Striped Bass Sightings Reported in the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers
By John Spinelli
As the warm weather approaches, many Two River residents are putting their boats back in the water. During the past four weeks, migratory fish have traveled to the rivers and estuaries to spawn, including striped bass that have made their way to the Raritan Bay and the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers.
“Business is picking up again; boats are finally getting in the water,” said an employee of Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands. The store, located on Route 36 near Middletown, has been active since 1932; it is now owned by Joe Julian.
“Customers have reported schools of bunker (bait fish) in the bay now and we’ve had people try near the Oceanic Bridge,” which many say is active at night, Julian said.
“Another great spot is the backside by the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank. By late April and May, we should see the runners (large bluefish) in the Shrewsbury River, and then summer flounder. There have been a lot of fish in the river. Customers have been using flutter spoons, Mojos, umbrella rigs, and trolling plugs from us.”
According to New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, the limit for striped bass as of April 17 is one per person in the range of 28 to 31 inches.
On the oceanside, Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright reported customers catching on both sides, Sea Bright Beach and the Shrewsbury River. For the anglers fishing from land, there’s good news if you’ve had a bad streak: Local fisherman John Gillis of Port Monmouth said he has had success the past three times he’s gone out, catching seven (short) striped bass.
“I caught fish off Belford and Cliffwood beaches by wade fishing. All the stripers I caught were on plastic lures,” he said.
Although not all the charter boats in Atlantic Highlands are in service yet, Captain Scott Hilliard of the Prowler V says he’s had day trips since March 15.
“Last Sunday (April 13) we had a great trip,” he said. “We’ve been using shad as primary bait. On Monday, April 14th, we brought home a few keepers fishing by Sandy Hook. Now is the right time to start fishing!”
According to a 2023 study from John Tiedemann of Monmouth University, many bass return to the same reproduction sites every year, although the reasons are still not entirely known. Some striped bass will spawn eggs in brackish water and then migrate back to the ocean. Other striped bass will not migrate and remain in the ocean.
Saltwater fishing permits can be registered at dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing. Anglers who fish on party boats are not required to register.
The article originally appeared in the April 17 – 23, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
