Trophy Stripers the last 5 days on the Hooked Up 11 on combo chunk-rip trips

[Caveman Sportfishing]

We have put some very decent trips together the last five days that were all full day combo bunker chunk- drifting live spot on the Cape May Rips. On yesterday’s trip (Tuesday) we had such a good chunk bite we never even bothered going to Rips and just stayed in the first spot we anchored at and we had many legit chances on quality bass in a relative short time. We had the guys from Woody’s Place in Wildwood, NJ out with us and had the infamous Silent Bob along with owner Trevor that showed the way by boating some fine stripers today and releasing some also. Lots of action and when it was good we had a bite about every ten minutes or so on all fish in the 40 inch range and bigger. I wish every trip offered this much action but unfortunately it does not but overall we have had our lots of chances on bigger bass over the last week and did very well. At least for us the rip bite had died down from what it was back around the full moon early last week as the tides run slower in between moon phases but we should see increased Rips action next week after the new moon on November 16. I have only fished the big rip (Prissy Wick) once in 3 years and mostly fish Overfalls and some no name rips that have produced some very nice size stripers but not nearly as big as the ones caught bunker chunking but that is no surprise. The rips have slowed for us the last few days but yesterday the chunk bite was more than adequate so our 8 hour plus combo trips do offer the best of both worlds when striper fishing the Delaware Bay out of Cape May, NJ. We like fishing the Cape May Rips right around the new and full moon phases as they provide very hardest running tides and prefer chunking the bay for trophy bass between moons phases with the slower running tides. I am sure others may agree with this or have a totally different opinion but that is what we like the best when fall striper fishing.

We have only been running striper trips for just over a week now and I feel we are getting better on every trip. I was told today by one of my charter customers that was on last Saturday’s trip when we fished in the High Tides Striper Tournament we finished 4th with a very respectful 38 lb striper. Not bad for a tuna guy on only our third or fourth striper trip of the fall season. On Monday’s trip we lost the biggest striper we ever fought on the Hooked Up 11 that was in the 50 inch range but we did get if to the back of the boat where everyone on board got a good view of it and all agreed it was a true slob that quite possibly was over 50 lbs. After the initial disappointment of losing the fish all agreed it was a good thing as this fish will live another day to breed many more stripers for future generations of fishermen. At least this helped lesson the pain of losing such a fine bass right behind the boat knowing it will live to spawn. The angler who fought the striper Al Messina did have some very sore arms after fighting this fish and it fought more like a good sized Black Drum than any striper we have caught in recent years. Striper fishing on our boat is all about having fun and some laughs and I personally feel pretty good that we have been able to provide some quality fishing for our customers this past week with fall weather that was nothing short of awesome the last few days. I honestly do not consider myself a striper pro especially when it comes to chunking the bigger bass but we do work hard on every trip and on those special days with a little luck we can provide our customers with some fine fall striper fishing.

As of this morning Wednesday we have one or two days still available next week for striper trips and after that we are booked solid until we leave for Morehead City, NC for winter Giant Bluefin season.

[paul708]

nice pics.
some pretty fish there.

[JfISHkING]

Nice work, great pictures.

[Caveman Sportfishing]

All the rods we have on the Hooked Up 11 for chunking the trophy size stripers were made for us by Paul at JPR Custom Rods and every angler that has fished with us really loves these rods that are matched up with Shimano 6500 bait runners. Perfect combo for nice size Delaware Bay stripers and work equally as well in the spring for Black Drum although I personally perfer conventional reels for the larger drum once they get over 60 lbs or so. I do have a some of JPR Custom Rods that work quite well on Shimano TLD 15's for both drum and bass for those that prefer conventional set-ups.

[paul708]

All the rods we have on the Hooked Up 11 for chunking the trophy size stripers were made for us by Paul at JPR Custom Rods and every angler that has fished with us really loves these rods that are matched up with Shimano 6500 bait runners. Perfect combo for nice size Delaware Bay stripers and work equally as well in the spring for Black Drum although I personally perfer conventional reels for the larger drum once they get over 60 lbs or so. I do have a some of JPR Custom Rods that work quite well on Shimano TLD 15's for both drum and bass for those that prefer conventional set-ups.

Thanks Capt John.
the rods look great on the boat.