Subject: Manasquan and North, New Jersey

Submitted by Bill K (ip 76.116.198.219)

• Fished on 11/8/2009

  Water Temperature: 58
  Water Clarity: 5-6 feet
  Seas: 2 feet
  Weather: Clear/Warm
  Fishing_for: Stripers/Blues
  Boat: FinFun
  captain: Doug
  

  Report:
  The Fin Fun crew was finally back on the ocean today after a long layoff. We were greeted by an absolutely perfect November day. The seasonal fishing for stripers has arrived and so has the bait, as we found out. Bunkers were slapping the surface off our dock which means even more bait is still in the river. Sandeels were everywhere in the ocean and my wife even snagged a sardine. As we broke the inlet, our temptation was to turn right and head toward the Ocean County area which has been productive for two weeks. Instead, we turned left and found swirling bass just off Sea Girt. Fan casting using small jigs like AVA 17's produced many bass and one 30" keeper. It was all stripers. There was a picket line on the beach of surf casters who seemed to be taking a few as well. A move off the beach to scattered birds found a few bluefish but no real concentrations. Another move to 60 feet off Shark River Inlet found more birds and scattered marks. We put out the "rigs" and instantly had striper action. Two more keepers were put on ice and then it switched to all blues, so we left. The next area was near the outer marker at the "Rocks" where we trolled up some more short bass and double header bluefish. Boats were everywhere! Elberon, Long Branch, Sandy Hook Reef were all covered up with bottom fishermen. I could not believe how many boats were out today, but given the weather, everyone was taking one more shot at some fillets for the freezer before the cold weather. The most interesting reports were of bluefins being spotted only three miles off the beach in Lavalette on Saturday and again today about five miles off Manasquan. Nobody would confirm any catches but there were lots of fish and I'm sure some one connected. Given the amount of bait, the water temperature, and the weather, I'm not surprised at the arrival of tuna. The only thing missing so far is the true fall migration pattern of the bass and blues. There were no concentrations of birds or fish despite the abundance of bait. The fish were mostly on top and hard to jig. I'm waiting for the hot deepwater jigging that's yet to come.

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