Capt. Vinny Vetere will begin striper charters with his Katfish from Great Kills on April 15. There’s no increase in the charter price, but a fuel surcharge will be added.

Wednesday morning’s forecast is finally just right for fishing with a northwest breeze at just 5-10 knots before increasing to 30 knot gusts in the afternoon.

The wind problem persists with a gale warning up tonight. Northwest winds at 15-20 knots and gusts to 25 plus light freezing spray are in the morning forecast.

Gusty northwest winds are in the forecast for Monday.

Speeds of 25 knots are predicted along with gusts to 30 which should at least result in a calm ocean close to the Jersey Shore.

When I was a youngster and just starting to fish aboard party boats on Long Island, a rise in party boat fares usually involved 50 cents as fuel prices were very low and there was little inflation. It’s a lot different now with raging inflation — and steadily increasing fuel prices.

Capt. Ron Santee is hoping to start striper fishing with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands by the secod weekend in April, but still hasn’t set a new fare. He’s using ng a sharp pencil to avoid a shock for his anglers, but diesel is at $4.60 a gallon and climbing.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar didn’t sail for cod today due to the wind, but hopes to be able to open the tautog season in April — along with the Golden Eagle and Big Mohawk from that port.

The forecast is for west winds at 20 knots tomorrow morning plus gusts to 25.

This 119.3-pound wahoo was trolled recently during a South Carolina wahoo tournament< but fought by several angles for an hour on 130-pound tackle.

Cod to be targeted

Both the Ocean Explorer and Golden Eagle are planning to prospect for cod out of Belmar on Saturday. The forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20. Scattered showers are possible.

Striper fishing in Raritan Bay and River as well as other protected areas should also be possible.

Party boat anglers are awaiting the April opening of the blackfish season, but may have a shot at spring cod in the meantime.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had a nice day offshore o Tuesday, and reported a “handful” of both keeper and short cod plus ling. They will get out again whenever the weather is favorable — and will be joined on Saturday by the Golden Eagle. Tere were also lots of dogfish and some congers.

Small craft warnings are up through Saturday afternoon though west winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 tomorrow doesn’t sound too bad.

Sorry for no blog last night as a short loss of power resulted in losing the internet.

It didn’t look good for Wednesday as of yesterday, but the weatherman has better news for us. Instead of gusty east winds, only 10-15 knot east winds are forecast though showers are possible in the afternoon.

Tuesday’s forecast is for northwest winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 — which looks a lot better for anglers than the east winds predicted for Wednesday.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar is planning to sail in the morning for offshore bottom fishing. They had a couple of keeper cod and some ling on their last trip. The Golden Eagle from that port is looking forward to opening its season at 7 a.m. Tuesday with a search for cod.

Nick from Monmouth reported there were stripers to be caught Sunday from Raritan Bay shorelines despite an abundance of seaweed. Jumbo bloodworms produced short stripers of 24 and 26 inches.

Though Raritan Bay waters are still very warm for March, the best school striper bite is still up in Raritan River.

Capt. Joe Massa made a short trip there Friday with his My Three Sons from Morgan Marina, and managed to boat his first keeper bass of the season. That 29-incher hit one of the small swimming plugs he trolled on light tackle for the scattered fish.

Capt. Lou Grazioso was in the river today for a pick of bass before the wind came up hard.

Wind could be a problem tomorrow with northwest at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30 and a small craft advisory. but Tuesday looks great with northwest at just 5-10 knots.

The Saltwater Expo finishes up tomorrow at the N.J. Convention & Expo Center in Edison with show hours being 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday’s forecast is for west winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25.