Obsession Halloween Stripers

[Gerry Zagorski]

Got to report the good with the bad and a bunch of excuses first.... Got a late start, had to take Ruth back to the dock since she got sea sick, new moon etc.

The readings were off the charts everywhere we went and we threw the kitchen sink at them. Ava, Deadly Dicks, Flutter Spoons, Live Lined, plastics, close to the beach, out to the 3 mile line etc and only one 27 inch rat to show for it and the doggies were relentless, even on the live lined Bunker...

Tons of bunker tighter into the beach but nothing bothering them :mad:

Great talking to Chris G out there... He apparently had a decent shot at them earlier in the day but struggled in the afternoon like us.

That's fishing but it sure was frustrating marking all that bait with nothing to show for it. I guess I need to get up earlier or maybe I should just sell all my stuff :D

[Broad Bill]

Gerry full and new moon tides create stronger currents and bass often will use low light conditions of a new moon coupled with the stronger tides to feed all night. When I was younger I fished the SH rip all night many a night and full and new moon were always the go time. Then it would shut off at sun up. Think that's what you experienced, lot of fish that were feeding heavy on bunker all night long and taking a siesta during the day.

They're migrating and have to feed. If you're marking and their not feeding, change the time you're targeting them realizing a lot of people don't like night time fishing but when they're active at night there's less traffic and more accessible from shore.

If night time isn't practical, bring some live eels. Bass even when full can't resist a live eel this time of year when other presentations will be ignored. If they're gorging on big bunker all night, they're not going to chase plastics and smaller jigs during the day. Live eel fished on the bottom, different story. To some degree, same concept as Chuck Many even if the technique is different. Large bass can't resist live eels. And try to time your trips with ebb tide and fish the rips, channel edges and drop offs, you won't be disappointed. Simple slide rig, three to four feet of fluoro and a circle hook.

[bulletbob]

Gerry full and new moon tides create stronger currents and bass often will use low light conditions of a new moon coupled with the stronger tides to feed all night. When I was younger I fished the SH rip all night many a night and full and new moon were always the go time. Then it would shut off at sun up. Think that's what you experienced, lot of fish that were feeding heavy on bunker all night long and taking a siesta during the day.

They're migrating and have to feed. If you're marking and their not feeding, change the time you're targeting them realizing a lot of people don't like night time fishing but when they're active at night there's less traffic and more accessible from shore.

If night time isn't practical, bring some live eels. Bass even when full can't resist a live eel this time of year when other presentations will be ignored. If they're gorging on big bunker all night, they're not going to chase plastics and smaller jigs during the day. Live eel fished on the bottom, different story. To some degree, same concept as Chuck Many even if the technique is different. Large bass can't resist live eels. And try to time your trips with ebb tide and fish the rips, channel edges and drop offs, you won't be disappointed. Simple slide rig, three to four feet of fluoro and a circle hook.

well stated reply...this happens with several predator species that sight feed.. In the big lakes up here we don't have "bunker" of course, but we have mini versions, landlocked alewives, or "herring' as you NJ guys call them.. Lakers , and all other salmonids here feed on them almost exclusively. They stay close to the schools, and follow them, picking them off.. You can see it on your screen.. However after the full moon, or really at any moon phase where there is ample moonlight, the fishing can get very slow.. Not a lot of people know that all species of Trout, as well as LL Salmon are often nocturnal, and will feed heavily at night... The consensus up here has always been that during nights with good moonlight, the schools of alewives are easily outlined against the glow of the moonlight, and the fish feed heavily at night, and then don't feed much during daylight... I have always found that to be the case, and see no reason why the exact same scenario would not play out with ocean bound stripers that are also sight feeders that like to hang near and feed on big pods of greasy, calorie laden , easy to catch baitfish.. Fish are fish no matter where they live, and adapt to environmental changes and food availability instinctively.. at least its a good excuse for a crappy day.. I have been leaning on it for years!. bob

[Broad Bill]

Full moon they feed on sight, current and seeing the silhouette of their prey. Stripers eyes adjust much quicker than the fish they feed on. New moon and dark conditions, they feed more by sight as their prey are almost blinded. Just think about bridge fishing shadow lines and why dark lures work so much better on dark nights.

Right now I guarantee the large fish are feeding heavy on bunker schools at night and taking a break during the day anticipating feeding again the following night. They're there, they have to feed during the migration, just need to slightly change your technique. A big bass that ate 4 bunker the night before isn't going to chase a metal or shad up high during the day. An eel on the other hand during the day drifted in front of their face they can't resist.

Does anyone even eel anymore in the fall? Years ago, that was what every party boat did. Or private boats used eels or trolled large plugs through the rips and in between the channels. How times have changed.

[Duffman]

Does anyone even eel anymore in the fall? Years ago, that was what every party boat did. Or private boats used eels or trolled large plugs through the rips and in between the channels. How times have changed.

Been dragging snakes for about 4 weeks now after sundown and it’s been lights out. With the shortage of blues none of the eels are coming up cigars.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks guys appreciate the advice and encouragement. I probably would have given 20 plus eels to those doggies.

[bulletbob]

Thanks guys appreciate the advice and encouragement. I probably would have given 20 plus eels to those doggies.

yeah when those things show up thick, all bets are off no matter when or where you are fishing, or what you are using.. When you start bailing horn dogs on jigs, its time to go home...They would like nothing better than to clean $100 worth of eels off your hooks...