May 12, 2025 - 10:11:11
“It’s a total bass bonanza,” said Dan at the Tackle Box in Hazlet as the river systems exploded with activity and the shore at Monmouth Beach, Sea Bright and Sandy Hook all gave up linesiders with clams the hot hand as well as needlefish and paddletails. Bluefish struck the shores as well, especially off the Rip, and heavy duty Bar Breakers were lighting up bluefish left and right. The skinny waters off of Officer’s Row were hot to trot for flukesters as they plucked fish up to 6 pounds from there.
May 12, 2025 - 10:11:00
Striped bass continued to be at the top of the list over at the Tackle Box. The stripers were all over hitting swimming plugs, cut baits and trolled Mojos, spoons and plastics. Phil said mixed size bluefish have been chopping up some tackle in the bay and a few weakfish were also caught. The first week of fluke fishing saw flatties to 6 pounds weight in at the shop with most of the flatties being caught towards the front of the bay off the Hook, the Bug Light and Coast Guard Station, in shallow water on the top of the outgoing tide when the water is the warmest, we were told.
May 05, 2025 - 07:53:25
Phil at the Tackle Box in Hazlet expounded that the bluefish have arrived all along the bayside of the Hook, Keansburg Pier, Leonardo Flats and places in between. Bass fishing hot spots this week were at Union Beach, Pebble Beach and bayside of the hook as worming, clamming, shads and SP Minnows all found their mark. Word is those bluefish are well up into the Navesink River as well.
May 05, 2025 - 07:53:15
“Striped bass fishing was a mixed bag to shorts, keepers and some overs this past week in Raritan Bay and surrounding waters,” said Phil over at the Tackle Box. Phil was another person that said he got reports of some slammers being caught along with a few black drum, one that was weighed in at the shop at 75 pounds. In addition he told us some fluke were also caught and released and traditionally the first few weeks of the fluke season see some good catches around the Coast Guard station and off the Hook.