Funny how history can repeat it self. So it's October 20th and striped bass anglers now are trying to figure out how the rest of the season is going to be. We had out first big push of big fish about two weeks ago ago and the boat guys are still finding them and luckily without the mobs of traffic, at least during the week.
Two days ago Joe landed a nice big bass on the beach being at the right place at the right time, I was scrolling through the computer and those daily Facebook Memories popped up. It was the above picture from October 20, 2017. I was fishing with Leif on a slow day and out of nowhere the above fish took a Joe Pheiffer pastel colored Hollow Fleye, pretty close to what he used the other day.
I'm not sure where we are compared to last year when the season really started around Thanksgiving and continued into early January. Out here on the Delare River it's cold, and it feels like early winter will be here before you know it. Oil prices are starting out this season at $5.70- 6.45 a gallon depending how much cash you have on you and how much you put in your tank. In 2021 it was $3.51 and on October 20, 2020 it was $2.29. Ouch, "Grab a sweatshirt and shut up".
So, again we try and wait and see what this fall will bring. It looks like a hard recession is coming and the heating season will no doubt put a hurting on peoples pockets. That may limit the boat traffic a touch along with an early cold winter? Has the bait moved out? Will all that bunker we had last winter stay in the bay? Will the bass stay? When will "normal" sized striped bass arrive on the beaches? Is there any bait, besides a pod ot two of peanuts, to hold them tight as they move south? We'll see.....