Water temperature 53-to 56 degrees, overcast skies and no wind have proven to be an amazing spring run for striped bass.
From the back of the Raritan Bay around Sandy Hook to Shrewsbury Rocks, the bass action remains red hot. Conditions are perfect for trophy striped bass to be landed from the surf or a boat. All types of baitfish are showing up on the surface and in the bellies of big bass.
Sailing daily, Atlantic Highland party boats are keeping busy and fishing hard. Big bluefish have already showed up in 56- degree waters and giving anglers a true run and sore arms. Spring blues are hungry and hitting bait, jigs and surface plugs.
Sandy Hook to Atlantic Highlands Bridge: The surf is teaming with blues from 3-15 pounds. If you’re looking for a battle, now is the time. With aggressive blues in the mix, the odds for a bass just doubled, and that’s what bass fishing is all about. Atlantic Highlands: Capt. Matt aboard the La Barca has been maxing out on big bass on the troll and jigs. Capt. Matt is working the Shrewsbury Rocks area all week and has maxed out four-out-of-five trips with fish up to 26 pounds.
Aboard the Little Hawk, the crew from South Shore Signs had their annual employee appreciation day and once again they maxed out on big bass from 16-23 pounds and two big eight-pound black fish to end a great trip. The Little Hawk has been nailing big bass for the past two weeks. Brielle: The Big Jamaica is getting plenty of action. The Jamaica is finding good schools of bass but also finding aggressive blues in the mix. The Big Jamaica will continue to target striped bass sailing every day. Recent pool winners this week are Jay Rivera from Reading, Pa., with a 23- pound striped bass, Abecel Cabrera from San Salvador with a 29-pound striped bass and Lucimar Chaves from South River with a 32-pound striped bass.
Capt. Howard reported big schools of bunker all along the shore from Manasquan north with loads of bass chasing them. Don’t miss out on all the fun. Your best bet is to take a day off and take a shot to battle some big fish and avoid the weekend boat traffic. Big bass don’t like to hang around crowds.