It was time to deliver on the promise of a "Keeper" Jersey Bass for a
"Jersey Boy" coming back to his roots...

By Michael Melchionne

Fishing is supposed to be about having fun... relaxation..and testing your prowess against an unseen quarry. All of which depend on state of mind, experience, and an intuitive psyche that most successful fisherman possess.  But then, as we all know, success depends on so many factors.
You would think that for someone who has spent a lifetime fishing, hunting and gathering here in New Jersey,  that one would know not to make promises or predictions, especially to someone he holds so dear.
As a young adult I grew up in the city... sort of... in Western Essex County. Most of my family, aunts, uncles, and cousins made the pilgrimage south to Ocean County as early as the 1950’s, but some in the 1960’s.  My family was the last to make that transition.

However, I didn't let location or distance stop me from pursuing my inherent callings. Not having any brothers, Tom and Nick my cousins, were like brothers who lived “down the shore”.  We all knew at an early age where we were headed in life,  and where were going to spend most of our time.  In fact, every free minute I had was spent traveling south to be with them becoming "providers of necessities". (At least in our young minds we thought so.) We often fantasized about moving to Vermont and living off the land. You know those young mind dreams!

Anyway, the realities of life got in the way and took us in many directions. “Cuzzy Boy” Nick ended up in Wyoming where he made good and raised a family. When he left over thirty years ago, however,  striped bass were a lot like a whitetail buck. You knew they were there, but putting your hand on one was another story!

The years passed quickly and last fall the “Cuz” called and said he wanted to come east to put his hands on his first striper. He told me the pictures I had been sending him of New Jersey’s “success of the striper comebacks” were putting a big hole in his bucket list!

"No problem Cuz", come out the first two weeks of November and the bass will be here! WELL... scheduling for a US Attorney can be a problem! He called and told me that a trial set him off schedule, and asked  ”will it matter“ if I come a week early? “NO PROBLEM Cuz... we’ll find you a bass".

WELL, October of 2012 was warm, sunny and beautiful... just a little TOO nice for quality bass fishing in the fall. But, we caught fish alright. Lots of them and BIG ones, too! But, they were all BLUE! (bluefish) Due to a weather front (Sandy) which was moving in quickly, the “Cuz” grabbed the last seat available and flew back west, empty handed. I have to tell you I’m not easily disappointed when I’m partaking in anything related to the outdoors, but not producing a striper for “my brother” weighed heavily on me all year.

The spring season came and went and as fall approached I got the call, “Cuz, you got any room for me I’d really like to come out and try for that bass again”? "Play it safe Cuz, come out around Thanksgiving... There’s always bass off Barnegat at Thanksgiving”! As the weeks ticked by, yeah, some bass showed, but the main body was still to the North. Worried, who was worried? I told everyone if I have to make the run to “The Rocks (Shrewsbury that is) that’s what we’ll do because "Cuzzy Boy" isn’t leaving Jersey again without putting a check on that bucket list. AND I don’t care if it takes till MAY!!

Well the phone started ringing, the bass were finally here. A few days early, but well within reach from our port. As luck would have it commitments on my part kept us from fishing for three more days!

Finally, the big day came. The wind was howling, the seas were up, a perfect bass day. Just last month (October 2013) we did an article on “Match the Hatch” which talked about trying to match your presentation, with the natural forage and all reports were the fish were loaded with sand eels. So as we approached the fleet I handed the helm to “Cuz” and told him to maintain the course to the east of the fleet.
Captain, turned mate, I searched through my bag of tricks and chose first... a Black “New England”  Eel Umbrella rig. I used  7 feet of 50 lb. fluorocarbon leader and a 4 oz. trolling weight on the pole side.  I let enough line out till it bumped the bottom, cranked it twice and put it in the pole holder. The second rod was set up the same way except I chose a burgundy colored umbrella rig.

Back at the wheel I noticed some birds about ¼ mile to the east and just as we approached them, the port side pole slammed back against the gunnel. "Fish on, grab her Cuz"! The anticipation was killing me as the angler methodically brought his quarry closer and closer.  About 30 feet from the boat I noticed the wide tail of a striper! (FINALLY) Well, as we all know, a fish isn’t caught until it’s in the box. So I reserved my excitement until the leader was in sight,  grabbed the wire on the umbrella rig, and in one motion swung a 31 inch fish onto the deck. You would have thought one of us just won the Power Ball... YEE HOO, YEAH BABY, THAAT’S RIIIGHT!! Happy? Well that is an understatement... ECSTATIC is more like it! We had a few bluefish mixed in but by the end of the first day we had three striped bass in the box.

Over the next two days we boated 12 legal bass up to 17 lbs.  But the real memories of trip came on day two and again on day three.

On day two, that black eel rig continued to dominate. In fact it caught 90% of the fish...Blues included! At one point, the starboard pole slammed back and after I convinced the “Cuz” to take ’em,  I hoped that we may in fact have found one of those bigger fish!  Drag was going out and the angler expertly played the fish. As the leader became visible I noticed two fish which explained the extra drag. THEN, as I went to gaff the obvious keeper, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There were three bass on the one rig. That’s right THREE STRIPED BASS, on one umbrella rig, a first for me.  Without thinking I dropped the gaff, reached down and swung all three fish over the gunnel. ..two of which were over 28 inches! Talk about filling the box!(We thought that was the icing on the cake for the “Fall 2013 Striper Trip”!)  I just couldn’t resist belting out a few lines of “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” by Meatloaf.  By the end of the day,  we landed 7 fish, five of which were legal had come over the rail.

Nick Vassallo of Cheyenne, Wyoming shows off his rare "triple" of Jersey stripers.

But little did I know we weren't done quite yet! The last mornings forecast was bleak to say the least, but I've seen incorrect forecasts before so I convinced the crew to be ready a little earlier than we had been leaving. If it's bad we'll turn around and go home I griped. But it turned out that as we approached the inlet, the sun was coming up and it was a go! We headed north where we left them the day before and yes the fleet was already picking at them. Old reliable (the black eels) went over first and just as I set the drag on the second rod, the number one rod was off and running. Take'em Cuz! And again, the drag was going out. Ahh! Not two again? Well the Captain was wrong and as we saw the fish I knew it was the biggest yet. No guess work, the fish was gaffed, a beauty (17 lbs.) for a "Jersey Boy" from Wyoming. The sun was just breaking the horizon, Bruce singing "Thunder Road" was playing on the radio, a beautiful fish (our biggest) was flapping in the box. And, the pressure was off on this Captain for the foreseeable future. One more fish later on in deeper water (62 feet) and we were on our way home with more memories of our fortunate lives overflowing with such wonderful opportunities!

The author and his "Cuz" from Cheyenne, Wyoming show off two beautiful stripers.

Yup, life doesn't get much better at the Jersey shore, when you're "FISHINJERSEY"! Happy Holidays Everyone!