<b>Westville</b>

Striped bass, lots, were smashed on Delaware River, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish were hooked “from one end to the other,” he said. No particular place fished best. “It’s day to day,” he said.  But the run was solid now. Shore anglers and boaters caught them on bloodworms and clams. Bloods might’ve worked best from shore, but clams caught just as well for boaters. A 45-incher was the biggest Rick heard about. A mess of large white perch chomped in the river. Catfish were slung-in from the waters. Stripers did swim the bay, and confirmed catches of drum were heard about from around Bug Light in the bay. The bay needs to warm a little for drum fishing to catch on. Clams, bloodworms, minnows and practically all baits are stocked. Big Timber carries bait and tackle for fishing on all waters from fresh to offshore.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

A few more striped bass seemed to be boated from the bay in the past week than before, Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b> thought, she said. But the angling was no great shakes, she said. The fish came from places like off Pierce’s Point or Reeds Beach and Fortescue. Fresh clams and fresh bunker were the popular baits for them. Bloodworms were favorites for shore anglers, but Sharon couldn’t see why bloods couldn’t be fished from boats. Fresh clams and fresh bunker have been stocked, but rough weather in past days might make the supply scarcer, keeping boats docked that sail for them. Anglers can telephone to check on the supply. The surf clams were more difficult to obtain in New Jersey in recent years than before. Fewer seemed around, and they were smaller than before. In this area, clams come from North Jersey and New York. Fewer small commercial boats sail for them than used to, and they dredge closer to shore. Big commercial operations sail farther offshore, finding larger clams. If anglers want a large supply of clams, like a bag, they should telephone to order them a couple of days in advance, at least, to ensure a supply. The bay’s bass were full of grass shrimp this time of year, but the shrimp can be difficult to fish in the bay’s deep waters. Shrimp are commonly fished in rivers for stripers. A few drum were even heard about from the bay, Sharon said. Netters caught weakfish, and nabbing the weaks on hook and line could be challenging in cold waters. The fish will bite softly, so anglers need to be attentive. No bluefish were heard about. Blackfishing improved, including along Cape May’s jetties. One boater scored the tautog along the town’s jetties on green crabs. Another boater grabbed a 31-inch striper that inhaled a green crab meant for blackfish at a Cape May jetty. White perch fishing improved on brackish rivers, and perch tournaments took place during the weekend. Customers bought up bloodworms for them. Commercial crabbers set out pots locally and farther north, like at Manahawkin, catching a few. Weather’s been cold this season, and often windy lately. Was a later start to fishing than in recent years, because of the cold. But business began to pick up a couple of weeks ago at the store. Fresh clams and fresh bunker are stocked when available. Pretty much the full supply of baits is on hand, including green crabs, eels and minnows. Green crabs will only be carried a moment longer, because blackfish season will be closed in May. The Girls Place, located on Route 47, just after Route 55 ends, stocks a large supply of bait and tackle. It’s the long, one-story, yellow building on the right, with plenty of parking, including for trailered boats.

<b>Fortescue</b>

The party boat <b>Salt Talk</b> usually begins fishing on the first weekend in May, Capt. Howard said. The vessel was in dry dock at the marina on Cohansey River, and will probably be moved to the slip in Fortescue this weekend. When trips begin, they’ll sail for whatever’s biting. Striped bass and drum are possibilities. Trips for summer flounder will launch when flounder season is opened later in May. Charters are also available.

<b>Cape May</b>

Nothing really happened with striped bass fishing on the bay, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep</b>. A few drum were boated from the bay so far this season, so they seemed to start arriving. Drum charters are being booked that will fish the bay soon. Blackfishing is available aboard, and to fish for the tautog, sign up for the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> for special open-boat, wreck-fishing trips.

Two trips limited out on blackfish Saturday and Sunday on the ocean around the reef on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. Saturday’s charter bagged mostly 15- to 17-inchers, and Sunday’s charter also clocked mostly 15- to 17-inchers, but some to 7 pounds. The fish weren’t big, but the angling was good, and sometimes a bigger one came in. The fish bit clams and crabs, whatever bait was dunked. Call if interested in blackfishing, before the season for the tautog closes in May. George heard nothing about striped bass and drum on Delaware Bay. Trips had fished for the bass earlier this season, and drum charters usually begin in May.

Surf fishing for striped bass was excellent at Cape May Point at 2nd Avenue to along Delaware Bay to Harpoon Henry’s, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Clams caught, and so did bloodworms along jetties, and many anglers plugged the fish, because bait swam the waters. Blackfish snapped green crabs along surf jetties. A few puppy drum were dragged from the surf. Fresh clams and bunker are stocked when available. Bloodworms, green crabs and eels are carried. 

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