Tight Lines

Capt. Ron Santee is calling it a season tomorrow with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, and it should be a great one based on the last two this week as stripers remain abundant in the back of Raritan Bay.

Ron says the bass are almost all keepers fresh in from the ocean and covered with sea lice. Shads and spoons do the job, but it’s hard to find a bonus bass among them.

Mike Monte called last night to let me know that he’d fished three mornings from Monmouth Beach to Sea Girt and watched birds picking up sand eels — but couldn’t find a bass among them.

The forecast is for southeast winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20.

The Jamaica from Brielle has room on upcoming far offshore wreck trips for giant sea bass at 10 p.m. on Dec. 16, 19, 21 and 22 plus others to be set up before the month is out. Friday’s trip was another good one with limits of sea bass plus porgies , bluefish and even weakfish

If the boats can get out to the far offshore wrecks, big catches of giant sea bass and porgies appear to be a sure thing.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar made one of their trips by reservation this week and had a boat limit of sea bass while switching to catch and release by 8 a.m. Anglers also had all the porgies they wanted plus a few blues, a pollock and weakfish — and a couple of barrelfish — a species usually only caught while tilefishing. The Jamaica from Brielle has also been loading up on those trips which should continue to produce all month.

The Monday forecast is for west winds at 15-20 knots with gusts to 25.

Atter enjoying great action yesterday with a high hook of 15 stripers, Capt. Ron Santee found a much tougher condition today when the current started running into the wind. Two anglers managed to catch four bass. Weather permitting, Santee will run his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands through Wednesday.

The Sunday forecast is for northwest winds at 20-25 knots before going to west in the afternoon and diminishing to 15-20 knots.

Striped bass don’t want to leave NY/NJ Bight waters this winter.

Dave Lilly reports that the few remaining charter boats are catching all the keepers they can handle in the back of the bay, and Miss Belmar Princess reported a good ocean catch yesterday with all sizes represented as plain Ava 47 jigs worked best.

Bob Matthews, at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina summed up the fishing as follows:

“Well It’s hard to believe it’s almost Christmas, the weather has been very mild this fall and the fishermen have  been taking advantage of it.The Striped bass are still around, the sandeels finally made an appearance and small micro bass are feeding on them,grab some light tackle and get in on some action.There are still some better fish hitting after dark on Black Bombers and Purple and Black SP Minnows. Add a teaser for some extra insurance.The daytime bite try some Tsunami six inch eels or A !7 with a green tail with a teaser.The Blackfish  has been very good with many limit catches, some really nice fish are being brought in,5 pounds is normal .The flounder bite is holding up and many anglers are fishing for Sundials, they are plentiful and no limit, plus good eating.We are open full service,well stocked for your Christmas needs,gift certificates are available if you’re  not sure what to purchase.”

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported a slow start to their last striper trip of the season, but fishing improved during the day, and they ended up catching keepers and bonus bass as well as some shorts plus legal blackfish and bluefish. That boat will remain active running giant sea bass trips to offshore wrecks by reservation.

The wind shifts to southwest at 15-20 knots with gusts to 25.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar concludes its striper fishing for the year with tomorrow’s 6:30 a.m. sailing from Belmar. That boat still has some offshore sea bass trips by reservation on its schedule.

The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands will try to sail through Sunday, though Tuesday’s striper fishing after the south gale was poor. Capt. Ron Santee said he ran north, then south and to the channels but only found some areas with life and fewer with fish marks. A couple of anglers caught two keepers, but it was a tough pick. Of course, all that can change overnight, and there’s a good chance that stripers may be with us for some time yet.

Small craft warnings are up tonight into the morning, when it will be northwest at 15 -20 knots plus gusts to 25 before diminishing in the afternoon to 10-15 knots.

Stripers may outlast party boats

Striped bass fishing is showing no signs of coming to an end, but party boat anglers may be having a hard time finding a boat to fish for them soon.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar is making its last two 6:30 a.m. striper trips Wednesday and Thursday — and the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands may finish up on Sunday.

The forecast is better, with east winds at just 5 knots before switching to north in the afternoon. However, there is a chance of rain or snow in the morning.

The Jamaica from Brielle reports s boat limit of giant sea bass caught on far offshore wrecks Sunday along with some jumbo porgies, blues and weakfish. Lenny Giordano of Ridley, Pa. won the pool with a 6-pound sea bass. There is room on trips departing at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations.

The gale watch ends tonight, and tomorrow starts with northwest winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25 before decreasing to 10-15 knots in the afternoon,

Small craft warnings go up at midnight, and advance to a gale watch in the afternoon. South winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30 increase to 25-30 with gusts to 40 in the afternoon. Morning showers are possible.

Capt.. Ron Santee of the Fishermen at Atlantic Highlands reports as follows:

This time of year I would much rather be fishing in the Snot!  If it ain’t blowin, they ain’t showin!  Today was no different. 

Flat calm Ocean, plenty of readings but a lousy bite. Covered everything from the Point of the Hook to the Rocks back up to the North then to the West!!!

Ended the day with a couple handfuls of fish.