<b>South Amboy</b>

The five anglers aboard today clobbered striped bass the whole trip, 15 minutes from the dock, with <b>Reel World Charters</b>, Capt. James said. That was the first trip of the year with anglers on the boat, and many of the bass were throwbacks, but all the anglers limited out. The stripers, up to 36 inches, and a few small blues, were clammed. Charters are being booked for spring striper fishing, and some choice dates remain. Trips for fluke and all species available through the season are also being booked. Active and retired military, first responders and law enforcement get a $50 discount. To get the discount, please call ahead and let Reel Class know.

<b>Keyport</b>

All trips were limiting out on striped bass aboard, said Capt. Fred from <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>. “As good as it gets,” he said. Most of the fish, caught on Raritan Bay, were trolled on lures, but a trip today was supposed to try bunker-chunking. The fish were only 5 minutes from the dock. Anglers on board began catching striped like this at the end of March. “Really unheard of,” Fred said. “It’s pretty amazing.” Andrea’s Toy will fish for stripers from Keyport probably another two or three weeks. Then the boat will be moved to Point Pleasant Beach to fish for the migration of stripers on the ocean. The big stripers to 40 and 50 pounds should appear before too long.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Striped bass, very good catches, were clocked from the ocean to Raritan Bay, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. At both places, boaters and surf casters caught them. Ocean boaters clammed them, but sometimes jigged them to the south, when stripers swam the surface. Ocean surf anglers mostly clammed, but worms and bunker chunks could also work. Bay boaters clammed, trolled and started to bunker-chunk. The bay’s surf anglers clammed and wormed. Bunker schooled at the Spy House and the Keansburg Pier. Days with calm winds were needed to see the baitfish anywhere. Winter flounder had been reported caught when flounder season opened last week. But little was heard about them since, probably because of the two-fish bag limit and the late-opening season. Bottom fishing for ling and blackfish produced, though the full moon was coming, and that wouldn’t help. Julian’s is open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and baits are entirely stocked. That includes lots of fresh bunker.

Striped bass fishing was excellent Tuesday aboard, Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> said in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Amazing what a slight change in winds to northwest from the previous day’s north did, he said. An angler with a 23-pound striper took the lead in the springtime pool on Tuesday’s trip. The trip clammed for stripers at first. The fish were picked, so the trip moved. “Glad we did,” Ron said. Gannets hit the waters, the fish finder became alive, “and the bite was on!” he said. Anglers jigged a load of stripers. Krocodiles and rubber shads were the hot lures, because the bass fed on bunker and herring. No other report was posted on the site since a report Sunday, covered here in the last report. Check out a <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpdLqiX4Fvw&feature=player_embedded
" target="_blank">video of Tuesday’s trip</a>. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Fishing for striped bass wasn’t quite as good so far on this morning’s trip as on Wednesday morning’s trip, but a handful of keepers were bagged, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, in a phone call on the trip at 10 a.m. All the bass that bit were keepers so far this morning. Wednesday morning’s catch was good, and too few anglers showed up at the marina for Wednesday afternoon’s trip to sail. Trips were clamming the bass. “Pretty nice fishing,” Tom said. “See a couple. Wait. And see a couple.” The Atlantic Star is fishing for striped bass on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. However, only the morning trip will sail on Easter. <b>***Update, Thursday, 4/5:***</b> The morning trip today ended up with a good catch, “an all-around good day,” Tom said. “Nothing spectacular, but quite a few fish caught.” Most were keepers, and only a couple were shorts. The afternoon trip’s catch was about the same, and some of the anglers scored quite well. All the bass landed were keepers, except one was a short. John Pavelchak, Garfield, won the pool with an 18-pounder and limited out.

<b>Highlands</b>

A large body of striped bass stretched from the ocean to Raritan Bay, and trips aboard caught them, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. Trips the last couple of days clammed the bass on the ocean. Stripers were mostly trolled except once were bunker-chunked on the boat through the weekend on the back of the bay. Lots of bunker schooled, and anglers aboard will probably try bunker-chunking again next week. Eventually Fisher Price will focus on livelining bunker for stripers, when the fish respond well to that this season. Currently stripers were clammed, trolled and bunker-chunked from the ocean to the bay. “So, you know,” Derek said. “They’re here.” But stripers that were jigged on the ocean farther south were heard about. He saw no bluefish yet this season, but a few will probably start to be seen in a week or two. Some good dates remain for charters from this month to June for stripers and bottom fishing. Open-boat trips are also fishing for stripers, and two spots are available for one of the trips Saturday. Call to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open dates. 

Twenty striped bass were landed off Sandy Hook Point on a trip that Anthony Pennemede ran from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Wayne said. The fish were probably clammed. The charter boat Hyper Striper is supposed to sail on its first trip of the year Friday, fishing for stripers. Another charter from the marina is supposed to begin fishing this weekend. Vessels were just beginning to launch from the marina this season. Nothing was heard about winter flounder, but somebody castnetting for bait wound up with a summer flounder that was released. Bunker were around. Fresh clams are supposed to arrive at the marina’s tackle shop Friday. Clam bellies are also ordered to arrive that day.

<b>Belmar</b>

Anglers picked at blackfish, including good-sized, and landed ling Tuesday on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. Then the trip ran across striped bass, and the anglers limited out on them. Wednesday’s trip limited out on blackfish to 7 ½ or 8 pounds with 16 anglers aboard. The tog on the trips chomped green crabs, tiger crabs and white crabs. Green crabs are provided on board, and tigers worked best. Other crabs like whites are for sale on the boat, at better prices than stores, when available. But they were unavailable lately. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. In other news, the annual Shark River Surf Anglers Trout Tournament will be held 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Spring Lake. Open to kids 15 and younger, the tournament is free and known for big trout. More than 500 trout – rainbows, goldens, tigers, brooks and browns – from 14 to 31 inches or 12 pounds were stocked for the event. See info on <a href="http://www.sharkriversurfanglers.com/contest.htm" target="_blank">Shark River Surf Anglers’ Web site</a>. Check out the great prizes, and all entered will receive a prize. “Please come on down,” Chris said. All are welcome.

The ocean already held striped bass, and <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b> is booking trips for the fish and blackfish, Capt. Jared said. The crew is finishing up prepping the boat to begin Fin-Ominal’s season. Fin-Ominal this year is running a new, larger boat that can accommodate large groups to 15 or 18 people, and still cruise at 23 knots. Next up will be trips for blues and fluke, then sharks, followed by tuna. The tournaments like Mako Mania and the Brett T. Bailey Mako Rodeo are available for charter, and Fin-Ominal has won some in recent years, including last year’s Brett T. Bailey. Fin-Ominal’s previous boat is <b><i>***For Sale***</i></b>: See the beautiful <a href=" http://www.finominalcharters.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=8" target="_blank">42-foot sportfisherman</a> on Fin-Ominal’s Web site.

<b>***Update, Friday, 4/6:***</b> Boating for striped bass on the ocean was the big thing, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. Anglers on both party boats and private boats did a number on the stripers, jigging the fish. Krocodiles, “Jersey Krocs,” Bob said, and gold Ava 47’s and 67’s caught the best. Surf fishing’s “not that great,” Bob said. Stripers were sometimes surf-caught, but not like on boats. A couple of the Belmar party boats blackfished, rounding up okay catches. Sometimes they mixed in striper fishing, for a combo. Shark River’s winter flounder fishing became slow. Apparently the fish migrated out. All baits are stocked, including trout bait for the opening of trout season Saturday.

<b>Brielle</b>

Good catches of ling continued to be piled up on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, Capt. Ryan said in an e-mail. A few cod were mixed in on some days. Ling fishing aboard was very good on Friday and okay, not as good, on Sunday. A trip Saturday didn’t sail. Anglers and their catches included: John Cho, Manhattan, 60 ling; On Lam, Staten Island, 52 ling and a lobster; Gary Leung, New York City, 45 ling; Tim Dickerson, Wanague, 41 ling, including the 5-pound pool-winner; and Lonnie Thompson, Jersey City, 37 ling. The Jamaica II is fishing for ling and cod 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and Sundays and 3 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

“All indications are that we’re in for an awesome spring run of stripers!” Carl LaManna, owner of <b>Canyon River Club Marina</b>, said in an e-mail. He, Lou DeRosa and Mark Hutchingson motored to the ocean Thursday on Carl’s first trip of the season. They nailed six striped bass 16 to 34 pounds 2 miles south of Seaside Park in less than 3 hours. The ocean was 49 degrees and flat calm. Canyon River Club Marina, located on Manasquan River, with no bridges before the inlet, features all the amenities. Carl’s about to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his restaurant <a href="http://709pointbeach.com/" target="_blank">709 Point Beach</a> in Point Pleasant Beach.

Daily fishing for striped bass will launch Friday on the party boat <b>Norma K</b>, Capt. Matt said. Trips will jig for them on the ocean 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. That will probably be the schedule until fluke trips begin aboard when fluke season opens May 5.

The crew sailed the party boat <b>Gambler</b> back from the yard on the ocean today, saw birds working the waters, stopped, and limited out on striped bass in 15 minutes, Capt. Bob said. It was amazing, he said, really good fishing, on jigs. The bass were good-sized, too. Trips will start fishing for stripers 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily on Friday. No trip will run on Easter. Tilefish trips offshore are slated for Saturday, April 21, Wednesday, April 25, and Saturday, April 28. Bob believed openings are available on the first two trips but the last trip is full, but call to confirm. Visit <a href="http://www.gamblerfishing.net/" target="_blank">Gambler’s Web site</a> for info.

Mostly ling were booted aboard the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. A few blackfish, legal to keep since the season for them opened Sunday, were in the mix. Only an occasional cod or pollock, two or three per day, were landed by this time of the season. Anglers averaged 12 to 24 fish apiece, and trips fished in 100 to 130 feet, staying shallow. A trip tried fishing deep the other day, running into big silver eels and dogfish, “knocked the daylights out of (them),” Butch said. Waters on the fishing grounds were 47 degrees, cooling from 51 previously. See any striped bass? Butch was asked. “Boy, did I ever,” he answered. Five miles of stripers were probably seen close to shore the other day, and nobody was fishing for them. On Tuesday another 5 miles of stripers was seen, but 10 miles from shore, beyond the 3-mile limit where stripers are legal to catch. A Coast Guard cutter was patrolling there among birds working the waters, apparently making sure nobody fished for the bass. Plenty of bait schooled close to shore for stripers to feed on. Waters close to the beach were loaded with bunker and herring. No bluefish were seen yet on trips, but Butch heard about a few blues caught, and saw blues at the fish market. The blues he heard about were 5 pounds, smaller than usual this time of year. A gill netter said a half-dozen blues were among a catch 5 miles from shore. The Dauntless is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

Winter flounder mostly migrated out from Toms River, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Anglers might dredge up one or two, if they put in the time, but the fishing was mostly finished for the season. Flounder were picked in Barnegat Bay at Meyer’s Hole, Oyster Creek Channel and south of the BB marker. Warming waters were causing the fish to move to the ocean, but flounder were to be had on the bay. The flatties were also swung in from the bay farther north at the Mantoloking Bridge, and the fish were migrating through the Point Pleasant Canal, heading to Manasquan River then the ocean. Keeper blackfish could be copped at the canal. One customer bagged 15-inchers, and Murphy’s is now stocking green crabs for bait for the tog, since the season opened for them Sunday. Back in the Toms River, one customer pulled in an 18-inch striped bass and some white perch on a trip. “So that’s starting now,” Dennis said. A few small stripers were landed at the west end bulkhead on the river when anglers fished in evenings after work. Stripers 20 or 22 inches were played along the Route 37 Bridge from kayaks and small boats on white Rapalas and twister tails. A rumor was heard about “another bluefish,” Dennis said, that was caught at Oyster Creek, the creek at the Forked River power plant. Dennis planned to troll Barnegat Bay off the creek to see if any blues schooled yet. Crabbing was improving, and Dennis nabbed a couple of dozen of the blueclaws in his pots. A few anglers fished the surf, clamming a few short striped bass, sometimes a keeper. No keepers were weighed in so far, but surf fishing was improving. Murphy’s is open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily except until 5 p.m. Sundays. Fresh clams, sandworms, bloodworms, green crabs, killies, shiners, all the trout worms for the opening of trout season Saturday, and frozen baits are stocked.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Schools of striped bass swam a mile or two from the coast, mostly getting jigged on Krocodiles or Storm Shads, seeming mostly to turn on in afternoons, said Scott from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. A few stripers were dragged from the surf, “nothing great,” Scott said, usually on clams. Stripers were picked in Barnegat Bay at usual spots on bait during daytime and lures at night. Nothing was heard about winter flounder, probably because of the two-fish bag limit. Bluefish sometimes swam the inlets at slack tides. Green crabs were just stocked for blackfish bait, and a few anglers began trying for the tog at the jetties, but no results were heard. Fresh clams, bloodworms and sandworms are also stocked.

<b>Forked River</b>

Oyster Creek turned up striped bass and white perch, said Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. The stripers were clammed or bloodwormed, and winter flounder were boated off the mouth of the creek and Windows on the Bay on Barnegat Bay. On the ocean stripers were jigged off the Coast Guard Station in 30 feet. Fresh clams will be stocked in the next day, and bloodworms, killies, chum logs and all the frozen baits are carried.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

At <b>Bobbie’s Boats</b> customers cracked winter flounder, okay catches, at Meyer’s Hole and Double Creek Channel, Vince Sr. said. Small pieces of squid and sandworms caught them, and customers fished for blackfish along the Barnegat Inlet rocks on Tuesday for the first time since the season for them opened Sunday, scoring well, bagging four. Boaters on the ocean socked good fishing for striped bass on jigs or trolled bunker spoons. Bunker schooled the waters. Nothing was heard about bluefish yet this season. Winds often blew, limiting days anglers could fish. Bobbie’s is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily but is closed Tuesdays. Hours will be extended to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting Memorial Day weekend. The rental boats are available, and baits stocked include fresh clams, sandworms, chum logs and all the frozen baits.

<b>Surf City</b>

A few short striped bass were cranked from the surf, said Bruce from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Stripers, blues and drum were banked at Graveling Point. “That’s about it,” Bruce said. The shop is now open full time, and fresh clams, bloodworms and sandworms are stocked, and fresh bunker is carried when available. The bunker had run out this afternoon, but more was expected today or Friday.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

In the Graveling Point area, anglers still banked striped bass, drum and bluefish, though they didn’t whale them in recent days like before, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Lots were beached Thursday. Then the angling became slower. But anglers never knew when the next wave of fish would come through. Clams were the dominant bait, but herring and bloodworms sometimes drew strikes. Ocean herring could be fished, but blueback herring or alewives were prohibited. Stripers were most definitely angled on the Mullica River. Lots were crushed on the river at Hay Road on Sunday evening, for example. Grass shrimp “flew out,” Scott said, or lots were sold. So white perch had to be caught someplace, though nothing specific was heard. Weather was too windy for boaters to sail for blackfish since the season for them opened Sunday. The shop’s supply of fresh, shucked clams, bloodworms, live grass shrimp and all baits usually carried was in good shape.

<b>Absecon</b>

Fishing was good, and striped bass were scattered but around, and most seemed to swim the rivers, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. A large migration of herring ran Mullica and Great Egg Harbor rivers, anglers kept saying, now that the river herring became prohibited to possess this year. Sometimes stripers were found among them, and anglers tried to figure out the best bait to catch them, now that they couldn’t fish with the herring. Stripers were tugged from the bays, but nobody located a load in any one place. If an angler sat long enough, fishing with clam, a hit would be nailed. Dave ran his first charter of the season Sunday, and a keeper striper and a short were eased in from the inland waterway. Blackfishing was very good at the Brigantine Bridge since the tog season opened Sunday. The shop’s worker Eian Donati limited out on blackfish nearly every trip, tackling a 7-1/2-pounder this morning. Big white perch swam the rivers but were scattered. The perch seemed to be spawning upstream. When the weekend’s full moon passes, the perching will probably turn on a lot. Large bluefish were swiped on the Mullica upstream from the Parkway Bridge and at the bridge, and at Beesley’s Point on Great Egg Harbor. Fresh clams, bloodworms and green crabs are stocked. Fresh bunker were difficult to obtain, but Dave was trying to stock them.

<b>Brigantine</b>

A 22-pound 37-inch striped bass, a fat one, was checked in from the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Lou Borkowski clammed the fish, the only sizeable striper from the island’s shore at the shop in past days. Small stripers 12 or 14 inches were sometimes flung in from the shore. A run of large stripers stormed the Brigantine surf two Saturdays ago, and now anglers waited for more. No bluefish were reported caught from the surf in 10 days. Back then, large blues, including a 33-incher checked in, were sometimes fought from the waters. Boaters on the back bay began to plug stripers on top-waters. Fresh clams and bloodworms are stocked.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Many surf anglers limited out on blackfish along the jetties since the season for the fish opened Sunday, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Places they caught included off the Flagship and Melrose, Atlantic and Pacific avenues. Green crabs whacked them. Blues and striped bass, more blues than bass, were beached from the surf and winged from the back bay. The bass bit fresh clams, fresh bunker, bloodworms and eels. Plenty of bait swam the different waters. Fresh bunker stocked today were caught off the Taj Mahal. “So it should be happening any time,” Noel said. All the baits mentioned and more, the full supply, are stocked. Catch deals on three bunker for $5, a dozen bloodworms for $10, a dozen green crabs for $4 or three dozen greenies for $10.

<b>Margate</b>

Capt. John from the party boat <b>Keeper</b> will return to Margate in the next week to prepare to vessel to begin summer flounder fishing on the back bay, when flounder season opens May 5, he said. He spends winters in Florida, including commercial fishing from there. Surely flounder already swam the bay at Margate, and they did this time last year. The boat might pre-fish for flounder starting the weekend before the opener. Customers then would be able to catch and release the fish. On May 5 the Keeper will begin summer flounder fishing twice daily 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The fare is only $24 per adult.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Sunnier, calmer weather rolled in, and fishing seemed somewhat better as a result, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. A few striped bass, bluefish and blackfish were hung, not a lot, but fish were around. Striper fishing picked up a little in the weather, and the fish were spread from the surf to the inlets to the back bay. Most were clammed, unless anglers fished for them at night under lights. Then they cast lures like Fin-S Fish. A few blues were seen, and more seemed to appear a couple of weeks ago. Currently most blues seemed to bite at night under bridge lights when anglers fished for stripers. A few anglers boated for blackfish once the season for them opened Sunday, and all caught. Townsend’s Inlet Reef and Ocean City Reef reportedly held decent numbers. Fresh clams, bloodworms and green crabs are stocked, and the shop is open full time.

<b>Cape May</b>

Nothing was heard about striped bass fishing and drum fishing on Delaware Bay in the past days, said Capt. Dave from <b>Relentless Sport Fishing</b>. The boat was being prepped for the season, and will probably be splashed this weekend or by the middle of next week. Then trips for stripers will be available, and drum fishing aboard will kick off afterward. Summer flounder charters will be on tap when flounder season opens May 5.

Two trips sailed for blackfish on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> since blackfish season opened Sunday, Capt. Paul said. A bunch of the fish bit, but many were small. Maybe trips needed to fish at a different place, but that will be seen. Still, two anglers limited out on the tog among 13 anglers on a trip aboard Wednesday. Many of the slipperies were throwbacks, but all the anglers bagged at least one or two keepers. Anglers with limits of blackfish aboard this week included Alex Levantovsky from Philly and Ray Spohn from Blackwood. The Porgy IV is blackfishing at 8 a.m. daily.

Surf casters beat fairly good catches of striped bass along the shore of Delaware Bay at Higbee’s Beach and the Cape May ferry jetty, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. They soaked bloodworms or worked Bomber lures. Not much was heard about bluefish so far this season, but lots of bait filled waters. Bunker schooled Delaware Bay, and birds worked bait along the ocean front. Boaters on the bay came against dogfish, had to pick through them to land stripers. Bug Light, the Horseshoe and the Pintop were some main places. Small stripers put up action off Coxall Creek for the bay’s boaters. Reports about drum catches came from the bay earlier in the season. After this weekend’s full moon fishing could break open, because the moon might be triggering different fish to spawn. Blackfishing did a job on catches at the jetties and bridges once the season for the tog opened Sunday. The jetties at Cold Spring Inlet were a solid place to reel them in. Fresh clams, bloodworms, green crabs and, when available, fresh bunker are stocked. A netter was out today to try to catch bunker.

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