<b>Keyport</b>

Striped bass fishing broke wide open on Raritan Bay, on the troll and on bunker chunks and clams, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>. What they preferred to bite seemed different each day, and the angling was excellent. The bass to 28 pounds were taken aboard, he guessed. Open-boat trips are fishing for stripers daily, departing in mornings. Open trips are also fishing for stripers at 1 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday through Sunday. Charters are available for up to 15 passengers on both of Down Deep’s boats. Both feature full galleys and large cockpits for comfort. Charters are booking for sea bass and fluke for later this season. Sign up for the Short Notice List on <a href="http://downdeepsportfishing.com" target="_blank">Down Deep’s website</a> to be kept informed about special open trips. Look for the link underneath “Contact.”

Great striped bass fishing was tackled throughout the week on Raritan Bay on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank wrote in an email. This was some of the best striper fishing. Both morning and afternoon trips limited out and released many additional.  Catches included a 32-pounder longer than 43 inches on Friday, and a 30-pound 42-incher on Saturday. The 32-pounder was the season’s first that topped 43 inches on the boat. Keepers averaged 32 inches, and a mix of sizes from juveniles to keepers swam the bay, including a large number of big. “Different methods will catch each class of fish,” he wrote. The stripers had everybody calling for trips, and Frank apologizes for often having to tell anglers that dates were full. Book trips as soon as available dates are announced. Follow <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/vitaminseafishing/" target="_blank">Vitamin Sea’s Facebook page</a> for the open-boat schedule, daily reports and photos. Open trips with spaces available include May 2 in the morning and afternoon and May 3 in the afternoon. Frank’s adding another captain to run the boat, Craig Tomensky, who just earned his license, so the boat can be more available. That’s in addition to Frank and Capt. T.J. who were already running trips. Tomensky is known for fishing, a mild manner and a desire to teach anglers to be the best they can be, Frank said. Frank’s picked the cream of the crop, he said. “If you have ever fluke fished with Craig you have seen is mastery!” Frank said.

<b>Leonardo</b>

<b>Sour Kraut Sportfishing</b> began fishing for the year Saturday, and limited out on striped bass in a half-hour, releasing additional afterward, Capt. Joe wrote in an email. The fish weighed up to 20 pounds and were trolled on plugs and Mojos. The fishing was much slower on a trip Sunday, and boat traffic made a difference, but the trip still limited out and released additional. The stripers were a little smaller that day, up to 32 inches. Jump on trips while the fishing’s still happening.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fishing picked at throwback striped bass and sometimes a keeper on Raritan Bay on Saturday and Sunday on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. Some trips fished better than others, and he wouldn’t call the angling good. But stripers were angled, and trips are shaping up for them twice daily. Some places would give up a couple of fish. Some would turn up none. Sometimes in 10 minutes throwbacks would hit, and maybe a keeper would be grabbed. Clams caught, and lots of baitfish schooled. Trips are fishing for stripers 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

On the <b>Fishermen</b>, striped bass were reeled up within minutes on Saturday’s trip, a report said on the party boat’s website. One angler was the hot hand off the bat, landing two keepers and three shorts in the first hour. He totaled seven keepers and 14 shorts on the trip, bagging no more than a limit. The trip picked away. Shots of keepers and shorts showed up, and a 23-pounder was biggest. A 19-pounder was second-biggest. Twenty keepers and plenty of shorts were totaled, and clams caught best. The captain, after marking loads of stripers on the way home, couldn’t wait to fish the next day. Also, the season’s first fluke, a 4-pounder, was caught, and the out-of-season fish was released. Trips are fishing for stripers 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Highlands</b>

The year’s first anglers fished this weekend with <b>Tuna-Tic Sportfishing</b>, for striped bass on Raritan Bay, Capt. Mike said. Stripers were clammed and trolled, and the fishing was a little slow, because of boat traffic. But the bass are there, and catches should keep improving.

Great week of fishing for striped bass on Raritan Bay, Capt. Pete from <b>Fin-Taz-Tic Sportfishing</b> wrote in an email. The angling was best from Keyport to Perch Amboy and Old Orchard. On every day the boat fished, the trips limited out and released additional. Most were trolled on Mojos, and some were bunker-chunked and clammed. Twenty- to 30-pounders were decked aboard, and two spaces are available for an open-boat trip Thursday. Will be a beautiful day, he said. Telephone to climb aboard.

<b>Neptune</b>

Three cod, a pollock and a half-dozen ling were plumbed aboard Saturday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said. The fishing was slow, and he expects to fish deeper for cod today, and see what happens. A trip blackfished aboard Sunday, and the angling was very slow. Ralph knew about no boats that fared well on the tautog that day. Individual-reservation trips will fish for cod May 22, striped bass May 20 and 29 and sea bass June 12 and 22. Other individual-reservation trips that are fishing for some of these catches are full, unless Ralph schedules more. <b>***Update, Tuesday, 4/24:***</b> The trip Monday fished well, “with everyone catching a cod or pollock,” Ralph wrote in an email. Individual-reservation trips will fish for cod May 22 and blackfish April 29 and 30. Prime dates are booking quickly for charters.

<b>Belmar</b>

A 14-pound 8-ounce blackfish was weighed-in today that Ben Rich from Titusville boated on a trip from Barnegat, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. Blackfish are biting, including good numbers in the ocean on Belmar’s party boats. The angling was also fair at inlets, and reportedly began to pick up at Point Pleasant Canal. Get out for them before blackfish season closes beginning May 1. A week is left of the season.

During striped bass fishing this weekend on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, fish and bait were seen in the ocean, a report said on the party boat’s website. But getting the fish to bite was tough, so no trips will fish today through Wednesday. Trips for stripers will resume Thursday, and the crew will give the angling a few days to pick up. They’ll finish minor maintenance on the vessel during the layup.

The <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> began fishing this weekend for the year, sailing for striped bass, and “not one boat caught a single fish,” an email said from the party boat. That was apparently on the ocean, and no trips will sail again until Friday, because of the slow angling. The hope is that the water will warm “and the fish will be here,” it said.

<b>Brielle</b>

Striped bass 18 to 26 inches began to bite in the surf last week, on plugs, small rubber shads and clams, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Any particular time? he was asked. Mornings and evenings, like usual. A bunch of small stripers hit from Manasquan Inlet to Route 70 Bridge on Manasquan River on 4-inch shads, 5-inch Fin-S Fish and small plugs. Nothing was heard about winter flounder from the river or nearby Barnegat Bay, like off Bay Avenue and near Mantoloking Bridge. But surely some were around, because bluefish were yet to invade. Flounder always depart for the ocean when blues arrive. The best striper fishing was on Raritan Bay, farther north. The back of the bay fished best, and Round Shoal and the Triangle were places to be. On the ocean closer to Brielle, blackfish were boated at wrecks in 60 to 80 feet of water. Clams caught them better than crabs did, and a few cod were mixed in. So if you blackfish, you might boat cod. 

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Decent blackfishing was picked away Friday on the <b>Norma-K III</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Some anglers limited out, some bagged two or three and some only caught throwbacks. A 7-pounder won the pool, and the captain was pretty happy with the life. The day was a little breezy, and on the weekend’s trips, spring showed up, the report said, and weather was great. But blackfish were reluctant to chew, and water became colder. Pretty slow fishing overall, the report said. The fish were picked here and there, and a 6-pounder won the pool Saturday. On Sunday, a 10-pound cod took the pool. Trips are blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 pm. daily, and crabs and clams are carried aboard.

Spring might’ve sprung, Capt. Butch wrote on the <b>Dauntless</b>’s Facebook page Saturday. A few more ling, cod and blackfish were bagged than before. Some anglers sacked two to six of the fish, a mix of the species, apiece. The fishing should improve as water and weather warm. Trips are bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Small striped bass to keeper-sized swam Barnegat Bay at all usual spots, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. For bait anglers, the fish swiped bloodworms best. For lure anglers, the bass pounced on small swimming plugs and soft-plastics. Spring’s run of bluefish was yet to arrive in the bay, but it could any moment. Take advantage of a spring blowout: three Daiwa SP Minnows for $25, and 15 percent off many rods and reels in stock, including from Penn, Shimano, Tsunami, Tica and DBlue. 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.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

The water reached 50 degrees, and striped bass, mostly throwbacks, began to be hooked at night, occasionally during daytime, from the surf and back bay, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Customers mostly fish the surf beside Absecon Inlet, including from the T-jetty, on the ocean end of the inlet, and the next couple of jetties immediately to the south. The water was 52.2 degrees today, and this warmer weather, warming the water, was needed. Weather and the water was warmer last spring, kicking off fishing earlier. One angler played 30 throwback stripers at night this weekend. Another the next night pulled in 11 including one keeper. Sometimes blackfish were hooked along the jetty-lined inlet, and Noel saw a good-sized yesterday. A few small blues, not many, were fought in the area. Noel looked at photos from last spring on the shop’s Facebook page, and a 30-pound striper was checked-in on this day last year. Lots of blues were pasted this time last year. A 20-inch, out-of-season summer flounder was caught and released locally in past days. A good sign, Noel said. Flounder were known to be migrating into back waters from the ocean. Lots of bunker schooled local waters. For the stripers, fish plugs, bloodworms, fresh clams or fresh bunker. For the blackfish, dunk green crabs or clams. All these baits and more, the full supply, are stocked.

<b>Longport</b>

Blackfishing was a struggle yesterday on the <b>Stray Cat</b> “until the bite came on shrimp!” Capt. Mike wrote in an email. Fishing for the tautog is always changing. Sometimes jigs catch best, sometimes crabs do. Sometimes soft bait like clams work best. But the angling’s good, everything’s good, he said, and only a week is left of blackfish season that closes beginning May 1. Trips aboard have been catching at Ocean City Reef at wrecks. On Sunday’s trip, the bites came in waves. The water was 47 to 49 degrees, and sea bass began to show up. Open-boat trips are blackfishing on every day when weather’s fit.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

The four anglers aboard Saturday reeled in and released 14 striped bass to 27 inches from the back bay, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. They also let go 18 out-of-season summer flounder from the bay. Great day, Joe said, and there were double- and triple-headers. All the fish were hooked on soft-plastic lures on jigs. On Sunday, Joe and his wife and boys jigged stripers to 26 inches on the bay. The trips did no fly-fishing, but the stripers could’ve been fly-rodded, and Joe expected to fly-fish for them today. The water was 51 to 55 degrees, depending on location, with beautiful clarity that’s typical of spring. Shore anglers caught a few stripers at inlets, Joe knew. He saw no signs of bluefish yet. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Two trips blackfished Saturday and Sunday with <b>Fishin’ Fever Sportfishing</b> on the ocean, Capt. Tom said. Saturday’s trip cranked in 21 keepers to 8 ½ pounds, and Sunday’s trip swung in 18 keepers to 9 pounds. The trips fished in 60 to 90 feet of water that was 47 to 48 degrees, a little warmer than before. Coming up, trips will fish for blues from the back bay to the ocean near shore, if the bluefish migration comes in. May is traditionally the month for black drum fishing on Delaware Bay, and Fishin’ Fever will get after them beginning May 1. The boat in May will also fish for sea bass and tilefish. Charters and open-boat trips sail.

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