Striped bass continue to dominate the action for the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association. The results depend on waves of fish.
The stripers are arriving in waves as they migrate on their way south for the winter. There will be torrid action for a few days and then things cool off for another few days. The one constant has been a very good amount of bait around, especially in close to the beach. This will continue to attract and hold the fish.
About a week ago the bass were around in very good numbers and they were big fish-20-35 pounds. Captain Fran Verdi on the "Francesca Marie" had several days of arm tiring action as he and his guests caught fish by live-lining bunker and by trolling bunker spoons. When they found bass in the bunker pods, they often had multiple hookups by the fishermen.
Then last weekend arrived and the bite slowed down dramatically. Captain Lindsay Fuller had the Hancock party out on Monday looking for bass and came up empty handed. Despite perfect calm conditions for a day on the ocean, the fish were not to be had. Captain Lindsay worked the entire shoreline of Long Beach Island and found many schools of large bunker but no bass feeding on them. He did lose several of the snagged bunker to either bluefish or spiny dogfish. He even tried trolling but with the same results.
Reports from waters north of Beach Haven indicate there are more schools of stripers off Monmouth County heading south. This should mean more rod bending action as early as the upcoming weekend or early next week.
Additional information on the captains and boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.bhcfa.net
