The first few school stripers have been making their appearances at Island Beach State Park, and probably in other areas as water temperatures slowly improve. Both Grumpy's and Betty Nick's in Seaside Park have been getting a few surf reports on blood worms and salted clams, while other anglers are using worms or small plugs to hook a few bass in the bay.

Unfortunately, they won't be fishing on Sunday due to a prediction of NE winds up to 25 mph. A light NE wind was perfect for fishing.

Though the surf hasn't opened up as yet, Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park is getting good reports from anglers using blood worms in Barnegat Bay. Small plugs may be a good bet in the evening at bridges for school stripers.

Friday looks like a likely day to sail again Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park didn't have a beach report, but anglers buying bloodworms are catching small stripers plus white perch in the bay. There was also a report of a keeper bass, and those fish have also been hitting plugs in the evening.

loads of perch caught,some other exotics as well and a few ling. few pics.