The striped bass fishing season in New York State waters officially ended earlier this week. In fact, it was over long before–by mid-November, to be precise. That’s well ahead of my once-traditional Thanksgiving quit date, but this has been the trend of late. This year, a slow September ramped up to a frustratingly sporadic bite of big fish in October. Then it devolved after Halloween amidst hard winds, extreme tides and a Super Moon. Finally, almost overnight, we had a lightening round of micro bass as the Fat Lady sang and the action slid south into New Jersey.
If you were lucky, well-timed, or willing and able to put in copious hours, your efforts on the beach might have paid off. What was missing, however, was the blitz. We never saw any. And the bluefish? Likewise, they were MIA this fall. It’s hard to say which absence hurt more, but what’s certain is we never had a sustained bite. Albies were another tease altogether: rumor of a pick one day, then silence the next.
Still, I’m grateful for the wherewithal to get out with my friends and family one more season. In that spirit, I present a handful of this season’s highlights and, of course, the 25th Annual Merry Fishmas greeting card from me and Big Brother Frank, featuring his personal best, 42-inch bass from October (yes, Virginia, it was released to swim another day).
JINGLE, JINGLE, Y’ALL!
And then, we were ALL IN…..
Until next year. Tight lines!
Who’s got lines that are oh so bright?
Striper’s got lines that are oh so bright
Who comes around on Ryder’s night?
Striper comes around on Ryders night
Ryder’s night, lines so bright
Must be Striper, must be Striper
Must be Striper, Striper Claus
Who likes plugs that are long and red?
Striper likes plugs from Frank and Fred
LeeBob casts jigs when he finds the bite
Striper spits jigs when the line’s not tight
Got the bite, hold them tight
Plugs so red, Frank and Fred
Must be Striper, must be Striper
Must be Striper Striper Claus
Who very soon will start to blitz?
Striper very soon will start to blitz
Billy and Jon they work the tide
Verizon Charlie will be their guide
Striper blitz, lots of hits
Find the bite, lines so tight
Work the tide, fish can’t hide
Plugs are red, from Frank and Fred
Must be Striper, Must be Striper
Must be Striper, Striper Claus!