Spring striper fishing is picking up steam with Raritan Bay offering the best shot at fish, which is usually the case this time of year.
Bass are also being caught in the rivers, at the inlets, in Barnegat Bay and there’s been word of a few fish on the beaches.
The general consensus is that if you put the time in and stay mobile, you’ll catch fish. And for those who prefer a different target this time of year, blackfishing opens this Saturday.
Mark Fuduli at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said the best reports of stripers are coming out of the back of Raritan Bay. The rest of the bay is loaded with bait, he said, and the gannets have been taking full advantage. He also said Round Valley Reservoir has been giving up some nice lake trout.
Capt. Jay Richardella on Side Job Charters is sailing out of Lockwood Boat Works in South Amboy this spring for quick access to Raritan Bay stripers. He’s planning his first trip on April 5 and has a few open dates left for April.
Capt. Pete Sykes of Parker Pete’s Sportfishing will also be sailing out of Lockwood’s for spring stripers. Check the website for schedule and availability.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said the striper fishing is slowly gaining momentum, especially up in Raritan Bay. Pinto said the bass have spread out all over the bay and shads and flutters spoons are working for the boat anglers. Bloodworms continue to catch fish for those fishing from the Bayshore beaches. He has yet to hear about any winter flounder in the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers or of any bass in the surf.
Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch said there’s lots of fish around, especially up in Raritan Bay, in a variety of sizes. He’s heard of bass up to 42 pounds. The action has been on metal-lipped swimmers and shads. No stripers have been reported on the beach but there have been plenty of birds working on schools of bait. The birds have been working off Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and Bradley Beach almost daily but there have been no reports of fish caught as yet.
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Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar reported that the offshore stripers that showed up off Asbury Park last week did not make a repeat performance. They may have been out there but not many boats sailed due to the weather. Matthews said most of the party boats are gearing up for the opening of blackfish season on Saturday. It closes again at the end of the month and the daily limit is four fish per angler.
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker and Capt. Payton Manning on the Big Mohawk, both out of Belmar, plan on sailing opening day for tog. Capt. Ron Kish on the Capt. Cal II, also out of Belmar, will be making his inaugural trip on April 8.
Matt Haeger at The Reel Seat in Brielle said the bass are moving up the coast and the fishing has been good in Raritan Bay. He reported a good night of fishing late last week with plenty of fish in the 15- to 25-pound range with biggest up to 33 pounds. NLBN shads, Pajama Plugs and metal-lipped swimmers were doing the job. Haeger also reported that there are bass in the back of the Manasquan River and by the bridges. He added that there were reports of a few fish taken on the beach.
Kyle Tanger at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said the bass fishing is still up and down and very much dependent on the water temperature. Some days will be good and then it will go quiet the next. Raritan Bay is the best spot but he said there are fish all along the coast from LBI to Long Branch. His best advice is to just put in your time and move around. You will eventually find some stripers.
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Chris Parlow at Captain Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach said they will be open for business starting this Saturday, April 1. Parlow said he’s been picking a few bass back in Barnegat Bay but said the flounder fishing has been slow.
Capt. Kenny Namowitz on the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach will be sailing for blackfish starting on Saturday and every day thereafter throughout the month with the exception of Easter Sunday. Check the website for full schedule and fares.
Capt. Danny Gregory on the Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach will also be sailing for tog starting this Saturday. Check his website for details.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick reported winter flounder by the Mantoloking Bridge on bloodworms. Bass fishing, he added, remains good in the back bay and by the bridges. Blood and sandworms are working for live bait while artificials like SP Minnows, Rapalas and any soft plastics are catching their share of stripers. He also had reports of bass right outside the Manasquan Inlet.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said things are a bit slow there. There are bass being caught but the action isn’t setting the world on fire. In Barnegat Bay, night is better than the day at the bridges and docks on small SP Minnows and Kettle Creeks with a very slow retrieve. The stripers, he said, are still very lethargic. Winter flounder fishing, he added, remains tough and he hasn’t heard of any bass on the beaches.
Frankie Z. at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said folks are picking away at stripers in the back bay with most of the fish being caught on bloodworms. There’s plenty of bait around, he said, in the bay and out front. Anglers fishing around Good Luck Point are catching some winter flounder.
Best Bets for the Weekend
A soggy forecast for Saturday might make for a tough blackfish opener but better weather is expected back on Sunday.
Raritan Bay has been the hot spot for stripers with bloodworms and plugs working from the Bayshore beaches. Boats have been doing well throughout the bay on metal-lipped swimmers and flutter spoons.
For something to do with the kids, the Shark River Surf Anglers will be stocking Spring Lake this Saturday morning with more than 600 trout ahead of the annual Spring Lake Trout Contest for Kids. The contest will take place on opening of trout season on April 8.
Each year, the club enlists the help of the kids to put the trout, some up to 10 pounds, into the lake. Stocking starts at 9:30 a.m. and it’s a fun event for the whole family.