While surfcasters should be able to deal with waves from large swells that are coming at them, the greatest damage comes from the backwash behind them that can sweep an angler’s legs out from under him in without warning.
Getting knocked down in the surf is no laughing matter, as regaining your feet in waders with added water weight is a real challenge as the waves keep coming. Vinny D’Anton heard of that happening this morning in the Monmouth County surf which was rough and unproductive.
A small craft warning is up through Saturday night. The forecast is for northeast winds at15-20 knots before diminishing to 10-15 in the afternoon.
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NJ surf stripers still scarce as waves decline
There was some improvement in NJ surf conditions today, but even small stripers were hard to come by.
Mike Monte said he ever had a hit in the Monmouth County surf, and he talked to a dozen other anglers who had the same experience even though the waves were down to 2 to 3 feet. There were also no signs of the recently abundant peanut bunkers.
It was the same story further south as Jerry Lasko only saw a couple of small bass caught in the Ocean County surf which had cleaned up since yesterday.
Capt. Mark DeBlasio reported decent blackfishing on his Water Proof yesterday despite a big swell, south wind and some rain. His party ended up just one short of a boat limit despite releasing a couple of large female tog to spawn again.
A small craft warning is up to late Friday. The forecast is for north winds at 10-15 knots with 4-6-foot seas — but there’s a switch to northeast at 15-20 predicted for Saturday.
Big stripers have become harder to find recently, but Chris Lido managed this one just in time.
There were no striped bass reported along the N.J. surf this morning as Mike Monte noted Monmouth County was virtually unfishable with 3-5-foot waves plus rain. His catch yesterday of three bass in the 30-31-inch class on a tin squid was garbled in the blog.
Jerry Lasko had similar conditions in the Ocean County surf which was very dirty after all the south wind and swell.
A small craft advisory is up through Thursday afternoon. The forecast is for north winds at 15-20 knots before dropping to 10-15 in the afternoon.
The N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife has recognized a new state record albacore. That 78-pound, 2.4-ounce longfin was boated in October by Matthew Florio while chunking on the east wall of Hudson Canyon from Tuna Sea.
Though Capt. Ron Santee was discouraged by two poor days of striper fishing on hs Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands and ended his season yesterday, there was evidence today that there are still plenty of stripers available.
The fall season usually ends with rapidly falling water temperatures and a big storm, but we haven’t had any of that. The Golden Eagle from Belmar found striper fishing to be as good as it had been this morning despite choppy seas and some rain as boat limits of keeper and bonus bass were taken along with catch and release action. However, they won’t be sailing tomorrow due to the forecast.
Andreas Toy from Perth Amboy had the Daniel Ulmar party out to put Gray fish tags into 34 stripers while many others went back untagged because they couldn’t keep up with the action.
The Ocean County surf striper bite was dead early, but Jerry Lasko said he and Maren Tolano wait it out until the fish turned on at 8 a.m. They were mostly small bass, but with big fish mixed in such as Jerry’s 42-incher. At times it was an every cast bite.
Mike Monte fished the Monmouth County surf and was rewawere 30-31 inches. Those bass are feeding on sand eels, but he had to use a tin squid in order to cast into the wind.
A small craft warning is up from late tonight up to Wednesday afternoon. The morning forecast is for south winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 before going southwest 10-15 in the afternoon. Rain is also predicted.
The Cape Charles, Va. pre-spawning striper run got underway as Sho-Nuf Sportfishing caught a 45-inch, 36-pounder.
Chuck Many is fishing his salt ponds at Hilton Head, S.C. with light tackle for red drum (redfish).
The best fall striper season has suddenly ended for Capt. Ron Santee on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. He wraps it up as follows:
“FISHERMEN/The Fat lady has Sung!!
Created: Monday, 05 December 2022 15:34 Written by Capt. Ron
Today was our last trip for the 2022 Season, the fat lady has sung!
Spent the last two days running all over the ocean trying to find a decent bite and only landing a handful of fish. The Bait & fish moved South over the past couple of days and it’s just out of reach for us.
The past 6 1/2 weeks were without a doubt the best fall fishing I have ever seen, for all those who got to par-take, some many times, we were all blessed.
Thank you so much to all my awesome customers for the support not only this season but all the seasons past, you guys and gals make me who I am.
I couldn’t do it without the Best crew on the Jersey Shore though…..Joey, Robbie, Jimmy (Bro),Capt. Dan and the Queen who keeps me in check! The love for the game keeps us all going.
Have a Great Christmas & Happy New Year. “
Whlle it may be over for a northern party boat operation, I would be surprised if all of the bait and striped bass has migrated south so suddenly with water temperatures still relatively mild. I suspect that charter and private boaters will continue to find shots of action for some time to come, and a pick of bass in the northern always occurs into the New Year.
Meanwhile, the southern surf bite continued yesterday for Nick Honachefsky on a surf charter that included a 45-inch release. See photo below.
Unfortunately, I just got a call from Jerry Lasko about the Ocean County surf action falling apart this morning as the bait didn’t come in and the few fish caught were under 20 inches. Jerry did see some terns working offshore, and hopes the bait may come in before dark.
Adult bunkers were the primary forage in the Jersey surf today, and the result was more big stripers to be caught.
Jerry Lasko fished the Ocean County surf and said he just had to keep driving to find flurries of bass over 30 inches which included a 40-incher. The fishing kept getting better all day, and bass were still hitting when it was almost dark. Jerry sent the photo below of Louie with one of yesterday’s bass.
Vinny D’Anton fished the Monmouth County surf in the morning and picked a few large bass at times.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had another great day of striper fishing with boat limits of keepers and bonus bass plus many releases of stripers over the limit. Since the boat will be on an offshore sea bass trip tomorrow, they won’t be striper fishing again until Tuesday.
The forecast is for southwest winds at just 5-10 knots.
Jerry Lasko reported the best action of the fall along Ocean County beaches today as striped bass attacked schools of bunkers which often beached themselves to get away just as frequently occurs when bluefish are chasing them.
Lasko said most of the bass were small, though bigger ones were mixed in. If a hooked fish shook off, another bass would be hooked right away. Shad lures were all he needed.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a fine afternoon striper trip with bass readings 20 feet thick plus white water fishing as boat limits of keepers and clots were taken. They have a few spots open by reservation for the Dec. 4 offshore wreck trip targeting giant sea bass.
Sunday’s forecast is for northwest winds at 8-13 knots.
Weather conditions improved today as it wasn’t as cold and Capt. Ron Santee said he had a very good day after a slow start with just a few small bass before making a run and locating bunkers. That resulted in a lot of 32-34-inch stripers and a pool fish of 36 inches on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands.
A small craft warning goes up tonight, and changes to a gale warning tomorrow. Southwest winds at 25-30 knots with gusts to 40 will result in 6-9-foot seas plus showers.
Vinny D’Anton started out where he left stripers in the Ocean County surf yesterday afternoon, but ended up back in Monmouth County where peanut bunkers were abundant and stripers were on the feed. He was joined by Frank Manzi and Frank Conover as they caught linesiders on a wide variety of lures.
How about this huge black marlin in Australia as reported on Facebook! • • • • • “EPIC Fish caught off the top of Fraser Island just weighed at our Urangan Marina Hervey Bay Qld – Black Marlin 1431lbs ( 649.87kgs ) Boat is “Too Easy II ” from the Gold Coast – Angler is Rob Crane who spent 2 hours mostly up on sunset on 130lb tackle – fish ate a hand crafted “Gagey Super Plunger” in “Pinky” pattern – Skipper is Russel Gage , Crew – Terry Parker & Elliot Muller.”
Though party boats canceled trips in NY/NJ Bight today. all should be back at it on Friday with a perfect fall forecast of west winds at a mere 5-10 knots followed by southwest at 10-15 in the afternoon.
Vinny D’Anton gave up on his usual Monmouth County surf spots to move south where the striped bass action has been. That proved to be a good decision as he got into some flurries around Lavallette that included a 35-inch release. A “walk the dog”-type surface plug did the job for him as there were some larger bunkers among the peanuts which have been creating an attraction for stripers. A call to friends surf fishing further north confirmed the continuing lack of fish there.
If you are looking for solitude on the surf, don’t fish Ocean County beaches right now!
Tight Lines 