April 1, 2000: 

The new  is up! Dave continues to make us laugh with his sense of surf humor...Dave, these are gonna make sweet sweatshirts! ;)

UPDATE 12:30PM:

Internet Backbone Outages UPDATE!
Monmouth Internet has temporarily bypassed the affected outages on the Internet.
(ELI core router in Salt Lake City) While the vast majority of sites should now work
properly there will still be a select few that will have connectivity issues. Further
updates will be posted here as they become available.

**That's why I like Monmouth Internet, they keep you informed, they work through and around problems that aren't even theirs!

UPDATE 11:3AM:  

There are problems today along the entire routing system for the internet, especially those backbones using UUNET. Here's the message I received from my provider. Man, kinda makes you aware of how much we come to rely on this internet thing when it's not up 100% of the time! This site is not "down" per se, if you can't get to it, it's the problem along the way of a router being down. Just thought ya should know! Here's the official explanation:

Last Updated: 04/01/2000 

Internet Backbone Outages.
Currently the Internet as a whole is experiencing router outages connected to certain
Backbone providers such as UUNET. These problems are not caused by
Monmouth Internet but out Engineers are working with our current backbone
providers to find the problem and re-route the affected sites.

Well, I'm going to post this short page just so I can! I've been trying for a while to catch a window when all the routers along my path are up and I don't wanna miss it! I hope everyone gets this all worked out soon! See ya later...

Sincerely,

Tim Surgent

April 4, 2000:

    The fishing, first and foremost, is really starting to take hold in our local areas...although you couldn't tell from me and Dubs, we spent the bulk of the weekend in Long Island chasing "OPS"....or "other people's stripers" in the extended version. Just another acronym that just plodded across my mind...since I plan on visiting many new places this year, I also plan on chasing "OPS" frequently enough that I figured a nice new acronym was in order. It's funny how these little quips we make up take root and become very popular in short order!  Well, the stripers we did not find, but we did meet two folks that I've long wanted to meet. The first, our host, is a well known and quite colorful character known as "Crazy" Alberto. I've met a lot of fishermen, many, many of whom I've immediately taken a liking to...none quizzed me so much prior to our first meeting about how "serious" I was! It seems Alberto may have been the past victim of "imposter" fishermen...people who talk hard core, serious fishing talk, but then when it comes to putting their cards on the table, have left this man flat...empty if you will. I found his inquiries quite entertaining...I pride myself on being a pretty serious fisherman...he even had me feeling the first feelings of just a hint of self doubt before we met. I mean this guy is to fishing what the Kennedy family is to politics! Well, we made a date for this past weekend, a serious fishing agenda if you will. Yea, it's too early for real good striper fishing in the areas we needed to haunt in order to keep our morning plans of chasing GOLIATH trout on the Connequot River...but we needed to do some sort of striper hunting as we agreed, it is the striper that binds men together! Well, to make a long story short, we didn't find the stripers...but we did do quite a number on the trout!  Seems this guy's a frequent visitor of the Connequot and has a handle on some of the critters there...we did as he suggested, bought with us what he suggested...and we ran into some impressive trout! I did a little problem solving on my own, we took many great trout on buggers and sinking fly lines...but there were a lot of good trout rising to some tiny bugs...we tried the basics on them to no avail. After having my fill of the big ones on buggers, I took to a small spot and began to work on these big ones on top...after going through many, many bugs, I found that these beasts would molest a #22 olive green mayfly emerger....a #22 is a about 1/8" long all told...made of wire that can't be any thicker than a human hair! After the first 4 hookups destroyed the tiny hooks, I decided I'd need to really lighten up on the whole fight...especially right after the tiny hook was sunk and proceeded to land a few 3# + trout on the 5wt and #22 bug...it was quite satisfying.  Anyway, we did a real number of the fish. We then visited some "spots" on the south shore that left Charlie and I panting....you guys got it made with the available fishing spots!! We got nothing in NJ to compare to the stuff we saw in our short trip there...nothing remotely close! It was here we met BrianBM who has been an online friend for as long as anyone else around here. 

   Brian had all kinds of stuff to show us...lots of rods, reels, fly stuff...and we played with all of it! My initial reaction is that Brian is somewhat of a "tackle junky"...he might try to deny it, but I'm guessing he's got lots and lots of stuff at home! All the stuff we played with was excellent, I especially found the unique configuration of both Alberto's and Brian's fly rods to be of interest.  It seems they both have in common their rod builder/friend and he isn't just another rod builder who does excellent work...he's an innovative rod builder who does superb work! We whipped the water to white foam with all these different weapons...but the stripers were not to be had on this day....this very windy day! Casting the fly rod that Brian had with him was a pleasure, it tossed a 350 grain Teeny line with authority, even quartering into a 20kt wind! The water they showed us was nothing short of perfect for the 350 grain Teeny line, quartering upcurrent casts got just about to the bottom as they neared me, and they fished the remainder of the drift almost perfectly, maintaining some depth right till the end...it reminded me why I love fishing deep, fast rips with the long rod...I'll have to put my 400 and 500 grain Teeny lines back on spools for this season! I took them off when I stopped fishing a local inlet due to crowding...but just a couple hours away, these guys have opened my eyes to miles and miles of perfect Teeny waters! It was a pleasure to meet the both of them, these are fishermen...and just plain quality folks as well, I'm honored to have spent this time with you guys!

  So, what about the local deal? My inbox is all a flutter with fishing reports! Seems the fish are playing much nicer now than the last time I went out, and some nice ones as well! Check the FishingReports! they are being updated almost every day now...most of the reports are from guys that are scoring! I hope to get a chance soon to put up a good report...but I haven't been out there but for two short trips yet...and the tides really late this week where I prefer to fish! I'll have to give the "wrong" tide a try soon, just to get out there! Surf Talk is also full of fishing reports among other things, check it out, new members are joining every day! I'm still trying to get all the new things buttoned down around here, the catalog is growing right along with the rest of the site, but unfortunately, it takes a lot of effort to add new items there...so I'm working on making it easier to add things...and that takes time...lots of time! So for now, I bid you adieu, and hope to see you around! Till tomorrow......

Sincerely,

Tim Surgent

April 5, 2000: 

     It's Wednesday....afternoon no less, and I'm just getting a chance to put the page up today! You guys were all right over the winter when you warned me this was going to take a lot of time!  That's ok, I couldn't be happier, phones ringing, orders coming in, deals being made...things are moving forward in a very positive way....and it's just going to get more and more interesting as we all grow here!  Sometimes it seems overwhelming...but when I look around, read the nice things you are all saying, when I stop and take it all in...this place is turning into the "home" that we all decided it should be months ago...and I'm even a little taken aback by the whole thing. It's my pleasure to do all that I can, to watch you all interact in such a positive and respectful environment does my heart well, all I can do is thank you for your continued support and your efforts! 

   Enough of that, right? What about the fishing you ask? Well, I got out with my winter fishing compadre, Paul Naj last night. I wasn't planning on it...nor was he...but it only took us about 35 seconds on the phone before we had convinced each other that a short trip was indeed in order! We both had new "toys" to play with...he's got a new Abu Mag reel and I'm still making friends with my new Penn 525 Mag reel.  We threw jigs locally for about 1 1/2 hours...enjoying being outside and shooting the breeze with each other more than anything else. We each had a couple "mightabeen" hits...none stuck, none lost, none landed...but it was "good medicine" to quote my friend Plug! As Paul ironed out his initial meeting the Abu Mag, I put the Penn through some more "testing"...I must say, it's a very nice reel. Yes, I still have a soft spot for my "green beauty" the Abu Mag....but this reel feels more solid than the Abu...initial testing only, I haven't stuck anything yet! The Abu was indeed my best friend last year, to the point where no other reel graced the Fuji seat of my Loomis 108-20C for the entire season last! That's a lofty proposition...all the years past, I had to change/add/replace my conventional reel at some point in season...the Abu made it through the year. It did have some issues with the spool release button not popping back up...a couple minutes with a file and I fixed that for the most part. It got a little "loose" towards the end of the very long season last year, but I don't fault the reel...I'm sure I put 3 or 4 seasons worth of casting on that poor thing last year....and more fish than I can remember, just how much is a reel supposed to take? :)  The Penn is a natural and the Abu is rightfully worried about this upcoming year! One big gripe with the Penn however is the tools necessary to "take it down." The Abu just required pliers (multi-tool) to loosen the finger screws. The Penn requires a small screw driver...and then you have to worry about dropping/loosing the screws! This can certainly become an issue for someone who takes his stuff apart on the jetties quite frequently...the Abu screws were made to not come out of the housing...I wish Penn had followed the same lead. I'll just have to put a few spare screws in a zip-lock bag in my vest so as to be sure not to lose one at the worst possible moment on the water! Most of you don't have to worry...sane people don't take apart thier stuff while squatting on a dark jetty in the middle of the night...but sanity is something I've not been accused of in a good long while!  

  Back to the fishing...so Paul and I threw jigs...even a few plugs...and it wasn't until the very last cast...one that Paul hesitated before taking...that he hooked up! At first, he wasn't sure he hooked the fish....then he was sure...then he wasn't again! We were both expecting the first small striper on a jig to pop out of the water and give us the warm fuzzy feeling associated with the first familiar face with a big white bucktail hanging from the corner of it's mouth.  Imagine our collective surprise when the aggressor turned out to be a 1 1/2# bunker with the 7/0 hook firmly embedded in it's bony, filter feeding mouth! Paul mumbled something about "Steve, eat your heart out!"....we laughed...I even got Paul to pose with his "trophy" for a couple pictures...and we released it. I know Steve, how could such a thing be done? Letting a nice big bait like that go with no hook in it's back!! It was late, we were tired, and the bunker just didn't look interested in carrying a hook back into the drink...so Paul plopped it back in the water, wiped that bunker stink all over his clothes...even in his hair I think...and we bailed.  I never saw someone enjoy that bunker aroma quite the way Paul did...I guess it's the same kind of love/hate relationship that I have with good, strong bug spray. Much as I hate the smell, it reminds me of getting out of the shower in northern Ontario and immediately saturating my scalp with bug repellent! Oh how I love Canada in the late spring! The smell of the bug stuff brings back some of my fondest memories of that post shower bug dope mousse...as well as the many giant fish that we've taken over the years during those trips....I'm guessing the bunker stank that Paul was reveling in must have bought all his memories front and center in his live-lining mind.......

          HEADS UP!   

The HRFA needs our help again...actually, we need their help! Please follow this link and fill out the petition to make your voices heard on the latest of the ploys to destroy your fishing! The sandmining....the gov't is planning to sell the sand just off our beaches. This will destroy all the living things in the sand....and the water will once again be churned up like the chocolate milk inshore waters we had all last year! The long term affects of the sand mining are serious....and the precedent that this sale will set will certainly be far reaching...public lands being sold to a private firm.  Think about it...what could be next?  Check it out...for yourselves and for all of us!

http://www.hrfanj.org/sandmine.htm 

  So, what about the local deal? My inbox is all a flutter with fishing reports! Seems the fish are playing much nicer now than the last time I went out, and some nice ones as well! Check the FishingReports! they are being updated almost every day now...most of the reports are from guys that are scoring! I hope to get a chance soon to put up a good report...but I haven't been out there but for two short trips yet...and the tides really late this week where I prefer to fish! I'll have to give the "wrong" tide a try soon, just to get out there! Surf Talk is also full of fishing reports among other things, check it out, new members are joining every day! I'm still trying to get all the new things buttoned down around here, the catalog is growing right along with the rest of the site, but unfortunately, it takes a lot of effort to add new items there...so I'm working on making it easier to add things...and that takes time...lots of time! So for now, I bid you adieu, and hope to see you around! Till tomorrow......

Sincerely,

Tim Surgent

April 6, 2000: 

UPDATE: The results for the first Survey(<---click here to see them!) are now online! Check it out, see how many folks think like you do...and see how many don't!  If you have any survey idea, fire them off to suggestions@StripersOnline.com(<---click here to send your suggestions!) and we'll put them on the next survey coming this weekend!

Also...the latest of the bunker bills, A2225(<---click here to read it!) This bill is nice...it was introduced March 20, 2000...let's all keep an eye on this one...it's certainly a step in the right direction, we just need to figure out how to support it....LOUDLY!

     Hmmm...I saw a report in the FishingReports!  that spoke of 37 stripers on bloodworms! Also, a good story on that report of a line burning, spool emptying encounter with the worms as well! Almost enough to get me digging out my rusty old baitholder hooks...not quite....but really close! It does seem like the fish are playing pretty well with the fishermen....good reports from a few locales...including the DE River, Raritan Bay, Gravelling Point, and even the "flats" down "you know where."  I'm still looking for my first contact since mid January...but I haven't really put in any time yet....very soon...possibly tonight even....the tides are wrong, but you just never know. Can't catch 'em from here!

     Charlie picked up a beautiful kayak that our good buddy Rob (the "ex-local") left behind for me when he took the plunge to VA...man, it's sweet! I can't wait to get this puppy wet! It's like a canoe...only it looks more stable...it looks to be a very super stealth fishing machine! Thanks Rob...I'll wear the preserver/vest thingy as we agreed...and I'll be sure to cover this thing in the sweet smell of stripers at the very first chance! Timing couldn't be better...Charlie just upgraded from a float tube to a kick-boat...we were out the other day in them. I'm sorry, there's just something very natural about a float tube...you're in the water, sitting down...steering and propelling yourself effortlessly with your fins...and fishing all the while. In the kick-boat, since Charlie left his fins home, he had to pick up the oars to reposition himself. The plus with the kick-boat is that your butt barely even gets wet! That's not a real big deal most times...but when the water's frigid...or you "find" a tiny leak in your boots...that's when being dry is much preferred! We caught tons of big bluegills, crappies, pickerel, largemouths, and yellow perch....all on 5 and 6 wt fly rods...it was a nice way to spend a late afternoon!  This 'yak looks to be a whole new approach...I've already got a head full of ideas with it...now I just need to figure out mounting a bow and stern light on it so I can glide around my favorite haunts at night! I bet the stripers are quaking in their stripes already! :)  

    It seems that suddenly, we may be making a journey south...a good ways south...further south than I've personally hunted our striped quarry.....North Carolina to be exact! Never been there fishing before...I understand they don't even let you on the beach without a cooler full of fish parts for bait! I'll have to work something out....I don't like fish parts for bait...but I'll do what I have to!  Red drum...something JohnM and JohnB tried to convince me I needed to catch...it seems they'll be the primary target...I gotta do some quick research now and work out a mental plan! Let's see...I'll need some satellite recon photographs, tide charts, topo maps, water temp maps, local fly selection, possible baitfish that will be present...and a general estimate as to the size of the critters we'll be encountering! Well, at least we got a couple weeks to get all that stuff together! I dunno, I'm thinkin' this Crazy Alberto guy is gonna be trouble!?!?!  And he tells me I'm a bad influence!!!  Hmmm....I know one thing, anywhere Alberto, Brian, Charlie, and I go...the fish are gonna be in for somethin'! Alberto and I devised a plan last night...I'll blame all this fishing on Alberto, and he'll tell his wife it's all my fault...that should buy us at least the spring before our wives find each others phone numbers! ;^)  Actually, I'm gonna get some heat already....my wife reads this page every day....and on those rare occasions she doesn't, her best friend Sue checks it for grammar and content! ;^) (I'm teasing Sue...just seein' if yer payin' attention!)  See, Sue and Carole are teechurs and love to critique this kinda free spirited, from the hip, writing stuff!

    Well, that's it for now, get out there, catch some fish and have a most excellent day! :)

          HEADS UP!   

The HRFA needs our help again...actually, we need their help! Please follow this link and fill out the petition to make your voices heard on the latest of the ploys to destroy your fishing! The sandmining....the gov't is planning to sell the sand just off our beaches. This will destroy all the living things in the sand....and the water will once again be churned up like the chocolate milk inshore waters we had all last year! The long term affects of the sand mining are serious....and the precedent that this sale will set will certainly be far reaching...public lands being sold to a private firm.  Think about it...what could be next?  Check it out...for yourselves and for all of us!

http://www.hrfanj.org/sandmine.htm 

  So, what about the local deal? My inbox is all a flutter with fishing reports! Seems the fish are playing much nicer now than the last time I went out, and some nice ones as well! Check the FishingReports! they are being updated almost every day now...most of the reports are from guys that are scoring! I hope to get a chance soon to put up a good report...but I haven't been out there but for two short trips yet...and the tides really late this week where I prefer to fish! I'll have to give the "wrong" tide a try soon, just to get out there! Surf Talk is also full of fishing reports among other things, check it out, new members are joining every day! I'm still trying to get all the new things buttoned down around here, the catalog is growing right along with the rest of the site, but unfortunately, it takes a lot of effort to add new items there...so I'm working on making it easier to add things...and that takes time...lots of time! So for now, I bid you adieu, and hope to see you around! Till tomorrow......

Sincerely,

Tim Surgent

April 7, 2000: 

    Can you believe it's Friday already?!?!?  Where's Stuu's post about our plans? Is he sleeping late today? ;)  Somebody give Stuu a call...that's the only way I know it's Friday is when I see that thread...I had to consult a calendar this morning...I was suspicious that it was Friday but my first peek at the board didn't confirm it for me! ;^) If I'm not mistaken, this evening is going to be Charlie and my first real attack on the stripers of this new season...and we are, as usual, extremely optimistic! I'm certain that we'll find them tonight...we might even take our new fishing crafts (the 'yak and the kick-boat) along...just for some testing, mind you...we always start from shore first! If the fishing happens to be real slow, we'll plop the vessels in and give them a workout for testing purposes.  Not to mention, if we're still out at daybreak, we'll float around some and get the feel for these new crafts. I'm guessing that this weekend might really be a good one for the bays and rivers, the suds are still a little cool at under 44 degrees...that should change to maybe 45 1/2 by late this afternoon...we flirted with 47 the other day...but the cold winds have sent the mercury back down again :(  Soon my friends...very soon...all will be well in the world of our striped quarry! They'll be in the suds, in the rivers, the bays...they'll permeate all things remotely salty...and we'll get no more sleep!  That's the way it's supposed to be, ain't it? 

   I'm working on the Spring Fling page...with lodging, phone numbers, directions, suggested stuff to bring....God willin' it will be up over the weekend! The Fling is quickly approaching....get registered if you haven't already! I'm going to put up a list of who's registered and who's not....if that's cool with everyone...just so you have an idea as to who's coming!  This should be something, so many guys together from so many places...certainly a first for the online sites I've stumbled across....bring yer cameras, we're gonna have a blast!  If the fish cooperate, so much the better!

    Pretty soon, we'll be into some serious fishing....and this page will go into as many details as my conscious allows....I do have to consider the folks I fish with, to blab about specific spots would be rude and irresponsible on my part...I won't do it. Please don't take offense, it's not you....it's me...I've never been particularly positive on posting exact fishing spots online....do you have any idea how fast your favorite spot can become the favorite spot of maybe 100 guys? Overnight...that's how fast! It's sad, we try to do everything we can to get you information that will get your rod bent more often...but naming locations isn't the answer, I promise you. It's more about what, when, and how than it is about where. If the bass are on Jetty A on the falling tide in the dark....I'll bet they are on Jetties B-Z as well! Naming places does nothing more than concentrating too many folks in too few areas, being general is the best bet for everyone...even though some tend to feel like we're "holdin' out" I assure you, that's not the intent. You'll never improve at this game if you only go to places where others have done all the figuring out....you need to learn how to unravel the mysteries of many new locations....and you need to fish new spots. When your favorite hole is dried up, go somewhere new...even if only for an hour....and really soak up all that spot is telling you. Watch the water move...look for baitfish in the suds...watch for boils or breaks...smell the air!  You don't even have to fish, just listen to what that spot tells you. See how the waves move over the bars and holes around the jetty or beach...they are trying to tell you valuable info...don't ignore them! For some of you, this is old hat...but for others, figuring out a new spot is overwhelming...don't let it be. Each piece of beach or jetty is nothing more than a thousand tiny rivers! Look at the big picture first...get a "feel" for the spot. Then look deeper...see which way the waves angle in...see where they turn white first...the shallowest spot on thier trip! If the whiteness turns back into a wave...then it's deeper there than where the white started...a hole or inner edge of a bar! A great spot to find stripers waiting to intercept thier dinner! To fish the inner edge of a bar...or the outer edge of the hole...I like to cast my lure beyond that spot...and "upcurrent" from it. In other words, if the wave is coming from the SE, I'll cast my lure to the SE and beyond the spot I think the fish are...and when I'm really in tune, I'll time the lure's landing to catch the back of the next incoming wave. The wave will drum the lure while pulling it north and west....and the lure will enter the hole or drop off the bar while struggling at an angle to the wave...very realistic...very enticing...likely to get gobbled up by whatever's in that hole waiting!  Just a lil tidbit to whet your imaginations as we all gear up to give these fish a working over this year that they won't forget! 

   So, have a most excellent weekend, I'll do the page tomorrow, mainly for an update as to how the fishing is tonight....be safe, stay out late, and get them rods bent! Best wishes and big fat fishes!

        HEADS UP!   

The HRFA needs our help again...actually, we need their help! Please follow this link and fill out the petition to make your voices heard on the latest of the ploys to destroy your fishing! The sandmining....the gov't is planning to sell the sand just off our beaches. This will destroy all the living things in the sand....and the water will once again be churned up like the chocolate milk inshore waters we had all last year! The long term affects of the sand mining are serious....and the precedent that this sale will set will certainly be far reaching...public lands being sold to a private firm.  Think about it...what could be next?  Check it out...for yourselves and for all of us!

http://www.hrfanj.org/sandmine.htm 

UPDATE: The results for the first Survey(<---click here to see them!) are now online! Check it out, see how many folks think like you do...and see how many don't!  If you have any survey idea, fire them off to suggestions@StripersOnline.com(<---click here to send your suggestions!) and we'll put them on the next survey coming this weekend!

Also...the latest of the bunker bills, A2225(<---click here to read it!) This bill is nice...it was introduced March 20, 2000...let's all keep an eye on this one...it's certainly a step in the right direction, we just need to figure out how to support it....LOUDLY!

      So, what about the local deal? My inbox is all a flutter with fishing reports! Seems the fish are playing much nicer now than the last time I went out, and some nice ones as well! Check the FishingReports! they are being updated almost every day now...most of the reports are from guys that are scoring! I hope to get a chance soon to put up a good report...but I haven't been out there but for two short trips yet...and the tides really late this week where I prefer to fish! I'll have to give the "wrong" tide a try soon, just to get out there! Surf Talk is also full of fishing reports among other things, check it out, new members are joining every day! I'm still trying to get all the new things buttoned down around here, the catalog is growing right along with the rest of the site, but unfortunately, it takes a lot of effort to add new items there...so I'm working on making it easier to add things...and that takes time...lots of time! So for now, I bid you adieu, and hope to see you around! Till tomorrow......

Sincerely,

Tim Surgent