By Colin Stephenson/The Star-Ledger

April 30, 2010, 4:59AM

While the unprecedented April ocean run of striped bass isn’t as consistent as it had been, anglers are finding large quantities of big bluefish that often make it difficult to get through to the bass — and shore fishermen are now joining in the bluefish bonanza.
 
Barnegat, Manasquan and Shark River inlets have all produced plenty of blues for those casting from sea walls and jetties, while surfcasters and those casting from Raritan Bay shorelines have also enjoyed blitz fishing at times.
 
The blackfish season closes after today, and doesn’t reopen until July 16, when the limit is only one per man before the six-fish bag commences on Nov. 16.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has set a July 30 date for a New Jersey shark moratorium unless the state completes shark regulation changes before then.

Former Gov. Jon Corzine never signed off on the required changes to bring New Jersey into compliance with federal shark regulations, thus endangering the June shark tournaments.
The new administration did come into compliance with protection of spawning sandbar (brown) sharks in state waters by administrative change on March 25, and obtained an extension. All necessary changes should be in place by July 19.
 
Capt. Jack Bogan Sr. passed away at 92 on April 24 in Stuart, Fla. The former skipper of the Columbia, the American, and the Shamrock, was born in Jersey City, but moved to Point Pleasant Beach before retiring to Stuart in 1982. His grandson, Capt. Bobby Bogan, said there were actually three different Shamrocks. Surviving sons are Capt. John F. Bogan Jr., and Capt. Bob Bogan Sr. The funeral mass is this morning at 11 in St. Peter’s Church, Point Pleasant Beach.

TOP CATCHES
Bluefish up to a 15-pounder were caught from the Manasquan Inlet sea walls late Tuesday afternoon, so I decided to make a few blind casts Wednesday afternoon, and got things started with a blue of about 10 pounds that hit an A.O.K. PB-40 P-Nut metal. Nick Kolodiy of Brick, who had hooked blues the previous afternoon in the Brick surf, quickly joined me after finding nothing from the local beaches.
 
Just as was the case in the surf Tuesday, these blues weren’t showing at all.  The northwest wind was howling against incoming tide, creating a rough inlet — but that didn’t bother the choppers. I was impressed with the fact that so many blues were released by the sea wall crowd, instead of just being piled up behind them to probably go to waste. It was a different story Thursday afternoon under the same conditions, as I saw only one blue caught.

The Gambler from Point Pleasant has an open cod trip departing Saturday at 6 a.m. The boat will be out of the water for about a week starting May 3.

Capt. Russ Binns found nothing in the ocean while running south from Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet with his Mar-Lin from Toms River on Tuesday, but after returning to Barnegat Bay he encountered unlimited numbers of large bluefish from the BB Buoy north as three anglers caught over 70 on popping plugs.

Dave Lilly of Hazlet put his crew into over 30 stripers while trolling in the ocean Saturday with his center console from Angler’s Marina in Sea Bright. A 29-pounder was weighed at The Tackle Box on Hazlet.
 
Tom O’Connor of South Amboy saw Big Joe Utter of Old Bridge catching large blues by casting a diamond jig as soon as he arrived at his local beach Wednesday evening. Tom Jones of Parlin used clams to beach two stripers, one over 28 inches, but only blues hit O’Connor’s clams.

At Brielle, Capt. Howard Bogan Jr. said Saturday’s striped bass fishing on his Jamaica was poor to the north, so he went south on Sunday to find better readings even if the bass didn’t bite as well as the quantity recorded indicated they would. Paul Sperco of East Hanover won the pool with a 14-pounder.

Capt. Joe Bogan is wrapping up his blackfishing today on Jamaica II, and then switches to 5 a.m. wreck trips for ling on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tautog up to 12½ pounds were boated last week. Ray Bryant of South Orange limited to 8 pounds and added three cod, while Pete La Cour of Spring Lake Heights had a tog limit to 6 pounds.

Hoffman’s Marina weighed a 29-pound striped bass on Monday for Greg Long.
At Atlantic Highlands, Capt. Scotty Hilliard called in a report of excellent striper jigging Thursday on his Prowler as there were plenty of birds up, and many of the bass were looking large. Tankut Oksas of Elizabeth took the pool with a 25-pounder. Capt. George Bachert  did well clamming for stripers with his Angler on Saturday, but switched over to seeking the “elusive” ling  on Thursday. Check with him, as he’ll decide which species to pursue based on the last two days’ results. Bachert notes that night clamming has been producing two-to-three-dozen keeper bass per trip.

At Highlands, Capt. Pete Wagner of Hyper Striper from Twin Lights Marina reports consistent clamming for bass, with limit catches the norm. The Lee Childers party from Bay Head limited to 23 pounds Sunday afternoon; the Angus Fidullis group from Newark limited to 21 pounds Monday morning; and Artie Ascoli’s charter from Seaside Heights had a limit of 30-to-36-inchers Tuesday morning. He ran Wednesday’s trip for the Jets with Joe Occhipinti Jr. as there were nine people involved.  Assistant coach Dave Szott was aboard the Little Hawk along with Brandon Moore, Calvin Pace, Eric Smith, Brad Smith, and Ben Hartsock as a limit of bass up to 21 pounds was boated. Thursday’s trips were just as good, Ralph Delenardo of Franklin Lakes  had bass to 23 pounds in the morning, and Gary Schmitt  from Union ended up releasing 12-to-18-pound bass in the afternoon.  
Capt. Hans Kaspersetz of Sheri Berri from Baker’s Marina on the Bay has been trolling bass limits consistently by getting out along the northern Shore very early before boat traffic spooks the fish.

Phil Sciortino, at The Tackle Box in Hazlet, had weekend weigh-ins topped by a 27-pound bass caught on a bunker chunk at his local beach by Rich Swisstack of Cliffwood. Kevin Matheny of Keansburg clammed an 11 ½-pound striper at Union Beach. Sciortino noted that a group of kayakers gathered Monday morning at The Tackle Box before being guided to the Navesink River, where they had top water action with 8-to-10-pound blues plus a legal bass.
Nick Honachefsky of Normandy Beach was joined by Mickey Malchiondo of in catching 53 blues on popping plugs at Island Beach State Park at mid-day Wednesday. They also clammed two bass, a keeper and a 26-incher that was tagged. It was entirely different Thursday at the same time as schools of blues could be seen in the clear waters  moving over the outer bar, but they ignored poppers and swimmers. Honachefsky caught some by reeling a Deadly Dick slowly over the bottom, as well as on bunker chunks.
Ross Goldberg and David Sherman ran Lady J from Belmar to Shrewsbury Rocks on Saturday to troll Stretch 25 plugs for three bass up to 34 inches.

By Al Ristori

April 25, 2010, 6:44PM

Tautog enthusiasts only have a few days left to get in their licks as the recreational season ends after Friday until it reopens for only one tog on July 16.

Capt. Bobby Bogan of the Gambler from Point Pleasant is fishing daily for blackfish. He had a pick up to six pounds on Saturday, when the first fluke of the season were released — two 14-inchers that hit clams on a wreck off Lavallette in 55 feet. Bogan has found blackfishing best in depths of 110 to 120 feet, or inshore of 60 feet — with very little in between. Clams are also still producing better than crabs. Only two sea bass have been released so far. That season opens May 22.

Capt. Joe Bogan of Jamaica II from Brielle reported hot and cold blackfishing during the week, when blacks up to 12 1/2 pounds were caught. Ray Bryant of South Orange had a four-fish limit up to eight pounds plus three cod. Pete LaCour from Spring Lake Heights limited to six pounds. After he finishes up the blackfish season this week, Bogan switches to 5 a.m. wreck trips for ling on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The weather discouraged most striper fishermen Sunday, but Hoffman’s Marina in Brielle reported that bass fishing improved over the weekend after having slumped during mid-week. Greg Long brought in a 29-pounder Monday. Trolling was good off the red church at Elberon.

Capt. Jack Shea of Rambunctious reports trolling outside of Barnegat Inlet has been producing bass, plus lots of big blues on Tony Maja bunker spoons. Large blues are also hitting surface lures in Barnegat Bay.

Noted fly fisherman Dr. Gary Sherman of Montclair, a member of the Board of the American Museum of Fly Fishing, reports the AMFF is honoring the Casting for Recovery program with a dinner in New York City on Thursday. Those unable to attend can still engage in bidding for valuable prizes which will help continue the program that provides rehabilitation for breast cancer victims with fly fishing instruction at no charge. Items to be auctioned include many works of fishing art and rare fly fishing items along with individually-signed basketballs by Walt Frazier, who’s also offering a week at his home on St. Croix; a Med. cruise; fishing trips to Crocodile Bay in Costa Rica and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic — and with fishing pros Flip Pallot, Capt. Joe Mustari, and Capt. Paul Dixon; plus sailfishing on the Gina Lisa in Florida. The auction site is www.bobanddavesauction.com. For information visit kmurphy@amff.com.

By Al Ristori

April 23, 2010, 8:56PM

Striped bass fishing hasn’t been quite as automatic as it was last weekend, but some anglers will almost surely do well this weekend.

The key to success may well be a willingness to look around, as there has been little consistency as to where te bass may be day to day — and bluefish create another problem.  The Jamaica from Brielle has had some very good trips, but Capt. Howard Bogan Jr.said Wednesday was slow. Friday started out the same way, though a large school of bass was located during the afternoon.

Unfortunately, they didn’t bite as well as usual — with lots of follows of hooked fish to prove they were there. Bogan said every angler had at least one keeper. The Jamaica sails for stripers at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
 
Capt. Hans Kaspersetz trolled and jigged a few bass very early at Shrewsbury Rocks from Sheri Berri out of Baker’s Marina on the Bay in Highlands.
 
Capt. Bruce Mickelson of Hi-Mar Striper Club hosted fellow club member Capt. Robbie Barradale with his friend Joe and daughter Gina in Raritan Bay on Wednesday. He said there was no sign of bass or bait in the far west end of the bay, but they ended up doing well on Sailordog from Morgan further to the east by casting plugs and shad jigs. Fly fishing wasn’t effective since the fish were close to the bottom.
 
Capt. Bobby Bogan of the Gambler from Point Pleasant has been catching big blackfish,but Thursday was a bit slow for that species — possibly due to a cold south current. In addition to the daily blackfish trips, the Gambler will run one more open cod trip on May 6 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.   

Allen Riley of South Plainfield didn’t score with stripers in the Sandy Hook surf, but he watched Duke Matero of Piscataway land a 30-inch striper on clam. Riley said it was cold in the morning northwester. Water temperatures remain right about 50 degrees. 

By Al Ristori

April 17, 2010, 10:02PM

Striper fishing usually gets tougher on weekends with additional boat traffic, but that wasn’t the case Saturday as bass were caught in many areas and by many means. I fished with Chuck Many of Annandale on his Tyman II from Highlands, along with Matt Calabria of Hazlet and Bryan Pieros of Lebanon. We castnetted bunkers, and probably went further down the coast than was necessary– ending up off Asbury Park as the crew released 34 stripers. Most bass were on live and dead bunkers, but jigging also produced several as we made long drifts while continuing to pick up marks. It wasn’t a hot bite, but a steady pick that produced all keepers on bunker, and all but a couple over 28 inches on jigs. The average bass were in the 15-pound class, but Many released one that pulled the Boga Grip down to 30 pounds —  and I released a 23-pounder. Calabria had the hot hand with both bunkers and a large, double-hooked Tsunami Shad.

Party boats also had jigging bass at Shrewsbury Rocks and off the Highlands Bridge. Capt. Howard Bogan Jr. said jigging improved in the afternoon from his Jamaica out of Brielle after a slow morning as everyone limited with bass up to 22 pounds. Capt. Bob Pisano trolled bunker spoons at the Rocks on Thursday from Antoinette out of Belmar tor big bass up to a 43-pounder. Capt. Lou Grazioso didn’t have to head out to the ocean at all on Saturday as his party on Striper Mania from Keyport caught bass in the back of the bay on Stretch plugs and by casting shad lures.   

Nick Honachefsky of Normandy Beach went inland on Thursday to fish the Delaware River where live herring produced 15 bass up to 15 pounds for his crew. Honachefsky reported finding a live sea horse on his local beach.

By Al Ristori

April 14, 2010, 5:59PM

Striped bass are attacking bunkers along the northern Shore, and soon may be expanding their territory. Confirmed reports o0f bass being taken on live bunkers came from offshore of Sandy Hook, while others caught stripers in the ocean on jigs and clams.

Dave Lilly of Hazlet trolled off the Highlands Bridge in the morning to limit out on bass while experimenting with Stretch plugs with, and without, an ESCA light attached. He said the plug with the light far outfished the other run alongside it. Before they were finished, Lilly put Al Tumolo of Piscataway and Joe White from Dunellen into about 40 bass that were mostly keepers. Lilly said other bass were following hooked fish to the surface — and he caught one by casting a Rapala plug on the surface. Another boater managed to snag bunkers that produced other bass plus a seasonal first — a 13-pound weakfish.  

Tank Matraxia and Marty Gras from Lyndhurst fished with Capt. Lou Grazioso on Striper Mania out of Keyport to catch 10 bass in that area on clams and Stretch plugs. One bass was an 18-pounder. 

The Sea Hawk from Perth Amboy has been limiting on stripers the last couple of days by clamming down the beach. Lou Pruppi from Nazareth, Pa. boated a 25-pounder.  

Capt. Bobby Bogan has had good blackfishing this week while working wrecks in 100 to 120 feet to the south from his Gambler out of Point Pleasant. Everyone limited on Monday and Tuesday, Tony Rygiel of Harrison boated a trophy 14-pound, 6-ounce tog, and added a cod. Pete Santino of Old Bridge had a 10-pound blackfish.

The Jamaica from Brielle has cancelled the weekend offshore trip, and will start 7:30 a.m. striper fishing Saturday and Sunday.

Allen Riley of South Plainfield said it was another beautiful morning on the Sandy Hook surf, but, as usual, that wasn’t good for the fishing as only one short bass was caught along the beach.

By Al Ristori

April 07, 2010, 7:55PM

Capt. Boby Bogan reported the best blackfishing of the season so far on his Gambler from Point Pleasant. Many fares had their four-tog limits, and there were also quite a few cod ranging from shorts up to 24 inches. The blackfish ranged up to just over 12 pounds, but a tog an ounce under 15 pounds was boated a couple of days ago. Clams were more effective than crabs for the tog. Bogan was fishing wrecks in 130 feet, and has seen the water temperature shoot up from 42 to 50 degrees in a week. He’ll be offshore codfishing Thursday, but on Monday will switch to a combination of tog and cod during daily trips.

Raritan Bay striper fishing was disappointing today, I Joined Tank Matraxia and Marty Gras from Lyndhurst on Capt. Lou Grazioso’s Striper Mania from Keyport. Conditions were excellent for clamming during the morning ebb, but we never had a hit until the change of tide. Gras caught a 25-inch bass that got an ALS tag from Matraxia, and I started the season off right with a 31-inch bass.Then the SW wind started honking against the current — and the bite was over. Capt. Pete Wagner wasn’t out today with Hyper Striper from Highlands, but he said Tuesday’s clamming was good.

Capt. Stan Zagleski has been picking away at winter flounder in Shrewsbury River with his Elaine B. from Highlands. He’s doing best off The Quay and north of the bridge around slack tide. Two-flounder limits are common along with shorts.