November 23, 2010, How do you qualify the personal best day of striper fishing ever? ... Well yesterday may have been mine... It started out with calm waters in the pre dawn dark and the crew were good customers and Great Friends, Dave Morris and Jimmy Hare and to make maters even better situated for the good luck of the Great Mother Striper, Jimmy brought his son, Jimmy Jr. We had just enough light to see when we hit the inlet. Not first, but nearly so we had a clean drift on the incoming tide down the Green can side. I thought I was a little to the south of the best spot, but that didn't matter when Jimmy Jr's rod doubled over and he started to fight his first. I had to start the motor to get around the anchor of a blow boater who are always too cheap to get a slip at the marina and we were still fighting when I had to avoid the bridge pilings. Dad did a great job on the net and after clearing the bridge we had the start to an amazing day. Jimmy Jr. had a 22# striper for his first ever. If that wasn't enough the next drift he did a repeat with one just a little bit smaller. As a mater of face after dad missed a fish Jr. did it one more time on the rip by the bridge. We only missed catching a fish on one drift when I decided that a run to the Condo sounded good. There was no one there but there was one boat on the way. By the time we got there the other boat was already hooked up and even though I felt I missed the lump on my first pass the fish didn't miss the baits and from there it was wide open for the rest of the incoming tide. Dave, Jimmy and Jimmy were putting it to the fish so I hooked up the little Shimano Tescata Jigging rod and got a couple 15# class fish on this ultra lite, ultra power rod. I still am not quite sure how it works but the rod bends in a horrific U and puts a steady pressure on the fish and they seem to come to the net as quick as with a much stiffer rod.

We weren't the only ones on the bite, close to a dozen boats were on the little lump at the turn of the tide and I'm sure every rod doubled over at least once and for some drifting spot it was much more often.

The tide had just turned when we boat the last fish of our four man, plus 3 bonus limit of 11 fish the smallest still over 32" and four over 20# It was only about 8:30 so I took everyone for a ride in front of Brigantine looking for bunker to fill the cast net, but it was a bit sloppy and none were to be found. When we got back we dropped the lines one more time and Dave M. and Big Jimmy hooked up one more time. These were release fish and Jimmy's showed 19# on the digital scale. That was enough for them and we headed for the barn to prepare the feast and head back to the city.

I have had plenty of days with more fish, I've had bigger fish to the boat, and I've had them blitzing on top eating anything that moved, but for numbers of fish and the average size and being with good friends this was probably an all time best.

Unfortunately I can't say the same for today. I hit the inlet and we found fish. Two in the early morning to be exact and there weren't many nets going overboard. I made the big loop thru the back and it was nearly noon when we found #3 back by the windmills. All 3 were over 15# and looked like they were out of the same mold, but I just don't understand why this inlet can't produce two days in a row.

The days previous were similar stories. the 18th was a blow out and the 19th I made my first good trip on the lumps of Brigantine. Louis Carleo with Tito joined me for a limit of big bass and some chopper blues Saturday was a windy day and a tough ride in the back that brought the Vern Becker crew 3 keepers including the lunker of the day by his wife. Today was another bummer as my motor may have met its last trip, but I have backups and I will be definitely be back on the water once I get thru a Thanksgiving Dinner. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and the bite will be Hot until christmas.

Absecon Bay Sportsman Center
81 Natalie Terrace
Absecon, NJ
(609) 484-0409
Website www.abseconbay.com
Email go-fish@abseconbay.com