<b>Staten Island</b>

The boat will be splashed for the season in about a week, Capt. Joe from <b>Outcast Charters</b> said. Striped bass fishing was great on Raritan Bay, and trips will go after them. A few bluefish began to be heard about from the area.

<b>Perth Amboy</b>

“Limited already,” Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an e-mail at 9 a.m. Wednesday aboard. He was talking about striped bass fishing on the boat, apparently on Raritan Bay. “Insane bite,” he said. More than 20 of the fish, up to 20 pounds, were already caught. Limited space remains on open-boat trips for stripers Tuesday and Wednesday, May 7 and 8. The Vitamin Sea sails from Perth Amboy and Staten Island on charters and open trips. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Striped bass, very good catches, were plowed from Raritan Bay, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish also started to be boated on the ocean. On the bay, boaters clammed and trolled them. Nothing was heard about stripers jigged. The bay’s shore anglers eased in the bass on clams and worms. A few bluefish were heard about from Navesink River at Red Bank, and Jimmy saw none yet, but was yet to launch his boat for the season. Nobody mentioned bottom fishing on the ocean in strong winds. A friend cancelled a bottom trip today because of that. All baits are fully stocked.

Excellent striped bass fishing was crushed Wednesday on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Couldn’t have been better, he said. Catches began slowly but turned on. “Limits all around the boat,” he said, and action was non-stop, despite super-strong current. More keepers were hooked than throwbacks were, “with all quality fish,” he said. An 18-pounder won the pool, and all the fish were clammed.  Another source, not from the boat, said the trip fished on the ocean. <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=n379n5Cd198" target="_blank">Watch a video of the trip</a>.  The fish were biting again on a trip Wednesday night with the other captain who runs those trips, when Ron posted the report. It’s time for anglers to fish either the daytime or nighttime trips, “so don’t wait till it’s over,” Ron said. 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.

Fishing was kept docked Monday and Tuesday on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, because of forecasts for strong northeasterly winds, Capt. Tom said. He probably made the right call, he thought, but striped bass trips resumed fishing Wednesday. The morning trip picked at stripers, “no great shakes,” he said. But the afternoon’s trip was “just good fishing,” he said. The trip made one drop, and all customers “went home with (stripers),” he said. The trips fished clams in Raritan Bay, and Tom at first was going to fish the ocean on the afternoon trip, and striper catches began to be heard about from the ocean. But winds came up, this time from the south, so the trip fished the bay, and the angling was very good. Tom was glad he stayed in the bay, and ocean boaters said winds created somewhat crummy conditions there. Weather looks good now through the weekend. 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.

<b>Higlands</b>

Fishing for striped bass limited out the past few days with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, Capt. Derek wrote in an e-mail. The fishing was solid, he said, and should only become better, and the bass weighed up to 23 pounds. Trips clammed them, trolled them on plugs and, when possible, jigged them on rubber shads. Trips aboard will try to begin chunking bunker and livelining the baitfish for stripers in the next week, after the full moon passes. One spot is available on an open-boat trip for stripers Sunday morning. A few spots are left for more of the trips Monday and Tuesday mornings. Call to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open dates. Reservations are being accepted for striper charters.

Limits of striped bass were pounded on every trip this week on the <b>Hyper Striper</b>, Capt. Pete wrote in an e-mail. Excellent striper fishing continued, he said. John McGill’s party on Tuesday did a job on the bass. Rick Pappera’s crew on Wednesday smoked super fishing for them. And today, Dennis Stanavitch cracked excellent fishing for the linesiders.

From <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Tony and Ed on the Hammerhead limited out on striped bass on Raritan Bay off Keansburg on clams, Marion said. They also released a 23-inch, out-of-season fluke on the bay. Nothing was heard about other fish, including winter flounder and bluefish. Few boaters fished yet this season from the docks, but customers did begin working on boats to get ready. Bushels of fresh clams are available. Twin Lights includes a marina, including boat slips and rack space, a bait and tackle shop, ship supplies and a fuel dock.

<b>Belmar</b>

In strong northeast winds at the beginning of the week, then a southerly blow Wednesday, nobody really boated from Belmar, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. The boat is available to fish, but Pete is mostly waiting for striped bass fishing to take off on the ocean. That could happen soon, and the ocean was on the borderline of being warm enough. Striper fishing was great on Raritan Bay, farther north. Blackfish could be caught on the ocean from Belmar, and blackfish season will be closed on Wednesday. Pete looks forward to bringing his new boat, a 35-foot Donelle, to Belmar, probably next week. That’ll replace his current 25-foot Parker. So the new boat will offer more room and better ability to fish offshore.  Though the boat isn’t a Parker, Pete will keep the name Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters, by the way! People know him as Parker Pete by now, he said.

Blackfish were decked from the ocean on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. The fishing was okay the last four or five trips, and getting the weather to sail was the difficulty. Trips are searching for striped bass to mix-in fishing for, and will switch to striper fishing completely starting Wednesday, the day blackfish season will be closed. Chris also looks forward to sailing for sea bass when sea bass season is opened. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily though Tuesday, and green crabs are supplied for bait. The trips will begin striped bass fishing on Wednesday.

Winter flounder seemed to be migrating out from Shark River to the ocean, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. Not many were plucked from the river the last few days. A trip on one of the shop’s rental boats on Wednesday reeled in two striped bass, five out-of-season fluke and no flounder from the river. “We can’t complain,” Bob said. Flounder fishing was good on the river this season, and some were very large. “I think it’s time for some discussion on a slight increase in the bag limit,” he said.

Trips for striped bass will begin daily Friday on the ocean on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, Capt. Alan said. The boat was in the ship yard this week for maintenance like hull painting and was splashed back today. The vessel sailed for stripers on the ocean during the weekend, but none was caught by any of the fleet then. Very good striper catches were smashed on Raritan Bay on clams and jigs, and if the Miss Belmar Princess needs to be sailed there to clam for the fish, it will be. Starting Friday, the Miss Belmar Princess will fish for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Once the fishing becomes good on the ocean, trips will also fish for stripers 4 to 9 p.m. daily. When that happens, the party boat <b>Tropical Adventure</b>, Alan’s other boat, will also fish for stripers, sailing earlier at 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., but also at 4 to 9 p.m. The Tropical Adventure was in dry dock for seasonal maintenance.

<b>Brielle</b>

The following report was posted Wednesday as an update and is being re-posted in case anyone missed it: A few striped bass were finally angled 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 there – and waters were warming. “(So) the bite should turn on any day,” the e-mail said. The boat’s next striper trips were slated for 7:30 a.m. today through the weekend.  <b>***Update, Friday, 4/26:***</b> Stripers bit for anglers aboard today, and a couple of the customers “caught their limit and a number of throwbacks,” an e-mail from the boat said. The fishing should keep improving daily, it said.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

None of the striped bass trips steamed the ocean the last couple of days on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. With good weather coming, the fish “should start opening up their mouths to eat,” he said. The weekend’s weather looks fantastic, and the Norma-K III is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

Bluefish schooled Barnegat Bay for the first time this season, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Bill Galito checked in the shop’s first blue of the year, a 2-pounder, on Monday, catching the fish on the bay at Pelican Island on a chunk of bunker. Blues schooled there and along Route 37 Bridge in the bay. Anglers said a few were bigger, and bunker schooled the bay. The blues chased them, so anglers fished bunker chunks, but also metal, for the blues. Dennis would imagine this meant blues would also school the bay around Oyster Creek, the warm-water discharge from Forked River power plant. Rumors said weakfish and a few speckled sea trout gathered around the creek. The bay along Route 37 Bridge was 57 to 58 degrees on Sunday, when Dennis boated the waters. Striped bass were slugged in Toms River on bloodworms or clams, all at night. A kayaker played small stripers on the bay at Mantoloking Bridge. White perch swam Forge Pond. Surf fishing for striped bass, mostly throwbacks, was pretty good, until windy weather began early this week. Ninety-eight percent were clammed, Dennis said, and some anglers beached six to 12 in a trip. Dennis trapped two blueclaw crabs that were the season’s first to show up in his overnight pot.  

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Bunker pushed in, and bluefish, 3 to 7 pounds, arrived for the season, chasing the baitfish, on Sunday in Barnegat Bay, said Mario from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Near the shop’s docks? he was asked. The hurricane destroyed the docks, he said, but the blues swam behind the shop. Winter flounder fishing slowed in the bay, especially since blues arrived. Flounder always become scarcer once blues arrive. Lots of throwback striped bass and a handful of keepers were clammed from the surf. No bluefish were heard about from the surf. The Dock Outfitters includes all the bait and tackle, docks to fish and crab from, once the docks are repaired, and, in season, boat and jet ski rentals.

<b>Forked River</b>

Barnegat Bay boaters began trolling bluefish, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish schooled between the BI and BB markers and around the mouth of Oyster Creek, the warm-water discharge from Forked River power plant. Striped bass were clammed from the bay at Double Creek Channel and along the sod banks. Stripers were sometimes still pulled from Oyster Creek at places like the Route 9 Bridge. So were winter flounder, and nothing was heard about boating for flounder on the bay. Not many boats were launched yet for the season, but flounder surely swam the bay. More boats were splashed during the weekend, and news from them should begin to pick up any time. Weakfish were caught “here and there,” Kyle said. Fresh clams, bloodworms, sandworms and green crabs are stocked.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 4/26:***</b> From an e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro: “The <b>Hi Flier</b> was just launched (Thursday). We are running open-boat this Saturday and Sunday.  Ocean stripers, bay bluefish or both. Call for details.”

<b>Surf City</b>

<b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b> reopened during the weekend, Sue said. That was almost six months after the hurricane, and the doors are open daily. Throwback striped bass and sometimes a keeper were beached from the surf during the weekend. Also during the weekend, blackfish were copped along jetties and at the condo docks at Barnegat Light, and bluefish began to arrive in the bay. Nothing was heard about catches since the weekend, because winds ripped, but winds calmed and changed direction today. One customer headed out for blackfish today, but results were yet to be heard. Fresh clams, green crabs and all the frozen baits, including clams and bunker, are stocked. A bunch of new tackle arrived for the season. When the season gets rolling, keep up with the news in <a href="http://www.surfcitybaitandtackle.com/" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s fishing reports</a> on the shop’s Web site. Keep in touch on <a href=" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Surf-City-Bait-and-Tackle/207533229268619
" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s Facebook page</a>.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Fishing couldn’t be better, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Even in winds and cold – anglers dressed in winter clothes – striped bass, bluefish and a few drum were banked from Graveling Point and Pebble Beach. Those are shore-angling spots at the confluence of Great Bay and Mullica River, and winds calmed today. Catching a keeper striper wasn’t easy, but throwbacks were caught and released. Up to a 9-pound blue was seen at the shop, and blues seemed to be taking over the waters. But the other fish were landed. Drum at the shop weighed up to 33 pounds, and the boomers were hooked every day. More were already caught than all of last year. Drum are more abundant during some springs than others. A customer today heaved in two drum. Weather was too windy for boaters to sail, but drum were boated from Grassy Channel before. From the shore, clams were fished for the stripers and drum, though anglers also fished bloodworms for stripers there. Mackerel was fished for the blues from shore. Stripers also bit in Mullica River, and anglers lined up to fish for white perch at Lower Bank on the river. They fished bloodworms and grass shrimp. Nobody boated for blackfish because of winds. But lots telephoned about green crabs for blackfish bait to head out during the weekend, before blackfish season is closed Wednesday. Fresh, shucked clams, bloodworms and all the baits are stocked. That includes live grass shrimp, and the shrimp became more difficult for Scott to net, because of freshwater from rains. But they’re stocked, and he was going out for more today.

<b>Absecon</b>

Fishing began to “break loose” during the weekend, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Then northeast winds shut fishing down. Striped bass began to be dragged from the surf Friday and Saturday, and even on Sunday. But winds on Sunday “started tearing everything up,” he said. Reports about stripers, including keepers, caught from bays continued right along, until the winds. A bunch of bluefish showed up in the bays Sunday for the first time this year. They hit clams meant for stripers, and chased baitfish. Stripers swam among them, but blues seemed “dominant,” Dave said. Eian Donati landed his season’s first keeper striper from Mullica River on Wednesday. Fishing for better-sized stripers seemed to begin in rivers, after smaller stripers already swarmed rivers. Fishing, including for stripers, seemed to be moving along on schedule. With this week’s full moon, catches should come on big time. Clams became most productive bait for stripers in bays. Bloods always work best in the early season in colder waters. But as water temperatures rise, stripers can digest clams. Live spots from the South should be stocked at the shop starting Tuesday. That will make a difference in striper fishing, especially on Dave’s charters. He prefers to fish live baitfish like that, even if bluefish might chop them up. Dave’s found that stripers usually school with blues. Both fish chase bait together, and if live bait needs to be sacrificed to blues to catch stripers, sometimes you’ve got to “bite the bullet,” he said. Anglers fishing clams for stripers picked up weakfish, including large, on nearly all bays. Weaks were plugged on lures at the mouth of Mullica River. Weaks also came from Absecon Inlet, and stripers were winged at the inlet at night on pink Fin-S Fish or other soft-plastic lures in colors like pink or purple. A small number of anglers took advantage of the fishing, but catches were good. White perch were probably still spawning a little on brackish rivers like the Mullica. But fishing for them was picking up. Tides were high for blackfishing at places like along bridges. “But the weekend’s looking good,” Dave said, and blackfish season will close on Wednesday. Plenty of fresh clams and bloodworms are stocked. Fresh bunker ran out, because winds kept bunker boats from sailing. But Dave is trying to stock the menhaden for the weekend. Green crabs are carried, and won’t be reordered, because blackfish season will close. Live spots are expected to be stocked Tuesday, mentioned above.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Surf fishing lit up last week, slowed Saturday, and turned back on Sunday at the bottom of the tide, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Striped bass and sometimes drum were plastered, and bluefish showed up for the first time this season.  One family fought blues to 11 pounds. Another angler on Wednesday axed 6-pound blues. Surf angling’s been great, strong, Andy said, and kicked back on today. Clams were fished for the bass and drum, and mullet were dunked for the blues. A 37- or 38-inch striper was just reported caught, and a photo was just sent of a 25-pound drum muscled in. Fresh clams are stocked, and fresh clams should be carried for the weekend. Bloodworms and all the frozen baits are in supply.  The shop’s bounty was up to $1,200, and should reach $1,400 by the weekend, for the season’s first striper larger than 43 inches checked in from Brigantine’s surf. Entry is $5, and anglers must enter 24 hours before the catch to win. The Fish for Life Tournament, benefitting South Jersey Cancer Fund, is under way through May 25, and entry, available at the shop, is $20. That includes a permit – a few remain at the store – to beach-buggy Brigantine’s entire beach, when accompanied by a Brigantine buggy permit. The Brigantine permit allows driving on limited areas, but the tournament permit opens up the whole beach.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Absecon Inlet shore anglers bailed striped bass, lots, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. They also whacked bluefish, big ones, and blackfish. The stripers, caught on fresh clams, eels and swimming plugs, were sizeable, and anglers worked through like 15 to nab a keeper. “But there’s so many,” Noel said. Two hours after low tide was best. Usually anglers fish two hours before and after high tides. But low-incoming was best now, and once tides became high, not as many fish were hooked. The blues swiped mullet and mackerel, and the blackfish jumped on green crabs or clams. All the baits mentioned and more, including bloodworms, are stocked. Fresh bunker is trying to be stocked, but winds kept bunker boats in port. 

<b>Ocean City</b>

Things were a little slow because of weather in past days, said Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. But striped bass swam all around. Some were slid from the surf, mostly on clams. So were occasional drum and the season’s first few bluefish. A few blues were heard about from the back bay for the first time this year. A good number of small stripers filled the bay. A few, mostly throwbacks, were picked from the new piers, all of them, along the Causeway Bridge. A few were hung from the old bridge on the island’s north end. Stripers were picked at Somers Point and Beesley’s Point from shore and along the bridges. A few weakfish, including sizeable, were reported caught from the bay. Out-of-season summer flounder, a few, were tugged from the bay and released. Blackfish were cracked along bridges, docks and a handful of jetties that were fishable at Ocean City. Sand covered most of the jetties in Hurricane Sandy. White perch fishing was good on Great Egg Harbor River, including in a tournament during the weekend, and tiny stripers were mixed in. Nothing was reported about large stripers from the river. Fresh clams, bloodworms and green crabs are stocked. Fresh bunker are hoped to be stocked for the weekend.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Fish were jumping in the boat! Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> said. They were also caught from the surf, and not a lot of anglers fished in the weather, but when they did lately, fishing was good around Sea Isle. In the back bay, weakfish to 8 pounds, striped bass and bluefish were boated. Tons of out-of-summer season flounder were hooked and released aboard. For the stripers and weaks, anglers mostly fished soft-plastic lures like Zooms, Fin-S Fish and Bass Assassins. Sometimes anglers fished sandworms for the weaks on float rigs or three-way-swivel rigs. From the surf, stripers, blues and occasional drum, including a 40-pounder this morning, were reeled in. Mostly clams were fished for the stripers and drum. Some anglers preferred fresh clams, and others preferred frozen, salted. It’s been a mix, even if preferring frozen was difficult to believe, Mike said. Mostly mullet were used for the blues, but some anglers fished bunker or mackerel for them. “And tog are chewing!” Mike said. Fishing for the blackfish was good on party boats and private boats on the ocean. At jetties and inlets, blackfishing was very tide-related, he said, but when conditions were right, the slipperies were caught. Fresh clams, bloodworms, green crabs and all the frozen baits are stocked.

Trips were unable to fish much in winds in past days aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Winds and weather cooled the back bay a little, somewhat slowing fishing. But temperatures will rise again, and fishing will pick back up. Trips with Joe were clobbering weakfish, including large, bluefish and out-of-season summer flounder, released, on the bay. Striped bass were also hooked, and could be targeted, though Joe concentrated on weaks recently. Soft-plastic lures on leadhead jigs were fished slowly along bottom for all of the fish in cool waters. The bite was subtle, and anglers had to pay attention, but they caught. This was the start of some of the best angling of the year, and will continue. Take an afternoon trip after work, a good time for the fishing, when waters become warmest, and convenient. Flounder fishing is usually best when flounder season opens in May, and if anglers want to bag them on a weekend, they better book. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Nobody really fished in the weather, said Fred from <b>No Bones Bait & Tackle</b>. So whether fishing changed since last week couldn’t be known. None of the boats were moved from the docks. A customer bought a large bag of frozen clams for striped bass bait this morning, but cancelled fishing, because winds kept blowing. The back bay was probably 52 or 53 degrees, a temperature when striper fishing should be started. But whether the fish bit was impossible to know. Whether weakfish and out-of-season summer flounder held in the bay also couldn’t be known. When flounder are in the bay, so are weakfish. One bluefish was heard about this season, and was caught from the surf. Back inland, waters at the dock were 55 to 60 degrees, holding steady, not changing in a while. The weather station at the docks recorded wind chill that never topped freezing. Weather’s been tough this season, and consistently warmer days were needed to jump start fishing. Once striper fishing begins in the bay, boaters will chum and fish for them with clam bellies or chum with bunker. At night, anglers will fish for the stripers with artificials. The store’s rental boats will become available this weekend for the season. Baits stocked include frozen quarts and pints of salted clams, bulk bags of clam bellies, mullet, herring, mackerel and all the usual. Fresh clams are carried when they become in demand.

<b>Cape May</b>

Blackfishing was good Sunday on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, Capt. Paul said. Then winds kept trips docked. Weather was terrible in strong northeast winds at first this week and southerly on Wednesday. Forecasts looked like winds would also cancel today’s trip. But Paul hopes to sail for blackfish Friday through Tuesday, the final day of blackfish season. On Sunday anglers who limited out on blackfish included John Riccardi from Williamstown and Mike Paterson from Ridley Park, Pa. Ralph Maiorano from Philadelphia that day limited out on the tautog to a 9-pounder aboard. The Porgy IV will sail for blackfish at 8 a.m. daily through Tuesday, the final day of blackfish season. Afterward the boat might fish for striped bass or drum, or might be tied up until summer flounder and sea bass seasons open. Depends on what’s biting, and how good the fishing is.

No fishing sailed in weather after the weekend on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. But two trips limited out on blackfish on the ocean Saturday and Sunday aboard, covered in the last report. Call if interested in last-minute blackfishing, before the season for the tautog is closed on Wednesday. Also call about drum charters that will begin to fish Delaware Bay soon.

Surf fishing for striped bass was pretty good, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Sometimes a drum was mixed in, and no bluefish caught were known about first-hand from anywhere, but some were around reportedly. A couple of good-sized stripers were beached at Alexander Avenue at Cape May Point. A couple of stripers were landed from shore at 2nd Avenue on the ocean. Stripers were banked from shore all along Delaware Bay in Cape May. Stripers in all those areas were clammed, and sometimes bunker caught. Stripers in the surf were also plugged on top-water lures at night and on shallow swimming plugs like Bombers during daytime. Bunker and herring sometimes swam the surf. Blackfish were beaten along the jetties and from wrecks, before weather kept boats docked. The shop’s netter picked up weakfish on Delaware Bay before the winds. Nobody talked about boating for stripers on Delaware Bay, because of the weather. But good catches were boated previously at Bayshore Channel, so Nick would imagine they could still be, from there to the north. Fresh clams are stocked, and Nick couldn’t be sure whether fresh bunker will be carried, but the netter was back out for them today, had the weather to sail. Bloodworms, green crabs and frozen baits are on hand.

Back to Top