<b>South Amboy</b>

A couple of keeper striped bass and mostly bluefish were bunker-chunked Sunday with <b>Reel World Charters</b>, Capt. James said in a voicemail. The stripers bit early in the day on the trip, with the Gallagher party. Then the blues dominated. Choice dates remain for charters. Family trips are one of the specialties aboard. Active and retired military, first responders and law enforcement get a $50 discount on charters. To receive the discount, call ahead and let Reel World know. <b>***Update, Monday, 5/14:***</b> A fluke trip aboard this morning toggled in 16 of the flatfish including six keepers, James said in a voicemail. A striper trip in the afternoon rounded up three of the bass to 34 inches and all the blues anyone could want.

<b>Keyport</b>

Bluefish, good action on the slammers to 10 pounds, were clobbered Friday on Raritan Bay with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. The anglers, Gary Becker’s family from Martinsburg, Pa., fished with bunker chunks, live bunker and clams. Lots of bunker schooled. On Saturday a trip whaled a mess of blues to 13 pounds on the bay. A 21-inch fluke was also landed that grabbed a bait meant for striped bass. The anglers, Ken Critchloy, wife Donna and son Ken Jr., also fished with bunker chunks, live bunker and clams. Many boats filled the bay that day. Open-boat trips are available 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. daily when no charter is booked. Call to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fluke fishing was slow aboard the past couple of days, Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> said. Trips fished down the ocean beach to Flynn’s Knoll to Raritan Bay and all over. Shorts and some keepers were hooked every place, or the fish were spread everywhere. But waters were 59 degrees or cold, and the season was early. Fluke season didn’t even open until Memorial Day weekend last year. So the fluking wasn’t as good as Tom would like, but some were landed, and he hopes for improvement. The catch on Friday afternoon’s trip started to look better, and one angler then limited out on the flatfish to a 5.3-pounder. That was the season’s first fluke limit on the boat. But on the next day, Saturday, “you’re back to scratching for a couple of fish,” Tom said. Fluking on Sunday afternoon’s trip was tough, but one angler aboard bagged three.  The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke twice daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m.

<b>Highlands</b>

With <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, striped bass fishing was up and down, on both the ocean and Raritan Bay, Capt. Derek said. Trips livelined and chunked bunker for the fish, and on one day, the bass would bite, and on another, they wouldn’t. But stripers to 31 pounds were tugged aboard, and lots of blues were. Lots of bunker schooled. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing. Anglers can call to be kept informed about the open schedule.

<b>Neptune</b>

<b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> bottom-fished on the ocean the last three days, scraping up very good catches, Capt. Ralph said in an e-mail. Big ling, cod and winter flounder were swung in. Lots of hefty, out-of-season sea bass were let go, and one of the trips had to move off a wreck, because of so many sea bass. That boded well for the opening of sea bass season Saturday. One wreck gave up five cod, including four keepers, looking good for offshore cod trips this summer. Striped bass fishing picked back up Saturday afternoon for anglers trolling or livelining bunker, after it was slower previously. Stripers were sometimes clammed on Friday, and striper fishing will only get better. Five spots are open for an individual-reservation sea bass trip Saturday, May 26. Another is full on May 20. An individual-reservation cod trip is set for 2 a.m. Monday, June 18. Individual-rez trips for fluke and sea bass will begin to sail every Wednesday on June 13. Book now. Call about spaces for striper fishing.

<b>Belmar</b>

Striped bass were slugged from the ocean on all three trips aboard Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday evening with <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Jared said. But the fishing wasn’t great. Four to six stripers were bagged apiece on two of the trips, and only two stripers were bagged on Saturday evening’s charter. The anglers on the trips spent more time livelining bunker than trolling, but most of the stripers were trolled, because hooking the fish while livelining takes skill. Blues, including lots on Saturday evening’s trip with two stripers, were bombed on the trips. A few fluke and some ling were also taken, and out-of-season sea bass were let go. The trips sailed on Fin-Ominal’s new boat, a 50-foot Custom Sportfisherman that can accommodate from large to small groups. Up to 15 can fish on a trip, and up to 23 can jump aboard pleasure cruises. Cruises from family trips to bachelor parties can enjoy the boat. Fireworks cruises will begin soon, when Asbury Park and Point Pleasant Beach begin to hold weekly fireworks displays for summer.

On the <b>Katie H</b> a trip  this weekend limited out early on striped bass – big fish to 25 and 30 pounds, including six about 30 pounds – and returned to port early, Capt. Mike said. The fishing, on snagged then livelined bunker, was great, and striper fishing really picked up, after slower angling for them last week. Mike knew about lots of boats that scored well on stripers during the weekend. Bluefish were also hooked on the trip, but weren’t as much of a bother as previously. Now is the time to go for stripers. This coming Saturday aboard is booked with a charter, but spaces are available on an open-boat trip for stripers Sunday.  Call about other open-boat dates.

Fishing for striped bass went well during the weekend on the ocean with <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, and was phenomenal on Saturday, Capt. Pete said. That trip loaded up on bunker for bait right off Shark River Inlet, then headed north. A good mix of stripers and blues swiped the baits right away. Getting the bunker through the blues was tough. But when the menhaden could be gotten below the blues, stripers walloped them. Most of the stripers were 25 to 32 pounds that were bagged on trips. Big stripers were in. Some were seen that must’ve weighed in the 40s that trailed hooked stripers. Striper fishing seemed definitely improving on the down side of the moon. Trips aboard were probably going to be cancelled today and Tuesday, because of forecasts for winds. Charters and open-boat trips are running. For availability on the open trips, see <a href="http://parkerpetefishing.com/belmar-fishing-trips/open-boat-trips" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s open-boat page</a> online, and sign up for the e-mailed newsletter on the site. Dates are announced in both places.

<b>Brielle</b>

After slower fishing for them, striped bass angling bounced back, was alright, on the ocean to the north by Saturday, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Catches were made from the Red Church to the Shrewsbury Rocks, and a striper that was larger than 50 pounds that was caught was heard about. The stripers were hooked on trolled bunker spoons or on bunker that was snagged then livelined for bait. Bluefish to 12 pounds schooled the same waters. Nothing was heard about striper or other catches in the surf. Fluke fishing was reported to be good on Shark River. Nothing was heard about fluking on Manasquan River, but fluking probably produced there, too. Plenty of ling were looted from the ocean, and lots of out-of-season sea bass were let go there. Bluefin tuna 60 or 70 pounds were trolled at the Chicken Canyon. The Reel Seat is now open seven days a week for the season. Wahoo Baitfish Bucktails and Stingo jigs are on sale at 30 percent off, and the shop’s been holding 30-percent sales on different items to celebrate 30 years in business. A few of the Stingo’s remain and will be on sale until the supply runs out. The shop will hold a fluke tournament for Manasquan and Shark rivers from May 28 to September 3. Entry is $10, and half of that will go to Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund, and the other half will go to Shark River Surf Anglers Kids Trout Fishing Tournament. So the store makes no money on the event, and prizes will be awarded for the first and second heaviest fluke from each river, the heaviest fluke from a lady entrant, and the heaviest from a kid age 16 or younger.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

No bunker could be found to net to liveline for striped bass on a trip that headed south on the ocean to the “scene of last night’s troll bite,” a report on <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>’ Web site said on Saturday. So the trip tried trolling, with no bites. Another captain gave Andrea’s Toy live bunker, and one keeper striper, some blues and dogfish ate the baits. The trip went back on the troll, and nothing bit. A tough charter. On a previous, short trip, the captain’s family members climbed aboard, and no bunker could be found to net. But the trip trolled a 30-pound striper and missed a couple of others, before returning to port, “to continue the family party,” the report said. On another charter, the report said on Wednesday, bunker were caught for bait, and the anglers whacked 10 stripers to 30 pounds.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 5/15:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “We had an awesome stretch of fishing Thursday through Sunday. On Thursday through Saturday we caught a quantity of 28- to 38-pound stripers trolling green or white Tony Maja bunker spoons. The best bite was in 58 to 62 feet of water from the Bathing Beach to the Seaside Piers. On Sunday I ran to the “spot,” where I had such great success for three days in a row, to do the same thing, in the same place. I even got the guys to the dock early to avoid the crowd. Two hours of trolling … nothing. I heard the chatter on the radio about a snag-and-drop bite, but didn’t know exactly where, and, besides, I was certain our rods were going to double over any minute. They didn’t. I finally found the bunker in tight to the beach. Made two drifts, and had two fish hooked, taking drag, and then … gone?! Ahhh, it’s going to be like that today? A few more drifts, and it appeared that there were a few too many boats on this one pod, so we went off searching. Did some more trolling, and not catching, before hitting the dock.  Not bad -- three great days, and one awful. The good news is that the snagging bite is on. I will be running open-boat trips every day starting this Thursday, with an afternoon 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM trip. Friday,  5:30 AM to 11:30 AM (already one signed on, room for two more) and 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Saturday, 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM. And Sunday,  5:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Limited to three people. Call to book a spot. This is the only availability I have until Thursday, May 31. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bALENOl-_E&feature=relmfu
" target="_blank">Here’s a video clip</a> of  Lenny Araneo catching a 35-pounder on a Tony Maja white bunker spoon.”

<b>Tuckerton</b>

A couple of fluke trips sailed Friday and Saturday on the bay with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. A few keepers were hung each day, and the keeper-to-throwback ratio was probably 1-in-10. Snapper blues were also reeled in. Nobody was heard about who got on striped bass from Tuckerton. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing, and see <a href=" http://www.legallimitcharters.com/open-boat.php" target="_blank">Legal Limit’s open-boat page</a>. An open trip for sea bass is set for Saturday, opening day of sea bass season. But that will depend on whether federal waters, beyond 3 miles from shore, are opened to the angling that day. That was yet to be determined.  State waters, within 3 miles, will be opened that day.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

“Fluke?” Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> asked in a report on the shop’s Web site. “Got me,” he said. Anglers worked at fishing for the summer flounder today on Great Bay, “with little reward,” he said. The flounder seemed yet to migrate into the waters in large numbers. This was only the second week of May, after all, and fluke season hadn’t been open this early in years. Better days are coming, Scott said. Rumors were “leaking,” he said, about 20-pound striped bass eeled on Mullica River downstream from the Parkway Bridge and bloodwormed upstream from the bridge. Stripers in the ocean swam only to the north. A flurry of drum were around “for the folks in the know,” Scott said. Nobody who caught them shared much info. A few blowfish were angled here and there on the bay. The bay’s population of 1- to 1-½-pound blues was starting to increase. Several anglers were heard about who caught weakfish to 23 inches, “something to think about before you yank the rod too hard, thinking you have another blue on the line,” Scott said. Weaks are named for a weak mouth.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Surf fishing exploded Thursday night, a report on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site said. Stripers 15 to 25 pounds swam all over the waters then, and plenty were weighed in at the store. On Friday some good-sized ones like 23 pounds continued to be checked in. The angling eased off during Saturday, but a few stripers, including a couple of 17-pounders from one angler, a 10-pounder from another, and a 13-pounder and a 25-pound drum from another, were checked in that day. An 18-pound striper was weighed in from the surf on Sunday.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing was great during the weekend, and all reports said fish shallow, an e-mail from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> said. Depths 2 ½ to 6 feet gave up the best catches, and minnows and Gulps were best baits. Two customers on a trip came one short of their limit of flounder to 6 pounds 1 ounce. A trip with Capt. Joe Hughes from Jersey Cape Guide Service, affiliated with the shop, smoked a 7-pound 5-ounce 27-inch flounder.

A 7-pound 5-ounce summer flounder, the biggest heard about locally so far this season, was crushed on the back bay on a trip aboard Sunday, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with Sea Isle Bait & Tackle. On the trip, with Darryl Cooper, daughter Jenna and son Sean, about 20 flounder, including four keepers, and some blues were tackled. Good fishing, and the bites came on the first of incoming tide. The flounder were hooked on a rig with a Gulp on a bucktail with a minnow on a plain, red hook on a trailer tied above. Three of the four keeper flounder, including the 7-pounder, grabbed the bucktail. The blues were beaten on soft-plastic lures on jigheads. The bay was 63 degrees, warming up. Striped bass could also be socked on the bay. The bass were biting at the top of tides, and the tides will coincide with evenings later this week, a perfect time to fish for them with popper plugs or flies, a specialty for Jersey Cape. The bass weren’t everywhere, but good fishing for them was on tap. Stripers, bigger ones, could also be clammed from the bay. No weakfish were hooked on trips on the bay since flounder season, but that wasn’t surprising. Once flounder season opens, boat traffic can make the weaks elusive.  Join an After Work Special Trip from 4:30 p.m. to dark, convenient, and a productive time to fish. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

A few trips sailed in the past week on the <b>Down Deep</b>, “and drum were snapping,” Capt. Bob said. The trips fished for drum on Delaware Bay, and included Al Knitzell Sr. and Jr’s charter. Al Jr. hauled in two 80-pound drum. On Bill Ludlum’s charter, Fireman Bob cranked in three drum 40 or 50 pounds. A few dates are open for drum charters the next three or four weeks. Sea bass season will open Saturday, and a buddy caught and released a good catch of them. Sea bass charters can sail in mornings, while drum charters fish from afternoons to nights. Bob heard that local summer flounder fishing was slow, except in the back bays. The season was early for flounder elsewhere.

Delaware Bay’s fishing for drum was slow on Saturday, and one of the boomers, a 30-pounder, was pumped in during John Stonick’s charter that day on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. Fishing off Delaware’s Slaughter Beach, the trip’s anglers also included Mike, Al, Riley and Ryan. Some boats that day totaled two or three drum, and George knew about a few that caught none. But he knew about trips that scored decent on drum Friday. Another drum trip is set to sail aboard Saturday evening, and sea bass trips are slated to fish aboard Saturday and Sunday mornings, once sea bass season opens Saturday. Call if interested in any of this fishing. George heard nothing about summer flounder, and the season was early for flounder in waters like Delaware Bay. The back waters like creeks will hold flounder this time of year.

Anglers aboard will run for drum on Delaware Bay starting Tuesday through the rest of the week, Capt. T.J. from <b>Legal Limit Charters</b> said. Drum were being picked, and the only striped bass heard about were stripers boated far up the bay. Trips on T.J.’s other boat, sailing from Tuckerton, fished for summer flounder in past days, and see the report above. Trips from there, including open-boat, will sail for sea bass soon.

Back to Top