SL10-30-14 The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) finally took action to reduce striped bass mortality that's resulted in a steady decline in spawning stock biomass. The Atlantic  Striped Bass Management Board, meeting Wednesday in Mystic, Ct., implemented a 25 percent reduction in coastal fisheries plus a 20.5 percent reduction in Chesapeake Bay fisheries. The Board  adopted Option B1 -- a coastal recreational limit for 2015 of one striped bass at a minimum of 28 inches with all conservation equivalency measures  equal to a 25 percent or greater reduction in harvest -- down from the present  two stripers at 28 inches. Other motions adopted included the use of coastwise reference points, and a rejection of the proposal to allow commercial quota transfers between states. It appears that New Jersey's Bonus Bass program will continue, subject only to the 25 percent coastal commercial reduction as that program derives from the state's commercial quota  that isn't used for that purpose in a no-sale state. The bonus quota that presently allows a third bass has never been close to filled, though hat could change next year as it would be the only way to take a second bass.  Last weekend's fall tournament results were posted on the Hi-Mar Striper Club web site yesterday, and Bahrs Landing in Highlands provided the fish weights. Tom Parillo's Twinz was a clear winner with bass of 38.4 and 32 pounds for a two-fish total of 70.4 pounds. James Kastner finished second with Chompers  as Jeff Sutton of South Plainfield boated the contest's biggest bass at 41.8 pounds   -- but they could only add a 20.8-pounder for a total of 62.8 pounds. John Albanese took third on Johnny Fish with identical 31-pounders for his 62-pound total. Chuck Many of Annandale fished the rivers and ran east to Fire Island for stripers of 31.2 and 29.4 pounds for a fourth place 60.6 pounds.  Ryan and Greg Taffet weighed bass of 30 and 25.8 pounds for 55.8 pounds and fifth on Feeling Crabby. The Junior Angler award went to Mark Hecth,Jr. on Mauti-Boy, and the Female Angler winner was Laurajane Kastner of Milltown at 20.8 pounds on Chompers. There were 37 boats fishing in the 40-hour tournament that produced some of the best striper action of the fall so far. Bass turned on under some of the many bunker schools off the northern Shore on Saturday and Capt. Peter Clarke put me into a taste of that fishing Sunday morning on his Ocean Master 31 from Total Marine in Neptune. The first bunker school he worked produced a hit on a snag-and-drop bunker that ran off into the backing on my Shimano  spinner, and turned out to be a 46-inch striper. Along with Greg Hering of Wall, Marty Hering from Stratford, and Andy Barkhorn of Bradley Beach we also caught four smaller bass before heading in early as the predicted 30-mph west wind finally came up after a fairly calm start and seemed to turn the bite off. There were some blasts of large bass on Monday. Capt. Dave De Gennaro put his party on Hi-Flier from Manasquan Inlet into a 28-pound striper on a bunker and lost three others -- but heard from an angler on the Manasquan Inlet jetty who saw bass blasting bunkers. The Queen Mary was returning to Point Pleasant from a charter when they ran into stripers up to 45 pounds that responded to jigs.A lot of boats rushed out that day, and Bob Matthews weighed in 18 bass at Fisherman's Den in Belmar Marina that ranged from 28 to 38 pounds. It wasn't nearly as good the next day, when Matthews said all the boats were "railed" though some boats hit it right. Indeed, the Cock Robin from Point Pleasant reported the largest bass of the fall so far when a cow hit a jig and weighed 52.4 pounds on the boat scale.Wednesday was even tougher for most boats, though some did get into a few. All the party boat reports were of bass marking, but with a case of lockjaw. There were also reports of bass pushing bunkers in at Monmouth Beach for surfcasters -- and also into Shark River Inlet. For updates on that fishing check my daily blog at nj.com/shore/blogs/fishing.  Gene Graman of Middletown got into a 25-pound striper on an eel in Ambrose Channel on Tuesday afternoon, but only spiny dogfish responded the next afternoon. Graman's classic That's It from Twin Lights Marina in Highlands  isn't going to live up to its name.  Graman got a deal he couldn't refuse and will be running a "go-fast" boat next year -- a 27-foot Contender. That's It is the last wooden boat made by John Olson in Keyport. The 26-foot inboard has a heavy keel that permits fishing in rough conditions. At Brielle, the Paramount came back from poor sea bass fishing on Tuesday to enjoy a banner day Wednesday as limits were common along with some porgies and triggerfish. Mike Pelligrino of Bayonne boated a huge 23-inch, 7-pound, 9-ounce sea bass. A special Veteran's Day Sea Bass Marathon will be run from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.The Jamaica II has also been into good sea bass fishing .  Wayne Nelson of Trenton was among those with limits. Porgy catches have been running up to 15 to 20 a man. Ed Steadman of Paterson won Monday's pool with a 12-pound cod. A Saturday Sea Bass Marathon will be run  at 3 a.m. by reservation.Flounder fishing is off to a fast start. Matthews said he's seen them up to 18 inches from the Belmar Marina bulkheads. Joe Melillo, at Castaways Tackle in Point Pleasant says flounder are being caught at the south end of Point Pleasant Canal, and he's now stocking bloodworms for them.The Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands has been catching stripers by a variety of methods.  John Sands of Smithville. Pa. had a 28.6-pounder, and there were some limits Tuesday when  Andrew Martin from Stirling took the pool with a 23.8-pound bass.