The Fishing Line: Striper Time

Bundle up and get fishing. Sea bass are legal, the limit on tog goes up to six (6) on Saturday, stripers are moving in, and a few reports of weakies and redfish are still around.
The annual Fight Leukemia Fishing Tournament will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23. Grand Prize for the biggest Striped Bass will be a Van Staal Spinning Reel, as well as other prizes for biggest Bluefish and Weakfish. Registration $30 and includes the awards party. Pre-Register at Tackle Direct by Nov. 22 at 6 pm or 609-602-8957.
Sterling Harbor Marina is reporting striped bass in the Delaware Bay and predicts that bass fishing in the Rips and Bay should improve with the cooler weather. There are plenty of stripers in the back bays, mostly schoolie size, but a few keepers in the mix. The bass are hitting top water plugs such as Zara Super Spooks, Smack-It lures and the like and also hitting on clam, mullet and sardines.
The beachfront has been quiet for the surf anglers. Tog fishing remains good around the jetties. Sea bass season opened again Nov. 1st and should remain open through the end of the year. A few boats ventured out in between cold fronts and did very well with the sea bass on wrecks in the 25-30 mile range. Crabby Jack gave the crabbing 4 Claws again this week and says there were plenty of large crabs for the taking, but this will not last much longer.
Captain Ray tells me the mild weather has been great to be out fishing but not the kind of weather to get the migratory stripers moving very much. Ray has seen the first waves of small stripers in the back bay, nice chunky ones with a little more color to them than the resident fish that he saw all summer. These fish are mostly all throw back size with the water temperatures still in the upper 50s. They have been hitting popping flies and popping plugs which makes for more excitement to see the initial strike. With the fish feeling the urge to feed, all you need is a good tide whenever it occurs.
Bill (bucktail willie) Shillingford fishing out of Whale Creek Marina found a slow pick on short stripers. He did find bass everyday but it was a battle finding them. Willie says a lack of bait is preventing them from holding. They seem to come in near the top of incoming tide and then disappear once tide is out an hour. The bass were 20-27 inches, a few caught on eels but most on trolled white bucktail with chartreuse twister tail.
Captain Dan Schafer went out with Novisibleleader (Bob) and John with the last of the incoming tide flowing. First stop and second cast Bob had a real nice one on his top water fly. They continued run and gun style trying to find the best flows of water and putting many miles of under the flats skiff. Dan reminds us, “When fishing for migratory bass you never know where they’re going to be. The main reason we did well is that we were constantly on the pursuit. If an area was not producing then we’d hammer down without hesitation which ultimately kept us on the bass.”
Captain Dan has been documenting as much as he can on film and capturing images with ‘insane’ new technologies to bring a greater understanding and education to what he is all about. Dan’s underwater photos show all the nooks and crannies of the floor and highlight the fish swimming by. The backwater is in constant fluctuation with new structures forming and the old bottom getting rolled down by currents, storms, and wind. Dan sent me some photos but they don’t translate well to print, so you can check them out on Bass Barn and I’ll try to get a couple up online.
NEWS: NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds us that the Fish and Game Council and the Division has proposed amendments to the 2014-2015 Fish Code. The 60-day public comment period ends Nov. 15. Submit at www.nj.gov/dep/rules/comments. Send written comments to Gary J. Brower, Esq., ATTN: 05-13-08, NJ DEP Office of Legal Affairs, Mail Code 401-04L. PO Box 402, 401 E State St., Trenton, NJ 08625-0402
Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Fishing & Aquatic Education Training, Nov. 22-24, Freeman House, Island Beach State Park. Registration deadline is Nov. 15. Confirmation packet will be e-mailed to you detailing what to bring. The course fee includes: 2 days of instruction, teaching materials and equipment, 2 nights lodging, and 5 meals. Submit payment with your registration. Contact Liz Jackson 908-637-4125 x122 or e-mail at Liz.Jackson@dep.state.nj.us
Fishing Flea Market, Dec. 1, Park Avenue Elementary School, 280 Park Ave., Freehold, 9-3 p.m., 732.330.5674
The Fishing Line runs year round (short hiatus in January) so keep sending your reports and pictures to cmiller@cmcherald.com. Column and pictures are posted online at www.capemaycountyherald.com and on Facebook. Keep them coming.