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Reports for 2003

**Fishing reports are an important part of catching more fish. However, they should be read to help you understand what the fish are eating, when the fish are eating, and to learn what areas the fish are feeding in. They should not be read to try and figure out an exact set of boot prints for you to stand in, this won't help, it will only frustrate you, it's very rare that there will be a repeat of a past night's performance. That is why all are encouraged to post reports and are asked to just give a general location, not a specific spot.

January 2000 was the first and only January that many of us have hunted stripers in NJ...and this one was phenomenal!

Striper Addict(s): Open Fly
E-mail address: lpenny2plcpas.com
Date Fished : 01/03/2000
Weather notes: Sunny and 72 degrees
Surf Conditions : Calm ocean
Wind Speed : Nil
General Location: Ocean, near shore, between Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, NC outer Banks
Fishing Method : Fly on Boat
Type of lure/fly: Crease flies, and clouser or deceivers that looked like bunker
Bait type : bunker when we snagged one with fly
Water Temp: 50
Striped Bass: X
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were: 16 to 32 lbs.

This is how it went down:

Just discovered website, so I thought I might let out northern brethren know how striper fishing goes in the South.

Left Oregon Inlet at 7:30 am and rode north in ocean, just off the beach, with Capt. Brian Horsley (Flat Out Fly Charters) and his fellow guide/wife, Capt. Sarah Gardner on a picture perfect day. About 10 miles up the beach, spotted a few birds working, and soon a few stripers were busting on top. Increasingly saw more birds, and more stripers. Got out the 10wt fly rod, and cast 5-7" flies to imitate the menhaden the stripers were rolling through. At first, little results on fly. A swimming plug on spinner was a no brainer---fish on every cast. Soon we were getting "Pigs" on fly; first 18, then 22, then my biggest 32lber. Really got into the backing with her. Sarah has pending world record on 6 lb. tippet, and could have set another record, if we had lighter tippet on board. Stayed on fish for 6 hours. Even caught some on bunker that we snagged with our fly. Probably caught 50 large stripers between the 3 of us. Unbelievable striper blitz!! Surfcasters and a few other boaters joined us for the action.

Due to colder weather, and beach water temps near 40 degrees, things have slowed somewhat, but look for a few mild days to heat the action up again. Til Spring!

Striper Addict(s): TimS, Jim-DE, Art
E-mail address: tsurgent@monmouth.com
Date Fished : 1/15/00
Weather notes: Icy cold....and windy!
Surf Conditions : 1-2
Wind Speed : SE 10-15kt
General Location: Belmar to Long Branch
Fishing Method : spinning
Type of lure/fly: none
Bait type : none
Water Temp: 46
Striped Bass: 0
Bluefish: 0
Weakfish: 0
Fluke: 0
Other: Cold Hands: 6
They were:

This is how it went down:

It was a pleasure to fish with Jim and Art, they are fishermen and gentlemen to the core! I'd do it again, even in the cold! We didn't score, Jim had one momentarily stuck, but that was the only hit in 5 hours of on again, off again casting.

The fat lady's lurkin', but I don't think she's settled into our waters...next time it's nice out, I still got 36 fish to catch to make my "quota"! ;^)

TimS

Striper Addict(s): Lou
E-mail address: CadalzoL@aol.com
Date Fished : 1/12/00
Weather notes: 45 degrees, clear, beautiful
Surf Conditions : calm
Wind Speed : slight SW wind
General Location: Spring Lake - Belmar
Fishing Method : spinning, off beach
Type of lure/fly: black bomber with white bucktail teaser
Bait type :
Water Temp:
Striped Bass: 0
Bluefish: 0
Weakfish: 0
Fluke: 0
Other: Nothing!  Nada!
They were:

This is how it went down:

Beautiful night to fish but no one else but me out there at 10:00 PM to 12:30 AM. I threw 10 - 15 casts at 6 different spots between Spring Lake and Belmar but there were no signs of life. I was casting from shore, as the tide was high and jetties inaccessible. If you've got a hot spot, I'd appreciate you sharing it with me. I need a fish!!!!

Striper Addict(s): TimS and Paul
E-mail address: tsurgent@monmouth.com
Date Fished : 1/12/00
Weather notes: chilly, but nice. Cloudy, drizzle/sleet later..even better!
Surf Conditions : 1-2ft, a little off colored..nice
Wind Speed : <10 W
General Location: Long Branch to Belmar stretch
Fishing Method : spinning
Type of lure/fly: white bellied needle fish for Paul, bus teaser, bus bomber, black-n-clear bomber
Bait type : nope
Water Temp: 46.7 (buoy)
Striped Bass: 7
Bluefish: 0
Weakfish: 0
Fluke: 0
Other: 0
They were: Tim:7, 3 legal Paul: 13, 3 legal (guessing here!)

This is how it went down:

The dag burned fish wanted a needlefish..not that I don't have a couple with me at all times, they wanted a thin profiled, white bellied needlefish..no joy, I had a black superstrike and a green/white stubby needlefish..too fat! They also at the teasers very well, two of my best ate the "bus" teaser...Paul guesses about 1/2 of his ate the teaser. Even in the face of resounding defeat such as I was dealt by Paul, I have been landing a record percentage of my hits...I was 7 for 8 last time out...12 for 13 the time before that...these are amazing numbers for a guy that was losing everyone I hooked a few weeks ago! :)

TimS

Striper Addict(s): MIKE V.
E-mail address: soulpan@aol.com
Date Fished : 1/12/00
Weather notes: mild
Surf Conditions : knee high
Wind Speed : w 10 mph at the most
General Location: long branch /sea bright
Fishing Method : spin /conventional
Type of lure/fly: bomber blk ,yellow danny,tin man jig ,and hackle teaser
Bait type :
Water Temp: 46 degrees
Striped Bass:
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were:

This is how it went down:

Not a bump fished cleverly for four solid hours .couple hours of incoming to flood then awile after .Not a bump i repeat. this is my first skunk at nite .Still not finished fishing ,looks like sunday nite .Tim and thje boys had there dips in there honey hole .Good job guys ,least somebody got em.>>>>>>>>>>>>.M.V.

Striper Addict(s): JonS
E-mail address: SheinLP@aol.com
Date Fished : 1/12/00
Weather notes: gorgeous
Surf Conditions : small
Wind Speed : W
General Location: Sea Girt north to Big Monmouth
Fishing Method : Spinning
Type of lure/fly: Yw swimmer, Chk. Bomber, Tobi Rainbow, Schoolbus teasers, etc.
Bait type :
Water Temp:
Striped Bass:
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other: Nothing
They were:

This is how it went down:

It was a great day to be out and I gave it a good shot. Fished about 4 hours between 10:30 am and 4 pm. Today I'm going skiing.

Striper Addict(s): mike v.
E-mail address: soulpan@aol.com
Date Fished : 1/10/00
Weather notes: RAIN
Surf Conditions : 4-6 faces
Wind Speed : 30+SE
General Location: ASBURY/DEAL JETTY
Fishing Method : SPINNING
Type of lure/fly: plugs+teaser,tin+teaser
Bait type :
Water Temp: 46?
Striped Bass:
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were:

This is how it went down:

caught a good amount of 20-25 inch fish the nite before north of here. Was in the area at an local restaurant  dist Had to give it a toss or fifty...spoke to my cousin in wildwood ,nj and he just got off the beach HAPPY he told me they where all over so that confirmed My plan it was hard to find the angle in the wind did get bumped gave it a good hour and a half .The hits where mouthed both on the tin and the plugs or the hackle teaser. I couldn't connect the wind was pushing the bait in front of the hit i tried to adjust but still no connection. Gonna try tonight. So that's my BIG SKUNK REPORT. I noted the clearest water for how rough it was that JETTY is a good looker excuse me local guys while i introduce my self .

Striper Addict(s): Charlie K
E-mail address: bigfish048@aol.com
Date Fished : 1/11/00
Weather notes: Clear, cold
Surf Conditions : waves 1to3 stained
Wind Speed : W15 gusts to 30
General Location: North of Shark River
Fishing Method : Spinning
Type of lure/fly: Bombers,schoolbus, black, chicken scratch,Jigs, teaser
Bait type :
Water Temp:
Striped Bass:
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were:

This is how it went down:

Started at 9:30 PM left at 12:30 AM Water was very fishable after the heavy blow earlier but no fish were around. No runs no hits no errors. Didn't see any other fisherman , I think it need another tide or 2 to bring the fish back in. I'll try to get out again tonight or tomorrow depending on the weather, cause I have to drive an hour to get there.

Striper Addict(s): TimS and Hardy (RichG)
E-mail address: tsurgent@monmouth.com
Date Fished : 1/10/00
Weather notes: 55 degrees, cloudy
Surf Conditions : 5-7 foot, BIG from the SE
Wind Speed : S 25-35kts, then SW 25-35kts
General Location: northern monmouth
Fishing Method : spinning
Type of lure/fly: didn't matter
Bait type : probably would have been better!
Water Temp: 47 (buoy)
Striped Bass: 0
Bluefish: 0
Weakfish: 0
Fluke: 0
Other: Skunks: 2
They were:

This is how it went down:

It was too rough, it got better but the bass never showed. First skunkin' of the year, had to happen!

TimS

Striper Addict(s): TimS and JohnM
E-mail address: tsurgent@monmouth.com
Date Fished : 1/7/00
Weather notes: cold, clear
Surf Conditions : 0-2ft
Wind Speed : <10WSW
General Location: Long Branch-Belmar stretch
Fishing Method : spin
Type of lure/fly: black-n-clear bomber and black bus hackle teasers were clear winners.
Bait type :
Water Temp: 46 (buoy)
Striped Bass: 12
Bluefish: 0
Weakfish: 0
Fluke: 0
Other:
They were: 20" to 17-18#'s

This is how it went down:

It was cold. John's goal was to catch his first NJ January striper. He did. Then he wanted his first NJ January keeper...he did. John found the fish responsive to a black-n-clear bomber...he was right, after poor results on all my other favorite plugs, I put on the black-n-clear to get in the game. I had one on a black bus teaser at the first spot...I missed a couple there, John was getting about 5 or 6 hits to my one...neither of us was landing them, we were having both a hard time hooking them...then a hard time landing them!

Next spot, I land my second, lose two others, John get's his third...then I get my third.

Next spot: skunks all around, no hits, no misses, no errors...big fat skunk.

Last spot: A great mystery, John and I are using identical rigs and teasers...I hook 5 fish on 5 casts, 2 mediums, a short, a 17-18#er, and lose another good one. John got but one good shot. We were casting to exactly the same place, within feet! Hook configuration or smelly jelly only differences between our rigs. The fish split. 30 minutes later I landed another short and a medium. That was it, we were both shot, beaten, frozen, exhausted, and sore. So much for the fish leaving....

TimS

Striper Addict(s): decare
E-mail address: decare@att.net
Date Fished : 1/7/00
Weather notes: Cold
Surf Conditions :
Wind Speed : NW 10-15
General Location: Manasquan Jetty
Fishing Method : conventional
Type of lure/fly: Bomber Long A / Yellow with Yellow teaser feather
Bait type :
Water Temp:
Striped Bass: 0
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were:

This is how it went down:

Fished the jetty from 5pm till 6pm. No one else out there but me. No hits, not even a bump. One other solitary angler fished the pocket off of the beach without success.

Drove up to cruise the Shark River Jetties to Bradley Beach. Tried one jetty at Bradley Beach. Liked the jetty because it was easier to negotiate than the Manasquan. No hits. Moved to the north jetty on the Shark River inlet. Two other fishermen were on the jetty when I arrived. One said he caught a short about an hour ago but was leaving for coffee. The other said he didn't get anything and left. Once again all by myself. I walked to the next jetty to the north and tried it. Once again no hits, bumps or anything.

I will connect one of these days! Will try again maybe Sunday night starting at Manasquan.

Am I fishing the jetties too early. Ed

Striper Addict(s): Plug
E-mail address:
Date Fished : 1/7/00
Weather notes: overcast to partly cloudy
Surf Conditions : 4 ft. ground swell
Wind Speed : SW light
General Location: IRI, Whiskey Beach
Fishing Method : Spinning
Type of lure/fly: plugs, jigs, teasers
Bait type : ya'right
Water Temp: cold down my neck
Striped Bass: 0
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were: as big as I could imagine

This is how it went down:

Finished up building my new rod yesterday. Anxious to try it so outof bed at 2:30. Well it casts nice. The only bend put in it was to cast and snatch jigs out of the rocks. Tried first at the inlet 2 hours and nothing. There is still nice fish up on the DE Bay shoals so I got to thinking maybe the colder water flushing out of the shallow back bays is keeping them out of the inlet. So I moved up to the groins at Whiskey Beach. Nothing there either. The layer of fat around my ribs keeps getting thicker. I believe its about time to join the groundhogs.

Striper Addict(s): decare
E-mail address: decare@att.net
Date Fished : 1/6/2000
Weather notes: 30'
Surf Conditions : slightly choppy
Wind Speed : 10-12mphSW
General Location: Lavellette to Manasquan
Fishing Method : conventional
Type of lure/fly: Bomber Long A / Yellow
Bait type :
Water Temp:
Striped Bass: 0
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were:

This is how it went down:

Started at Lavallette at Ortley Avenue from 4:30pm till 6:00pm. Worked the rockpile and beach. This is wader fishing (which I hate). No fish or hits. This is a new beach area to me that I am trying to learn. Saw only one other surfcaster on the beach in addition to several 4x4's driving around on the sand looking.

Drove to Manasquan. There was only one car parked at the wall when I got there. Spoke to a fellow fisherman who was coming off at 7:00pm. He said he got one hit and nothing else. He also noted that they hit fish on Monday night before the blow. Anyway, he left and I decided to try it. Having not planned on jetty fishing I didn't have my jetty gaff or Korkers (dumb). I plugged with a Bomber for about an hour with no success. Tried a Fin S in white and got one hit(pull). Switched back to a bomber moved around on the jetty a little. Got one good hit so I new the fish were there. About 15 minutes later I hooked a good fish which took some drag so I new it was a decent/keeper sized fish. I started walking toward the beach with this fish. Just made it to the sand when the know parted at my swivel or the line cut on a rock. Darn it! Felt good, at least I know the fish are still there like Tim said. One of these days I work my way up to his jetties. I might try again tonight with my heavier baitcaster with heavier line. Last night I used my 6'6" med action baitcasting rod with my ABU 5000C reel with 12lb Spiderwire. This is a little too light for off the jetty as I found out this year. With a good down jacket it doesn't feel that cold out and I didn't even have gloves on. The only hand that felt a little chill was my left hand from palming the reel plate. Tight Lines! Ed

**Ed, I removed the post below, where you apologized here for the typo's...I ran spell check on it and found zero errors! You did fine :)

TimS

Striper Addict(s): TimS and DanO
E-mail address: tsurgent@monmouth.com
Date Fished : 1/5/00
Weather notes: cold...very cold...at least the wind was down!
Surf Conditions : 1-2, occassional 4's to keep you on your toes!
Wind Speed : <10NW
General Location: Long Branch-Belmar stretch
Fishing Method : spinning
Type of lure/fly: 6" bus, 6" black, 6" black-n-purple...all with "Paul's" teaser a.k.a., Schoolbus hackle deceiver
Bait type :
Water Temp: 47 (buoy)
Striped Bass: 9
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other: Cold Hands: 4
They were: 20"-35" (14# 10oz pool winner for Dan!)

This is how it went down:

It was cold, we fished anyway. We missed 3 times the number of fish we stuck. I had a bomber come back with all three trebles opened wide. The fish took black and black-n-purple bombers about equally as well as the schoolbus hackle deceiver...Dan's big one was caught on the teaser!

Tim: 6 fish, 2 keepers. Dan:3 fish, 1 pool winnin' fattie!

TimS

Striper Addict(s): Phil
E-mail address:
Date Fished : 1/5/00
Weather notes: cold
Surf Conditions :
Wind Speed :
General Location: Manasquan area
Fishing Method : spinning
Type of lure/fly: black bomber
Bait type :
Water Temp:
Striped Bass: 1
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were: 25 inches

This is how it went down:

Real fat fish on the proverbial "last cast". Fourth striper of my life and first of the new year.

Striper Addict(s): Brian
E-mail address: mailto: lennenb@ggmfirm.com
Date Fished : 12/29
Weather notes: partially sunny with wind chill in the teens
Surf Conditions : 10-12' swells w./ occasional 15'
Wind Speed : 15-20 knot winds out of west to northwest
General Location: 60-80 miles offshore
Fishing Method : boat- wreck fishing
Type of lure/fly:
Bait type : squid strips & mackeral chunks
Water Temp: 46
Striped Bass:
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other: sea bass,  ling,  and hake
They were: 4-6 lb. sea bass

This is how it went down:

Offshore wreck fishing aboard the Doris Mae in Barnegat Light. Let me tell you- you know your alive when you are looking up at the waves as they tower above you. Did real good on huge, hump-back sea bass. All were taken on either squid strips or mackerel chunks on a top and bottom rig. Also caught a couple of ling, but not too much size to them. Only got about 6 hours of fishing in but it was worth it as I nailed about 15 bass.

Striper Addict(s): JonS
E-mail address: mailto: SheinLP@aol.com
Date Fished : 1/3/00
Weather notes: Mild
Surf Conditions : moderate
Wind Speed : south
General Location: Northern Monmouth beaches
Fishing Method : spinning
Type of lure/fly: Yozuri Tobi/purple pink, Cocomo teaser
Bait type :
Water Temp:
Striped Bass: 1
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were: Very short, smallest I've ever caught in the salt

This is how it went down:

Nothing much to say. There was a large school working off of the second parking lot of the Hook when I arrived at 3 pm. They continued to move away from the beach and disappeared in the twilight. Fished Big Monmouth and thought that I had a bump. Next cast I landed a very small and very fat short. Fished another hour and a half and nada. Checked out the Neptune at Sports Authority since the locations up north by me didn't have any. It was a nice evening to be out.

Striper Addict(s): John M
E-mail address : Jmusial@webcraft.com
Date Fished : 1/1/00
Weather notes: perfect 65 degrees light NE wind
Surf Conditions : little chop
Wind Speed : NE 5 knots
General Location: Oregon Inlet NC
Fishing Method : Spin
Type of lure/fly: red over white deciver, smilin bill, eel squid w feathers
Bait type : yuck!!!!
Water Temp: mid 50s
Striped Bass: 7
Bluefish: 0
Weakfish: 0
Fluke: 0
Other: 10 speckled trout and 50+Red Drum
They were: see below

This is how it went down:

Well I am back in Pa, not at work though, we don't open for the new millennium till tomorrow, so I am unpacking today....

Let's see where did I leave off? Wednesday morning was my last post...Seems after Monday's tussle with a few stripers I could not find a single one. I did however find puppy drum. Did I ever find the Drum? I found a ittle hole at Oregon Inlet and took drum out of that hole Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I had drum there from 12 inches, to one I measured at 33 inches. The first day I hit one I thought it was a snag at first the hit is very different than bass. Anyway the first day I got about 15 drum before they turned off, I kept none I had no idea what the limits were. The next day I went back tot this hole same thing I had 10 drum kept one. Friday was the most frustrating day of all. I had 18 drum, but a half mile off shore there were huge clouds of birds working from kill devil hills to the south side of Oregon inlet. They never came in though. I heard in the bait shops that the boats were slamming LARGE including one weighed in at 57#. Anyway on the beach all I could do was watch, the west wind held them off the beach. At least I had my drum spot...It should be noted that everynight I was out pounding the inlet looking for bass but I was pretty unsucessful a few shorts was all I could manage.

We rang in the New Year. I also noted that the wind went northeast new years eve, I thought this might be a good thing. So new years day, I woke up bright and early about 8am (can you say hangover?) I drug my self down to the beach. Saw nothing went all along the beach all the way to the inlet, no one was out nothing going on...I went over the bridge to check my drum spot again. I walked out (its along walk like walking the south jetty for those that do it) I get to the hole nothing, this is odd, the fish have been there everymorning on the outgoing tide. I moved to the south side of the hole, first cast I hit a 26 inch puppy drum. Then another and another...at this point I know my gear is at least Y2K compliant with Drum. Then the birds start coming in....the birds there are different, they have pelicans. A pelican landing on the ocean is a controlled crash landing as best I can tell. They also have what I call dive bomber birds, these things are up there real high, drop there head fold their wings and dive into the ocean with a big splash...they also have sea gulls...Anyway I continued to hit the drum real good...best part of all this I am totally alone. The drum slacked off some to a slow pick, then the Speckled Trout came in, what blast like our weakfish up north. Anyway I got a bunch of them keeping three, 2 of which were citation sized fish I later found out. I released a bunch more that were citation sized as well, but it was a long walk out I don't want to carry too many plus I was not sure what the bag limit was..... (Note carry the limits with you or learn them before going out in a new area) By this time a runner saw me bailing fish so he took off got his gear, and fished next to me all day. The birds came in and out, and the fishing ranged from a pick to a fish every cast. About 2 PM I was pretty beat, had not eaten anything my hangover was gone though, and worst of all I was out of cigars!!!!!!! My "partner" next to me offered some chew but I passed...I was stringing my trout on my drag rope getting ready to leave when my partner hit a NICE drum that went 32 inches. So I drug my butt to the water. The birds came in pretty good again; there were about 10 guys on the beach spread over 300 yards we were all catching. The fish from here on were the best of the day. I hit a drum about 30 inches released it, hit another one. I got to wondering if there were bass in them next cat I had a hit about 30 feet from me, I fought the fish to the beach, he had stripes, and weighed in at 19 pounds 2 ounces later that day. I put a smiling bill on, till this point I had been fishing a red over white deceiver as a teaser and an eel squid with feathers tied on. The bill was a wrecking machine, before it even hit the bottom I was on. They also ate the hell out of the red over white deceiver. Over the next hour I landed 6 more bass and 5 drum.... All the drum were 30-33 inches and the bass were 34 inches or better. The bass were hugely fat!!!!The one I kept had 19 bunkers in its belly was 34 inches and 19 pounds!!! I had one bass later I measured at just under 39 inches, I guess that fish was about 25-28 pounds it was huge, but I had 30# worth of bass and trout on the beach and a long hump out, so I released them all. I enjoy releasing nice fish. Especially when I know they are breeders. I did all these fish on my little loomis rod it was a blast. These were the best fish I did all season, hell they were the best fish I had done in 3 years. This continued for an hour or so, the seemed to be holding on the bar out in front of us, others were doing fish as well but the only bass I saw were the ones I got and Matt got. I think they were right on the edge in front of us. I got one drum the biggest of the day I put a tape on him he was 33 inches, I guess was in the low 20#s (does that sound right?) I have not weighed a drum in 15 years. By this time it was getting on towards 4 PM I was whipped the fish were still biting though the drum were small in the low 20-inch class now. SO I strung up my fish and humped it out of there.

I lost track of the day as whole. I know I had 7 bass, 10 or so specs and 50+ drum (I lost track in the upper 30's). For the week I had 18 bass, 1 bluefish, 10 specs and over 100 drum. Most of those fish came in the same spot. If anyone wants to know where it is shoot me an email I will tell you where.

When I got home around 5 I had a message from Tres, from Hatteras Outfitters. He was down on the point and heading up to OI. So at 8 PM I drug my self back south to meet up with him, after almost driving into the ocean a few times I finally found the spot. We talked for a while then fished. The guys were hitting some bass but it slowed by the time we got there, I had 4 bites missd them all, I was worn out and slow on the hook sets. We bailed had a few drinks at the truck talked rods reels and I took off. It was foggy and took me a long time to find my way off; thank god for the compass in my truck it's the only way I found my way off in the fog. Tres is great guy, as always I was glad to meet another Board guy. We are gonna try to do a little get together both up north and one down south. It should be fun, Tres wants to see our spots and I wanna get back at those drum again…

Now I gotta fess up….I been listening to you southern guys go on and on about drum. I got a few LARGE ones about 15 years ago, so I forgot about them. I hear you guys go on and on about the fight, they pull harder than bass etc…well having done numerous 25 inch bass in my life and now having done a bunch of drum about the same size. Hands down the drum are stronger and tougher. Even the bigger fish same thing, man are those drum strong…….The fights are different thought, bass tend to run a little more, the drum ran, especially the bigger ones, but the bass run more, the drum hunker down, drop it into low gear and it's a battle. I enjoyed catching them immensely, you guys got something there with the drum, I still prefer bass but you gotta respect those drum.

One other thing before I end this mile long post. What did all these fish eat? Well a Red over White Deceiver, took all the trout, many drum (usually smaller ones) and a few of the bass…..The biggest bass I got on new years day and the biggest drum came on a ¾ ounce-smiling bill with an Arkansas Shiner fin-s-fish. The other thing that worked well was an eel head with a single hook tied with feathers. The fish were usually a long cast out so small swimmers were not effective.

Anyway I took my first Keeper bass of the millennium, maybe the first of anyone I know, and my gear is Y2K compliant…All in all great trip, look for the pictures when I email them to Tim once they are developed.

Striper Addict(s): Swfly
E-mail address : Swfly99@cs.com
Date Fished : 1/2/20
Weather notes: Sunny,cool,
Surf Conditions : 1-2ft
Wind Speed : 20 sw
General Location: Sea brite
Fishing Method : conventional
Type of lure/fly: mambow minnow, kastmaster, white smilling bill
Bait type :
Water Temp: 46?
Striped Bass: 0
Bluefish: 0
Weakfish: 0
Fluke: 0
Other: nada
They were:

This is how it went down:

It's like this. Had to make one more trip to get it out of my system and guess I did. Fished from bout 2:30 till bout 4pm. 2 other guys out there but no bait, no hookups. God it got cold when the wind picked up. That's it for me. Try again in the spring. Tim you guys got to be freezing the family treasure off out there at night. WOW. Good luck to the brave ones.

Striper Addict(s): TimS and Dan "Oakey" O'Connor
E-mail address : tsurgent@monmouth.com
Date Fished : 1/1/00
Weather notes: nice...very, very nice...a lil too warm actually!
Surf Conditions : 1-3ft
Wind Speed : none, then SSE 5kts
General Location: Long Branch-Belmar stretch
Fishing Method : spinning
Type of lure/fly: black bomber, "Paul's" teaser...also "Goggle-Eye" bomber
Bait type :
Water Temp: 45-46
Striped Bass: 19
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other: Sore Backs:2
They were: 18-34"

This is how it went down:

Dan and I got a late start. We managed but a few on our first stop. Next stop Dan lost a couple nice ones, I got a 13#er and a few shorts..and Dan rangled in an 8# short as well. The fish were are black bombers and "Paul's" teaser...the 13#er ate a teaser. We picked fish at each spot except one. Dan was fending off the New Year's Eve funk...I don't drink and was sharp till my back started giving way. Clear Head: 14 Hangover breath:5 :)

TimS

Striper Addict(s): Rick7
E-mail address : Rick7a@monmouth.com
Date Fished : 1/1/00
Weather notes: Great night for the beach
Surf Conditions : 2-3ft
Wind Speed : w @0-3mph
General Location: Ocean Beach to Lavallette
Fishing Method : Spinner
Type of lure/fly: 16a Schoolbuss& silocone spearing teaser
Bait type : :(
Water Temp: Cold
Striped Bass: 4
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were: 14-24in

This is how it went down:

I got fish at the dusk bite ,30 casts without a hit,2 bass back to back,and another 30 casts without a hit.That is pretty much what has been happening at dark around here.Then I went back for more between 8-9 and found a better bite,but trouble hooking up.I got 2 bass on the schoolbuss& 2 on the teaser and about 10 hits in all.Not to bad for January :)

Striper Addict(s): Decare
E-mail address : decare@att.net
Date Fished : 1/1/2000
Weather notes: Overcast in 50's
Surf Conditions : Light
Wind Speed : Slight
General Location: Lavellette
Fishing Method : Baitcasting
Type of lure/fly: Bomber Long A / Yellow
Bait type :
Water Temp:
Striped Bass: 1
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were: Short about 22"

This is how it went down:

Fished the beach at Lavallette near a rock pile from 4pm till 6pm. Haven't fished with waders in a long time. Got only one short just at dusk. No other hits at all. Saw two other shorts caught ( one on either side of me). There must have been about 50 fishermen on the beach (including baitslingers). What a georgeous day.

Drove to the Manasquan jetty and tried a few casts. There were no other fishermen on the jetty. Nothing!

Did'nt get up to the Shark River jetties like I planned originally.

Ed

Striper Addict(s): Mike Y
E-mail address : surfcaster01@prontomail.com
Date Fished : 12/29
Weather notes: sunny and 50F
Surf Conditions : 2-4
Wind Speed : 20+ mph sw
General Location: Bayhead to IBSP
Fishing Method : Gambler
Type of lure/fly: 3-5 inch metal or shad with teaser
Bait type :
Water Temp:
Striped Bass: 5
Bluefish:
Weakfish:
Fluke:
Other:
They were: 18-26"

This is how it went down:

Nice day to be out on the water. Too bad 57 other guys thought so too. The boat was packed with the largest striper fishing crowd of the season. However, only 4 keepers were landed on the boat.

Striper Addict(s): TimS
E-mail address : tsurgent@monmouth.com
Date Fished : 12/30
Weather notes: nice, mild, warm
Surf Conditions : 1-3ft
Wind Speed : WSW light
General Location: Long Branch-Belmar
Fishing Method : spinning and a lil fly action.
Type of lure/fly: 6" schoolbus bomber w/ a "Paul's" teaser
Bait type : nope!
Water Temp: 45-46
I (we) caught: Striped Bass
Total landed: 3
They were: 27-31"

This is how it went down:

This is a test of the reports, but the information above is indeed true and correct, I subdued 3 unicorns last time out, and they were all very nice! I hope you guys find some use for this reports, have at 'em, they are live!

TimS