Anglers in NY/NJ Bight have had enough of northeast winds, but there’s more to come tomorrow.

The forecast is for 20-25 knots plus gusts to 35. IT CAN’T LAST FOREVER!

An unusually persistent northeaster continues to batter the Mid-Atlantic and New England coasts, and the forecast is for no relief until Wednesday afternoon.

The N.J. coastal forecast is for NE 20-25 knots on Monday plus gusts to 35 and 9-12-foot seas.

Andrea’s Toy released this “big girl” before things got too bad.

There shouldn’t be any need to wait for today’s reports as a high wind warning has been posted up to 5 a.m. Sunday along with a coastal flood advisory through 6 a.m. Sunday.

The marine forecast is for northeast winds at 20-25 knots with gusts to 40 and a 50 percent chance of rain. Even Monday doesn’t look good.

At Brielle, the Paramount has cancelled trips until Friday. They will then sail at 6:30 for ling, cod and flounder before the sea bass season opens on May 17. The Jamaica will open the sea bass season with Marathons by reservation on May 17 and 18.

The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands got out for stripers Thursday and picked some keepers before making a move that resulted in bigger bass — though five out of seven were over 39 inches and had to be released.

Some charter boats managed to do well with stripers before the weather got too bad on Friday. Andrea’s Toy reports the Al Gret party went through a live well full of bunkers as bass exploded on them. The evening trip produced great surface lure action despite wind and rain.

Capt. John Contello posted this bass release from his Just Sayin out of Highlands.

It wasn’t what Capt. Freddy Gamboa was expecting. but he ended up opening the N.J. shark season in a most unusual fasion.

The target for the Don Beshada party on Andrea’s Toy from Point Pleasant was the first bluefin tuna, but they first dropped for pollock up to 30 pounds on a deep water wreck. Gamboa couldn’t find any water over 49 degrees in the canyon, so they switched to tilefish as Don caught his first at almost 30 pounds on bait before switching to a jig for another — and then a most unusual porbeagle shark that was released. I haven’t heard of a porbeagle in NY/NJ Bight in recent years, though they were spotted decades ago when mackerel schools arrived in the spring.

Chuck Many got into loads of stripers early with Dave Glassberg and Alex Katyan while fishing live bunkers and eels from his Tyman out of Highlands – but they were all from 31 inches up to 38 pounds.

The weekend looks like a northeaster washout. Rain with east gusts to 45 knots tonight becomes northeast at 20-30 knots and gusts to 45 tomorrow.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar saw some stripers on top and had decent readings — but the bass weren’t hitting. Wth a northeaster coming on Saturday, that boat has cancelled trips for the next three mornings.

Rain is in tomorrow’s forecast, though the wind is only southeast at 5-10 knots before going east at 10-15 in the afternoon.

North Jersey fluke fishing got off to a surprisingly good start at a time when waters are still a bit cool for the species. The Prowler 5 from Atlantic Highlands reported their opening trip on May 4 produced multiple limits as everyone caught fluke.

With the new fluke regs in place for New Jersey, description of the catch has changed. It’s the slot fish between 17 and 18 inches which are providing most of the catch, but they are being referred to as slots while the “keeper” designation is reserved for the one of 18 inches or more which is part of the legal bag. There are a couple of exceptions to the fluke. rules. The limit in Delaware Bay is three at a 17-inch minimum. Surfcasters at Island Beach State Park can catch two 16-inchers plus one at 18 inches or more.

The Sea Tiger II from Atlantic Highlands had a boat limit of keepers on the Tuesday morning trip as well as some slots and shorts.

The Fishermen from that port is sticking with striper fishing , but Tuesday morning was poor with a lack of readings — though there was a shot of surface action. Capt. Ron Santee took a day off due to the rain forecast but will be back at it tomorrow — as will the Golden Eagle from Belmar.

The Mimi VI from Pt. Pleasant is making some special open by reservation trips this month, including bottom fishing on May 9, 13 and 14. Call 732 370-8019.

The marine forecast is for north winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 before dropping to 5-10 in the afternoon.

The NMFS has issued bluefin tuna regulations that will provide anglers with a shot at reasonable landings from expensive offshore trips.

provides

Those boaters with Angling category permits will be able to boat two school bluefins from 27 to less than 47 inches plus one large school or small medium from 47 to less than 73 inches.

The Charter category provides three school tuna plus one large school or small medium. Headboats are allowed six school tuna and two of the mediums.

These regs become effective on May 6. It’s too bad they weren’t posted earlier, because the Jamaica from Brielle was “pestered” by school bluefins during their first tilefish trip on April 23. They were only allowed to keep one at that time and had to release others that hit diamond jigs and tilefish rigs. The Jamaica was also covered up by dogfish on that trip before making a move. A few fluke also had to be released after being hooked in the canyon depths. Call 732 528-5014 for info on upcoming tilefish trips.

Opening day fluking was better than expected on the half-day Sea Tiger II from Atlantic Highlands. One angler even managed a limit with two slots and one over 18 inches.

Bob Mathews reports from Fisherman’s den in Belmar Marina that the slot is producing legal fluke on his rental boats as well as for anglers casting from the L Street pier/

There is a 70% chance of showers tonight. They may continue into the morning, but winds tomorrow are only predicted to be northeast at 5-10 knots.

I’m sure it was a different situation in South Jersey, but I didn’t get any reports today as the NJ season opened today.

Northern waters remain cold, but there should be action drifting off the Bug Light to the Coast Guard Station in Sandy Hook Bay. Tomorrow’s forecast of northeast winds at 5-10 knots is fine for that on the flood.

Nick from Monmouth County reported that he fished his local surf Saturday morning without a hit on clams and jumbo bloodworms — but went back Sunday in the light east wind as worms produced stripers of 33, 27 and 25 inches plus two schoolies.

After good reports Saturday, it looked promising in good weather today for Raritan Bay area stripers. However, the results didn’t meet expectations.\

Capt. Ron Santee didn’t find readings where he had them yesterday on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, and only got into some bass at another spot that looked better. A couple of “big girls” were also released. Santee noted that the boat traffic was the worst he’s seen in his long career.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported reading lots of stripers, but they weren’t hitting and not enough were caught for the crowd aboard.

Striper reports were good today, and if you can handle northeast winds at 5 knots that should be a good bet for Sunday before showers start in the evening.

Capt. Ron Santee got off to a slow start with only one short despite good readings until the tide turned and fishing exploded. Bass up to 30 inches were all caught on shads aboard the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported a hot start with bass blasting bunkers on the surface — and fishing held up during the day. The Jamaica from Brielle was also into fine striper action. Those planning to fish in the morning better get to the boats early.

It seems too early to be fluke fishing, but this is when it’s best in South Jersey. They got their wish for an early opening on May 2. Keepers will be easier to come by with two slot fluke of 17 to 17.99 inches allowed plus just one over 18 inches. Anglers who are interested only in big fluke are upset about being restricted only to a single fluke.