Note, Thursday, 12/16 : Oh, the weather outside is frightful ... or was frightful.

The wind -- not to mention the cold -- kept boats from sailing during the first several days of the week along the coast.

But the good news is that the wind is supposed to drop out today, and vessels should resume fishing.

Therefore reports will be posted throughout today, but additional ones will be posted through Friday from boats that are sailing today.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

A few striped bass were pulled from the surf, said Joe from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. A 14-pounder was weighed in the other day, and the stripers moved back and forth between Monmouth Beach and Sandy Hook Point, and anglers never knew where they’d pop up. Boaters bailed plenty of blackfish on the ocean. They caught ling and cod at deeper wrecks in 200 feet. Green crabs and fresh, shucked clams are stocked. The whole-clam suppliers stopped harvesting the clams, because of lack of demand, switching to crabbing, grabbing big blueclaws that move to open waters to burrow in the bottom for winter.

The daily blackfish trip stayed in port today on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said, but he hopes Friday’s trip will fish. If the trip sails, he’s expected to give a report that will be posted here that day. Trips were weathered out from Monday to Wednesday. The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. <b>***Update, Friday, 12/17:***</b> Anglers aboard today’s trip were already picking away at blackfish, and some already bagged three or four keepers apiece, Tom said at 10 a.m. over the phone on the outing. A couple had no keepers yet, but if the fishing holds up like this, the trip will stay on one drop all day, and the catch will end up good. The weather was calm with winds 15 or 17 knots from the northwest, and Saturday is expected to be calm, and the trip will sail that day. Forecasts currently looked like Sunday’s trip will also sail. Snow might fall on Sunday, but that’s no trouble on a trip, so long as winds are calm enough. Was good to be out and catching after being weathered out for days. <b>***Update, Saturday, 12/18:***</b> Blackfishing on today’s trip started a bit slow, but the anglers eventually managed to catch, and the day ended up as probably one of the better ones for sizes of the fish. The pool-winning blackfish was just over 10 pounds, and the next largest was just under 10, and some 6-, 7- and 8-pounders were belted, and quite a few 4- and 5-pounders were creamed. Everyone came up with keepers, except for a couple of anglers, Tom thought.

<b>Highlands</b>

One of the charter boats from the docks kept sailing for blackfish, and catching, said Wayne from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>. A trip on the vessel today bagged blackfish including a 10-pounder and a 5- or 6-pound cod. Charters on the boat often fished with white leggers for the tog, Wayne believed. The marina’s owner on Saturday ran a trip that sailed for striped bass, hooking a bunch of shorts, one keeper and lots of dog sharks. The trip probably fished with eels and trolled, Wayne thought. The marina, including the fuel dock, is open all year. The tackle shop is closed, but anglers this time of year just go to the marina’s front desk for frozen bait or supplies.

<b>Neptune</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 12/17:***</b> Weather was cold, but blackfishing was good on a trip Thursday on the ocean with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said. He wouldn’t say great, but good. Anglers who knew what they were doing caught well. The next dates with openings on individual-reservation blackfish trips include December 24 (Christmas Eve) and January 30, 31 (New Year’s Eve), 1 (New Year’s Day) and 2 (a Sunday). Openings are available on all weekends in January, as long as the tog keep biting. “I was glad to see where we caught them today (Thursday),” Ralph said. But he wasn’t telling where!

<b>Belmar</b>

The Belmar party boats sailed today, after being weathered out previously, said Johnny O. from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. They were sailing today when he gave this report over the phone, and they all ran for blackfish lately, scoring well on the tog. Reports came in about mackerel showing up, but the boats will have to get out to try the fishing. Two of the port’s party boats are supposed to begin mackerel fishing this weekend. Surf fishing was dead, and nobody was going. The shop is open every day, probably until 12 noon or so on Mondays to Wednesdays and until 4 or 5 p.m. the rest of the days of the week.

One of the captains who runs the boat ran into mackerel on a scallop boat he also works on, said Capt. Alan from the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>. The Miss Belmar Princess is slated to begin mackerel fishing daily on Saturday. On the scallop boat 15 or 20 boxes of mackerel were being taken per trip, and the trips weren’t even trying for the Bostons. Mackerel looked like they were moving in. The Miss Belmar on Saturday will begin fishing for mackerel 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

<b>***Update, Friday, 12/17:***</b> Most anglers limited out on blackfish on a trip Thursday on the ocean on the <b>Nan Sea J</b>, Capt. Tom said. The angling was very good, and the tog weighed up to a 9.3-pounder. Charters are sailing for blackfish, and so are open-boat trips, including today. Anglers can call to find out the future open schedule.

<b>***Update, Friday, 12/17:***</b> Anglers aboard Thursday’s trip, the first trip to sail in a few days because of weather, clobbered blackfish, a very good catch, said Capt. Chris from the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>. None of the fish was huge, but some 9- and 10-pounders, a usual size for heftier ones this time of year, were clocked, and the sizes of the fish were getting bigger. The angling these days was just good fishing, the only way to describe, Chris said, and nobody can know how long the bite will last. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Green crabs are supplied, and white leggers are available for purchase onboard.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 12/17:***</b> On the <b>Big Kid</b> the anglers limited out on blackfish to 8 pounds on a trip Thursday on the ocean, Capt. Ken said. Trips will sail through winter, and a few spaces remain on weekends. Call if interested.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 12/17:***</b> Daily trips on the party boat <b>Gambler</b> will wrap up striped bass fishing and begin targeting cod on Wednesday at the wrecks 20 to 50 miles from shore, beyond the Mudhole, Capt. Bob said. Anglers might also catch pollock, ling and hake, and the trips will fish 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

<b>***Update, Friday, 12/17:***</b> The party boat <b>Dauntless</b> was kept docked the past several days, Capt. Willie said. The weather was too rough during the first days, and became calm enough to sail Thursday, but too few anglers showed up that day. Today’s trip seemed likely to sail, and the weather was supposed to be fine. When trips got out, the anglers racked up healthy catches of ling, blackfish and cod. Ling fishing was active, and blackfish began to move farther offshore to the edge of the Mudhole. A few cod were rounded up. No mackerel were seen on trips so far, but the macks could show up any time, and when they do, trips will mix in mackerel fishing with the bottom angling, like the outings do every year. The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Bricktown</b>

A customer bailed blackfish, plenty of them, and big, up to 12 pounds, on the ocean today, said Capt. Rich from <b>Jersey Hooker Outfitters Bait & Tackle</b>, located in Bricktown, and <b>Jersey Hooker Charters</b>, sailing from Point Pleasant Beach’s Canyon River Club Marina. The customer fished in 50 feet at Axel Carlson Reef, and the weather was a little breezy.  <b><i>Holiday Sale</i></b>: For every $20 you spend on a gift certificate through December 24, the shop will add another $5! The store will be open late from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday for holiday shoppers. Catch the sale on select items, and take advantage of gift certificates available.

<b>Toms River</b>

Two customers fished the surf on the north side of the Seaside Heights Casino Pier, catching nothing in 2 ½ hours, seeing nobody else fishing, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Once the surf dips below 45 degrees like now, catching anything from the surf, like striped bass, becomes difficult. But a few spotted hake bit along the beaches. Most anglers call the fish ling, but they’re spotted hake. Only a few of the fish are usually landed in a trip, and the fish are small or 12 to 13 inches, but are good-tasting. A high-low sea bass rig works best with bits of clam, mackerel or squid. Boaters during the weekend reeled in a few sea bass and blackfish from the ocean, and not much else happened there, and participation was scarce. Customers during the weekend fished on one of the Point Pleasant Beach party boats that’s still sailing for striped bass on the ocean. A few stripers were decked, they said, and few other boats were seen on the waters. Frozen baits including clams and bunker are stocked. Killies are the only live bait for saltwater that’s still carried this season. Catch the shop’s <b><i>Big Sale</i></b> featuring 20- to 50-percent discounts on select items through Christmas Eve. A print out with the items is available at the shop and can be picked up. The store’s hours next week will change to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

<b>Forked River</b>

Boaters trolled a few striped bass on the ocean or caught them at Barnegat Inlet on clams, eels or lures, said Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Nothing was heard about blackfish, but blackfish surely bit in the ocean. Green crabs, eels and all the frozen baits are stocked. The store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

The shop was closed until today because of weather, and nobody fished in the conditions, said Basil from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>. So no news was available about catches. But the shop will be open Thursdays through Sundays. The store will be moved after this season, and stay tuned for an announcement about the new location.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Saturday was the last day customers reported fishing, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. One customer on Saturday pumped in blackfish from the ocean in 60 feet. Anglers previously scored the tog in 80 or 90 feet, and the customer first tried there, landed nothing, moved inshore to 60 feet, and caught. Since then customers picked up gift certificates or prepped boats for winter storage. No ice formed at Collins Cove, Scott joked. The cove, located on the Mullica River, is the top spot in the state for white perch fishing through the ice. The fish gather in the cove for warmer waters than in the main river during the cold months. Perch fishing in the river can be better in winter than other times, because the fish school in warm pockets instead of scattering.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Nothing was doing to be reported, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. But the shop is open through Christmas Eve, and <b><i>items are discounted 15 to 50 percent</i></b>. Gift cards are available, and mail order is available for the store’s tackle and supplies.  The Riptide Striped Bass Derby is ongoing, lasting until the end of the year, and Steve DiGiacomo holds the lead with a 46-1/2-pound 51-incher. The first three places remained unchanged recently. 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.

<b>Longport</b>

Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b> had planned to sail Friday but nixed those plans, because the weather is supposed to remain bitter cold, he said. Air temps are forecast to rise above freezing later that day, but would only be in the 20s if the boat left in the morning, and the spray would freeze on the vessel. A charter is slated to run Saturday. But the good news is that this week is supposed to be the last of such cold days, and air temps are supposed to jump to about 40 next week. Trips will resume as soon as that happens. Mostly open-boat trips are running, fishing for blackfish, no longer targeting striped bass. When blackfish stop biting close to shore, trips will fish for cod and pollock offshore, and will do deep-water blackfishing. The best chance for anglers to sail is to get on the call list. Call and let Mike know the day or days you can sail, and when a weather window opens, he telephones those available for that day. If you can go, you jump aboard. If not, he calls the next on the list. The call list works better than reservations this time of year, because the chance is low that a reservation will fall on a good weather date. Snow was falling when Mike gave this report this afternoon on the phone!  

<b>Ocean City</b>

Boaters had been trolling striped bass on the ocean until the days turned cold, and nobody ventured out since then, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Anglers on party boats had bagged blackfish and good-sized sea bass until no trips sailed in the windy, cold weather in the past several days. The surf was quiet, and nobody really fished from the shore. The shop is open daily through the end of the year. In January the doors will be open Thursdays through Sundays.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 12/17:***</b> The days were frigid, and nothing was heard about fishing, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. His flats boat, one of three vessels he runs, is already in Florida, ready to begin annual charters, weekend getaways, from the Keys through winter. Friends who fished there in the past days said the fishing’s been good. They dusted up king mackerel, groupers, yellowtail snappers, cero mackerel and more fish at the reef. A couple of days were cold, but fish tend to push to the reef for warmer waters because of cold fronts, so long as the cold doesn’t remain too long, slowing down bites. Anglers on Joe’s Keys trips can arrive Friday evening, fish all day Saturday and part of Sunday, and return Sunday evening. See <a href="http://www.gibsonstackle.com/page6.html" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Traveling Charters Web page</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 12/17:***</b> No trip sailed with Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, and weather was rough, and he heard nothing about fishing, he said. Winds calmed on Thursday, but light snow covered the ground in South Jersey that day. He’s still sailing, and Sunday is available for a charter. Trips are fishing for blackfish and striped bass, depending on what’s still biting.

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