What bait is holding the stripers?

[Billfish715]

From the reports that came in before the storm, the stripers were thick on the northern grounds. They evidently had been thick for awhile. I know the sand eels are attracting bass into the surf much farther south. I’m guessing that the sand lances are the ones that are holding the fish up north. Am I wrong?

Shouldn’t that bait have moved closer to the beaches. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking to hope for them to move in from where they are now because it will take a long cast to reach them unless they do. If those “eels” can stay inshore during the summer, we might have some incredible fishing for a variety of species.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by Billfish715

From the reports that came in before the storm, the stripers were thick on the northern grounds. They evidently had been thick for awhile. I know the sand eels are attracting bass into the surf much farther south. I’m guessing that the sand lances are the ones that are holding the fish up north. Am I wrong?

Shouldn’t that bait have moved closer to the beaches. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking to hope for them to move in from where they are now because it will take a long cast to reach them unless they do. If those “eels” can stay inshore during the summer, we might have some incredible fishing for a variety of species.

Ever catch whiting on mirror lures in the surf? When the sand eels came into the wash we would get ''frost fish''. Dating myself lol

[Capt. Debbie]

Sal, brings back memories of Long Branch fishing pier on winter nights. Driving down from Elizabeth with the old man who never drove anywhere except to fish or crab. LOL

Originally Posted by Capt Sal

Ever catch whiting on mirror lures in the surf? When the sand eels came into the wash we would get ''frost fish''. Dating myself lol

[RBC67]

Fond memories sad most will never experience it

[Skolmann]

Was out a week ago today. In the area of the Sandy Hook Channel & the area known as Between The Channels the stripers were gorging on sand eels. When we moved south and fished from off the Highlands Bridge to Long Branch they were feeding on bunker & herring.

[bulletbob]

just wondering-any possibility a big resurgence of sand eels locally will bring some of the MIA species back around..Whiting, open water Ling[as opposed to the wreck/ structure fishing we do for them these days.. years ago the were inshore on open bottom as well, we even used to catch them in the bay. Maybe some more Mackerel , small blues, weakfish in spring and early summer??...

I have my doubts, I just think the populations of the fish I mentioned are way down, and not on bait in some other area, but a good food source other than Herring type fish has to be of some benefit.... bob