Tight Lines

Anglers who haven’t already loaded up on sea bass are running out of time as the season closes at the end of the month.

The far offshore wrecks remain loaded with jumbo sea bass, and a few more trips are available. The forecast is great with northwest winds at just 10-15 knots on Saturday.

The Jamaica from Brielle reports Thursday’s trip produced many sea bass limits up to 7 pounds plus some big porgies and a few weakfish. They have room on trips sailing at 11 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations. The Paramount will be making the same trips at 9 p.m. tonight and tomorrow.

Capt. Stan Zagleski found blackfishing to be just fine on his Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands today after making a move to deeper water following a slow start. Most fares caught about four keepers — and he’ll be doing the same thing at 7 a.m. tomorrow in a fine weather forecast.

The forecast is for south winds at 10 knots, shifting  to southwest in the afternoon.

Jerry Lasko reported that Ocean County surf conditions were about the same as yesterday. He caught seven school stripers, and Maren Toleno released 17.

The Canyon Runner Seminar is coming up Feb. 1 in Atlantic City.  The cost of tickets is $125, and they are well worth it for offshore anglers. Some of what will be presented follows:

You Can’t Afford to Miss This! New for 2020 – Capt. Deane Lambros – Specialized Big-Eye Tuna Trolling Techniques New for 2020 – Capt. Deane Lambros – Advanced Canyon Recon – How & WHEN to Find and Catch Your Quarry Without Fishing the Crowd – Fish Earlier and Farther  New for 2020 – Capt. Capt. Jim Freda – “Shore Catch” Inshore Tuna – When, Where, Why & How “Core Class”  New for 2020 – Capt. Gene Quigley – “Shore Catch” – Top Water Tuna – Plugging, Popping and Stick Baits – Casting for Tuna New for 2020 – Capt. Craig Angelini – Advanced Offshore Sharking for Monster Makos New for 2020 – Capt. Mike Zajac – “Core Class” – Learn How to Truly Run the Pit like the Professional Mate New for 2020 – Capt. Mark DeCabia “Rebel” – How to Have a Successful Canyon Trip Without Targeting Bigeyes (Focus on Yellowfins, Longfins, Mahis, Swords – How to Adapt to What & WHEN the Ocean Gives) New for 2020 – Capt. Mark DeCabia “Rebel” – Bigeye or Bust – Private boat big-tactics – Average More Big-eyes per trip than the Pros – Big Fish Tactics New for 2020 – Using Your Electronics to Find Fish “Core Class” – Matt Finney – Master Electronics Technician – Wintron New for 2020 – Capt. Tim Pickett – Day Time Swords in Northeast Canyons – It’s On in the Northeast – Just Ask Some of our Attendees Last Year New for 2020 – Capt. Tim Pickett – Small Boat Dredge Fishing – Fish Your 30 Footer Like a 60 Footer New for 2020 – Lt. Wynn Carney – Supervisory Enforcement Officer, Mid-Atlantic Region – Ask Any Question you May Have – Learn Why The Rules are What They Are New for 2020 – Latest Tracking Northeast Yellowfin & Big-Eye Tuna by Dr. Walter Golet MOST BREAKOUT TOPICS EVER! 1)  Canyon Recon – The Art of Finding Tuna – “Core Class” – How & WHEN to Find and Catch Your Quarry Without Fishing the Crowd – Fish Earlier and Farther – Capt. Deane Lambros & Canyon Runner Team 2) Advanced Big-Eye Tactics – Specialized Big-eye Tuna Trolling Techniques – Capt. Deane Lambros & Canyon Runner Team 3)  Offshore Sharking for Monster Makos – Capt. Craig Angelini & Canyon Runner Crew 4)  Water Temp Analysis “Core Class” Basic Courses for First Time Attendees – Capt. Len Belcaro 5) How to Have a Successful Canyon Trip Without Targeting Bigeyes (Focus on Yellowfins, Longfins, Mahis, Swords – How to Adapt to What & WHEN the Ocean Gives) – Capt. Mark DeCabia “Rebel” 6)  Advanced Water Temp Analysis – Debrief on the Year – Capt. Len Belcaro 7)  Using Your Electronics to Find Fish “Core Class” – Matt Finney – Wintron 8)  Private Boat Big-Eye Tactics  – Outfish the Pros – Capt. Mark DeCabia 9) Rigging Ballyhoo for Tuna “Core Class – Hands On Training” – Canyon Runner Crew 10) Small Boat Dredge Fishing – Capt. Tim Pickett 11) Canyon Trolling 101 “Core Class” – Must Know to Excel Offshore – Capt. Craig Angelini & Canyon Runner Crew 12) Day & Night Time Sword Fishing the Canyons – Yes It’s Happening – Capt. Tim Pickett – Lindgren Pitman 13) NMFS – Ask Any Question You May Have – Learn Why The Rules are What They Are – Lt. Wynn Carney – Supervisory Officer 14) Hi-Tech Rigging Baits for Big Fish – Capt. Charlie Vanderbeck – Canyon Runner 15) Canyon Chunking 101 “Core Class” – Rig Up like a Professional Crew – Capt. Chris Squieri Atlantic Yacht Haven 16) Tuna Jigging 101 – Learn from The Best – Dave Arbeitman – The Reel Seat 17) Offshore Trolling & Chunking from a Center Console – Capt. Freddy Gamboa – Andrea’s Toy 18) Winning Marlin Tactics – Tournament Winning Angler Brad Burgess – Canyon Runner 19) Offshore Game Plan – Trolling & Chunking – Capt. Sean Welsh & the Crew of the Restless Lady 20) Inshore Tuna – When, Where, Why & How “Core Class” – Capt. Capt. Jim Freda – “Shore Catch” 21) Engine Preventative Maintenance & Repairs at Sea – John Lane – Forked River Diesel 22) Tilefishing the Canyons – Dave Arbiteman – Reel Seat 23) Learn How to Service and Maintain Your Reels – Penn Reel’s Technicians – 15 Minute Hands-On Session 24) Rod Building, Repair and Maintenance – Joey Lamonica from Joeys Rod Building -15 Minute Hands-On Session 25) Learn How to Truly Run the Pit like the Professional Mate – Capt. Mike Zajac & Canyon Runner Crew 26) Latest Tracking Northeast Yellowfin & Big-Eye Tuna by Dr. Walter Golet 27) Gulf Stream Marlin & Yellowfin Trolling – Capt. Dennis Ednee – “A-Salt Weapon” 28) Top Water Tuna – Plugging, Popping and Stick Baits – Casting for Tuna – Gene Quigley – “Shore Catch” *”Core Classes” – While big-eyes and tournaments might steal some of the headlines – 95% of the time when you are offshore your focus should be on these core skills. If this is your first time attending our Seminar or if you’ve been here before but haven’t attended one of these classes – it’s time you do so. It’s these skills that build the foundation of a great offshore team. For additional information and Tickets Call 732-272-4445 Email: info@canyonrunner.com

Canyon Runner, 62 Ivy Hill Rd, Red Bank, NJ 07701

They should all be much further south by this time, but school striped bass are still feeding in the N.J. surf. Maren Toleno and Jerry Lasko celebrated Christmas morning with the Ocean County bass as she caught 30 and Jerry 10 in a surf with some swell and whitewater. With northeast 10-15 knot winds forecast  tomorrow that fishing should continue. Pete Connell was passing through Spring Lake yesterday morning when he spotted a surfcaster leaving and found out that he had released a couple of bass there.

The party boat fleet should also be in full operation tomorrow.

The title sums it up. Have a great holiday with the family, but if you get up early enough there may be time to catch a school striper before opening the presents. The forecast is for northeast winds at just 5 knots  — shifting to south in the afternoon. You might even catch a fluke as Bob Correll did at Bay Head this week!

The few boats still fishing for blackfish have to work through shorts for keepers, but are finding the effort to be worthwhile. The Ocean Explorer at Belmar reported the seasonal pool is up to over $3,000, and they’ll be looking for a new leader during a Christmas Eve trip running from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands is taking advantage of the good fishing weather at 7 a.m. Once again on Sunday they had a slow start before making a move that produced more keepers into overtime to provide a decent catch.

The Jamaica from Brielle will be sailing for the offshore sea bass wrecks at 2 a.m. on 12/26. Sunday’s trip produced many limits of jumbo sea bass plus porgies and some bluefish. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations on this and other sea bass trips before the season closes at the end of the month.

Tomorrow’s forecast is for north winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20.

Jerry Lasko reported there was some swell in the Ocean County surf this morning, and the water temperature was up a tick to 45.4 degrees as there was some action. He caught four stripers while Maren Toleno had 16 and John Greger seven. They all missed other hits.

I’ve been working a lot harder in Florida to catch largemouth black bass in small ponds while enjoying the holiday season with my family and awaiting Cyndi’s marriage next month in Palm Beach. Most of the released bass are small. but all the surface strikes are fun — and a few larger ones provide a pleasant surprise, such as this fat 22-inch bucketmouth that hit a Z-Man 5-inch DieZel MinnowZ worked on the surface during my last cast at dusk while fishing with future son-in-law Luis Gonzalez in Palm Beach Gardens.

While cold waters may be affecting inshore fisheries, that’s no problem at all on far offshore wrecks which are normally at their best n mid-winter.

The Jamaica from Brielle reported many limits of both sea bass and porgies during Friday’s trip. Bruce Snyder of Philadelphia won the pool with a 6.5-pound sea bass over a 6-pounder by Jimmy Ricardo of Pittstown.

There may be room on the trip leaving at 11 p.m tonight. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations. Other trips will be sailing at 11 p.m. Dec. 26,27, 28, 29 and 30. The sea bass season closes at the end of the month.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had finished up after their last striper trip, but they have added an offshore sea bass trip on Friday, Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. The fare is $200, and it’s limited. They made one successful offshore wreck trip earlier in the month (see below). Make reservations online at http://www.goldeneaglefishing.com

Jerry Lasko reports there was some life in the Ocean County surf this morning as he caught two stripers and Maren Toleno had one.  Bob Correll was surprised to catch a decent fluke at Bay Head, where he also saw one striper caught. The good weather continues in the morning with southwest winds at just 10-15 knots with gusts to 20.

The

The school striper bite in the surf has been so good that it looked as if it would last all winter — until the Ocean County water temperature dropped to 40 degrees today.

Jerry Lasko reported that he only caught two bass this morning while Maren Toleno had just one. In the evening it was even tougher as Maren hooked the only striper.

That colder water may have been the reason Capt. Stan Zagleski didn’t find many blackfish where he’s been catching them with his Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands.  However, a move from that area provided steady action that resulted in several keepers for most fares plus lots of action with 14-14 1/2-inch shorts. Zagleski sails there tomorrow at 7 a.m.

The good weather continues as west winds at a mere 5-10 knots are forecast for the morning before shifting to southwest in the afternoon.

Chuck Many continues to catch and release big stripers off Cape Charles, Virginia

Anglers are getting an early Christmas present this weekend with great December weather on tap.

That starts with the morning when the forecast is for northeast winds at just 5-10 knots — switching to southwest in the afternoon with mild temperatures. Conditions should be fine for school stripers in the surf as well as for blackfishing in the ocean.

Phil Fischer fished Scotland for good blackfishing this week, and on the way out he and his brother dropped near bird action which produced some mackerel, herring and a good whiting before small bass. Could it be that we’ll have a winter mackerel fishery? The Fisherman magazine reports lots of herring being jigged on the N.Y. side at the Coney Island and Canarsie piers.

The new Salmon Strips from Fisherman’s Choice should be deadly on big fluke when that season arrives in the New Year, but in the meantime they’ve been proving effective on such other species as tilefish. As noted above they come from the creators of marinated Squid Strips, and are also soaked in FIN-ESSENCE..

Check them out with Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet.

Jerry Lasko reports the Ocean County school striper bite in the surf continues. Maren Toleno and Jerry fished dawn and dusk for a good bite in a surf blown flat by the west winds. She released 16 and Jerry was close behind with 14.

The small craft advisory is coming down tonight, and it will only be northwest at 10-15 knots by morning along with gusts to 25. That should also be fine for blackfish. The Elaine B. II should be able to fish from Bahrs in Highlands, and the Big Mohawk from Belmar will sail open at 7 a.m.

The Paramount from Brielle has added offshore wreck sea bass trips at 9 p.m. on both !2/20 and 12/21. There’s a 30-man limit, and the cost is $195. Call 732 528-2117 for reservations.

The MAFMC has recognized the sad state of the bluefish fishery and imposed large catch reductions for 2020 — including just three bluefish for shore fishermen and private boaters while allowing those who fish aboard for-hire vessels to keep five.

Anglers have been protecting the bluefish stocks by releasing the vast majority of their catch ever since the Bluefish Management Plan was enacted. Yet, rather than “bank” all those releases, the Council and ASMFC kept transferring recreational quota to the commercial sector. Now the public will be paying the price for that abuse of the management system which didn’t provide for any such action. I’ll have more about this in future blogs.

Nick Honachefsky has come out with a book that should be of interest to all surfcasters or would-be surfcasters. An autographed copy of The Jersey Surf Diaries can be ordered for $19.95 at http://www.saltwaterunderground.com/shop.

Surfcasting for stripers continued today, though Jerry Lasko said it wasn’t up to yesterday’s great bite. There was a strong west wind which eliminated the white water on the bars which is best for that fishery. The bite was best at sawn and dusk, but poor during mid-day. Jerry released 16 bass, and Maren Toleno had 32.

Vinny D’Anton has seen the Belmar bite die down, but went south to Brick after the morning warmed up and managed to release 12 bass that ranged up to 25 inches.

Though there’s a gale warning up to 6 p.m. for northwest gusts to 40 knots, the forecast for the morning is down to 20-25 knots with gusts to 30.