<b>Hudson River</b>

Cold nights kept the river’s temperatures down, and only smaller striped bass to 14 and 16 pounds swam the waters, said Capt. Chuck from <b>Angler Sportfishing Charters</b>. But he’s looking for larger bass – trophies – that will migrate the river this spring. His trips fish the river’s run of mature, spawning stripers, fishing live and chunked herring for them. The angling is one of the best chances to lock into huge stripers. Plenty of the bait already schooled the river, but even the small bass weren’t numerous yet. Still, boaters who trolled caught plenty. “But we’re looking for a different class of fish,” Chuck said. The river was 48 ½ degrees, but it’ll warm, and the fishing will start. The angling might last a little longer than usual this year, because of the cool spring. The next trips aboard will fish toward the end of the week.

<b>Perth Amboy</b>

The six anglers aboard Saturday limited out on striped bass by 8 a.m., Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an e-mail at 10:15 that morning. They had landed 22 by then. A trip Sunday with six anglers limited on stripers by 9:45 a.m., he wrote in another e-mail, about that time. “Playing catch and release now,” he said. “Very good fishing up to 20 pounds.” Sea lice covered the fish. “Fresh in from the ocean,” Frank wrote. The trips apparently fished Raritan Bay. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing, including open trips Tuesday and Wednesday, May 7 and 8. Call about the open trips. The Vitamin Sea also fishes from Staten Island. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Keyport</b>

Fishing for striped bass was very good on Raritan Bay on three trips Friday to Sunday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. On Friday four anglers socked 10 keepers to 15 pounds 35 inches. On Saturday six anglers axed nine keepers to 18 pounds 36 inches. On Sunday six anglers waxed 10 keepers to 17 pounds 36 inches. The trips fished with clams, and the bay reached 53 degrees, a good temperature for striper fishing. Open-boat trips for stripers are available 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, when no charter is booked, with a minimum of four anglers. Call to climb aboard. The anglers on Friday’s trip were Mark, Jimmy, John and Frenchie, on Saturday’s were Kevin Koch, Robin, Steve, Dan, Rich and Sean, and on Sunday’s were Ken and Donna Critchloy, Jeff, Jim, Justin and Greg.

The boat was moved to Raritan Bay for the next few weeks, a report on <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>’ Web site said. The vessel had been docked at Point Pleasant Beach. Fishing on Raritan Bay couldn’t have started the season better for Andrea’s Toy, the report said. The three anglers on a trip limited out on striped bass to 35 inches in the first half-hour. “Decided to change gears,” the report said, and conditions were too rough to fish for winter flounder with light tackle. So the trip trolled, the report said, catching and releasing another half-dozen stripers, keepers and shorts. Another trip, with five anglers, also limited out on stripers within a half-hour, then released more, on the bay. The fish weighed up to 20 pounds, and for half the anglers, the bass were their first. The date of the trips was unclear on the site, but seemed maybe the weekend.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

On the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, striped bass fishing was some of the season’s best on the morning trips Thursday and Friday, Capt. Tom said. Those were the trips that sailed those days, and were covered in the previous report. All anglers aboard, small groups, caught the fish then. Trips through the weekend, also with small groups, also boated stripers, though not as much as on Thursday’s and Friday’s trips, for some reason. Still, stripers, keepers and shorts, were swung in during the weekend’s trips. “You get guys with two and three (keepers),” Tom said. Some landed one, and others none. It’s not bad fishing, Tom said, and the trips fished on Raritan Bay with clams. The bay’s striper fishing was probably the best in the state. The boat soon will probably be worked toward the ocean to fish for stripers. How much customers caught probably often depended on the angler. But newbies sometimes also connected. More bait than before schooled the bay, and gannets dove. This morning’s trip stayed in port, because too few anglers showed up at the docks, apparently because of forecasts for winds. Only one showed up for the Atlantic Star. The boat wasn’t crowded on trips. There was plenty of room. Atlantic Star is fishing for striped bass on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m.

Only two drops had to be made on Saturday’s striped bass trip on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, and the fishing gave up a good pick of the bass to 21 pounds, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the boat’s Web site. That was despite strong winds from the west, and several anglers limited out. The high hook landed eight, including the 21-pound pool-winner, keeping no more than his limit. A couple of newcomers bagged their first stripers. On Sunday’s trip, the fish-finder read a load of stripers, the boat was anchored, a striper was caught right away, and Ron “felt like I had won the lottery,” he said. But the fish moved off, and another striper didn’t bite for 30 minutes, so the boat was moved. Another pile of fish was found, and anglers started picking away at stripers. Some were keepers, and a bunch were throwbacks. Two anglers landed seven and six apiece. Later, the bite began to come on at the end of the trip. Mortgage Man Eric won the pool with a 16-pound striper. Striper fishing was okay on Friday’s trip, with a small crowd in forecasts for winds. A good pick of keepers and shorts was creamed the whole time. Winds did blow, but the trip fished the shallows in the back of the bay, so conditions weren’t rough or nasty. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays.

<b>Highlands</b>

Very good striped bass fishing now, Capt. Pete from the <b>Hyper Striper</b> wrote in an e-mail. On a trip Thursday, the Steven Bommer family limited out on stripers. Herb Onstien’s trip Friday morning limited on stripers early, releasing many afterward. On a trip Friday afternoon, John Gleason’s party “picked away (at stripers) and put seven keepers in the box,” Pete said. Gene Alexander’s crew on Saturday morning limited on stripers, and also released many good-sized keepers. On Sunday  Jamie Kennelly’s trip limited in the morning, and Tony Rocco’s limited in the afternoon.   

The five anglers on deck Sunday limited out on striped bass, including bonus tags, and released probably 20 to 30 more, on Raritan Bay with <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b>, Capt. Dave said. They clammed the fish, and Dave saw other anglers troll them, and talked with a couple who jigged them. So striper fishing was starting “to light up,” he said. Some of the fish had sea lice on them, so they apparently migrated from the ocean, and the bass were larger than before, averaging 30 or 32 inches. The biggest were 34 or 35 inches, and fewer were throwbacks than before. Maybe three or four were throwbacks on the trip, and the keeper ratio improved compared with before. A winter flounder rod was also set out, and three flounder were boated. Open-boat trips are fishing for stripers when no charter is booked. Visual proof of the spring migration: Watch an <a href=" http://www.fishingreportsnow.com/Video/Raritan.Bay.Charters.Gannets.4.13.mp4
" target="_blank">MPEG video of gannets diving on the ocean just north of Barnegat Inlet
</a> on Wednesday that Dave shared from someone on his Facebook page.

With <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, striped bass fishing was very good the last couple of days, and today was the first day in four or five that a trip didn’t limit out, Capt. Derek said. The fishing was a little tougher, because of strong winds. The trips, fishing Raritan Bay, had been clamming great catches, and trips Sunday and today on the bay trolled them on Stretch plugs and jigged them on rubber shads. The bass on trips weighed up to 23 pounds, and a new body of stripers, including lots that were larger than before, showed up. A big body of bunker pushed into the bay and river the other day. No bluefish appeared, and blues might arrive around the full moon or next week. Charters are fishing, and one space apiece is available on open-boat trips Friday and Saturday afternoon. Call to jump aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips.

<b>Belmar</b>

Good reports about surf-fishing for striped bass rolled in, Bob from <b>Fishermen’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. Stripers that were landed were mostly throwbacks, but some were keepers. Most were clammed, but some were plugged on Daiwa SP Minnows. Boaters, though, caught very few stripers on the ocean. “Some bright spots, and some dismal spots, in the striper fishing,” Bob said. Shark River’s winter flounder fishing was “still holding up,” he said, and the store’s rental boats are available to fish the river. Anglers hope the flounder fishing lasts another couple of weeks. Blackfishing was good along Shark River Inlet, and some of the fish were better-sized.  <b>***Update, Wednesday, 4/24:***</b> Just a quick report about striped bass fishing, Bob wrote in an e-mail early this morning. Bunker plowed into Manasquan River, Raritan Bay and Shrewsbury River “big time,” he said. “The bass are with them … get ready, and get out.” Chris Buchta from Asbury Park Fishing Club weighed in a 24-pound striper beached from the surf on a bunker head. “Get in on some action,” Bob said.

Fishing for striped bass launched the season Saturday on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b> on the ocean, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. But the fishing was slow on trips Saturday and Sunday, though fish were read, and plenty of bait schooled, and birds worked the waters. “Even tried (livelining) some bunkers,” it said, but no fish bit. Northeast winds 20 to 30 knots, and seas to 6 and 8 feet, were expected to weather out trips today and Tuesday. But once winds shift to northwest at mid week like forecast, stripers will begin to turn on, the report said. The Golden Eagle is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 4/24:***</b> A few striped bass were finally nailed Sunday on the party boat <b>Big Jamaica</b>, an e-mail from the vessel said. The fishing, on the ocean, was tough aboard during the weekend, but more bait and fish were read than before – the fish were here – and waters were warming. “(So) the bite should turn on any day,” the e-mail said. The boat’s next striper trips are slated for 7:30 a.m. Thursday through the weekend. Anglers can telephone today to find out if Thursday’s trip will get the weather to sail.

The party boat <b>Jamaica II</b> is out of dry dock and will resume sailing for cod and ling starting Friday, Capt. Joe wrote in an e-mail. Trips will run 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Friday through Sunday and every Wednesday.

Striped bass were banked from the surf on clams and plugs like Daiwa SP Minnows, the new suspending jerk baits from Baker Lures and the new Manic Prey lures from Savage Gear, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Stripers boated from the ocean were heard about early last week, mostly from Seaside to Shark River, mostly on rubber shads like from Tsunami or Savage, and on jigs. The fishing wasn’t solid, but some were caught. Nothing was heard about bluefish locally, but blues were reported caught from South Jersey for the first time this season. Winter flounder fishing was very good locally, and the fish began to migrate from northern Barnegat Bay to Manasquan River. Small stripers like 12, 16 or 18 inches were hooked at bridges like Mantoloking Bridge, and a few were mixed in when anglers flounder fished. Blackfishing was a pick on the ocean, mostly off northern Monmouth County, and none was reported locally. Ling and cod fishing was picky on the ocean. Four spaces remained for a tilefish trip for beginners that Dave booked on the party boat Voyager from Point Pleasant Beach. Set for Tuesday to Wednesday, June 4 to 5, the trip is limited to 21 passengers, and includes a free seminar at the store on the fishing on Sunday, June 2. Anglers can call or stop in the shop for details or to sign up. Dave is an avid tilefisher, and introduced probably the first-ever off-the-rack tilefish rod this past year. Gulp 5-inch swimming mullets are now stocked. They just became available at tackle shops, and were previously available only at Dick’s. New 1-1/2- to 4-ounce jigheads are now carried that the store designed to use with Gulps, matching all the Gulp colors.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

The weekend was great to be on the ocean, but no striped bass were hooked aboard trips Saturday and Sunday, Capt. Matt from the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b> wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. The trips covered ground, and a good number of stripers were read, but wouldn’t bite. He hopes rougher weather today and Tuesday “stirs them up,” making them bite. Trips would probably be weathered out today and Tuesday. The Norma-K III is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

A bluefish, the year’s first, was checked in Saturday at <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>, a report on the shop’s Web site said. Ken Chew banked the 1.7-pounder at Pebble Beach, winning the store’s annual $100 gift certificate for the first. Afterward, a photo of Ken with an 8-1/2-pound blue from Pebble was posted on the shop’s site that day. Blues sometimes popped up during the weekend at Pebble and Graveling Point, both shore-angling spots at the confluence of Great Bay and Mullica River. Shore anglers there never knew what they’d latch into: striped bass, blues or drum. Everybody caught something. High tides in late afternoon were productive Saturday and Sunday. Lots of small stripers swarmed around lately, “and better fishing in the mouth of the river by boat,” the report said. Boaters also ran into blues, good numbers, at Grassy Channel on the bay. White perch fishing was good on the river. Blackfishing went well at ocean wrecks.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Surf fishing for striped bass was smoking, a report said Friday on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site. Most anglers heard from limited out right away that day. The fish were “feasting,” the report said, in an overcast sky and southerly winds. Clams, bloodworms “or even the kitchen sink (caught).” Catches began slowly on Sunday, the next time a report was posted. But the change of tide got catches biting, including bluefish, the first the shop reported this season. Ken Biondi and Karl Stock that day dragged in 12 stripers including three keepers, and a blue. One family fishing Brigantine’s north end said they fought blues all that day, and an 11-pounder was biggest. The day was cold, and winds were “coming off the ocean and into the anglers’ faces,” the report said. But warmer weather was expected afterward.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

The season’s first bluefish was beaten aboard Saturday on the back bay, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish weighed 3 to 4 pounds, a little larger than usual, but a couple of more weighed 2 to 3 pounds that were winged from the bay aboard later in the weekend. So the first was caught on April 20, and Joe thought last year’s first was landed on April 18. The blues show up around the same date every year like clockwork, and he expected the fish any day. A trip aboard landed a weakfish last week with a gash that looked like a bluefish attacked. The weak looked surprisingly healthy, like nothing had happened, and was released, looking fine when it swam away. Cold weather in past days, dropping the bay’s temperature a couple of degrees, made fish lethargic. Sunday morning was very cold. But weakfish, the blues and out-of-season summer flounder, released, continued to be reeled from the bay on trips through the weekend, and the angling was good. Striped bass could absolutely be hung from the bay, but Joe concentrated on the other fish, especially the weaks, and the weaks and stripers swam different places than each other.  The season’s first bluefish was decked on a trip that fished only a couple of hours Saturday morning. A half-dozen weaks to 6 pounds and a flounder were also landed. A trip that evening whaled a bunch of big weakfish to 8 pounds and a bunch of flounder. A trip Sunday, with Mike Cunningham, owner of Sea Isle Bait & Tackle, and John Martin angled weakfish to 6 pounds, flounder to 5 pounds and a couple of blues. So catches were made, though fewer than before, apparently because of cold and strong wind. Weather will become warmer, though, even this week. All the fish were hooked on soft-plastic lures on jigheads worked slowly along bottom. The fish bit lightly in the cold, and bites felt like a hook grabbing a shell or something. But if anglers stay attentive, they’ll catch. The fishing takes finesse, and even the blues, tough-fighters, bit like that on bottom. Take advantage of afternoon to evening charters, like after work. This is an excellent time of year for that, and often the boat is the only on the bay then. The trips are ones anglers need to do. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Two trips limited out on blackfish Saturday and Sunday on the ocean around the reef on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. Saturday’s charter, with Tom Ebbecke from Newfield’s Accrece Nursery, bagged mostly 15- to 17-inchers, and Sunday’s charter, with Howard Bly, clocked the fish to 7 pounds, mostly 15- to 17-inchers. The fish bit clams and crabs, whatever bait was fished. The fish weren’t big, but the angling was good, and sometimes a bigger one came in. Call if interested in blackfishing, before the season for the tautog closes in May. George heard nothing about striped bass and drum on Delaware Bay. Trips had fished for the bass earlier this season, and drum charters usually begin in May. Call if interested in the fishing.

Nothing really happened with striped bass fishing on Delaware Bay, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep</b>. A few drum were boated from the bay so far this season, so they seemed to start arriving. Drum charters are being booked that will fish the bay soon. Blackfishing is available aboard, and to fish for the tautog, sign up for the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> for special open-boat, wreck-fishing trips.

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