Raritan River Smallies 4 30 2025
 

After throwing plugs into a 2000MPH headwind for four hours yesterday for one 23 inch striper in Raritan Bay I decided to do something a little easier on the arm!

Hit the Raritan River and found some agreeable smallies. Caught 5 in a about 2 and half hours and missed a few other hits. All the ones caught were fun size or better...no rats/dinks...and all caught on a weightless Texas Rigged 4" BPS Stiko Green Pumpkin w/gold/black flake. Needed to drift it slow, no action, to get them to hit. Pics of the best two. First one was around 16 inches the second a bit smaller. They seem to be eating good with fat bellies on all of them. Water levels are good, tons of bait fish in the warm pockets, and a beautiful sunny day with a light breeze...emphasis on the light breeze. This wind has been nuts this year.

Re: Raritan River Smallies 4 30 2025
 

Summer, fall, winter and...spring has been replaced by WIND! Nice fish, Ken. I'm slacking and need to get my ass back in the groove...

Re: Raritan River Smallies 4 30 2025
 

The wind was so bad heading up to NY I had to take some detours due to fallen trees. Nice bass btw !!

Re: Raritan River Smallies 4 30 2025
 

You made the best decision - bronze bass > striped carp any day of the week :D

Re: Raritan River Smallies 4 30 2025
 

Beautiful smallies and for sure the winds this past year have been insane. BUT, beats the many impacted around this country by what seems like a growing number of tornados, stronger hurricanes and the fires in California this year. I'll take the crazy winds any day but they are becoming a royal pain in the ass. Hopefully we don't see the repeat of last year's southerly winds that wreaked havoc with ocean temperatures and summer fisheries last year.

Re: Raritan River Smallies 4 30 2025
 

Nice catch!