Temps Are Dropping & Bass Fishing Is Upon Us!

It is November 15, and we are finally experiencing true fall weather. Nighttime temperatures flirt with the freezing mark, and days with strong north winds are becoming more frequent. We all know what that means -the best striped bass fishing is almost on top of us.

Large schools of bunker are just north of Long Beach Island, covering the surface of the ocean off Island Beach State Park and northward. These massive schools of bait attract gulls and gannets from the air, and a myriad of creatures from the sea.

Included in these creatures are porpoises and whales. Most importantly to those of us fishing from the beach, these bunker provide dinners for the migrating stripers. Negatively, there are also vast numbers of spiny dogfish feeding on these bunker.

The schools of bait attract the stripers to the area, and most excitingly, when a pod of the bunker gets within casting range of the beach, they can produce frantic action for surf casters.

It does not get more exciting than standing on the edge of the ocean with wind swept waves crashing around and throwing metal into the midst of a school of bait breaking on the surface.

The Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic is entering the home stretch of its 2024 edition, and the opportunities to win valuable prizes are still there. Notably, it is not too late for fishing fanatics to register and win prizes.

The contest, which began on October 5, continues until Sunday, December 8. There are still over three weeks of daily prizes and other special awards. Kingfish and red drum may be gone, but look for bass, tautog, and bluefish to be found in local waters.

Besides prizes for the largest fish of each species, there are categories for juniors, ladies, and senior citizens.

In addition, there are three special dates when cash prizes of $250 will be available for the largest stripers entered. On Saturday, November 16, $250 will be awarded in honor of Frank Panzone.

On Thursday, November 28, another cash award goes out in memory of LBI fishing legend, Bruce Hoagland. On Monday, December 2, Surf City Bait and Tackle will sponsor a $250 prize for the largest bass.

In the past two weeks 31 fish have been registered including 15 bass, 14 tautog, and 2 bluefish. One of the stripers fell to an eel with the rest going after artificials. Many of these artificials have been Avas, giving anglers greater casting distance.

As expected, all the tautog were landed in Barnegat Light on either green crabs or sand fleas. One bluefish took an eel while the other an artificial offering.

An overall look at the first 6 weeks of the Classic shows 402 anglers registered. These anglers weighed in 44 bluefish, 59 tautog, 20 striped bass, and 5 kingfish. Another 8 bass have been entered in the special Surf Master Award for the largest released bass. No red drum have made an appearance.

Current leaders over the contest include Jake Smith with his 11.82-pound striped bass caught on November 2. Other leaders include Domenic Minando with a 7.38-pound blue, Andrew Wakschal’s 5.50 tautog, and William Roth’s 1.14-pound kingfish which leads both regular and senior categories. John Bonner tops the catch and release striper category with a 46-inch beauty.

Brandy Hillegass’s 2.42-pound blue is still tops for women while seniors George Konowal Jr. leads the bass category while Patrick Gallen tops the bluefish division.  In the junior division Dante Soriente Jr.’s 9.42-pound bass leads and Hunter Hardin’s 3.27-pound bluefish is tops. 

With three weeks left, it is not too late to get in on the action. Registrations are accepted at Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven, Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom, and Surf City Bait and Tackle.

Official rules and information on the Classic can be found at www.LBISFC.