 27 inch! Nice male I’m guessing around 10-11 lbs! Was using our 7’ 3/4-2 oz inshore rod which is perfect for smaller jigs! Happy to catch my first DD from land ! Best part was I wasent even trying or thinking about catching none like that! “

Sunday’s marine forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for northeast winds at 30-35 knots with rain and seas up to 14 feet~

Today may stand as the best in some time as a stormy period moves in. Fortunately, the Barrier Islands Beach Brawl got in a good start this morning and won’t be dependent on tomorrow’s final day.

Capt. Ron Santee had hoped to get Saturday in on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, but the weather is changing too fast. Bottom fishing was good today as a 3-pound sea bass took the pool.

Saturday starts off with east winds at 10-15 knots in Ny/NJ Bight, but soon increases to 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25 and rain.

Vinny D’Anton reports some small blues in the Monmouth County surf though small summer stripers remain scarce. However, there was word of a couple of large stripers being caught.