Decent First Striper Trip on the 55 Hooked Up II yesterday but read on

[Captain's John & Diana]

Took some friends and family out for a day on the bay chunking yesterday and we got enough of the size we wanted for the dinner table. Nothing red hot for us but we got a little later start due to lack of fresh bunker in the early am yesterday but managed to make a day of it. I did not have any specific spot in mind when I left the dock and just dropped the hook along an edge that looked like it might hold a few fish and at least initially away from any other boats or fleets. I alway try to fish this way when ever possible and that is exactly what we did on this trip. Was surprised on how many boats were out on a Tuesday and and even more surprised on the lack of fresh bunker at least in the early am but we did end up getting some from Jim's and Hinches so it turned out okay overall and only delayed us leaving the dock a little later than what I planned to. No big deal as we were just doing this trip to have some fun and possibly catch a few for the table plus go over the techniques we use for chunking the Delaware Bay before we start our regular charters this weekend. The real news was a private boat that parks a couple of slips from us had 25 or so yesterday and saw at least 10-12 stripers they brought back to the dock and all were nice size fish 20 lbs and up. They were about 2 miles from where we fished all by themselves. We got all our fish on the incoming and the boat that had the great bite yesterday did the same with nothing at all on the outgoing. The boat that had them really good yesterday were by themselves way up the bay from the C&B and I did not see one boat around them anywhere. They had only four doggies all morning and from the reports I got from a few that fished on Monday this surprised me because I was told the doggies had invaded the bay and we only had one all day ourselves. I did not hear how anyone else did except a few radio reports so I cannot comment but I did not see very many fish caught by boats around us except one boat seemed to have done well on the outgoing later in the afternoon but not sure if they were doggies, bluefish or smaller stripers. I am looking forward to more stripers entering the bay over the next few days with the blow coming our way. If I was fishing today (Wednesday) I would travel further up the bay and more towards Delaware than where we fished yesterday and much closer to where we drum fish sometimes in the spring. Hint. Again this was first striper trip of the fall season for us as we had been holding back booking early November dates with the hope of getting offshore a few more times but from now we are all about chunking trophy stripers the rest of the fall. By no means was I looking to set the world on far on yesterdays trip but feel now we are ready to start our regular striper charters coming up this weekend. We will be running striper charters almost every day for the next week or so weather permitting and have a couple of open dates the week of November 17. Yesterday was a good example of the benefits of fishing on a boat that offers some protection from the elements as it was wet and cool on the bay (perfect striper weather) but overall we were all quite comfortable on the Hooked Up II. We even made a few pots of hot coffee that really hit the spot on a wet rainy morning. I also brought up a map of the Delaware Bay on our big screen TV in salon and to show the guys where where we were fishing and explained to them why I picked this location plus pointed out other popular locations where they saw fleet of boats around us. I think the group thought this was pretty interesting and more enjoyable than watching election day hype or day time soap operas.

A few we got yesterday for the dinner table.

http://www.myfishpix.com/gallery/data/500/Stripers_11_4_08.jpg

[Captainbob]

Congratulations on a good start to the season. Based on some of the other reports, it sounds like the bite is definitely still on. My brother and I were supposed to go yesterday morning in the small boat, but we cancelled out when the rains came just as we were packing up. Later in the morning when the rain stopped, I was wishing we had gone, but by then it seemed too late to get much of the incoming. Probably a good thing for you as I released my reservation for bunker at Hinch's and I know that supplies were short.

Hoping to make it out again on Friday after the blow. Maybe we'll see you.

[ThaMasterMater]

I was on this trip with my Dad and his buddy being part of the crew as well. Capt. John put to use his super-secret (shhhhhh) striper techniques compiled from over 30 years experience and we had a catch to be proud of despite the rain and cold. If you're looking for good fishing, immaculate cover from the elements in his 55 Carolina, and even better company with myself, Capt. John and his brother Dave as the crew, definitely look to the Hooked Up II for your striper bookings this season. We really know how to have a good time and catch some stripers in the process.