Maryland has announced a change in ocean striped bass regulations to one per day between 28 and 35 inches. That applies on Jan. 1 for the ocean and its tributaries — but not in Chesapeake Bay.

The striper below was released by Chad Parks on Chuck Many’s Ty Man from Cape Charles, Va. and will be a lot lighter after she sheds her roe in the spring and that belly flattens out. The only hit of the day — but well worth the trip trolling live eels.

The Paramount from Brielle may have two spots left on their offshore wrecks trip sailing at 8 p.m. today. Call 732 528-2117 for info.

Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park reports that stripers seem to have moved on’ However, Mike Monte had some better news from further north. He fished the Belmar surf from dawn to 8 a.m. without a touch even though dipping birds indicated that sand eels were present. Yet, after returning later he met an angler who had also been shut out but had watched two other casters catch 5 and 10. One was using a Tsunami Sand Eel. and the other a Kettle Creek paddeltail. Those were the typical end-of-the-year 18-to–22-inchers. Apparently, those bass turned on around 9 a.m.

Small craft warnings are up until 10 p.m. The morning forecast is for west winds at just 5-10 knots before increasing in the afternoon to southwest 20-25 knots with gusts to 30.

Though big striped bass appear to have migrated to the south, dedicated anglers can follow them south — and that’s what Chuck Many does with his Tyman. Fishing during the catch and release season out of Cape Charles he trolls live eels to catch big bass that have become huge with roe that makes “fifties” out of ‘forties” until the spring spawning. Tyman had 12 50’s in a 10-day period this month.

Bob Matthews, at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina reports that a couple of regulars at the shop picked a few small stripers from the local surf at first light. Flounder fishing off the docks started slowly this morning with only one caught. Party boats targeting blackfish have had mixed results..

The Big Mohawk reported good conditions Sunday, but the tog weren’t biting as only a few keepers were caught.

Small craft warnings are up through Tuesday afternoon. The morning forecast is for northwest winds at 15-20 knots that increase to 20-25 with gusts to 30 in the afternoon.

The Paramount from Brielle has room on a jumbo sea bass trip sailing at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Call 732 528-4117 for reservations.

The surf settled quite a bit today, but Mike Monte didn’t catch any stripers at Belmar or see any caught by other anglers at what had been a hot spot.

Jerry Lasko also found nothing in the Ocean County surf either early or in the afternoon, but another surfcaster caught two later in the morning This doesn’t mean the stripers are gone as Jerry reported the surf is at about a relatively mild 45 degrees..

Small craft warnings are up through Tuesday afternoon. Southwest winds will be 15-20 knots in the morning with gusts to 25.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had to cancel their offshore sea bass trip on Dec. 28 due to the weather, but will be sailing Tuesday at 7 p.m. and has room. Visit their web site for reservations.

Calming seas

West winds will provide calming seas and better fishing conditions. The forecast is for west winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 which will reduce seas from 4-6 feet to 2-4 feet as winds diminish further in the afternoon to 5-10 knots. Though stripers disappeared off Sandy Hook this week, that area may be worth checking again. Those calm seas should be ideal for blackfishing and for school stripers in the surf.

Small craft warnings are up through Saturday morning when west winds at 15-20 knots should start settling 6-9-foot seas.

Mike Monte proved there were still stripers in the Belmar surf yesterday morning as he had another good morning at Belmar. The bass were smaller, 18 to 22 inches, but they were right in the wash. Mike said they were hard to catch despite all the hits as they were nipping at the tail of the Tsunami Sand Eel.

Jerry Lasko said it was a different story in the Ocean County surf. Yesterday afternoon Maren Toleno caught four bass and he had one — but conditions were tough this morning and they did nothing.

A storm warning went up at 6, and the morning forecast is for southeast winds at 25-30 knots with gusts to 50. Seas build to 12-17 feet.

Merry Christmas

A storm is on its way to NY/NJ Bight.

The morning forecast isn’t too bad with south winds at 15-20 knots, but it goes southeast in the afternoon to 20-25 — before back to south after midnight with gusts to 60 knots as storm warnings go up through Friday morning plus rain.

Jim Hutchinson Jr. of the Fisherman magazine reports there was a new N.J. state record tautog record set off Cape May on Sunday. Ironically, it was taken on the same charter boat that produced the present record of a 25.592-pounder. Chris Sullivan was fishing aboard Capt. Tom Duffin’s Fishing Fever when the 25.8-pound tog hit in about 100-foot depths around 20 miles offshore.

There were no fishing reports submitted today, but the Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported blackfishing came back quickly after the storm and they found life on every drop Monday as a male 10.8-pound tog was boated to tie a female caught the day before for the lead in the seasonal pool.

The marine forecast is for small craft warnings to come down tonight after northwest winds gusting to to 30 knots. By morning it will be down to 10-15 northwest with gusts to 20 before shifting to southwest at 5-10 knots in the afternoon.

Migrating fish don’t always follow the script, and that was the case today with those that have been so abundant off Sandy Hook.

Capt. Rob Semkewyc didn’t know if he’d find any stripers yesterday with his Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands when he sailed for the first time since the storm. As noted last night, the bass were more scattered though some fares caught over 40 — which would be considered great during a normal fall. Yet, Rob was shocked to find nothing at all in the same area today even though there was no change in weather. He also looked around in other areas without finding anything. As a result, the Sea Hunter is finished for the season.

On the other hand, Mike Monte reported his best surfcasting of the fall as he got into better-sized bass from 26 to 30 inches on Tsunami Sand Eels in the Belmar area and released five.

Northwest winds at 15-20 knots are forecast for the morning before increasing to 20-25 in the afternoon.

Capt. Rob Semkewyc of the Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands reported another fine day of striped bass jigging, though the fish were more scattered and releases “only” up to the forties. He will fish tomorrow. but not on Tuesday.

Blackfishing came back after the storm, at least in the deeper waters fished yesterday by the Ocean Explorer from Belmar. There were a few limits, and a 6-pound. 10-ounce tog took the lead in the seasonal pool. A few keeper cod and a pollock were added.

The marine forecast for Monday is for southwest winds about 10 knots with two foot waves.

There may be a last minute opportunity to board tonight’s offshore wreck trip of the Jamaica from Brielle at 10. Call 732 528-5014.