Posted on November 22, 2020 Boaters paid the price to catch stripers today The east wind came up quickly today, and Capt. Rob Semkewyc said he buried the bow of his Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands for the first time — and then that happened twice more! Fortunately, stripers bit even under those conditions and everyone went home with a striper dinner even though he docked at 11:45 and handed out discount coupons to customers so they can come back on a better day to enjoy the fishing — which won’t be tomorrow. Capt. Ron Santee Jr. of the Fishermen at that port said the bite started slowly, but when it got really nasty the bass settled on the bottom and hit steadily in the “snot”. Catches ranged up to 28, and everyone caught them. It was a big change from Friday’s best striper trip of the year in calm waters and yesterday’s fine action in parking lot conditions between the channels. The Fishermen won’t sail until Tuesday. Not surprisingly, it wasn’t nice on the ocean. The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported having to make a very long trip in rough waters to get to where some stripers and blues would bite. Betty & Nick’s Tackle in Seaside Park reported good catches of stripers on lures yesterday. and also a bite on clams. Hickory shad are abundant. The Jamaica from Brielle will be sailing to the far offshore wrecks for jumbo sea bass at 11 p.m. Tuesday. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations. Joe Welsh from Lake Hopatcong won Saturday’s pool with a 9-pound cod along with his sea bass limit. Marc Shorts of Roselle had a 7-pound pollock. After east gusts to 25 knots this afternoon, small craft warnings are up through Monday night — but the morning forecast is for a calming west at15-20 before NW gusts to 30 knots in the afternoon. Morning showers are possible.