A honking west wind and ripping current made fishing very difficult this afternoon. Had to step up to a 3oz bucktail to get down and had somewhat of a pick of decent Blues but nothing like it was yesterday. The Fat Cow Jig Strips outfished the 8″ Gotcha Grubs this time. Saw very few rods bent for the amount of people out there as the fish seemed to stay down deep for the most part. 

However, the bite seemed to stay pretty consistent on the west side of the bay all day long for the boats.  Captain Glenn Worgan on the Wolverine  reported steady action using little swimming plugs. 

Heading out on the boat in the morning, perhaps the front moving through tonight will get the bass chewing a little harder in the back!

Tight Lines,

Dan DiPasquale

Yesterday afternoon (4/28), my friend Mike Nini and I hit the jetty for the outgoing tide. With a heavy south wind and a ripping current, we stepped up to 2.5 oz buckatils to get down in the water column. It was game on. We had fish nearly every cast for a solid two hours on bucktails with grubs. During that time, we chased the fish from the monument down to the lighthouse. It was finally nice to see some blues with a big stomach, unlike last weekend’s skinny ones. They were all coming up fat and full of bunker, almost every fish was over 35″. The bite only looks like it is going to get better with lots of fish on their way. The time is now, get out and get on it!
Yesterday Paul Haertel reported, “Good togging with our 4 man limit plus other legal sized ones shorts and sea bass thrown back. Zachary Michot had his personal best and big fish of the day at 8.55 lbs.”
One customer this morning, stopped back again for more fresh clams. He said, “Mid twenty inch range bass mid-island surf on clam!” 
The bay bite continues to get better. Both bass and blues. The blues are here in full force and feeding heavy. Lots of anglers are finding fish and catching all across bays on poppers and little swimmers. Jeff Warford was on the water this morning loading up on shark bait for the mako season.

Tight Lines,

Dan DiPasquale

Finally the weather has cleared and fishing is back to where it was.  The water clarity and salinity was upside down but is settling. The bluefish bite turned back on and the yellow eyes are thick in the bay. The inlet has been on the slow side but we expect it to tee off soon. If heading up to the rocks we suggest bringing crabs to target blackfish if the blues aren’t cracking.

Crabbing is good! Got two positive reports.

Perch Fishing – The white perch fishing season got off to a early start and has been going strong ever since. It has been on fire in the tidal creeks and lagoons. The bite seems to only get better. Both the size and the quality have been great. Perfect timing for this weekend’s tournament, the 10th Annual Spring Perch Derby hosted by the Red Man Lodge #61. With fishing good, there will be a good turn out. There’s still time, if you want to join in on the fun. The Captain’s Meeting is tonight April 28th at 7:30pm at the Red Man Lodge. Location: 143 W. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087. The fishing tournament day will be Saturday April 29, 2017.

Striped Bass Fishing – Small fat stripers are in the surf and bay. Clam, small bunker chunks as well as lures are producing. Erik Oerther sent us in a photo of a small bass he caught on the mid-island bayside. First word of the local arrival of a bigger class of bass… Yesterday a customer stop in the shop reported his buddy caught a 20+ pound striped bass off of the surf on bait. Usually around this time the boat anglers trolling start picking good size fish. Now’s a good time to start working the 30-60′ along the beaches.

The 16th Annual Long Beach Island Surf Bass Tournament “Simply Bassing” kicks off tomorrow April 29th. Register now! For more details… www.LBIFT.com

Preparations for this Fall’s Surf Fishing Classic have begun. It will be the best one yet!

Here is an excerpt from The SandPaper’s “The Fish Story” by Jay Mann…

CLASSIC GROWTH: The Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic Committee is thinking bigger and better this year … and I’m lovin’ it.

This fall, the famed surfcasting event will be extended to nine weeks, broken into three, three-week segments. But no entry fee increase.

Dates have been set: Oct. 7 through Dec. 10.

This timeframe boost widens the window of weigh-in opportunity, meaning more time/chances to win a daily, weekly, segment or grand prize.

Weigh-in times are based on open hours of participating shops. More on those inner details as the big event approaches.

As noted, I’m highly in favor of this extension. It’s ideal to maintain fun competitive surf fishing for as much of fall time as possible – before the big winter chill sets in.

This nine-week format also adds an extra weekend for those who can only fish days starting with “S.” To be sure, weekenders are a major part of the contest. In fact, when the Classic began in 1954, as the Striped Bass Derby, it was almost exclusively for visitors. I kid you not. In fact, locals couldn’t win the grand prizes. Outsiders only.

Per usual, the 2017 Classic will be all but weighed down with cash and prizes. Anyone can win something at any time. It’s an equal-opportunity affair.

Special effort is going into the 2017 Classic T-shirt, likely in Kelly green, admittedly a good bit Eagles-like. There might even be some special T-shirt prizes and giveaways. Stay tuned for that angle.

I’m bringing up this fall event now because there will be a push to get entrants to register early – and, hopefully, often, i.e. with spouses, kids, buddies … the whole gang shebang.

Capt Mark from Bluerunner Sportfishing and Waterproof Fishing Intel Service stopped by yesterday to pick up two bags of clam. While here he shared this photo of a 17 pounder from Monday’s trip.

“Monday was a beautiful day. We fished six different wrecks over 25 miles of ocean. We had to work for them. Got our biggest blackfish to date, a 17 pounder. We backed it up with a 10 and a 9 pounder. Some nice sea bass, cod and pollock too. Last chance to get out is now. Go get it!” ~ Capt Mark Blue Runner Sportfishing

The NJ Tautog season (currently 4 fish at 15″) closes at the end of this month, April 30th. It doesn’t reopen until July 17th. Then it will be one fish at 15″.

The NJ Black Sea Bass season opens on May 26th with anglers allowed 10 fish at 12.5″

Hi Folks,

I have 2 spots open for Friday Afternoon , we will be targeting both bass and blues but we have continued to score the occasional big tide runner as well to sweeten the pot to score a Barnegat Bay Slam for the savvy angler! 4 Barnegat bay Slams in the last 4 weeks!!

It’s all “hands on” fishing with light tackle techniques , locations and coaching for both the novice and veteran. $125.00pp Everything included just bring your light tackle enthusiasm!

C’mon and jump aboard The Reel Fantasea for an afternoon of light tackle tactics and fun!

Captain Steve Purul

Reel Fantasea Fishing Charters

609-2901217

My family and I went on vacation (first one in a long time) and had a blast on Sanibel Island, FL.  We saw lots of wildlife (Ospreys, Dolphins, Otters, Manatees with calves, Gators, etc – too many to mention).  But it was most enjoyable to see my 9yr old fish on his own.

But now we’re back to Jersey fishing and the JENNY LYNN has officially made it in the water.  We have some big Blues and smaller Bass in the bays which can be targeted with artificials.  May and June are prime months for Striped Bass and Bluefish, and I have both weekend and weekday afternoon availability.   Once this coastal low pressure front moves through, I’m available to run afternoon weekday bay trips for Bluefish and Striped Bass (3 to 7pm) as long as the tide matches up.  We can run as full charter, or as OPEN BOAT $120 per man (but need 3 to run).

Once the OCEAN Striped Bass scene starts and tide is much less a factor, I can run weekends (anytime) and weekday (afternoons).  Again, as full CHARTER, or OPEN BOAT $150 per man for 5 hours (need 3 to run).

If interested in booking a charter, book through the website (reelreactioncharters.com), or call/text 609-290-7709 .  As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included all gear, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE – it’s “no worries” fishing.  Just come aboard and FISH.

Capt. Brett Taylor ~ Reel Reaction Sportfishing ~ 609-290-7709

Ran our first trip of the season yesterday (Mon). Pretty good action on the big gator blues casting topwaters behind Waretown. Ran over to my bass clamming spot in Oyster Creek to try that but we didn’t have any action. Headed back to the west side of the bay and once again, the big blues cooperated. It wasn’t “every cast” fishing but it was a good steady pick. Can’t wait to see what this next stretch of days holds. We are fishing every day Thurs to Mon. 70 to 80 degree air temps and fair weather. We have two spots on Thurs open and Sunday is still available. These are Open Boat trips so you can sign on as an individual or charter the boat for your own group.  Casting at the big blues, anchored up clamming for the bass, and maybe trolling spoons on the ocean side.

~ Capt. Dave DeGennaro, Hi Flier Sportfishing, 732.330.5674, hiflier.com

With a sad and heavy heart we share news on the passing of Thomas Deacon.

Tom was a great man, a US Navy Veteran and a passionate outdoorsman. Tom will be deeply missed but not forgotten.

I remember growing up in the shop, Tom was always around. Helping out, sharing intel and offering homemade food. He was a great cook with a love for spice. His chili was off the charts! Tom was a great friend to me and all of the crew at the shop. For many years living only two blocks away, he spent a lot of time with us. We could have been called Tom’s second home.

Shop alumni Jimmy Sahlender was a very close friend of Tom. Jimmy said, “Tom was short, on the chubby side and had a mustache. When he dressed up he wore a cowboy hat. When wetsuiting the Bar plugging he’d hook up and yell “frackin’ stripes” in Yosemite Sam’s voice. Good Times… Tom Deacon will be forever missed.”

Tom was one hell of a fisherman, an expert freshwater and saltwater angler. He was dialed in with big fish on lures everywhere he went. Thanks Tom for teaching me the finer points of fishing with lures, jigs and softbaits! His application specific rigging and fishing techniques were mastered on the fresh water tournament bass fishing circuit and utilized to out fish in saltwater.

Working for many years at the Forked River Power Plant, Tom was a master of The Creek. One of its pioneers, he fished it long before it became the booming popular fishing spot it is today. Back in the good old days, his special access gave him the ability to fish behind the gates. The stories he shared about fishing the restricted area were epic!

I’ll always remember Tom’s diesel truck with the dressed up custom Yosemite Sam artwork mud flaps and hood guard. Every time I see the Looney Tunes character I’m reminded of Tom. I’ve yet to meet a fisherman better than Tom that can compete with that mustache. I doubt I ever will.

My condolences to all his friends and family.

As per the Press Of Atlantic City’s Obituaries, Tom’s services will be announced at a later date.