Hi Flier, Author at LBI NJ Fishing Report - LBI Surf Fishing, Barnegat Bay & Inlet

Make An Appointment To Catch Your Big Bass. Hi Flier Sportfishing

If you want to get into some big stripers you have to read the weather windows. After the messy rain and wind blows through this weekend, the switch to NW wind is already in the forecast by Sunday/Monday. Followed by low velocity and variable winds on Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri. It looks like from Monday on, it is going to be a nice ocean. This season, that’s half the battle….more like three quarters! Sure, it would be nice to fish the weekend with some bluebird weather but it’s not happening, so you have to “make an appointment” to be in the weather window if you’re going to get your big bass. There are 25 to 40 pound plus fish being taken every day from Seaside to Long Branch a few miles off the beach. There is no snag and drop bite yet, so we need to troll with the heavy artillery. Wireline outfits with bunker spoons and braid rods with Mojos. It’s a very effective “means to an end”. It puts fish on the line, in the boat, and on the table. Pretty soon the bite will transition into snagging bunker early in the morning and then trolling after that but right now it’s all on the troll.

The forecast is not so critical when we are staying in the bay to target the bluefish that are here in good size and numbers. We could target either or both in the same day. Catching them every day on lures and bait. Three to fifteen pound fish.

I still have Monday May 15 afternoon available 1PM to 7PM. I am considering using a vacation day on Tuesday May 16 at my day job to exploit the glaringly beautiful weather that is forecasted. Leave at 6AM and return at Noon or later. Sailing again on Tues afternoon. If I am to book Tuesday, though, I need to know today (Thurs) or tomorrow (Fri) morning the latest so I can put in for it. Keep in mind, if you are on the Tues morning trip and I don’t have the afternoon booked we are going on SAFARI! As far,and as late, as we have to go to put fish in the boat. Thurs May 18, and Fri May 19, sailing at Noon returning around 6PM. That’s all of our availability, the next day we have open is not until Thurs afternoon, May 25.

These dates are available for charter or sign on as an individual and we will make an Open Boat trip. $175 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared. $600 for the whole boat if you charter it with your own group.

Capt. Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674 cell

hiflier.com

Got Em! 34 lb Striper on Hi Flier Yesterday (Mon) Afternoon

After weeks and weeks of relentless wind, the NW finally let us sneak out the inlet to go troll some spoons. Had friends Johnny O’Kinsky (left) and Brian Ewan (right) on board for a spontaneous (Thanks to Johnny) “Let’s shoot out for a couple of hours” trip. We started off the Bathing Beach (Where else?) and had no luck so I ran north of Lavallette where I had heard of a “guy who knew a guy” sort of report that he caught the day before. Nothing. On the way back, we let them out in 60 feet of water off of Seaside Piers and while I was preparing the deck for the ride home, Brian screams: “There he is….That’s a bass!” referring to the rod that was dumping line. He was right. 34 pounds on the Boga Grip. One hit, one fish, and after another short troll we headed for the dock. Didn’t get that hit until 4PM. He went for a #4 white Tony Maja bunker spoon.

Here’s the YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzckMkpjzRE

Open Boat or Charter trips running tomorrow (Wed) May 10, Thurs May 11, and Fri May 12. Leave at Noon, return around 6PM (probably later). All three days have 5 to 10 knot winds making for a nice ocean, giving us the option to go troll spoons for the big stripers and/or cast light tackle at the blues in the bay. There is a mix of size with the blues now. There are still some gators mixed in but there are a lot of 3 to 5 pound fish now, too. We can do whatever you guys want. Don’t be afraid to check availability right up until “Go time”. A lot of times we will sail with less than a full boat just to go fishing. Best way to communicate with me is on the cell. I’m available from 6AM to 9PM every day. $175 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared. Also available every Sat, Sun, and Mon for morning and afternoon trips. Charter or Open Boat Trips.

Capt. Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674 cell

hiflier.com

Open Boat Stripers/Blues Tomorrow (Mon) May 8

West winds again tomorrow. Should flatten that ocean out to allow us to go try a shot at trolling bunker spoons for big stripers. Not that there’s been any reported but its time. Depending on the sea condition and what you guys want to do, we can also fish the bay for bluefish which has been steady. $175 person, all fish are shared. 6AM to Noon (or later).

Capt. Dave DeGennaro Hi Flier Sportfishing (732)330-5674 www.hiflier.com

Hi Flier Open Boat Barnegat Bay Gator Blues

Looking at the marine forecast, the Hi Flier is going to be fishing Barnegat Bay for at least a few more days. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Big gator blues on topwater lures in shallow water are a lot of fun on light spinning tackle. It’s just, …How many weeks in a row are we going to get blown out of the ocean fishing? It’s likely those 25 to 40-plus pound stripers are staged off of Island Beach State Park in 50 to 60 feet of water just waiting for a big spoon and we can’t get to them. It looks like Sunday night, and at least all day Monday, the wind is supposed to swing NW. That will flatten out the ocean and at least get us out to try.

The big blues seem to be picking up momentum in our part of the bay, so we will continue to throw lures and bait at them through the weekend. I struck out on my first three bay striper attempts last week, anchored up clamming in Oyster Creek, so, it only makes sense that’s where I will be, doing the same exact thing, each high water slack this weekend, as well. Last year’s May bite was the best run of quality size fish I ever had clamming in the bay so I’m not ready to give up on that, yet. We will fish for the blues before and after each striper effort.

Running Open Boat or Charter Saturday, May 6, 6AM to Noon and 1PM to 6PM.

Sunday and Monday, May 7 and 8, 1PM to 6PM.

$175 person for the AM 6 hour trips and $150 person for the PM 5 hour trips. 4 people max. All fish are shared.

Capt. Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674 cell

hiflier.com

Fishing Aboard Hi Flier Sportfishing

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

Hi Flier Sportfishing – We are in the water!

The boat just went in the water and we are ready to start fishing. This season we are located at Holiday Harbor Marina, 115 Admiral Way, Waretown, NJ 08758 in Slip H1.

This Monday, April 24 will be our first trip offered. I ordered a bushel of clams to go on the anchor and try chumming up some stripers. Before and after that, we will hunt the big gator blues that are starting to show.

Open Boat or charter, whichever happens first. $175 person. 4 people max. All fish are shared. Depart at 6AM and return at Noon. Also available for afternoon departure on the same day, though, that will be strictly a bluefish hunt as I only like the outgoing for clamming the bass. That’s not to say you can’t catch them on the incoming. I just can’t!

We will also be sailing afternoons Open Boat or charter on Wed, Thurs, Fri, April, 26, 27, and 28, Noon to 6PM, for bass and blues. The tide is ideal for afternoon clamming efforts this week and I will be loaded with fresh bait. The clamming can be anywhere from two to three hours of our trip and the rest of the time we will be hunting the blues with top water lures. Looking forward to seeing everyone on board.

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