“The cows keep comin”- Fishing report- 11-05-10- By Bob Misak

[Fishing Report]

“The cows keep comin”- Fishing report- 11-05-10- By Bob Misak



Sam Rittenbaugh shows off his first tournament fish , a 33 lb bass caught at Barnegat Light


This past week saw a few more big fat cows step up on the scales of the L.B.I. Surf Classic, and it truly has been a record year for big bass on the island. To date, we have had 12 fish bust the 30 lb. mark, 4 fish hit 40 lbs, and Ray Sullivan’s 56 lb. monster still holds the lead. Not to mention scores of other stripers in the 20’s and a bunch of slammer blues as well. Justin Jones went to Holgate and grabbed his share of the glory with a 39 lb. fish this week, and as mentioned in last reports, the north end has now lit up. I fished with Dan Radel, writer for the Hook, Line, and Sinker section of the Asbury Park Press, and we witnessed some heavy action on a sunny morning north of the 14th st. sand bar. Sam Rittenbaugh nailed a 33 lb. fish right next to us, and his buddy beached a 22 lb. fish shortly thereafter. I managed a 17 lb. fish after the frenzy, making it a fun morning with lots of laughs and a couple new friends. My good friend Dick “The Judge” Murray, a regular over at the lighthouse bulkhead, nailed himself a 35 lb. fish in the inlet drifting a live herring, and what a job they must’ve had getting that cow over the rail! I’ve netted big fish over there myself a few times and it tests your prowess getting them in the net. Congrats to the judge on that one, he loves to catch big bass, and I can imagine the smile on his face. The end of the jetty rocks is holding some nice togs, and I don’t know how long the green crabs will be available, so if you want in, now is the time. There are also some blackfish still hanging around the condo docks, but the bigger fish are milling around the jetty rocks. The inlet is still giving up 30 to 34 inch fish on spots and eels, and some 30 to 40 lb. fish have come off the sod banks by the “vampires” who fish by night over there. The blues have taken a little vacation down in the surf here, but the guys on Island Beach are still lighting them up, and the north jetty seems to be a cutoff point for some odd reason. By no means is it over yet though, as I think we’ll see another run of gators before all is said and done. The head boats are smashing some mammoth togs out on the wrecks, as proven by the 14 lb. bruiser white chin that graces the cover of The Fishermen this week. That fish was caught off The Searcher out of Barnegat Light by Don Henriquez, and more big fish like this one will see the scales in the coming weeks. The night trips out there are also producing some big blues and some bass as well, and as we head into November the fishing will remain great until the water temps drop another few degrees. The shop is always loaded down with baits such as fresh bunker, spots, and for now, plenty of green crabs. So we’ll see you on the sands or the seas, and get it while the getting’s good, because everyone who fishes is jumping in there right now and most of them are putting fish on the table. So as always, good luck and great fishing to everyone, and be safe.


Barnegat Light Bait and Tackle
1501 Bayview Ave.
Barnegat Light, NJ
(609) 494-4566
Website www.barnegatlightbaitandtackle.com
Email info@barnegatlightbaitandtackle.com