Striper Run Continues Strong! Hi Flier Sailing Open Boat and Charter Every Day

What an incredible Fall run of stripers we are having. 12 to 20 pound fish are common. That is not the norm for this time of year. We do have to troll to catch them. Jigging and casting has not been productive, though, that can change any minute. No real bird play lately but I always have the jigging and casting rods on board for when it’s time. For now, you just troll Mojos and bunker spoons over readings at about 3 to 3.5 knots and the rods go off. We are doing great with big 20 ounce single MagicTail Mojos and #4 Tony Maja bunker spoons. White is working the best on both lures, to the point where I am dragging four white lures in a four rod spread. Wireline on the bunker spoons and braid on the Mojos. We’re using our smaller wireline rods that only have 150 feet of wire on them instead of 300 feet. The rod and reel is a lot smaller, too, so you don’t get worn out by the gear and you enjoy the fight more. That 150 feet of wire is putting the lure right in the hot zone. These short rods with less wire were custom made for a technique we employ this time of year known as jigging or bucktailing. We tie on a 2 or 3 oz. bucktail with a strip of pork rind (yes, we have some) and you hold the rod and sweep it while we slow troll. Very effective on the size class fish we have right now and it is a train wreck of a hit.

The next 5 days look great for this fishery. The air temps are dropping but the predominant wind direction is all W/NW which makes for a really comfortable ocean to fish in.
Sailing Open Boat or available for Charter, tomorrow, Thursday Dec. 7 and Friday, Dec. 8
9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and Sat, Sun, and Mon, Dec 9, 10, and 11, 6 AM to 1 PM. $175 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared. You can call right up until go time for a spot.
Pics:
Capt. Dave DeGennaro got to jump on the rod for one Monday that hit a white MagicTail Mojo.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com

 

 

Epic Striper Fishing Right Now! Hi Flier Open Boat Trips and Charters

Go fishing! That’s the report. This is possibly the best Fall Striper troll I have ever seen. 15 to 35 pound fish are on the feed. This is predominantly a troll bite anywhere from the Bathing Beach to Lavalette. White Mojos and Maja bunker spoons are working the best for us. There are tons of bunker to snag, sometimes 30 to 40 feet thick readings of bunker on the fish finder but the snag and drop is not productive. There are a good amount of birds working and hitting the water yet casting and jigging are not resulting in hookups either. The good news is that the troll bite is insane with quality size fish. Most of our action is on the braid rods with Mojos which is a lot of fun without the wireline involved. When we do use wire, it’s our shorter rods with only 150 feet of wire instead of the bigger rods with 300 feet. We tie a big bucktail on tipped with pork rind and have a guy on each side of the boat jig these while we slow troll. It works really well and is a train wreck of a hit when you hook up! The last week right up until today has been a quantity of quality fish every trip.

 
Open Boat or Charter Wed thru Fri, Nov 29, 30, and Dec 1, departing at 10 AM, returning around 4:30 PM. 
Sat, Dec 2, departing at 6AM, returning around 1 PM.  $175 person, 4 people max on Open Boats, all fish are shared. 
 
Attached pics: 
 
JPEG 0983: Dave Glassberg of PA and Hi Flier first mate Capt Nick DeGennaro holding up Dave’s 35 pound Striper trolled on a Mojo.
 
JPEG 1005: Carlos Hopkins of PA with a 30 lb bass he caught on a big white Mojo.

 


Capt Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com

Hot Striper Fishing! Hi Flier Open Boat or Charter Trips Every Day

Crazy striper fishing going on up and down the coast. Bunker snagging, casting lures, and trolling are all working. Inside Barnegat Inlet we are connecting with live spots. The range of size varies from place to place, hour by hour. There are still some 20 to 40 lb fish on the bunker pods, 6 to 15 lb fish in the inlet, and every size fish on the troll. The migration fish have arrived and are colliding with the bigger bunker pod fish. It’s a great time to go striper fishing. The water temp is 53 to 54 degrees so we should be looking at a nice long run……..hopefully until Christmas!

Sailing Open Boat and Charter every day. We have one open boat spot for tomorrow, Monday, Nov 20. 5:30 AM to 12:30PM.

 

We will be sailing Wednesday, Nov 22 10AM to 5PM.

 

Also Thursday, Thanksgiving morning, Black Friday, Sun, Nov 26 and Mon, Nov 27 6 AM to 1 PM. $175 person, 4 people max on Open Boat trips, all fish are shared. These dates are also available for your own private charter.

 

Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674
hiflier.com

They’re Here! Awesome Striper Fishing. Hi Flier Open Boat or Charter

This is the run we have been waiting for. 30 to 40 pound stripers on bunker pods up and down the coast from Island Beach to Long Branch. Some of the best fishing is in 10 to 20 feet of water. Finback whales, bunker, and bass made for some exciting visual fishing the last few days. If the wind blows and the ocean gets uncomfortable, we have live bait to catch 22 to 36 inch stripers in Barnegat Inlet. Your choice: stripers or stripers. Either way, fish for dinner.
Tomorrow (Wed), and Sat are booked but I will be running Open Boat or Charter trips on Thurs and Fri, Nov 16 and 17, departing at 10 AM, returning at 5 PM and also Sun and Mon, Nov 19 and 20 leaving at 5:30 AM, returning around 1 PM. The weather will dictate if we run outside or fish the inlet so only people that are flexible should reserve. For the most part the wind has some velocity through the weekend but mostly W/NW which makes for a flat ocean in tight to the beach where the action has been. $175 person, four people max on the Open Boat trips, all fish are shared.
You can call right up until go time because we might have a spot. It happens all the time.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com
Pics: Joe Parente (with his hood on) of Springfield, NJ with a 30 pounder that ate his bunker that he just snagged right at the boat.
Tom Tosco of Whitehouse Station, NJ with his pounder on a live bunker.

Open Boat Stripers Tomorrow, Sat Nov 11 on the Hi Flier

We caught slot and keeper stripers in the inlet yesterday on live bait. Apparently while we were doing that, boats from Island Beach to Asbury Park were trolling 25 to 35 pound bass on spoons and mojos. The surf guys caught some fish and there was even some bird play and migration style fishing on the northern end of this bite. It’s time to throw the ropes and have everything on board: trolling gear, snaggers, jigs, swim shads, squid jigs, live bait………we’re going to pack it all. The water temperature dipped into the high 50’s and the fish are on the move. This is what we have all been waiting for!

Open Boat or Charter tomorrow, Saturday Nov 11, 6:30AM departure, return around 2 PM. $175 person, 4 people max. All fish are shared. This is the trip that we are going to make the pics and video happen.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com

 

Hi Flier and the Inspiration

I don’t do nearly as much canyon fishing as I use to, so when I woke up Saturday morning at 7:30 I realized there was time to make the boat. My friend, Capt. Johnny O’Kinsky was leaving for a two day canyon trip at 9AM and so far I didn’t have enough committed crew to make it a go on my own open boat trips. He wasn’t expecting me but I loaded the truck with all my gear and whatever food was in the house for rations. I figured if he had room, I would jump, and if they were too heavy with crew, I could always drive home. I got lucky and they were four guys looking for a fifth. His boat, the Inspiration is a 36 ft custom twin diesel with a 14 ft beam. We threw the ropes at 9AM and Johnny explained our float plan. Head for the warm water break in the Toms Canyon, troll till dark and set up for the overnight chunk. Troll to the Hudson Canyon and drift for tilefish. On the way back, check out the scallop boats for bluefin tuna. Upon arriving at the Toms, we trolled two small mahi. The overnight chunk yielded no tuna but we still had fun jigging squid and catching 5 to 8 lb mahi on light tackle. When they stopped hitting even live bait, I was able to free gaff three of them. Around 5AM we saw a fish break water behind the boat and I noticed the glow sticks right next to it. Turned out to be a legal sword that ate the deep rigged squid 200 feet down and charged to the surface with it without making a sound on the reel’s clicker. Soon after boating the sword we trolled to the Hudson with no bites. Capt Johnny set everyone up with tilefish rods and rigs. We dropped squid, herring, and sardine baits down 500 feet with two pounds of lead. We boated a bunch of 5 to 8 lb golden tilefish. On the second drift I set up on a fish that maxed out my 30 class outfit like I had never before seen it torqued. This fish was taking runs and head shaking all the way. I loosened the drag three times in fear that I would break it off. I had him on adequate gear, an AVET LX loaded with 65 braid on a Shimano Trevalla 80 to 200 class conventional rod. After 25 minutes, the fish came belly up on the surface and Capt Johnny gaffed my new personal best 43 lb golden tilefish. Here’s the video: https://youtu.be/ZqLTE3PFUeE

On the way back we stopped on the scallop boats and caught five 30 to 40 class bluefins. If we sailed with a one or two dimensional plan of a typical canyon overnight trip we would not have enjoyed the success we did with Capt Johnny O’s aggressive multi faceted attack. Well done Captain! So glad I jumped on for this one.

On the inshore scene there are big stripers on the bunker pods as well as trolling bunker spoons. Albies are still abundant and we are casting small metals on light spinning gear for them.

Thurs and Fri, Oct 26 and 27 look good with W/NW winds forecasted to allow us to get outside the inlet and chase these fish. Saturday is a wait and see with a borderline forecast for my boat anyway. If it’s too rough we have live bait to fish inside the inlet and bay for bass. I just got back from a quick two hour trip to the inlet with my friend Tim Werder. I wanted to try drifting some live bait in the inlet and it did not disappoint. We went five for eight on 26 to 34 inch fish.

I was considering this as a Plan B for this upcoming week might be good enough for Plan A! Here’s a video clip from the action: Inlet Striper: https://youtu.be/0jyyP5sHDm0 
Sailing every day, ocean or bay, Charter or Open Boat for stripers.

Open Boat or Charter Thurs and Fri leaving at 11AM. Saturday leaving at 6AM. 7 hour trips.$175 person. Four people max. All fish are shared.

Attached pics: Capt Johnny O’Kinsky on the left and Dave DeGennaro of Barnegat NJ with Dave’s 43 lb golden tilefish. Free gaffed mahi. Scallop boat Bluefin. Dave with a Barnegat Inlet striper from this afternoon on the Hi Flier.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com

Hi Flier: The Fish and the Weather Are Here!

Heading to the dock right now to jump on the boat and head out. Birds, bunker, whales, stripers, blues, and albies are up and down the beach. Perfection westerly forecast and temps in the 70’s. These next few days are not to be missed.
Open Boat or Charter tomorrow (Fri) Oct 20 leaving at 11AM to 5 PM. Also Sat, Sun, and Mon, Oct 21, 22, and 23 leave at 6AM return around 1 PM. 4 people max on Open Boat trips. $175 person. All fish are shared. We provide everything.
Never too late to try for an opening, you can call right up until “go time”.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com

Weakfish and Blowfish

It looks like the ocean is going to be a little rough for the next few days so we are going to fish the bay. Sun and Mon, Oct 8 and 9. I ordered live grass shrimp for both days so we will be targeting weakfish and whatever else swims into our shrimp slick on light tackle. I”ll pack some clam chum and clams as there are some blowfish chewing on the west side of the bay, as well. We will give the inlet a look over, as the albies have been popping up as far inside as the lighthouse. 8AM to 1PM each day. $125 person. Call to reserve a spot.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com

Hi Flier Open Boat Bonita and Albacore Monday, Oct 2

Looks like a break in the weather and sea condition is forecasted for this Monday, Oct. 2. We are planning an Open Boat trip to Barnegat Ridge for bonita and albacore. Trolling and bait fishing with the light rods. We will also be prepared to cast any surface albies on our way out and back. Depending on sea condition and our success we could also mix in some bay fishing for weakfish. 7AM to 2PM. A full day to allow us some time to hunt them and then catch them. The boat is also available to charter this day and then you could dictate the hours and agenda. Some folks prefer the bay,and that’s fine with me. $175 person if we run the seven hour Open Boat trip. Four people max. All fish are shared.

Also mixed bag bay fishing this Wed, Thurs, and Fri afternoons, Oct 4, 5, and 6. Depart at 11AM and return at 4PM. $150 person.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com

Hi Flier Inshore Sharks, Fluke, and Tuna

This is a great stretch of fishing we are experiencing right now. On the inshore scene we are catching brown and blacktip sharks within five miles of Barnegat Inlet. Three to five foot sharks on spinning and light conventional tackle. After a few hours of that, we have been hammering the fluke in the bay. A very high percentage of small fish with some really nice keepers making it into the cooler. You have to catch 30 shorts to put one on ice, but it is steady action.
If you want to go on an adventure, the tuna have moved within 45 miles of the inlet and the upcoming weather for Sunday and Monday looks good. Yellowfin and bluefin mixed together. 20 to 60 pound fish on the troll, chunk, or jig. This is the closest they have come to our inlet all season. We are going to load the boat with slabs of bait, the trolling arsenal, jigging rods and come home with some tuna!
Tomorrow (Thurs), Friday, and Saturday, August 17, 18, and 19, I am going to stay close to shore as there is still some sea condition in the forecast. We will be doing the shark and fluke combo. If the inlet or ocean is too rough, we will just stay on the fluke. Open Boat or Charter, Noon to 6 PM. $175 person for the combo trip, $150 person if we just fluke.
Sunday and Monday, August 20 and 21, we will be headed to the bluewater for tuna. Open Boat or Charter. Leaving at 4AM and returning around 4PM. $300 person.
All Open Boat trips, inshore or offshore, are limited to 4 people max and all fish are shared. Any of these dates can be booked for your own charter, as well. It’s never too late to check availability. You can call right up until “go time”. On inshore charter trips, the headcount is more flexible.
Here’s my boys Nick and Max who jumped on Monday morning for a few hours of shark fishing:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ytb87JNFGQ
We had seven brown sharks in the morning and then we had seven more on the afternoon trip for Mike Fuhrman and his friends. We came back in the bay, caught a ton of short fluke as well as a 19 incher and a 25 inch, 6 1/2 pounder, that Erin Foose of Cumberland, MD is holding in the pic.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com