by Jim Hutchinson Sr.
As the Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic enters its final weeks, hopes are high for an exciting finish. Schools of striped bass are reported from Raritan Bay down to Cape May. The bulk of the fish are still north of Barnegat Inlet and on the move south.
The Classic continues until December 10.
Recent reports from beaches north of LBI tell of torrid blitzes of bass in the breakers as the fish chase bunker to the beach. Some of these bass are feeding on sand eels. One angler throwing lures switched to a sand eel imitation and quickly had all the action he could handle.
Another indication that Long Beach Island will soon be a focal point for these stripers is the number of boats fishing close to shore off LBI. Up to now, boats have gone north of Barnegat Inlet looking for action.
Boaters are utilizing a variety of tactics trying to entice a bass to bite. One is to search for bass feeding on bunker. Trolling lures is another tactic as well as jigging.
Fishing from the beach entails other methods. Locating a pod of nervous bunker close shore is a great way to get in on some hectic action. Anglers cruising the beach in 4-wheel drive vehicles can travel looking for bait.
Those of us lacking “beach buggies” must work a little harder and hope for luck in locating the bunker. We can travel up and down Long Beach Boulevard checking at various street ends for action. Seeing boats clumped together can give a clue to where there might be fish.
Many of us have favorite spots and set up our position there. Either dunking bunker chunks or throwing lures can be productive as we wait for action to come our way.
To increase the chances of success, it is important to match what the fish are feeding on. If there is a school of bunker on the surface, and there are bass crashing into that school, there is no question what the fish are feeding on.
Live lining a bunker is the top choice. Casting lures such as swim shads that match the appearance of live bunker can be very effective. Some swear by tossing baited chunks of fresh bunker into the mix, including that old favorite, bunker heads.
If you suspect the fish might be feeding on sand eels, throw a plug that mimics a sand eel. Ava jigs can work here, and they do increase your casting distance.
At this point there have been 125 fish weighed in for the Classic, by 419 registered anglers.
Leading the weigh ins have been tautog at 64 fish, all in Barnegat Light. The most favored bait has been a type of crab, mainly sand fleas or green crabs. Most local bait and tackle shops have a supply of live crabs. Quite a few old-timers also swear by clams as a tempting bait for tautog.
Chris Massino holds the current lead for bass with a fish weighing 11.10-pounds caught in Barnegat Light on a lure on November 9. Jeffrey Crabtree holds the bluefish lead with a 6.38-pounder taken on October 24.
William Roth stills holds the kingfish lead at 1.22-pounds, and Matthew Merlin tops the tautog division with a 4.80-pound fish.
With almost four weeks left in the Classic, there is still plenty of time to register. There are daily, weekly, and 3-week segments up for grabs along with special prizes including senior citizen, ladies, and youth prizes.
Registration can be accomplished at one of the three official weigh-in stations. They are Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom, Surf City Bait and Tackle, and Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven.
Complete information and live results on the Classic can be found at https://www.lbisfc.com