The annual Gray Striper Quest tagging tournament will be run tomorrow in NJ/NY Bight as that fishing continues at a high level. That’s illustrated by the latest report from Capt. Frank Masseria on his Vitamin Sea from Leonardo: “The afternoon bite was super SAVAGE well over 65 Fish up to 44 inches multiple fish 40 to 44 inch range all jumbos. many times we had six on at a time complete mayhem. We were able to get a limit of keepers but really struggled as bigger in an amazing afternoon. We were able to catch them casting shads, jigging, spoons, and even throwing spooks of course one trouble Hook made it into somebody’s hand and I had to get it out. I was pretty impressed as the guy never even said a word as I was pulling the hook through his hand. Some guys are just tough like that.”

******* The forecast is for east winds at 5 knots with a chance of showers.

We have availability Thursday afternoon, Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon. Cannot get any better tons and tons of fish in the bay.

Come and get some and come get a dose of vitamin sea!!

917-439-6448

+20

Just received the following from NYC Capt. John McMurray on Facebook:”OMC on the board! @sticks_n_strings just tied up the 31 and offloaded a FAT 68” fish that @big.b.forbes snipered and landed in short order. Just the beginning, man!. Yeah, maybe I’m tied up with bass trips for a bit, but Darren, @chriswalsh20 and @derosa550 have LOTs of availability on the Contendas. LFG!!! @onemorecastchartersny“

“

******

The calm weather comes to an end as the forecast is for east at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25. Showers and thunderstorms are possible

Johnny Calamari sent the following good news:

“PADDY’S BACK! After a broken foot side lined us for the last month; the JONES BROS is back at BAHRS and looking/ running good thanks to the PLEASURE BAY boys and NASCO MARINE. We ran out for our first shakedown cruise and before I could get the second eel in the water; we were on! At the same time- Paddy threw a metal lip and hooked this beauty! (In an air boot with crutches!) Feels great to be back out there! #fish36#tackleboxNJ“

Light winds continue. The forecast is for southeast at 5-10 knots with a chance of showers.

Dave Lilly said striper fishing in Raritan Bay couldn’t be any better this morning as they seemed to be celebrating his 70th birthday as well as Mother’s Day. Dave fished with Bryan Farmer for a steady wire line trolling bite with bunker spoons in the depths of Raritan Bay. There was nothing under 30 feet, but they couldn’t get a second line out in any deeper water, There was no surface activity or any bunker schools showing, but the fishfinder was full of bunkers toward bottom. Lilly noted that everyone seemed to be catching bass during a perfect calm morning. They released about 30 before a big racer bluefish crashed the party,

Jeff Merrill slept in at Brick Township before getting a call about the local bass bite being on . and ran out to release one big striper after another.

Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park reports kayak anglers are doing great with large fluke up to a 24 12-inch, 5.85-pounder.

******

Another great fishing day coming up as the forecast is for east winds at just 10 knots before switching to south in the afternoon.

Capt. Frank Masseria posted his latest big afternoon striper catch report on Vitamin Sea which is similar to those from other veteran skippers, as follows: “Once again another excellent afternoon of fishing! Gave an honest effort netting bait but it just wasn’t happening for us so we went to plan B. Started off with a good pick of fish and as the afternoon wore on the fish really came together for us. Multiple times with 3-4 on with fish coming on shads, spoons, and mojos. Full boat limit plus several dozen released up to 42”.

******* A small craft advisory is up until 6 p.m. The Sunday forecast is for northwest winds at just 5-10 knots. Can’t get much better than that!

There have been several cancellations due to weather, but Prowler 5 from Atlantic Highlands found plenty of fluke action Tuesday when the weather cooperated and the catch included 48 keepers plus about 200 shorts.

The Fishermen from that port has switched to fluke fishing daily from 7:30 – 2:30.

Tyman did it again yesterday as it was chaos aboard Tyman with big bass for Alex and the boys.

The A small boat advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight through Saturday afternoon. The forecast is for west winds at 15-20 knots in the morning before dropping to 10-15 in the afternoon.

Capt. Frank Masseria reported another great striper bite during an afternoon trip this week on his Vitamin Sea as follows: “Another absolute slammer this afternoon for Jim and the boys. The bait was pretty difficult but what we netted got the job done. Full boat limit in just 20 minutes of fishing on our first drift. We burned through our bait quick but luckily the fish didn’t care. The next several hours we caught fish on shads, spoons, and casting mojos. Truly an unbelievable amount of fish in our bay right now as we witnessed literally miles of bass feeding on top.”

John Bushell,Jr. reported from Betty & Nick’s Tackle in Seaside Park that Kevin D. had a fine surf session this week as he plugged five bass in the 10-20-pound class.

*****

The forecast is for east winds at 5-10 knots plus showers.

Boat reports of striper fishing in Raritan Bay remain excellent. However, the surf has been another story.

Vinny D’Anton finished up his winter wade fishing at Sarasota this morning with another good catch of spotted sea trout in warm and humid conditions. A report from the Monmouth County surf was of a continued pick of bass though some big and small blues were caught. Vinny is anxious to give sand fleas a good try when he returns.

Thursday’s forecast is for northwest winds at just 5 knots before going southeast in the afternoon. There will be patchy fog in the morning along with a chance of showers.

along with a chance of showers.

The beginning of the fluke season in NY/NJ Bight is often slow due to cold waters, though that wasn’t the case this year,

The Prowler 5 from Atlantic Highlands reported lots of action in very shallow waters with both keepers to 5 pounds and lots of shorts.

, The Sea Tiger II from that port also did well despite poorer weather Monday morning.

It was no fluke that John Bushell of Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park hooked while casting a metal jig into Barnegat Inlet this morning as a long fight ended with a straitened-out hook. John figured the fish had to be a black drum or a really big striper.

Fisherman editor Jim Hutchinson Jr. had to bow to his father on opening day with a 5-pound fluke.

******

The forecast is for southwest winds at 5-10 knots plus patchy fog and possible showers.

Dave Lilly reports that yesterday’s striped bass fishing in Raritan Bay was about as good as it gets. Not only did his trip with Bryan Farmer produce a steady flow of releases, but the same thing was happening on all the party, charter and private boats as well, Twenty-foot depths were loaded with bass, making it possible to use light tackle rather than heavy wire line rigs. “Flip a mo-jo over and hang on!” Though there was nothing very large, all were over short size. Bunker schools weren’t showing, but were marking in the depths.

Jeff Merrill cast surface lures yesterday from his boat in Manasquan River