The urgency of November fishing is nerve-wracking and thrilling at the same time. I doubt there’s any fisherman that’s not wanted “just one more”. As the days creep towards December so do the opportunities to end the season on a high note by boat or surf.
The striped bass migration is well underway in November, and it is often hard to realize or admit the last of the herds have swum by depending on where you fish. On the east end, sand eels are a wild card and when they are around fuel exceptional bites. Their earlier-than-expected showing in early October this year made for some tremendous fishing. A relatively easy bite to work, diamond jigs and soft plastics a short cast from shore or jigged by boat outside of most inlets will produce some quality fish. More dependable bait-hungry migrators will fuel up on the peanut bunker migrating out of the bay and canals. Unlike sand eels with a very specific long and skinny bait profile to mimic with diamond jigs and soft plastic imitators, a wide range of plugs and lures can be deployed if not using the real thing.
Tsunami storm shads are a sure bet to catch on when peanuts are around. I tend to favor the pearl color during daylight and brown at night and overcast days. These are a very easy soft plastic to use and while they shine in the fall, are dependable all season long. It’s best to stock up on these early in November. Once the peanut bite starts the shelves will be empty and most likely not restocked with the offseason looming.
The time-proven and dependable bucktail with a trailer is also a solid option both when sand eels and peanut bunker are on the striper’s menu. Larger bucktails when working deeper water by boat, smaller from shore or casting into the bar by boat. You can get away with not attaching a trailer like Fat Cow jig strips to the larger bucktails, but the trailer will make the profile larger and maybe that bigger fish will be hungry enough to go for it.
Typically, there’s also plenty of adult bunker in our waters late in the season. Few plugs will compete with a live bunker caught by a cast net or snagged. Especially this year with the abundance of sand eels that tend to hold stripers in one area there’s a good chance of a late-season push of larger fish. A bunker still on a weighted treble is almost guaranteed to not be hooked in the lip by a big fish. With the state of the fishery, it’s really important to do everything possible to get a snagged bunker back to the boat and redeployed on a circle hook. It’s also essential to take a little extra time reviving and releasing over slot fish. Water temps aren’t going to be cold enough this month for a shock reviving from a headfirst torpedo-like release.
Those looking to just go the artificial route will have success with large pencil poppers and spooks like a doc, along with flutter spoons and larger storm shads when marking bunker.
Blackfish season that started in mid-October had an amazing start and colder temps are only going to make fishing better. The use of blackfish jigs has overtaken traditional rigs in the ocean. They create a more realistic presentation of an Asian crab or half a green crab, shallower calmer waters were the sweet spot to use jigs. A few manufacturers now offer heavier jigs with stronger hooks that can hold up to stickier bottoms. Limits for blackfish are 3 fish at 16 inches in the Long Island Sound and 4 fish at 16 inches in the rest of New York waters. In New Jersey waters often fished by New Yorkers there’s a 1 fish limit at 15 inches until November 15 when the size limit stays the same, but the bag limit increases to 5 fish per person. I point this out because as far as the authorities see it, your homeport location is what sets the regulations you’re bound to. Blackfish is high on the list of abuse of regulations and the focus of enforcement. A misunderstanding or mistake shouldn’t have to ruin a day of great fishing.
November and early December are also ghost-hunting season. The ultimate in the thrill of victory and agony of defeat, landing a bluefin tuna is the perfect way to head into the offseason. It’s not for the faint of heart or unprepared. Intel is vital either your own scouting and past patterns or from trusted sources. Being prepared not just with gear but a plan and the awareness there are much fewer boats a radio call away is vital. Have a plan, an awareness of how quickly the weather can change late in the fall, and plenty of UVT jigs and big poppers for what could be the catch of a lifetime.
The transition from obsession to normal life seems monumental but it’s not. As the holidays approach, the time with friends and family recounting the ups and downs of fishing, at least for me, is quite welcoming. I do of course make my list for Santa like we almost all do. One item to keep in mind is a gift card from a local shop or putting a deposit down for a to-be-determined charter in the 2025 season. It can be a long winter for tackle shop owners and charter captains. The same people that put us all on fish and make memories for us. They deserve something under the tree!
Once the boat’s wrapped, the waders, plugs, and reels are rinsed and stored, take a moment to take it all in. Take it all in the heartbreak of the one that got away and won’t next year. Play back the memories made, the fishing tales that will be told for years, and how this season was better than the last one.
I want to thank all the readers and sponsors that make my reports possible. It’s a privilege to share my fishing with everyone.
What a wild ride this season was. I can’t wait for the first bite of 2025!