<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fishing now was as good as anyone could want, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Striped bass swam everywhere. Excellent clamming for stripers was boated at the clam beds. Boaters also eeled stripers at the channels and jigged the fish down the ocean beaches. Quite a few blues remained around, and blues will be seen into December. Surf fishers also caught stripers, using clams, bunker, jigs or plugs. Lots of blackfish were bagged once the bag limit was increased to six on Tuesday from the previous limit of one. Many limits came in. Blackfishing had already been good before the increase. Not much was heard about sea bass, porgies or ling because of the roll on the ocean. But Jimmy might return to bottom fishing for them soon. Weather and seas were often rough, and today was calmer, though winds blew a little, probably 15 or 20 knots. Stripers and blackfish like winds, though. Winds today were also west, so seas from the surf to near the shore would be protected from land.

A few sizeable blackfish were netted by 12 noon today, when Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> gave this report on the phone on the day’s trip. One angler bagged three of the tog on the front of the boat, and another in the back had three, and another picked up two, and some grabbed one, and that’s how the fishing was going so far. Catches weren’t as good as on Tuesday, when trips first began focusing on blackfish, because the bag limit was raised that day. All in all a good catch was crunched that day on the vessel, covered in the last report here. But some of the fish, including a few chunky ones, were landed so far on today’s trip. The trip fished at the reef and rocks, and the weather was somewhat breezy. Wednesday’s trip was cancelled because of winds. No porgies or sea bass, only blackfish, were hooked, and November 3 was the last time a good catch of porgies was collected on the boat. Porgies appeared to depart, and none was read on the fish finder, and Tom had the feeling only blackfish would bite now. The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. <b>***Update, Saturday, 11/20:***</b> Blackishing on Friday’s trip through this morning’s so far was “pretty darn nice,” Tom said in a phone call on the trip at 10:30 a.m. today. Mixed sizes of the tog came up, and forecasts for winds were wrong, and the weather wasn’t bad.

Jigging for striped bass was good in the morning and only got better Tuesday on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron said in the report on the boat’s Web site. “Excellent readings just where I like to see them: on the bottom,” he said. “Lots of bait, lots of fish, not many boats running around. Doesn’t get any better than that!” Weather forecasts looked terrible for Wednesday, he said in the report Tuesday. “Pick a nicer day,” he said. Check out a <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keDd0LTocTY&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">video of the trip</a>. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. <b>***Update, Thursday, 11/18:***</b> After Tuesday’s busy striper fishing and Wednesday’s weathered out trip, today’s fishing “left a little to be desired,” Ron said in an e-mail. Life was seen nearly all day, but west winds and outgoing tide pushed the drift to 3 knots, a trolling speed, not good for party boat fishing. With plenty of fish and bait marked, Ron thought catches would turn on when currents eased. “Guess I expect too much,” he said. Patrons did pick at stripers and blues, better shots of the fish once in a while. Some hefty keeper stripers and big blues also showed up toward the end of the trip. See a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhhgnfUg6Ec" target="_blank">video of today’s trip</a>.

<b>Highlands</b>

Joel Chiappa’s charter sailed on a striped bass/blackfish combo, the first of the season with <b>Jersey Devil Charters</b>, on Tuesday, when the blackfish bag limit was hiked up, Capt. Brian said. A four-man limit of stripers was nailed within 90 minutes between the channels on the troll. A friend clobbered the fish on jigs, so the stripers could be jigged. Then the charter moved to the blackfish grounds off the ocean beaches, reeling in 11, including six keepers, a couple of them 3 to 5 pounds. Southeast winds probably slowed blackfishing, but the angling lately was good and seemed to be improving, because waters were cooling. Fishing’s been hopping for stripers and blackfish, and more of the combo charters are set for Friday and Saturday. In other news, bluefin tuna anglers picked the fish here and there. Jersey Devil had been sailing for bluefins but will concentrate on stripers and blackfish now.

With <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> anglers limited out on blackfish to 8 ½ pounds on Tuesday, when the blackfish bag limit was raised, Capt. Derek said. Green crabs and white leggers were fished, and striped bass fishing was productive all week, when trips were able to sail between weather. Fisher Price fished for them down the ocean beaches along a stretch from the New York side to the New Jersey side, including along the mouth of Raritan Bay. The boat’s anglers targeted stripers in every way: eeling, clamming, jigging and trolling. Derek will often run combo striper/blackfish trips now. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trips will sail for the combo Friday, and a couple will sail during Thanksgiving week. An open trip will sail for stripers Thanksgiving Day in the morning, probably from 6. to 10, so anglers can be home for dinner. Call Derek to join the open trips or to be kept informed about the future open schedule. Fisher Price will probably sail until the second week of December before calling it a season. But afterward Derek will run charters on a Point Pleasant boat.

One of the charter boats from the docks limited out on striped bass “one, two three,” said Wayne from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>. Then the boat limited out on blackfish on the same trip. Gene Graham, the marina’s striper expert, limited out on the linesiders whenever the weather allowed him to sail. The charter boat clammed for the bass, and Gene eeled for them. Anglers boated stripers at places including Flynn’s Knoll, Romer Shoal and Ambrose Channel. Lots of winds and rough weather prevailed like all season, but stripers were out there when trips could run. So were blackfish, and the captain from the charter said the tog were hungry. Nothing was heard about bluefish, but that could be because of lack of reports from the weather. The full supply of frozen baits, including five-packs of bunker and quarts and pints of salted clams, is stocked.

<b>Neptune</b>

The first individual-reservation trip of the season for blackfish on Tuesday, when the bag limit increased, did a job on the fish, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> in an e-mail. Was a great start to the angling, and three of the anglers landed at least a dozen keepers apiece, keeping no more than their limits of six apiece. The rest of the crew bagged three to four keepers apiece. Waters were dirty, but didn’t hamper the fishing. “I am looking forward to a really good season,” Ralph said. More of the trips are scheduled for November 21, 27 and 28, and one on November 26 is full. The trips will also run December 5, 12, 18, 24, 25 and 31 and all weekends in January, including on New Year’s Day. If anglers want to go on other dates during the week, call or e-mail Ralph, and he’ll  put dates together. <b>***Update, Friday, 11/19:***</b> Another individual-reservation blackfish trip was added for November 26 on Ralph’s other boat, because of demand.

<b>Belmar</b>

Blackfishing kicked off Tuesday on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, and catches were okay, not great, not bad, picking way, Capt. Chris said. The bag limit was increased that day. The tog to 10 pounds were clocked. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Trips for striped bass and blues sailed almost every day on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, except the trip Wednesday was weathered out, Capt. Alan said. Super catches of stripers were beaten, and lots of big blues were belted. Tuesday’s trip sailed with only nine anglers, but all limited out on stripers. Sixty anglers climbed aboard Saturday, bagging well over twice as many stripers. A bunch of stripers and lots of blues were plowed during Sunday’s trip. All the fish were jigged on the ocean on the trips. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for stripers and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. A trip will run 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.

A load of striped bass, two-thirds of them keepers, were jigged on the ocean Saturday on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the boat’s Web site said. More than 30 stripers were waffled by 8:30 a.m. alone on Sunday’s trip, and many of the anglers had already limited out by then. The fishing was as good as it gets. Big blues were mixed in during the trips. The Golden Eagle is sailing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. The trip on Thanksgiving will run 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

A couple of trips jigged for striped bass in the past days on the ocean, racking up plenty, said Capt. Tom from the <b>Nan Sea J</b>. Lots of big blues were also slammed. A little blackfishing was mixed in, catching some, and more blackfishing will sail, now that the bag limit increased. Somewhat of a ground swell remained, after the big swell around the weekend, but seas and the weather were fine on the trips.

For surf angling, weather had been so rough that nobody had really fished, until today, said Bob from <b>Fishermen’s Den</b>. Practically all the shore casters banked striped bass to 12 pounds this morning, and Bob suspected the catches would turn back on this afternoon. Most of the fish were hooked on artificials lately. Anything that looked like a sand eel drew interest, like tin squids or Ava jigs. But teasers were a must – the fish swiped teasers. Needlefish scored the bass at night. Fishing for stripers was hot for both surf anglers and boaters when the weather allowed them to fish. Not much was heard about blues, and nobody was really interested in blues anymore. Everyone wanted stripers. Weather also hammered blackfishing, though the bag limit was yanked upward Tuesday. Boating for the tog was weathered out Wednesday. But the trips resumed today. “Blackfish will be very good,” Bob said. Green crabs, white leggers and hermit crabs are stocked for the slipperies. Fresh clams are carried for stripers, but, again, artificials mostly snatched up the linesiders in the surf.

<b>Brielle</b>

Thirty-five blackfish were creamed on Mike Jordan’s charter Tuesday on the <b>Big Kid</b> at the reef, Capt. Ken said. The bag limit was amped up that day, and five blues and two sea bass were also iced at the same spot. Trips are also fishing for striped bass, and anglers can sail for a combo of stripers and blackfish if they’d like. More trips are set to sail daily starting Friday. Space is available, and the Big Kid will fish all year, as long as anglers want to go.

The double anchors came tight on a trip Tuesday, and “blackfish started flying,” said Capt. Jerry from <b>Fish Monger Charters</b> in an e-mail. That was the day when the blackfish bag limit was jacked up, and the fishing was “one-stop shopping,” he said, and the six anglers limited out by 8:45 a.m. None of the tog was huge, but a couple were chunky, 7 pounds, and sizeable ones 2 to 5 pounds outnumbered shorts. The trip also limited out on striped bass and fought lots of big blues. After the anglers limited out on blackfish, they caught and released more for an hour. Jerry got a call saying stripers popped up toward home, and the anglers decided to give the fishing a try, could be a great way to end the day. The boat arrived on the scene, and birds worked the waters all around, and readings were thick, and fish splashed the surface. Lots of big blues and two to four keeper stripers were jigged on every drift. The anglers were boxed up with a limit of stripers and a load of blues by 12 noon. “We are not ones to go in early,” Jerry said, but the anglers had enough, returning to the dock by 12:30 p.m. There was lots of filleting to do! 

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Anglers picked blackfish, a good catch, all around the vessel on Tuesday, when the blackfish bag limit was raised, said Capt. Matt from the <b>Norma K</b> party boat fleet. Eight, among the 13, a small crowd, who joined the trip, limited out, and the tog weighed up to 11 pounds. White leggers seemed to catch more than green crabs did. That was an all-day trip, sailing 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to kick off blackfishing on the boat. All-day trips will now run every Monday during the same hours. Three-quarter-day trips are fishing for blackfish 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the rest of the week. Magic Hour Trips for ling and cod are running 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday and fished on both trips this past weekend, despite a big ground swell. The fishing was solid, no matter the seas, and anglers averaged 11 to 30 fish apiece, mostly ling, a few cod. A couple walloped more than 30 fish.

Big blues, up to a whopping 21 pounds,  and striped bass to 35 pounds, super action on most days, were jigged to the north and south on the party boat <b>Gambler</b> this week, Capt. Bob said in an e-mail. At least 75 percent of the stripers were keepers. The Gambler is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. A trip on Thanksgiving will sail for stripers 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Bonus-tag limits of three striped bass were bagged by some anglers on today’s trip, and two were taken by others, and one was honked by others, and today was one of those “special ones,” an e-mail from the party boat <b>Cock Robin</b> said. More stripers than bluefish bit on the trip. When the outing began, the trip met bunker at the inlet, “unorganized,” the e-mail said, but flipping around. The trip looked around the bunker toward the inlet, but no pods of the baitfish formed like they do when fish chase them. The captained on the radar spotted birds working the ocean farther than binoculars could see. The boat was steamed there, and stripers and blues schooled underneath the flocks, and the fishing was on! The sun became too bright a moment, putting the fish down. But overcast skies soon returned, and so did the bite! A window of weather looks great through the weekend. The Cock Robin is sailing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily except 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays. On Thanksgiving a trip will run 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Holiday gift certificates are available.

Sea bass, ling, cod and porgies, a healthy variety of fish, not a lot of one species, were shoveled aboard the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. Anglers averaged 10 to 25 fish apiece, mostly ling and sea bass. Trips fished in an average of 120 feet, and trips tried fishing shallower a couple of times, but most sea bass were found to depart shallower depths, moving to 120 feet. A few blackfish were swung aboard, and the blackfish bag limit was ramped up Tuesday. But blackfish weren’t targeted, and most customers wanted ling and sea bass. A few big porgies still hovered that close to shore. A 31-pound cod was hauled aboard Saturday, and previously 10- and 12-pounders were the biggest cod on trips. Most of the cod were just-keeper sized, but some sizeable ones were around. One dozen to two dozen cod per trip were usually decked. The ocean was 57 to 58 degrees at the fishing grounds and a bit cooler closer to shore. The ocean held a big swell during some of the past week, though seas weren’t rough on top of the swell. Conditions were too rough last Thursday, canceling the day’s trip. But the boat fished in the large swell Friday and Saturday. Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Carl Lamanna, owner of <b>Canyon River Club Marina</b>, moved his C-Annamal to South Beach, Florida, for the winter, he said. He’ll travel back and forth between there and Point Pleasant Beach during the season, like every year. At Canyon River the fleet sailed for striped bass and blackfish on the ocean. Jersey Hooker Charters, running from the marina, sailed on a combo striper/blackfish trip on the ocean Sunday. Stripers and tons of big blues were waxed in 65 feet off Asbury Park on the trip. Then the anglers pummeled solid blackfishing at a rock pile. Next the trip wrestled short stripers off Mantoloking. From South Beach Carl fished on his boat Tuesday. The trip first caught three dozen blue runners and pilchards for bait for the livewell. The anglers tried for mahi mahi, scoring no luck, and the boat was moved closer to shore for bottom fishing. Two mutton snappers 12 and 15 pounds were pumped in. Then cero mackerel, great sashimi, were fought, and so were Spanish mackerel. The baitfish from the livewell were deadly on the muttons, ceros and Spanish. Carl will fish from South Beach through the winter, sailing from there to the Bahamas, from Bimini to Grand Bahama Island to Chub Key. He’ll try to reach as far as San Salvador. The fishing in these areas will chase blackfin tuna big time, sailfish, king mackerel, wahoos, mahi, yelloweyes, amberjacks and cobia. Look for the fishing to be covered through the winter in this site’s Offseason Report that features out-of-state fishing during New Jersey’s off season. Canyon River Club Marina, located along Manasquan River, is open all year, including winter. The marina features all the amenities, including a locker with electric to fit a freezer, rods and tackle. The docks are only a half-mile from Manasquan Inlet with no bridges.

<b>Bricktown</b>

Surf fishers pulled a slow but steady pick on short striped bass, occasionally a keeper, from Bay Head to Lavallette, said Capt. Rich from <b>Jersey Hooker Outfitters Bait & Tackle</b> in an e-mail.  Customers fishing from boats reported good catches of stripers while trolling and, depending on the day, while jigging. They copped some decent catches, fishing the entire area from Ambrose Channel to Island Beach State Park. Tons of monster blues were still fought on the boats. A few customers on private boats headed out for blackfish on the ocean Tuesday, when the bag limit was jumped up, “and picked some really nice fish,” Rich said, in 60 feet. Other customers jumped on party boats and charter boats for the opener, scoring well. The tog also chomped in the Point Pleasant Canal on incoming tides. <b><i>***Black Friday Sale:***</i></b> Up to 25% savings on select items 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the store.  A charter was set to fish Tuesday with <b>Jersey Hooker Charters</b>, sailing from Point Pleasant Beach’s Canyon River Club Marina, but cancelled because of rains. Open-boat blackfish trips are running every Thursday and Friday by reservation through January 14. <b><i>***Tautog Special:***</i></b> Catch the special discount on 5 hours of blackfishing on a charter.

<b>Toms River</b>

Surf fishing definitely slowed some, but striped bass were beached mostly on incoming tides lately, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. The surf was sloppy in winds Wednesday but was settling quickly today. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, Ava jigs and needlefish lures hooked them, and bait or lures worked about equally well, 50/50. But boaters scored a good bunch of stripers to the south toward Barnegat Inlet and to the north as well. A few stripers were eeled along Barnegat Bay’s sod banks and Barnegat Inlet’s jetties at night, and incoming tides seemed better. Not a lot was heard about striper fishing around the bay by this point in the season, and the angling seemed almost finished for the year. Blackfish sometimes began to be boated on the ocean, now that the bag limit was reeled upward Tuesday. Blackfish were also tugged in from along the jetties, especially at the inlets, and from the Point Pleasant Canal. Catch the shop’s big Black Friday Sale, running from this Friday through Thanksgiving weekend on Sunday, November 28. Every item in the store, except bait, will be blown out at 30- to 50-percent discounts!

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Good-sized striped bass, big blues and bunker crashed the surf today at Bay Head, said Scott from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. The surf this week tossed up the fish from Barnegat Inlet to Manasquan Inlet in fair supply basically. Waters stayed clean. Bait, Ava jigs, needlefish lures and swimming plugs squashed them. Little was heard about blackfish so far, though the bag limit was boosted Tuesday.  Fresh bunker, fresh clams, eels and all the baits are stocked. Catch Wacky Wednesdays every week, when clams are $2 per dozen.

<b>Forked River</b>

Eeling socked striped bass along Barnegat Bay’s sod banks at night, said Dave from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. But jigging really banged up stripers from the ocean during daytime toward 60 feet. Jigs like Ava’s and Deadly Dicks were fished, and blues also pounced on them. Anglers began searching for blackfish, and the bag limit was hoisted up Tuesday, but no results were heard. Fresh clams are stocked, and fresh bunker ran out but is carried when available. Eels and green crabs are on hand.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Boating for striped bass on the ocean became much of the focus, and the fish and blues poured down the coast, smacking on the jig or the troll in 35 to 60 feet, said Nick from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>. Reports had already come in by 9 a.m. today about the catches off Harvey Cedars, off Barnegat Inlet and farther north. News about striper catches on Barnegat Bay somewhat slowed, but the fish were hung on live spots along the channels around Barnegat Inlet. Anglers bought eels for striper fishing along the bay’s sod banks at night, but no results were heard. At least 40 anglers gathered along the end of the inlet jetty, blackfishing on Tuesday when the bag limit was stepped up. Reports sounded solid about the fishing, and many limited out on the fish, averaging 16 to 18 inches. In the surf tides ripped because winds kicked up seas. But many stripers and blues were dragged onto the beach when conditions were decent. Forty-pound stripers continued to be entered in the annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic. Average stripers weighed 15 to 20 pounds, and blues were a bit smaller than before or 9 to 11 pounds. Mostly fresh bunker was fished in the surf. Surf casters got a few chances when metal jigs and teasers worked. Clams caught, but bunker was most popular. Fresh bunker, fresh clams, eels, spots and green crabs are stocked.

<b>Barnegat</b>

Striped bass fishing was excellent the last few days on the <b>Hi Flier</b> on the ocean, Capt. Dave DeGennaro said in an e-mail. Lots of stripers also jammed Barnegat Bay and Barnegat Inlet, swiping livelined spots for anglers aboard. “Whichever (location) you choose,” he said, “you have to get out there, because this is the fishing we have all been waiting for, and is full on.” On the ocean, trips ran north, fishing off Island Beach State Park. When Dave found readings that blacked out the fish finder, the anglers dropped diamond jigs or other slender jigs in the waters, hooking up. The skinny lures worked well because the bass gorged themselves on sand eels. But the most fun happened whenever a flock of birds was found hitting the waters with little or no boat traffic around. Then stripers surfaced, and Dave’s anglers cast small plugs, like 5-inch Smoky Joe Redfins, on light tackle. The stripers often crashed the lures on top. When working birds or readings were found but stripers refused to smash jigs or lures, Dave used another technique called “squidding” he learned from another captain. In Dave’s career in fishing, he hadn’t known about squidding, until last year. The technique uses a tube on a curved hook, the same that’s used as a tail on an Ava jig. The tube is tied on the end of a 20-inch leader, and the other end of the leader is tied to a swivel. A 2-ounce egg sinker is threaded on the fishing line, and the fishing line is tied to the swivel. The rig is either cast or dropped to the bottom, and the angler cranks the reel quickly 10 or 12 times, drops the rig back to the bottom, and repeats, until the striper hits. This works when stripers are focused on sand eels. When jigging, casting lures and squidding fail to work, or when trips are searching for the next birds or readings, trips are trolling umbrella rigs with tubes, and that’s working great. Jigging, casting or squidding is more fun, but trolling puts fish in the boat. In Barnegat Bay and Barnegat Inlet, livelining spots while drifting the channels is whacking 24- to 34-inch stripers, younger, non-migrating fish. This is a great Plan B when the ocean is too rough for trips to chase the migration. “It’s even a great Plan A if staying in the bay or a shorter trip is your preference,” Dave said. The bass are good-sized, and livelining is a great way to catch them. The areas fished are sheltered from even heavy fall winds. Open-boat trips and charters are sailing daily for 5, 6 or 8 hours. “Your choice,” he said. Strong west or northwest winds are forecast for now through the weekend, and these are the best winds for the fishing, making for a flat ocean near the shore.

<b>Tuckerton</b>

Anglers onboard limited out on blackfish on the ocean with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b> Tuesday, when the bag limit was cranked up, Capt. T.J. said. He thought the trip fished in 80 feet, but his brother ran the trip, so he wasn’t sure. Blackfishing is good. T.J., like every year, is running Legal Limit’s other boat from Cape May, sailing for striped bass, and see the report under that port. Trips are also striper fishing from the boat in Tuckerton.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Winds to 40 m.p.h. put a crunch on fishing Wednesday, but around Thanksgiving is usually ideal for jigging and trolling striped bass on the ocean, said Scott from  <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Hardly anyone fished the ocean lately because of winds. That kept news about bluefish from being heard, because blues this time of year are usually found in the ocean. But striper fishing around Little Egg Inlet should by no means be finished for the season. The last of outgoing tides were the dominant times for boating stripers there, and that was an unusual thing about the inlet this year. Clams are the popular bait at the inlet, but if anglers could obtain fresh bunker, tough to get because winds kept bunker boats from sailing, the menhaden is a wonderful bait. Boaters continued to eel stripers on the Mullica River. One report rolled in about tog fishing on Tuesday, when the bag limit increased. Four anglers on a boat that day limited out on the blackfish in 60 feet someplace off Little Egg Inlet. Tog fishing seemed to be on, and green crabs are stocked for bait. Fresh, shucked clams are plentiful at the shop, and fresh bunker ran out. Eels are on hand, and live grass shrimp and bloodworms ran out, and no more were obtained for the moment, because of lack of demand. Fishing was all about clamming, bunker chunking and eeling for stripers or angling for tog with baits like green crabs.

<b>Absecon</b>

Absecon Inlet’s striped bass fishing was turning on, said Curt from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. The fish seemed to feed on outgoing tides, and high pressure systems seemed to turn them off. But the fish got active before the last weather front, for example. Boaters fished live spots and eels for the catches, and swam both baits in the back bay for fairly decent catches of stripers, too. Some dunked clams in the bay for success. Capt. Dave, the shop’s owner, ran a couple of good charters for stripers. Not much was heard about striper fishing on the ocean, because of rough seas or weather. Curt sounded dubious about whether stripers continued to bite in the Mullica River, and the river was becoming cold. If a stretch of cold weather comes, that’ll end the fishing this season. He often fishes the river for white perch but did no fishing for them in the past days. Tog snapped well along the outer bridges or bridges closer to the coast and the jetties and other structure. Live spots, mullet and eels and fresh bunker and clams are stocked.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Surf anglers found striped bass fishing mostly slow, but the angling was hit or miss, and the sharpies loaded up on catches some days, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Five of the fish, not many, were weighed in from the wash today.  However, striper fishing was on fire for boaters at Absecon Inlet and on the back bay. Eeling for the fish there bailed the catches. John Rinkowicz weighed in a 24-pound 6-ounce striper he boated. Weigh ins from the surf included Tim Daley’s 18-pounder bunker chunked from Brigantine’s north end, John Whitman’s 13- and 10-pounders that were clammed, and Rich D’Aquanno’s 12-pounder. The 5th annual Riptide Striped Bass Derby is under way, lasting until the end of the year, and Steve DiGiacomo was in the lead with a 46-1/2-pound 51-incher. Entrants win cash awards for the biggest stripers caught from the surf along Brigantine’s front beach. First place wins $750, and 2nd cops $400, and 3rd earns $150. The entrant with the biggest bass each month wins $25. The rest of the proceeds are donated to charity, and the event donated more than $13,000 to charity since the tournament began, Andy said. The entry fee for the tournament is $20, and entry must be accompanied by a Brigantine beach buggy permit. That way all entrants get to drive the beach to fish.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

In the surf, anglers put the brakes on good striped bass fishing, and lots of bunker sometimes filled the waters, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. A big blitz of the fish tumbled into the wash during the fog and storm this week. Stripers, none big, were weighed in, but the fish were plentiful. Fresh clams, fresh bunker and eels connected. Lots of tog were clobbered along the jetties, and the bag limit was heaved up Tuesday. During some years tog disappear from along the jetties by the time the bag limit is lifted, but the blackfish remained this year, and green crabs and clams caught them. Blues sometimes ran the surf, and ling nibbled along the T-jetty, the sea wall and off the Flagship. Boaters filled the channel at Absecon Inlet, piling up numbers of stripers. Many had talked about livelined spots working well. Then eels became the go-to bait. But other bait including bunker chunks was fished, and the angling was more about right place, right time than type of bait. Fresh bunker, fresh clams, green crabs and the full supply of bait is stocked.

Absecon Inlet’s and the back bay’s striped bass fishing began going off Tuesday and Wednesday on eels and spots, said Curt from <b>Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle</b>. He saw boaters hooked up everywhere. Little was heard about striper catches in the surf, and a good surf angler at the shop today said the fishing wasn’t happening. Most anglers were focused on the hunt for stripers, and word about blackfishing was scarce, though the blackfish bag limit was toggled up Tuesday. The slipperies will bite from the back bay to the ocean wrecks, though. Sea bass also fed at the wrecks. The only blues that seemed abundant were lots that schooled way offshore, from what Curt heard. Spots, eels, fresh clams and, when available, fresh bunker is stocked. Bunker ran out at the moment.

<b>Longport</b>

Lots of blackfish and sea bass were pounded on the <b>Stray Cat</b> on a trip Tuesday, Capt. Mike said. That was the day the blackfish bag limit increased, and fishing for the tog is excellent now. The sea bass, also abundant, were surprising to see so close to shore this late in fall. The trip fished first at a wreck 8 miles offshore, next at a wreck 11 miles off, and last at Ocean City Reef. The fishing wasn’t so good at the reef, but that was when east winds came up, apparently ending the bite. Angling fell apart around 1 p.m. Amazing how east winds turn off the angling, Mike said. But trips previously caught at the reef. The blackfish weighed up to the 6-pound 11-ounce pool winner, and a couple of the sea bass were big: 2-1/2-pound jumbos. Anglers aboard the trip sometimes jigged, looking for striped bass or blues, but none showed up. A few blues, “onesies, twosies,” Mike said, swam at the Cuma Lumps and close to shore. Loads of stripers schooled at certain areas beyond 3 miles from shore, where striper fishing is closed. But the time when stripers normally begin schooling within 3 miles was coming soon. The big push usually starts within the next week or toward Thanksgiving. One of the annual Cast and Blast Trips, open-boat trips or charters on the ocean that gun for ducks and fish in the same day, sailed Monday. Lack of winds kept ducks on the waters, but a few black scoters and black winged scoters were bagged. The next Cast and Blast will sail this coming Monday, and call to climb aboard this or future ones. Mostly open-boat trips are fishing, but so are charters, and space is available on open trips throughout the near future, except on Sunday, when the trip is full. Charters are available for wreck fishing for jumbo sea bass, out to 60 miles from the coast, and that angling is happening. Take advantage now, because sea bass season is slated to close January 1. Whether the season will be changed was unknown. Take no chances, though. Room remains for open trips Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, and grab the spots while possible. The Thanksgiving trip will run for shorter hours -- 8 a.m. to 12 noon -- at a reduced fare, so anglers can be home for dinner.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Not a lot was caught the last couple of days, because of winds and weather, but more fish bit when conditions were better, and the weather was supposed to improve in the next days, said Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Surf fishing was spotty, only because of weather, but a few striped bass were beached from the suds Tuesday, and some blues were mixed in. Mostly clams or bunker produced. Boaters found the fish on the ocean off and on from 40 feet to deeper when they got the weather to sail, jigging the fish or trolling Stretch plugs or umbrella rigs. Stripers and a few blues were boated at the inlets off and on, too. Many were hooked on live eels or spots, but some anglers chunked clams or bunker for them. Lots of small striped bass hit in the back bay, though choppy seas because of weather hampered the fishing lately. Small lures including swimmers, soft plastics and top waters got strikes. Water clarity because of weather slowed blackfishing. But the angling had been good from the bay to the ocean before the weather deteriorated. Party boat anglers booted up sea bass, not super catches, but fairly good, again, only because of weather.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Many striped bass migrated down the ocean and were found at lumps like Sea Isle Lump and the Cuma Lumps and other areas like Avalon Shoal, or at any bird plays, said Wes from <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. Blues were mixed in, and both fish were jigged on metal like diamond jigs, Ava jigs and Krippled Herrings or on jigheads with soft plastics like Fin-S Fish. Surf fishing for stripers was okay, and anglers had to put the time in. But when they did, they got results, fishing with fresh bunker or fresh clams. If birds were seen, the sharpies could cast lures to connect. Surf casters could also work popper lures along the jetties at sunrise or sunset. Stripers and blues also moved through the inlets for boaters or shore anglers. But the schools came through randomly at any time. If anglers stayed all day at the inlets, they likely hooked a fish or more. If anglers only fished the inlets an hour, like most do, the chances went way down. Plenty of stripers were nailed in the back bay. Anglers could fish for them with small popper lures or small plastics like Sassy Shads or, when conditions were right, flies. The blackfish bag limit was pulled up Tuesday, and lots of green crabs were sold for bait for them. The tog were plentiful from the back waters to the ocean. A healthy number of boaters sailed for sea bass on the ocean, and the deeper they fished, the better the catches. Fresh bunker, fresh clams and green crabs are stocked.

The ocean will probably be fished for striped bass and blues on trips onboard Saturday and Sunday, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. More than 25 stripers to 18 pounds and six blues averaging 15 pounds were caught and released on a charter on the ocean Sunday, the first day when the ocean was fishable after days of large seas, covered in the last report. Check out a <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgiw6ncSVZQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player" target="_blank">video of the blitz that day</a>. The fish should remain, and once the fall migration begins, it usually lasts a while. Charters fish for the bass and blues with leadheads with soft plastics like Fin S Fish, bucktails, metal or flies. If the ocean is rough this weekend, charters could hunt stripers in the back bay, and that action also produced lately. Jigs with plastics and flies picked up those catches last with Jersey Cape. Looking ahead, annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys, weekend getaways, will take place once again this winter starting in January. Anglers can arrive on Friday evening, fish all day Saturday and part of Sunday, and return that day. See the <a href="http://www.gibsonstackle.com/page6.html" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Traveling Charters Web page</a>. Keep up with Joe’s fishing, photos and videos on <a href=" http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

The Cape May Rips turned up fairly decent striped bass fishing Monday with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. The fishing was a bit slower at the rips on the boat Tuesday, but a couple of stripers were boxed. Fishing was weathered out Wednesday on the vessel. The bass at the rips were okay-sized, up to 20 pounds, and anglers aboard caught them mostly on livelined spots, sometimes on live eels. T.J.’s other boat, sailing from Tuckerton, limited out on blackfish on the ocean Tuesday, when the bag limit was raised, and see the report under that port.

A 50-pound striped bass was pancaked from the surf at Poverty Beach last Thursday on clam, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. That’s the ocean side of Cape May, but Delaware Bay’s side of the surf was probably best for striper fishing in the town. Use clams or bunker when fishing either side. Plenty of stripers were boated at the Cape May Rips and the bay. The fish were eeled at the rips and clammed on the bay. Lots of birds worked the ocean during the past days, and stripers were trolled around the birds on No. 5 Clark spoons or usual lures, and were jigged along the bottom on diamond jigs or Krocodiles and such. The blackfish bag limit was hauled up Tuesday, and fishing for them should be good. Waters along the jetties usually produce them around low tides, and green crabs are stocked for bait for the tog. Fresh clams and fresh bunker are carried.

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