Brrrrrrrrr, old man winter is back in town for the season. Fall got into the pumpkin spice and cider and we haven’t seen him since. The warm fall and winter days are a nice break from the chill. That chill is what we want for the striped bass migration, as well as hoping they come close to shore. The only way to know is get out and fish. I can’t wait for that bite to be announced. It is over before you think about going.

The hunters have been out in full force in my area. It is getting crowded with all the developed land displacing more deer and less places to hunt. My backyard is a shooting gallery most mornings. Can’t use the house for a deer blind but it would be so comfortable. There is a perfect window in the back bathroom. I sit and think about hunting, may as well sit and hunt right? I don’t actually hunt, but I do use the camera.

Jeff Purdy was hunting recently and he dropped the hammer on a nice 10-point buck in Sussex County. “I was running late to my stand this evening but decided to go anyway. I didn’t settle in until about 3:15 p.m. The moment my butt hit the seat I saw a buck. From that moment on, I was in deer. Finally at last shooting time a good one came out chasing does and I took a shot at him. He only made it 50 yards and I heard him crashing. What a great deer and hunt.”

Congrats, Jeff, that is a nice harvest! 

The fishing has been normal for this time of year. White perch has been a hot bite with short striped bass in the mix. The short bass are also hitting small swim shads and bucktails. It’s a lot of fun on light gear. Looking for them under lights is a good option to for some night fishing — not much colder than during the day and you can see the fish. Any area of water that has a constant light source will have schooling striped bass most nights. The tide plays into that as well, like the fish, you have to get used to that timing. All structure usually holds schooling bass too and again it’s timing to when they show up there to feed and move on. Once you get used to that, you can fish an area like clockwork off the tides.

Dave Moore landed a windowpane (flatfish species) and winter flounder in Ocean City the other day. The window pane is an unusual catch. Also known as a sundial, they are so thin you can see the sun shine through them and it lights them up, hence the name. Pretty fish that is kind of thin for any table fare but great for the lifetime fish list.

The surf has been quiet but short striped bass, some blues are still around. Kingfish could still be around but this cold snap is dropping the water temperatures. The sand fleas are still around but you really have to dig. DS Custom Tackle has a new sand flea with eggs pattern, bullet float, that glows. It’s perfect to mimic baby sand fleas in the surf. The glow makes the egg pattern pop when the clouds come out. It’s a nice feature.

Otherwise it is skates and dogfish in the surf, but it is better than a day at the office. This report is kind of short and sweet. I’ve barely seen the water for a hot minute, if that. Everyone is busy with life stuff.

We have been busy in the shop getting ready for the holidays. Check the tackle shops for holiday deals and inventory clearances.

Check the charters and head boats for trips. Some are coming up for striped bass trips to Jersey. Some might go chase ghost tuna in the dead of winter. That is fun and really cold.

Be careful out there on a warm day, The water is very cold and can be deadly without protection.