stripermania
04-23-2010, 05:28 PM
Spring striper fishing is becoming more popular
By JIM HUTCHINSON • Correspondent • April 23, 2010
Striped bass, the mightiest game fish in Ocean County waters, is usually associated with fall fishing. More anglers, however, are finding spring fishing for striped bass can be just as good in the spring as the fall with an opportunity to catch larger fish.
Striped bass prefer cool water temperatures of 45 to 65 degrees. They summer in New England, migrating south to Virginia and North Carolina in winter. Our best striper fishing is in the spring and fall when the bass are on the move to their seasonal homes.
Local action for stripers begins with Shore-bound anglers catching the first fish in early March. As April arrives, boaters get active and expand the fishing areas.
Ocean waters do not warm enough until mid-April for bass to show and feed near shore so surf fishermen can get in on the action. From May through June, schools of bunker, a favored food fish of striped bass, appear just off the beaches. At this time schools of large bass are within reach of local anglers. Fish from 30 to 50 pounds are not unusual.
The catching of striped bass is strictly regulated. In New Jersey, commercial fishing for striped bass is prohibited. Anglers may keep two bass daily of at least 28-inches. A bonus tag may be obtained from the state allowing one additional fish.
One sign of the increased interest in spring striper fishing has been an increase in spring trips. Fran Verdi, captain of Fish The Dropoff charters, says he started fishing earlier this year than ever before.
"In the spring, we seem to have quality fish over quantity," muses Verdi. "The fish are bigger than in the fall. This year, the water warmed up early, and we started catching fish in early April."
In addition, chartering an entire boat, Verdi also offers open boat trips in the spring.
"A fisherman just pays for himself," says Verdi. "It is a less expensive way to fish, and you meet new fishing friends."
Valerie Zak, owner of Oceanside Bait and Tackle in Brighton Beach, says she has noticed an increased interest in spring striper fishing the past few years.
There are a couple of big reasons for this," she notes.
"First, the spring seems to have more bigger fish," says Zak. "The big cows come in close to the beach. Last year in my tournament the winning bass was 43-pounds."
Long winters are also a factor, believes Zak.
"We had a very rough winter, and everyone has cabin fever. They want to get back on the beach and catch some fish," she said.
As more and more anglers recognize the availability of striped bass in the spring, fishing tournaments have evolved.
The High Point Fire Company in Harvey Cedars has been running a boaters-only event for the past few years that has grown beyond the organizers' expectations.
Organizer Jason Marti announced this year's event will take place on Saturday, June 12. Because of the increasing success of the previous tournaments, this year there will be bigger pay-outs for winning fish. In addition, the contest encompasses a larger area, with boats fishing south to Little Egg Inlet.
Zak is holding her second annual spring striper tournament for beach-caught bass from May 7 through June 20. Also helping sponsor the event is Kubels Too Restaurant.
There is a $25 registration fee giving anglers the chance for prizes to $1,000. Last year's tournament attracted 87 entries, and she hopes to double that this year.
Simply Bassing is another spring surf-fishing tournament run mostly by five local bait and tackle shops — Barnegat Light, Surf City, Fisherman's Headquarters, Oceanside and Jingles all accept registrations and weigh-in the fish. Jay Mann serves as a director of Simply Bassing, offering eight cash prizes up to $1,000. He stresses only fish large enough to make the top eight spots be weighed in. Fish too small to make the leader board can be released, he explains.
Margaret O'Brien, owner of Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven, has been a booster of Simply Bassing since its start.
"People come down in the spring to get their houses ready for the summer, and they wanted something to do. The surf-fishing contest makes things interesting for them."
O'Brien prefers the spring action to that of the fall.
"I think fishing is better in the spring. The bass are bigger. The bunker schools on the beach attract the bigger fish. Plus, the weather is usually better in the spring than in the fall," she said.
The Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club will hold its sixth annual LBI Cup on Saturday, May 29. This boaters-only event awards cash prizes based on the total weight of a boat's two heaviest stripers.
Last year, the first surf-fishing tournament between area high schools was held in Barnegat Light. Competing were teams from Southern Regional and Barnegat High Schools. This year Lacey Township High School will enter the fray.
In 2009, Southern Regional took home the first year's championship on the back of a striper caught by student John Weidenhof. The prize was a trophy awarded by the Village Harbor Fishing Club in Manahawkin.
At this point in time, the spring bass run has really just started. Things will be really heating up in mid-May. There is no need any longer to wait until the fall to catch a trophy striped bass.
http://www.app.com/article/20100423/SPORTS06/4160323/1002/SPORTS/Spring-striper-fishing-is-becoming-more-popular
By JIM HUTCHINSON • Correspondent • April 23, 2010
Striped bass, the mightiest game fish in Ocean County waters, is usually associated with fall fishing. More anglers, however, are finding spring fishing for striped bass can be just as good in the spring as the fall with an opportunity to catch larger fish.
Striped bass prefer cool water temperatures of 45 to 65 degrees. They summer in New England, migrating south to Virginia and North Carolina in winter. Our best striper fishing is in the spring and fall when the bass are on the move to their seasonal homes.
Local action for stripers begins with Shore-bound anglers catching the first fish in early March. As April arrives, boaters get active and expand the fishing areas.
Ocean waters do not warm enough until mid-April for bass to show and feed near shore so surf fishermen can get in on the action. From May through June, schools of bunker, a favored food fish of striped bass, appear just off the beaches. At this time schools of large bass are within reach of local anglers. Fish from 30 to 50 pounds are not unusual.
The catching of striped bass is strictly regulated. In New Jersey, commercial fishing for striped bass is prohibited. Anglers may keep two bass daily of at least 28-inches. A bonus tag may be obtained from the state allowing one additional fish.
One sign of the increased interest in spring striper fishing has been an increase in spring trips. Fran Verdi, captain of Fish The Dropoff charters, says he started fishing earlier this year than ever before.
"In the spring, we seem to have quality fish over quantity," muses Verdi. "The fish are bigger than in the fall. This year, the water warmed up early, and we started catching fish in early April."
In addition, chartering an entire boat, Verdi also offers open boat trips in the spring.
"A fisherman just pays for himself," says Verdi. "It is a less expensive way to fish, and you meet new fishing friends."
Valerie Zak, owner of Oceanside Bait and Tackle in Brighton Beach, says she has noticed an increased interest in spring striper fishing the past few years.
There are a couple of big reasons for this," she notes.
"First, the spring seems to have more bigger fish," says Zak. "The big cows come in close to the beach. Last year in my tournament the winning bass was 43-pounds."
Long winters are also a factor, believes Zak.
"We had a very rough winter, and everyone has cabin fever. They want to get back on the beach and catch some fish," she said.
As more and more anglers recognize the availability of striped bass in the spring, fishing tournaments have evolved.
The High Point Fire Company in Harvey Cedars has been running a boaters-only event for the past few years that has grown beyond the organizers' expectations.
Organizer Jason Marti announced this year's event will take place on Saturday, June 12. Because of the increasing success of the previous tournaments, this year there will be bigger pay-outs for winning fish. In addition, the contest encompasses a larger area, with boats fishing south to Little Egg Inlet.
Zak is holding her second annual spring striper tournament for beach-caught bass from May 7 through June 20. Also helping sponsor the event is Kubels Too Restaurant.
There is a $25 registration fee giving anglers the chance for prizes to $1,000. Last year's tournament attracted 87 entries, and she hopes to double that this year.
Simply Bassing is another spring surf-fishing tournament run mostly by five local bait and tackle shops — Barnegat Light, Surf City, Fisherman's Headquarters, Oceanside and Jingles all accept registrations and weigh-in the fish. Jay Mann serves as a director of Simply Bassing, offering eight cash prizes up to $1,000. He stresses only fish large enough to make the top eight spots be weighed in. Fish too small to make the leader board can be released, he explains.
Margaret O'Brien, owner of Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven, has been a booster of Simply Bassing since its start.
"People come down in the spring to get their houses ready for the summer, and they wanted something to do. The surf-fishing contest makes things interesting for them."
O'Brien prefers the spring action to that of the fall.
"I think fishing is better in the spring. The bass are bigger. The bunker schools on the beach attract the bigger fish. Plus, the weather is usually better in the spring than in the fall," she said.
The Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club will hold its sixth annual LBI Cup on Saturday, May 29. This boaters-only event awards cash prizes based on the total weight of a boat's two heaviest stripers.
Last year, the first surf-fishing tournament between area high schools was held in Barnegat Light. Competing were teams from Southern Regional and Barnegat High Schools. This year Lacey Township High School will enter the fray.
In 2009, Southern Regional took home the first year's championship on the back of a striper caught by student John Weidenhof. The prize was a trophy awarded by the Village Harbor Fishing Club in Manahawkin.
At this point in time, the spring bass run has really just started. Things will be really heating up in mid-May. There is no need any longer to wait until the fall to catch a trophy striped bass.
http://www.app.com/article/20100423/SPORTS06/4160323/1002/SPORTS/Spring-striper-fishing-is-becoming-more-popular