The 25th annual Berkeley Striper Club’s Fisherman’s Flea Market will run from 8:30-2 tomorrow at the Seaside Park Marina on J Street. Admission is $5.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. of the Fishermen at Atlantic Highlands reported:

“Had to put the time in today to get it done…..only a few fish in the AM with some pretty crappy conditions.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

Top water, Jigs & Shads all worked. Couple guys had three nice fish, some had two with keepers mixed in. George Laley took the pool with a 31 inch fish. Some easterly in the AM, hope it makes them hungry again!

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

Top water, Jigs & Shads all worked. Couple guys had three nice fish, some had two with keepers mixed in. George Laley took the pool with a 31 inch fish. Some easterly in the AM, hope it makes them hungry again!“

The forecast is for east winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20,

Had to put the time in today to get it done…..only a few fish in the AM with some pretty crappy conditions.

Had to put the time in today to get it done…..only a few fish in the AM with some pretty crappy conditions.

Had to put the time in today to get it done…..only a few fish in the AM with some pretty crappy conditions.

Had to put the time in today to get it done…..only a few fish in the AM with some pretty crappy conditions.

Had to put the time in today to get it done…..only a few fish in the AM with some pretty crappy conditions.

Had to put the time in today to get it done…..only a few fish in the AM with some pretty crappy conditions.

Had to put the time in today to get it done…..only a few fish in the AM with some pretty crappy conditions.

Had to put the time in today to get it done…..only a few fish in the AM with some pretty crappy conditions.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

After the tide change we took a ride and got lucky, found birds working with Bass busting on top.

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John Bushell Jr.AdminGroup expert+1  · 6h  · 5-2-24 UPDATED 5:00 AM Great day yesterday. Lotto bass caught. The wind shifted to east and that seemed to get things going again to where we were last week. Or it could just be another body of fish migrating north. Lots of big bluefish in the bay as well around the back. Light breeze so far this morning. We still have fresh shucked clams in stock.

John Bushell Jr.AdminGroup expert+1  · 6h  · 5-2-24 UPDATED 5:00 AM Great day yesterday. Lotto bass caught. The wind shifted to east and that seemed to get things going again to where we were last week. Or it could just be another body of fish migrating north. Lots of big bluefish in the bay as well around the back. Light breeze so far this morning. We still have fresh shucked clams in stock.All reactions:3434

John Bushell Jr.AdminGroup expert+1  · 6h  · 5-2-24 UPDATED 5:00 AM Great day yesterday. Lotto bass caught. The wind shifted to east and that seemed to get things going again to where we were last week. Or it could just be another body of fish migrating north. Lots of big bluefish in the bay as well around the back. Light breeze so far this morning. We still have fresh shucked clams in stock.All reactions:3434

John Bushell Jr.AdminGroup expert+1  · 6h  · 5-2-24 UPDATED 5:00 AM Great day yesterday. Lotto bass caught. The wind shifted to east and that seemed to get things going again to where we were last week. Or it could just be another body of fish migrating north. Lots of big bluefish in the bay as well around the back. Light breeze so far this morning. We still have fresh shucked clams in stock.All reactions:3434

John Bushell Jr.AdminGroup expert+1  · 6h  · 5-2-24 UPDATED 5:00 AM Great day yesterday. Lotto bass caught. The wind shifted to east and that seemed to get things going again to where we were last week. Or it could just be another body of fish migrating north. Lots of big bluefish in the bay as well around the back. Light breeze so far this morning. We still have fresh shucked clams in stock.All reactions:3434

John Bushell Jr.AdminGroup expert+1  · 6h  · 5-2-24 UPDATED 5:00 AM Great day yesterday. Lotto bass caught. The wind shifted to east and that seemed to get things going again to where we were last week. Or it could just be another body of fish migrating north. Lots of big bluefish in the bay as well around the back. Light breeze so far this morning. We still have fresh shucked clams in stock.All reactions:3434

John Bushell Jr.AdminGroup expert+1  · 6h  · 5-2-24 UPDATED 5:00 AM Great day yesterday. Lotto bass caught. The wind shifted to east and that seemed to get things going again to where we were last week. Or it could just be another body of fish migrating north. Lots of big bluefish in the bay as well around the back. Light breeze so far this morning. We still have fresh shucked clams in stock.All reactions:3434

John Bushell Jr.AdminGroup expert+1  · 6h  · 5-2-24 UPDATED 5:00 AM Great day yesterday. Lotto bass caught. The wind shifted to east and that seemed to get things going again to where we were last week. Or it could just be another body of fish migrating north. Lots of big bluefish in the bay as well around the back. Light breeze so far this morning. We still have fresh shucked clams in stock.All reactions:3434

John Bushell Jr.AdminGroup expert+1  · 6h  · 5-2-24 UPDATED 5:00 AM Great day yesterday. Lotto bass caught. The wind shifted to east and that seemed to get things going again to where we were last week. Or it could just be another body of fish migrating north. Lots of big bluefish in the bay as well around the back. Light breeze so far this morning. We still have fresh shucked clams in stock.All reactions:3434

In addition to the giant noted in a previous blog, there was another caught Sunday a bit further south – and it was the largest ever brought into the Beach Haven marlin & Tuna Club dock!

It was boated on an 80W outfit after a three–hour fight by T.J. Johnson and measured 94 1/2 inches. Since the giant was fought by the son of the most acclaimed angler in that club’s history, I suspect it was a sportfishing catch fought in accordance with IGFA rules.

Capt. Frank Massaria of Vitamin Sea at Keyport reported “Absolute wreck job this morning. Approaching 60 fish all on Shad’s.

We have room tomorrow

917-439-6448.”

Frank noted that he was recently boated by the DEC whose officers checked the live bait hooks. They noted many fishermen are using illegal trebles rather than the required circle hooks..

Capt. John Contello’s Just Sayin had a similar report, but with live bunkers. They have a Friday opening.

The forecast is for south winds at just 10 knots.

New Jersey lost one of its great fishermen on April 23 when Bob Lake of Brick passed over the bar at 78. Best known as a striper and doormat fluke pro on his Kimberly Anne out of Manasquan Inlet, he was also a fine offshore skipper with giant tuna to over 700 pounds to his credit along with shark tournament wins.

Lake was a member of the Greater Point Pleasant Party & Charter Boat Association as well as the Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club. As Jeff Merrill noted, Lake was happy to pass on his fishing expertise to anyone seeking it.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported on Sunday’s bottom fishing as follows “What a beautiful day out there,flat calm warm and just perfect…Fishing was good to us as well..Had good life on the bottom all day long..Blackfishing was good at times with lots of shorts coming up,,Blackfish Bobby actually had his limit…Some just had shorts but the fish were chewing..In between that we had a good pick at ling as well…Lot of nice sea bass came up as well..Looking forward to opening day in a few weeks….Any way,,as for now we are in stand by mode,,I have coast guard inspection on Thurs. Will keep you updated.”

Light east winds continue with a forecast of 5-10 knots tomorrow.

Vinny D’Anton is finishing up his winter in Sarasota, Snook have been missing from his wading spots, but a boat trip today with a local guide produced lots of them plus redfish on live baits.

The Hook House sent a shot of a 40-inch striper released on clam bait at IBSP by Kevin Wistuba.

Nick Di Napoli tried bloodworms in the Monmouth County surf Saturday morning and was pleased to find good action that resulted in five striper releases from 25 to 32 inches.

This is the 754-pound gutted giant tuna caught Sunday by Reel Time from Morgan Marina off Manasquan.

The forecast is for northeast winds at only 10-15 knots.

Capt. Jim Peters had to make a long trip south yesterday from Morgan Marina, but it paid off with a giant tuna that hit a trolled horse balao on a Joe Shute rig off Manasquan. The crew fought it commercial-style out of a rod holder on 80-pound tackle , and weighed it in at 754 pounds, gutted. Unfortunately. that doesn’t count as a sportfishing catch, which involves just one angler from start to finish– the way all the great tuna fishermen from the Jersey Shore learned to catch giants decades ago. In those relatively shallow waters and on the troll, that’s an ideal situation for a sportfishing catch — and 80-pound tackle is preferable as good anglers can apply pressure without the weight of a 130-outfit to wear them out. The crew on Reel Time spent today steaking out their catch. Will have photo tomorrow.

Capt. Ron Santee expected a slow start to striper fishing from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands, as that was the case before the change of tide started a hot striper bite. However, that never happened today.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar got into bunkers near the beach yesterday morning that they could snag, but there were no bass in them. Stripers did turn on later, but were overs except for two keepers,

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported on Saturday’s bottom fishing as follows : “

ell there was no lack of bites today,,the dogfish gave us a run for our money..Not sure what caused them to ne so aggressive but they were….We did pick some fish but not as good as precious trips. Teddy was high hook with a limit of blackfish,we had some ling and winter flounder so hopefully tomorrow we see less dogs..Weather looks good so come on down !”

The forecast is for northwest winds at 5-10 knots before going southwest in the afternoon.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. made his first trip of the season with the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands which got off to a slow start before the change of tide brought bass to the surface and action on flutter spoons and shads as the high hook caught six.

I”ll catch up on reports tomorrow,

Spot make great live baits for stripers, weakfish and large fluke, but are usually only available to NY/NJ Bight anglers in the fall. However, Absecon Bay Sportsman Center reports that they have arrived the earliest ever and he’s got lots of them in his live well.

Fisher Price IV from Highlands sent the following Raritan Bay report from a couple of days ago:

“Great bite this morning for Paul and crew. Multiple fish on at a time being taken on live bunkers, shads, plugs, and spoons. Boxed a limit of keepers and released several dozen fish to 23#. This afternoon Jon and crew were out. Reloaded the wells and the crew had a nice bunker bite landing over 2 dozen fish to 20# with a few making the box for dinner.” They have a Sunday morning opening for livelining.

The forecast is for south winds at only 5-10 knots before increasing to 10-15 plus gusts to 20 in the afternon.

As has been the case the last few days, stripers were on the feed today in Raritan Bay on both bait and lures plus trolling.

Party boat patrons will be able to get in on that tomorrow as the Golden Eagle from Belmar will be sailing at 7:30.

The forecast is for east winds at just 5-10 knots before going southeast in the afternoon. Saturday morning is also looking good.

Vinny Di Anton has heard that Monmouth County surfcasters have been picking school stripers and blues. He’s still fishing in Sarasota, where ladyfish, jacks and even flounder have been hitting the DOA Ahrimp — but snook have been scarce.

“

It’s just starting, but bluefish should be swarming into waters throughout NY/NJ Bight very shortly.

In addtion to yesterday’s report about Manasquan Inlet, John Bushell Jr. reports from Betty and Nick’s in Seaside Park that “Bluefish are here ” There were large blues caught in the IBSP surf during the afternoon.

Live bunkers have been producing big stripers in Raritan Bay. Capt. Frank Massaria said it was hard to net the bunkers, but they paired off quickly today on his Vitamin Sea from Keyport with a limit catch.

A small craft advisory is up through Thursday morning. The forecast is for northeast winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 before going southeast 5-10 in the afternoon.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar found good variety bottom fishing during Monday’s trip even though increasing sea bass still have to be released. They reported “Beautiful day to be offshore,good life on the bottom as well.Blackfish,Ling,winter flounder,lots of nice sea bass showing up to look at then release.” The Capt. Cal 2 from Belmar had a similar report.

When I used to charter out of Manasquan Inlet many years ago, April was the best month to find big sea bass on inshore wrecks to the south before smaller fish became dominant.

Matt Calabria reported for Capt. John Contello’s Jut Sayin as follows”Excellent Bass fishing on the last bunch of trips!! The live bunker bite is savage when it’s available and the troll bite is just as good. This morning we landed several dozen fish up to 40+ inches. Non stop action from start to finish. Full boat limit of slot keepers as well. Thank you to all of the crews that have been out with us recently!! We look forward to seeing a lot of you soon “

A small craft advisory is up for NY/NJ Bight from this evening to late Wednesday night. The forecast is for southwest winds at 15-20 knots before shifting to west in the afternoon. There’s a chance of showers.

Chuck Many is giving stripers a break while enjoying black drum action from shore at Hilton Head.