<b>Staten Island</b>

Big bluefish to 16 pounds ripped around the Arthur Kill, around the Verrazano Bridge and in the back end of Great Kills Harbor, said Pat from <b>E-Z Catch Saltwater Traps & Tackle Co.</b> A few striped bass, not a lot, but all keepers, swam with them. Small stripers were reportedly beached in the surf at Great Kills on clams. Catches of snapper blues and porgies began to slow down from land at the Arthur Kill. Boaters knuckled up plenty of porgies and blackfish. A few customers crabbed this late in the season, nabbing lots of the blueclaws. October and November are actually the best time for crabbing, the experienced know, though lots fewer people go crabbing then. In freshwater, largemouth bass were hung at places like Sylvan Lake, during daytime now, not only in mornings, at dusk or at night, like in summer. Roostertails and spinner baits seemed choice lures during daytime. The store is also a <b><i>premier manufacturer and supplier of saltwater traps</i></b> for wholesale and commercial, including custom building and servicing. See the online <a href="http://www.e-zcatch.com/catalog" target="_blank">catalog of traps</a>. E-Z Catch is also a train store.

<b>Keyport</b>

Bottom fishing aboard barreled up porgies and blackfish, and released out-of-season sea bass, at Sandy Hook Reef on Sunday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. The trip was covered in the last report, and open-boat, combo bottom-fishing and striped bass trips will sail 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and call to reserve. A charter is set to sail Sunday. 

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Striped bass anglers should catch today, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish like weather like this nor’easter. Striper fishing was slower during the weekend, because of calm weather, but striper catches were better previously at times. Blues were tackled during the weekend. Bottom fishers rounded up good catches of porgies and plenty of blackfish. Lots of ling and cod were crunched at the Mudhole.

Fishing for striped bass sounded slow on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, according to a report that Capt. Ron posted on the vessel’s Web site Tuesday. He hadn’t posted reports in a while, and usually posts every day. But posting daily reports about slow angling would “not give much hope to anyone,” he said. “Capt. Ron Sr. always said, ‘You gotta give them hope; it will get us through,’” Ron said.  “(But) how could I word it and tell the truth and keep hope alive?” he asked. But here’s the hope. “Will it get better?” Ron asked. “Yes,” he answered. Anglers just have to wait, and water temps just have to drop. “Everything we see each season is in place,” Ron said. Bait is in, and is plentiful. The main body of bigger striped bass “(is) still way out east,” he said. On the trip aboard Tuesday, “Big Bob was the man, with two nice keepers,” Ron said. A few stripers were cracked after Ron looked in several areas, but the angling was in no way good. “Patience!” Ron said. Wednesday’s trip was expected to stay docked because of winds, and nothing was mentioned about today’s trip, but the nor’easter lingered today.  You can bet the boat would fish for stripers in rough weather if the bite were better, Ron said. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

On the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> bottom-fishing trips sailed Monday and Tuesday, Capt. Tom said. Then the weather became rough. The angling served up mixed results. Mixed sizes of porgies were licked, and blackfish were sometimes clubbed, and out-of-season sea bass were let go. On Monday the boat fished both between the channels and down the beach. Porgies were picked at both places, but gorgeous weather, not a breath of winds, and slick-calm seas hindered anchoring. But the weather ended up beating up anglers Tuesday aboard, though forecasts didn’t call for that. Winds and an easterly swell became cranky. Winds blew against the tide on Tuesday morning’s trip, hampering fishing. But conditions came together on the afternoon’s trip, and fishing was decent. Some anglers brought crabs for blackfish bait, and no blackfish bit on Tuesday morning’s trip, but the tog bit on the afternoon’s outing. Green crabs were scarce for bait for everyone, and Tom had been trying to grab them, without luck. The Atlantic Star will bottom fish for porgies and blackfish on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. through the weekend. But the boat on Monday will begin fishing on one ¾-day trip 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily for the same species.

<b>Highlands</b>

“Striper time now,” Capt. Pete from the <b>Hyper Striper</b> said in an e-mail today. Anglers from the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association climbed aboard this morning, hammering striped bass to 34 pounds, limiting out with no problem, releasing many keeper-sized stripers afterward. Lots of bigger stripers were around this morning. Earlier in the week on the boat, Pete Wilcox’s charter cranked in striped bass to 19 pounds, and John Hyland’s party aboard “had another excellent day of striper fishing,” Pete said. The Hyland trip limited out early, playing catch and release afterward with more. On Wednesday morning on the boat Art Jeskowski’s charter for stripers had “another crazy bite,” Pete said. They limited out early “in the east wind,” he added.

Good catches of striped bass were slugged during the weekend with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, Capt. Derek said. Some were clammed, and some of the better-sized ones were livelined on bunker. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trips, sailing for stripers, are set for Friday and Saturday, if the weather allows. Call to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips. Dates remain for charters for stripers, bottom fishing and blackfishing. Bottom trips are rustling up porgies and blackfish. Full-blown blackfish trips will begin when the bag limit is raised to six of the tog on November 16 from the current limit of one.

Charters are on the books to fish aboard during the weekend, if the weather lets up, said Capt. Dave from  <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b>. The trips, if they sail, will bottom fish for porgies and blackfish. Trips aboard are scheduled to begin striped bass fishing in two weekends.

Clamming for striped bass began to pump in good catches, said Wayne from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>. The charter boat Hyper Striper, sailing from the marina, was headed back from a trip that boxed up a limit of stripers a few hours early this afternoon, when Wayne gave this report over the phone. Gene Graham, the marina’s striper sharpie, was clamming lots of the fish Wednesday and today. But few boaters launched in the weather this week. Those who bottom fished during the weekend’s calm weather waffled plenty of porgies. Trips to the canyons, when they last sailed, walloped tuna. Word spread about a 1,008-pound giant bluefin tuna that somebody caught someplace. Another source, from a fishing magazine published in New Jersey, told Fishing Reports Now that George Harms reportedly decked the fish. The location of the catch was believed to be Prince Edward Island, because Harms was believed to possess a fishing permit from there. Giants are out of season in New Jersey, and the fine for docking one in the state reportedly was currently $20,000 for a first offense. Fresh clams are stocked at the shop, good to know, while many shops will probably run scarce on clams, because this week’s weather kept clam boats from sailing. All the frozen inshore baits are carried, and so is the full supply of frozen offshore baits.

<b>Neptune</b>

A report that was posted Tuesday as an update but is being re-posted in case anyone missed it: From an edited e-mail from Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>: “Fall fishing is in full swing, and on most days fishing is great for most species. Our canyon trip Oct. 7-8 was a disaster. Had numerous fish miss the lures, spit the hooks, and had mechanical problems, blew a turbo, and didn't get back till late Sat.  We did get back safe -- both Capt. Harry and myself are mechanics, and we can fix most anything. Other boats did very well with the fish.  Now for the good news: On Monday we took the Last Lady II on an offshore cod trip. Left super early, and got to a wreck offshore before dark. One of the best trips of the year. Boxful of cod to 30+ lbs and pollack to 24+ lbs. Great group of DPW guys with the Rob Michalkovich party from Secaucus, along with fireman Mike. Oct 23 open-boat for cod full. Nov 8, next open-boat for cod, 2am leave, $225/person. We are also available for full-boat charters, $1400. During the week we did very well with big blues and some stripers while targeting blues. The bass are in, and so are the bluefish. Unfortunately, we are releasing a lot of BIG sea bass – open-trip schedule for them -- Nov 6-- $100/person -- on the Last Lady II. OPEN-BOAT SCHEDULE: STRIPERS, Oct 29, 5am leave, $100/person, on Last Lady. STRIPERS/SEA BASS, Nov 6, 5am leave, $100/person, on Last Lady II. COD/POLLACK, Nov 8, 2am leave, $225/person, on Last Lady.”

<b>Belmar</b>

Porgies, good catches, a couple of bad days, but, overall, “not too bad,” Capt. Chris said, were scored on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>. Good-sized blackfish were sometimes plundered, and out-of-season sea bass were tossed back. Clams and crabs are aboard for bait, and the Big Mohawk is sailing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Little happened in the weather, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. A few striped bass were beached in the surf, and a 17-pounder was checked in Wednesday, but the angling was nothing exciting. When the party boats last sailed in better weather, the trips squashed lots of bluefish. The head boats that bottom fished put anglers on mostly porgies, and some blackfish, including sizeable ones, and occasional triggerfish. The patrons let go out-of-season sea bass. Not much bit in Shark River. Not many anglers fished in the weather.

Just bad weather, said Capt. Kris from  <b>Fish Stix Sportfishing</b>. But an open-boat trip is slated to fish for striped bass and bottom fish Saturday, and a charter is booked for Sunday. For stripers, anglers aboard will probably work top-water lures and jigs. Kris heard about a few stripers caught on top-waters so far this season. Bottom fishing lately was for porgies and blackfish. Fish Stix is big on blackfishing once the bag limit is hiked up to six of the fish on November 16 from the current limit of one. Call to climb aboard the open trip or to be kept informed about future ones.

<b>Brielle</b>

The report that follows was posted here Tuesday as an update but is being posted again in case anyone missed it. A weekend wrap-up from the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b> from an e-mail from Capt. Ryan: Mostly ling “and a sprinkle of cod,” Ryan said, were belted around the boat on a trip aboard to the Mudhole on Friday. “Good Mudhole trip,” Ryan said, and anglers and their catches included: Knowell (the only name given), 51 ling; Mike Sibilia, 49 ling, Dennis Stock, 38 ling and 2 cod; Jack Decker, 34 ling; and Tom Dranwelis, 32 ling. On Saturday aboard, “fishing was not as good because of strong current, but the sharper fishermen still managed decent catches,” Ryan said. The type of fishing and location weren’t explicitly mentioned in the e-mail, but the outing sounded like another Mudhole trip for ling and cod. On Sunday on one of the boat’s porgy trips, “nothing exciting,” Ryan said. Porgies were picked in lots of locations, and blackfish bit everywhere, and boat traffic was “ridiculous,” he said. But fishing was better on a Mudhole trip Monday on the vessel. A good spread of big ling and some cod were once again pelted around the boat. “Not quite as good as Friday,” Ryan said, “but much better than Saturday.” Catches varied from 6 or 8 fish per angler to as many as 40. “Overall a good day!” Ryan said. Big, out-of-season winter flounder “were also very hungry,” he said. Double-headers of flounder 3 pounds and larger were hooked. Anglers on the trip and their catches included: Ed Raimes, 40 ling and 2 cod; Curtis Wiserman, 36 ling and 2 cod; Connor Frances, 33 ling; Omar Richardson, 27 ling; and Mike Kane, 21 ling and the 12-pound, pool-winning cod. Weather looked questionable for this Wednesday’s cod trip aboard, “(but) will see (today),” Ryan said. Coming up: ¾-Day Porgy Trips 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. this coming Thursday and Tuesday and October 13, 18, 20 and 23; Mudhole Wreck Trips for Big Ling/Cod 5 a.m. this coming Friday, Saturday and Monday and October 12, 16, 21 and 23; Cod Trips 2 a.m. October 12, 19 and 22; 12-Hour Porgy/Blackfish Trips 5 a.m. October 14, 15, 19 and 22; and Inshore Tuna Trips 2 a.m. October 17 and 24.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Ling with cod mixed in were wrangled aboard the party boat <b>Norma K III</b>, Capt. Matt said. On some days ling catches were quite good, depending on conditions like currents. But the fishing aboard overall was “pretty decent,” Matt said. Nighttime trips aboard hammered very good catches of bluefish 6 to 12 pounds. The Norma K III is bottom fishing 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The bluefish trips will probably run through the month and maybe into November. The crew would like to keep bluefishing in November, if there’s demand, because the fishing’s been good.

Bottom fishing was a little slower aboard than previously on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, but the anglers booted up porgies, blackfish and a few blues and striped bass, Capt. Butch said. Patrons averaged 6 to 20 fish apiece, mostly porgies. Most bagged one blackfish apiece, and some landed more of the tog, giving them to others who hadn’t landed their one-fish limit of the slipperies. Butch hoped the current nor’easter stirred up the waters and only helped the angling. The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

The following report was posted here as an update Tuesday and is being re-posted in case anyone missed it: An overnight trip offshore Sunday to Monday located good-looking waters at Spencer and Wilmington canyons on the party boat <b>Gambler</b>, Capt. Bob said. But lots of boats filled the area, seeming to hurt tuna fishing. Longfin and yellowfin tuna, mostly 30- to 60-pounders, were muscled in, but fewer than hoped for. No swordfish were landed. The next trip offshore aboard was supposed to steam today to Friday, but Bob was watching forecasts to determine whether the outing would sail. The tuna trips will continue at least through the month, and a couple might sail in November, if the fishing holds up. Room is available on the trips, especially on weekdays. Anglers might even be able to jump on a trip last minute, if a space or two are available. Don’t hesitate to call to ask. Visit the <a href="http://www.gamblerfishing.net/offshoretrips.html" target="_blank">Gambler’s tuna schedule</a> online. An Exotics Trip, targeting false albacore and bonito, is slated for 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Striped bass trips will begin November 1. Anglers can join the <a href="http://www.rfanj.org/" target="_blank">Recreational Fishing Alliance Fall Fish-a-Thon</a> aboard 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, November 4, targeting bottom fish including cod, ling, sea bass, tog and porgies, limited to 40 passengers.

Practically nobody fished in the weather, said Bob from <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b>. Local surf fishing seemed to drop off, producing not much, the last few days. But the surf toward Seaside and Island Beach State Park seemed to give up good catches last week. Blowfish bit toward that end of Barnegat Bay. Plenty of blackfish were tugged in from the Point Pleasant Canal before the weather. Tuna fishing was “off and running,” Bob said, when the boats last got out. Local party boats that are bluefishing seemed to stay in port in the last days in the weather. But that didn’t mean blues weren’t schooling the ocean. <b>***THIS TACKLE SHOP IS FOR SALE! CALL: 732-899-5760.***</b>

<b>Toms River</b>

At Barnegat Inlet anglers raked up lots of striped bass, mostly 25- to 26-inchers, on Wednesday morning, and a customer said a few keepers, not many, were in the mix, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. The anglers could only walk a quarter of the way out on the jetty, because of seas. Surf casters banked a few stripers early that morning on popper lures and swimmers. By the afternoon, the weather became tough for surf angling. The mullet run remained full-on, was super, in the ocean, and a few schools of bunker began to run the ocean. Boaters during the weekend sometimes trolled a mixed bag of stripers and blues on the ocean. The bass seemed farther from shore in 50 feet, and lots more blues, fish to 12 pounds, swam inshore. A few big blues even popped into the surf.  In Barnegat Bay good blowfishing happened at the BB and BI markers, while boaters anchored, chummed with clam and fished with clam. A few kingfish and sheepshead were around. Plenty of snapper blues schooled the bay and back waters toward that area, and crabs skittered around there. Snappers and crabs filled the Toms River, and a few kingfish, blowfish and white perch did, too. Loads of spearing and peanut bunker schooled the river. “Nothing’s moving,” Dennis said. Waters were warm. Friends during the weekend swam the river, and a few bathers swam the ocean then. Blackfishing became better and better in the Point Pleasant Canal. Most were shorts, but a few were keepers.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Winds blew northeast, all kinds of bait swam the waters, cooler weather will drop water temps, and rains will firm up driving conditions on the beaches, a report on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ Web site said.. All of that was in favor of surf fishing. Surf casters recently bombed healthy catches of striped bass in the dark on plugs and clams. Tons of big bunker swam the waters Sunday morning, and large stripers ripped through them. Lots of birds worked the waters Sunday at Ortley Beach and Lavallette. Weakfish, blues and hickory shad pummeled rainfish along the Seaside beaches late Saturday. Small metals with teasers caught them. Tons of mullet schooled the surf Saturday. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, eels and the complete line of baits is stocked. Catch Wacky Wednesdays, featuring clams for $2.75 per dozen.

<b>Forked River</b>

Barnegat Bay boaters toggled in blowfish near the BI and BB markers, but also elsewhere throughout the bay, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Striped bass began to be eeled at Oyster Creek and Double Creek channels. Bluefish, not a lot, but some, swam around everywhere. Anglers were heard about who began to surf fish, but not much was heard about catches from the beach yet this season.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 10/14:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “I am not going on any report, just going. There have been pods of bunker and some striped bass caught both snagging and trolling spoons. The wind is going to crank out of the west starting today (Fri) and into tomorrow (Sat). That will level out the ocean to flat calm along the shoreline. I'm going to bring the snagging and livelining rods and go look for some bunker pods between Barnegat Inlet and Manasquan Inlet. I will bring the trolling rods in case we do not find any bunker – we can still try some of the favorite haunts with the bunker spoons. I will have the light spinning rods in case we run into the false albacore that are making their way down from New England right now. Finally, we’ll bring some live spots to try around the inlet after we are done on the oceanside. In all, it will be a good eight-hour bass hunt. It's October 15, you don't wait for reports this time of year! 6AM to 2PM. All fish are shared.”

<b>Surf City</b>

Nothing crazy happened in the surf, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Waters currently were rough, and the weather was windy and damp, and waters were warm. But anglers predicted that the storm at this time of year in this moon phase could draw more fish to arrive in the surf. When anglers last fished the beach in better weather, kingfish were banked, and a few striped bass, not a lot, were dragged in. A customer checked in a striper from the shore that was too small to be entered in the Long Beach Island tournament but big enough for the shop’s tournament. Bluefish sometimes ran the surf, swiping mullet on mullet rigs. Lots of good-sized blowfish swam the bay. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, fresh mullet, greed crabs, bloodworms and all the baits are stocked. Keep up with the latest news in <a href="http://www.surfcitybaitandtackle.com/" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s fishing reports</a> on the shop’s Web site. Or keep in touch on <a href=" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Surf-City-Bait-and-Tackle/207533229268619
" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s Facebook page</a>.

<b>Tuckerton</b>

A few striped bass were socked off Graveling Point during the weekend, and some were taken in the ocean off Little Egg Inlet toward the end of last week, said Capt. T.J. from <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>. But that was when water temps had somewhat dropped, and the angling wasn’t consistent, and the temps rose again afterward. Waters were a little warm for striper fishing to begin wholeheartedly. But the current nor’easter might chill waters. Legal Limit will be fishing for stripers from Tuckerton this season, and will move T.J.’s second boat to Cape May on Monday for striper fishing from there, like every year. Tog trips will run from Tuckerton once the bag limit is increased to six of the blackfish on November 16 from the current limit of one. Charters will sail for both fish, and so will open-boat trips. See Legal Limit’s <a href="http://www.legallimitcharters.com/open-boat.php" target="_blank">open-boat page</a> online for dates. Legal Limit is also tuna fishing, and catches were hot and heavy for the fleet. Between Spencer and Wilmington canyons gave up most during the weekend. Most of the 30- to 50-pounders, lots, were chunked at night. Most trips on boats scored, but some did not.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Some larger striped bass were around, and the run wasn’t yet full fledged, “but, boy. There’s some hope,” said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. He hoped the population continued to build. An angler who weighed in a 20-pounder last week on Wednesday reportedly whaled four stripers today, the biggest nearly 50 pounds, at the bars at Little Egg Inlet. He was on his way to weigh the fish at the shop, and Scott hadn’t seen it yet. Another angler checked in a 33-pound 46-inch striper Monday that he boated in the ocean just off the inlet on a bunker he snagged and livelined for bait. Fishing in the bay for small fish like blowfish, kingfish and porgies tapered off a lot, and Scott wouldn’t send someone to chase them. But some remained at the mouth of the Mullica River. Big pods of bluefish were definitely around, if anglers wanted to look for them at likely places. Blues like a pound apiece popped up at the inlet. One angler surf fishing from Holgate at the inlet saw blues schooling that swam just out of casting reach. Those were just some examples of blues. Plenty of tog hovered nearly anywhere along the sod banks and ledges. Sometimes they bit, other times didn’t. Nothing was heard about white perch in the past days. Fresh, shucked clams are stocked, and will become scarce from suppliers because of the weather. But Scott ordered extra, and will see whether the shop’s supply holds up. Bloodworms, eels, green crabs and grass shrimp are carried. The shrimp weren’t easy for Scott to catch, but he got them.

<b>Absecon</b>

Smaller striped bass were around, chewing at night in the bay along the sod banks and structure on plugs, eels and other live bait, said Curt from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Lots of small fish like porgies – “nibblers,” Curt said – filled the bay. With a few more cold nights, the striper population should increase, chasing away the small fish. Good kingfishing was copped in the bay and surf. The mullet migration might’ve tapered off in the surf, but nothing could be heard about them in the rough weather in the past days. Capt. Dave, the shop’s owner, might’ve been finished netting mullet, Curt thought, because he might’ve caught enough to stock at the shop. Fairly good tog catches were zipped at places like the sod banks. Sometimes triggerfish bit where the tog did. Curt, a white perch angler, found fishing for them to be “eh,” he said. If anglers knew secret holes, he said, they might score okay on perch around the brackish rivers. Otherwise the fishing was more like hit or miss. But when the weather cools, perching should become a little better, as the fish bunch up at warmer spots. Live and frozen mullet are stocked. Fresh mullet had been stocked, but with Capt. Dave apparently finished netting them at least for the moment, fresh will only last so long. Live spots, eels and green crabs are carried. Bloodworms and fresh clams are on hand.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Winds blowing at a steady 15 to 20 knots and angry seas made surf fishing slow today, said a report on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site. Some anglers headed to fish at Brigantine Cove, so the northeast winds would be at their backs. Kingfish and blues hit in the surf through Wednesday, and striped bass were beached at night lately. Baits stocked include fresh clams and bloodworms. The annual Riptide Striper Derby is under way, lasting to December 23. Anglers who enter the first, second and third biggest stripers from the Brigantine front beach will win $500, $300 and $150, respectively. Plus a $25 weekly prize, a $50 monthly prize and a $100 woman’s prize will be awarded. Entry in the tournament provides beach-buggy access to the island’s front beach for those who have a Brigantine beach-buggy permit.

<b>Margate</b>

Trips on the party boat <b>Keeper</b> smacked blackfish on the back bay during the weekend, Capt. John said. Lots of the fish were around, and one is the bag limit, but anglers played catch and release with more. The boat will fish through the weekend, before going on break through winter. The season aboard, mostly fishing for summer flounder, was good, John said. Trips will start back up when flounder season reopens in spring. The Keeper will fish this weekend for blackfish, on two trips Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and on one trip Sunday 8 a.m. to 12 noon, before going on break through winter. The fare is only $24 per adult.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Fishing was actually good, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Not a lot of anglers were around this time of year, but nearly all fish were “in,” and some were beginning to arrive. Lots of small fish were around: kingfish, croakers, sea bass, blues and striped bass. Kingfish galore filled the surf, nipping bloodworms. Croakers schooled the ocean anywhere from depths of 35 to 40 feet to places like O.C. Reef. Bluefish 1 to 3 pounds, occasionally 4 to 5 pounds, swam everyplace from the back bay to the ocean. Surf anglers were picking stripers, mostly small, but a few keepers, at the mullet schools. The mullet migration was happening for 10 days now. A bit farther from shore, bunker sometimes schooled, and boaters snagged them to liveline for bait, catching stripers at times. Small stripers were plucked from the back bay. Tog fishing was good from the back bay to the surf jetties. On the offshore grounds, fishing for tuna and swordfish was very good, when boaters got the weather to sail. The northern canyons or the Spencer and Lindenkohl gave up most during the weekend. Most canyon boaters overnighted, landing tuna both at night on the chunk and during the day on the troll.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

A bunch of blues were beaten from the back bay to the inlets to the surf, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Mullet or small metal jabbed them. Excellent kingfishing was punched from the surf on bloodworms or artificials worms from FishBites or Gulp. A few diehard surf anglers beached occasional striped bass. Striped bass were snatched from the back bay at night under the lights on Fin-S Fish or Bass Assassins. Lighter colors like white, pearl, or chartreuse fleck seemed to catch them a little better. Not many tried for croakers on the ocean. Boaters on the ocean before the rough weather located schools of blues 2 to 5 miles from shore, sometimes running into schools of croakers, but not hot and heavy. Tuna fishing offshore plowed fantastic catches before the weather kept boaters docked. But the fish should bite when the weather clears.

After annual trips to Montauk aboard Saturday and Sunday clobbered striped bass, blues and false albacore, covered in the last report, a trip Monday did a repeat, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The angling on the trip was epic once again. The anglers lost count of the albies tackled. A mess of blues were smoked, and stripers bit well at mid day. The bass to 17 and 18 pounds were landed. All the fish were spin- and fly-rodded. Montauk fishing was peaking, and more of the trips aboard are slated to fish the legendary port this weekend, if the weather is calm enough. Jersey Cape will possibly fish Montauk the following weekend, and call if interested. Back in Sea Isle, popper fishing for striped bass was good on the back bay, both with plugs and flies, and is a specialty for Joe. The angling should last through the month. Then trips aboard will turn attention to the migration of large stripers and blues on the ocean from Sea Isle. Much of November is booked for the fishing, and the angling traditionally lasts into December, peaking at Thanksgiving. Anglers should plan ahead if they want to fish the run, the best fishing of the year. See Jersey Cape’s <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page4.html" target="_blank">traveling charters page</a> for more info about the Montauk trips. Also see the page for Jersey Cape’s annual trips to the Florida Keys this winter from Christmas to Easter. Reserve now, taking advantage of the best rates, like on airfare. Anglers can arrive at the Keys on a Friday evening, fish all day Saturday and part of Sunday, return Sunday evening, and be back to work Monday. The trips can be a mini, fish-filled vacation, for a large variety of catches from redfish to sailfish. Keep up on Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

One of the boats from <b>Legal Limit Charters</b> will be moved to Cape May from Tuckerton on Monday for striped bass fishing, Capt. T.J. said. The boat arrives every fall for the angling, and also in spring for striper and drum fishing. Stripers sometimes began to be bunker chunked on Delaware Bay from Cape May. Charters will fish for them, and so will open-boat trips. Watch Legal Limit’s <a href="http://www.legallimitcharters.com/open-boat.php" target="_blank">open-boat page</a> online for dates. T.J.’s other boat each fall fishes from Tuckerton. See that report above.

The <b>Heavy Hitter</b> last fished during the weekend, on an overnight trip that whaled yellowfin tuna in 1,000 feet near Spencer Canyon, Capt. George said. The charter was covered in the last report, but George knew about trips that returned to the area afterward, still bailing the fish, before the weather kept trips from sailing this week. The Heavy Hitter will keep sailing for tuna, and will begin striped bass trips toward the end of the month. Call if interested in either fishing.

Summer flounder trips aboard, allowed to sail after flounder season closed because of the vessel’s Research Set Aside Permit, turned up slow catches, Capt. Paul from the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> said. Shorts and only one keeper were swung in on Monday’s trip. But when a change in weather happens, the fluke will surely bunch up, like usual. Trips will keep after them, and might sail for other species, too. The boat might not fish again until Saturday, because of the current weather. Forecasts are even calling for winds Saturday, so anglers will have to see whether a trip gets out that day. Sunday looks fishable for sure at the moment. When sea bass season opens November 1, and if striped bass arrive this fall, trips will likely target them. The Porgy sails at 8 a.m. daily.

The surf sometimes held bluefish, and anglers waited for the migration of striped bass to local waters, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Short stripers seemed to show up in the surf one day, and fishing there would be quiet another. But a few shorts were beached. Keepers more often came from the back bay like along the bridges. Mullet had schooled the surf, and anglers will see if they reappear after the storm. Reports did come in about stripers boated on Delaware Bay at places like the Egg Island Point flats. The Cape May Inlet jetties were lousy with tog, and tog also chomped along the sod banks of the back bay. Nick hopes to stock green crabs for tog bait this weekend. A supply of fresh clams and fresh bunker seems unlikely for the weekend, because the weather is probably keeping the clam and bunker boats docked. But salted clams and all the other frozen baits and live eels are on hand.

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