Jerry Lasko reports that surfcasters were still catching blitzing bass as the south wind was honking at dusk in the Ocean County surf as peanut bunkers were jumping onto the sand in their panic to get away. Most of the bass were in the 20-25-inch range with a few bigger ones included. For the first time, those bass also hit on the incoming in the morning, but the blitz was on the afternoon ebb. Maren Toleno was up to 73 releases at last count as the bass hit white Tsunami shads. These are all migratory bass as they are covered with sea lice. That report was a lot better than Vinny D’Anton’s from the Monmouth County surf which has produced only a pick lately though peanut bunkers remain abundant.
Party boats seem to have taken a day off due to the weather forecast, but all should be back in action tomorrow with a forecast of northwest at 20-25 knots plus gusts to 30 which should calm the seas somewhat and provide a lee under the beach.
The most exciting way to catch stripers is on a pencil popper as Allen Gonzalez did with this Jersey surf bass
It appears that there will be a big change in the weather coming up. A gale watch is posted for Wednesday afternoon through the night. South winds of 20-25 knots plus gusts to 30 it will increase to 25-30 and higher gusts in the afternoon. There’s also a chance of showers.
As a result, Capt. Ron Santee is taking a pass until Friday with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands even though striped bass fishing remains very good. Santee had a problem with boat traffic this morning as if it was a Saturday, but took a run that got his fares into bass up to the 34-inch pool winner.
Jerry Lasko says the afternoon surf striper bite continues during afternoon falling tides, though most of the bass are smaller fish in the 20-26-inch class.
Maren Toleno with Ocean County surf bass before release
The NY/NJ Bight striped bass bite continues to please all boaters, and tomorrow looks like a perfect day to get in on the action.
While a small craft advisory is up through late tonight, a switch to northeast tomorrow results in calm rather than the usual storm. That NE wind is predicted to be only 5-10 knots before going east in the afternoon. A south wind follows on Wednesday.
Capt. Ron Santee reported no change in the limit striper fishing though he had to wait for the change of tide to renew the catching after other boats put the fish down earlier in the Fishermen’s trip from Atlantic Highlands.
Andreas Toy not only had a limit striper catch for a weekend party by casting lures, but also put Gray tags into 27 bass up to 35 inches. That boat has weekend openings out of Perth Amboy. Call 201 421-653.
Nick Honachefsky was among the surfcasters who got into yesterday’s Ocean County striper blitz. He fished from 1:30 to 3:30 and released over 30 bass from 23 to 35 inches on shads and with a fly rod.
Jerry Lasko said very good afternoon surfcasting turned to the best bite of the season as there was a solid line of peanut bunkers all along the shore from Ocean Beach to Seaside Park — and bass of various sizes were tearing into them on the falling tide. Maren Toleno was up to 87 releases when I talked to her, and some were over 30 inches. Jerry said the bass would hit anything, and weren’t put off by the mounting storm. On the other hand, mornings have been dead in the same areas.
Boaters also had a great day, with the Golden Eagle from Belmar reporting an awesome bite which provided boat limits of keeper and bonus bass along with many releases of overs.
The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands got off to a hot start before 30 boats arrived and put the fish down. It was tough after that for two hours until the tide turned and the trip ended with hot action.
A gale watch is up tonight for south gusts to 35 knots, but by morning the forecast is for calming northwest winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25.
Dave Lilly didn’t take any chances with weekend crowds and left in the dark from Highlands to fish for stripers down the beach. He came across bass on top from Sandy Hook on down, and had non-stop action for his crew on everything they cast. The only problem was that the bass were mostly around 27 inches for his anglers except for his son Jeremy who was casting the same lures to catch 30-inch and better bass. The action turned off as the current slowed, and Lilly passed the Fishermen and Sea Tiger II from Atlantic Highlands on their way out while he was returning with a limit. Lilly said his hands were so cold he didn’t fish, but it was getting warmer when the Fishermen got down the beach. Capt. Ron Santee said the bass turned on again after the current started running and everyone caught lots of fish in mild and calm conditions.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar also reported a boat limit. They start offshore giant sea bass trips next Saturday.
Bob Correll said there was again no surf striper life at Bay Head, but noted that the fleet coming out of the inlet turned south instead of north where the action has been.
Chuck Many as usual did his own thing with Tyman from Highlands as follows:
“Bob Bowden and I decided we were putting the blinders on, as we turned the hook and saw millions of birds over busting fish. We wanted to see if the jumbos were still around. Although that bird play fishing has been awesome, I will trade a 100 of those slot fish for a 40 pound one any day. As is usual, not a scratch on the screen, but put the eels out and within 10 minutes we had a rod double. Had a really good bite for about an hour with fish from the upper 20’s to 44 pounds. Great way to end my fall season up here. Time to head south and change jumbo bass in the Chesapeake and Reds in Hilton Head. Back in April!” See photos below,
Good news for surfcasters came from Mike Monte, who found schoolies in the Monmouth County surf that were feeding on sand eels and responded to the Tsunami 6-inch Sand Eel. That bait should hold the bass after most head south when the peanut bunkers leave.
A small craft warning goes up Sunday afternoon before switching to a gale watch in the evening. The forecast is for southwest winds at 15 knots with gusts to 20 before going to south at 20-25 with gusts to 30 in the afternoon. Rain is possible both in the morning and afternoon.
The Thanksgiving Holiday period has been working out very well for striped bass fishermen so far.
At Atlantic Highlands, the Fishermen stated out with white water action in shallow water before it turned to a pick the rest of the day as the current was too fast. The Sea Tiger II didn’t have to worry about getting back early on its Thanksgiving trip as they were limited on stripers by 9:30.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had stripers on top this morning, and then picked the rest of the day as most went home with a bass while some had both a keeper and a slot.
A small craft advisory is up until 6 before it turns to a gale warning late tonight. The Saturday forecast is for west wjnds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30.
Black Friday has become the busiest party boat day of the tear as workers take advantage of a weekday off without realizing almost everyone else is also off tomorrow. As a result, it’s important to arrive at least an hour early as skippers will leave early as they fill up
A small craft warning is up all day, as winds will be southwest at 15-20 knots with gusts to 25. Showers are likely in the morning. Stripers have been so abundant that may not matter. Private boaters should consider trolling bunker spoons and mojos just inside the 3-mile limit if conditions aren’t suitable for spotting stripers to jig.
Striped bass bit all day for anglers on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, but Capt. Ron Santee said it was really wild during the last 45 minutes with fish breaking all around the boat –“and they were really hungry!” A 30-pounder won the pool, and there was also a 45-inch release. Santee isn’t fishing on Thanksgiving.
At Belmar, Capt. Alan Shinn reported the Royal Miss Belmar was limited with bass soon after its 6 a.m. departure, and Miss Belmar Princess had similar results.
The Big Mohawk had limit striper catches the previous day as they wound up that season before switching to blackfish with the Thanksgiving Day trip from 6:30 to 2:30.
Vinny D’Anton said striper fishing in the Monmouth County surf was just a pick in the morning, though Frank Manzi caught a 30-incher. Vinny moved to the north in early afternoon to get into a better bite of mostly 22-inch class bass. He’s been doing best with “walk the dog” surface lures.
The forecast is for northeast at just 5-10 knots before going southeast in the afternoon.
Striper fishing is back in mid-season form after the very strong winds, and tomorrow’s weather sounds perfect with northwest winds at just 10-15 knots.
The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands had lots of anglers with over 10 bass during an all-day bite. Several jumbos were among the releases. They will not be sailing on Thanksgiving.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had bass surfacing alongside, and they hit shads and poppers without hesitation as boat limits were filled. The Golden Eagle will fish on Thanksgiving from 6 a.m. to 12:30.
It literally “blew a gale” yesterday, and party boats that did fish in NY/NJ Bight had a hard time finding stripers that would hit lures even though many were marked. The only report received today was a positive, with Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands getting into good numbers of keepers and slots plus even a few “overs”. Shads were the best producer.
The Fishermen will not be sailing on Thanksgiving, but the Sea Tiger II from that port will run a half-day striper trip.
Capt. Vinny Vetere is available tomorrow with his Katfish from Great Kills before shutting down until December in order to make a trip to the Caribbean. Call him at 917 693-8908.
A gale warning was posted at 4 p.m. for 35-knot southwest winds through late tonight. The morning forecast is for northwest at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 before dropping to west at 5-10 in the afternoon.
Doug Rusch’s Fin Fun from Brielle at dawn yesterday
Tight Lines 