The Goal is All fished are released healthy.
2019 was another great fun year surf fishing. Hit the beach 47 times. Only 4 Stripers above 28 inches, the largest 32 inches. That was the only”down” side to the year. I caught Stripers on 42 different artificials this year, Albi Snax accounted for 23%, , Tin Man Pink Teaser around 13% , RM Smith Thin Needle about 8%. This was the first year I used any of these artificials…… Max Raps around 9%. I like using different plugs and this year it was fun throwing all types. Fun year.
December 1st, fished 12:30 AM – 9:00 AM, West. Fished out front and then out back, mother nature kicked my ass, it was cold. Last trip of a great year for me ended with my 4th skunk out of the 47 trips this year.
November 24th. fished 12:30 AM to 10:00 AM, West. Windy, cold, rainy = Perfect. Hit the backside all the way to the front and back from 12:30 – 4:30, maybe a couple bumps. Just was out of sorts, wind kept changing and was a cross wind wherever I was. On the way back no water movement. Took a nap and hit the back side from 6:00 to 10:00.When it was light there was bird activity out a 100 yards or so (into the wind somewhat). Lost a fish, missed a couple hits. Finally found some Bass mostly in small rips. Was good action and landed 17 between 15 inches and 25 inches. Most between 20 and 25. A couple butterballs in there. Albi Snax and Max Rap 13 picked up 6 a piece, one top water on a floating needle, Tin Man metal and a couple on Hogys. At the end I could only connect with the Max Rap, would drift through rip and get hit. Fun trip.
November 17th fished 12:30 AM to 9:30 AM, West. After missing the last weekend trip, was good to be back out on the water. Great looking surf, but a good amount of weeds. Picked up only two short Bass on the rubber teaser in the dark. Lost one fish and missed a couple bumps. exhilarating trip in the wind, cold and surf.
November 3rd fished 12:30 AM to 8:30 AM (9 hours of fun), West. . Lost second hat in two trips, broke my glasses (unusable), and somehow cut my finger and it bled profusely for the last two hours of the trip. Started off with two Fluke….then around 1:30 picked up a short bass on Tsunami sand eel. Ended up with 7 short Bass. None tight to rocks. Three on Albi Snax, largest on the RM Smith Thin Needle, also lost a larger bass on that needle after a good fight, got it within 20 feet of the beach before it shook the hook. Got a look at it and it was a nicer bass (big tail). Also picked up a bass on the 5” Mambo Minnow and MaxRap 15. Fun trip.
October 27th fished 12:30 AM to 9:30 AM, West. Nice looking water, out front cross wind and current was crazy strong. Picked up one short bass in the inlet, on rocks (crazy odd for me). Exhilarating trip!!
October 16th, fished 1:30 AM to 5:30 AM, West, ocean side and picked up the third skunk of 2019. I didn’t have the appropriate rod and plugs for the water conditions, (bad plan). October 20th West, 12:30 AM – 10:00 AM, covered a lot of sand and picked up two bass and missed three solid hits. 4:30 AM a Bass ~27 inches on the Albie Snax and then another short Bass on the Tattoo Swimmer. Fun trip, awesome weather, surf to calm!!!
October 15th. West 12:15 AM – 5:30 AM. Water a lot calmer this trip, tough finding nice white water. Ended up with 7 short Bass. Three on the Albie Snax, the rest on Jointed Bomber, MaxRap, Musso Darter and the Mambo Minnow. Things slowed on the tide change (low).
October 14th. West 12:15 AM – 5:30 AM. Fun night, was into schoolie Bass from the start. Landed 8, lost a bunch and missed a good amount of Bass, very good action. When the Full moon was out action stopped, lost my favorite Bomber to a fish. No weeds!!! White water, drizzle, light south wind, great conditions. Bass were 15 inches to 26 inches. Beach to myself.
October 13th. West, 12:30 AM – 7:30 AM, Picked up 3 Short Bass. Two out front at 2:45 and 3:15 (Lokie and RM Smith Thin Needle), the other out back on an Albie Snax. Bright night, nice surf, small amount of weeds and water a little stained. A couple other “bumps”, covered lot of water.
October 6th. West, 12:30 AM – 9:30 AM, Picked up 6 Short Bass and 1 Small Blue. Four Bass in the dark, two on RM Smith Thin Needle one on an Albie Snax and Loaded Red Fin. Other two on a SS Popper and Russ Needle Popper. Great weather with 20 MPH wind in my face and awesome looking surf. But there were weeds out the wazoo, just about every cast. Did loose a nice Bass on the Lokie Skinny Minnie.
September 29th, West, 12:30 AM to 9:30 AM, Took to 3:00 to break the ice with a Bass on the Albi Snax. Then around 3:45 on the Albi Snax picked up a nicer bass ~28 inches. In a rock pile pocket. Then again in a pocket on a loaded Red Fin another Bass around 28”. 5:20 in a trough picked up a Bass on the Thin RM Smith Needle and then 6: 15 on a Musso Darter the last Bass of the trip, rock pile pocket again. There was bait all over in the light and I could only manage a couple small cocktail blues. Dolphins put on an incredible show. Fun trip. Lost one fish, missed a half dozen hits
September 26th, West, 12:15 AM – 5:45 AM. Nice night, great looking water. Picked up three short Bass. One on the Albie Snax and the other two on RM Smith Thin Needle. Last cast was the third Bass. Lost one Bass and missed just a couple hits.
September 25th, West, 12:30 AM – 5:30 AM. Some nice white water. Picked up 2 short bass, one on an Loaded Red Fin in trough and the other on a long cast, my first Bass on an RM Smith Thin Needle. Missed only a couple hits, slower night. Again was off the beach well before sun up and did not see another fisherman.
September 24th, West, 12:30 AM – 5:30 AM. Awesome clean water again, some nice white water. Picked up 2 short bass one on an Albi Snax and the other on a Choopy Needle. Two Blues, one on a Musso Darter the other on a loaded Red Fin. Lost 3 fish, two on a RM Smith Thin Needle that I was about to give up on. One of those was freight train. Lost another fish on the loaded Red Fin. All three of those lost fish were on for a good 20+ seconds. Plus missed the obligatory 6+ hits. Again was off the beach well before sun up and did not see another fisherman.
September 23rd, West, 12:30 AM – 5:30 AM. Awesome clean water, some nice white water. Picked up 2 short bass on Albi Snax and 1 Fluke on a Musso Darter. Lost two fish and easily missed 8 hits. Very fun night, perfect weather and water. Was off the beach well before sun up and did not see another fisherman.
September 22nd, West, 12:15 AM to 8:00 AM, Missed a few hits on small plugs in dark, then missed a few hits on Albi Snax in the light. Then finally basically my last class a Blue that looked like a football on a pink GT360. Nice looking water, was very stained though.
September 15th, West, 12:30 AM to 9:30 AM. Weeds with the Full Moon and Westerly wind. 9 hours of casting and maybe 5 casts that the lure came back without weeds. Picked up 4 Cocktail size Blues and one short bass on a Flat Glide needle 3:50 AM. Lost a few fish and missed a few hits. First trip I had the Outlander on the Beach this year. Great looking water, weeds made it tough, even top water plugs picked the weeds up. Could feel long casts land on weeds. Weeds out the Wazoo.
September 8th, West, 12:15 AM to 8:15 AM. Spot 1 for an hour (nothing), spot 2, 1:30 AM – 8:15 AM. Found some mullet pinned being harassed and picked up a four short stripers and seven cocktail blues. Picked away from 2:45 first Bass and last Bass at 8:00. Lost a bunch on some long casts, a few pieces of rubber bitten up and missed hits and blow-ups. First trip with the Rainshadow SU 1264F Rod. Wow! Casts 1/2 oz to 2 oz like a rocket and crazy ass light. Fun trip.
September 1st, West, 12:30 AM to 8:30 AM. One of the calmest surfs I have fished. New moon, some weeds. For the trip lost 4 fish that were hooked, second week in a row had leader completely bit off. Caught 2 Blues, one on Big Fish Tadpole the other on a Hogy Epoxy. One Striper on an Albie Snax. Fun trip.
August 25th, West, 12:20 AM – 8:30 AM. Awesome looking surf, strong cross wind out of the east. Fall temperatures. Dropped two fish in the dark, missed double digit hits. In the light picked up a Fluke and two short Bass on the white Hogy. Had a nice blow up on the Albie Snax, felt it and it didn’t come tight.
August 18th, West, 1:30 AM – 8:30 AM, late start. Nice looking surf and stained water, beautiful night with the sky lighting up from the moon and lightening. Took some time and walking to get into action, missed a few hits on the walk, then between 3:30 and 5:00 picked up 3 Blues and 3 Bass. All between 18″ and 24″ (Tinman Teaser caught most) . Had a few hits in the light then ~7:00 picked up a Bass ~26″ on an Albie Snax. Water and Air temps very comfortable.
August 11th, West, 12:15 AM – 8:00 AM, One short Striped Bass on Tinman Teaser and a couple small blues. Dropped a couple fish and missed a few hits. Was like fishing a lake almost, calm surf and a cool night.
August 4, West, 1:30 AM – 7:30 AM, was a Tinman Teaser Trip (TTT). 2 Small Weakfish, 1 short Bass, an 18″ Fluke and small Blue on the Tinman Pink Teaser. One other small Weakfish on a Hellcat. Interesting, fun trip, beautiful night. Was looking for Weakfish and found a few small ones.
July 28th, West 12:30 AM – 8:00 AM, Second skunk of the year. Had a few hits in the night (Bucktail, Pink Hogy, Plastic), but could not seal the deal. Used the real light Black Hole Suzuki rod (1/2-2 oz rod). Was not enough rod for the conditions. Nice cool night, surf dirty, good looking water.
July 21st, West, 12:30 AM – 7:30 AM. Three short Bass(~1:30, 3:00 and 5:15) Weeds again and stained water (but not crazy stained). Lost another Bass on he Mambo. Weather nice, all action close to the beach. Fun trip, missed an assortment of bumps and hits.
July 14th, West, 12:30 AM – 8:00 AM. Two short Bass and a very small Blue. Weeds and stained water (not crazy stained). A couple Bass in the dark, what I believe is small Blues (snappers) all over sun up. Nice night, fun trip. In the pic below both bass have red spots on them.
July 7th, West, 12:30 AM -7:30 AM. Two short Bass and a Fluke. Missed a couple hits. The water was stained pretty bad. Nice night, beach to myself. All action in the dark.
June 30th, West, 12:15 AM – 7:15 AM. 4 Short Stripers and a Fluke. Largest around 26 inches, lost a larger one (on the Rapala) a few minutes later. West wind in the dark, had to work around the weeds, but nice surf in the dark. Fun trip, missed a good mount of hits and dropped another bass on a 7″ Hellcat.
June 23rd, West, 12:30 AM – 7:30 AM. Calm surf conditions, stained water, but no weeds. Nice ~20 inch Fluke around 12:40, then a couple short Bass. One nice Gator. Had action throughout the night, missed a few hits, lost a couple fish and had two bite offs. Fun trip.
June 20th, West, 12:45 AM-5:45 AM, had lightening in the fog, that was weird, needed to honker down for about 30 minutes, weeds on almost every cast, found one short Bass ~2:30 on Surf Asylum Flatglide. Nice looking water…..but weeds.
June 19th, West, 12:30 AM-5:45 AM, Took some time to find any fish, caught 4 Short Bass, One on the MaxRap, the others on the 7″ Black over Silver Hellcat. Of course lost the two largest fish (very normal). Around 2:30 found a few Bass in real close. Then a little action in a few spots. Nice night again, Surf calmer…(not a good thing).
June 18, West, 12:30 AM – 5:45 AM, well…lost a nice fish around 12:45 on SA Flat Glide, missed a hit on same plug and then lost another fish on the CCW Big Jointed…all by 1:15. Then picked up two short Bass between 2:30 and 3:00 and that was it. Had a a Gator abolish a Shad False Dawn, rod bent in half and Shad was gone. Foggy and decent surf, water dirty. Fun being out front again.
June 17, West, 12:30 AM – 5:30 AM , One small Blue around 1:00 AM and a Fluke. Missed a nice blow up on a Hogy, went tight, no hook set, no teeth marks. One Hogy bit in half. Nice trip, not a lot of fish. Slight location move next trip.
June 16, West, 1:30 AM – 8:00 AM. Shad and Hogy bit in half, could only manage on fat Blue around 3:00 AM on Super Strike Darter. Nice drizzly night.
June 9, West, 12:30 AM – 8:30 AM. Few hits, then finally around 5:20 picked up a Striper on Sebile Stick Shad. Then over the next 90 minutes 3 Blues between 20 and 24 inches all on top water. Fun trip,lot of walking (ocean to inside and back).
June 2nd, West, 12:30 AM – 8:00 AM. Could only manage a Fluke around 3:00 and a Short Bass around 4:00. Surf was to calm. Weather nice. Missed one very solid hit.
May 26th, west, 12:30 AM – 8:30 AM, loooong walk, ocean side around the back could not buy a hit out front in the dark and light. At the end of the walk, inlet side picked up 3 small blues in the dark, on more in the light on a Super Strike Popper. Lost a bigger fish in he dark, dropped a couple and missed a bunch of hits (all in the back side). Hit up Staten Island for 20 minutes on way back for zilch.
May 19th, west, 12:30 AM – 9:30 AM, fished back side and a little ocean side and picked up my first skunk of 2019. Warmer weather, downpour, cloudy, sunny, chop in water, glassy. Had a Hogy and two shads bit in half. Nice trip, but no fish.
May 12th, west, 12:30 – 8:30 AM, weird trip. 30″ Bass 12:30 AM, then missed a few hits and a swirl on a Hogy. Then 7:00 AM a Blue around 27″ (first of 2019). Missed a few more hits, had a bigger fish clobber Russ Anderson Pop Dart (second hit on that this trip). Was standoff in the rip and then lost it. Fun trip, more action than results, weather was interesting with the rain and wind.
May 9th, west, 12:30 – 5:45 AM, could only manage one short Striper. Missed two other solid hits, came up empty. Nice night out on the water.
May 8th, west, 12:30 – 5:45 AM, two spots, one new. Only managed one Fluke. Couple hits.
May 7th, out west. 12:15 to 5:45 AM, ocean side. Picked up 3 short Bass. Missed a few hits. Nice night out there. Hydro Minnow, Max Rap and Super Strike Popper.
May 6th, out west. Bay side, new spot, 12:15 AM – 3:00 AM, one short Bass on Tinman Teaser around 1:00. Moved out front from 3:30-5:45 (was off the beach by Sunrise. First ocean bass of the year on a Magdarter 4:30. One more bass on the Tinman teaser 5:10. Good trip, surf was great!!
May 5th, West. Picked up 3 short Stripers, two on the Tinman Teaser and the other on Russ Anderson Popping Darter. OTW from 12:15 AM to 7:30 AM. Great weather.
April 28th, hit couple spots, never saw any bait. Picked up one small Striper on the Elias Shad, missed at least another. Good time fishing with Kevin.
First trip of 2019, April 21st !!! Delayed a week, was great to get out there. Hit two spots, new one for me from 12:15 AM -3:30 AM, nothing doing there. Then second spot 4:00 AM – 8:30 AM. Picked up 7 short Stripers. Three in the dark. Two very small and the others from 20 inches to 26 inches. Teaser gets 4, rubber shad had 2 and the MaxRap picked up the other.
