NJ Saltwater Fishing Articles

IBSP Early Fall Striper Fishing

Details: Category: Fishing Articles; Published: Thursday, 03 September 2009 13:10; Hits: 20596

Jason DeCarlo thought he would take the day off to meet up with some friends from PA Thursday. As the plans fell through, He decided to fish instead with his buddy Tom. They stopped at Betty & Nicks for some bait and were on their way. Jason said,"John wasn't proud of his stock of clams, but they took some from the bottom of the bin anyway". The boys headed in to the park and were on the sand around 11:30am.

Jason and Tom fished the outgoing tide with high being around 7:20 this morning. There was a lot of wood on the beach that washed up. They parked next to a chunk that was about 100+ lbs. 100 yards North of the Judge's Shack. Water temp. was around 72 with a steady breeze from the North/NorthEast.

Deadsticked 2 rods with clam and bunker holding decently with 6 oz, they hooked up with a short dogfish, and a sea robin fairly quick. Jason then casted out with double clam on a hi-lo rig and went to get the second going when the 10' rod doubled over and started taking the spike with it. He Picked up the rod and BANG!, hook set, drag sucking. Tom and Jason looked at each other knowing there was something nice on the other end of the braid. Jason got the drag set and started reeling in. Jason said "My rod was bending like I've never seen it bend before. A lot of WOOT WOOTING was going on during the fight. A good 5 minutes later and my first Striped Bass ever was escorted onto the sand! Grabbed my tape after showing my catch proudly to a passer-by.........38". After a good 3 minutes of fist pumping and five slapping, ol' stripey hit the cooler."

Jason left Tommy on the beach and proceeded to weigh in at Betty & Nicks. In he walked with his cooler and said "...Clams seem fine to me!" John threw the fish on the scale, 15 Lbs. 7 oz......Shot a video, and back to the beach he went.
They finished the day off with a few more birds and dogs, and called it a day.