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.
Capt. Ron Santee said anglers on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands caught a bunch of stripers and saw whales plus a seal during a beautiful December day. However, with his annual Coast Guard inspection coming up this week he’s decided to end his season on a high note while thanking his loyal customers for making the season a successful one.
Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands knew that striper fishing nearby wasn’t going to work this morning, so he took a long run which paid off even though it was necessary to work hard for every keeper plus shorts. He noted “Henry & Eric had 4-5 fish for high hooks and not one customer quit when it was tough….That’s why we took the ride. Weather looks great for tomorrow, could be our last trip as we will be in Dry dock from Tuesday through Thursday. The Fat lady is singing for the Fishermen, you have one last shot, let’s get it done!!!
for the Fishermen, you!!! have one last shot, let’s get it done”
The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands and the Golden Eagle from Belmar have announced they will be sailing for stripers into a good forecast tomorrow,
The best striper report I;ve had recently came in from NYC Capt. John Mc Murray who fishes the Jamaica Bay to western Long Island area. —-“Some pretty crazy stripa fish’n this morning. I suppose it helps I had one of the BEST flycasters around. @mitchellkaliner was make’n perfect shots! And there were some CRAZY top water strikes. For an unusually long time we were the only ones on’em. Amazing what a little rain will do. Crazy crowds this year tho, and I’m not sure why. Don’t recall EVER seeing this many boats chasing stripers. I mean, it’s fine if people are respectful. But, well, cutting people off, or just g…
58John Abplanalp, Martin L. Gary and 56 othersSome pretty crazy stripa fish’n this morning. I suppose it helps I had one of the BEST flycasters around. @mitchellkaliner was make’n perfect shots! And there were some CRAZY top water strikes. For an unusually long time we were the only ones on’em. Amazing what a little rain will do. Crazy crowds this year tho, and I’m not sure why. Don’t recall EVER seeing this many boats chasing stripers. I mean, it’s fine if people are respectful. But, well, cutting people off, or just g…
58John Abplanalp, Martin L. Gary and 56 othersSome pretty crazy stripa fish’n this morning. I suppose it helps I had one of the BEST flycasters around. @mitchellkaliner was make’n perfect shots! And there were some CRAZY top water strikes. For an unusually long time we were the only ones on’em. Amazing what a little rain will do. Crazy crowds this year tho, and I’m not sure why. Don’t recall EVER seeing this many boats chasing stripers. I mean, it’s fine if people are respectful. But, well, cutting people off, or just g…
58John Abplanalp, Martin L. Gary and 56 othersSome pretty crazy stripa fish’n this morning. I suppose it helps I had one of the BEST flycasters around. @mitchellkaliner was make’n perfect shots! And there were some CRAZY top water strikes. For an unusually long time we were the only ones on’em. Amazing what a little rain will do. Crazy crowds this year tho, and I’m not sure why. Don’t recall EVER seeing this many boats chasing stripers. I mean, it’s fine if people are respectful. But, well, cutting people off, or just g…
The annual fall run of school stripers along the Jersey Shore has become such a bust that most surfcasters have been unable to even catch a single bass lately rather than doubleheaders under diving birds. Mike Monte from Nantucket has been visiting relatives here for about 30 years, and never before experienced shutouts.
Vinny D’Anton hasn’t even seen anyone else catch a small bass lately, and that continued in this morning’s frigid weather.
There was also a tougher boat report as Capt. Ron Santee got into only some small bass early on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands before taking a run down the beach to get into some larger bass on bunkers. He’s taking a day off tomorrow before getting back to it on Saturday.
The weather forecast is for northeast winds at just 5-10 knots before switching to southeast.
Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands reported “Perfect conditions with an outgoing tide and NW breeze. The bigger fish didn’t get the memo, we had a few shots of smaller fish in the AM, went looking for something better but it didn’t work out.
Figures, we sail with a few customers the past couple of trips, get beat up in the snot and catch the hell out of them, get a nice gang and the Bass get their revenge! Seems No snot, not many fish…..Back at it in thePerfect conditions with an outgoing tide and NW breeze. The bigger fish didn’t get the memo, we had a few shots of smaller fish in the AM, went looking for something better but it didn’t work out.
Figures, we sail with a few customers the past couple of trips, get beat up in the snot and catch the hell out of them, get a nice gang and the Bass get their revenge! Seems No snot, not many fish…..Back at it in them in the morning.”
Tight Lines 