Spring Striped Bass Fishing in New York Harbor Waters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target striped bass, bluefish, and flounder in productive New Jersey waters.Captain Frank provides expert guidance on 4hour or 6hour inshore trips.Small group fishing accommodates up to 6 guests maximum capacity.
Captain Frank knows these waters like the back of his hand, and when spring rolls around, there's no better time to get out on New York Harbor and Raritan Bay. From April through May, these productive waters come alive with hungry fish moving inshore, and we're here to put you right in the action. Whether you're looking for a quick 4-hour trip or want to make a full day of it with our 6-hour charter, you'll be targeting some of the best fishing New Jersey has to offer. Our boat handles up to 6 anglers, so bring your crew or join other passionate fishermen for a top-rated experience that keeps folks coming back season after season.
These spring months are prime time for inshore fishing in our neck of the woods. The water's warming up, bait is moving in thick, and the stripers are following right behind them. Captain Frank runs a clean operation with quality gear and knows exactly where to find the fish based on tides, weather, and what's been biting lately. You'll be fishing some of the most productive structure around New York Harbor and the expansive flats of Raritan Bay. The beauty of this fishery is its diversity – one minute you might be battling a solid striper, the next you could be doubled up on bluefish or pulling in keeper fluke. Spring fishing here means dealing with changing conditions, but that's what makes it exciting. Some days we're drifting over deep channels, other times we're working shallow water where you can actually see the fish. The key is staying flexible and reading what the fish are telling us.
We run a variety of techniques depending on what's working best that day. Live bait fishing is often the go-to method during this season – nothing beats a fresh bunker or herring when the stripers are feeding aggressively. We'll also work with artificials like bucktails, soft plastics, and topwater plugs when the conditions are right. The tackle setup varies by target species, but Captain Frank has everything you need on board. For stripers, we're talking medium to heavy spinning gear with enough backbone to handle fish in the 20-30 pound range, though don't be surprised if something bigger decides to play. When we're after fluke and flounder, we switch to lighter tackle and focus on bottom fishing techniques with fresh bait. Bluefish and scup often hit fast-moving lures, so we'll adjust our approach accordingly. The captain provides all rods, reels, terminal tackle, and bait – you just need to bring your fishing license and be ready to learn.
Striped Bass are the crown jewel of this fishery, and April through May is when these fish are really feeding hard after their spawning run. These powerful fish can range anywhere from schoolie size up to true cows pushing 40+ pounds. What makes stripers so special is their fight – they'll make long runs, dive deep, and test your drag system. They're also incredibly smart fish, so success often comes down to presentation and timing. The best action typically happens during moving tides, especially around dawn and dusk when they're actively hunting baitfish.
Bluefish are pure aggression on a hook, and when they're around, you know it. These toothy predators travel in schools and can provide non-stop action when you find them. Spring blues in our waters typically run 3-8 pounds, perfect eating size and strong enough to give you a real workout. They'll hit just about anything that moves, but they're particularly fond of metal lures and fresh cut bait. The key with bluefish is being ready – when a school moves through, you want to capitalize on it because they can disappear as quickly as they arrived.
Southern Flounder and Fluke are the flatfish favorites that really get going as the water warms through late April and into May. These ambush predators lie on the bottom waiting for an easy meal, which makes them perfect targets for precise bottom fishing. Fluke can grow impressively large – a doormat fluke over 5 pounds is always a possibility and represents some of the best eating you'll find. They're also surprisingly strong fighters for a flatfish, making long runs when hooked. The technique for targeting them involves working the bottom with jigs, bucktails, or live bait rigs.
Scup, also known as porgy, might not be the flashiest fish we target, but they're incredibly abundant during spring and absolutely delicious on the table. These scrappy little fish rarely exceed 2 pounds, but they make up for size with numbers and attitude. When you find a good school of scup, you can often catch them as fast as you can drop your line. They're excellent for beginners and kids because they bite aggressively and fight harder than their size suggests. Plus, they're fantastic eating – firm, white meat that's perfect for the dinner table.
Spring fishing in New Jersey waters is world-class, and Captain Frank's local knowledge makes all the difference between a good day and a customer favorite experience. These April and May dates book up quickly because seasoned anglers know this is when the fishing really turns on. Whether you're a first-timer looking to learn the ropes or an experienced angler wanting to target trophy fish, this charter delivers the goods. The combination of productive waters, diverse species, and professional guidance creates the kind of fishing memories that last a lifetime. Don't wait too long to secure your dates – the best spring fishing action won't wait, and neither should you.
Captain Frank's 36-foot Contender center console is your ticket to productive fishing in New Jersey waters from April through May. This restored 2005 vessel runs on triple 250HP Yamahas, giving you the speed to reach prime spots in New York Harbor and Raritan Bay quickly. The boat handles up to 6 anglers comfortably with plenty of room to work the rails when stripers are running hot. Modern fish finder helps locate schools while GPS keeps you on productive structure. Air conditioning provides relief on warm spring days, and the icebox keeps your catch fresh. Full galley setup with refrigerator means drinks stay cold during those longer 6-hour trips. Onboard facilities include a head and berth for convenience. Whether you're targeting spring bass, bluefish, or bottom fish like fluke and flounder, this well-equipped charter boat puts you in prime position to fill the cooler.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBlues are pure aggression on fins - hard-fighting fish with razor-sharp teeth and attitudes to match. These blue-green torpedoes typically run 3-10 pounds and 12-24 inches, though we see some chopper blues hitting 15+ pounds. They're schooling fish that travel our waters May through October, feeding in feeding frenzies on bunker, spearing, and anything else that moves. You'll find them in open water, around bait schools, and near structure where current brings food. What makes them special? They fight like demons, hit topwater lures with explosive strikes, and when fresh, they're excellent eating - just bleed them immediately. Look for diving birds and bait schools on the surface - that's where you'll find the action. Wire leaders are a must; those teeth will cut through mono like butter.
Stenotomus ChrysopsScup, or porgies as the old-timers call them, are great fun on light tackle and put excellent fish in the cooler. These silver, deep-bodied fish usually run 1-3 pounds and 10-14 inches, perfect for family fishing. You'll find them around rocky bottoms, wrecks, and hard structure in 15-40 feet of water from May through October when water warms up. They're bottom feeders with strong jaws built for crushing shells and small crabs. Kids love them because they bite readily and fight scrappy for their size. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish in our waters - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. Here's the trick: use small hooks with squid strips or clam pieces, and jig slowly right on the bottom. Scup have small mouths, so keep your bait presentation tight.
Paralichthys LethostigmaFluke (summer flounder) are what we call "barn doors" when they get big - flat, oval fish that can surprise you with their size and fight. Most run 2-5 pounds and 15-18 inches, but we get some real doormat fluke pushing 8+ pounds in our waters. They're ambush predators that bury themselves in sandy or muddy bottoms in 10-25 feet, waiting to crush baitfish swimming by. Spring through early summer is prime time in New York Harbor and Raritan Bay. What's fun about fluke? They hit hard, fight different than other fish with that head-shaking action, and they're fantastic table fare - sweet, white fillets. The key is drifting live killies or bucktails with gulp trailers right along the bottom, bouncing just enough to stay in the strike zone without spooking them.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the crown jewel of our spring fishing here in New Jersey waters. These silver-sided beauties with their distinctive black stripes typically run 20-40 pounds, though we see some real tanks pushing 50+. They're strong fighters that make powerful runs and love structure - you'll find them around bridges, drop-offs, and rocky areas in 10-30 feet of water. April through May is prime time as they migrate north through New York Harbor and Raritan Bay, feeding heavily on bunker and herring. What makes them special? They fight hard, taste great, and give you that trophy photo. Pro tip: when you're drifting live eels near structure at dawn or dusk, let the eel swim naturally - don't jig it. Stripers like their meals moving slow and steady.
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