Reel Fun Sportfishing, LLC
Fishing Reports for 2025 covering Sandy Hook, NJ
"Capt. John's Fishing Reports" gives you the latest information about our fishing charters as they occurred.
So bookmark this page and check back with us regularly.

May 31, 2025

Fellow Anglesr,

It's been awhile since I last talked to you about fishing here at Sandy Hook.

Well, the weather the past few months has been total garbage here at the shore, except for a few sunny days here and there. Rain, very windy and fog conditions plus a lack of participation by anglers has kept the boat in the slip more times than I care for. It appears to me the current economy has put a damper on recreational fishing for some.

Add to that, the spring run of Stripers has recently cooled off in the bay as the weather has contributed to the exit of bunker (baitfish) and no bunker gives you no Bass...plain as that. Are there Stripers around....you bet, but the bite has been mainly trolling for illegal super size monster fish in the ocean which all have to be returned to the sea. Sure it's a blast fighting a 40-50 lb Striper, but all you have to show for your effort is a photo and back in the water she goes..nothing to take home for dinner. I get it guys..I feel your pain.

Seems most of the legal keeper fish have spread throughout Raritan Bay. Are there Stripers in Raritan Bay...you bet. But to find them and put them on the hook, means a lot of searching and trolling. So having said that, the crew and I are sitting tight on the Striper scene keeping a close eye out for some substantial action as I have numerous anglers waiting for my "lets go" phone call when, and if, they reappear...hopefully sooner than later. If all hell doesn't break loose by the next full moon on June 11th, then the ballgame for spring Stripers is probably done.

Which leads me to my next topic...bottom fishing for Fluke/Sea Bass.

The Fluke fishing in our local rivers is doing very well right now, And with my boat, I am able to get into some pretty shallow (skinny) water and fish for them. The Fluke this time of year head to the warmest shallowest water the can find and chow down...just waiting for Johnnies little hook and line. So this time of year, it's all river and bay fishing for Fluke and the crew and I stand ready to take you out. Fluke reg's in NJ are 3 fish (18" and over) per angler. So for a 4 person charter, that's 12 Fluke and a hell of a lot of fillets to take home. A trip that's well worth the fare for the day.

During July, August and September, we'll be fishing for Fluke and Sea Bass in the ocean around local rocky bottom reefs and wrecks for the bigger fish. If you're a person searching for that PB, then this trip might be for you.

Our 8 hour "Doormat Fluke Hunter" trip fishing the waters off the south shore of Long Island might be just the thing for you. (Be Aware....this trip is totally dependent on weather conditions. Light and variable winds from the N or W and we go...all other and we stay home.)

Tight Lines, Capt. John and Crew

May 8, 2025

Pictured here is the Tom Lynn party with the addition of Mr. Dick Toro (far right) after a successful Striped Bass trip of Thursday May 8th.

What you see are 4 of the 13 Stripers we caught that day both trolling and using live bunker (live lining).

Weather was fantastic and the water temperature was just right at 58.2 degrees under partly cloudy skies...just what the Bass like.

Although the Bass were spread throughout Raritan Bay, it didn't take too long (with some help from another captain) to zero in on some great fishing.

These fish are newly arrived ocean fish which was evident by sea lice on their bodies. A very good sign of nice fresh healthy, good eating fish.

To make a Striper reservation or get in on one of our Open Boat Striper trips or arrange a Fluke charter, call me now at 908-421-4761.

Tight Lines,
Capt. John and Crew

April 24, 2025

Fellow Angler,

Time to mark your calendar and get that gear ready.

Sunday, May 4th is the official start of the Fluke season here in NJ and NY. If Striped Bass isn't your thing, then Fluke fishing should fill the bill.

We will be starting out fishing the skinny waters of both rivers and the bays and then as the season progresses, move out to the Atlantic in search of that trophy fish. This is light tackle fishing at its best. Both bucktailing and bait draggers are welcome to try their hand at the most delicious fish in the ocean.

I have 4 hr bay, 6 and 8 hour ocean Fluke trips available and priced accordingly fishing either morning or afternoon in the bays or if you prefer going after that big one, then try our 8 hour "Doormat Fluke Hunter" trip as we sail around the ocean wrecks and reefs searching for that elusive "personal best" fish.

**Season opening discounted rates are currently in effect for 6 hour charters just for you...call of fares.

If you would like to make a Striper or Fluke reservation or get in on one of our Open Boat trips, call me at 908-421-4761.

Tight Lines,
Capt. John

April 5, 2025

Fellow Anglers,

As you can see by the photo, with mate Rich standing along side her, the boat is in the water and ready to set sail on another season. We put her in the slip yesterday afternoon in anticipation of the upcoming spring Striper run which is just now showing signs of beginning.

A report from a fellow charter captain had bass being caught far back in the Raritan Bay in some very shallow waters. These are Hudson River holdover resident fish that are now making their way into Raritan Bay looking for something to dine on. These bass are not the northerly migrating Chesapeake fish, but bass that make the Hudson River their home during the winter months and will return there to spawn in a few weeks once their bellies are full.

The water temp at my marina was 50.4 degrees, a bit cooler than Keansburg from a few days ago but these up and down readings are normal for this time of year. Early season Stripers tend to be a bit lethargic when feeding and anglers have to work hard, cast after cast, using shads to catch these bass. But they will respond if you are patient.

Once this rainy period moves on and we get the sun to warm up the bay a few degrees, more Hudson River fish will appear throughout the bay and join the Chesapeake bass and the fishing will be lights out.

My appointment book is open and ready to add names and dates, so let's get the 2025 fishing season going by calling the number below.

If you would like to make a Striper or Fluke reservation or get in on one of our Open Boat trips, call me at 908-421-4761.

Tight Lines,
Capt. John

March 31, 2025

Fellow Anglers,

A quick update on the arrival of Striped Bass in Raritan Bay.

Basically..not much happening right now. The arrival, from the south, of migrating big females has yet to begin...but that will change anytime now.

Word from my sources are bass are showing within the Chesapeake Bay which is a very good sign. But also, our bay is loaded with bunker....Stripers main food source.

Another very good sign. Once the bass arrive and find the bunker in Raritan Bay, it is game on. So we wait. Mate Rich and I were at the boat yesterday getting her ready for another season and should be in the water sometime next week.

I am currently taking reservations for Striper fishing which will begin for us around the middle of April. For those adventurous ones, keep in mind we do fly fishing for Stripers...if you know how to cast a fly. We operate 1 and 2 angler fly trips for 4 or 6 hours. Call me for the fare.

We also employ the use of casting lures, trolling, bunker chunking and live lining as a way to catch Stripers. We do whatever we have to do on that day to fill the cooler (with the exception of dynamite...ha ha ha)

If you would like to make a Striper reservation or get in on one of our Open Boat trips, now is the time to call me at 908-421-4761.

Tight Lines, Capt. John

December 18, 2024

Well fellow angler.....it's that time of the year for me to give you some analysis of the 2024 fishing season. In a word....tough.

First the spring Striped Bass fishing.....which was plagued by high winds and 12 consecutive weekends of rain. There were good numbers of Stripers to be caught in the bay, but getting the people and the boat out during this crappy weather was another story. Very tough months of April, May and June Striper fishing.

Summer Flounder (Fluke)....especially tough to say the least. Unless you were willing to spend the extra fare for an 8 hour charter to the south shore of Long Island, the local Fluke population was a disappointment for me and many other recreational anglers. There were plenty of shorts all along the beach and some nice keepers on the rocks and reefs, but not nearly enough to satisfy me or my anglers. In a word..again tough fishing here in New Jersey waters for Fluke.

Water temperatures, fueled by constant south winds, kept bottom temps very cold even through the months of July and August. While I recorded 78 to 80 degrees on the surface, our bucktails would come up ice cold in 50-60 feet of water where the bigger Fluke live.

Once again...very tough fishing for the summer for me and many other charters, unless again you were willing to pay me to take you out to the south shore of Long Island where boats were doing quite better. For the Long Island trip, I schedule 8 hours to make the run to and back and give you sufficient time to fish, but that eats up a hell of a lot of gas in the process.

Fall Striper run.....once again (sounding like a broken record) tough . Look, let's be real here. The economy put a big hurtin" on the for hire fishing businesses (both charters and party boats). One of the charters close to me call it quits and sold his boat. But having said that, constant howling N/NW winds made for difficult fishing during the fall. 20 to 25 kt winds gusting to 30 kts in the bay with waves 3 to 4 feet kept my boat in the slip on numerous days. The big girls (Bass) did invade our waters, but were oceanside for about 3 weeks as most, if not all, were returned to swim again. And these were gigantic females making their way south but due to reg's could not be retained. The smaller males then followed, oceanside again, and never made into the bay except for a few resident Hudson River fish. But, contending with high winds was a real bummer for me, so the amount of charters I had for the fall run of 2025 was way off. Weather coupled with a slow economy made for an especially difficult year for the crew of Reel Fun Sportfishing....but we will give it another go for 2025 and hope for the best.

With Christmas just a week away, let me say on behalf of the crew and I, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Tight Lines,
Capt. John and Crew

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