On the party boat Atlantic Star, fluke fishing was tough on Wednesday morning’s trip, Capt. Tom said. Even catches of throwbacks were slow. But the angling was better on the afternoon’s trip, similar to Tuesday’s fishing aboard, covered in the last report. Wednesday afternoon’s fishing wasn’t as good as Tuesday afternoon’s aboard, but was better than the morning’s, like on the previous day. The boat drifted better in the afternoon than in the morning Wednesday. Whether that was the reason was unknown. But probably twice as many keepers were lifted in than in the morning, and throwbacks bit well in the afternoon, and Tom couldn’t say how many more did, compared with the morning. When drifting was better, fluking seemed better lately. But he didn’t know whether that was a reason. No big fluke showed up, and pool-winning fish only weighed a couple of pounds Wednesday. Trips fished the bay, and weather forecasts and small craft warnings seemed to keep anglers from coming down to fish sometimes. “But we’re fishing the bay,” Tom said. Weather wasn’t an issue on the bay. Spearing are supplied for bait, and Tom suggests anglers buy killies at a tackle shop on the way to the boat, and the harbor tackle shop is closed. Sometimes killies were effective, and only a half-pint is needed on the half-day trips. For $5 or $6, the bait was good to bring. Gulps also caught well, and anglers sometimes seemed to score well on combos of killies and Gulps. 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.

Boaters clammed striped bass Wednesday, said Jimmy from Julian’s Bait & Tackle. He was unsure whether that was at Flynn’s Knoll or where. But stripers were around, everywhere from the ocean to Raritan Bay to the rivers. Lots of bluefish invaded all those places or everywhere. Striper fishing was good on the rivers. Fluke were cranked from the bay. One of the charter boats limited out on sea bass on the ocean, and sea bass season was opened Sunday. Good-sized, out-of-season blackfish were released on the trip, and nothing was heard about ling. The captain hadn’t fished that far from shore. Baits are fully stocked.

From Twin Lights Marina, John Cuozzo on the Elsea Nora landed one keeper striped bass, Marion said. Roy Wurst, Todd Cuccio, Jim Ward and Paul Q. boated three stripers and some blues off Keansburg Pier on bunker chunks. Ed, Tony and Al on the Hammerhead made off with a keeper fluke and some blues from Flynn’s Knoll on Saturday, opening day of fluke season. Bushels of fresh clams are available, and the live bunker baitwell is hoped to be hooked up this weekend, so the baitfish will be stocked starting then. The plumbing was damaged in the hurricane. Frozen baits carried include quarts and pints of salted clams, spearing, Peruvian smelts, the different types of squid, and scented shedder crab. Twin Lights includes a marina, including boat slips and rack space, a bait and tackle shop, ship supplies and a fuel dock.

Angling for striped bass was good on the ocean Tuesday on the party boat Miss Belmar Princess, Capt. Alan said. But the fishing was not good on Wednesday’s trip, and not a ton of good fishing happened in recent days aboard. None of the fleet sailed today, because of weather. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays through Sundays. The night trips will probably run daily starting next week on Friday, May 31. The Royal Miss Belmar this weekend will begin to sail for fluke and sea bass 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

Weather kept today’s trip from fishing on the party boat Golden Eagle, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. But forecasts said weather should clear late tonight, “and we’re planning on catching some more of these big (striped bass from the ocean) Friday,” it said. Take a pole to snag bunker to liveline for bait. Some of the bass were shoveled aboard Wednesday, but not as well as on Tuesday, though more fish were seen along the surface, and were marked, on Wednesday than on Tuesday. But on Wednesday, three of the bass caught weighed more than 30 pounds, and a 33-pounder was the pool-winner. All were livelined on bunker, and plenty of bunker schooled, were easy to snag. Striper fishing began to break open aboard Monday. More than 20 keepers to 39 pounds, and several heavier than 30, were drilled. Krocodile spoons and livelined bunker caught them, and the bass swam the water surface, and bait schooled all over. The Golden Eagle is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nighttime bluefishing trips will begin this weekend, running 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday through Sunday.

Ocean striped bass fishing was on and off on different days with Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters, but began to break open a little, Capt. Pete said. A new school of stripers seemed to arrive, and lots more bunker became around than before. Afternoons seemed better for the fishing. Some big stripers to a 36-1/2-pounder were creamed aboard, and trips fished for stripers with livelined bunker or trolled Stretch plugs or bunker spoons. Sea bass season was opened Sunday, and a charter Tuesday headed out for them aboard. Fishing in 60 to 80 feet, catches were picky at first, but became very good. Scores of sizeable sea bass were socked, and some ling were mixed in. Twenty good-sized, out-of-season blackfish were let go. On the way home, bunker were found, and striper, including the 36-1/2-pounder, were caught among them. Pete weighed in the 46-incher for a tournament he entered. Any fluke that boaters cranked from the ocean came from close to shore in cool waters. Fluking was excellent on Shark River. Charters are fishing, and subscribe to Parker Pete’s e-mailed newsletter to be kept informed about individual-spaces available on charters and for the latest fishing reports. Click on that link to Parker Pete’s fishing reports online, and newsletter sign up can be found on the right side of the page. Or go to the site’s Contact page, and e-mail, asking to subscribe.

Plenty of large striped bass were seen on bunker on Wednesday’s trip, an e-mail from the party boat Big Jamaica said. The bass were difficult to catch, but a few big ones were plastered. A 36-pounder was the pool-winning fish. More stripers than before moved into the area on Tuesday, and were pasted on Krocodile spoons, jigs and livelined bunker. The Big Jamaica is fishing for striped bass at 7:30 a.m. daily and for bluefish at 7:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.

The party boat Norma-K III’s fluke trips were docked today, and weather “kept some anglers home,” Capt. Matt thought, he wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. But a few fluke and sea bass were picked on every trip that sailed recently. Even if catches were “a little on the slow side,” he said, “there (are) fish in our area.” Winds will switch Friday, and he hopes that’ll make them bite more. Weather forecasts looked good for Friday through the weekend. The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. The next bluefish trip is set for Friday, then bluefish trips will sail daily 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The season’s first trip sailed from Point Pleasant Beach with Andrea’s Toy Charters, a report on Andrea’s Toy’s Web site said Monday. Trips, like every spring, previously fished for stripers on Raritan Bay. But now the boat was back in Point to sail for the migration of large stripers on the ocean, and bluefish, sea bass and fluke on the ocean. The trip, a charter, ran for stripers, and first made bait, catching enough bunker in two throws of the castnet near Manasquan Inlet. A 25-pound striper, the angler’s first, was boated on the first drift. Another was bagged, then a few were missed, then the rest of the anglers each landed one. They went 5 for 10 for the day. Andrea’s Toy will also fish on mixed-bag trips for stripers, blues, sea bass and fluke, or any combo of them, all in one outing. The crew specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up, and more variety for dinner.

Ocean striped bass fishing seems close to breaking open, Capt. Ray Bukowski from Mushin Sportfishing thinks, he wrote in an e-mail. Water temps were right, “and there’s bait,” he said. Also, the crew is anxious to get anglers on sea bass and ling on bottom-fishing trips on the ocean, and if interested, please telephone, he said. Day-trolling for tuna, as opposed to overnight fishing with bait that turns on later in summer, should take off soon, and dates are available. On Tuesday, Hank Kochan’s group jumped aboard, steaming south on the ocean. Lots of schooling bunker were found, and were skittish, though they were under no fishing pressure. “Didn’t look good,” Ray said, and some of the bunker were caught for striper bait. Structure was drifted, and one striper bit but pulled off. The trip decided to move to wrecks for sea bass fishing. But on the way, “a few loafing gannets,” Ray said, were seen. A few of the bunker were pitched into the waters, and Hank hooked a good-sized, 45-inch striper almost instantly. Then stripers kept following the baits back to the boat, but wouldn’t hit them. “We found where they were, but they weren’t ready,” Ray said. The trip continued to a wreck, and a very good pick of sea bass was caught, and cod were mixed in. About half the sea bass were keepers, a good ratio. Next the trip ran back to where the stripers were found before, but winds, from the south, began to blow, so the trip motored back to port. On Saturday afternoon, Mike Taylor’s charter climbed on board, trying for stripers on the ocean. Light, onshore winds blew, water temps were excellent at 58 degrees, skies were dark, boat traffic was light, and plenty of fish and bait were read. “Perfect,” Ray said. But the stripers wouldn’t bite. “At all,” he said. Lots of stripers followed bait back to the boat. As a last ditch effort to catch a striper, one was landed very close to shore, just outside the surf. Anglers on a couple of other boats had luck “with rogue groups of (stripers) willing to eat for a few minutes,” Ray said. The angling was frustrating, “but the group was tough and very understanding,” he said. On another note, Ray is also manager of Island Beach State Park, and said the park was just reopened to Barnegat Inlet. “So, starting to breathe,” he said. The park was partially reopened earlier this year, after Hurricane Sandy. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew enjoys sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

Fishing was good this weekend, and lots of large striped bass came in, from both the ocean and Barnegat Bay, said Vince Sr. from Bobbie’s Boat Rentals. They were trolled on bunker spoons on the ocean. But live spots are stocked, and caught many stripers in the bay, including sizeable, at Oyster Creek Channel. Good-sized fluke were seen from the bay, including an 8-pounder. Bluefish swam everywhere, including in the bay and Barnegat Inlet. Blowfish were nipped from Oyster Creek Channel. Nobody really crabbed or clammed the bay. Though clamming is more popular later in the season on the shop’s rental boats, clamming was probably good, and usually is. The season was early for crabbing on the boats, until waters warm. In addition to live spots, baits stocked include fresh clams, fresh bunker and the complete array of frozen. Live grass shrimp usually begin to be carried in July. Bobbie’s includes boat and kayak rentals, a fuel dock and a complete bait and tackle shop. The shop is known for baits, like spots and live grass shrimp. Call to confirm availability.

Tim and Tiffany Atkins aboard fly- and spin-rodded bluefish to 6 ½ pounds, summer flounder and a weakfish aboard the back bay Tuesday evening, said Capt. Joe Hughes from Jersey Cape Guide Service, affiliated with Sea Isle Bait & Tackle. On Monday aboard the bay, Brandon LeJeune and wife Susan spin-rodded blues most of the evening. Mini blitzes of blues were fished both evenings. In other words, schooling blues attacked baitfish, disappeared, attacked again, and so on. When fly fishing, the anglers threw Clouser Minnows and Crease flies, a Crease that Joe ties with a larger cup than usual, so it pops more water. That’s a surface popper fly. When fishing spin rods, the anglers cast soft-plastic lures and Skitter Pops, a popper lure. Striped bass should also attack poppers by now, or waters were warm enough for them to be active enough to smash lures along the surface in the bay. The fishing is one of Joe’s specialties. The flounder were targeted with a three-way swivel rig with a bucktail on bottom with a Gulp mullet or shrimp impaled, and a minnow on a plain hook on the trailer. That’s Joe’s preferred flounder rig. Take an afternoon, after-work trip, a good time for fishing the bay, when boat traffic is down, and fish can be active. Coming up, Joe’s inshore shark trips will begin soon, on the ocean. The angling is a chance to fight big fish without the long trek offshore. Joe will also sail offshore for big game when he gets his first chance this season. He heard first-hand about bluefin tuna trolled at the offshore canyons. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on Jersey Cape’s blog.

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing was decent during the shop’s flounder tournament Saturday, opening day of flounder season, said Fred from No Bones Bait & Tackle. No large ones were entered, but a 4-pound 14-ouncer was biggest, and 8 pounds 1 ounce was the heaviest total for two flounder. The bay’s weakfish population was the largest in 20 years, and bluefish also swam the bay. Any striped bass hooked from the bay were 14 or 16 inches, and experienced anglers who were stealthy could grab them on soft-plastic lures. But nobody really fished for them, when they could fish for flounder and weakfish instead. Stripers were banked from the surf. One angler who never caught anything from the surf fished the shore Saturday and Sunday. He landed nothing the first day, but saw other anglers reel in small stripers and sand sharks. But on Sunday, on his first cast, a bite almost swam off with his rod, and he nailed a 36-pound 44-inch striper. Kingfish, lots, invaded the surf. A friend who “lives for kingfish,” Fred said, found them, totaling something like 14 and a couple of weakfish Sunday in the surf. On Monday he waxed 22 kings and no weakfish, but landed his season’s first spots, lots, from the surf. Lots of spots showed up now in the surf, and usually don’t appear until mid-July. No drum were heard about from the surf in a week. But stripers, kingfish, weakfish and spots swam the waters, and so did sand sharks. Clams were the bait to fish for the stripers, and bloodworms were the bait for the kings. Though no drum showed up in the surf, drum fishing turned on in Delaware Bay for boaters, on the New Jersey side. A few were hauled from the Delaware side previously. Minnows are trying to be stocked at the store, but are scarce. A few were carried for opening day of flounder season, and the supplier brought a gallon to the shop Wednesday, but the supply hasn’t been enough to speak of, Fred said. Baits stocked include frozen quarts and pints of salted clams, bulk bags of clam bellies, mullet, herring, mackerel and all the usual.

Drum fishing was good on Delaware Bay, and large ones were heaved in, said Capt. Mario from the Down Deep. The past two trips fished for them on the New Jersey side of the bay, after the vessel previously fished for them on the Delaware side. An open-boat sea bass trip on the ocean might become weathered out Saturday. Weather wouldn’t cut trips a break, he said, and forecasts kept changing for Saturday. Another open sea trip is set for Wednesday, and telephone to climb aboard open trips. Charters are available, and don’t miss out: Sign up for the Short Notice List on Down Deep’s Web site to be kept informed about special open-boat trips.

Sea bass fishing was launched Sunday on the party boat Porgy IV on the ocean, Capt. Paul said. That was opening day of sea bass season, and the angling wasn’t so good, was disappointing, though some were decked. After sea bass season closures recently, he expected better. Paul wasn’t asked about seas or weather, but certainly conditions were sometimes rough. Seas were known to have built up on Sunday in weather, for example. Sea bass were reeled aboard on opening day and Monday. Craig Constantino, Voorhees, was high hook on opening day with 16 keeper sea bass. Nobody limited out on 20 so far this week, and some anglers bagged numbers in the teens on Monday. Tuesday’s trip was sailed farther from shore, “and that wasn’t the answer,” Paul said. Sea bass fishing was very slow on the trip. Wednesday’s trip fished back closer to land, and catches were better than on Tuesday. Some anglers bagged 10 or 12, and others bagged fewer. Trips will stick with sea bassing, a chance to bag fish. Paul heard nothing good about summer flounder fishing yet, but trips will eventually switch to flounder. Some trips currently might mix in a little drifting for flounder, like at rocks. The Porgy IV is sailing for sea bass at 8 a.m. daily.

Sounded like striped bass fishing turned back on in the surf, said Nick from Hands Too Bait & Tackle. Most catches came from the ocean beach, but a few were managed from Delaware Bay’s shore. Mostly clams were fished, but fresh bunker was sometimes used, if anglers could find the bunker. Weakfishing was outstanding in the surf, like along Cape May Point’s jetties, Higbee’s Beach and Cape May Canal’s jetties. Bucktails with Gulps or bloodworms on float rigs were fished for them, and croakers were mixed in. Summer flounder could be tied into from the surf, especially at Sunset Beach and around jetties. Bucktails with strips of squid or Gulps could be worked for them, or minnows could be used. Blowfish, kingfish and blues rolled around the surf. Fishing was red hot, Nick said, and lots of different fish were in. Anglers who could boat shallows tight to shore netted striped bass on Delaware Bay. But most boating turned to drum that bit in the bay on the New Jersey side, including at the Pin Top and Tussy’s Slough, but also closer to shore, and also on the Delaware side. Nothing was heard about anyone boating for flounder on Delaware Bay. But good boating for flounder, mostly 16 to 20 inches, was honked from back bays. Fresh clams are stocked, and the supply of fresh bunker looked spotty for the weekend, but Nick was trying to obtain it. All flounder baits are in supply, like whole and filleted mackerel and frozen spearing, mullet and the different squids.

Super striped bass fishing was smashed Thursday evening on Raritan Bay with Outcast Charters on live and chunked bunker, Capt. Joe said. The trip limited out early and released more, and a good number of bluefish were fought to boot. The stripers were large, up to 30 pounds, but most were 15 to 20. On a trip Saturday evening, lots of stripers were marked, but refused to bite. Seven were pasted, and even bluefish chomped less than before. So fishing seemed up and down. That trip also fished with chunked and live bunker, and lots of bunker schooled the bay. The season’s first sea bass trip is set for Saturday aboard the ocean, sailing from Sewaren, New Jersey, because the state’s sea bass season was opened Sunday. Outcast also sails from Sewaren, and telephone for info. Sea bass are around, Joe knows, and he wasn’t going to say the angling should be great, but he expects to catch.

Perth Amboy

Raritan Bay’s striped bass fishing was good until Sunday, when catches seemed to drop off, Capt. Frank from the Vitamin Sea wrote in an e-mail. Many bluefish now schooled the bay, “adding to the challenge of getting bass to bite,” he said. Trips fished with both clams and bunker, depending on location, and bigger stripers were yet to migrate to the local area, so much remained to look forward to with striper fishing. Fluke season was opened Saturday, and friends tied into good catches of them. “The back of Raritan should be holding some real nice fluke very soon, if not already,” Frank said. Fluke trips are available aboard, and the boat will keep sailing for stripers. Charters and open-boat trips are running, and telephone about the open trips. Vitamin Sea also fishes from Staten Island. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

Keyport

Scott Boyer’s trip Saturday on Raritan Bay clammed striped bass, bluefish and fluke, a mixed bag, with Papa’s Angels Charters, Capt. Joe said. One fluke was a keeper, and the rest were throwbacks. Blues began to school all over the bay. Open-boat trips are available daily when no charter is booked, and telephone to jump aboard.

Atlantic Highlands

Fishing for striped bass turned back on Saturday on the party boat Fishermen, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. The angling had been slower in previous days, because stripers pushed to rivers and back waters to spawn a moment, Ron wrote in a report last week on the site. But on Saturday, “we got it done,” he said, after the boat was moved a few times. Some places produced better than others, and the bass “turned on hard at one point (for 40 minutes),” he said. Stripers to 22 pounds were hung. Bluefish were sometimes in the mix, “(but) weren’t a problem,” he said. Several anglers limited out, and three others caught their first-ever stripers. On Sunday’s trip, a few stripers were boated, but the fishing was slow again. Clouds filled the sky, and winds blew, and rains fell. Fishing aboard “will give it hell (today) once again with the Monday crew,” Ron said. Today, if stripers marked on previous trips “are hungry … watch out!” Ron said. 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 p.m. Sundays.

Raritan Bay’s temperature dropped by Sunday, apparently because of weather, Capt. Tom from the party boat Atlantic Star said. Fluke fishing aboard wasn’t great, but wasn’t bad, considering cool waters, on this opening weekend of fluke season. On Saturday morning’s trip, the first to sail for fluke, the flatfish were hooked at usual places the boat sails for them on the bay. Probably 1 in 5 was a keeper, and some anglers bagged two keepers, others one, and some none. Probably a 3-1/2-pound fluke was the pool-winning fish, and the bay was chilly at 61 degrees. Again, the angling wasn’t bad, considering, and the afternoon’s trip was about the same, and a 4- or 4-1/2-pound fluke was the pool-winner. Fluking was slower on Sunday morning’s trip, and the bay dipped to 56 or 57 degrees by that day. On Sunday afternoon’s trip, the fishing wasn’t as good as the previous afternoon’s, but fluke fishing wasn’t off to a bad start for the early season this weekend. Sunday was a raw, cold day on the waters. Pool-winning fluke weighed maybe 3 to 4 ½ pounds, or weren’t big, throughout the trips. Spearing is supplied for bait, and anglers who brought their own killies said they definitely caught better with them on Sunday morning’s trip. Some anglers fished bucktails on the trips, and was difficult to say whether bait or bucktails caught better through the weekend. But bait probably held an edge Saturday, and killies seemed to catch better on Sunday morning, and bait worked better on Sunday afternoon. Tom is suggesting anglers pick up killies at a tackle shop on the way to trips, and the tackle shop at the harbor is closed. Though weather was raw this weekend, all trips sailed. The bay was protected from southeast winds, and trips are fortunate to have the bay to fish, Tom said, when winds like easterlies could build ocean seas. The Atlantic Star is fishing for summer flounder on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. ***Update, Monday, 5/20:*** Fluke fishing was a little better on this morning’s trip than on Sunday aboard, Tom said. More keepers were swung in, and throwbacks gave up more action than before. The day began foggy, but that improved. Only a few anglers showed up for this afternoon’s trip, apparently because of weather forecasts, and they picked some fluke. The boat wouldn’t drift at one point, so it was moved to a place where it would drift better, and some moves were made on the trip, adjusting to winds that shifted several times. Waters remained cold, and fluking was nothing great or exciting, but improved somewhat. Some anglers bagged a couple of keepers or one, and one angler landed 15 fluke, and none was a keeper. But at least that showed fluke were migrating in. ***Update, Tuesday, 5/21:*** On this morning’s trip, fluke fishing was slow, not good, Tom said. A few keepers and some shorts were pulled in, not fishing like Monday afternoon’s pretty good action. But fluking turned around on this afternoon’s trip, giving up lots of action, and more keepers than before. All anglers at least landed fluke, though not everyone caught a keeper, Tom thought. A couple bagged two keepers apiece, and short action was much better than in the morning. Was difficult to say which trips would serve up better catches.

Highlands

With Fisher Price Charters, striped bass fishing was very good on Raritan Bay, though slowed Sunday, for some reason, Capt. Derek said. Lots of bluefish to 10 pounds moved in during past days, and trips fished with either chunked or livelined bunker. Whether one caught better than the other was day to day. Charters are fishing, and a couple of spots are available on an open-boat trip for stripers Tuesday afternoon. Call to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open dates. Fluke season opened Saturday, and fluke charters are also available.

The Ron Battersby trip Friday limited out on striped bass on Raritan Bay on clams with Raritan Bay Charters, Capt. Dave said. A half-dozen blues were also caught on the clams. On Saturday, in the same area, Rob Rommel’s charter managed three stripers on the bay with clams, and blues invaded. So the anglers filled the cooler with blues, happy to bend the rods at least, Dave said. Many stripers seemed to migrate up rivers to spawn, making stripers tougher to catch for the moment. Fluke season was opened Saturday, and the mate dropped a bucktail down while the boat was anchored, and nabbed some. Fluke were around, and trips are also available for them. A striper trip Sunday was cancelled because of weather. Open-boat trips are available when no charter is booked.

Neptune

Fishing for striped bass slowed down, and Capt. Ralph from Last Lady Fishing Charters expects it to pick back up soon, he wrote in an e-mail. The fishing isn’t over by any means, he said. In the meantime, he switched to wreck fishing that’s very good when “wind isn’t too bad,” he said. Great fishing was cranked in on a wreck trip today. Another wreck trip Sunday was tough, because of winds and rough seas. A trip Saturday tried for stripers, but the angling wasn’t good. But the season’s first keeper fluke was slugged aboard on that opening day of fluke season, and the trip wreck fished afterward “to save the day,” he said. Another wreck trip will sail Tuesday, and space is available. Charters are available in mornings and afternoons, and individual-reservation trips for stripers or wreck-fishing are slated for May 29 and June 3, 11 and 18. Individual-rez trips for fluke and sea bass will sail every Tuesday starting June 25, and kids under 12 will sail free, limited to two per adult host.

Belmar

Fin-Ominal Sportfishing began fishing for the season, Capt. Jared said. A couple of striped bass trips fished the ocean Tuesday and Thursday, and the angling was okay. Most of the bass were jigged, and some were trolled on bunker spoons and Stretch plugs. Bluefish sometimes bit, including when umbrella rigs were trolled. On Tuesday’s trip, six or seven stripers were boxed. On Thursday’s, fishing was tougher, and only one striper was waxed. Another trip fished previously, lambasting stripers, lots, on the ocean. Sea bass season was opened Sunday, and trips should be able to sock them on the ocean. Fluke season was opened, and the ocean was probably cold for fluke to snap much. A pleasure cruise was cancelled Saturday night because of rainy weather. The 50-foot boat can host small to large groups, up to 23 passengers on cruises and 12 or 13 anglers on fishing trips, for comfort. Even inexperienced anglers can come out and have fun fishing, Jared said. Cruises can include trips along Shark and Manasquan rivers, the ocean coast, the Manhattan skyline or whatever customers can imagine. In summer, cruises can enjoy weekly fireworks from the ocean.

Early in daytime was terrible for striped bass fishing on the ocean, but afternoons were phenomenal, said Capt. Pete from Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters. Maybe warmer waters from Raritan Bay on outgoing tides sparked up the fishing in afternoons, or maybe something else about afternoons caused the change. But waters rose 10 to 15 degrees on outgoing. Some morning trips were terrible for striper fishing aboard. But the fishing was like the flip of a switch in late afternoons to evenings on the boat. The bass were livelined on bunker or trolled on Stretch lures and bunker spoons. The population of bunker was spotty, and the menhaden could be snagged for bait, but too few swam to be castnetted. If trips sailed in early mornings, before boat traffic, the baitfish could be snagged. Bluefish, skinny ones typical this time of year, were sometimes hooked. Ocean fluke fishing supposedly served up lots of throwbacks and a few keepers since fluke season was opened Saturday, Pete heard. But Shark River’s fluke fishing went well. Sea bass season was opened Sunday, and party boats sailed for them that day, but no results were heard. Charters are fishing, and subscribe to Parker Pete’s e-mailed newsletter to be kept informed about individual-spaces available on charters and for the latest fishing reports. Click on that link to Parker Pete’s fishing reports online, and newsletter sign up can be found on the right side of the page. Or go to the site’s Contact page, and e-mail, asking to subscribe.

Shark River’s fluke fishing was “as good as we thought it was going to be,” Bob from Fisherman’s Den wrote in an e-mail Saturday evening, opening day of fluke season. Actually, the opener was one of the best in many years. The fish to more than 6 pounds hammered nearly any bait anglers fished. Jeff Rogers, Trenton, axed a 6-pounder off the bulkhead, and many bulkhead anglers landed the summer flounder. Rental boaters and private boaters totaled as many as 15 keepers per trip, and many of the fish measured up to 27 inches. Also on Saturday, a 4-pound 8-ounce weakfish was weighed in from the river, and six striped bass to 32 pounds were checked in from boats on the ocean. A great day for fishing for most anglers, Bob said. ***Update, Tuesday, 5/21:*** Another good day of fluke fishing on Shark River, Bob wrote about Monday in an e-mail. The fish fed like no tomorrow, he said, and spearing, killies and Gulp, especially Gulp 3-inch shrimp, were prime baits. Rental boaters sometimes limited out, and their fluke weighed up to a 6-pound 8-ouncer. Shore-bound anglers tugged in good numbers, and also hooked lots of blowfish, mostly on worms or clams. In the surf, fishing for stripers and blues slowed somewhat in the past few days, but should pick up “with some north winds,” he said. ***Update, Wednesday, 5/22:***: Large striped bass were dragged from Monmouth County’s surf Tuesday, and two 40- and 37-pounders were weighed in, Bob wrote in an e-mail. Bunker and stripers were reported to swim in large populations, spread throughout the coast. Several stripers to 10 pounds were also reported clammed from the surf “in our area,” he said. Fluke fishing was great on Shark River that day, and improved on the ocean. On the river, a kayaker plugged a 20-inch fluke on a Redfin on Tuesday. “Get in on the action before the crowds come,” Bob said.

Anglers picked away at bluefish Saturday on the party boat Miss Belmar Princess “on nice, long drifts all day,” an e-mail from the vessel said. Brian Henderson, Philly, won the pool with a 25-pound striped bass. Customers also picked away at blues on Sunday’s trip in the same area, and two fluke, keepers, were jigged. Fluke season was opened Saturday. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 4 to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.

Brielle

Good-sized striped bass swam the ocean, and the big ones are moving in, Capt. Ken from the Big Kid said. Fishing for them was slow at first on Saturday aboard, but picked up in the afternoon. Then the angling was banner aboard Sunday. Both trips fished white Tony Maja bunker spoons in size 4, and a Bomber lure was run down the middle of the trolling spread Sunday. Mid-week specials are available on charters. Many dates are booked, but afternoon trips are also offered. Sea bass season was opened Sunday, and trips can fish for them. Big Kid sails for any species available, from inshore to offshore.

On the party boat Jamaica II, a combo fluke and striped bass trip on Saturday scooped aboard a decent pick of fluke, but stripers “did not cooperate,” Capt. Joe wrote in an e-mail. Ed Nolan, Manasquan, bagged three fluke, including a 4-pound 14-ouncer, taking the lead in the monthly pool with the fish. On a sea bass trip Sunday, opening day of sea bass season, catches were okay, but could’ve been better. Rough seas somewhat slowed the fishing in the morning, “but those that stuck with it did okay,” Joe said. Donnito Patrick clocked a dozen sizeable sea bass and a couple of big ling. John Cartison, Hamilton, scored a cooler full of sea bass and ling. The Jamaica II is sailing for sea bass 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through next Monday, Memorial Day. On that Tuesday, May 28, two half-day trips will begin to run daily for a combo of fluke and sea bass at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. On June 3, All Day Fluke Trips will begin to fish every Monday at 7:30 a.m.

Striped bass, quite a few, were boated at Shrewsbury Rocks on Saturday, said Dave from The Reel Seat. Quite a few large stripers, like in the high 20 pounds to high 40s, were boated farther south, like off Lavallette and Seaside. Trolled bunker spoons caught the bass, and too few bunker seemed to school to snag then liveline them for stripers. Bluefish were jigged on the ocean, mostly from off Manasquan Inlet to Shrewsbury Rocks. Fluke season was opened Saturday, and fishing for them was slow on the ocean, but very good on Manasquan and Shark rivers. Someone e-mailed Dave, saying the shop’s new jigheads, made for Gulp soft-plastic lures, worked well on the flatfish. The jigs, designed by The Reel Seat, feature a lead head made to fit Gulps, with a coil to hold the soft-plastic lures, and colors that match all Gulp colors. The ocean was rough in weather Sunday, opening day of sea bass season, but a few party boats headed out for the fish. Results were yet to be heard. Ling fishing had begun to pick up on the ocean, and would probably keep improving, including because the fish would probably be pressured less, now that sea bass season was opened. In Manasquan Inlet, bluefishing slowed compared with great angling for them previously. But some were caught there, and healthy numbers of 2- to 3-pounders now ran Manasquan River. Striper fishing was so-so at the inlet, not as productive as Dave would expect this time of year. Weakfish to 8 pounds were hooked in the river in healthy numbers. Along the surf, anglers picked at stripers on both bait and lures, and not much was heard about bluefish in the local surf. Back on the ocean, a 263-pound mako shark was boated Saturday that was the season’s first weighed in at the store. The year’s first bluefin tuna was also checked in, and bluefins were decked from Lindenkohl to Baltimore canyons. The one weighed in was trolled on a Reel Seat mini green-machine spreader bar. Tilefishing was good offshore for Dave on a trip last Monday to Tuesday. Three spaces remain for a tilefish trip for beginners that he booked on the party boat Voyager from Point Pleasant Beach. Set for Tuesday to Wednesday, June 4 to 5, the trip is limited to 21 passengers, and includes a free seminar at the store on the fishing on Sunday, June 2. Anglers can call or stop in the shop for details or to sign up. Dave is an avid tilefisher, and introduced probably the first-ever off-the-rack tilefish rod this past year.

Point Pleasant Beach

Five anglers fished for striped bass two days in a row with Andrea’s Toy Charters, a report on Andrea’s Toy’s Web site said Saturday. The fishing began at Raritan Bay, but by the end of the second day reached Point Pleasant Beach, where the boat would now sail from for the rest of the fishing season, like every year. On the first day with the anglers, bunker were caught for bait, and the trip “went to work,” it said. The group had to fight through 50 bluefish to land two 20-pound stripers. On the next day, the decision was made to fish the bay, the report said, “and work our way south.” After bait was made, 50 blues were slugged through again, to land one striper. Then the trip moved to Shrewsbury Rocks on the ocean. Fishing was dead there, and the trip moved to some “favorite lumps,” the report said. Two good-sized fish were hooked but lost. The trip sailed south to Seaside on the ocean, and bunker pods were fished, “with no love,” the report said. Tough, long day, “but cool guys made the trip easier,” the report said. Now the boat will fish from Point, starting with mixed-bag trips for stripers, blues, sea bass and fluke, all in one outing, fishing that customers enjoy, the report said. Andrea’s Toy Specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up, and more variety for dinner. Shark fishing will start aboard soon, and tuna fishing will begin afterward on board.

Nighttime bluefishing launched Friday for the season on the party boat Norma-K III, and fluke fishing kicked off aboard Saturday for the season, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Saturday was opening day of fluke season. First, the bluefishing: On Friday night’s trip, lots of 4- to 8-pound blues were pummeled on jigs and bait. A 10-1/2-pounder was the pool-winning slammer, and the boat was the only on the fishing grounds. Bluefishing was decent on Saturday night’s trip, somewhat slow at first, but better as the night went on, in the same area as the previous night. Blues 4- to 8-pounds were wrestled in, and all anglers left with fillets. Fluke trips sailed through the weekend, and fishing was a little slow, and waters were a little cold. But the fish should hit better when waters warm. A handful of keepers were cracked, and some throwbacks were let go. Eddie Mackin took the lead in the monthly pool with a 6-pound 1-ounce fluke. The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. The next bluefish trip is set for Friday, then bluefish trips will sail daily 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Barnegat Light

The Super Chic was motored out for sea bass on the ocean Sunday, Capt. Ted said. That was opening day of sea bass season, and seas “were a little bumpy,” he said, but anglers probably averaged 12 keepers apiece. So the fishing, mostly in 80 feet, in 55-degree waters, was good, and some ling were thrown in. The boat is slated to sail for bluefish this coming week. Waters need to warm a bit for bluefishing. In other news, boaters trolled striped bass on the ocean, mostly on bunker spoons and Stretch plugs. Catches weren’t “super great,” he said, but the fish were taken. Sometimes the bass were livelined on bunker, when conditions were right. The 56-foot boat can accommodate up to 25 anglers on inshore trips and 10 on overnight, offshore trips. The vessel sleeps 10 passengers.

Mystic Island

Boaters reported excellent summer flounder fishing on Great Bay on opening day of flounder season Saturday, Chris from Scott’s Bait & Tackle wrote in a report on the store’s Web site. Grassy Channel and from markers 133 to 139 along the Intracoastal Waterway were the main places turning out the fish. Bluefish also popped up there. Striped bass could be found locally, but more were caught farther north, like toward Barnegat Inlet. But locally, Mullica River shoveled up the better striper fishing, early in mornings, before sunrise. White perch bit well in the river at places like bridges at Green Bank and Lower Bank. Lots of blowfish gathered toward Graveling Point, at the confluence of the river and bay.

Brigantine

At Riptide Bait & Tackle, striped bass were weighed in from the surf, and a good population of kingfish began to appear in the waters, a report on the shop’s Web site said. The surf’s drum fishing seemed to be kicking back in by Sunday. One angler released two that day that were 26 and 29 inches. The bounty was up to $1,770 for the angler who weighs in the season’s first striper 43 inches or larger from Brigantine’s surf. Entry is $5, and anglers must enter 24 hours before the catch to win.

Sea Isle City

A 253-pound mako shark was landed on an offshore trip, Mike from Sea Isle Bait & Tackle wrote in an e-mail. He included photos of Jimmy Crudele with the 6-foot 6-inch fish, saying the shark was boated on a trip Jimmy took with Jimmy’s dad. A bunch of whales and dolphins filled waters from 30 fathoms to 200 fathoms along the Continental Shelf. “The amount of life was impressive,” the e-mail said. No tuna bit when the trip trolled for them, but Jimmy was sure tuna fishing would turn on shortly. He planned to head back out the next day “that is fit,” the e-mail said. In other news, an angler with a 5.7-pound summer flounder won a tournament at the store for opening day of flounder season Saturday, the shop’s Facebook page said. The heaviest stringer weighed 11.4 pounds, and entrants also caught blues and weakfish. The tournament was another great one, the Facebook page said, and is planned to be even better next year.

Summer flounder fishing remained good through the weekend, after the season for them was opened Saturday, said Capt. Joe Hughes from Jersey Cape Guide Service, affiliated with Sea Isle Bait & Tackle. Trips aboard had already caught and released plenty before the opener, including on Friday. Bill Barto on a trip that evening released flounder to 22 inches on the bay. Fishing with soft-plastic lures on a lead jighead, he also pumped in a bunch of bluefish, six weakfish to 5 pounds and an 8-pound striper from the bay. The jigs are bounced slowly along bottom in cool waters this time of year. But once flounder season is opened, Joe’s trips usually fish with bait on flounder rigs for the flatfish. On Saturday, opening day, Patrick Miliken and friends landed 30 flounder to 4 ½ pounds and some bluefish to 8 pounds from the bay. They fished with a rig with a three-way swivel with a bucktail with a Gulp on bottom and a minnow on a plain hook on a trailer above. The blues also pounced on the flounder rig. On Saturday evening, Chase Kneeland aboard fly-rodded blues and flounder on the bay on Clouser Minnows bounced slowly along bottom on a sinking line. Speaking of fly fishing, Joe Gallagher and buddy on Thursday aboard fly-rodded blues, weaks and fluke on the bay on Clousers, and also spin-rodded the fish on jigs. Back to the weekend, on Sunday, Darrel Cooper and his son and daughter on the bay beat flounder to 4 ½ pounds, a weakfish, a striper and a blue on the flounder rigs, on deck. Locations that gave up fish before the opener became busy with boat traffic, though not as busy as Joe expected, for whatever reasons. But he adjusted, in order to catch, and that’s typical each year. Weather was rough. A fly-fishing trip on the bay was cancelled Sunday evening because of weather. Joe will probably popper-fish for stripers on the bay this evening, and expects the fish to be aggressive enough to hit them, in warmer waters. His log book showed the fish already smacked poppers this time last year, and Joe was eager to try for them that way now. He fishes both popper lures and flies. Take an afternoon, after-work trip, a great time for fishing the bay, when waters are warmer, and boat traffic is lighter. Looking ahead, inshore sharking trips will fish the ocean starting by late June. The angling is a chance to fight large fish without the long trek offshore. Joe looks forward to the arrival of a new boat he’s adding to his fleet, a 24-foot custom center console that Eastern Boat Works is building. The vessel will include everything Joe wants, and nothing he doesn’t, so it’ll be perfect for his fishing. He’ll use that to fish the ocean closer to shore, including for sharks. On the bay, he runs a flats boat, and offshore, he sails a couple of larger boats. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on Jersey Cape’s blog.

Cape May

Drum fishing was good on Delaware Bay, and bigger ones than before, up to 70 and 80 pounds, were sometimes hauled up, said Capt. Mario from the Down Deep. A marathon, open-boat sea bass trip on the ocean was cancelled Sunday, opening day of sea bass season, because of rough seas. The next open marathon for sea bass will steam next week on Wednesday, May 29, and book now. Charters are available, and sign up for the Short Notice List on Down Deep’s Web site to be kept informed about special open-boat trips.

Three drum, a 70-pounder and two 30-pounders, were heaved aboard from Delaware Bay on Friday evening on the Heavy Hitter, Capt. George said. No drum were landed on a trip for them Saturday evening aboard, and other boaters sometimes caught the fish then. Both trips fished on the Delaware side of the bay, and a trip attempted to sail for sea bass on the ocean Sunday, opening day of sea bass season, on the Heavy Hitter. But seas were rough, probably up to 5 feet, so the trip turned back. Some of the party boats headed out for the fish that day. Summer flounder season was opened Saturday, and anglers who boated for them on the back bay, no place else, like Delaware Bay, were heard about. The trips seemed to bag two or three keepers sometimes, and some bagged none, George thought. Drum and sea bass charters will continue, and telephone if interested. The Heavy Hitter usually fishes for flounder later in the season at places like Reef 11 or the Old Grounds on the ocean, when the ocean becomes warmer. But if flounder are currently available on Delaware Bay, and anglers want to sail for them aboard, they can.