The Golden Eagle from Belmar gave it a good try Sunday, and did find some stripers — but they wouldn’t hit. A switch to bottom fishing produced some ling and short tog plus sea bass that are out of season.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar only picked at tog and ling which had hit much better on Saturday.

Jim Hutchinson Jr. reports that bluefish showed up in Manasquan Inlet this morning.

Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park has been selling lots of clams which are producing school stripers in IBSP. Absecon Bay Sportsman Center said clams have also been a hot bait in the back bay there.

The forecast holds for the morning with south winds at 5-10 knots before increasing to 10-15 plus gusts to 20 in the afternoon.

Capt. Hans Kaspersetz with a recent Raritan Bay striper

Fisherman’s Headquarters reported there have been several trophy stripers released in the Long Beach Island surf during the past few days.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported the following from Saturday’s blackfishing trip: “We headed off the where the fish have been chewing past few trips and unfortunately they were not chewing there today..It was tough all around,,,some ling and a few keeper blackfish was all we scraped up..Some spots were just no bites at all..So game plan tomorrow is head off in a different direction and look for some better chews..Weather looks very nice,,I am looking forward to getting back out there,so see ya for coffee”

Monday’s forecast is for northwest winds at 10-15 knots before shifting to west 5-10 in the afternoon.

The forecast for NY/NJ Bight is good, and both striped bass and tautog are likely to be turned on in calm waters.

Sunday starts with northwest winds at only 10 knots before going southwest in the afternoon.

Chuck Many reports a recent trip on his Tyman from Highlands as follows:

” Definitely a WOOOOOOO!!!!! Kind of afternoon with my nephew, Jake Many!! Landed 38, all released. Sandworms were the Ticket!!”

Also keep an eye out for bluefish. Capt. Russ Binns said they haven’t arrived in Barnegat Bay as yet. but a surfcaster showed off a couple that passed by him. No location was given, but it looked like the rock jetty in Sandy Hook — which is where I caught my first of the season many years ago.

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The annual spring migration of big tarpon in the Florida Keys is usually well worth the trip even on a slow night.

Fly rod specialist Capt. Jake Jordan reported as follows:

One of my donated trips to “The IGFA fund raising auction” in 2024 was for a 4 hour night time fly fishing trip with me in “Tarpon World”. The lucky generous bidder was Charles Foschini from Miami. Last night Charles drove down and collected the trip which he had bought at that IGFA auction. We fished between 9:30 pm and 1:30 am in light easterly winds with 76 degree water and air temperatures. The fish were acting weird, not biting aggressively and as a result Charles only hooked a few on the fly.

Andreas Toy Charters reported a couple of days ago that “· We cancelled the morning today but this afternoon we had out the guys from Austin, Texas and despite most boats cancelling we figured we would give it a shot since they flew in just to fish. Conditions didn’t allow for drifting so we trolled the @shadlifebaits mojos and had steady action. We got our limit and released a couple more in a few hours this afternoon. Thanks guys!“

A small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight through the afternoon. Saturday’s forecast is for west winds at just 5-10 knots before increasing to 10-15 plus gusts to 20. Showers are likely in the morning.

Fisher Price IV from Highlands reported as follows a couple of days ago:

“”Had Paul and crew out this morning. Took some time to get the bait but we were fortunate enough to get what we needed. Started off kinda slow but we did some searching and found a nice bite for the guys. The guys fished hard making every bait count landing several dozen fish to 39” and releasing all for another day. We have some availability this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday for open or charter. Call or text 732-861-3394 for info and reservations.”Friday afternoon “

Small craft warnings are up through Friday afternoon in NY/NJ Bight.

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

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Capt. Vinnie Vetere made is first trip out of Great Kills this week and was surprised to find that “bunkers were almost impossible to net “– though he was able to eventually do well with medium to large stripers by chunking.

Most charter boats have been getting by with stripers by casting shads, but more seem to be switching to live bunkers. Vetere says the water is still too cold but expects the bite will turn on when it gets to 54 degrees.

The Ocean Exp[orer from Belmar reported a flat calm Tuesday. “Fish were in the mood as well,,We had fish coming as soon as we stopped..The blackfish were in the mood today unlike the past few days…Lots of shorts,,and keepers mixed in.Plus we had a nice showing
Of ling and a nice codfish as well.Fast Eddie won the pool and had a limit of blackfish..lots of nice sea bass moving in to,unfortunately we have to release them until May 17th.”

A small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight from late tonight through Thursday afternoon. The forecast is for east winds at 20-25 knots plus gusts to 30. Showers are likely.

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The Big Mohawk from Belmar sent the following report on today’s blackfishing:

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Beautiful day on the blackfish grounds today. Picked away just about everywhere we went with shorts and keepers mixed in. High hook managed a limit with some others just shy. Much better life today to keep ya interested but still a grind and have to work for them. We will be back at it tommorow sailing 6:30 am book online to secure your spot or come on down walk ons welcome.”

The Wednesday forecast is for east winds at 5-10 knots with a chance of showers in the afternoon. However, east winds gusting to 30 knots are forecast for Thursday.

With a small craft advisory coming down at 2 p.m., N.Y. anglers should be able to enjoy the opening of their waters for stripers south of the George Washington Bridge.

The morning forecast is for northwest winds at a mere 5-10 knots before going southwest

The bay and ocean limit is one striper at 28 to 31 inches.

The Ocean Exp[orer from Belmar reported on their Sunday trip as follows: “

Started out very nice today,,flat calm with great anchoring conditions….The end of the day the south wind picked up and it got snotty on the way home but most of the day was nice….Good to be back out after that weather,,well the blackfish were not in the mood…Mostly some shorts but not many,,We did though have a pretty decent ling bite with some of the guying really well with them..So overall a good day out

Though a small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight through Monday afternoon, it may be fishable as the forecast is for only 10 knots northwest before going west in the afternoon. The advisory must refer to 4-6-foot seas which may actually be smooth.

Even shore fishermen are into big black drum in the Seaside Park area.

Betty & Nick’s Fishing Club reports as follows:

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4-13-24 UPDATED 1:06 PM Here’s an odd, but good report. Big drum have invaded the area. Heard a few guys getting them off the local docks the past few days, but now the few anglers on the beach are getting them as well. Big one’s too. Along with that, heard of some decent bass off the docks behind the shop as well.

Stripers remain abundant in Raritan Bay, though the bite has been slow to develop.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar starts its season tomorrow at 7:30 by seeking stripers.

A gale warning is up in NY/NJ Bight until 6 p.m.

The forecast for Sunday starts with west winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 before going south at 20-25 with gusts to 30 in the afternoon.