<b>Staten Island</b>

A crew trip scoped out bottom-fishing, because New Jersey’s sea bass season will be opened Sunday, and catches were good, said Capt. Rob from <b>Outcast Charters</b>. Outcast sails from Sewaren in New Jersey, as well as Staten Island, so trips can follow Jersey regs, like for sea bass. Good-sized sea bass were swung aboard. A good body of ling was also located, and blackfish were also hooked. The crew is licensed for commercial fishing, so can keep some fish that are out-of-season for recreational anglers, but sailed on the trip to scout angling for charters. The next striped bass charter is booked for this evening, and the last striper charter sailed Monday evening on the back of Raritan Bay. The fish took a moment to find, but then the trip limited out quickly, on bunker chunks and livelined bunker. The fishing was like that lately on the bay aboard. Stripers seemed to school close together, and once they were found, they were able to be held in the chunking slick. A boat nearby might catch nothing. Lots of large bluefish invaded the bay Wednesday, according to a number of boaters Rob spoke with. 

<b>Perth Amboy</b>

A boat limit of bigger striped bass was sacked Monday on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank wrote in an e-mail. Bunker heads for bait were “the ticket,” he said. No location was mentioned, but Raritan Bay was likely. Trips fished there throughout the season previously. Charters and open-boat trips are running, and telephone about the open trips. The Vitamin Sea also fishes from Staten Island. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”  <b>***Update, Thursday, 5/16:***</b> A limit of striped bass to 25 pounds was pummeled today for the boat on the bay on bunker chunks, Frank wrote in an e-mail. Many bluefish now schooled the waters, making striper fishing more difficult. The blues can jump on baits before stripers get a chance.

<b>Keyport</b>

Five keeper striped bass to 18 pounds were clammed Monday with Anthony Cauteracci and three friends with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Three throwbacks were hooked, Joe thought, and bluefish bit off lines several times. One cocktail blue was landed.  The trip began fishing “toward the ocean,” Joe said. But winds gusted to 25 m.p.h., and that became uncomfortable after 1 ½ hours. So the trip moved back into Raritan Bay. A friend ran into 7-pound bluefish Wednesday. Bluefish might’ve been invading, and those were larger than before. Fluke seemed around, and trips with Papa’s hooked and released them. Fluke season will be opened Saturday, so trips will be available for them. Friday through Sunday are booked aboard. Three spaces are available for an open-boat trip for stripers Tuesday. Open trips are available daily when no charter is booked, and telephone to climb on board.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

The opening of fluke season on Saturday should shovel up good catches, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Quite a few were caught and released already. Striped bass fishing was very good in Raritan Bay and down the ocean beach. Clams and bunker caught them. Lots of bluefish swarmed around, and weakfish schooled. Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers both held fish. A friend socked stripers on the rivers Wednesday afternoon, and someone else caught them well the previous day on the rivers. Jimmy heard stripers splashing around the rivers when walking his dog at 4 p.m. Surf anglers wormed stripers, including pretty good catches at Sandy Hook. Nothing was heard about bottom fishing. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, worms and all baits are stocked.

Striped bass fishing was tough Monday through Wednesday on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. The angling was great on Sunday afternoon’s trip, and was generally good through then, better on some trips than others. The fishing was difficult aboard Monday. It was terrible on Tuesday, the worst of the week. On Wednesday morning’s trip, a few stripers and some blues were managed at Flynn’s Knoll, but catches were no good. Too few people showed up for Wednesday afternoon’s trip to sail, because of forecasts for thunderstorms, apparently. All fish caught, even the blues, were clammed. A few anglers tried jigs, but nothing hit. Conditions were good for fishing on the trips, so that wasn’t an issue. Tom hopes the fishing picks back up, though trips will begin fluke fishing Saturday, opening day of fluke season. Through Friday, the 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. Starting Saturday, the trips will sail for fluke. <b>***Update, Friday, 5/17:***</b> If anglers want to fish with killies when fluke trips kick off Saturday aboard, they should pick them up before arriving, like at a tackle shop on the way, and the tackle store at the harbor is closed, Tom said. Spearing will be provided for bait on board. Fluke rigs, simple but ones that catch, and any sinkers needed are available on the vessel. This morning’s trip landed a few stripers, he said while giving this update on the trip over the phone. But the angling wasn’t good. He looked forward to fluking, and hoped the flatfish bit.

“Patience,” Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Striped bass fishing was tough aboard the past few days, “as we have to get past Mother Nature’s calling for the stripers to spawn,” he said. Same store for years, he said: “We look like heros for a couple of weeks … with pictures and limits of great fish,” when the bass first arrive. Then the bite drops off, because the fish head up Hudson River and the back bays, and a handful are bagged each day aboard, and many miles are sailed to catch them. But a little patience should pay off, he hopes. Bluefish invaded the bay, so trips tend to fish with clams for stripers, instead of bunker that blues prefer, “until further notice,” 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.

<b>Highlands</b>

Striped bass fishing was the best of the year Tuesday on Raritan Bay with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, Capt. Derek said. Fifty keeper-sized bass to 28 pounds were landed. The angling was very good again Wednesday, and Fisher Price has been fishing the bay for them with chunked and livelined bunker. Chunked caught a little better. Bluefish, from cocktails to 10 and 12 pounds, were also boated. Only a few dates remain for charters through June, and the next open-boat trips for stripers are slated for next week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. Telephone to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open dates. Fluke fishing will be available once fluke season is opened Saturday. Fluke caught and released were heard about.

One boater from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> today got covered up by bluefish on the bay on a striped bass trip, Marion said. He boated no stripers, but previously striper fishing was good for customers. Rich Scherer ran a trip that trolled five stripers at Reach Channel. Bushels of fresh clams are available, and the live bunker baitwell will be hooked up this weekend, so the baitfish will be stocked soon. The tank was damaged in the hurricane. Fluke season will be opened Saturday, and killies are supposed to arrive for bait for them. Fluke baits already stocked include frozen spearing, Peruvian smelts, the different types of squid, and scented shedder crab. Frozen, salted quarts and pints of clams and more baits are carried. 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>

“By all we have seen,” Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail, Shark River held plenty of fluke. Fluke season will be opened Saturday, and the shop is “up and ready,” he said. The full supply of fluke bait, Gulp artificial bait, and tackle is stocked, and the store’s rental boats are ready to fish the river.

Ocean striped bass fishing was spotty, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. The angling was phenomenal aboard Monday, but sporadic at best Tuesday. The fishing was cancelled aboard Wednesday, because of forecasts for winds. But the fishing that day seemed tough at best for those who sailed. Stripers kept being marked, but ocean temperatures fluctuated close to shore, along the striper grounds, and dipped to 48 degrees the other morning. That seemed the reason the fishing was hit or miss. But Pete hoped the fishing broke open soon. The fish really didn’t hit jigs. They could be trolled, and sometimes could be clammed at the clam beds. If anglers could catch bunker for bait, the livelined menhaden could clock stripers. But the population of bunker was also hit or miss.  Trips will keep striper fishing, and Parker Pete’s sails for any species available. Fluke and sea bass seasons will be opened Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Charters are fishing, and <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/fishing-reports" target="_blank">subscribe to Parker Pete’s e-mailed newsletter</a> to be kept informed about individual-spaces available on charters and for the latest fishing reports. Click on that link to Parker Pete’s fishing reports online, and newsletter sign up can be found on the right side of the page. Or go to the site’s Contact page, and e-mail, asking to subscribe.

Fishing was on and off, good on some days, on the ocean on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, Capt. Alan said. Bluefishing was very good aboard Tuesday. All big blues were jigged close to the beach, and only a few striped bass were hooked, on the outing. Striper fishing was hit or miss, but mostly slow, lately on the boat on the ocean. No trip sailed Wednesday, and the vessel was back fishing today, when Alan gave this report over the phone from land. A report was yet to be heard from the captain at the helm.  The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 4 to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.

Sometimes fishing was outstanding for striped bass and blues on the ocean on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, and on other days trips couldn’t buy a bite, Capt. Rich said. Trips caught on jigs and livelined bunker, and the Golden Eagle is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Nighttime bluefish trips will begin next week from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Brielle</b>

Ling fishing is finished for the season on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, Capt. Joe wrote in an e-mail. Trips for them had been fishing at wrecks at the Mudhole, and will resume in fall. Starting Sunday, opening day of sea bass season, sea bass trips will steam 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. A combo striped bass/fluke trip will sail 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, opening day of fluke season. <b>***Update, Thursday, 5/16:</b> Ling catches ranged from 10 to 30 per angler on the final trip for them, and were decent, Joe wrote in an e-mail. A few cod and pollock were mixed in, and Victor Ortega, Perth Amboy, iced 21 ling and three cod.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

The boat will be moved to Point Pleasant Beach this weekend, Capt. Fred from <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> said. That’s so trips can intercept the migration of the season’s biggest striped bass on the ocean. It’s time, and the vessel is returned to Point every year for that, after fishing on Raritan Bay from Keyport. Now, trips will sail for a combo of stripers, blues, sea bass and fluke on the ocean, and only three dates are left for the charters, so grab them while possible. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up, and more variety for dinner. On Raritan Bay aboard, trips crushed good fishing for stripers on live and chunked bunker. <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2AcJiK-aXc&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Watch this video</a> <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTJMoiUFnTs&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">and another</a> of the angling. Andrea’s Toy will sail from Point Pleasant Beach the rest of the year. Shark and tuna fishing will begin in June. Combo trips offshore, for catches like sharks, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, swordfish, tilefish, cod and pollock, all in one outing, will sail in the coming months, on both charters and open-boat. The trips, an adventure, run every year. Telephone Andrea's Toy to be kept informed about them.

Striped bass began to roll in to the local ocean, and fluke and sea bass seasons will be opened this weekend, and the crew is gearing up for offshore fishing, Alan, the boat owner from <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, wrote in an e-mail. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

Ling fishing began to improve on the ocean on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. Some anglers bucketed 10 to 20 in a trip, and he hopes catches keep picking up. He also hopes sea bass bite when the season for them is opened Sunday. Some were already caught and released aboard, and Butch wouldn’t say fishing for them should be good yet, but some should be bagged. A few bluefish were in the mix, and a striped bass was able to be kept the other day, when one was decked within 3 miles from shore, where fishing for them is legal. Out-of-season blackfish were sometimes hooked and released. On Sunday, one angler landed five blackfish that weighed 4 pounds apiece. He also threw back a few sea bass. Trips fished shallow in 65 to 80 feet, and dog sharks were a nuisance deeper. Waters were pretty cold on the fishing grounds, sometimes reaching 52 degrees, but sometimes dipping below 50, during rough weather. Waters 54 degrees, near the beach, were the warmest seen. The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Nighttime bluefish trips usually begin on Memorial Day weekend, or when demand picks up. The trips usually fish Friday and Saturday nights at first and every night when schools go on summer break.

The party boat <b>Norma-K III</b> was docked in past days, so a few maintenance tasks could be completed for the weekend, and trips will resume Friday, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. The boat will fish for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday and for blues 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Those are the season’s first bluefish trips aboard. Fluke trips will kick off Saturday, opening day of fluke season, sailing daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m.

<b>Toms River</b>

Bluefish and sometimes striped bass were pulled from Barnegat Bay toward Route 37 Bridge, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. The stripers were mostly plugged at night or in evenings, on lures like Daiwa SP Minnows or Rapala X-Raps. The blues were sometimes popper-plugged in evenings. Sometimes when bunker schooled, anglers snagged them for bait, catching the blues and stripers on the menhaden. A few bunker schools were around in the bay. Blues and stripers were angled from Toms River at Island Heights. Bait worked best in the river. But the stripers were plugged at times on Bombers and SP Minnows. Most stripers were taken in evenings or at night. Virginia Murphy bunker-chunked a 14-pound striper and an 11-pounder on the river on two trips. A few big weakfish were nailed form the bay off the Forked River nuclear plant. Bluefish and stripers were found there. Blowfish started to show up at the 40 buoy in the bay. From the surf, not a lot was heard, but a few stripers, mostly throwbacks, and small blues were banked.  Clams and bunker were fished from the shore, and lures didn’t really catch.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Surf casters dragged in striped bass and blues, said Mario from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. They mostly fished clams and bunker, and blowfish just began to show in the surf. Fish small strips of clam or Fishbites for them. Bluefish, 5 to 8 pounds in past days, schooled Barnegat Bay behind the shop, and a few stripers swam there. Bunker chunks mostly caught both, and bunker schooled the bay, and Mario saw them this morning. Anglers fought the blues Wednesday evening and this morning. No weakfish were heard about from near the shop, but probably roamed the bay toward Forked River nuclear plant, farther south. Nothing was heard about fluke, but fluke season will be opened Saturday. A few people started keeping crab pots in waters, nabbing a few blueclaws. Less was heard about crabbing than usual, because the store’s docks were destroyed in the hurricane, and are being rebuilt. A crane was used to work on the pilings “as we speak,” Mario said today, when he gave this  report over the phone. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, sandworms, bloodworms and assorted frozen baits are stocked. Killies are yet to be carried.  The Dock Outfitters features bait and tackle, docks to fish and crab from, once the docks are repaired since the hurricane, and, in season, boat and jet ski rentals. The boats and skis usually become available starting Memorial Day weekend. The end of June is the target date to complete the docks.

<b>Forked River</b>

Boaters clammed striped bass on Barnegat Bay along the sod banks and at Double Creek Channel on anchor, said Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Red drum, the southern species, were hooked at Double when boaters striper fished. Stripers were trolled on the ocean on bunker spoons. Fluke skittered around the bay, and the season for them will be opened Saturday. Bluefish schooled all over the bay, getting trolled on Pony Tails or caught on cast metal. Weakfishing was good on the bay at dusk on pink Fin-S Fish and sandworms. Locations weren’t heard from the bay, but weaks were reported from Toms River. Reports began to come in about kingfish from the bay at typical spots like BI and BB markers and off the sedges behind Island Beach State Park. Anchor, chum and fish with bits of clam or bloodworm for them. Crabs began to be trapped, and were supposedly large. Fresh clams and sandworms are stocked. Bloodworms were no longer in demand, since the bay’s winter flounder fishing slowed, so stopped being stocked. Killies and all the different frozen baits for fluke are carried, like spearing and the variety of squids. Pink Fin-S Fish are in supply. So are freshwater baits including nightcrawlers, trout worms and meal worms.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

The season will be launched next week on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, starting with bluefishing that Saturday through Monday, Memorial Day, the vessel’s Web site said. Trips will bluefish daily starting the following Saturday, June 1.

<b>***Update, Friday, 5/17:***</b> Striped bass, sizeable, were trolled on the ocean in about 40 feet, mostly off Island Beach State Park, on bunker spoons, said Vince Jr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. They were trolled including on Thursday. Stripers were also boated on Barnegat Bay on clams at Double Creek Channel and on livelined spots at Meyer’s Hole. The shop just began stocking spots supplied from the south. Fluke season will be opened Saturday, and waters are cold, but fluke were flung in from the bay this time last year, if Vince remembered. Crabs were trapped at places like lagoons, for sure. Crabbing from the rental boats wasn’t recommended, because of the cold bay this time of season. No rental boaters clammed, but friends clammed, catching, and the bay nearby gives up great clamming. Clamming is an option for rental boaters. In addition to the spots, the store’s baits include fresh clams, the whole variety of fluke baits, and most frozen baits. Killies will be on hand starting on the weekend. Bobbie’s includes boat and kayak rentals, a fuel dock and a complete bait and tackle shop. The shop is known for baits, like spots and live grass shrimp, and nearly everything. Call to confirm availability.

<b>Barnegat</b>

From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “My open boat sailed Wednesday afternoon with two guys, in spite of the dismal forecast: 20 to 30 knots of south! Yech! Turns out it was a stiff 15 to 20, but the seas had not come up very much. So we left the inlet at 2 p.m., to give it a try, and with the wind and seas on our back, it was fine. I did a quick, 180-degree turn, just to see what we were in for on the way back, and that wasn't too bad, either. So we continued on, in a 2- to 3-foot chop. Arrived at the Bathing Beach, put the Maja spoons out, and 10 minutes in, BAM! The white spoon gets whacked by a 32-pounder for Gene Linder. A few more hours of trolling, no more bites, and we decide to head in. Caught a few small blues in the bay, before heading back to the dock. Today and Friday are supposed to be beautiful, with mild west and northwest winds. Flat seas and big stripers. I already have one guy for today and one for Friday, but I need at least two to sail. Both these trips leave at 12 noon with a 6 p.m. return. I’m also running an open boat on Sunday from 6 a.m. to noon. Right now, all the action is on bunker spoons, but every day we bring the snagging rods ready to liveline. The fish we cut open Wednesday had a big bunker in his belly. These are the biggest fish of the season, all 25- to 40-pounders. See you on board.”

<b>Surf City</b>

The surf harbored striped bass, and many were throwbacks, but more and more were keepers, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Bluefish raced the surf, and angling from the beach seemed promising, because customers have said they’ve beached more catches this month than over longer periods of time in the past. Unconfirmed reports said blowfish swam around. Clams and bunker were fished for stripers in the surf, and seemed to catch equally. Fish entered in Simply Bassin’, a surf tournament for stripers until June 30, were equally caught on both. Entry, for $20, and weigh in is available at the shop. The store’s tournament, also for stripers from the surf, is also under way until June 30, and entry is $10. Entry is also available for the one-day surf tournament Saturday from the Heavers Fishing Club for all species, determined by length, not weight like usual. Participants will meet at the store at 6 a.m. that day, and entry is $20. The shop will be a weigh station for other tournaments coming up, including the On the Water Tournament for surf anglers and boaters. Customers are anticipating the opening of fluke and sea bass seasons on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Fresh clams, in the shell and shucked, are stocked, and fresh bunker will arrive Friday.  Frozen baits are fully stocked. 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>

Looked like summer flounder could be bagged when the season for them is opened Saturday, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Anglers hooked and released them on the bay while trying for other catches, like bluefish, or while scoping out flounder fishing. Shallow waters usually give them up in the early season. The stakes on the Mystic Island Side of the Fish Factory, and right off Great Bay Marina, near Graveling Point, are a couple of spots. The bar near the 139 marker, is another, where blues usually tear up spearing, attracting flounder. That was one of Scott’s favorites, when he used to fish for them. Shore angling dried up at Graveling, at the confluence of Great Bay and Mullica River. No anglers really fished there, and other places drew their attention, like bridges or waters toward Absecon, that supposedly gave up stripers, or the ocean, where stripers reportedly began to be boated. Lots of snagging hooks were sold to anglers anticipating snagging bunker to liveline on the ocean for stripers. Graveling’s fishing played out like typical this spring, and was good. Stripers bit first, and a good run of drum began to be mixed in, and blues invaded, before the fish finally moved elsewhere. Drum show up during some years, and not during others, and a healthy population did this year. Nothing was heard about fishing for stripers at Little Egg Inlet, since about a week ago, when inlet anglers said large, pregnant sharks couldn’t be kept off the hook. Most shore anglers turned attention to Little Sheepshead Creek at the fifth bridge. A mix of blues, stripers and drum were possible to catch there. Lots of blowfish, tons, hovered in Great Bay. Boaters could chum and fish with clams for them. That was unusual, and a quick shot of spawning blowfish usually arrives in spring. But the fishing was now like summer, when blowfish usually become abundant. Drum could supposedly be boated on Tuckerton Bay, instead of Grassy Channel on Great Bay that attracted them earlier this season. No specifics were heard, but rumors said near Story Island was a place to look for them. On the Mullica, white perch anglers lined up at the Green Bank Bridge to catch. That angling should last through the month. Wading River was also fished for perch. Live grass shrimp are stocked for perch. Tides were right for Scott to net them. A good shot of minnows is stocked, including for flounder. Minnows and squid are a favorite combo for them. Minnowing’s been tough, but one supplier got into a catch. All the different types of squid are on hand. Fresh, shucked clams and bloodworms are carried. 

<b>Absecon</b>

Customers kept readying for the opening of summer flounder season Saturday, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Anglers tested the back bay for flounder, releasing the fish. Weakfish were in the mix in the bay. Any bluefish in the bay were baited, not caught on lures, because of cold waters. Striped bass fishing was a little slow during the week, and the bass were caught, but water temperatures dropped, and weather was mostly windy. But sun is forecast until the weekend, and fishing should bust open for everything soon, Dave thinks. Surf fishing was best for catching stripers during the week. Nothing was heard about drum recently, maybe because of colder waters. Few boaters looked for stripers on the ocean, because of weather, but Dave would probably head there on one of his charters this afternoon for the fish. Live spots and fresh clams are stocked. Fresh bunker will arrive Friday. Minnows are carried, but arrive early for them, and Dave wasn’t promising they’d last, because suppliers didn’t seem to catch many. Catch the annual  <a href=" http://www.abseconbay.com/customerappreciation.html" target="_blank">Grand Slam Customer Appreciation Sale</a> and Tournament. The sale, featuring 25 percent off almost all tackle, is almost finished, lasting through Friday. The free <a href=" http://www.abseconbay.com/fishingtournaments.html" target="_blank">tournament</a> is slated for Saturday and Sunday, awarding prizes for biggest summer flounder, striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and black drum.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Plenty of striped bass and bluefish filled the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Ken Biondi weighed in an 18-pound 37-1/2-inch striper from the beach today. A 21-1/2-pound 40-incher was the week’s biggest striper checked in from the surf, covered in the last report. The angler just missed winning the store’s bounty for the season’s first striper 43 inches or larger from Brigantine’s shore. The bounty is up to $1,650, and entry is $5. Anglers must enter 24 hours before the catch to win. Fresh clams and bunker and all baits are stocked. That includes minnows and Gulps for the opening of summer flounder season Saturday. All supplies for flounder are ready.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Weakfish, striped bass, bluefish, kingfish and blowfish were lifted from the ocean surf and Absecon Inlet by anglers on foot, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Both are nearby the shop, and the inlet, a long stretch of fishing waters for bank anglers, is lined with fish-attracting jetties. The weaks were good-sized, and the stripers were big, and the blues were healthy-sized or 18 to 20 inches. Fishing was definitely on, Noel said. Fish bloodworms, Zooms or pink Fin-S Fish for the weaks, clams, mullet or bloodworms for the stripers, mullet, fresh bunker, or mackerel for the blues, and bloods for the kings and blowfish. Two hours after low tides at night produced most. Summer flounder roamed the waters, and flounder season will be opened Saturday. Out-of-season blackfish also snapped in the area. All baits are stocked, including: fresh clams in the shell and shucked; fresh bunker; bloodworms; minnows; eels; green crabs; and frozen mullet, mackerel, spearing, sand eels, herring, chicken necks, boxed squid, squid strips, tube squid and more.

<b>Margate</b>

On the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, angler’s pre-fished for summer flounder, releasing the out-of-season fish, on the back bay during the weekend, and waters were loaded with them, Capt. John said. Flounder season will be opened Saturday, and trips will sail twice daily for them starting then. That will kick off the boat’s fishing season, and the vessel only sails for flounder each year. Lots of blues and blowfish were also hooked. Starting Saturday, the Keeper will sail for summer flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. daily. Prices are great, because the pontoon boat is economical on fuel, and the fishing on the bay is close to port. Trips are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for kids. Rod rental is $4 if needed.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Summer flounder, considerable numbers, paved the back bay, so fishing for them looked promising for the opening of flounder season Saturday, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. In the early season, shallower, warmer depths, like 6 to 10 feet, and outgoing tides, the warmest, usually fish best for them. A good number of weakfish, decent-sized, “not dinks,” Bill said, swam along places like sod banks, bridges and Corson’s Inlet. Fishing for them was sort of “hush-hush,” he said, but a few anglers chased them, landing one here and there. Surf fishing was “eh,” Bill said, or was okay. Fish held in the surf, but winds kept blowing, or weather was difficult. Striped bass, bluefish, drum and kingfish roamed the surf. Surf anglers fished with clams or bunker. Or they soaked bloodworms for the kings. Blues also ran the bay, and stripers hung in the bay, like along bridges or sod banks. For the bass, baits like bunker, mackerel or clams were fished in the bay. But bloods could turn up good striper fishing in the back waters. Anglers caught them who fished with bloods for kings in the bay or white perch in the rivers. Anglers fishing for the bay’s stripers also threw soft-plastic lures or hard lures at night. Sebiles and Daiwa SP Minnows worked well. Fresh clams and bloodworms are stocked, and fresh bunker will arrive for the weekend. Eels are carried, and all flounder supplies, including minnows, are on hand. Practically all baits are carried by this time of season. 

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Striped bass bit well in the surf, and ones topping 20 pounds were generally seen at the shop daily, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Mostly clams were fished for them, and bluefish sometimes tumbled into the surf. Lots of blowfish gathered in the waters. Sometimes kingfish were plucked from there. A bunch of fish crammed the back bay. That included tons of summer flounder, and anglers hoped for a great opening of flounder season Saturday. Weakfish bit in the bay, and bluefish were mixed in with catches from the bay. Not a lot of stripers were reported caught from the bay, but most bay anglers fished for weaks. Bay anglers mostly worked soft-plastic lures on lead jigheads, mostly Bass Assassins, sometimes Zooms, occasionally Gulps. Fresh clams and bloodworms are stocked. Plenty of minnows and frozen baits like mackerel and spearing are on hand for flounder season.

A mess of bluefish were fought from the back bay aboard Tuesday evening, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. He was getting ready for 10 days straight of fishing on deck, including for summer flounder on the bay, starting Saturday, opening day of flounder season. The bay’s been flooded with flounder hooked and released already. The shallow, relatively warm back bay is one of the best places for the fishing in the early season. Later, when the bay’s temperature becomes high, many of the fluke will escape to the cooler ocean for summer. Weakfish absolutely swam the bay. Joe expects to axe striped bass and blues on popper plugs and flies on the bay for the first time this season when he tries soon. His log from last year showed that this was past time. The bay should be warm enough for the surface action – exciting, visual hits – one of Joe’s specialties. Rapala Skitter Pop lures and modified crease flies that Joe ties are used for the popper fishing. Joe’s methods of fishing the bay are about to change, because of the opening of flounder season, warmer waters, and increased boat traffic. He’s been fishing soft-plastic lures on lead jigheads bounced slowly along bottom for all the fish in cool waters. But once flounder charters begin on opening day, the trips will fish for them on a three-way-swivel rig with a bucktail on bottom with a rubber grub or mullet in white or chartreuse, and usually a minnow hooked on the trailer. The minnow is usually fished alone, with no dressing or other bait. The bucktail is usually white. The popper fishing will be another change. Take an afternoon, after-work charter, a great time for all this fishing, when waters are warmer, and boat traffic is down.  Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Space is available on a Marathon Sea Bass Trip on the ocean Sunday, opening day of sea bass season, on the <b>Down Deep</b>, Capt. Mario said. Drum started biting well on Delaware Bay. Charters are available, and sign up for the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s Web site to be kept informed about special open-boat trips.

The <b>Heavy Hitter</b> is slated to fish for drum on Delaware Bay on Friday, Capt. George said. The season’s first trip for drum steamed last weekend aboard, covered in the last report. Sea bass charters will become available on the ocean when sea bass season is opened Sunday. Summer flounder season will be opened Saturday, and the Heavy Hitter usually sails for them later in the season on the ocean at places like the Old Grounds or Reef 11. But maybe flounder will chomp in Delaware Bay when the season first opens, and if anglers want to fish for flounder aboard, they can.

Daily trips will resume Sunday on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, fishing for sea bass on the ocean, Capt. Paul said. That’s opening day of sea bass season, and the boat was docked since the first of the month, when blackfish season was closed. The vessel had been blackfishing until then, but the closure left little for a boat like that to fish for. Currently, striped bass bit in the surf, and a few drum, Paul guessed, were boated from Delaware Bay. Starting Sunday, the Porgy IV will sail for sea bass at 8 a.m. daily.  

The surf’s striped bass fishing was good, from Poverty Beach on the ocean to Villas on Delaware Bay, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Fresh clams and bunker were fished for them. Bluefish pushed bait in the surf at times, and a few weakfish bit along jetties, and bloodworms on a float rig caught them best, but a few were bucktailed. A customer beached a few croakers and a sheepshead from the surf, he said. Those are the first of both reported on this site this season. A handful of kingfish began to appear in the surf. One customer clammed one. Boaters fished for drum on Delaware Bay, mostly on the Delaware side, but also at Tussy’s Slough, on the New Jersey side. Clams are the usual bait for them, and stripers were boated on Delaware Bay relatively close to shore, like at Bayshore Channel and 20-Foot Slough. Fresh clams and bunker were the baits. Summer flounder were caught and released on the back bay, and flounder season will be opened Saturday. They should be bagged, and sea bass season will be opened Sunday. Fresh clams, fresh bunker and bloodworms are stocked. Minnows and all other flounder baits, including frozen mackerel, finger mullet and the different squids, are ready.

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