Trophy fish are out there

FISH ON RON NUZZOLO

Another week of trophy mania! The Garden State continues to heat up with some of the best striped bass fishing in the world. With ocean temperatures staying in the low 50s, bigger bass continue to move in along the entire coastline.

Raritan Bay is fully loaded with big bluefish and big bass. The back of the bay and the Reach continue to produce nice fish from 15 to 20 pounds on bunker and on the troll.

Perth Amboy Capt. Joe Castelli aboard One More Cast worked the bay all week, trolling up big blues and bass up in the 20-pound range. Capt. Joe saw no shortage of big blues from 10 to 12 pounds on the ingoing and outgoing tides.

Perth Amboy Capt. Mike on the Sea Hawk continues to sail and pick away at fish. Capt. Mike has been hitting fish up to 21 pounds on the “magic hour” afternoon trips.

Brielle: Capt. Jerry aboard the Fish Monger trolled up trophy fish all week and mixed it up with some live lining bunker. It didn’t take long to hit his limits. Capt. Jerry has been limiting out on big fish all week in the 25-pound range and hitting the boards with a few over the 30-pound mark.

Shark River: Bragging rights go to Capt. Joe aboard the Irish Ayes. Capt. Joe worked hard all week fighting bass.

Shrewsbury north: Irish Ayes trolled the 25-inch stretch and shad umbrella rigs. Capt. Joe, Bob G. and Eddie “Hunter 2” maxed out on fish in the 20- to 25-pound range, and Eddie hit the deck with a 49- inch, 43.7-pound cow. He weighed his trophy at Scott’s B&T, Bradley Beach. Capt. Joe hit fish all week from 25 to 35 pounds on the troll and with bait.

Barnegat Light: Capt. Stew aboard Pez Machine Sport Fishing has been in the thick of some of the best bass fishing in three decades. Capt. Stew has been trolling up bass in the 20- pound range and hitting the boards with an amazing 41-pound and 47-pound monster.

It was another amazing week in the Garden State spring run for trophy striped bass. Several captains claim it is the best bass run New Jersey has seen in more than 30 years. Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle in Island Beach State Park was the talk of the town and proved that it keeps getting better. Angler Phil Lagrossa tipped the scales with a 57-pound, 12-ounce trophy bass.

As long as ocean temperatures stay cool in the low 50s, we should see more big fish. If you want to get a trophy bass, now is the time. As you can see, it is the time of the year when anything can happen, 30-, 40-, 50-pound or even 60-pound fish are out there.

Fish on!