Tight Lines

i was wondering why I couldn’t find a party boat report on the busiest day of the year before seeing Capt. Frank Masseria’s comments from Vitamin Sea out of Keyport as follows: “Today was a grind kind of bite. The bird life that we’ve been used to seeing was nonexistent this morning. In fact, most of the morning went by without us having a single fish. We went into hunt mode and traveled many many many many many miles to find fish. eventually we ran into them and managed to put a limit of keepers in the boat and a bonus fish to top it off. Certainly not the fishing with have been used to but good enough.” Masseria (917 439-6448) has spots open Wednesday and next Sunday.

Capt. Ron Santee had a similar report on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as it was a tough day without the clouds of birds over feeding fish. There were some mid-water marks, but only a “handfull” of keepers were caught on jigs — with just one on a swim shad,

It appears that the period of rough seas and big swells pushed the initial mass of stripers in NY/NJ Bight along to spawning rivers to the south and perhaps into Hudson River. However, there are many more to come from New England. The waters aren’t even cold yet, and today’s bad surprise should be very temporary.

A small craft advisory is up from 6 p.m. to late tonight, but by morning it’s down to north at a mere 5-10 knots before going back to northwest in the afternoon – creating ideal conditions for surfcasters.

A final warning to those looking for the opportunity to fish aboard a party boat on a weekday — get there at least an hour before sailing time as Black Friday has become probably the biggest party boat day of the year. Those boats fill up to their Coast Guard-approved capacity and leave early. With a good weather forecast, there will be a barren marina by sailing time,

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported on their early return Thanksgiving trip as follows:”STRIPED BASS fishing continued to be good with lots of STRIPERS coming over the rail once again today! Swim shads and diamond jigs both worked.” They will probably be long gone at their 6:30 sailing time

The Sea Tiger II from Atlantic Highlands had the following report about today’s fishing:”

     We got out on our half day special turkey day trip after not sailing the  last two days and did better than I expected after yesterday’s reports. Picked on almost every drift  some guys catching 3 to 6 by the end of the day but some only one or none. Bruce took the pool with his keeper and we will be back at it tomorrow and everyday, sailing @ 7:30AM, no reservations needed. Thanks for looking and here a few pics.

.A small craft advisory is up until 6 p.m. The morning forecast is for northwest winds at a modest 10-15 knots before going to 15-20 in the afternoon. Seas will be down to 2-4 feet, and that creates a perfect situation for NJ surfcasting.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The weather in NY/NJ Bight has resulted in no boat reports the last two days, but conditions may be favorable for a surf striped bass blitz on Thanksgiving.

A small craft advisory is up through Thursday afternoon. but the northwest winds from 15-20 knots with gusts to 25 should knock down the rough surf and provide ideal casting conditions.

Vinny D’Anton said a few bass were caught yesterday morning in the Monmouth County surf, with one angler doing very well by dredging them out with the most basic of striper surf lures — the bucktail jig. Vinny is hoping he won’t get the call during Thanksgiving dinner, and expects that Friday will be ideal for the surf.

Many party boats will be making early return striper or blackfish trips on Thanksgiving. Seas are expected to drop back to 4-7 feet — which shouldn’t bother the bass. Of course, those fishing the north side of Raritan Bay won’t be fighting those seas, and the same applies to boaters tucked in close to the northern NJ hills where it will be flat calm in a northwester.

As noted yesterday, party boats will be packed on Friday. Get there at least an hour before sailing time!

The Jamaica from Brielle will be striper fishing the next two days ,but reported that Sunday’s far offshore sea bass trip resulted in a boat limit of that species up to 5 pounds plus some jumbo porgies, a few blues, and a couple of cod.

Happy Thanksgiving

Though fall fishing weather has been generally good, there was a bit of a problem today — and some more wind to follow’

Some party boats are scheduled to run early return trips on Thanksgiving, and all will be aiming for Black Friday which is probably the busiest party bat day of the year. Anglers are advised to get there long before sailing time!

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported as follows: “The weather will keep us at the dock tomorrow but will clear tomorrow night and the sun will be back Thursday for our SPECIAL THANKSGIVING DAY TRIP that departs at 6am and returns at 12:30pm. STRIPER FISHING has been excellent and the weather moving through should have no effect on that so come on down for our early Thursday trip. Enjoy catching some STRIPERS and be home in time for your turkey dinner with family and friends.” They will be sailing Friday at 6:30 a.m.

The Big Mohawk from Belmar took a pass this morning due to the weather.

The Norma K III from Point Pleasant has added Friday and Saturday night bluefish trips.

The Jamaica from Brielle sails for stripers at 6 a.m. Thanksgiving and 6:30 a.m. Friday.

A small craft advisory is up until 6:30 p.m. That changes to a gale warning through Wednesday morning. South winds at 20-25 knots with gusts to 35 change to west 15-20 plus gusts to 25 in the afternoon. There’s a chance of rain in the morning, and seas will run at 8-11 feet.

Over the years there have been some great striped bass surf blitzes on Thanksgiving — and the switch to calming west winds may set up that possibility.

Capt. Bob on the Sunbeam shows off a 21.5-pound tautog at Hlllyer’s Tackle in Waterford, Ct. after it was caught recently on his boat

It wasn’t anything like last Tuesday’s blitz of big stripers, but Vinny D’Anton said everyone fishing Monmouth County beaches this morning seemed to catch some striped bass. Those bass were smaller than last week’s, but still very welcome at 24 to 30 inches. Vinny used the L’ll DOC plug which he was able to cast into a rough surf.

Bobby Matthew’s sister posted the following information: “The memorial service for my dad will be Saturday, December 16th from 3 to 6 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore, 75 S. Pomona Road, Egg Harbor City. Exit 44 off the parkway. Light refreshments and casual dress. “

Tony Almeida of Belmar suggested that last Tuesday’s long-lasting blitz be referred.to as the Bobby Matthews Blitz of Nov, 2023 as his parting gift to the many who probably scored their biggest surf bass that day.

A gale warning is posted for Tuesday morning through late night. Tuesday starts with east winds at 10-15 knots which increase to southeast 15-20 withs gusts to 25 plus a chance of rain in the afternoon

The Jamaica from Brielle has added a striped bass special on Friday at 6:30 a.m.

Many party boats will running early return trips on Thanksgiving, Check with your favorite skipper for details.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported about today;s fishing as follows:”

IT WAS STRIPER MAYHEM AGAIN TODAY! They hit pretty much whatever you threw in the water – swim shads, diamond jigs, crocs, etc.  Everyone went home with their limit of STRIPED BASS!  We did a lot of catching and releasing as well.  

IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL GET OUT FISHING TOMORROW as the weather won’t arrive until the afternoon. 

Capt. Ron Santee also is optimistic about the morning. as the east wind will be with the incoming tide. Today started out like the last three days with lots of life, but hard to catch fish. They picked away before he took a ride and got into an area all by himself that produced 20-minute drifts with non-stop action. Those bass ranged up to a 30-pounder by Ray. Plain jigs and Crippled Herring worked best.

W eekends are always a problem with surfacing fish, but there are so many stripers in NY/NJ Bight now that boaters still did well today

At Belmar, the Big Mohawk reported as follows:“It was a slow pick on the STRIPERS in the morning but the last half of the day the fish were splashing on top. We had better action as the day went on. We ended up with a good amount of throwbacks along with Keepers and some SLOT FISH.“

Capt. Ron Santee said it paid to be an early boat today. He had a good bite going on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands until the boat traffic shut it down. After that he covered a lot of miles which produced some bass in a few cases, but none at all on other stops. Henry was high hook with eight and added the pool.

A small craft advisory is up through the morning. The forecast is for north winds at 15- 20 knots with gusts to 25.

After having a very good all-day striper bite yesterday, Capt. Ron Santee wasn’t about to be scared off by today’s wind and rough waters with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. He summed up the day as follows:”

Had fish right off the bat once again, the wind hadn’t started to blow so we got a good hour out of it. Got a little nasty with the last of the incoming but the customers toughed it out and they were rewarded.

After the change it settled a bit and beleave it or not the bite got better!! Long drifts on Keepers, Bonus & Overs….Everyone went home with the meat. Back at it in the Morning.‘

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported “It was a slow pick on the STRIPERS in the morning but the last half of the day the fish were splashing on top. We had better action as the day went on. We ended up with a good amount of throwbacks along with Keepers and some SLOT FISH.“

A small craft advisory is up through Sunday evening. Sunday’s forecast is for west winds at 10-15 knots increasing to 15-20 with gusts to 25 in the afternoon.

Quite in contrast to the world record in last night’s blog, Joe Handley was happy with this small one at LBI as reported by Fisherman’s Headquarters.

When David Deuel cast a cut mullet into the Avon, N,C. surf on. Nov. 7, 1984, he wasn’t expecting anything special, but ended up with what may be the most impressive surf catch ever.

The fish fought for 45 minutes and carried him along a mile of beach before he was able to land a huge red drum weighing 94 pounds, 2 ounces. That fish set a new IGFA world record that will stand forever unless red drum management regulations are changed to allow the capture of that species above a small slot limit.Ironically, the previous record was set on the same days 11 years earlier. It was a blessing that Deuel made that catch before the new regulations would have prohibited it, but he didn’t have very long to enjoy it as that talented marine biologist working for NMFS in North Carolina was cut down by cancer as a young man.

I was a member of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council at the time, and talked with him regularly. Dave was as nice a guy as I’ve ever met, as well as being a fine scientist. He sure went out on a high note with that catch of one of the nation’s most popular marine species which will require no exaggeration in heaven.

The Big Mohawk from Belmar reported as follows:

“

​​Back out on the striper grounds today. Had a nice shot of fish first thing with keepers and bonus tags mixed in. Picked at em as the day went on. Found a nice pile of bunkers with a steady live bait bite for the last few hours of the day overs and keepers mixed in. Was nice to see the bunker fish again. Ended with a load of slot size keepers and bonus tag fish as well. We will be back at it tommorow sailing 6am book online to secure your spot or come on down walk ons welcome provided we have room.“

Also at Belmar, the Golden Eagle reported “

​​Back out on the striper grounds today. Had a nice shot of fish first thing with keepers and bonus tags mixed in. Picked at em as the day went on. Found a nice pile of bunkers with a steady live bait bite for the last few hours of the day overs and keepers mixed in. Was nice to see the bunker fish again. Ended with a load of slot size keepers and bonus tag fish as well. We will be back at it tommorow sailing 6am book online to secure your spot or come on down walk ons welcome provided we have room.“

The Ocean Explorer is blackfishing daily. Anglers are urged to use light leaders as the bottom water is very clear.

There is a small craft warning from Saturday morning to late night. Northwest winds of 20-25 knots plus gusts to 30 are forecasted. Morning rain is possible.

Surfcasting in the fall is often a matter of extremes. Vinny D’Anton had a friend from Pa, come over to the Monmouth County surf yesterday , but he didn’t catch a fish while Vinny only got one bass. Yet, there were so many bass into solid peanut bunkers today that it was almost impossible to not catch stripers — and the blitz was still going on when Vinny called this afternoon after being too tired to continue. He said the bass ranged from 24 to 48 inches, and hit almost anything. Bill Hoblitzell switched to his fly tackle and did as well..

Ironically, Vinny’s friends all headed south to Ocean County this morning, and had to be called back to Monmouth County. The party boat fleet was just offshore, but didn’t do as well under the conditions. The Big Mohawk from Belmar reported:

​”Back out on the striper grounds today. Slow pick for us today. Managed a boat limit of keepers but ya had to work for em. Started the morning with a few keepers right away with tons of readings and some fish splashing on top but they def didn’t bite like ya read em. Took a steam in another direction and had our best shots of fish towards the end of the day. Back at it tommorow sailing 6am book online to secure your spot or come on down walk ons welcome.“

The Tyman is back into action, and Chuck Nany reported about yesterday as follows:”

Tried to avoid the humans with Clinton Lessard, Cesar Carranza, Brian Miller, & Paulie Martin!! Wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, but landed 23 and tagged 20 for Gray FishTag Research.”

+5

The forecast is for south winds at10-15 knots plus gusts to 20.

Capt. Jim Freda is both a fly fishing enthusiast and Shore Catch charter captain, so you can take his word about the present opportunities with that tackle in NY/NJ Bight.

“If there were ever a Nirvana for a fly fisher it’s right here right now right outside our home port of Manasqun Inlet! Its all out mayhem fish after fish couldn’t be any better! This is world class for sure! One big bass after another to your heart’s content. Our central New Jersey area has definitely become a destination location for any fly fisher!! This is an experience you don’t want to miss!”

Capt. Ron Santee reports from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands reports as follows:

“Found fish right off the bat today close to home.

Action continued all day on Keepers, Over’s & Bonus fish. High hooks were well over 20 fish by days end. Shads & NLBN’s worked the best. Weather looks great for the rest of the week…Don’t miss the bite!“

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported another awesome day of striper fishing with surface action and bass of all sizes.

The forecast is for west winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 before going southwest at at 5-10 in the afternoon.

The N.J. tautog bag limit increases to five from Nov.16 to Dec. 31 with the same 15-inch minimum.

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