<b>Hudson River</b>

Small striped bass began to be hooked from the river, said Capt. Chuck from <b>Angler Sportfishing Charters</b>. The water was cold or 48 degrees, but fishing for big stripers should bust open in the next week on the river. Large, mature, breeding stripers will migrate upstream to spawn. That is one of the best opportunities to fight some of the largest stripers, and Chuck’s been angling in the fishery many years. Chuck’s also chartering from Raritan Bay to the ocean. A couple of charters were weathered out that were supposed to fish for stripers there. But he and friends fished the ocean, around Sandy Hook Point, on a trip for stripers this week. They wanted stripers for the table, and had no problem bagging them. They trolled some, not huge, but in the 20 pounds, on bunker spoons.  A couple of small stripers were released. A ton of bunker schooled. No bluefish were caught, but a few bluefish were around lately.

<b>Keyport</b>

Three keeper striped bass to 30 inches were bagged from Raritan Bay on clams on an open-boat trip with four anglers Wednesday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. A couple of dozen throwbacks were released. Joe was yet to see bluefish in the bay this season. The water was 58 degrees at the dock. Open-boat trips for stripers are available daily when no charter is booked, and enough anglers want to go, and telephone to jump aboard.

Raritan Bay’s striped bass fishing was up and down this week, better on some days than others, not as good as last week, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep</b>. But the fish were caught aboard, while the trips fished with clams and bunker chunks. Weather looked good for this weekend and next week. So get out for big stripers, he said. Down Deep Sportfishing’s latest boat, the Down Deep Bull, a 42-foot Willis Beal Downeaster, certified for 15 passengers, arrived at the dock. Trips, including open-boat daily, will begin to fish on the vessel in a week or two. The crew is also still running the original Down Deep, a 40-foot Custom Duffy.  Charters are fishing, and join the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s website to be kept informed about open trips. Also see the site’s open-boat page for dates.

Bluefish 8 to 10 pounds showed up, said Joey from <b>Joey’s Bait Shack</b>. Raritan Bay shore anglers fought them, good catches. Boaters also ran into the blues on the bay. The shore anglers and boaters pasted stripers, including more keepers than before. The shore anglers fished clams and bunker heads, and the boaters fished the clams and bunker, and trolled Stretch 25 lures. Baits are fully stocked, including fresh clams, fresh bunker and worms.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Raritan Bay’s striped bass fishing was very good, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Boaters clammed the fish, and some caught on bunker chunks and while trolling. But the clamming was very good. Many of the bass were throwbacks, but more keepers bit than before. Surf anglers dragged in stripers from both the bay and ocean, on clams and worms. Lots of bluefish stormed the river. They were large, and fishing was best at night for them, clobbering them. Blackfish began to be boated from the ocean. Too bad blackfish season will be closed starting Friday. All baits are stocked.  

After striped bass fishing was better aboard Tuesday, it was slower Wednesday, on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. Tuesday’s trips were covered in the last report, and on Wednesday morning’s trip, more than 20 throwbacks were landed. Action was good, but no keepers showed up. On the afternoon’s trip, a few throwbacks and one keeper were cranked in. The trips fished Raritan Bay with clams, and weather was beautiful during the outings. This morning’s trip might get the weather to sail, but forecasts called for wind in the afternoon. Tom expected no trips to fish Friday, in forecasts for gusts to 30 knots from northeast. He hoped to resume fishing Saturday and Sunday. The Atlantic Star is fishing for striped bass on two trips daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m.

On the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, striped bass turned on late on Wednesday’s trip, at the change of tide, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the vessel’s website. The fishing kicked in during outgoing last week, but now incoming produced. Nothing was caught in the morning, though the boat was stopped on good readings, throughout Raritan Bay. When the bites began, a couple of good shots of stripers, keepers and shorts, came on. The trip was kept out later than scheduled, trying to bail it out. “Wild” Willy Krug, Old Bridge, nailed the biggest striper, a 24-pound 36-incher. Some of the other anglers beat good-sized stripers. The water finally reached 56 degrees, by the end of the trip, Ron said. Monday’s and Tuesday’s trips were almost the same as each other. Striper fishing didn’t fare well on the trips. The trips caught the last of outgoing, then incoming, and solid marks were read, but only produced a few stripers, some keepers and shorts. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Trips are also striper fishing 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays.

<b>Highlands</b>

Another busy weekend at <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Marion wrote in an email. “Many more boats coming in,” she said. People worked on boats, fished or simply cruised. Lots of fuel, bait and tackle was sold. Greg Hanna on the Annie H limited out on striped bass to 22 ½ pounds on Raritan Bay near Keansburg on trolled Stretch plugs. Paul and Maddy Hess on their Boudicca bagged two 36-inch stripers at Reach Channel on the bay on clams. Twin Lights, located conveniently on Shrewsbury River near Raritan Bay and the ocean, with no bridges before them, includes a marina with boat slips and dry storage, a fuel dock, and a combined bait and tackle shop and ship’s store. The full supply of bait is stocked, including fresh clams. Live bunker are carried, when in demand. The fuel dock is available 24 hours a day with a credit card. 

<b>Neptune</b>

Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> will probably steam to Raritan Bay to see striped bass fishing there, he said in a phone call. Individual-reservation trips will fish for stripers on May 12, “clamming and/or whatever it takes,” he wrote in an email, and sea bass on May 27, the projected opening day of sea bass season. The government needs to finalize the date. Charters are available daily, and weekends are filling.

<b>Belmar</b>

Reports came in about striped bass clammed from the surf, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. Some rolled in about stripers plugged from the beach. Local boaters had more difficulty catching stripers, “but some big blues are showing in Ocean County,” he said. Winter flounder fishing was best in Ocean County. “Monmouth County has gotten the short end of the stick this spring, so far,” he said. Point Pleasant Canal in Ocean County gave up small stripers and bluefish on metal and bucktails. Back in Monmouth County, blackfishing was good along Shark River Inlet. The catches included keepers, but blackfishing season will be closed starting Friday. “Sorry, not a glowing report,” he said, but fishing should amp up, after the strong northeast wind that was forecast. That should warm water.

Fishing was good Wednesday on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. Some sizable blackfish were canned, and cod and winter flounder were reeled in. A mix of fish bit, and blackfish season will be closed starting Friday. Daily trips, sailing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., will probably fish for striped bass beginning that day aboard. Evening trips for stripers will also sail, once bunker really migrate the ocean. Then bunker are snagged aboard to liveline for bait.

It’s been a slow start to striped bass fishing on the ocean this season, an email from the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> said. One keeper was managed today aboard, but the fishing can only become better. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. However, no trip will fish Friday.  <b>***Update, Saturday, 5/2:***</b> From an email from the boat today: “This morning, we had very good fishing outside of our inlet all day. We read plenty of scattered fish and at times they were really good. We had some excellent drifts, some of which lasted an hour, where we held fish on the entire time with as many as 6-7 on! The fish are finally here so come on out and get your Jersey blues! Our pool winner was a tie between Alfredo Silva and Henrique Desouea with a 10 lb blue. Sailing daily for stripers and blues from 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.”

Was another tough day of striped bass fishing, a report said about today’s trip on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, on the vessel’s website. Stripers were seen in the morning, but wind came up strong by 10:30 a.m. Drifting on the boat became uncomfortable and fast. Friday’s trip will be docked, because of forecasts for wind gusting to 25 knots from northeast. The angling’s expected to resume Saturday, and the Golden Eagle is fishing for stripers at 7:30 a.m. daily.

<b>XTC Sportfishing</b> is mostly waiting for striped bass fishing to begin in the ocean, Capt. Scott said. But the boat is in the water, ready to fish, freshly painted, and he took a shakedown trip that bagged a handful of cod to 15 pounds. A keeper blackfish was also landed, but blackfish season will be closed starting Friday. Some of the year’s first charters are slated for next week, he thought.

With <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, fishing will begin soon, Capt. Pete said. Only a few striped bass were boated from the ocean, and trips aboard will mostly fish for them, when more of the bass arrive. Striper fishing was decent on Raritan Bay, but water is much warmer there. Pete hopes the ocean angling begins soon. Bluefish were caught in back waters like Barnegat Bay and rivers. None was seen in Shark River. Only a few dates remain for trips aboard in May. Plenty are available in June. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Parker Pete’s anyway, about individual spaces available on charters. Jump on <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s website</a> to subscribe to the email blast to be kept informed about the spaces. Look for the place to sign up on the right side of the page, where it says Join Our Newsletter.  Some of those dates are available, especially around Memorial Day weekend. Combo trips for mako sharks and bluefin tuna will also sail from mid-May into July.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Fishing wasn’t great, but seemed to be improving, said Capt. Butch from the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>. Fishing for ling wasn’t improving aboard, but quite a few cod were decked. Probably 50 were decked, and half might’ve been keepers, on Wednesday’s trip. Four or five of the cod were good-sized, and a 22-pounder was the pool-winner. A few pollock and blackfish were landed on trips, though today is the final day of blackfish season. Water was cold for blackfish, but about four were bagged Wednesday, and three or four were on Tuesday, and some throwbacks were released on trips. Butch hopes ling fishing improves as the ocean warms. A better catch of ling, on a Long Island boat, was heard about. Butch was going to talk with the captain, seeing whether fishing a little north could be worthwhile, for ling. The ocean was 45 degrees along the surface, where the Dauntless fished. That’s cold, and a diver said the bottom was 38 degrees in 100 feet. That’s also cold. A mackerel, healthy-sized, was caught aboard Wednesday. Butch wasn’t optimistic that the mackerel migration would swim within range this season, but the boat mixes in mackerel fishing, along with bottom fishing, when mackerel do. That hasn’t happened in some years. He heard about one other mackerel, caught on a party boat fishing for striped bass near the beach on Saturday. Not much bait was seen in the water all week on the Dauntless. Massive schools of bunker were seen the previous two weeks. No bluefish were seen in the ocean. One of the boat’s mates caught blues in Barnegat Bay toward Route 37 Bridge.  The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

For trips on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, fishing was picky in past days, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s website. A few cod, ling and blackfish made up most of the catch. No big numbers, but some bites at most spots fished. Wednesday’s trip worked closer to shore for blackfish. That gave up some life at first. A few keepers and shorts, and a few small cod. After noon, the angling was tough. No trip fished today, apparently because forecasts kept too few anglers from showing up. No trip is expected to sail Friday, because of weather. But weather looks great for the weekend and next week, reaching the 70 degrees most of the time. Today was the final day of blackfish season. The Norma-K III will now fish for cod and ling 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

Bluefish, bluefish, bluefish, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Blues swarmed everywhere, from the Toms River at Island Heights to Barnegat Bay at Route 37 Bridge and the barrier island side near there. Bluefishing was absolutely fabulous from the docks and bulkheads from the river to the island. The fish averaged 8 to 12 pounds, smacking nearly anything, including popper plugs, swimming lures, metal and bunker chunks. Boaters also wrestled the blues in those areas. Dennis trolled a dozen to 15 pounds Wednesday. The blues might remain another 1 ½ weeks. The bay can’t take all those blues, he said. Striped bass were plugged on the river at night on poppers and swimmers. Jeff from the shop, fishing Fishbites artificial worms, managed to land a 20-pound striper from the river that bit. Stripers were around. A kayaker watched a huge striper following the spoon he fished without biting. Winter flounder fishing remained great in the bay at Mantoloking Bridge, but few anglers fished for them, chasing blues instead. A few flounder were boated on the bay at the BI and BB markers, farther south. In the surf, blues and stripers were caught. Almost all the stripers were throwbacks, but anglers who really fished for them, caught. That was mostly on clams, some on bunker. Not much was heard about stripers plugged in the surf, because the water was cold, in the 40 degrees. Bait is loaded up at the store, including fresh clams, fresh bunker and worms. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Boaters banged out bluefish south of Oyster Creek and across from Seaside Park in Barnegat Bay this morning, said Phil from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>.  Larger striped bass than before, keepers, began to be heaved from the surf at Island Beach State Park. Smaller stripers were also beached, and striper fishing was kind of slow from the surf. But those who waited, caught. Clams and cut bunker connected, and plugs didn’t really yet, in the cold water.  Wind howled down the surf today, but weather is supposed to be good this weekend. The Dock Outfitters, located on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a bait and tackle shop, boat and jet ski rentals, a café and a dock for fishing and crabbing. Fresh clams, fresh bunker and worms are stocked, and the shop is open daily now for the season.

<b>Forked River</b>

Bluefish were still caught locally in Barnegat Bay, just not as many as before, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. The angling was very good four or five days ago. But most of the blues seemed to move north in the bay now. Actually, they schooled to the north and south. Striped bass were socked in Oyster Creek, like before. No stripers were heard about from the bay. One angler, experienced at the angling, anchored and clammed for the bass on the east side of the bay, catching and reading none. But surely some bass were around in the bay. Weather wasn’t great, was windy, for the fishing. Fresh clams, bloodworms, killies and shiners are stocked. So are chum logs, for winter flounder fishing, though nothing was reported about flounder.

<b>Barnegat</b>

From an edited email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “We're going to chase the big bluefish that have been tearing up Barnegat Bay. After a break in the action Monday – we had five fish in 4 hours – they resurfaced farther north in the bay. Same size, 7- to 12-pounders, and good numbers, for the last two days. We’ll be armed with poppers and combing the bay, until we get into them. Doesn't get much better on 10-pound spinning tackle, in 5 feet of water, throwing surface lures. Sailing open-boat 1 to 6 p.m. Friday and 5 to 10 a.m. Sunday and Monday. Three people max …  Call to reserve a spot.” <b>***Update, Saturday, 5/2:***</b> From an edited email from Dave today: “This morning was the best bluefish bite I have ever seen. Seven- to 12-pound fish – actually one pushed 13 ½ on the Boga Grip scale – destroying our surface lures for 5 hours! For every big bluefish that was hooked, there were two or three more visually attacking the same lure. All in 5 to 7 feet of water on the west side of Barnegat Bay. Casting top-water lures on 10-pound spinning tackle. This bite is going on two weeks strong now.  Insane fishing. Will sail open boat 5 to 10 a.m. Sunday and Monday. All three spots are open Sunday, and one is open Monday. Three people max.” <b>***Another Update, Saturday, 5/2:***</b> <a href=" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx82Oq1Q8sQ&feature=youtu.be
" target="_blank">The Video</a>.

<b>Surf City</b>

A blitz of blues crashed the surf today at Harvey Cedars, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Blues were sometimes caught from the surf lately. But this was the year’s first blitz. The blitzing blues were 20 to 30 inches, and a 10- or 11-pounder was the biggest reported. Surf fishing was definitely improving, and was decent last spring, for quality-sized blues, and sometimes good catches of stripers. This year’s fishing looked promising, including because of lots of structure like cuts in the surf, and water that reached 51 degrees. But the angling could change in a moment. Sue was just happy for the fishing currently. Many mussels covered jetties, potentially boding well for kingfishing in the surf, later this year. Striped bass, throwbacks, were beached from the surf. Not everybody caught, but hardcores, customers who fished the surf every day, caught one or two daily. Only one was skunked in a day. Weekenders reported results that varied. One would report no stripers caught, and another would, too. Then a weekender would bank a couple of throwbacks. Striper anglers fished with clams, who wanted to avoid blues. But then one would switch to bunker, and suddenly catch, sometimes. A drum was released in the surf Wednesday. Fresh clams, fresh bunker and bloodworms are stocked. The Simply Bassin tournament begins this weekend.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Many blues were pounded at Graveling Point, Pebble Beach and everywhere, said Brian from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Graveling and Pebble are shore-angling spots at the confluence of Great Bay and Mullica River, and the blues were large. A 15.2-pounder was weighed-in this morning. One kid said he lost count of the blues he landed. Blues smashed lures, metal, bunker, mackerel, clams, almost anything. One angler scored awesome on Daiwa SP Minnows, saying he couldn’t keep blues off the lures. No drum caught were heard about since one was checked-in on April 24. Blues arrived the previous day, seeming to scare away the drum. Previously, drum were caught from places like Pebble and Graveling. Throwback stripers were sometimes boated at Grassy Channel on the bay. They were hooked at Pebble and Graveling previously, until blues arrived, and that’s typical. The stripers were definitely caught in the river still. Good-sized white perch were winged on the river between the Lower Bank and Green Bank bridges. One angler released a 17-1/2-inch, out-of-season summer flounder. The flatfish were moving in. Blueclaw crabs began to “come out.” Some customers trapped some, not big, but keepers. All baits will be stocked for the weekend, including fresh, shucked clams, live grass shrimp and bloodworms.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Epic bluefishing erupted in the surf Sunday, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. The blitz was mentioned in the last report here, and that came from the store’s website report. But Andy in a phone call today said the bluefishing was probably the best he ever saw. Anglers said it was the best in 20 or 30 years, and the catches lasted 10 hours. Some customers reported catching them into night. The blues weighed 12 to 18 pounds. An 18-pounder was the largest weighed-in. Just before the blitz, a drum and a striped bass were checked-in from the surf.  The blues seemed to scare drum and stripers away afterward. Surf fishing was dead Monday. It was slow Tuesday, and Andy caught nothing that day, but surf anglers farther south caught blues. The bluefishing became good again today, all day. One angler had just sent Andy a photo of a 27-inch striper from the surf, when Andy gave this report in the call this afternoon.  The annual Riptide Striper Bounty was currently up to $1,610. Sponsored by Hess Plumbing, the bounty will be awarded to the angler who weighs-in the year’s first striper 43 inches or larger from Brigantine’s surf. Entry is $5, and the angler must be entered before the catch. All entry fees are awarded, so the bounty keeps growing.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Large blues tore up the water at night at the T-jetty and off Melrose Avenue and Harrah’s, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. A 12-1/2-pounder was weighed-in this morning, and the angler tackled three more that weighed 9 to 10 pounds. Blues might’ve become scarcer elsewhere, but more arrived here, around Absecon Inlet, than before, and plenty already swam there, previously. Abundant bait attracts them in the inlet. Tons of bunker schooled the water. Small striped bass, lots, hit in the inlet at night, around high tides, like 2 hours after and before, but mostly 2 hours after. Plugs, fresh bunker and fresh clams smoked them. Customers fish the nearby inlet, lined with jetties, on foot. No weakfish were reported caught locally, though large, so-called tiderunners can show up at the inlet in spring, for spawning. A few weaks had been heard about from farther south.  All baits are stocked, including fresh clams and bunker. Clams in the shell are $6 a dozen, $2 apiece or three for $5.  Bloodworms are $20 for two dozen.

<b>Absecon</b>

Bluefish dominated, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. They swam nearly everywhere, including the surf, back bay and the mouths of rivers. Blues blitzed the surf nearly all day Sunday. Those fish seemed to swim into Great Bay afterward, because they schooled everywhere in the bay. A charter with Dave fought the blues to 14 pounds at the mouth of Mullica River, though the fleet fished Great Bay. The mouth was full of bait and marks, and the blues grabbed everything tossed to them. The trip tried eeling for striped bass there, but fought the blues on jigs with Gulp and bunker chunks. Then the trip pushed up the river, because Dave’s been netting bunker there to keep the freshest in stock at the shop. The trip did land a 24-inch, throwback striper, between castnet throws. Many bunker have been schooling the river, as far upstream as Lower Bank.  White perch fishing was good in rivers, and the slabs gathered far upstream, for spawning. They schooled up to Crowley’s Landing on the Mullica, and up to Mays Landing’s bulkhead on the Great Egg Harbor River. Some anglers fished for stripers on foot along the bay sod banks, catching great in evenings during high tides.  This should be a big spawning weekend for stripers, because of the full moon. Plus, weather is going to warm, further reason for spawning. Things are going to happen, he said. Lots of fishing is going on. Take advantage of the blues, because they’ve not been around like this in some time. This is the final day of blackfish season, and the season was a dud, because green crabs were unavailable for bait. That was apparently because of cold water. Fresh, fresh bunker, Dave said, plenty of fresh clams, and bloodworms are stocked.

<b>Egg Harbor Township</b>

Bluefish showed up heavy at Brigantine and Ocean City’s north end, said John from <b>24-7 Bait & Tackle</b>. They were big, up to the 12-pound range, and a 19.6-pounder was weighed-in. Many striped bass bit in Egg Harbor River, like before, on bloodworms and clams, and a few were keepers, and some began to bite in the bay. None was heard about from the ocean yet, but the bass were on the move. Next week is supposed to be in the 80 degrees, so that should help trigger the fish to swim toward the ocean. Bunker were abundant, including in the river. Summer flounder began to be hooked in the bay, seeming to bode well for the opening of flounder season, anglers hoped. The season will probably be opened starting May 22, and the government needs to finalize that. Fishing was really good now. Baits stocked include fresh clams, fresh bunker and bloodworms. The shop’s rental boats are available to fish for the stripers in the river and bay. Later this season, they’ll be used for flounder in the bay, and for crabbing on Patcong Creek, where the boats are docked at the store. That’s one of the best crabbing waters.   <b>The company also own 24-7 Bait & Tackle in Marmora</b>.

<b>Longport</b>

It’s spring fishing – hit and miss, on and off, up and down, Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b> said about blackfishing on the ocean this week. A couple of better-sized blackfish would be pulled aboard, and then throwbacks would. Was a nice day Wednesday, he said, on an open-boat blackfishing trip aboard. A few better-sized blackfish were tugged in on Tuesday’s open trip. No blackfishing trip was expected to sail today, the final day of blackfishing season, because of forecasts for winds. Mike looks forward to returning to fishing 30 miles from shore starting Friday for cod, pollock and ling, or whatever bites. He heard cod bit pretty well in the deep. Open trips are set through this weekend, and telephone to climb aboard. The following Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, are chartered.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Fishing aboard will begin by May 22, hopefully sooner, said Capt. Victor from the party boats <b>Captain Robbins</b> and <b>Miss Ocean City</b>. That will probably be opening day of summer flounder season, and trips will fish the back bay for flounder. Sea bass will be the next fish targeted, on the ocean, and sea bass season will probably begin on May 27. The government needs to finalize the dates. When both boats are running, daily trips fish for both. 

Bluefish swam the back bay, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Some were big or 8 and 10 pounds. Some were fought in the surf during the weekend, and none was reported from the surf since. But whether that was because fewer anglers fished, was unknown. Striped bass were kind of all around, and some were keepers. Stripers definitely remained in Great Egg Harbor River. White perch fishing improved in the river, because of warming water. Stripers were sometimes reported from the bay. Stripers were angled from the surf, mostly at Corson’s Inlet at night, on soft-plastic lures, in pink, white or black. The angling was pretty good. Blackfish bit along 9th Street Bridge, and some were reported from Longport. But blackfishing season will be closed beginning Friday. No weakfish were known about yet this season, and that was surprising. Fresh clams are stocked, and fresh bunker are carried when available. They were scarce recently, for unknown reasons, but the bunker might be stocked Friday. Bloodworms and eels are on hand.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Two anglers aboard caught and released summer flounder from the back bay Wednesday evening, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish were jigged, and flounder season will probably be opened starting May 22, the likely date the government will finalize, and the fishing is excellent around then in the bay. That’s because of shallow, warm water, and those trips should be booked now. The number of bluefish dropped in the bay in past days, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t reappear. Striped bass are biting in the bay. Surf casters angled stripers, and bait was what to fish for them currently. Catch an article featuring Joe in the current On the Water Magazine about fly-fishing for sharks by Pete Barrett. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

A 38-1/2-pound striped bass was clammed from the surf in town, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Quite a few small stripers bit in the surf throughout the island, on clams, but the northern end, around Strathmere, fished best. Most caught were reported from there. Small stripers were rustled from the back bay, mostly in mornings, evenings or at night, on soft-plastic lures, mostly Bass Assassins, a few on Zooms or Fin-S Fish. Bluefish 5 to 10 pounds in the bay were mixed in, fewer than before, but catches. They were usually hooked on soft-plastics while anglers tried for stripers or weakfish. No weakfish were heard about from the bay since early last week. The trout reported then were decent-sized, but would’ve been unusual to catch, once blues invaded the bay, later in the week. Mike wasn’t asked the reason, but the common thought is that weaks have no chance to beat blues to the hook, and weaks steer clear of the blues that would eat them. Fishing for out-of-season summer flounder, good-sized, was unbelievable in the bay. That could be frustrating. One angler landed and released 15 of the flounder in a trip, without even trying for them. The early season can fish best for the flounder in South Jersey’s shallow, warm back bays. Fresh clams and bloodworms are stocked. Fresh bunker is carried off and on, when available.

<b>Wildwood</b>

<b>Fins & Grins Sport Fishing</b> will fish for drum and striped bass starting Friday on Delaware Bay, Capt. Jim said. Water’s warm enough for drum, and the full moon is this weekend. The full moon in May is traditionally a time for drum catches to begin. So it’s time. Weather was calm and warmer in past days, and wind is supposed to blow today and Friday. But forecasts look good for Saturday to Monday. A friend who lives along the bay banked a few stripers from the bay at Sunray Beach and Pierce’s Point, only 10 miles up the bay. Stripers reportedly swam the channel off there. Fins & Grins fishes every day, and reservations aren’t required but suggested. Telephone for availability.

<b>Cape May</b>

Not many keeper blackfish bit Wednesday, but more of the tautog chomped late in the trip, on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, Capt. Paul said. The trip stayed late, and a couple of anglers limited out. Matt Lamelza won the pool with a 9-1/2-pound blackfish. But many throwbacks hit, and many anglers bagged no blackfish. The trip found “a lot of dry holes,” Paul said. Chris Daggett whaled a 15.03-pound blackfish the other day aboard. But today is the final day of blackfish season. Forecasts had looked like today’s blackfish trip wouldn’t sail, but changed, and Paul last night expected today’s trip to fish. After today, fishing aboard probably won’t sail again until Saturday, May 9. Then trips will probably fish for drum on Delaware Bay. The outings will sail 2 to 10 p.m., and anglers should telephone for reservations. That’s because the number of anglers will be limited, probably up to 20 or 25, instead of 40 or 50.  A few drum were already boated from the bay, but interest won’t increase until word gets out. Paul wished trips could fish for sea bass on the ocean, because trips threw back sea bass for days. The knotheads began to show up. Sea bass season is supposed to open beginning on May 27. The government is yet to finalize the date, but that day is likely.

The <b>Heavy Hitter</b> will fish for drum on Delaware Bay in May, and Capt. George heard about a few drum boated here and there, he said. He couldn’t get more details, but knew the fish were caught. The season was early, and the water was chilly. Cod fishing is an option aboard the ocean. A trip during the weekend rounded up cod, many throwbacks, but some keepers, covered in the last report. Trips had been blackfishing aboard, but blackfishing season will be closed starting Friday.

Surf casters beached striped bass, mostly throwbacks, but a couple of keepers, from Delaware Bay, and some from the ocean, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Bunker caught best from the bay, because bunker schooled the water there in the past week. Sounded like a few drum continued to be banked from the bay’s shore, and clams worked best on them. Nothing was mentioned about drum from boats on the bay, and warmer, shallower water in the surf seemed to make them bite there.  Bluefish seemed to move on. They were angled previously in the area’s surf, but migrated quickly, apparently. A couple of weakfish were hooked from the back bay. So Nick would expect them to bite along Delaware Bay’s jetties soon.  Fresh clams, fresh bunker and worms are stocked. Green crabs, for blackfish, are carried, though today is the final day of blackfishing season. Nothing was reported about blackfish biting along the jetties. Fishing for them seemed a slow pick. But blackfish were boated along wrecks.

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