<b>Keyport</b>

Fishing remained a little slow, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an email. But striped bass catches improved each day from shore on Raritan Bay. The boat is sailing for stripers and winter flounder, and great fishing is going to happen any day. Weather sounds great, and Frank would think boating for fish should be much improved this weekend. Space is available for an open-boat trip Saturday, because a charter rescheduled, and telephone to climb aboard. One thing’s for sure: You can’t catch them from the couch, Frank said. Like the Vitamin Sea’s Facebook page for real-time reports and open-boat dates. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Striped bass started to be cranked from shore more often than before, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. That was mostly on Raritan Bay, and a few were managed from the ocean surf. A couple were boated from the bay, but not many yet. Winter flounder hit in the rivers. Nobody mentioned fishing the ocean for blackfish or cod. All baits including clams and worms are stocked.

<b>***Update, Friday, 4/11:***</b> The party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> will start fishing this weekend for the season, Capt. Tom said. Trips will sail for striped bass twice daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The trips might sail on weekdays next week, depending on demand, and telephone the boat the night before to confirm. Then Tom will know whether a few anglers want to fish. Clam will be provided for bait, and Tom heard no good reports about striper fishing yet, but trips will give the angling a try. The trips will sail daily as soon as demand takes off.

<b>Highlands</b>

The back of Raritan Bay warmed to 50 degrees at the end of outgoing tide on a trip today with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, Capt. Derek said. A throwback striped bass or two were landed, and more bites were scored, and more fish were read, than on previous trips. There was more life than earlier this season. Fishing is booked this weekend aboard. But charters are available in the future, and the next open-boat trips with space available are set for next week and two weekends from now. Telephone to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips.

Striped bass fishing will kick off the season this weekend on the <b>Hyper Striper</b>, Capt. Pete wrote in an email. Pete recently returned from running charters from Costa Rica on the Dream Girl, like he does every winter. That boat will continue to fish, and trips aboard this week released double-digits of sailfish apiece while competing in the Offshore World Championship in Quepos in the country.

<b>Neptune</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 4/11:***</b> Weather looks great, and an individual-reservation trip will fish Sunday for blackfish, cod and ling with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an email.

<b>Belmar</b>

A few cod and blackfish were eased aboard the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. “A little of everything, not enough of anything,” he said. The fishing wasn’t good, but at least fish bit. Trips were heard about that were shut out. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.  Green crabs and clams are supplied. So are a few white leggers that were able to be obtained. When the whites are more abundant, the crabs are usually sold aboard. But only a handful were currently available, so they were given away aboard.

Weather seemed to be warming, and daily trips will kick off Friday on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the vessel’s website said. Forecasts look great for the next several days. The trips will probably fish wrecks for cod, ling and blackfish. But if striped bass are seen or heard about, the fishing will switch to them. Starting Friday, the Golden Eagle will fish at 7:30 a.m. daily.

Winter flounder were the main target for customers at <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>, Bob wrote in an email. He saw some healthy-sized ones to 19 inches lifted from Shark River this week. Anglers seemed more interested in fishing this season, maybe because of the severe winter. Striped bass were clammed and wormed from back bays, and Bob was told that small blackfish were landed from Point Pleasant Canal. The shop’s rental boats are available for flounder fishing on the river. Fresh clams, worms, green crabs and all anglers’ needs are stocked.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Bottom-fishing was the same as before on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said: slow in cold waters, but some of the fish caught were sizeable, and that kept anglers interested. The angling wasn’t good, but mostly ling were scooped aboard. A few good-sized cod and occasional blackfish came in. Anglers bagged like five fish apiece, or two to six, and trips fished in 180- to 220-foot depths. Trips tried fishing shallower a couple of times, but no fish were hooked. Waters on the fishing grounds were 38 to 40 degrees like before, not really warming. Butch hopes the sun keeps shining the next couple of days, because that’s what really warms the ocean. No mackerel were caught aboard, but the boat mixes in mackerel fishing, along with bottom-fishing, during years when the spring mackerel migration swims within range. A commercial boat from the docks landed a handful of mackerel, but 85 miles offshore.  The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

Fishing for winter flounder and throwback striped bass had been good on the Toms River at Island Heights, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. The catches seemed to drop-off recently, for unknown reasons. “Weather’s cold,” he said, and maybe that was a reason. He fished the river three times, at three different places, on Wednesday. Weather was windy and felt cold along the waters, and nothing bit. “But that doesn’t mean anything,” he said. Fishing for flounder and throwback stripers was good at Oyster Creek, the discharge from Forked River power plant. Flounder were reeled from northern Barnegat Bay toward Mantoloking Bridge. Bait is fully stocked and includes bloodworms, sandworms, fresh clams, baby nightcrawlers, larger nights, trout worms, killies and shiners. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, recently bought <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> in Toms River on Fischer Boulevard, and is running both shops now.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

<b>The Dock Outfitters</b> was in the middle of a road-construction zone, so the shop was open no steady hours, and no fishing reports rolled in, John said. But the construction is supposed to be finished in about a week, and John did hear about throwback striped bass played along Route 37 Bridge on Barnegat Bay, on small swimming plugs and jigs, at dawn and dusk. He heard nothing about surf-fishing and winter-flounder angling. The Dock Outfitters, located on the island on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a complete bait and tackle shop, a café, a dock to fish and crab from, and, during the season, boat and jet-ski rentals.

<b>Forked River</b>

Oyster Creek turned out throwback striped bass, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. That’s the discharge from Forked River power plant, and the fish swiped bloodworms or salted clams. Kyle heard about no winter flounder from the creek, but heard about flounder from the bulkhead on Toms River at Island Heights. That angling sounded hit or miss. Bloodworms, salted clams, killies, nightcrawlers and trout worms are stocked. Sandworms will be stocked this weekend.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

<b>Bobbie’s Boats</b> is open, and the crew is working on the boats and preparing for the season, Vince Sr. said. Bait is stocked, but not many people stopped in yet. One pulled up for fuel, and another bought green crabs, and nobody reported fishing results. Bobbie’s, located on Long Beach Island near Barnegat Inlet, features a complete bait and tackle shop, a fuel dock and, during the season, boat and kayak rentals, and is known for bait selection, including live bait.

Tilefish trips offshore will launch the <b>Super Chic</b>’s season on the Fridays to Saturdays of April 25-26 and May 2-3, 9-10 and 16-17, Capt. Ted said. Space is available on some of those, and contact the boat to reserve. The angling was good on the trips last year, and the trips are limited to 12 passengers, leaving plenty of room on the 56-foot boat. Fishing for sea bass aboard will begin when sea bass season is opened May 19. If striped bass show up in May, the boat will get after them. Bluefishing aboard will start the weekend before Memorial Day. Ted didn’t hear a lot about fishing this season. Boaters to the south seemed to dock blackfish from the ocean. A good number of throwback striped bass seemed to bite toward Mullica River’s mouth. White perch didn’t seem to chew well in brackish waters around Manahawkin yet. This warm spell should make them start at Mill Creek.

Small weakfish bit along the Dike and Meyer’s Hole, said Josh from <b>Viking Outfitters</b>. He caught 9-inchers, and heard about no striped bass from the surf, but couldn’t see why a throwback might not be beached. He was probably going to try for a bass this afternoon in the surf, probably fishing bloodworms, and he’s been using a Carolina rig lately. He had planned to fish the shore last night, but got tied up at the store. Blackfishing was slow from boats and along jetties. Bloodworms, green crabs and all the frozen baits are stocked. Viking Outfitters, located at historic Viking Village, was opened last summer, and carries the full array of bait and tackle, and also beach clothing, gift items and more. Josh, a co-owner, used to give reports to this site for Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle that was closed. He and the shop’s crew are anglers and feel they can provide first-hand knowledge about what’s biting. Bait can be delivered to boats, the beach and homes along Long Beach Island. Anglers can telephone the store round-the-clock, and if the store is closed during after-hours, somebody can be at the shop before long.

<b>Surf City</b>

<b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b> will be opened daily starting Saturday, Rich said. A few throwback striped bass were slid from the surf, and one customer’s friend released a 22-incher. No keepers were reported. Fishing for throwbacks sounded fair in back-waters, like at Mystic Island. Fresh clams, bloodworms, sandworms and green crabs will be stocked when daily hours begin this weekend.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Lots of throwback striped bass chomped at Graveling Point, said Brian from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The annual $100 gift certificate to the store was still up for grabs for the angler who stops in with the year’s first keeper from the point or nearby Pebble Beach. Reportedly one keeper was banked at Graveling on Sunday, but was full of eggs, so the angler released the fish. Bloodworms hooked most of the bass if not all of them. But clams started to draw nibbles. The worms are easy for the fish to digest during slow metabolism in cold waters in the early season. But clams become a favorite as waters warm. Graveling and Pebble are shore-angling spots toward the confluence of Mullica River and Great Bay. They give up some of the state’s first stripers each year, because the relatively warm river attracts the fish at the confluence, and the areas are simply accessible to anglers. Good-sized white perch were tugged from the river toward Collins Cove. Customers headed out for blackfish and winter flounder, but nobody reported results. Bloodworms, fresh, shucked clams, green crabs and grass shrimp are stocked.

<b>Absecon</b>

The season’s third striped bass was weighed-in Saturday at <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>, Capt. Dave said. An 11-year-old banked the 31-incher from shore near Atlantic City’s windmills. He won the store’s annual $50 gift certificate for the third, and also a Sea Striker rod-and-reel combo for the first boy age 12 or younger to check-in a keeper this year. More prizes remain, and read about them below. The catch showed that stripers were at least coming in from the ocean now. “Some serious sun,” Dave said, began to shine this week, and the outlook for fishing seemed improved. The coming full moon should trigger another push of herring to migrate toward rivers from the ocean. Herring should school in the bays, and the baitfish could bode well for fishing. More than before was heard about lots of throwback stripers landed at Graveling Point. No keepers were heard about from there, but the shorts showed that fish were “moving.” Dave heard about no bluefish and weakfish caught yet this season. “(But) anything’s possible now,” he said. Fishing on rivers like the Mullica sounded a little slow for stripers and white perch. But that should improve because of the sun. A trip from one boat from the docks tried for blackfish on the ocean, picking up two of the tautog, a couple of ling “and something else,” Dave said. Nothing too exciting, he said, and the trip fished in deep waters far offshore. No blackfish caught inshore were known about, and blackfish season will be closed after this month. The angling could fail to improve the rest of the season for the fish. But more anglers will probably try for them this weekend in improved weather, so more will probably become known about the fishing. Fresh clams, bloodworms and green crabs are stocked. Grass shrimp ran out, but Dave is trying to stock more. The prizes that remain for the year’s first stripers weighed-in are: a $100 certificate for the first larger than 20 pounds, a $100 certificate for the first larger than 30, and a Sea Striker rod and reel combo for the first girl age 12 or younger to catch and check-in a keeper striper. <b>***Update, Thursday, 4/10:***</b> Dave on the store’s Facebook page this morning shared a photo from a Cape May captain of a striper boated on Delaware Bay. The captain said a trip boated the bass to 33 inches Wednesday on clams. “Tons of bites, too!” the captain wrote.

<b>Brigantine</b>

From Brigantine’s surf, four striped bass were known about that were beached and released last weekend, Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b> said. One angler landed two of them, and two released were known about from the previous weekend. Ken Biondi hooked those, the first stripers reported from the island’s surf this year at the shop. The surf reached 44 degrees, and striper fishing should pick up soon, Andy thought. He saw photos of bigger stripers from Delaware River recently. All the bass from the surf inhaled clams, and fresh clams are stocked. So are bloodworms, and customers bought the worms for the fishing, but the clams won out so far. The store’s bunker supplier will try for the menhaden Friday, so maybe the fresh baitfish will be stocked. The Riptide Striper Bounty, currently up to $1,475, will be awarded to the angler who checks-in the season’s first striper 43 inches or larger from the town’s surf. The bounty was never won last fall, so the money will be awarded this spring. Entry is $5, and anglers must register at least 24 hours before entering a fish. Last spring, the bounty reached $2,005, and was won on May 27 with a 46-incher that weighed 32 pounds. The prize was also rolled over from fall that year. The Fish for Life Tournament, sponsored by Team LaPera, Andy said, is under way until May 26. Entry in the tournament allows beach buggy access along Brigantine’s entire front beach, instead of limited access without entering. That access is available when entry is accompanied by a Brigantine surf-buggy permit, and anglers can register for the tournament at Riptide.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Along Absecon Inlet, striped bass and blackfish were hung, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. They were smaller fish, and waters were a little cold, but almost “right,” he said. Customers fish the inlet, lined with jetties, from shore. All baits are stocked except fresh bunker. The baits include fresh clams, bloodworms, green crabs and frozen baits including squid, clams, mackerel, mullet, herring, sand eels and shrimp. Tide charts for 2014 for Atlantic City arrived at the store and are free for anglers.

<b>Longport</b>

The <b>Stray Cat</b> fished 16 miles from shore in 80 to 90 feet during the weekend, Capt. Mike said. But winds prevented the boat from sailing farther out, toward 28-mile wreck, and the angling was no good. Open-boat trips will try to reach farther from the coast this weekend, and telephone to reserve. The boat’s been sailing for blackfish, cod and pollock. Fishing seemed flip-flopped this year. Fishing for blackfish in shallower waters 30 to 45 feet, closer to shore, usually gives up catches first. But deeper waters did this year. The ocean was 41.9 degrees in 80 feet and 43 closer in.  In Mike’s traps at the docks, crabs started to pot, and so did a few small sea bass. All indications were that fish should bite. Open trips are available daily when no charter is booked, and the Stray Cat sails with even one angler.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Local rivers tossed up white perch, said Justin from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. That included Patcong and Middle creeks and Tuckahoe and Great Egg Harbor rivers. Small striped bass were sometimes played among them, mostly on bloodworms. Sometimes small stripers were also caught and released from the back bay, like toward Beesley’s Point, and along the Causeway Bridge, on bloods, clams, plugs or soft-plastic lures. One throwback striper was heard about from the surf so far this season, released at Corson’s Inlet. That was a good sign, but only one fish. A couple of boats were known about that were supposed to sail for blackfish on the ocean today. That was the only blackfishing mentioned recently, and blackfish might start to bite better in a week, Justin thought. Bloodworms and green crabs are stocked. The store is trying to carry fresh, shucked clams for the weekend.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Quite a few people fished this weekend, and a couple did this week, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. No solid reports came back about catches, but crabbers began to find a few blueclaws in traps. The crabs started to crawl out from the mud, and minnows swam around, and herring migrated the bay. These were all good signs that things were “moving along.” Boaters sometimes steamed 30 miles from shore, catching blackfish. Bloodworms, fresh clams, green crabs, nightcrawlers and all frozen baits are stocked. If striped bass begin to bite, fresh bunker will be stocked in two weekends.

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>, expected to fish the back bay today, he said before the trip. He last fished on the weekend, hooking a fish that got off on the bay, covered in the last report. That was his year’s first fishing on the bay, and he usually begins the angling in March, but this year was colder. He expects to reel aboard his season’s first striped bass any day from the bay. His trips last year on the bay scored the first stripers and summer flounder on April 9, the first weakfish on April 13 and the first blue, he thought, on April 21. Fishing for all these should explode soon, and the angling in April and May is some of the best of the year. Dates for trips should be booked. The flounder fishing is catch and release until the fluke season is opened on May 23. But the action is good. He fishes soft-plastic lures for all these fish in the early season, slowly along bottom. The flounder will be targeted with bait once the flatfish season is opened, amping up the effort. Joe is also running traveling charters to the Florida Keys until Easter, like every year from Christmas until then. See <a href="http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page3.html" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s traveling charters Web page</a>. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Surf anglers started to paste a few striped bass at the ferry jetty and Higbee’s Beach on bloodworms on float rigs, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Not many keepers were heard about, but shorts were definitely around. Striper catches were yet to be heard about from boats. But someone said a few boats were seen fishing for them at Delaware Bay’s sloughs. Maybe if the boaters caught, they kept that quiet. Blackfish were boated farther from shore, like in 150-foot depths. No bluefish seemed to arrive yet this season, but the year’s first weakfish catch was reported. That was in a photo that seemed to circulate online, including appearing on this Web site. Bloodworms, green crabs and salted clams are stocked. Nick hopes to stock fresh clams this weekend.

The party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> sailed for blackfish during the weekend, Capt. Paul said. Afterward, weather was too rough to sail or too few anglers wanted to go. On Sunday, the last time the boat sailed, blackfishing was no good. Just a bunch of throwbacks bit. That was better than no fish biting, and some keepers, not many, were bagged on a previous trip, covered in last week’s report. Now that the sun started shining, and weather became warmer, Paul is anxious to return to the fishing. The season’s changing weather has got to improve the angling sometime. Trips will shape up to fish daily, when weather is fishable, and enough anglers want to sail. Enough will surely show up for the weekend, if not sooner, because weather forecasts look good. The Porgy IV is blackfishing at 8 a.m. daily.

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