Brian Rice

Capt. Brian Rice as a kid began fishing on the Navesink River, using a pair of oars to row a 12-foot aluminum boat and catch snapper blues, weakies and other small fish teeming the river. Eventually he graduated to a 16-foot Garvey, and began bunker chunking for striped bass under the Highlands Bridge in the late ‘80s, when the striped bass population was just starting to rebuild after being decimated from over-fishing.

But the bass were still scarce, and catching even one per day was a success. But the tough fishing honed his skills, forcing him to refine his methods to hook up. He also started trolling for stripers, and these experiences developed the techniques Brian uses today to charter for trophy linesiders, one of his specialties. He began fishing offshore for big game in the early 90s, earned his captain’s license three years ago, and by now has fished everywhere from the entire Northeast Coast to the Bahamas and Mexico.

Jersey Devil Charters from the Highlands has grown quickly, and Brian is on the pro staff of Contender boats, Shimano tackle, Gamma line, Foruno electronics and other major companies. Catching big stripers has become one of his specialties, especially bunker chunking and trolling for the trophies. He’s a proven tournament winner, placing in the top five in nearly every competition Jersey Devil has entered, winning the top prize in some of the events, including first place in last year’s American Striper Association Tournament in the Highlands.

Last season Jersey Devil began running a 31-foot Contender and now also specializes in offshore charters for big game from sharks to tuna to marlin.