You might or might not agree with the idea of a striped bass as a gamefish but you should watch the video

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/32209893[/vimeo]

We know that Hanson new pliers sheath is high on the wish list of many anglers this holiday season. We been fortunate that fellows from Hansom sent us few pairs to give away , which we did in the past month.

We have one more pair left and today we are going to give you a chance to win it. Not only that, but you will also receive this Hansom t-shirt.

Good luck to everyone and have a great weekend

Before I say what’s on my mind, let me backtrack for a moment and explain where I am coming from. I like to eat striped bass. My kids on the other hand don’t like it, they love it. If it was up to them, they would eat it every day. I have absolutely zero problem with anyone taking a bass home for a table. Ten pounder, fifty pounder, whatever floats your boat and is within legal limits, I am ok with it. Do I feel we are killing too many bass? Yes, but that is a discussion for another time. Even with that said, I still feel that if you take your legal limit for your consumption, more power to you. There is something awfully satisfying of eating a fish that you caught.

My question today has to do with weigh in. I am hoping that someone who is part of what I am about to ask can answer it. No , I am not looking for every Tom, Dick and Harry to give me their opinion on why is this taking place.

I speak with stores on regular basis. Some of them carry my books, some are my friends for many years. Last few weeks I spoke to some New Jersey stores and they would tell me” we had a crazy day with 90 plus fish weigh in today. Another fifty plus weighted in yesterday…and so on”.

This wasn’t just one store, few stores told me the same thing. I don’t ask questions. I don’t like to pry but this aroused my curiously. I know these fish are mostly teen fish with an occasional twenty plus thrown in. This is no secret, sand eel bites are pretty predicable once they get going.

My question is this. Is there some kind of tournament going in NJ this time of the year? For the life of me I can’t figure out why so many teen fish are weighted in the store on a single day? Now mind you, I am NOT questioning why that many fish are kept. That is up to each angler do decide. What I am looking for someone to explain to me why would you weigh in a teen size bass? I never seen that size fish weighted in NY unless its someone’s first keeper. So I am assuming there is some kind of a tournament going on ?

Please fill me in…I am confused

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today, something nice and easy to get you on your way to a great work week

These two videos were taken from SJ seminars we did last winter. John Skinner was one of the speakers.

If you have not gotten John’s new book, Fishing the Bucktail, you should.

Just listen to the man. Him and the dude from Big Bang Theory, Sheldon are in the same category when it comes to brain capacity..lol

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlChuCXdWIc[/youtube]

and Tsunami Shads

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D42XGI3mTg&feature=related[/youtube]

I just had to do it..

Last year we were complaining about “crowds” at Robert Moses in NY when we had a sand eel bite

here is  shot I took at dawn one morning

‘

‘now take a look at the shot my friend Tom Lynch took yesterday during the NJ sand eel blitz that is going on as we speak…that is (and you guys know I hate the word) HARDCORE

When you not in it, it’s much harder to describe it than when you on the battle ground, shoulder to shoulder with your fellow anglers. For example, those that were at Robert Moses in NY last fall were eager to describe just how hot was the bite to anyone that would listen. But most of those reading on line assumed there was a great deal of exaggeration thrown into the mix.

Which is probably what many are thinking right not while reading the New Jersey surf reports. But those that fished LI beaches last fall know better than to be a non-believers. And those of you who are on the fence I suggest just gas up and go. The fishing is really good and shows no sign of abating.Just how crazy is the New Jersey bite? Our friend Paul from Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle reports weighing in over 90 bass on Friday. Please don’t ask me why anyone would weigh in a teen size bass. That is a  discussion for another day. Greg from Fisherman’s Headquaters in Ship Bottom, NJ is reporting same type of action. Off the charts

In some ways it’s a epic fall run with fish gorging on 6 to 8 inch sand eels. And we are going to celebrate this epic run with an equal epic giveaway from A.O.K Tackle. It’s a season of giving and many those who are fishing this insane sand eel run are “giving” the fish what they want, metal lures from AOK Tackle.

 So today, in spirit of Thanksgiving, in spirit of crazy fall runs, sand eels and local lure makers we are happy to give one person a chance to win all of these lures from AOK Tackle. The whole shebang. Yeah baby..

Thank you Mr. Steve Adams , maker of these metal lures from AOK Tackle for making this possible

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From our guest bloger, SJ reader Greg Tucceri, who also won STRIPERTHON 2010 and Penn Torque last year

enjoy

Its Saturday Nov. 19  and just got done watching the Bruins stomp the Islanders. Phone rings and me and Steve start the plan for what we hope is going to be a productive outing in the surf. Winds have been those favorable south west for two days and the temps are still right. We both have high hopes because we both know the end is near. The weekend prior didn’t turn out like we had expected under the same conditions. Do one more check on the NOAA to check weather and wind dicrection, and all looks good. It’s now 11 pm and time to go to bed for a 3 hour nap. For what I hope is going to happen.

Its 2 am and the wind is howling like crazy up in north central Mass. Put on the fleece wading pants, under armor top grab a Gatorade for the rode and program GPS. Next stop south county R.I. I hate the ride this time of night this time of year for a few reasons. The past Saturday did the same trip and went a different route, one that goes through CT. The deer population in this stretch of roads is frightening, the last thing I want to do at that hour is hit one of those things and really ruin my day. So my GPS took me the other way. Well saw the state police in Mass and R.I. catch a few people speeding or who knows what else. It’s now 3 am and the phone rings to the sound of Steve saying you up. With my response already on the road. He then proceeds to tell me he hasn’t even left yet. To me shocking seeing he always seems to beat to any where we meet up to fish, with most of the time he already  has caught a few fish. We had earlier decided where to start and were going meet there. I’m am 5 minutes away phone rings 3:45. Change in plans lets go there later and start over there. Ok see you in 10 he says.
….
Pull down that dirt road and my eyes are wide open like I have been up all night drinking 5 hour energy by the cup loads. I don’t what its but when I get within minutes away I start to get this second wind and the energy level rises. Put the car in park and its game time. Do that power stretch after being in the car for 2.5 hours take a leak and listen. The ocean is roaring like a freight train out of control. I am now thinking what the hell am I doing here this is going to be freaking impossible to fish, should have stayed home and fished for the land locked salmon that are up the river spawning. Suit up waders ,surf top, belt pliers,boga,head lamp check. Make a few plug adjustments and good to go. Steve pulls in a minute later and says what are you waiting for go fish. Open up my bag and snap on a SS 2. 3/8  heavy needle and started casting. Continue reading →

When you hear about a lure being completely sold out from a major tackle store, you would assume it’s some limited edition wooden creation. And sometimes that is true but these days that happens less and less often. Many surfcasters are affected by this lousy economy and are refusing to part with their hard earned money easily. The days of buying a lure because some racconeyed, shut-in who hasn’t seen sunshine in three months painted a special color in his basement are over. Today, surfcasters are buying stuff that catches fish .Period.

Where am I going with this?

 We been testing Daiwa SP Minnows as we do with all the gear we write about. We’ll reserve our thoughts for a review in the future issue of the magazine. But as much as we liked the sliding weight which made this swimmer outcast just about any other similar lure, and its fish catching ability, we were surprised when we were told that these lure were so hot in the spring that a big retailer on the cape cod canal was striped out of its inventory within days. When it comes to plastic lures, that almost never happens. You can draw your own conclusion of just how well the canal rats have done with it.

And now we will give you a chance to win one, courtesy of Daiwa. You can visit the SP Minnow by clicking here  

Happy Thanksgiving and good luck

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Not sure if many of you realize that you are a “day late” when reading this blog. I noticed this when we have a giveaway one day then all of a sudden the next day we get all the entries. We have no control when the Google Feed burner actually sends notices of new blog post however.I figured I mention it

I hope all you have a Happy Thanksgiving with your families.

Here is a  video we did in Costa Rica earlier this year..the full story is coming in the future issue of the Surfcaster’s Journal Magazine

[youtube width=”525″ height=”400″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctRuF105PY4[/youtube]

ps

Last weekend to enter your fish into STRIPERTHON 2011…Here is our latest entry from RI legend, Steve McKenna

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hmm, and I thought the fat lady has sung….ha, not the first time I been wrong

Those who walked the beaches on south shore this weekend and were in the right place were rewarded with some nice fish. And now we getting reports of good blitzes last two days in Rhode Island. Bass and blues feasting on herring. And the action was around the inlets (or breachways as they call them )

Of course, New Jersey rats are not complaining at all. I had guys telling me that they land 30 fish in the dark before masses arrived on Super Strike weighted needlefish and then go to work and leave madness to others..should be an interesting long weekend.

Speaking of inlets, I finaly fired up the MAC and while I was looking trough my files I found Skinner Seminar from last year SJ Seminar series. I thought that the part on currents was very revealing

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AoBxRJ_RWw[/youtube]

BTW..ever wonder just how one of the most intense bucktialer we ever had works his? Remarkably he does not give it much action with the rod. I told you that his book made me rethink many things.Here is a boat video he just released but listen to it for the part that relates to surfcasting and working a bucktial

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX6JzLTdQD8&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

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