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SL10-24-14The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will be making its decision on changes to striped bass regulations in Addendum IV when the Striped Bass Management Board meets Wednesday from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Mystic Hilton on 20 Coogan St. in Mystic, Connecticut. There have been many conflicting opinions on how badly striped bass stocks have declined, and what the prospects for the future are. Commercial fishermen oppose any further restrictions, while most striper anglers are calling for quick action to ensure there won't be another crash such as occurred in the 1980s.At the recent ASMFC Striped Bass Advisory Panel meeting in Baltimore, I emphasized that no matter which option to reduce Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) mortality is preferred, it's imperative that the ASMFC take some action in order to preserve its credibility as the triggers in the plan calling for action have been exceeded. Check my daily blog at nj.com/shore/blogs/fishing for the results.The Hi-Mar Striper Club Fall Striper Tournament will be run this weekend from 8 p.m. Friday to noon Sunday. Late entries at $125 per boat well be accepted from 5:30 p.m. Friday through the 7 p.m. captains meeting at Bahrs Landing in Highlands. Prizes are awarded for the combined weight of rwo bass. Ron Halbert of Woodbridge passed away Tuesday at 76. That veteran angler often fished with Gene Graman of Middletown on his That's It from Highlands. I was along one night as we eeled for stripers in the Rip (when it existed) and both Halbert and I hooked mystery fish that ran off too much line for the bass we were into at the time. My fish turned out to be a cownoseray, while Halbert had somehow snagged a sturgeon that Graman netted and released. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday at Gerity & Chubinko Funeral Home, 411 Amboy Ave., Woodbridge. Bob Matthews, at Fisherman's Den in Belmar Marina, has seen winter flounder up to 18 inches caught off the bulkheads there. Some two-flounder limits have been taken, and kingfish are also hitting worms that he has in stock. Matthews also noted that stripers were being trolled on shad rigs to the north before the storm, while the Suzy Girl had a fine catch of yellowfin tuna and albacore during a mate's canyon trip this week. Capt. Bobby Bogan picked a few yellowfin tuna in the 60-to-70-pound class during Monday night's Hudson Canyon trip with his Gambler from Point Pleasant. A 250-pound swordfish was boated, and a larger sword lost after an hour-long fight. Lots of dolphin were added in the morning. Bogan has openings on his last canyon trip set for Wednesday.Capt. Howard Bogan reported a good canyon trip in Wednesday's northeaster. The Jamaica from Brielle had tuna to 68 pounds plus dolphin and a 130-pound bigeye by Pedro DeCosta. Water temperatures remain high at 69.5 to 70 degrees, and there's room on the 5 p.m. Friday trip. Capt. Dave Riback has been doing well with jumbo blues on his Queen Mary from Point Pleasant, but will be switching to stripers. Special Tuesday Striper Marations will be run from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported "all you want" blues up to 18 pounds on jigs during Tuesday's trip.No sooner did west winds calm and clear the surf after the offshore hurricane sent in large swells, than Wednesday's wild weather turned it brown again. Striper fishing was poor even when conditions were good, but I managed three hickory shad and my first windowpane of the fall Monday morning at Bay Head. Ben Green of Wayside fished Sandy Hook late that night to release six short stripers from 19 to 25 inches on a white bucktail.Joe Melillo, at Castaways Tackle in Point Pleasant, is waiting for the surf to turn on, but the water temperature was still quite high at 64 degrees on Thursday. Blackfishing continues in Point Pleasant Canal, and school stripers are in Manasquan River.Last Satrday's sea bass opener worked out well for most boaters, especially on the reefs.The 8th annual High Tides Striper Tournament will be contested on Sat., Nov. 8. Theis is mostly a South Jersey contest, but a northern weigh-in station is provided at Hoffman's Marina in Brielle. The entry fee is $60 an angler, and there's a mandatory captains meeting on Nov. 7. For information contact Andy Bulokowski at 609 289-2962, or visit www.HIGHTIDESSTRIPERTOURNAMENT.com.

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