<b>Keyport</b>

Fishing for striped bass was okay, not great, not bad, on Raritan Bay this past week, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>. Lots of big bluefish to 15 pounds schooled the bay. The stripers were hooked aboard on chunked and livelined bunker, sometimes on trolled Mojos. Charters and open-boat trips are sailing, and the striper fishing is available daily on the Down Deep Bull, one of the company’s two 40-foot boats. The Down Deep, the other vessel, will fish for cod and ling Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, reservations required. Join the <a href=" http://downdeepsportfishing.com/short-notice-list/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s website to be kept informed about open trips. See available dates on the calendar on the site. 

Raritan Bay’s striped bass fishing was pretty good aboard, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an email. The largest weighed 28 pounds, and strong east wind was difficult lately. When the wind blew against current, seas could be evil sometimes. The conditions determined where and how trips fished. The boat was anchored while the anglers chunked bunker, or was trolled, or was drifted while the anglers livelined bunker. On some days, the fish were aggressive, and on others, the fishing was a grind. But all anglers were able to bag a 28- to 43-incher, for the most part, so far this season. “We will continue to give our customers our best effort every single trip, and do everything in our power to give you the best day on the water,” he said. Bluefish swam the bay full force. So if you want blues, now’s the time to duke it out on the bay. Fluke season, “everyone’s summertime favorite,” he said, will begin on May 21, a few weeks away.  Frank expects good fluking in the early season, like how striper fishing began early this year. Fluking usually begins well after a warm winter like this past one. Killies have filled Keyport Creek since March. Charters are fishing, and open-boat fluke trips are set for 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, Saturday, May 28, and Monday, May 30, Memorial Day. Two spaces are available for an open striper trip 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Several are available for another 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, a Working Man’s Special. Saturday 2 to 8 p.m. is wide open for a charter or open-boat. Three or four spots are available for an open striper trip 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, because of a cancellation. Another Working Man’s Special has several spots available Wednesday, May 11. Two spots are on tap for an open striper trip 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 17.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Plenty of striped bass swam far up back bays, Capt. Ron from the <b>Fishermen</b> wrote in a report on the party boat’s website. When the fish spawn and filter out, trips aboard will get their shots at them. He hasn’t been a happy captain, and hopes the turnaround begins this week. The year’s first 2 ½ weeks of fishing has been disappointing on the boat. A handful of stripers were decked, and the trips fished with fresh bunker, clams, rubber shads, you name it. The boat had a shot at big bluefish that arrived last week, but angling for them slowed during the weekend. Plenty were read but wouldn’t bite.  Striper fishing was slow on night trips aboard, too. When the fish are ready, “it will happen.” Striper fishing went well for boats that trolled. Patience. The Fishermen’s turn will come. Maybe today!  The Fisherman 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 Sundays.

Some bluefish and four throwback striped bass were reeled in on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> on Saturday morning’s trip, Capt. Tom said. On the afternoon’s trip, bluefish, no stripers, were picked, enough to keep the anglers busy, and all had a good time, he said. The trips fished Raritan Bay, and no trips fished Sunday aboard, because weather kept too few anglers from showing up at the docks. Only one of the party boats, not the Atlantic Star, fished from the docks this morning, because forecasts kept too few anglers from showing up. Weather wasn’t bad this morning, though. No wind blew, and no rain fell. Clams are provided aboard for bait, and so are bunker, when bunker are available from suppliers. The Atlantic Star is fishing for striped bass 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

<b>Neptune</b>

Blackfishing boated no limit, but all anglers had the fish, on the ocean aboard Saturday, a good day on the water, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>. That was the year’s first fishing on board, and a trip was weathered out Sunday that was planned to fish for cod, pollock, winter flounder and ling. The only individual-reservation trip for sea bass with openings is on June 8. Several of the trips are filled before then, and sea bass season will be open May 23 through June 19, less than a month. Individual-reservation trips for cod will fish offshore July 13 and 27 and August 3, 17 and 31. Fish for cod in shorts! Those trips have been good with Last Lady. Annual individual-reservation trips for fluke every Tuesday will kick off on June 21. Kids under 12 sail free on those trips, limited to one per adult host. <b>***Update, Tuesday, 5/3:***</b> Space is available Saturday for an individual-reservation wreck-fishing trip inshore, because half the anglers canceled for a charter that day, Ralph wrote in an email. Contact him if you’re an individual or a small group up to six. An individual-rez trip will also fish inshore wrecks Sunday, May 15, for cod, pollock, winter flounder and ling.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 5/3:***</b> No trips fished yesterday and today on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, because of weather, an email from the party boat said. Telephone to confirm whether Wednesday’s trip will sail. Bluefishing was good a couple of days last week, “(but) they shut down over the weekend,” it said.  The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Bluefish were picked Thursday, not great angling, but significant improvement, on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the party boat’s website said. The morning fished better than the afternoon, and the 6- to 10-pounders were hooked on Run Off crocodiles and hammered jigs. The crocs seemed to catch slightly better. No report was posted for Friday, and fishing was tough on Saturday’s trip. Plenty of readings were marked, “but they just didn’t want to bite,” the report said. The trip covered lots of ocean, from inshore to offshore and north to south. “But it was the same everywhere,” it said. Wind, rain and cold made for a tough trip Sunday, and today’s trip was cancelled because of forecasts. The Golden Eagle is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> finished blackfishing with some good catches on the ocean, Capt. Pete said. Blackfish season closed beginning Sunday, and now trips will search for striped bass on the ocean. Some good dates remain for the charters in June. Pete will also run <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/belmar-fishing-trips/striped-bass-magic-hour-schedule" target="_blank">striper trips on the Captain Cal</a>, the Belmar party boat, with livelined bunker with a limited number of passengers. Reserve the trips to ensure dates. Bluefishing was hit and miss on the ocean. Blues schooled off Shark River Inlet on Saturday evening. For Parker Pete’s, don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Book an individual space on a charter that needs anglers. Visit <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. Also see a trip calendar, where available dates are posted, on the site.

<b>Brielle</b>

“What’s been happening?” Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b> was asked. Bluefish, he said. Blues were fought on Manasquan River from Route 70 Bridge to Point Pleasant Canal. The fish to 20 pounds were wrestled from Manasquan Inlet. Metal and jigs hooked them, but popper lures hit quite a few, depending on when. Scattered reports talked about weakfish, not a lot, but some, from the river from Route 70 Bridge through Treasure Island. A handful of striped bass, 24-inch throwbacks to just-keeper-sized or 28 or 29 inches, were reeled from Point Pleasant Canal on bucktails swung across current, picking through bluefish to catch them. In the surf, blues were banked consistently on bunker chunks, and stripers, mostly throwbacks, were kind of picked on clams, sometimes swim shads or small plugs. Boating for striped bass, including 30 pounds, was good on Raritan Bay on chunked or livelined bunker and on the troll. Blackfish season ended with a bang, before closing beginning Sunday. Lots of good catches of them, including quite a few 13-pounders, were made. Cod fishing was fair, or if a trip fished the right wreck, was pretty good. If the right wreck wasn’t fished, pout, silver eels or catches like that bit.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

The ocean held a heave from east and current ran during blackfishing Saturday, the final day of blackfish season, on the <b>Norma-K III</b>, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the party boat’s website. The angling was slow at first, landing throwbacks and a keeper here and there, but improved. Then more keepers were in the mix. The high hook limited out, some anglers bagged one to three, and some hooked no blackfish. “It was nice to see a few new anglers catching a few as well,” he said. Trips are now fishing for ling and cod 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily until fishing for fluke beginning May 21, opening day of fluke season.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Big blues assaulted the surf, and small to keeper striped bass were in the mix, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. This was no time for light rods, because the blues weighed up to 16 pounds and heavier. Bait-fishers dunked cut bait and clams, and anglers fishing artificials threw metal, swimming lures and popping plugs. Remove front hooks when fishing for large blues. The fish will almost always get hooked on the rear hook, and the front hook will swing wildly when you try to unhook the fish. In Barnegat Bay, small to medium-sized blues swam usual spots, and small stripers bit along bridges at night.  The Dock Outfitters, located on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a bait and tackle shop, a café, a dock for fishing and crabbing and, in season, boat and jet-ski rentals.

<b>Barnegat</b>

From an edited email today from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “Today was our third successful trip in a row of catching stripers and blues in the bay. Yesterday I had Gene Linder and Chuck Bababooey from Philadelphia and Johnny O'Kinsky from Toms River aboard, and we boated a pair of 17-pound stripers while anchored up clamming in Oyster Creek Channel. Outgoing tide is working well. After that we bounced around a few places looking for the gator blues, and we finally found them on the west side of the bay, behind Waretown, in 5 feet of water. It took a half-hour of casting to draw the first strike on a popper, but then it just got better and better with each drift, until multiple hook-ups were the norm. All 10- to 16-pound fish on 10-pound spinning gear and top-water lures. Today I had one angler on board, Jim Soch from West Windsor, and we gave it a short try on the clam, because our priority was top-water blues. We got an 18-pound bass on the clam in Oyster Creek. Here's a short <a href="https://youtu.be/yJQH4kxwbVY " target="_blank">YouTube clip of the last few minutes</a>. Again, we retreated to the west side of the bay, and after a good hour of searching and not catching, we came across a small aluminum boat with two guys who had them blowing up on their lures in real shallow water. We gave them a respectable distance, went on the drift, and started to get in on the action ourselves. I don't know if I would have looked that shallow, so thanks to those guys for putting us on them. Starting Wednesday, we’ll sail open-boat or charter every day through Monday. An early look at the marine weather forecast has me thinking that we’ll fish the bay at least until Saturday, unless the wind finally decides to blow west or northwest to flatten out the ocean. Fine by me -- the inside fishing is awesome! We’ll time each trip to catch the outgoing tide for a few hours of clamming stripers mixed in with a few hours of casting lures at big bluefish, all in the bay. We could be getting out in the ocean by Sunday and Monday to start hunting those big early-season stripers. If the ocean is still too rough, we’ll continue with the bay fishery. Three people max on the open-boat. The number of people is flexible on charters. All fish are shared. Everything provided. Just bring whatever you want to eat and drink. If you have your own rod that you like to use, bring it. Call to reserve.”

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Bluefish, 10-pounders, some, were weighed from Graveling Point and Pebble Beach at <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>, a report said on the shop’s website. Incoming tides seemed to fish best, and no striped bass and drum were reported caught from there lately Anglers might’ve still caught them, because a good amount of clams and bloodworms were sold. The same people bought the baits every couple of days. Clams and bloods are fished for stripers, and clams are soaked for drum. Those two fish will mostly bite at night. The blues will bite everything from clams, bunker and mackerel to plugs. Graveling and Pebble are shore-angling spots at the confluence of Great Bay and Mullica River. The water was 53 degrees.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Surf anglers sometimes banked big bluefish and a 12-pound drum Saturday, Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b> wrote in a report on the shop’s website. Lots of baitfish schooled the water lately, and the shop’s frozen mullet hooked the blues best. The drum was taken on frozen, salted clam. Fresh clams were small previously, but are good-sized now and are supposed to be stocked Tuesday. Bloodworms will also be stocked. Andy would fish clams if trying for stripers and drum on the beach. Photos of big stripers caught were posted around the Internet. None was heard about from Brigantine’s surf, but they’ll arrive this week, Andy thinks. “We are ready for the action to bust wide open,” he said, and the shop will be open at 6 a.m. during the week.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Large striped bass began to show, and a striper tournament got underway at <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>, Noel said. The stripers seemed to be post-spawners that depart rivers, heading for the ocean, each spring. A 25.2-pounder and a 24-pound 40-incher were weighed-in this morning. Stripers checked-in recently also included a 47-incher, a 44-incher, a 40-inch 22-pounder and a 37-incher. All were landed from the side jetties that line Absecon Inlet. They were yet to come from the ocean surf outside the inlet, like along the T-jetty, at the ocean end of the inlet. But stripers come from there next each spring. The tournament will award $250, $150 and $100 for first through third places, respectively, for the three largest stripers. Anglers must register at the shop before making the catch, and weigh the fish at the store. Lots of big bluefish were beaten from the surf at the T and nearby. Eleven- and 12-pounders were a dime a dozen, he said, and 35 must’ve been weighed from Friday to today at the shop. The stripers and blues were hooked on fresh clam, fresh bunker and bloodworms. Pink Zooms and Tsunamis in bunker color caught some, but most bit bait. All these baits and more, a large supply, are stocked. Fresh bunker are $2 apiece or three for $5.  Bloodworms are on special on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for $20 for two dozen.

<b>Longport</b>

<b>Stray Cat</b> is being repowered and will probably begin fishing once sea bass season is opened, Capt. Mike said. The season will be opened beginning May 23, and trips will get after them. The boat fished from the Florida Keys in winter to early spring, and on the way to homeport in Longport was brought to Crisfield, Md., where the vessel was built, for the repower. One engine arrived at the shop, and Mike waited for the other to arrive.

<b>Ocean City</b>

The party boat <b>Miss Ocean City</b> will begin fishing for the year with daily summer flounder trips on the back bay beginning May 21, Capt. Victor said. That’s opening day of flounder season, and trips will also sail for sea bass on the ocean, once sea bass season is opened beginning May 23.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Joe Pewdo and crew bluefished on the back bay aboard Saturday, but the angling was tough, and only one striped bass was landed, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The angling was great for large blues, lots, previously, covered in previous reports here. It should pick back up, and the angling sometimes drops off like that. Previous trips whacked the slammers on soft-plastic lures on lead jigheads and Clouser flies. Trips Thursday, Friday and Sunday were weathered out. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Four blackfish trips were weathered out in April with <b>Fins & Grins Sport Fishing</b>, Capt. Jim said. Blackfish season was only open that month, and drum fishing on Delaware Bay will be some of the next fishing aboard. That angling sails throughout May, and a few drum were already boated on the bay. Jim used to gillnet and find drum and weakfish in the nets in early April on the bay. Drum seem to begin biting on hook and line when the water reaches 55 degrees, and the water was probably 53 or 54 degrees currently. Drum were also heaved from the bay’s surf. Trips will also sail for striped bass now, and stripers were also landed from the bay’s surf. A buddy lives at Sunray Beach, and the fish were sometimes banked there. Places like along the Cape May ferry jetty also gave up the catches. Bluefish, fairly big, began to show up in the back bay. Crabbing was fantastic on the back bay. The blueclaws began to be trapped three weeks ago, and the catches really improved now. Fins offers crabbing aboard in summer, even. Enjoy yourself aboard and let the captain find the hardshells. Fins is slated to fish every day, and reservations aren’t required but suggested. Telephone for availability.

<b>Cape May</b>

Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> knew about three or four trips that tried for drum on Delaware Bay on Saturday, but the angling was slow, he said. Sharks and skates bit, and a few drum had begun to be boated on the bay, he reported here a week ago. They were landed on the New Jersey side, and the season’s first drum trip is currently slated for May 14 on the Heavy Hitter. But George might get a couple of anglers together and scope out the fishing this weekend. Charters will fish for sea bass on the ocean once sea bass season is opened beginning May 23. Summer flounder season will be opened beginning May 21, but flounder trips aboard will start later, when the ocean warms. The flounder trips usually fish the ocean reefs. In other news, a few striped bass were beached from the surf in town. None of the big bluefish were heard about locally that were caught elsewhere, like toward Ocean City. Weather was rough Sunday in the rain, and few boats fished that day. Saturday’s weather was better, but northeast wind still blew.

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