striper report?

[Dozer]

Did anybody fish the raritan bay/sandy hook area for bass today? I am going tomarrow and I am trying to figure out whether I should clam the hook or dunk bunker in the back. Any reports would be a huge help!!!!!!! Also has anyone seen any bunker in Atlantic Highlands harbour? Thanks, Kenny

[LuckyLady]

If you are going to fish the back bay clams may be a better idea. The bluefish were thicker than thick. We managed to pull 2-3 20lbrs out thru them and there was a few more picked out of there early in the morning. Out front and south we picked some more with only a few blue fish mixed in. All cookie cutters at 20lbs. Normal hot spots are doing well just the bay was loaded up with blues. Bite seemed to shut down in the afternoon across the board. Lots of trash floating thru becareful we seen logs big sections of rope everything floating thru out.

[gradyfish265]

Bunker all the way, clamming has not been hot for the most part, only a few good trips here and there on the party boats, nothing consistent. A few charters have pulled a handful of bass on clams off Flynn's and Roamer, but nothing big and it has been spotty. Most bass on clams are being caught on the outgoing, with bunker on the incoming. I'd rather catch bigger fish with bunker, although the middle of the bay has been better then the back so far, have not seen good numbers coming out of the rivers just yet, but that should be soon, so the back will be the hot spot soon. With bunker you will need to fight through blues, if you do not have 100 or more bunker you will NOT have enough bait. I've been going through 75-150 a trip, but have not caught a fish under 37" this season, biggest was 44" 29lb male.

[Dozer]

Hey guys thanks for the report. I didn't get it until today because I left the dock at 5 am. I ended up fishing the back on the east side of Old Orchard. Picked thru the blues and ended up with 4 bass from 12 to 20lbs. I pulled the hook on a 25 lb.+ after a 10 min fight about 20 feet from the boat. I also watched a 25lb.+ follow my bunker head to the boat and than get spooked and take off. I had alot of run offs but everytime the line came tight the bunker would pull out. I should have changed hook sizes alot sooner. It was a beautiful day out there and my 8 year old cousin caught his first striper. I am hoping to fish Sat. and Sun. so if your out there give me a shout. The name of my boat is Double Trouble and I hang on channel 63 or 65.

[gradyfish265]

I'll be out tommorrow morning fishing that area and a few spots a little to the E of there. I use an 8/0 live biat hook or octopus hook, never had issues thill this year with missing fish, just about everyone I talk to ahs been saying the fish are very finicky. We've had to let them run a bit longer then usual to set the hook, just have to switch to circles after you limit, guess it is gut hooked or circles. What tide did you fish? all my fish have ben on the incoming so far, hope to change that tommorrow since I'll be fishing both sides of high tide. Won't be bassing this weekend as of now, my Dad wants to Fluke, and there will be a ton of guys bassing with the holiday weekend, if I do make a bass trip it will be an afternoon/evening trip to avoid the boat traffic. Keep us posted!!

S.T. Barb II ch 69
Tom

[Dozer]

Hey Tom, I fished the last hour of the incoming into the outgoing. I only caught blues until the tide started to run out. Yeah, the fish seemed real touchy all day. I am probably going to fluke fish on Saturday as well. Last year I beat them up pretty good on opening day by the coast gaurd station. I will definately keep you posted.
Kenny
Double Trouble

[gradyfish265]

Killed them Wed, had a slow morning and dropped a 40lb bass after 10+ min on the rod, he opened his mouth laughed at me and spit the hook after I just got him back to the bopat after a 100yd run. Ended up finding a mess of fish on the outgoing, 14 fish from 36"-44" in 1.5 hours. Left them biting to go get bait for Thurs to save time.... Went back Thurs and found no marks, had one or two good runs offs that did not come tight then blues moved in. Bounced around in sloppy conditions, ended with one bass and dropped one near the boat. Will be fluking Sat and bassing one afternoon this weekend to avoid some of the traffic. Seems the blues have not been as pesky in the pm.

[Dozer]

Great job on wed. I am going to fish this afternoon for fluke and tomarrow morning for bass. Give me a call on the radio if you want and I will let you know how I am doing if you are going to come out on Sunday afternoon. I am going to try and fish one or two nights this week.