Stripers have been tough for party boats so far

Even though NY/NJ Bight striped bass fishing has been generally very good, the spring run hasn’t worked out well for party boats. Indeed, after waiting until May 5 to get started, Capt. Ron Santee has given up on that fishery and switched to bottom fishing with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. Santee will be targeting ling before the sea bass season opens on May 17.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a good bite of large bass in bunkers yesterday, and found the menhaden again today — but this time the stripers among them wouldn’t hit even snagged bunkers. Of course, that could change again tomorrow!

NYC charter skipper John McMurry got into very cooperative stripers yesterday that jumped on flies and plugs. The largest was a 45-inch fork length bass on fly pictured below.

Higbee’s Bait & Tackle in Fortescue has been reporting big bass being released by local surfcasters using bloodworms — such as this 43-incher by Steve Gallo.

Ron McCelland with a 12-pound tautog he caught last week from Fish Bound out of Ocean City, Maryland.

Capt. Frank Massaria finally had a tough morning with Raritan Bay stripers on his Vitamin Sea from Keyport this week, but was back into them on his afternoon charter.

The forecast remains good with west winds at 5-10 knots before increasing to southwest 10-15 plus gusts to 25 in the afternoon.