Well I'm officially a keyboard angler. Between home, work, and now heading south for a conference for a few days, I resort to fishing from the comforts of my home office. This fall I've managed a few outings but have yet to bring a bass to hand. So surfing the internet is what I'm left to do. But surely when I get back next week things should be going good and I'll be making more of an effort to go.
But those few outings and things like the ASMFC give me fodder to keep the pages on this post full. I've been following the "savage" sand eel, and now bunker bite, that is occurring along the Jersey Shore. But has it really been a Jersey Shore bite?
When I do get down or see the pics of anglers holding up their catch they are way off the beach. I can only stand and throw my 30 foot cast into nondescript structure hoping for that one rouge bass has made it's way into the shallow waters. But way out on the horizon I see the flotilla of boats of every size all clumped up criss crossing each other and fishing. The screen shots I have seen this early fall run shows the fish are in depths between 60-75 feet, way outside of my casting range from the beach.
The screens show the bass midway in the water column which is about 30 feet down. For the fly angler that means sinking lines dredging with a sand eel or bunker imitation. In the last few days those fish have moved closer to the beach and adult bunker seem to have made a showing. You can see all the pics of whale activity in closer which means large mammals on menhaden. And in the mix are bass.
I saw a bunch of posts from anglers who were first hand witness to what may have been going on before the fishes moved inside, and it concerned me. Here is an example from one,
and here is another,
Anglers and boaters know about "the three mile line". That's the cutoff between state and federal waters. Beyond the 3 mile line out to 200 miles is the EEZ, or Economic Exclusion Zone. Those waters are closed to striped bass fishing, at least legally that is. Yes, anglers, and that's why seasonal closures won't work, can always say they are targeting bluefish, or bottom fish when the law comes up on their port side. New Jersey waters are measured out from the beach to three miles. And recently the bite seemed to have been, from say two miles, out past the line into the EEZ. But that doesn't stop those "fishing dirty" from taking advantage and fishing where the fish are. The striped bass are basically catch and release these days as the 28-31" slot fish aren't to be found, so, all you need is some bottom rigs on board so you can claim you're bottom fishing when the enforcers come to check. Guys will push the envelope to "get theirs" and just follow the "professionals" who are bending the law for their clients. These are the same folks who are posting on saving the bass and encourage change in the name of conservation. But in the meantime they'll do what they want to do to get theirs.
Now I'll say this. It's not an excuse, but it was my experience. In November 2000 Leif and I were out and enjoying a nice day on the water, and we weren't alone. We were in the mix of other boats and were on the fish pretty good. I wasn't the furthest boat out east but I was in between the head and six pack center consoles trying to stay on the bite.
As we played catch and release I received a text from a fellow Captain and friend who said, "You know you're way out past the three mile line, right?". I took a look at the screen and realized where I was and quickly we took in our lines and headed back west. In doing so we passed a majority of the fleet who were say a click or too to far out. These are the boats that push the line, while others go out 10-15 miles and report acres of bass frolicking on top, way past the watchful eye of the Coast Guard.
When we did come in the fishing slowed because the fish weren't there. We scratched a few fish out but more importantly I learned a valuable lesson. I questioned myself, "If there wasn't a concern of getting boated and ticketed would I cross that line, knowingly, if all alone and the fish were blowing up in the EEZ?". I would like to say no, but learned that day how important it is to know where you are if you're going to fish out that far from the beach.
So now we move from the sand eel bite, and all things jigged and long and silver, like Ava's, to bunker like offerings like shads, plugs, and Beast Fleye's. The social media posts will go from guys holding bass with no land in sight to guys holding bass with the backgrounds blocked out. For those not following the rules and not use the blur app before they post, houses, condos, and telephone poles in the distance will give away their location. And with land out in the distance our eyes will continue to be drawn to haphazardly held fish that may survive or not.
It seems most boat anglers have learned the "Striped bass hug of 2024" where the fishes slime is worn off on the sleeves of the Champion sweatshirts, although the vertical gill plate shots will surely continue. In the past the pics were of fish on the deck or held incorrectly, now time out of the water will be due to the direction of the Captain or fellow anglers so they don't get skewered on social media from armchair anglers, well, like me now.
Social media has me rethinking my love of fishing for striped bass. I don't know if it's just I'm getting old and miserable, but there's just too much, and too much wrong with what I'm seeing. Besides all you see are the wins, meaning big fish pictures which portrays in my mind that it's non-stop fishing and catching. One fish picture from a boat, who caught three fish in four hours between three guys, and says it was "epic", just isn't what I think is the reality of what's going on. Yes, soon we'll see "landed over 150 fish", which I just don't get, but seeing all this just ruins what the sport means to me and lessens what I enjoy. But, I will be out there for a taste of it coming soon.
Some anglers on the beach are finding that ghost after putting in hard core time. Below is a deserved angler who I see on Stripers Online from time to time. "Eeels" as he's known on that forum caught a lovely 48 inch bass fishing alone. Nicely done.
And in other news the drought-like conditions exist which affects the freshwater river and creek fishermen more than the guys on the beach. It's been over a month since we've seen any water fall from the sky which is a new dry-spell record. And the dry weather has the leaves turning color quicker than normal and falling to the ground in big numbers.
So when I get back and have a day off I'll have to make the decision to either pull out the leaf blower or grab my fly rod and take a ride down to the beach. It'll be there where I'll either see anglers lined up and down the beach or boats near or far on the bass, but hopefully within the three mile line.
