The Billfish Foundation (TBF) and billfish lost a champion early this morning (4/7/25) last night (4/6/25) with the death of Dr. Eric Prince. Prince was the billfish scientist to whom Win Rockefeller and Tim Choate turned to answer their questions about the status of Atlantic billfish stocks in 1985. The two experienced anglers recognized despite their fishing experience and quality equipment, they were catching fewer and fewer billfish. It was Prince who explained billfish were not priority species with the federal government because they were not targeted by commercial fisheries for the US food market. Not being priority species with the federal government meant little to no research money was ever available for stock assessments to estimate the species abundance in the water. TBF was created in 1986 with its first financial commitment to providing funds for international billfish stock assessments through a research program chaired by Prince.

Prince served almost four decades as a billfish biologist at the NMFS Southeast Lab
in Miami, and is credited with much of what we know about those oceanic wanderers.

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Though a gale warning is up in NJ/NY Bight. northwest winds should calm the seas

by tomorrow when they drop to 15-20 knots with gusts to 25. As a result, the Big Mohawk will be sailing from Belmar at 6:30 for blackfish.

and 5-7-foot Gale warning tomorrow. but better days ahead

Though a gale warning is up for Tuesday morning to evening in NY/NJ Bight, things are looking better after northwest winds knock down the swell. Tuesday’s wins will be NW at 25-30 knots plus gusts to 35 and 5-7-foot seas.

The latest report from Andreas Toy at Perth Amboy remains good. ” On the 31 Capt Greg had Jim Steel and crew out. Picked some fish early on shads and had a bit of a lull but pieced together a boat limit of keepers with a couple of “overs” released. Shads accounted for majority of the fish and one fish on an SP minnow. Incredible amount of fish around and it should only get better

Andreas Toy has both boats fishing out of Perth Amboy, where they have been doing well with stripers though it’s taken some time to get them started during the last couple of trips.

The forecast is for northeast winds, though at only 5-10 knots. Seas will be 3-5 feet.

The last positive striper report from Just Sayin out of Keyport was followed up by Matt Calabia with a note that the afternoon bite was also good for keeper-size bass and lots of shorts while describing it as “wormball madness”.

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The forecast is for west winds at 15 knots plus gusts to 20.

The following was posted on Facebook today by Capt. John Contello with Matt Calabria and Eddie Brown on Just Sayin from Keyport:

Fish to 35” already this morning. A bunch of Nice overs, keepers, and shorts. We had pushed off some Charters until we had more consistent fishing. Should be game on from here on out!! Text 732-670-1919 for Charter availability JustSayinSportfishing.com *Sunday is full* #JustSayinows on

The forecast is for east winds around 15 knots plus gusts to 20 and a chance of showers.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported a lumpy sea yesterday, though they had lots of bites and caught many blackfish that were mostly in the 14-inch range.

Fisherman editor Jim Hutchinson reports the largest stripers of the young season are being released in the Delaware River. A Stockton professor started out the week by putting a 47-pounder on his Bogagrip, and later added another in the 50-pound class. Those Delaware River bass are relatively short. but have huge bellies full of roe — and should be handled very carefully.

Hutchinson also noted that the first South Jersey black drum was hooked on the bay side at Graveling Point — a traditional early season striper spot.

After another rainy day, Dave Lilly still didn’t see any earthworms on the sidewalks, as that signal of the start of the Raritan Bay run continues to disappoint.

Friday’s forecast is for northwest winds at just 5-10 knots with possible morning showers.

When Frank Manzi will be fighting rough surf in northern N.J. later this year, he’ll really be able to appreciate the spotted sea trout action he enjoyed while wading flats with Vinny D’Anton in Sarasota, Florida. A lot of ground must be covered, but Vinny wades spots with the wind at his back. Redfish and snook did not cooperate during Manzi’s last shot on Monday. but Vinny was excited to hook a small gag grouper and a flounder among the trout.

Vinny has heard from northern anglers who have tried the cold surf with no luck so far. One even tried using sand fleas.

Andreas Toy made its first striper trip of the season out of Perth Amboy yesterday and marked some bass that weren’t interested in anything. They even netted bunkers and chunked without any results. That will change suddenly any day now.

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A small craft advisory is up tonight through Thursday afternoon. The forecast is for south winds at 20-25 knots that morning with gusts to 30 plus possible fog and showers,

The striper season in NY/NJ Bight has been off to a slow start. but there was a brief item of encouragement from bass pro Capt. Matt Calabria who posted yesterday on Facebook simply that the bass were “chewing” — and sent a photo to prove his point.

Unfortunately, there were no other details, but I’ve known Matt for a long time and have no doubt about his word.

The forecast is for northeast winds at 10-15 knots before going to southeast at the same speed in the afternoon.

Though it’s spawning season, and female tautog ripe with visible roe should be released, there should be enough smaller male tog available for dinner.

Blackfish are reputed to have soft mouths in the spring and may pass up the usual green crabs. However, if the water is very cold it may be possible to fish with clams if bergalls aren’t active as yet.

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A small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight through Tuesday afternoon.

The forecast is for northwest winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30 in the morning.

The Capt. Al from Point Lookout sent a recent report as follows”We sailed today with a dozen fares and picked some nice, tasty Ling everywhere we tried. We also caught and released a couple of small codfish and a handful of blackfish and dogfish. The water has warmed up quite a bit in the past 2 weeks and we’re looking forward to trying some shallower spots for blackfish this week.

“We will begin sailing EVERY DAY this Tuesday, April 1. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. We’ll be targeting Blackfish, Ling and codfish. Sailing time is 7AM, returning around 4PM. Text me your name, day and date of trip and number of people to 516-361-9275.

+3

Dave Lilly is still waiting for earthworms on the sidewalks after a rain as a sign that stripers will become active. Though the bass located one day this week by Just Sayin from Keyport was a good sign, Lilly noted that was on bait which is attractive to stripers even in cold waters. Lilly pointed out that the Prowler from Atlantic Highlands once again had a tough trip with just one 27-inch striper being hooked. With only a few more degrees, linesiders will start responding to trolled lures as well as jigs.

Monday’s forecast is for south winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30. Seas will be up to seven feet.