Coldwater Cows: Late Season Stripers on Herring

It was December 16, 2001, and after a Scotch tasting on the Angler’s Membership, I had fallen asleep (learn: “handed out”) on the subway again to Rockaway. It was wonderful I nonetheless had my pockets, to not point out my laptop computer, after I awoke someplace in Brooklyn to my cellphone ringing. I attempted to say hiya, however my voice wasn’t but working. “The place the hell are you?” stated Capt. David Azar earlier than I may communicate. We had been going to make one final go of it earlier than pulling the boat and calling it a season. “Get a cup of espresso and I’ll be there in a half an hour I stated.” An hour later I used to be preventing off a splitting headache whereas peeling again the fingers of my fleece gloves in order that I may chip the ice off the overboard discharge tube of my outboard. I may see my breath as I blew on the ideas of my fingers in hopes that I might be capable to really feel them once more quickly. By now I used to be starting to noticeably doubt my resolution to not pull the boat two weeks in the past. My outboard sputtered and stalled after I turned the important thing. Apparently it wasn’t completely satisfied about being out on this chilly water both. After just a few phrases of encouragement, it sputtered to life and we had been off.

(Word: On The Water is reader-supported. Whenever you purchase by means of hyperlinks on our web site, we might earn an affiliate fee.)

Ten minutes later we’re greeted at Breezy Level jetty by acres of gannets dive-bombing the water. As we approached, some of the extraordinary bass blitzes occurred proper earlier than our eyes. A whole bunch of fish north of 20-pounds plowing although colleges of 10-inch herring. Abruptly my headache was gone and we had been each fairly heat. We launched so many fish that day within the 20- to 30-pound vary we misplaced depend. Good factor I didn’t pull the boat!

Earlier than entering into the main points of such extraordinary December fishing in my neck of the woods, let me supply the next disclaimer: It’s normally not this good. Any native sharpie will let you know that December in New York Harbor is dominated by schoolies. Normally you’ll discover loads of these small fish beneath birds on peanut bunker or sand eels. As soon as I begin seeing huge numbers of these 20-inch fish, I do know it’s going to be over quickly. But each few years the celebrities align and the circumstances are good for all these massive bass which were hanging out in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut to come back reserving down the coast proper in regards to the time the herring arrive. When that occurs, all hell breaks unfastened.

It’s no secret that massive bait brings in massive fish, and these herring are typically within the 10-inch vary. And it’s additionally well-known that bass are inclined to get somewhat loopy within the fall. Notably within the late fall. As they put together for the lengthy migration, these fish eat something and every thing, attacking their meals with reckless abandon. Removed from being over, December could be the very best month of the 12 months for sticking a trophy bass on mild sort out. However as I discussed, it actually doesn’t occur yearly.

In 2001, we had a very warm November, however when December rolled round we had some vital chilly snaps, adopted by fairly just a few unseasonably heat days earlier than it acquired nasty once more. I consider this created the right circumstances for the bass and herring to be on the similar place on the similar time.

Undoubtedly, a profitable and productive December relies upon not solely on herring, however the timing of the striped bass migration, and that has rather a lot to do with the climate. In my expertise, we have to have a comparatively heat November for the stripers to hold round lengthy sufficient for his or her migration to intersect that of the herring. If it will get chilly and nasty early in November, the bigger fish have a tendency to maneuver down the coast quicker than they’d have in any other case, thereby by no means encountering the herring in our neck of the woods. Optimally, what we wish is a benign November with none snow. It doesn’t matter that a lot if it will get chilly shortly in December as it could take some time for the water temp to catch up. Plus, chilly snaps flip fish on and make them feed like loopy. In fact, getting out in such circumstances presents its personal set of challenges.

Such excellent fishing in Decrease New York Harbor additionally will depend on the arrival of the herring, in fact. Normally it’s late November when these fish head to overwintering areas from the New York Bight to Cape Hatteras. Whereas overfished (and with an unsure future), Atlantic herring are nonetheless thought-about some of the considerable fish species of the world. Residing and touring in giant colleges, these silvery streamlined fish are 9 to 14 inches lengthy.

The most effective factor about this final shot at stripers is their typically extraordinary measurement. There’s actually no different time of the 12 months the place you’ll be able to witness giant bass blitzing giant bait in such a reckless style. There are the occasional blitzes on grownup bunker within the spring in North Jersey, however within the fall, bass are frantic to pack on kilos feed all of the extra voraciously. The ferocity of a late-fall, bass-on-herring blitz is a sight to behold.

With a view to see numerous herring in Decrease New York Harbor, chilly circumstances are key. It’s typically well-known that herring are a coldwater species, and their arrival normally will depend on a very good stint of beneath freezing air temperatures.

Since 2001, we’ve had a number of years of massive fish on herring, however it by no means lasted greater than a day or two. Normally, as soon as these chilly snaps begin taking place in December, they don’t cease. And with chilly snaps, you normally get exhausting northwest wind which makes getting out to the fish troublesome. I’d should suppose there have been loads of crazy-big bass blitzes on herring on these days the place it was simply too chilly and too windy to sail. So it’s an affordable chance that this kind of extraordinary fishing occurs for per week or two throughout each December, however the climate is simply too nasty for anybody to get out and be there for the blitzes. And actually, few of us would even trouble withstanding such uninviting components like freezing salt spray, particularly after December fifteenth, when striper fishing in New York State turns into catch and launch solely.

There have additionally been loads of years the place the herring arrive and all we now have are schoolies round as a result of the large fish have already left. It’s attention-grabbing to witness a 20-inch fish attempting to eat a 10-inch bait, however not fairly as enjoyable as watching a 20-pounder eat a pencil popper.

Striped bass can actually face up to stand some very chilly water temps. Striped bass are cold-water animals, in spite of everything. I’ve discovered that they’re not opposed to water temperatures within the 40s, so long as that massive bait is round. That leaves us a big area within the late fall/early winter the place these fish are nonetheless actively feeding. And after they feed throughout this time of the 12 months, man, they actually feed! However, if there isn’t a lot different bait round, similar to peanut bunker and/or sandeels, the bigger bass aren’t prone to stick round lengthy. Take into account these fish are on the transfer and if there isn’t any forage they aren’t going to remain.

Discovering herring could be as simple as on the lookout for gannets. These are giant birds. They appear like a seagull on steroids, but they’re simply distinguished not solely as a result of their measurement however by the truth that they shoot straight down into the water from nice heights, really submersing themselves utterly to catch their prey. Gannets are inclined to comply with bigger baits, and after they arrive within the late fall, they’re nearly at all times on herring.

My favourite bait for the herring-crazed bass is a blue-and-white pencil popper. The noise-making capabilities and the engaging side-to-side wounded-baitfish motion will get a stripers consideration proper fast, and their profile seems very very similar to a herring’s. For those who decide up a herring additionally, you will discover a blue tint to its again, thus the explanation I desire to make use of the blue and white coloration. The first motive that is my first selection out of the field is due to the superior floor strikes the pencil will draw. Bass simply hammer these items, typically coming utterly out of the water to seize them. There are dozens of producers, however I take advantage of the plastic Cotton Cordell model for just a few causes. The primary is the truth that it floats. Generally, notably later within the day, you’ll get more and more cautious fish that comply with your plug, boiling on it, however not hanging it. When this occurs I discover I get numerous strikes by pausing the bait (leaving it lifeless within the water). I get numerous exhausting takes as soon as I begin retrieving it after such a pause. You merely can’t do this when you’ve got a plug that sinks. There’s additionally the additional benefit of maintaining the plug within the water longer with such pauses. I additionally like these baits as a result of the have a rattle in them which undoubtedly attracts consideration.

Subsequent on my listing of go-to lures could be the 9-inch Slug-Go or comparable comfortable plastics. These baits supply a reasonably good measurement and profile imitation of a wounded herring, and each draw some ferocious floor strikes when labored on or simply beneath the floor. In fact, you’ll be able to fish down deep additionally, and guys do stick some fairly good fish with diamond jigs, weighted soft-plastics and bucktails, however why would you need to trouble doing that when you’ll be able to catch them on the floor? Massive ravenous floor feeing stripers is what the late-season New York Harbor fishing is all about in my e book. For those who’re a fly-fisher, throw massive slender flies. Certain there are herring patterns on the market, however something with numerous lengthy feathers appears to work simply tremendous on this scenario.

For those who fish the Decrease New York Harbor space, maybe it’s best to suppose twice earlier than winterizing the boat, or placing all of your surf gear away for the winter. In December striped bass are making ready for his or her migration right down to their wintering grounds offshore of North Carolina and Virginia. It’s fairly a protracted journey, they usually burn numerous energy alongside the best way, so these bass really feel a powerful organic urge to fatten up and pack on the gasoline for the journey. If the climate patterns permit a gathering of the herring and stripers in New York Waters, it may end up in a number of the most extraordinary blitzes of the 12 months. Let’s hope that occurs this 12 months.