Posted on November 11, 2020 Berger makes a fine fly rod striper release Capt. Gene Berger was a pioneering fly rod charter skipper fishing out of Brielle when I moved my center console from Montauk to Point Pleasant. He eventually got out of chartering, and I hadn’t heard about him in some time before Bill Hoblitzell e-mailed the following; Hi AlHope you’re well . I had Gene Berger of On A Fly charter boat out of Brielle years back aboard yesterday  and he took this magnificent bass on a fly yesterday off Sea Girt. It was 38” and weighed 24 lbs. on the Boga Grip.  At Belmar today, the Golden Eagle reported almost all keeper stripers. They had about three dozen of them plus a surprising three dozen bluefish as well as some legal sea bass. There were only two or three releases of larger stripers. They will be leaving early tomorrow at 6 a.m. Miss Belmar Princess picked at stripers north of the inlet, and added a couple of blues. Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den said most of the action has been near the three-mile line with both A-27 and A-47 jigs or by trolling tube umbrella rigs. The Capt. Cal has stuck with sea bass, and is doing well. Winter flounder up to 13 inches are hitting in the river. That fishing is best from a boat with heavy chumming. At Atlantic Highlands, Capt. Rob Semkewyc reported a good day of striper fishing on his Sea Hunter plus the first big blues in a long time. The Veteran’s Day trip looks good, but Thursday may be a problem. Capt. Ron Santee, Jr. of the Fishermen is frustrated by all the bass on top which only provide a brief bite. He feels we need a northeast blow to change things. Vinny D’Anton said the surf remains disappointing. He saw bunkers well offshore at Manasquan, but bass never drove them in. The other pros he’s in contact with had similar reports. Tomorrow’s forecast is for south winds at 10-15 knots before increasing with gusts to 25 and showers in the afternoon.