Welcome to the 2010 fishing season! After being updated once a week in winter through March, this report now resumes being updated every Monday and Thursday through fall, the usual schedule.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Cliffwood Beach anglers bailed striped bass all night Wednesday, said Joe from <b>Julian’s  Bait & Tackle</b>. Keansburg Pier anglers also reeled up the fish. Short striper were beached at Sandy Hook. Striper anglers mostly fished with clams, sometimes with sandworms or bloodworms. Those baits and all the baits are stocked. Jimmy from the shop and a friend last week pounded a good catch of stripers, limiting out, on the bay off Keansburg by boat. Not much was heard about winter flounder fishing, and maybe few tried for them, but the weather was terrible for boating for the flatties in the past days.

A trip for winter flounder this morning was the first that fished since Sunday on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, because of the storm, Capt. Tom said. A couple of keepers and a handful of shorts were tugged in from the Shrewsbury River around the slack tide in waters full of grass and weeds that were probably a problem. The high tides and runoff from the storm caused the debris. The bigger flounder came on clams, and the smaller ones on sandworms. No trip ran in the afternoon because of lack of anglers. Trips, including this morning’s, were running with a handful of anglers, but the boat is still fishing with them. Forecasts are calling for clear, calm weather through the weekend, and maybe that will help the waters clean up, improving catches. The Atlantic Star is fishing for winter flounder twice daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., but only the morning trip will sail this Easter Sunday. Clams and worms are supplied for bait.

<b>Highlands</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 4/2***</b>: Capt. Bob from <b>Sandy Hook Fishing Adventures</b> hit the beach on Raritan Bay at Belford on Thursday after dark, he said in an e-mail. “Was just looking to relax in between working on the boat and pumping out the basement,” he said. He clammed four striped bass 22 to 26 inches and scored a couple of runoffs in 3 ½ hours. That was a good sign, and striper fishing will only get better, he said. The vessel will be in the waters and ready to fish April 15 on full-day, half-day and evening charters. Open-boat trips will sail when no charter is booked. Special after-work trips, both charters and open-boat, will run 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. starting May 3. To be notified about the open-boat dates, call Bob or  <a href="mailto:captbob@sandyhookfishing.com" target="_blank">e-mail</a> him.

<b>Belmar</b>

Lots more anglers started to show up at the shop, said Bob at <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. Winter flounder were sometimes caught from Shark River, but the weather for the best conditions was lacking. Waters were currently dirty from the storm, and anglers were either getting a clear day like today with dirty waters from the rains or were getting the rainstorms themselves. They needed clear days to coincide with times when the waters cleaned up. One of the local party boats scored well on cod, many of them shorts, but including keepers. The trips angled up ling, cod and blackfish. Few anglers said they fished for striped bass in the local surf. But stripers were clocked in the bays farther north and south. Local surf fishing always turns on after the season’s first bay fishing does. The shop was gearing up for the opening of trout season on April 10. The store is open every day except during weather that’s too rough, usually until 4 p.m. on weekdays and at least 6 p.m. on weekdays, and the hours will be extended as the season goes on. Rental boats are in the waters for Shark River’s winter flounder fishing.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

Mostly ling and cod were rustled up on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, alright fishing, not great, but at least some catches, Capt. Butch said. A few blackfish began to chomp but were tiny. The vessel last fished during the weekend, and none of the fleet fished Monday to Wednesday, because of the storm. Waters were 40 to 41 degrees in the deep in 120 to 220 feet where the Dauntless fished. Water temps were consistently over 40 now, but if the intense rains continue, that won’t help them rise. No mackerel were seen on trips, but the migration could show up any time. The boat mixes in mackerel fishing with bottom fishing when macks migrate close enough to shore during spring. That doesn’t happen every year, and failed to happen in recent years, but every year can be different. None of the commercial boats at the dock returned with macks lately, though Butch previously reported that they began to nab a few.  The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, including on Easter.

Capt. Matt from the Norma K party-boat fleet heard little about the <b>Miss Norma K</b>’s winter flounder fishing, and thought the trips probably hadn’t fished much, he said. But the weather was terrible, and the trips, slated to run twice daily, are trying to head out. The boat fishes for the flatties on northern Barnegat Bay early in the season, following the migration to the Manasquan River later. The bigger boat, the <b>Norma K III</b>, is scheduled to begin bottom fishing this Friday though Sunday for ling, cod, pollock and blackfish at the Mudhole. The trips will afterward fish on Saturdays and Sundays during the day and also during the evenings on Magic Hour trips 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on both days. A trip is running this Friday only because it’s Good Friday. The bottom-fishing schedule will be increased to include more days during the week after a couple of weeks or so.

The crew from the party boat <b>Cock Robin</b> checked in with an e-mail giving an update on the boat. They were hard at work at seasonal maintenance on the vessel, and check out the <a href=" http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=154135&id=161124868147&ref=mf" target="_blank">fun photo gallery on the Cock Robin’s Facebook page</a>. The boat will start fishing as soon as striped bass and blues storm local waters. Stay tuned for info about plans for the vessel’s coming season, and keep an eye on the <a href=" http://www.cockrobin.com/" target="_blank">Cock Robin’s Web site</a> for the schedule and info that will be posted soon.

<b>Toms River</b>

Fishing began to bounce back quickly on the Toms River after the storm, though waters were somewhat dirty, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Jeff from the shop broke off probably a 13-pound striped bass on the river at Island Heights on Wednesday morning on a winter flounder rig and reeled in two flounder. Another angler in the afternoon at Island Heights landed four tiny stripers 8 to 12 inches, two flounder including a keeper, and a few white perch. Pretty good catches of perch were made on the river. Stripers continued to be pumped in from Oyster Creek, and flounder in that area moved  mostly to Barnegat Bay outside the creek. Stripers were taken from the bay at night at the Route 37 Bridge on bloodworms or Rapala X-Rap lures. Kayaking for them was productive, and a few anglers fishing from the bridge hooked up. Bunker were sometimes seen in the bay starting a week ago. A customer said he jigged his first herring of the season Wednesday at Manasquan Inlet on Sabiki’s. On northern Barnegat Bay near the Mantoloking Bridge, healthy catches of flounder, including lots of 2-pounders, were beaten. A half-dozen of the big flatties were weighed in from the Mantoloking area. Pretty much all the baits including bloodworms and sandworms are stocked. Fresh clams will arrive Friday afternoon, and the clam boat was sailing for them today. Most of the trout baits, including all the worms, and tackle was on hand for opening day of the trout season April 10.  Meal worms, wax worms and fathead minnows will arrive around the middle of next week for the opener.

<b>Seaside</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 4/2***</b>: The surf reached 50 degrees and should warm more this weekend because of the stretch of good weather, said the report on <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b>’s Web site. The report page was down on Thursday. One angler weighed in a 7.6-pound 28-inch striped bass from the suds the other night, and few stripers were dragged in from the beaches here and there. Fresh clams are stocked for bait. Another angler checked in a 30-inch striper he plugged on Barnegat Bay in the middle of the day. A 2.95-pound weakfish was plopped on the scale that swiped a Fin-S Fish, and no location for the catch was included in the report. No crowds fished the surf in the stormy weather at the beginning of the week, of course. <a href="http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishing_reports.cfm" target="_blank">Click here</a> for updates.

 

<b>Forked River</b>

Bluefish popped up in Barnegat Bay, said Grizz from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. That was surprising, because the season was early for blues, and he couldn’t say where they came from, like maybe they were the blues that wintered in Oyster Creek, the warm-water discharge from the Forked River power plant. But, for example, anglers on one boat who fished for winter flounder on the bay socked 14 blues 3 or 4 pounds and two or three flounder in the middle of the bay along the Intracoastal Waterway. Anglers who flounder fished picked a few, no huge catches so far this season, and six decked on one vessel was the most Grizz heard were totaled on a trip. The flatties roamed Oyster Creek, the Toms River at Island Heights and the Intracoastal on the bay. Striped bass were knuckled in from Oyster Creek and the Toms. Bloodworms, sandworms, fresh clams, eels, trout worms, nightcrawlers, frozen baits and chum are stocked. The shop tried to stock green crabs, but none was available, and the storm wiped out the crab traps.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

No matter the incredible rains that continued this week, the few anglers who trudged out to Graveling Point bailed striped bass, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. High tide on Monday pushed the water up into the grass, but the shoreline anglers waxed the catches. One group of three anglers landed 39 of the fish in 2 hours. Another beached seven, including two keepers, in 3 hours. The fish in the past days were smaller than the unusually large ones like 21 pounds, 18 pounds and 16 pounds that were seen previously, and now the size was back to 8 to 32 inches. Yes, 8 inches. “Perch with stripes,” Scott joked. But the catches were made, and some were keepers. Another angler bagged two 32-inchers, one each on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Bloodworms and clams worked equally well to score for anglers at the Point. A few white perch were mixed in, and one angler reeled up a big eel, so eels seemed around. The rains put a crimp on some of the bait supply, and live shrimp, the favorite white perch bait, ran out, and waters were surely too flooded for Scott to put together a good catch of them for a re-supply at least during the rains. He attempted to catch minnows, but waters were extremely high, and he caught literally three. Bloodworms and fresh-shucked clams should be in fine supply for the weekend. Green crabs, the popular tog bait, are stocked, but nobody fished for tog in the seas from the storm. Boaters are likely to head back out during the calm weather forecast for the weekend, probably sailing for bottom fish like cod and ling, mixing in drops closer to shore for tog.

<b>Port Republic</b>

Mullica River anglers piled up white perch, said Violet from <b>Chestnut Neck Boat Yard</b>. They tossed bloodworms or grass shrimp for a nibble, and  bloods are stocked, and anglers can net their own grass shrimp, or the shop carries preserved ones. Good fishing for striped bass was belted on the river until this week’s storm knocked out the action. But now the striper fishing was coming back on. Bloodworms can be used for the bass or so can herring. A few herring started to migrate up the waters, and the baitfish will be stocked when the dock is repaired from the big nor’easter in mid March. That storm hammered the area.

<b>Absecon</b>

There’s no reason not to try to catch, now that the weather is clearing, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Reports were scarce because of the storm early in the week and dirty waters from the winds afterward. But once the waters settle in the current clear weather, this is the time to start expecting catches like striped bass. Stripers had been claimed from the rivers, typical for the early season. The local bays might start to give them up. The annual gift certificates of $100 apiece for the year’s first weigh-ins of a 20-pound striper and a 30-pound striper were still up for grabs. The certificates could be given away any moment, because bigger stripers could start to stir around. Dave heard about one in that class that was supposedly nailed on Great Bay. Even news about white perch fishing in the rivers was scarce because of the weather. One customer tried for tog on high tide today but didn’t do much. Again, word about fishing for them was hard to come by since the storm. Most baits are stocked, and fresh clams are expected Friday. Seemed like a good supply of live herring should be on hand for the weekend. Dave netted a few herring today in the dirty waters and hoped plenty more would begin to show up as the waters cleared in the next days. He recently returned from Guatemala, where he’s opening a new fishing charter service. His partner’s down there getting the boat ready, and Dave and he have been carefully preparing the boat so that it should be as nice a 25-foot fishing vessel as they come, Dave said. See info about the Guatemala fishing on <a href="http://www.fishguatemala.com/abseconbay/main.html" target="_blank">the store’s Web site</a>.

<b>Brigantine</b>

The season’s first striped bass, a 19-1/2-pound 38-1/2-incher, was checked in from the surf Saturday at <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>, Capt. Andy said. Scott Robins from Brigantine won the shop’s annual prize of a $100 gift certificate for the first weighed in from the island’s suds. He also beached a 30-incher that day, and those were the two stripers seen from the wash so far. Delaware Bay was loaded with the linesiders, and they’ll migrate north, including to local waters. The storm interrupted the fishing early in the week, but sharpies were back on the shore today in the clear weather. Clams were the bait to fish, and lots of fresh clams, both in the shell and shucked, are stocked, and so are bloodworms. Sign up for the Fish for Life Tournament at the shop for $20. The event features prizes for the first through third heaviest stripers entered, but many anglers enter for the pass that’s included with the entry fee that allows them to drive the entire length of Brigantine’s beach when accompanied by a beach permit from the town. The shop is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and at 7 a.m. on weekends. The doors will open at 5 a.m. as soon as the spring striper run begins.

<b>Longport</b>

No trips sailed because of the storm, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b>. In the last report he said he didn’t expect to sail because of the weather. But the vessel’s open-boat trips, running whenever enough anglers call to go, will now fish for tog on the inshore ocean 10 to 20 miles from shore. Previously they fished mostly for cod farther offshore. But waters somewhat warmed, and the tog should be snapping. The crew landed a few at the docks, and small tog were found in the crab traps, so the fish seemed to “make a move,” Mike said. Fishing for the blackfish is a specialty on the boat, and the crew’s been waiting for the time to be right. Six spots are left on Friday’s trip, and Saturday is sold out. No trip will run on Easter Sunday, but more might steam on Monday and Tuesday, depending on demand. The bluebird weather is forecast to remain through those days. Call to be kept informed of the schedule.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>.

Anglers really only started to fish again today, after weather that was still windy Wednesday, following the storm Monday and Tuesday, said Wes from <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. Some had already called asking for bait this morning. This weekend will probably be the first real one for fishing this year. Anglers could possibly be best off dunking clam, a whole squid or a whole mackerel fillet at the inlets or in the surf to try for striped bass. Southerly winds that are forecast could warm the days enough for a bite. Beach anglers might begin to see migrating herring, and the first week of April is a likely time to run across the first. Herring began to be seen in the rivers. Anglers waited to hear about the migration of mackerel farther from shore. Tog fishing at the bridges or jetties could be worth a shot, and small tog are usually the first to feed. Wes wasn’t asked about back-bay fishing, but the bay’s anglers will surely look for some of the season’s first stripers, fishing with baits such as clams or bloodworms at places such as holes or where warmer waters flow from creeks. Fresh clams and bloodworms are stocked, and Wes hopes green crabs will arrive later Friday. A fresh supply of frozen baits is in the freezers for the new year. Check out the rearranged shop for the season that includes new displays. New tackle will keeping coming in for the year gradually.

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>, traveled to fish in the Florida Keys one last time this season, he said. Afterward he’d trailer his flats boat back to New Jersey for angling for the rest of the season at Sea Isle City. He had already been fishing for striped bass on the back bay from Sea Isle on a Regulator he also runs on trips, but did no fishing for the linesiders during the week’s rough weather. Jersey Cape had been fishing on traveling charters to the Keys since winter. Upon arrival now, Joe and Jay Vonczoernig took a quick pole across the flats on Florida Bay off Islamorada, fly-rodding two bonnethead sharks on Joe’s version of a Black Death fly. Next, on another trip, Jay’s young son Luc landed four tarpon to 10 pounds at the dock before the boat left port. Then the boat was motored out on a hunt for tarpon on Florida Bay near Islamorada again, and one was hooked and jumped and threw the hook on the jump. A few more were sighted, and the trip was still on the waters targeting more when Joe gave this report over the phone. He wasn’t asked what the tarpon was hooked on. A ton of jack crevalles were also fly-rodded on that trip on Crease Flies, Clousers and Toad Flies. When Joe would return to Jersey, he’d resume striper fishing. He was considering running to Delaware Bay, because he heard about stripers arriving in the bay for about the last week. But striper fishing on the bay at Sea Isle could also heat up, and he’ll chase the fish wherever the action’s best.

<b>Ocean City</b>

A few striped bass started to be banked from the surf, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Clams drew the bites, and he heard about a couple of 27-inchers and a 29-incher. The bass from the back-waters started to show up more toward the inlets, so they were beginning to move around. Off 51st Street at the train bridge was also a place where some were tied into. No customers said they saw migrating herring, but the baitfish should appear any time as waters calm after the week’s storm. Tog, including fat ones full of roe, pounced on hooks from the bridges and jetties to all the reefs. Bloodworms, fresh clams both in the shell and shucked, and frozen mackerel, herring and other baits are stocked. No live baits like eels are carried but will arrive within a couple of weeks.

<b>Cape May</b>

Great news! <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b> is open for the season, Jim said. This is the first report from Cape May this year, and the port’s businesses typically begin to open now. But that’s not the only great news. Striped bass are getting caught on Delaware Bay! Customers today said they walloped 23 keeper stripers near Miah Maul. Stripers were previously boated in the shallows toward Bug Light, a usual early season spot, because the warmer shallows sometimes attract the fish in the early season. But they began to be creamed toward places like Miah Maul toward the shipping channel in the middle of the bay after the storm dirtied waters this week. Clams drilled all the catches Jim heard about, and fresh clams are stocked. Sometimes when stripers swim the shallows early in the year, they’re grabbed on plugs that imitate herring that migrate up the bay or on herring themselves. But Jim only heard about stripers pelted on clams so far, and wasn’t sure herring were seen in the bay, heard about none. The shop is open seven days a week unless the weather’s rough, but will be closed Easter Sunday. No set hours are held at this time of the season, but the doors are open during typical times, when the weather’s decent. Anglers can call ahead to confirm.

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