Looks like well have rockfish for Christmas, and New Years Day too! Stripers are still spread from central Jersey to Ocean City, MD. Stiff wind kept boaters at the dock Friday and Saturday, but several ventured out Sunday, and found bass in good numbers at The Eights. It was rough in the morning, with not many bites at the end of ebb tide. But, when the current turned to flood, fish became active, and started to feed. Several crews told of whales in the area, working on schools of bunker. Stripers were usually below the bait, whose location was given away by whales working on the surface. Deep water near 8 Buoy was productive, but bass were taken throughout the Eight Buoys Triangle. Some fish fell for eels, but most were hooked by trolling single Mojos, tandem parachutes or Stretch and Bomber plugs. Many fish were keepers in the 28 to 37 inch range, but a lot in the 37 to 44 inch slot were released as well. Big bass over 44 inches continue to be boated too. Ryan Pesmelia had his personal best 40.4 pounder while pulling a Cabo Sunset Stretch 30 at the Eights Sunday. Carter DiRado decked a 39.6 pounder there that pounced on a chartreuse shad umbrella. Sean Nowell nailed a 33.1 pound rock up the beach aways on Sunday, while towing a white tandem off the Wildwood Ferris Wheel. Other citation fish hit the dock on fishable days during the week. Ethan Liskey landed a 30.2 pounder. John Cribbin captured a 31.8 pound rock while drifting eels in The Valley. Captain Ted hosted Mike Tyler and crew Wednesday aboard the Pirate King for eeling action reminiscent of "the old days". The guys kept 10 beautiful bass from The Valley, and released several others. Jacob Wooster wound in a 35.9 pound trophy while trolling on Ella Belle. Dave Moon muscled in his biggest bass so far, a 33.2 pounder that ate an eel. Rosanna Knudtson wrestled in a 39 pound beauty aboard Lil' Angler II. Matt Smith managed a 30 pounder, trolling at The Eights. Richard Ashley drifted an eel at 8B Buoy to connect with a 39 pound linesider on Lil' Angler II. Too bad it took so long for stripers to show up, but were still glad to have them. It will be interesting to see what happens next season. If this pattern continues, perhaps waters off our coast will become new wintering grounds for rockfish, instead of the main body moving farther south.