December’s chill or December’s heat? Lately it’s extra the latter in terms of ending up the fishing season, however one factor is for positive: the final window of alternative to catch December stripers is closing quick.
Over the various years dwelling alongside the coast, I’ve seen seasons finish the primary week of the month after brutal chilly dropped the ocean water temperatures into the low 40s. On different seasons, I’ve fished proper up till New Yr’s Eve in a t-shirt whereas catching that final bass of the 12 months. So what’s going to this December convey this 12 months? Listed here are a pair prospects.
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It was the primary weekend in December and for the reason that Thanksgiving vacation, the climate had been very chilly. It felt just like the season was going to finish early with the arctic blast, however I used to be nonetheless in striper mode, so I used to be nonetheless going fishing.
I equipped for sub-freezing climate. The wind chills at dawn have been within the 20s, and that meant breaking out the heat, neoprene surf prime plus loads of layers of wool from head to toe. The factor that made me get out of a heat mattress have been the sand eels that I knew had dug right into a sandbar not very removed from my home. With a brief drive and stroll, there was an excellent likelihood I used to be going to seek out the final motion of the season.
(Photograph by Tom Lynch)
After I walked over the dunes, I might see about 6 different fishermen who’d had the identical thought. Certain sufficient, we discovered a reasonably good measurement college of small bass feeding closely. Because the water was really hotter than the air, most of the guys didn’t keep lengthy after wading out and catching a couple of fish.
I don’t know what temperature it takes for saltwater to freeze however I can inform you on today it was occurring fairly rapidly. Neoprene fishing gloves have been a should as a result of in case your palms obtained moist, you have been completed. Ice was forming within the rod guides after each solid and retrieve, however the fish and motion was all price it as we had a success or a fish on each solid.
After I obtained again to my truck and took off my surf prime and surf bag you possibly can see the layers of ice from the splashing of waves that froze stable to me. It took over an hour to heat again up. It goes to point out that this you will discover massive colleges of striped bass feeding heavy out entrance on the seaside even properly into the winter months.
My fishing membership, the Berkeley Striper Membership, runs a enjoyable intra-club occasion each December with groups competing in a tag-and-release event, and it all the time logs some nice numbers of fish tagged. We often obtain a few of our greatest suggestions with these striped bass being recaptured, permitting us to trace their yearly motion up and down the whole East Coast.
And as chilly as that journey was you may also discover the precise reverse this time of the 12 months with summer-like circumstances that make it an actual pleasure focusing on late-season striped bass.
Considered one of my favourite kinds of surfcasting is fishing the again bays proper round now as resident striped bass will are available in from the surf via the inlets and begin in search of a very good meal and someplace to hunker down for the lengthy winter.
The tides have been simply excellent for a bit day/evening back-bay journey a couple of years in the past with little wind and gentle air temperatures. In some unspecified time in the future, late within the season, the resident fish will transfer into the deeper holes to winter, whatever the climate. In New Jersey the back-bay striper season closes simply after midnight on New Yr’s. The explanation behind this regulation was to guard the resident populations of stripers that go dormant within the winter, making them straightforward targets for fishermen trying to snag them. It is perhaps an outdated and outdated rule, however giving the bass a bit break from fishing strain might be a very good factor. It additionally provides me an opportunity to regroup after a protracted, exhausting fishing season.
I made my solution to my favourite bridge about an hour into the outgoing tide, and positive sufficient the fish have been stacked favored cordwood within the shadow line. In case you have ever seen this, it’s like heaven. You’ll be able to’t wait to make that first solid up present to permit your presentation to comb proper in entrance of the fish. Typically, they won’t hesitate going after the lure. These fish are very hungry as many of the bait has been lengthy gone, so throwing a typical paddletail like a Tsunami swim shad is irresistible to them. The chook’s eye view watching actually provides to the expertise.
For the following 4 hours, I caught fish after fish with some breaks within the motion once they spooked now and again. However they’d hold transferring again into the realm trying to feed till first mild and like somebody hit a swap they disappeared.
After swiniging by WaWa to seize that third cup of espresso and one thing to eat, I headed to the salt marshes and deep-water holes alongside the sod banks as a result of that’s the place I knew the fish can be. Presently, I like fishing mushy plastic swim shads deep, regular, and really slowly, and evidently yearly, this method takes certainly one of my higher bass of the late fall/early winter. On this morning, it didn’t disappoint with an attractive 17-pound fish for my efforts amongst some smaller, school-sized December stripers as properly. What an evening and what a day.
I actually get pleasure from this time of the 12 months with the peace and quiet on the water. Taking in each minute and watching nature put together for the lengthy winter forward permits me to mirror on the whole 12 months of fishing adventures and enjoyable instances I’ve skilled realizing that for the following few months, it’s time to relaxation up and prepare to do it once more.
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