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.

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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.

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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

It’s likely that many N.J. and N.Y. anglers caught their first fluke of the year during today’s season opener, but Fisherman editor Jim Hutchinson Jr. can also brag about an impressive one — though that 5-pounder was boated by his father.

Capt. Frank Masseria reported another great striper trip on his Vitamin Sea in Raritan Bay as follows: When I texted Captain TJ this morning to find out how the trip was going, he wrote back one word “destruction”! I knew what he meant!! Below is his report for today.

Lock and load fishing for Bobby Bluefish and crew this morning! Got our bait and didn’t have to go far to find hungry bass. 2,3 and 4 on a bunch of times. Even had the bass blowing bait out of the water for over an hour all to ourselves. Full limit of keepers and several dozen released as well as 15 littoral society tags deployed.

We have 2 spots left for Wednesday morning.

We have 5 spots available for Thursday afternoon.

Monday’s forecast is for east winds at 10-15 knots with patchy fog in the morning.

Garden State anglers are used to fighting northeast winds on opening days of the fluke season, but that doesn’t look as if it will be a problem tomorrow as the forecast is for south winds.

Northeasters forced the fleet to jam up off the Sandy Hook Coast Guard Station in order to get protection and a good drift over a likely path for fluke to take into the warmer waters of Sandy Hook Bay. The fleet should be able to spread out with a forecast of south winds at 10-15 knots. There is a chance of afternoon showers.

Regulations are the same as last year with Jersey anglers allowed three at an 18-inch minimum except for the few differences noted here yesterday.

New York opens at the same time, though with just three fluke at a 19-inch minimum.

NY/NJ Bight will be open for fluke fishing on May 4, though the regulations are different in each state. The Empire State starts with a three fish limit at a 19-inch minimum. Jersey anglers will have to keep that in mind if they are fishing on the N.Y. side of Raritan Bay rather than on the Jersey side where the limit is three at an 18-inch minimum. Remember that you must be legal wherever boarded.

The N.J. regs are the same as last year, including the exceptions in Delaware Bay of three at 17 inches — and the 16-inch minimum for shore fishermen in Island Beach State Park.

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A small craft advisory is up from 4 p.m. through the evening before dropping to south at 10 knots by dawn. There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow.

Johnny Calamari with the tackle dealer’s favorite fish!

The Big Mohawk from Belmar finished the N.J. spring tautog season with a pick of shorts and some ling, and will wait for the May 17 sea bass opener before resuming sailing. The N.J. fluke season will open May 4 with the same regulations as last year.

Raritan Bay striper fishing remains very good, and bluefishing is hot to the south where surfcasters are into the action.

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The NY/NJ Bight forecast is for south winds at 10-15 knots before increasing to 15-20 in the afternoon. Patchy fog and showers are possible in the morning – plus thunderstorms later.