<b>Keyport</b>

Good striped bass fishing continued on Raritan Bay on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, and this was turning out to be a super season of the fishing, Capt. Frank wrote in an email. “More fish are entering the bay,” he said, and some areas the boat’s fishing are holding some 30-pound stripers. Experienced anglers hooked up much more successfully than others. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing, and room is available Tuesday and Wednesday. Telephone to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Raritan Bay’s striped bass began to bite again, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Boaters caught them much better yesterday than before. Bunker chunks hooked the fish aboard, and the bay’s shore anglers hit the bass on worms, clams and bunker lately. One angler whacked a 39-pounder and a 19-pounder from the shore last week. Stripers from the shore “like those worms,” Jimmy said. Stripers were also tugged from the rivers, and he watched them caught at the bridge the other night. Lots of big bluefish arrived in the bay. Anglers beat them well from the Keansburg Pier. Blackfishing was great on the ocean. All baits are stocked.

Two keeper striped bass and three throwbacks were landed, and a couple of other fish bit, on Wednesday morning’s trip on Raritan Bay on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. Nothing great, but a sign, he said, and he heard about a couple of stripers caught on other boats then. That wasn’t good, but an improvement over previous days, and he hopes the fishing turns around. The fish on the Atlantic Star were clammed, and a few patrons tried fishing rubber shads and bunker. No trip sailed that afternoon, because only three anglers showed up. The fishing was slow aboard this morning so far, when he gave an update in a phone call aboard. One throwback had been landed, the only catch. Not all trips sailed in past days, because sometimes anglers were scarce. Maybe they waited for better fishing. The anglers who showed up were great. The people were told how the fishing was, and the anglers stuck with the angling.   The Atlantic Star is fishing for striped bass 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

A couple of handfuls of throwback striped bass were swung in throughout Wednesday’s trip, Capt. Ron from the <b>Fishermen</b> wrote in a report on the party boat’s website. A couple of good-sized keepers were bagged by the end of the day, and Jimmy Salmons won the pool with a 38-incher. Eight throwbacks were caught before the first keeper was. The water was 54 degrees, and Ron was looking for the fishing to pick up after the current full moon. Not many readings were marked in several areas, and not much bait was around. That was the only report posted at press time since the weekend’s report from the boat that was posted in the last report here. The Fishermen 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.

<b>Neptune</b>

Finally, the boat’s ready to fish, Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> wrote in an email. Weekends are filling fast for charters. All morning trips are full in June on weekends. Good dates are still available on weekdays this year. Space remains for an individual-reservation trip for sea bass May 27, and two of the trips already filled on May 23 and 24. Individual-reservation trips with space available also include one for blackfish April 30, before blackfish season is closed beginning the next day, and one for wreck-fishing that day, May 1, for ling, cod, winter flounder and pollock. Annual individual-rez trips for fluke and bottom-fish, sailing every Tuesday, will begin June 21. Kids under 12 sail free on those trips, limited to one per adult host. Individual-reservation trips for cod will fish offshore July 13 and 27 and August 3, 17 and 31. Those trips were terrific in the past, and Ralph expects the same this year. Fish for cod in shorts. Book trips now to get aboard. Don’t wait.

<b>Belmar</b>

Great blackfishing was lit into yesterday on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b> on the ocean, Capt. Chris said. Some good action, some nice fish, he said. A variety of bait including clams, green crabs and white crabs grabbed the fish lately. Sometimes one bait worked better than another on a day. Greens and clams are provided, and whites are available for sale aboard. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. However, Saturday’s trip will depart at 6 a.m.

The trip today aboard covered 25 miles of ocean, including drifting in bunker and other bait, a report said on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>’s website. “(But) I can’t think of words to describe … we had nothing to show for it,” the report said. Tomorrow’s another day, it said. Just one blue was boated on Tuesday, and lots of birds worked bait, and lots of bait swam, and fish were read. A number of fish followed jigs to the boat.  On Monday’s trip, plenty of blues schooled the surface, and some 5- to 8-pounders were caught, and some were lost, all on Run Off crocodiles and hammered jigs. Trips are fishing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

More and more bait and life is being seen each day, “(but) the fish just aren’t ready to bite yet,” an email said from the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>. Today was another bad day of fishing, it said. The crew hopes the angling will break in the next days. Until then, they’ll keep reporting, good or bad, it said. Trips are sailing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Purchase three gift certificates for daily trips for stripers and blues, and get one free. Hurry, because the offer will only last until April 30, it said. The certificates are valid any time and never expire. The discount can’t be combined with any other.

Weather and fishing were good, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. Blackfishing was great on Belmar’s party boats, and get after them before the tautog season is closed beginning May 1. Striped bass and blues began to show up in the surf, and the lid could blow off that angling any moment. “So be ready,” he said. Out-of-season fluke, good sized, began to bite in Shark River. Release them carefully, Bob encouraged, and fluke season will be opened beginning May 21. Farther north, stripers fed in Raritan Bay, “on their way to the historic breeding grounds,” he said. The breeders should be released, and aren’t the best size to eat, he said. The bay’s stripers chomped a variety of baits and artificials.

After the boat was splashed this weekend, <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> poked around the ocean a little Monday, Capt. Pete said. Bait was read and seen, birds were seen diving on bait, and fish were marked. The boat trolled in the area, and no striped bass bit. A few stripers were jigged on party boats recently. Stripers began to migrate along the coast, and catching them was a matter of the water warming. Pete hopes the striper fishing takes off in the next two or three weeks. Afterward, the trip blackfished a little, and the tautog bit well. Boats that blackfished seemed to score well lately, and Pete planned to fish for blackfish again today. 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>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Any cod trips were scrubbed because of weather or forecasts this month so far with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Alan wrote in an email. The trips fish wrecks 45 to 65 miles from shore. Mushin is waiting for striped bass fishing to begin on the local ocean, and the water reached 51 degrees close to shore Sunday. Stripers “should not be far away!” he said. Warm water meandered into southern canyons offshore. That could bode well for early-season tuna fishing aboard. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

On the <b>Norma-K III</b>, blackfishing on Monday was a bit sluggish, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the party boat’s website. A few anglers limited out, and an 8-pounder won the pool. But Tuesday “was a different story!” he wrote. “GOOD life on most spots … with both keepers and shorts.” A 12-pounder won the pool, and an 11-pounder was runner up. A few anglers limited out, and a few bagged just a bit fewer, and some only caught shorts. The Norma-K III is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Some decent fishing, not a bail, but some catches were plowed on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. The angling was slowly improving, mostly copping blackfish and cod, and a few ling, pollock and winter flounder. Butch hopes the number of ling increases, because warming water will chase the cod away. The flounder just began to be found in the ocean. A few out-of-season sea bass began to turn up. Seven or eight, including one keeper-sized, but a 4-pounder, bit and were released Wednesday. Catches on Wednesday’s trip probably ranged from two fish an angler to limits of blackfish for some. Ray Cha from New Hope on a trip hauled in a 15-pound blackfish. Nino Mirto from Toms River bagged a 24-pound cod. He’s a deck hand for the boat, taking a busman’s holiday, fishing aboard. Butch’s brother-in-law on a trip landed probably 18 blackfish, including three keepers, and bagged a cod. That was on Wednesday, and only a few anglers joined the trip in forecasts for wind. So the trip fished shallow in 60 feet of water to 90 feet. Trips on the previous days fished in 120 feet to 130. The ocean remained cold at 48 degrees, and Butch had thought the water would warm in the clear, sunny days. A couple of striped bass 15 or 17 pounds had been hooked aboard more than a week ago, closer to shore, where striper fishing is open. One striper was hooked this past week, on Thursday, Butch thought. Lots of bunker were seen schooling close to shore. So were birds diving on the bunker. Butch usually sees bluefish swimming along the water surface this time of year, and saw none in past days. He knew about a few blues hooked on a couple of boats early in the week. The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

The Toms River was loaded with big blues, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. That was at all different areas, including off Beachwood and Ocean Gate, and no one spot held them best consistently. Anglers popper-plugged and bunker-chunked them, and Dennis had predicted bluefish would arrive between April 12 and 18, reported here previously, and they did. The river was 53 degrees on Saturday and 55 on Monday. The blues had been somewhat sluggish, but 55 degrees is when they become more aggressive. They began to smash poppers. The river’s anglers fought small striped bass at Island Heights from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on small plugs and on bloodworms. The blues also tore around Barnegat Bay. Boaters trolled or bunker-chunked the 8- to 12-pounders.  A few weakfish bit in the bay off Berkeley Island Park and off Forked River power plant. The ocean surf was chilly, but if surf anglers put in time, they’d catch. Southern Island Beach State Park was a place fished in the surf. A few bluefish were picked, and some throwback bass and a token keeper chewed. The stripers swiped clams and bunker chunks. Baits stocked include fresh clams, fresh bunker and bloodworms. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Nothing was really reported in the strong south wind now, except that crabs began to be trapped somewhat more than before, said Phil Dirt from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Previously, bluefish, good-sized, were reported tackled near Sedge Islands on Barnegat Bay. Throwback striped bass had bitten well along Route 37 Bridge in the bay. From the surf, there were no catches to speak of in the wind. A thousand dolphins chased bait near the surf at Ortley Beach and Lavallette yesterday. 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. Baits stocked currently include bloodworms, fresh clams and fresh bunker.

<b>Forked River</b>

An angler said striped bass fishing lit up in the ocean today in 60 feet, almost 3 miles out, off Barnegat Inlet, said Mike from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Striper fishing is closed beyond 3 miles. Bluefish to 8 pounds gathered in Barnegat Bay off Oyster Creek. They could be trolled on Ponytails, and weakfish swam the area. A few winter flounder were still talked about, but details were vague. Bloodworms are stocked, and fresh clams are generally carried for weekends. Killies and the frozen baits are on hand.

<b>Barnegat</b>

From an edited email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “Hi Flier Just Launched and Fishing This Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon,” the subject line said. “I just tied her up in the slip, and it feels great. My phone has been blowing up that the gator blues are in town, and we’re going to start running bay trips for them immediately, beginning at 1 to 6 p.m. Friday.  The trips will sail 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday through Monday. The fish are huge, 8 to 12 pounds plus. We’ll be throwing top-water lures on 10-pound spinning rods. This happened last year, and it lasted into the first week of June. But there's no telling how long it will last this year. In all my time on the bay, I’ve never seen this size class in the back bay. I thought for sure that last year was a freak occurrence, and I couldn't be happier to be wrong. Love 'em or hate 'em, there's no denying the sport these fish offer on light tackle … on any tackle! When you factor in the surface attacks on top-waters, this fishery is hard to beat. Three people max on the open trips. Head count and departure times are more flexible if you charter the boat. So happy to be in the water!”

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Fishing slowed the last few days in the Graveling Point area, said Brandon from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Sometimes drum and 8-inch stripers were banked at the shore-angling spot at the confluence of Great Bay and Mullica River. A 9-pound 12-ounce bluefish was weighed this morning from nearby Pebble Beach. Sometimes boaters could run into a blitz of blues on the bay. One angler boated 14 that way. The only news about Mullica River was about blues caught near Chestnut Neck Marina in early mornings. However, white perch must’ve bitten in the river, because a fair number of grass shrimp were sold for bait, Scott from the shop said. Crabs were around to steal bait, but not enough for actual crabbing yet, he said. Plenty of blackfish gathered along Barnegat Inlet’s rocks, but a keeper couldn’t really be found, he said. Fresh clams in the shell and shucked are stocked. So are bloodworms, fresh bunker, live grass shrimp, minnows and eels.

<b>Brigantine</b>

The year’s first big striped bass was seen from Brigantine’s surf today at <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>, Capt. Andy said. It weighed 27-pounds 5-ounces and measured 40 ½ inches long. The angler, Joe Neild, also weighed-in an 8-pound 5-ounce 31-1/2-inch bluefish from his trip. Gator blues like that showed up in the surf today, and several were reported caught on mullet. Andy hopes big blues hold in the surf 1 ½ months like last spring, and they showed up around this time last year. Neild’s striper was landed on a “Riptide Rotter,” Andy said, a fresh clam from the shop, and the angler won the store’s $50 gift certificate for the year’s first striper weighed from the island’s surf. Another $50 certificate is up for grabs for the first boater or kayaker to weigh-in a keeper striper from the back bay. Throwback stripers also bit in the surf, including a 26-incher reported yesterday. A well-known customer beached a drum today, the year’s second drum reported from the island’s surf at the store. More will show up after the current full moon, Andy thinks, because they often do. Neild also took the lead for stripers and blues in the Riptide Spring Striper Derby that’s underway until May 22. The contest is for the three heaviest stripers and three heaviest blues from the town’s surf. Entry is $25 and includes a permit to beach-buggy the entire Brigantine front beach, when accompanied by a Brigantine beach-buggy permit. Without the tournament permit, not all the beach can be driven. New this year, Brigantine beach-buggy permits are free for veterans and active military. The Expert Fireplace Spring Riptide Striper Bounty was up to $475. The annual contest awards the cash to the angler who brings in the year’s first striper 43 inches or larger from Brigantine’s front-beach. The bounty will grow, because entry is $5, and all the money is awarded.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Lots of small striped bass were angled from the surf at the T-jetty and nearby, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. One angler fought 11 this morning. Good-sized blackfish were hooked along Absecon Inlet’s rocks. The T is at the ocean end of the inlet. Blowfish were sometimes nabbed in the area. Big bluefish 30 inches were plastered from Lakes Bay near Route 40. Twenty-five anglers who fished for them probably caught 50. Baits stocked include bloodworms, fresh clams, fresh bunker and green crabs. Bloodworms are on special on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for $20 for two dozen.

<b>Egg Harbor Township</b>

White perch fishing went well, not crazy, but well at spots like Great Egg Harbor River, said Collin from <b>24-7 Bait & Tackle</b>. The annual Landisville Gun Club perch tournament is on Friday, and some of the bluefish that arrived recently swam the river. The blues were good-sized, up to 12 pounds, like last spring. Striped bass caught were heard about from Delaware Bay’s shore. But an angler reported losing a big striper at Townsend’s Inlet two nights ago. A couple of reports were heard about stripers from the inlet. Some good blackfishing was had at places like Longport. Crabs were yet to be trapped, but crabbers hoped the blueclaws would be soon. Baits stocked include bloodworms, fresh clams, grass shrimp, green crabs, eels and minnows. The minnows could be fished for largemouth bass and chain pickerel that seemed to really bite in freshwater. Release the largemouths by law through June 15, because of spawning. The shop’s rental boats are in the water for the season and are used for fishing and crabbing from Patcong Creek, running past the shop, where they’re docked, to Great Egg Harbor River and the bay. Patcong is a tributary of the Great Egg, meeting the river near its confluence with the bay. Patcong is one of the best places for crabbing, when the hardshells begin to run.  <b>The company also own 24-7 Bait & Tackle in Marmora</b>.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Small striped bass were played on the back bay, all around, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. That was often on bloodworms, and a few were taken on clams. Soft-plastic lures can always clock them. Only small bluefish were heard about from the bay, though bigger blues were talked about from other areas, and bigger blues swam locally last week. The small bluefish around now seemed unusual, but the bigger blues seemed to retreat back south for the moment, after migrating to the local area last week for the first time this year. Blackfish were reeled from along bridges, and nobody was heard about who boated for blackfish on the ocean. Not much was reported from the surf, though the surf temperature probably became high enough for catches of stripers or bluefish to begin there. No blueclaw crabs trapped were reported yet this season. The crabs should be just beginning to stir around. Baits stocked include bloodworms, fresh clams, green crabs and all the frozen baits.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Some good blackfishing reports began to roll in, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Whether the reason was because the fish bit better than before, or anglers began to fish for them more than before, was unknown. But the tautog were hooked at usual spots like the sea wall along Townsend’s Inlet’s Avalon side, where they were especially reported caught. A couple of anglers boated for them on the ocean, too, catching well at local wrecks and reefs. Wildwood Reef served up some good catches. The local party boat is blackfishing, and Monday’s trip tied into them well. The boat was back out for them today. Fishing slowed for bluefish that invaded the back bay, compared with last week. They were still fought, but fewer starting at the beginning of this week. More looked like they might arrive this weekend from the south, though. The blues were good-sized, and Mike saw none lighter than 5 pounds, and saw them up to 12 pounds. Plenty of small striped bass bit in the bay at night under lights. Anglers trying for blues and weakfish in the bay during daytime hooked an occasional keeper striper. Out-of-season summer flounder hit in the bay. Not much was heard about catches from the surf and inlet. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, green crabs, white crabs, spots, eels and minnows are stocked. The minnows will be used for flounder, once flounder season is opened beginning May 21. Freshwater anglers currently bought the baitfish for chain pickerel and largemouth bass that were active. Largemouths must be released from April 15 through June 15 for spawning.   

Trips aboard were into big bluefish 10 pounds and heavier on the back bay, and fishing was great, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. He saw the fish up to 13 pounds, maybe 14, aboard, and throwback striped bass also bit on the outings. So did out-of-season summer flounder, and things were good, he said. His anglers fished soft-plastic lures on leadhead jigs, and they cast flies. A variety of flies worked, including Clousers and Deceivers, but notably, popper flies also nailed the blues. The water was warm enough for the blues to slam them. It was 57 degrees, the last time Joe looked. He uses a Crease fly popper that he ties with a bigger mouth to throw more water. None of the trips fished with popper lures, but Joe’s charters also toss the lures on conventional tackle. He prefers Rapala Skitter Pops for that. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Weather was windy during the weekend, but blackfish were bagged on each trip on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> then, Capt. Paul said. Sunday’s blackfishing was good aboard, including for a bunch of limits. Alan White from Pomona that day limited out on the tautog to a 12-pounder. Nine- and 10-pounders were also crushed on the trip. Monday’s trip’s blackfishing was slow. Some were bagged late in the trip, but not many were totaled for the day. Maybe the wrong places were fished, but the reason for the slowdown was unknown. Tuesday’s blackfishing bounced back on the boat. Several of the anglers limited out. Alex Levantovsky from Philly limited out to an 8-pounder. Anglers who limited also included Carl Davis from Turnersville, Dick Spotts from Phoenixville and Bo Key from southeast Pennsylvania. No trip fished Wednesday, because only three anglers showed up in forecasts for wind. They sailed instead on another boat from the docks. The ocean held quite a swell in northeast wind each day. The Porgy IV is blackfishing at 8 a.m. daily. When blackfish season is closed beginning May 1, trips will fish for black drum on Delaware Bay from 2 to 10 p.m. When that angling begins depends on when drum begin to bite. They could bite by then.

Someone said bluefish swam just off Cape May Inlet in the ocean, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. He didn’t hear the size, and fishing will probably sail for blackfish on the ocean this weekend aboard. Wind and forecasts for wind weathered out blackfishing last weekend on the boat. That was going to be the year’s first angling on the vessel, and many boats weren’t splashed for the year yet. Just a handful were in the slips. Heavy Hitter targets drum in May on Delaware Bay. Telephone if interested in blackfish or drum fishing.

Big bluefish shot through the surf, and fishing’s been pretty good, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Keep eyes peeled for roving packs of the racers. Nick and friends got into them that way, seeing a couple of packs, hooking up. Fish bunker or lures for the blues. Striped bass were clipped from the surf here and there, and so were drum. The stripers and drums were clammed, but some of the bass were plugged. The drum were heaved from the bay’s surf, but some also came from the ocean surf at Poverty Beach. The surf’s blues and stripers popped up in both the ocean and Delaware Bay in town. Neither seemed to hold them best, and the fish seemed to move day to day. Weakfish catches began to be heard about a little from toward the south side of the Coast Guard station. They should begin to spread to the different surf jetties. Anglers fish bloodworms for the weaks, floated under bobbers along jetties. The bloods could pick up stripers, too. Blackfish caught were heard about more from ocean boaters than jetty anglers. Some good catches, sometimes including blackfish heavier than 10 pounds, were made on the ocean. As waters warm, more of the tautog should begin to be picked along jetties.  From Delaware Bay, small drum 25 or 30 pounds that were boated began to be reported a little. If anglers are looking for them, try 20-Foot Slough or at flats a couple of miles up the bay, like north of Coxhall Creek or off Pierces Point, and at Joe’s Tip, or places like that, known for producing in the early season. In the back bay, small stripers, a couple of better-sized, were winged at bridges at night. No bluefish were heard about from the back bay, but a good run of blues took off there last spring. Baits stocked include fresh clams, bloodworms and green crabs. Nick will try to stock fresh bunker for the weekend.  

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