Stories of the NJ fall run 2011.....
Since guys are now driving to Island Beach from 4 surrounding states....and it's no longer a secret that there are fish in the water there.... the circus-like atmosphere that's been described to me in the phone calls is so entertaining it's priceless....:ROFLMAO :lynchmob: :blackeye: :headbang: :kicknuts: :viking:
Too insane for some, I completely understand that....
but I thought we might have some fun with the insanity there....
We also have some other threads folks might want to look at..
Angler/Story of the Month...
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...-Month-Contest
Fishing etiquette and manners
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...te-and-Manners
Strange but true thread....
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...surf-fishermen
The behavior I am hearing about just gets more insane by the day...large scale muggings, people going into 50 degree water without waders or cold weather gear....crossed lines, lost gear...the lemming-like behavior exhibited when guys have had a poor fall season and all of a sudden they are faced with a few batches of good fish...and the chaos that results....so if ya got a story, anecdote, or amusing memory let's hear it....:fishing:
The 2 dillys and the 25 lb bass....
As told by Finchaser, thanks...:HappyWave:
"There were 2 guys fishing the beach this morning, neither had waders or any cold weather gear. They were both fishing in jeans and sneakers. :bucktooth:
One of them hooks into a fish, he sets the hook 3 times, then he reels it in a bit, and sets the hook 3 more times...
He does this 2 more times as he is reeling it in..... Reel, high stick the rod, and set the hook 3 times, each time....
(just wanted to make extra sure this wasn't the fish that got away....:rolleyes:)
He gets it into the surf line, and because he had a "Barbie rod", about 7' long, largemouth bass rod...he couldn't get the fish any further......
So, this dilly takes the rod over his head, and pulls on it like he's one of the Seven Dwarves pulling a coal truck in a coal mine.....:don't know why: he pulls and pulls, with his back to the ocean, pulling a few inches at a time.....he had to have braid on or that line would have snapped with that abrasion against the sand......
As the fish gets into the wash, he still can't drag it into the surf line...finally, he manages to drag it so it's just beyond the wash, and the surf is big, waves breaking on him and the fish, and he has no waders or gear on, getting soaked with each wave breaking on the wet-line....:bucktooth:
He goes to grab the fish, and misses.....:huh:
Then he shouts out to his buddy, also without waders, wearing jeans and sneakers in the 52 degree water....:beatin:....."Grab the leader, grab the leader!!!!" "Big fish, big fish!!"
His buddy goes to grab for the fish, and misses as well...more googan mistakes than you would encounter at the first day of a googan seminar.....:rolleyes:
Finally, the guy who originally hooked the fish, being on his hands and knees with waves breaking over him, and with his spastic friend unable to give assistance,.....sees the bass making a run for freedom with one last splash with her tail...so he does a belly flop into the cold water, jumping on the bass, damned if he's gonna let his trophy get away from him, after he got soaked to the skin to get this fish in......:viking:
So they finally both get a hold of the fish, manhandle her up the beach, and when she is finally away from the waves, jump up and down, give each other high fives, shout out some caveman yells...:headbang:,
take their soaked sweatshirts off, wring them out, and go back to fishing...in the 52 degree water.....:kooky:"
Note: I'm happy that those guys caught the fish, as it's probably the biggest fish either of them has seen in their lifetime....:clapping: :thumbsup:
that being said, they put themselves at risk of hypothermia not being aware of their surroundings, the water temps, and the risks they took being out there without the right gear....and if someone is offended reading my assessment here....I remind ya's it ain't all about looking you came from a Brooks Bros or Abercrombie & Fitch catalog...there's plenty of guys who don't think someone rates unless they're wearing top gear...but for Pete's sake, what's wrong with springing for a pair of Hodgeman neoprenes, available for $70 and up, that will protect ya on the beach, from the cold water....:huh: :learn:
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Stories of the NJ fall run 2011.....
Fished this morning from 5:00am to 10:00am. Caught 7 Bass from 27 inches to about 39 inches(21 pounds on the Boga). I also snagged 2 Spinny dogfish in consecutive casts. I did drop 2 bass where one was bigger than the 21 pounder. I also pulled a seam in my waders and my left leg was taking on water. Got to go buy Goop now to fix it for tommorow.
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Check this guy out with the sweat pants. He was so excited to get a bass. I could feel his energy, But I could see him get himself in trouble.
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Nomad living at Island Beach, Thu and Fri report....
2 day report,
Thu
Fished Island Beach, AM bite, really missed out on the hottest action because I was about a mile from it. Few fish caught where I was. After 2 hours, managed one short bass on metal.
Afternoon - Hooked up with the OFFC
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...ARDS-out-there..
Spent a few hours driving up and down the whole beach, action almost non-existent...the Metal Master from the OFFC managed one bass on metal (naturally! :ROFLMAO) This old geezer landed a nice bass on his first cast! First frikkin cast! :clapping::clapping: Then we rode up and down...I finally managed my 2nd bass on metal as well.
There was a short 1/2 hour period of activity right before dark, some keepers to the teens were caught, but not many.
PM. - decided to ramp up my skill set, learning different areas, and fished another beach in the park for an hour on the flood tide. Out on the bar, beautiful water, needlefish and some other profiles, not a touch....http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...cons/icon9.png
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Fri - Slept in my car as not to miss the morning bite....OTW at 6am, no fish for me till 7:30. Hot bite between 7:30 - 8am. I picked the bars that seemed to have the most action and did OK, 5 bass, biggest mid teens and 34", ava with green tail outfished other profiles 10:1 today.
The bite continued to 9:30 in some areas, as the tide came in...
One last bass was caught as I left the beach at 10am. I predicted the next activity would be around the turn of the tide... good morning on the beach, and good 1 1/2 days at IBSP, met lots of good people. :HappyWave:
Additional Details, Fri...
I was so amped up for the action today...after the paltry numbers I got Thu, I was determined to get some decent fish today....
Morning ammunition....
Bagel with peanut butter....
4 advils to pre-empt any soreness....:laugh:
2 five hour energy drinks.... :bigeyes: :headbang: After drinking those, putting on my drytop and wading belt, I was ready to battle Godzilla out there...moved several times to stay on top of the main body of fish...this was a challenge, because as mentioned, the overall mass has been slowly diminshing...what remains are a few pods of fish, some nicer, to 40#, but they're very scattered, and if you want numbers you have to go and do battle with all the other Vikings on that bar...:viking:
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Fishing clams on a sandeel bite....
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Bob with some keepers....