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:

“

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:

“

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.

I suspect that most anglers have never even fought a 100-pound game fish, much less caught one. Yet, that’s something that be done almost routinely every day and night during the current migratory run of tarpon in the Florida Keys.

Capt. Jake Jordan does that every night with IGFA 20-pound tippet fly tackle every night as noted My computer repeated the post several times after the photos. The gale watch in NY/NJ Bight continues until 6 p.m. The forecast is for west winds at 25-30 knots.

“My fly fishing tarpon catching charters are amazing, so far this season my anglers are hooking and jumping better than a Tarpon every hour of fly fishing while catching and releasing a full sized poon on 20 pound test IGFA class tippet about every 2 hours of fishing.

Amazing that I have a couple cancellations for prime dates this season. My available dates are April 21, and 25, along with May 8, 9, and 13. If you dream of catching one of these monsters, please don’t miss this…”

All reactions:

in his Facebook post.

“Amazing that I have a couple cancellations for prime dates this season. My available dates are April 21, and 25, along with May 8, 9, and 13. If you dream of catching one of these monsters, please don’t miss this…

All reactions:

My fly fishing tarpon catching charters are amazing, so far this season my anglers are hooking and jumping better than a Tarpon every hour of fly fishing while catching and releasing a full sized poon on 20 pound test IGFA class tippet about every 2 hours of fishing.

Amazing that I have a couple cancellations for prime dates this season. My available dates are April 21, and 25, along with May 8, 9, and 13. If you dream of catching one of these monsters, please don’t miss this.

All reactions:

My fly fishing tarpon catching charters are amazing, so far this season my anglers are hooking and jumping better than a Tarpon every hour of fly fishing while catching and releasing a full sized poon on 20 pound test IGFA class tippet about every 2 hours of fishing.

Amazing that I have a couple cancellations for prime dates this season. My available dates are April 21, and 25, along with May 8, 9, and 13. If you dream of catching one of these monsters, please don’t miss thes…

See more

All reactions:

My fly fishing tarpon catching charters are amazing, so far this season my anglers are hooking and jumping better than a Tarpon every hour of fly fishing while catching and releasing a full sized poon on 20 pound test IGFA class tippet about every 2 hours of fishing.

Amazing that I have a couple cancellations for prime dates this season. My available dates are April 21, and 25, along with May 8, 9, and 13. If you dream of catching one of these monsters, please don’t miss thes…

See more

All reactions:

My fly fishing tarpon catching charters are amazing, so far this season my anglers are hooking and jumping better than a Tarpon every hour of fly fishing while catching and releasing a full sized poon on 20 pound test IGFA class tippet about every 2 hours of fishing.

Amazing that I have a couple cancellations for prime dates this season. My available dates are April 21, and 25, along with May 8, 9, and 13. If you dream of catching one of these monsters, please don’t miss thes…

See more

All reactions:

My fly fishing tarpon catching charters are amazing, so far this season my anglers are hooking and jumping better than a Tarpon every hour of fly fishing while catching and releasing a full sized poon on 20 pound test IGFA class tippet about every 2 hours of fishing.

Amazing that I have a couple cancellations for prime dates this season. My available dates are April 21, and 25, along with May 8, 9, and 13. If you dream of catching one of these monsters, please don’t miss thes…

See more

All reactions:

My fly fishing tarpon catching charters are amazing, so far this season my anglers are hooking and jumping better than a Tarpon every hour of fly fishing while catching and releasing a full sized poon on 20 pound test IGFA class tippet about every 2 hours of fishing.

Amazing that I have a couple cancellations for prime dates this season. My available dates are April 21, and 25, along with May 8, 9, and 13. If you dream of catching one of these monsters, please don’t miss thes…

See more

All reactions:

My fly fishing tarpon catching charters are amazing, so far this season my anglers are hooking and jumping better than a Tarpon every hour of fly fishing while catching and releasing a full sized poon on 20 pound test IGFA class tippet about every 2 hours of fishing.

Amazing that I have a couple cancellations for prime dates this season. My available dates are April 21, and 25, along with May 8, 9, and 13. If you dream of catching one of these monsters, please don’t miss thes…

See more

All reactions:

My fly fishing tarpon catching charters are amazing, so far this season my anglers are hooking and jumping better than a Tarpon every hour of fly fishing while catching and releasing a full sized poon on 20 pound test IGFA class tippet about every 2 hours of fishing.

Amazing that I have a couple cancellations for prime dates this season. My available dates are April 21, and 25, along with May 8, 9, and 13. If you dream of catching one of these monsters, please don’t miss thes…

See more

After a period of calm weather, NJ/NY Bight is back to facing a gale watch from 6 p.m. to Friday afternoon. The forecast is for south winds at 35-40 knots after midnight. That drops to 25-35 by morning along with showers.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported good action again with ling and blackfish on their last trip.

Fisher Price IV sent the following email about Tuesday’s Raritan Bay trip from Highlands “Tuesday 4/9 – Had Paul and crew back out this morning. Absolutely beautiful morning on the water. Unfortunately fishing was tough for us this morning. Managed to box 2 keepers and release another 8 fish (mix of shorts and overs). Plenty of readings where ever we went, just had lockjaw. Fishing will get better next few days once we get off this moon. We have availabilty Thursday 4/11 afternoon 1-7pm as well as one spot available Saturday 4/13 morning at 6am.”

Another historic party boat shot from Mal Deak. I often fished with Capt. Richie Kissinger on his Startstream boats while I was growing up in Merrick, Long Island.

Calm period ending as gale watch goes up Thursday morning

After some unusually calm spring days, there’s a gale watch in NY/NJ Bight from Thursday morning to Friday afternoon.

Southeast winds at 10-15 knots go south at 15-20 plus gusts to 25 in the afternoon along with a chance of rain.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported yesterday’s trip on even calmer seas produced lots of ling along with both short and keeper tog. Mates were cleaning fish all the way back as most fares went home with dinner,

vv

It took a big change in conditions, but the latest report on blackfishing from the Ocean Explorer out of Belmar indicates tautog are turning on in NY/NJ Bight.

That report follows:

“The weather today was perfect,,flat calm…No wind at all..Luckily we had some current to keep us tight on the anchors….Fish were chewing as well,,lots of bites on the bottom..Had guys limit out on blackfish plus we had nice ling mixed in as well…Good day out all around,,,Tuesday is looking good as well..we have plenty of room so come on down..Remember we are using the Miss Belmar Princess until the engines are done so look for us behind the Miss Belmar…see ya for coffee…”

The weather forecast seems fishable as east winds start at a moderate 10-15 knots — and drop to 5-10 in the afternoon. There’s a chance of showers.

Nick Honachefsky cast into diving birds during the aftershocks from last week’s earthquake in N.J. — and was surprised by this aggressive skate.