<b>Hudson River</b>

<b>Hook-Em Charters</b> started fishing the Hudson River for striped bass, Capt. Don said. Schoolie fish to 7 and 8 pounds were hooked near the Tappan Zee Bridge and Piermont on charters, so the fishing was just beginning, but there was lots of action on sandworms and bloodworms. A few herring were beginning to trickle up the river, a good sign, and Don expects the first few large, migrating stripers to appear maybe this weekend or a little later. The water was cool, about 42 degrees, and needed to warm a bit. Eventually the run of big, trophy stripers that swim up the river to spawn give up the action. As the run progresses, Hook-Em will follow the fish upriver to Newburgh, where charters will eel and worm for them.   

<b>Brooklyn</b>

A winter flounder trip on Raritan Bay kicked off the season on the <b>Big M Express</b> on Sunday, and the anglers scored a slow pick, but the high hook bagged five, the report on the boat’s web site said. But another trip fished for the flatties yesterday, and catches improved in a major way. Open-boat trips are fishing for flounder daily when no charter is booked.  The Big M Express sails from Tamaqua Marina in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn.

<b>Staten Island</b>

Winter flounder fishing was “okay,” said Capt. Anthony from <b>Barbara Anne Fishing Charters</b>, but anglers on the boat limited out on the fish the past three days. So Anthony was onto a good hole, but he couldn’t say how long it would last. Of course, he didn’t want to name the location. Sandworms were the bait of choice, and open-boat trips are sailing daily for flounder when no charter is booked. Sandworms, clams, mussels and chum are all onboard.

Customers were doing a good job on flounder in the bay off Morgan Creek, Keyport and Union Beach, said Dino from <b>Michael’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Some schoolie striped bass were also around. Clams, mussels, worms and even fresh bunker were stocked, and so was clam chum and chum logs.

The season for <b>Outcast Charters</b> was supposed to launch this coming Saturday with a flounder charter, though weather forecasts looked ominous, Capt. Joe said. But plenty of flounder seemed to be hitting, and he knows anglers who were scoring. Outcast this year will offer a bunch of new types of trips, marathons and combos, and give Joe a shout for details. The trips were yet to be included on the boat’s web site but will eventually be posted. Part of the combo trips will be a result of New York’s blackfish bag limit being reduced to four fish with a closed season from May through September. But no problems, because the combos look great. For example, in October and November combo blackfish/sea bass trips will be offered, and those months are great for sea bassing. Afterward in fall blackfish/striped bass combos will be the deal, as the striper run turns on. For now, flounder trips will be a focus, and striped bass fishing will be added after New York’s striper season opens Tuesday. Striper/sea bass combos will kick off in mid or late May, when sea bass usually come in.    

<b>Keyport</b>

The boat was splashed Tuesday, and trips are now available, said Capt. Joe from <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>. He took the vessel for a spin and saw a handful of boaters flounder fishing on the bay, and the boat was ship-shape. Trips will target flounder and/or striped bass. Open-boat trips will run 7 am. to 1 p.m. daily when no charter is booked, and call ahead.

Hank Sobolack and Al Merrifield from the Suns of Nam Motorcycle Club jumped aboard for a flounder charter in Raritan Bay off Keyport yesterday on the <b>Lucky Carm</b>, and Rich “Tropics,” also a Vietnam vet, joined them and served as the boat’s mate, Capt. Carmine said. They bagged nine flounder, not a bail, but pretty good, Carmine said. Al’s 2-pound 8-ouncer was biggest, and Hank was high hook. Lots of small skates grabbed baits, and the water was 49 degrees and cold, and no stripers were biting for boaters in the chill. Stripers should perk up when temps rise a little. The trip took place during incoming tide, so incoming was at least producing. Flounder fishing was holding up, and anglers onboard were having a ball with the nice-sized, fat fish, Carmine said. A few spaces are available for open-boat trips for flounder Saturday and Sunday, unless someone books a charter. Open-boat trips are flounder fishing every day when no charter is booked, and call to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Lots of winter flounder carpeted the rivers and the bay, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. A few striped bass started to hit in the bay, and he boated a couple yesterday. Stripers were also picked up in the Navesink River at the Red Bank Bridge. Bottom fishing produced catches when boaters could catch a break from the weather and sail. A friend bottom fished and reeled up blackfish, ling and a few cod. So everything was starting to bite, Jimmy said, and the shop is loaded with all baits, including sandworms, bloodworms, clams and mussels.

Both the daily winter flounder trips got out yesterday on the <b>Atlantic Star</b> and fished the Shrewsbury River, Capt. Tom said, and the morning’s bite produced a few fish, and the afternoon’s was slower. These trips followed what Tom ended up calling the best catches of the year so far on the boat on the previous afternoon on the river, Tuesday afternoon. Tom had given an update in a phone call from the water toward the end of that trip, and that news was posted in the last report. When he called, he said the fishing was decent, and seemed to imply that the catches were encouraging. But later he said the catch turned out to be the best of the season so far, and one patron reeled up nine keepers, and some bagged four or five. So yesterday morning produced catches, but not as well as on the previous trip, and again, yesterday afternoon was slower. The number of people showing up to fish on the boat yesterday was one of the better turn outs, probably because of forecasts calling for sunny, 60-degree weather. But the weather was actually raw and cloudy. During the better catches the previous afternoon, the weather was better. Weather forecasts were inaccurate lately, and often conditions became just the opposite of what was predicted. Tom might give an update on the fishing if trips run in the next days.  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. UPDATE, Today, 4/10: Flounder trips fished on the boat today, and catches were better, Capt. Tom said. The morning trip started fishing up the river, and a few flounder were boated until the current ran too strong. The vessel moved to the mouth of the river, and patrons scored a pretty fair pick. The high hook bagged five keepers, and most customers grabbed two or three, and one or two anglers landed none. So there was improvement. In the afternoon, slack tide gave up a shot of fish, but outgoing then produced little. So the Atlantic Star moved to the bay off the Navy Pier, and customers got into a fair pick of bigger flatties. At first the fish hit pretty well, but then south winds blew and seemed to knock down the bite. Was a good sign to see the fish off the pier. Tom’s sure that flounder were still swimming the river, but every day’s different. UPDATE, 4/11: On the vessel today flounder fishing was very good, Capt. Tom said. On the morning trip the boat fished the river on the change of tide for very good catches, and then the trip fished the mouth of the river, followed by the bay off the pier, a productive trip. The boat fished similar spots on the afternoon trip, including the river on the change and off the pier later. “So far, real nice,” Tom said toward the end of the trip.

A few small striped bass were rod-and-reeled in the bay off Cliffwood, and lots of bunker and some herring were schooling around the  bay, said Capt. Jack from the <b>Bingo</b>. The finishing touches were being put on the boat’s maintenance, and trips should begin April 26, the last weekend of the month, jumping right in on striper fishing. Patrons will clam the fish at first and eventually will jig the stripers when migrators are moving through in numbers. Open-boat trips will sail every Monday with up to 49 passengers on the 50-foot vessel.

No trips sailed on the <b>Fishermen</b> since Saturday, and the weather was rough, but Capt. Ron hoped to fish today, he said. The vessel is running for striped bass daily, and Saturday was its maiden voyage of the season, and only one short was reeled up. But boating for stripers will start popping soon, he said, and the weather’s been tough. A couple of sunny, warm days should get the fish moving and active. The boat’s crew were catching a few striped bass at night in the bay, and apparently an occasional keeper was biting in the afternoons. Patrons on the Fishermen typically clam for stripers in the bay in the early season, until moving to the ocean and jigging for bigger, migrating stripers that should arrive in May. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. UPDATE: A striped bass trip sailed on the boat today, starting out in the fog, Capt. Ron said in an e-mail. The first drop took place where bait was found in 12 feet, but nothing bit. The vessel “made a wiggle” to 8 feet, where more bait was seen, and “one tiny scratch” of fish bit, he said. Then the sun came out, and short stripers hit for an hour, on the last of incoming tide.  The high hook caught and released seven. No keepers, but “nice to see the action,” Ron said.  Was also good to see water temps as high as 51 degrees, with a low of 45.5. “Patience,” he said. “It’ll happen.”

<b>Highlands</b>

Twenty winter flounder to 2 ¼ pounds were bagged with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> yesterday on the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers on sandworms and mussels in lots of chum, Capt. Derek said. No stripers were hooked, but a bunch of bunker were swimming around. Bayshore anglers fishing from the banks seemed to be the only ones catching stripers, and striper fishing from boats seemed slow. If the weather would break, and a couple of sunny, warm days would arrive, striper fishing should begin for boaters. The log book showed that lots of small stripers were boated on clams by April 14. Openings remain for flounder charters this month and afterward, and striper trips are being booked for the end of April through June.

Capt. Brian Rice from <b>Jersey Devil Charters</b> heard about a few bigger striped bass to 16 pounds plucked from the back of the bay, he said. The boat will probably get splashed in a week or so, and striper charters will begin, but winter flounder fishing might be mixed in during a couple of hours. When Jersey Devil first striper fishes, the boat will slowly troll plugs and spoons. Bunker chunking might be tried, depending on water temperatures, and plenty of bunker were certainly already schooling and available for bait. Eventually, at least by the end of the month, Brian will do lots of bunker chunking, one of his specialties. When the big, migrating stripers arrive, he’ll focus on nailing big bass on chunks.

<b>Long Branch</b>

Here’s a sign that surf fishing’s about to break open. <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b> opened for the season Monday, John said. So he heard nothing about the area’s fishing yet, but planned to hit the Sandy Hook surf and look for striped bass in the next days. He tried fishing for winter flounder in the suds but with no luck. Fresh clams, worms, rigs and all supplies are stocked. The doors are open until noon from Mondays through Wednesdays and until 4 p.m. the rest of the week, until hours are extended when fishing picks up.

<b>Belmar</b>

Two rental boats from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> fished Shark River today, and one came back with six keeper flounder, and the anglers said nine shorts were released, and the other returned with five keepers, Mike said. The crew on the second boat didn’t say whether shorts were released, but some probably were. Small, rat striped bass were occasionally beached in the local surf, but no sizeable bass were seen so far. Lost of bunker schooled farther north at Raritan Bay. The Belmar party boats put customers into a variety of ling, a few blackfish and a few cod in the ocean.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

Striped bass bit for the first time this season at the mouth of Manasquan Inlet on Sunday, and a few were reeled in, but the weather nosedived Monday, and then the fish seemed scattered afterward, said Rob Sr. from <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b>.  But that was good to see, and more people than before were starting to fish, including in the local surf, and surf casters started to land a few stripers on clams and metal. Stripers were also sometimes hooked in northern Barnegat Bay while anglers flounder fished. Flounder fishing seemed somewhat slow in the area during the week, but unconfirmed reports said decent catches were landed yesterday. Most of the flatbacks were hugging bottom in the bay, but an occasional one began to be hooked in Manasquan River. The water around the bay and river was supposedly reaching the low 50s. Nothing was heard about any bluefish showing up locally so far, and the season was still early. But Rob heard that blues schooled 65 miles southeast of Cape May, and that would probably put the fish here in a couple of weeks, about on schedule. A friend also said mackerel, the first fish to migrate north in spring, schooled far offshore of Atlantic City. Sandworms, bloodworms, clams and mussels are stocked. So is a new line of Tsunami Airwave fishing rods from 6 ½ to 10 feet for surf casting and boating. The shop is open full time, and so is the Gates Motel, located on the grounds. The motel is popular with anglers, who often stay the night before or after trips on the local party or charter boats to avoid early or late drives. They also make fishing vacations out of visits, because the shop and motel are located within walking distance of the boat fleet, Manasquan Inlet and the surf.

Bottom-fishing trips broke the inlet Saturday and yesterday on the <b>Dauntless</b> between rough weather, Capt. Butch said. Good catches came up Saturday, and some patrons bagged 25 or 30 fish, mostly ling, but a few 5-pound blackfish and 5-pound cod, in weather that was pleasant, despite forecasts for rough conditions. Fishing on yesterday’s trip was a bit slow in a big ground swell. But mostly ling bit, and a few blackfish were boated, and no cod appeared. A stirred up bottom from the swell probably affected the fishing. Lots of dogfish have been a nuisance, and the water previously had warmed to 46 degrees, but now it was back down to 44 degrees. The temp was too low for mackerel to show up, but Butch is hoping mackerel will migrate close enough for the boat to target this spring. He’s kept in touch with a bunker gillnetter to find out whether macks were showing up in the menhaden nets, and the netter found no macks on Saturday. Last week a few macks were mixed in with the bunker. The dogfish that patrons hooked spit up tiny mackerel. The season is a little early for mackerel, but the boat will go after them if the Bostons come in, maybe in the next weeks. The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day.

The <b>Voyager</b> was undergoing annual maintenance, so no trips were sailing, said Brian from <b>Fisherman’s Supply</b>, where the boat is docked. But trips will resume April 25, starting with a cod and pollock trip that’s sold out. But other 20- to 40-mile wreck-fishing trips are available afterward. A few deep-water tilefish trips are slated to start May 2, and the first one on that date is sold out, but a few openings remain on May 9, 16 and June 2. Half-day fluke trips will begin May 24. See the Voyager’s calendar for the latest schedule. No striped bass were biting along the local beaches yet, but stripers hit farther north at Sandy Hook and in Raritan Bay at Cliffwood Beach. Some were also reeled in farther south at Island Beach State Park and in Barnegat Bay.

<b>Bricktown</b>

The first keeper striped bass of the year was weighed in at <b>Pell’s Fish & Sport</b> today, Jason said. Jack Hahn bagged the 10-pounder at the Point Peasant Canal on a rubber shad, and previously he landed four shorts there, but this was the first keeper. Consistent flounder fishing continued in northern Barnegat Bay south of the Mantoloking Bridge, but customers were starting to pull up the flatties in the Manasquan River off the old hospital. Too few people were surf fishing to get reports about the suds, but the shop was encouraging customers to start trying. Fresh clams, bloodworms, sandworms, chum and all the usual baits are stocked.

<b>Toms River</b>

A couple of anglers fished for winter flounder off the Water’s Edge Restaurant in Barnegat Bay yesterday and boated two or three fish in maybe three hours, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Most customers flounder fishing were focusing on the bay at the BI marker, Oyster Creek and Double Creek channels and Meyer’s Hole. But some were also catching flatties in the northern bay around the Mantoloking Bridge but having better luck at nearby Manasquan River from the Point Pleasant Canal to the Railroad Bridge. Boaters and bridge anglers fishing farther south on the bay at Route 37 were picking up striped bass at night on rubber shads and dark plugs like Bombers, and the fish were feeding on big spearing. Stripers were sometimes hooked in the Toms River at Island Heights on bloodworms at night, and a few perch were also taken at Island Heights on bloods during night and early mornings. Flounder fishing was pretty much finished for the season at Island Heights. A few customers were surf fishing, including a couple yesterday, but nothing was biting, and the water was 45 degrees.

<b>Seaside</b>

The beaches were deserted Monday, even though a few short striped bass were taken from the surf over the weekend, the report on <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b>’s web site said. “I have noticed a trend here,” Grumpy said. “When guys go fishing, fish are caught,” and vice versa. Strong winds sometimes kept anglers away during the week, but even when conditions improved, no word was posted about anglers. The ocean was in the high 40s. Loads of fresh clams were stocked. The store’s Polar Bear Tournament, a fishing tournament that’s been held during the cooler seasons, lasts through Tuesday. <a href="http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishingreports/" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for updates.  

Very little was posted on the report on <b>Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s web site . The surf today was 47 degrees, 1 to 2 feet and “cleaning up,” the report said. Two anglers fished Tuesday, and nobody was out Monday. That was all that was mentioned about anyone fishing. Seaside Park Marina will hold its first annual fluke fishing tournament on August 2, with cash prizes and gifts for the winners. The entry fee is $50 per boat for up to two anglers, and each additional angler is $25, and kids under 12 are free. The tournament will take place 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., “with a feast to follow,” the report said. Call Adam Manzo with questions or to sign up at 609-206-1708. <a href=" http://www.bettyandnicks.com/fish.shtml" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for the latest.

<b>Forked River</b>

The vessel is in the water and ready to roll, said Capt. John from <b>Seafood Fishing Charters</b>, and a 6-hour open-boat trip for winter flounder and striped bass will fish Barnegat Bay on Saturday, and space is available. Call to reserve.  Flounder should be the main focus, and the flatties were biting in the warm water on the nearby west side of the bay. Stripers had been hitting a lot around the Oyster Creek power plant discharge around the same area, but seemed to be spreading out now. If the anglers on the trip find stripers, they’ll plug for the fish. Open-boat trips will run each weekend when no charter is slated. One bunch of anglers was interested in running offshore for tuna, because a big warm-water eddy rolled in, but the weather was too rough to sail. When Seafood does fish offshore, the boat makes it to the grounds probably quicker than any other charter. The 33-foot HydraSports features three 250 h.p. engines, cruises at 45 m.p.h., tops at 60 m.p.h. and makes it to the canyons in 2 hours in fair seas. Anglers can spend more time fishing than traveling. If anyone’s interested in fishing this summer’s Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club Tournament, a few spaces remain for the event with Seafood.  Last year the purse was $365,000. Fifteen percent of any winnings go to the crew, but the rest goes to the anglers.

<b>Waretown</b>

One customer pulled up six winter flounder from the bridge at the Oyster Creek power plant discharge, said Dale from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b>. A bunch of short stripers, and occasional keepers, kept hitting in the creek. One couple of boaters set up for flounder fishing at the BB buoy in Barnegat Bay and nailed two keeper striped bass and six short stripers, so stripers seemed to be perking up. A few reports were also heard about 24- to 26-inch weakfish landed along the sod banks on the west side of the bay, some of the first weakfish of the season. Weaks were sometimes also picked from Oyster Creek. Flounder fishing in Barnegat Bay was very slow. Occasionally someone would connect, and 10 of the fish were the most Dale heard anyone landed on a trip. Nobody reported surf fishing in the past days, and the weather was rough. Today was clear for a change, but forecasts were looking like a switch right back to tough conditions through the weekend. A few anglers said they saw a handful of herring up Oyster Creek, but that was unconfirmed, and otherwise Dale heard about none of the baitfish migrating to local waters yet. He saw nobody trying to catch them at Forge Pond and heard about no run taking place at spots like Lake Shenandoah. But the migration will probably start soon. Bloodworms, sandworms, fresh clams and pints, quarts and 5-gallon bags of frozen, unsalted clams are among the baits stocked.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Loads of striped bass had been hooked from the shore at Graveling Point and Pebble Beach on Great Bay since the beginning of the month, but catches took a dive today, and lots of anglers fished, but nothing was doing, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Maybe water temps dropped from northeast winds. Previously 10- to 24-inch stripers, sometimes a 24-incher and a rare keeper were landed on bloodworms and clams. No keepers were weighed in lately, but any keepers were probably barely keepers, only 7 or 8 pounds, not the kind of fish anglers often check in. The season’s first weakfish was landed at Graveling Point on Saturday, and the first black drum was taken at Pebble Beach on the same day. Big, spawning, tiderunner weakfish typically arrive mostly at Little Sheepshead Creek in late April or the beginning of May, if the weaks show up this year. They don’t always. Last year they turned on two or three days, but two or three years ago they bit for two or three weeks. Drum usually move in during mid April, so it’s time. A customer hooked and lost a bluefish, the first bluefish heard about at the shop this year, during the weekend from the bank of the bay. The spring migration of blues can arrive by the third week of April or nearly any time now. Once lots of blues storm the waters, striped bass fishing mostly shuts down along spots like Graveling Point as the blues take over. Nobody mentioned winter flounder fishing, although a neighbor previously had been boating flounder in the bay farther north at Mantoloking. Herring would normally be swimming around now, but Scott was hearing about none. White perch were lifted up from the Lower Bank Bridge on the Mullica River. Some customers were planning to sail the ocean for tog today, the first clear weather in some time, but thick fog nixed those plans. Scott was sorting through the green crabs carried for tog bait as he gave this report. The weather’s been terrible, raw, cloudy, and rains were forecast after today. Anglers will still fish Graveling Point and the surrounding area in rains, but they’ll spend less time per trip. Clams ran out today because lots fished in the clear weather, but more clams were coming tomorrow. Bloodworms, live grass shrimp and minnows were carried, and live eels are now stocked. Grass shrimp are the hot bait for perch, and minnows are popular for freshwater fishing. Stripers start to grab eels as the waters warm. 

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Fairly consistent catches of striped bass were taken from the surf, said Nick from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>. Customers today reported beaching one to three 26- to 27-inch shorts apiece that bit clams. But Kyle Gibson scored a 28-1/2-inch keeper, and Robbie Vallone walloped a 20-pound 5-ounce keeper yesterday that sucked down clam. The mainland side of Barnegat Bay seemed alive with stripers that attacked Fin-S Fish, small swimming plugs or anything that looked like spearing. Winter flounder fishing sounded slow in the bay, but a sunny sky today would probably turn on more. Pods of bunker were swimming the bay, and bunker were spotted in the ocean. Rumors were heard about the first bluefish of the season seen, and weakfish were landed at Holgate on the south end of Long Beach Island. Clams, freshly frozen blueback herring, bloodworms, sandworms and chum are stocked. Oceanside Bait & Tackle, the other shop that Nick and his business partner own, should open for the season within two weeks.

<b>Port Republic</b>

The herring migration was fully under way on the Mullica River, and anglers there were hooking the baitfish or bloodworms to land striped bass, said Violet from <b>Chestnut Neck Boat Yard</b>. Live herring and bloodworms are stocked. White perch were also inhaling the bloods in the river. Striped bass were also beached at Graveling Point at the confluence of the Mullica and Great Bay.

<b>Absecon</b>

The first 20- and 30-pound stripers of the season were checked in at <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b> this past week, Ray said. Gordon Muller nailed the 20-pounder at the mouth of the Mullica River on Saturday, and Robert Elbon took down the 30-pounder from the beach on Delaware Bay on Monday. Each won a $100 gift certificate that the shop awards for the first over 20 and 30. That completes all the shop’s awards for the season’s first stripers, and the other awards were given away in March for the first through third keepers. Nobody else checked in stripers this past week, but striper fishing was supposedly decent up the rivers like the Mullica and Great Egg Harbor on live or chunked herring. The herring run was going strong up the rivers a few days last week but dropped off in the rains, weather and flood tides. But the migration will pick up again, and the shop is carrying live herring. Plenty of white perch were swimming the rivers, and Capt. Dave, the shop’s owner, was finding them in his herring nets. Dunk bloodworms or grass shrimp to nab the slabs. No customers landed stripers in the bay near the shop, but Ray planned to go out and give it another shot. The staff was starting to put boats in the water for customers, so boaters should start heading out, and more news, including about the bay, should roll in then. Surf fishers beached a few striped bass at Brigantine, mostly shorts, but sometimes a keeper, on clams or bloodworms. Ray was asked when spawning, big, tiderunner weakfish might show up in the area. They usually appear toward the end of April, when a few 10-pounders are normally found in Clam Thorofare near Harrah’s Casino. Bloodworms are stocked, and clams, in short supply this week, should be carried by the weekend. Minnows and all the freshwater baits are carried, and customers were supposedly connecting well with largemouth bass in freshwater on the pre-spawn bite.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Jerry Miller on Monday beached two short striped bass and a 31-inch keeper on the north end of Brigantine, told another angler, who then fished the same spot that day and picked up two shorts and a 36-inch, 24-pound keeper, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Two other anglers, including John Deering, each recently landed a short from the wash, and other shorts were taken here or there, but otherwise things were quiet. Andy thought the fishing would bust loose after the shop’s first keeper from the beach was checked in last week, when other stripers also swam around a moment. But it’s only a matter of time before surf angling heats up. The weather’s been rough, through today was gorgeous. Clams are the bait to toss in the suds, and some use bloodworms, and both are stocked. Frozen baits including bunker, peanut bunker and herring are also carried. Andy was trying to keep live herring, but the herring weren’t cooperating, so he was ending up freezing them. He’s trying to stock fresh bunker, and bunker were schooling, but the supply was difficult in the rough weather. Pat Cooke was leading the Fish for Life Striper Derby with a 16-pound 35-1/2-incher, the season’s first keeper mentioned above. Riptide is the only place where anglers can enter the derby, benefitting the South Jersey Cancer Fund. Running till May 15, the contest allows beach buggy access on the entire length of Brigantine for those who own the town’s beach buggy pass. The town’s pass only allows access on the north and south ends, so many anglers were entering just for the access. Entries are $20 apiece and are limited to 150 anglers.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Brigantine surf anglers were landing striped bass now and then, and try soaking clams, bloodworms or herring, if you can find herring, said Dominic from <b>Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle</b>. Herring were migrating up the rivers and creeks. Few boaters were fishing yet, and the weather wasn’t making things easy. Reports about fishing the bay for stripers were therefore scarce, but anglers can try fooling the bay’s bass on bloodworms, clams or fresh or live herring. Striped bass fishing sounded alright up the Mullica River, and nobody mentioned fishing the Great Egg Harbor River. Customers yesterday showed off a bucket of huge white perch that came from one of the rivers. A big temperature break with warm water was holding offshore, and boaters including Dominic were trying to find a break in the weather that would allow them to sail to the grounds for the tuna that surely swam there, but it wasn’t happening. Fresh clams and frozen herring are stocked, and the shop was trying to find fresh herring. Fresh bunker was expected to arrive next week, and bunker pods were schooling. The staff was busy making shark rigs, spreader bars, daisy chains and such. The shop’s rental boat, a 17-foot Angler with a 50 h.p. Merc, will probably go in the water next week, so anglers can use it to fish the bay. The store’s offshore charter boat, the <b>Carly A</b>, will launch in the beginning of June.

<b>Longport</b>

The <b>Stray Cat</b> “barely got out” yesterday, Capt. Mike said. A 10-foot ground swell with east winds met the vessel at the inlet, but the open-boat trip fished for tog at Ocean City Reef.  The bite was a slow pick, and many of the blackfish were small, but some catches were made, and patrons fished hard. Actually the fishing was encouraging, considering the swell, east winds and dirty water. Interestingly, a seal popped up at the reef that day. An open trip was supposed to look for the tog again today, and Mike expected good catches, because the swell dropped out yesterday afternoon. An open trip tomorrow or Friday is supposed to jig for mackerel at first and then hit the tog grounds, and space is available. Space is also available on open trips the next two days, Saturday and Sunday, and the forecast was looking questionable. But forecasts lately were highly inaccurate, and if the weather is too rough to fish for blacks, Mike still plans to set up for winter flounder and striped bass in the bay instead. So the trips should fish no matter. Open-boat trips for tog are slated daily, and jigging for mackerel might be mixed in, and call to reserve.

<b>Ocean City</b>

A few 25- or 26-inch striped bass were reeled in along the bridges, and one angler was throwing soft plastic lures and plugs to catch them, said Dan from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. No stripers were really swimming the surf yet. Herring were sometimes pushing up the rivers and getting landed for bait at places like Mays Landing on the Great Egg Harbor. Plenty of tog were holding around the bridges, and tog and sea bass were coming up from the ocean wrecks. Fresh clams, sandworms, bloodworms and frozen baits were stocked.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Tog fishing will begin Saturday on the <b>Captain Robbins</b>, Capt. John said. Crabs and clams will be supplied for bait, and the trips will sail 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.

Rough weather Monday through Wednesday kept trips from striped bass fishing in the back bay with Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. He hoped to get out during today’s break, calm winds, sunny skies. Trips with him were already connecting with stripers on soft plastic lures like Bass Assassins and flies like Clousers. Joe typically targets them near the creek mouths and outflows from shallow bays that warm first in spring. Outgoing tides, warmer than incoming waters from the ocean, and clear afternoons are usually best this time of year, because the water’s warmest. This time of year is one of the best for the fishing, and by late April bluefish usually move in and take over a moment. Big, spawning weakfish also sometimes arrive with the blues, but in recent years they were scarce. Flounder usually bite best in the area’s shallow bays around May, but unfortunately flounder season continues to open late these days, this year on May 24. By late May blues become less thick in the bay, moving to the ocean, and striper fishing turns on again in the bay. Soon the stripers begin to hit top-water lures and poppers, including popper flies, because the water’s warm enough. So currently fishing with subsurface lures and flies is prime time. Get it while it’s good.  UPDATE: Jersey Cape fished for striped bass in the bay in the clear weather today, with Wes Bandy aboard, and nine striped bass were reeled in, Joe said. Soft plastics fooled the fish on a slow, stop-and-go, jigging type of retrieve. Rains this week dropped water temps a little to 52 degrees, but the bay will warm rapidly, Joe said. He looked around for bluefish a bit, even though the water was too cool, and none showed up. The season was early for blues, but not too early to scope around for them. Joe heard about no weakfish appearing yet.

<b>Cape May</b>

The rough weather was keeping news to a minimum, but a few striped bass were reported caught in Delaware Bay, and the waters north of 20-Foot Slough were best, said Jim from <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The first several black drum of the season were pulled from the bay. A few customers were boating the bay today in the better weather.

<b>Daisy May Sport Fishing</b> should start fishing in two weekends, targeting striped bass in Delaware Bay, and the fishing should be in full swing by then, but you never know, Capt. Dave Huffnagle Jr. said. Clams, the fresher the better, will be the bait, and the year’s first charters usually fish the shallows for the linesiders. The shallows, about 15 feet during high tides and 9 or 10 feet on low, warm first, and schoolie, resident stripers wake up and feed. The 20 to 27-1/2-inch stripers, with a few keepers mixed in, usually bite best on outgoing tides, warmer than incoming tides that pull in ocean water. Bigger stripers will migrate to the bay afterward, and black drum fishing will also turn on. A few puppy drum were already caught, and the smaller, juvenile fish are usually the first to arrive, giving up decent bites by the third or fourth weeks of April. Catches of big drum usually start to be heard about by the first full moon in May, which Dave believed occurred early in the month this year. Both stripers and drum can be caught on the same trip, in the same places, at times. The stripers even hang out and wait for drum to crush up clams, and the stripers pick up the scraps. “Opportunistic feeders,” especially the larger stripers, he said. The crew from Daisy may also loves tautog fishing, and tog season is closing in May and through summer this year, but normally Daisy May would sometimes run combo trips that catch stripers, drum and tog all in one outing. Now the crew will wait till November to start tog fishing.

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