<b>Staten Island</b>

Schoolie striped bass sometimes swam along Staten Island’s shoreline, said Pat from <b>E-Z Catch Saltwater Traps & Tackle Co.</b> Blackfish were dredged in from boats, and a few customers motored out for cod. E-Z Catch is open through winter from Tuesdays to Thursdays, and fresh clams and vacuum-packed bunker are stocked through the season. 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>Atlantic Highlands</b>

“Still going strong on the stripers!” Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Wednesday’s trip was the thirteenth in a row that caught striped bass, “and the bite hasn’t let up!” Ron said. Only a handful of anglers joined the trip, probably because of forecasts for rains, and good-sized stripers bit for them the whole outing. Plain jigs with or without tails and Krippled Herrings caught best. Check out a <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv8UOGFdwJs&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">video of Tuesday’s trip</a>. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, including on Saturday, Christmas Eve. No trip will head out on Christmas Day. “Will see what happens as we go; hopefully next week the fish will still be around,” Ron said.

Very good catches of striped bass were slugged, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Boaters jigged and eeled them, and surf casters beached them. “Any bluefish still around?” he was asked. A slew of them were around a couple of days ago, and Jimmy heard nothing about blues since. He saw bluefin tuna inshore of the BA buoy on Tuesday. Blackfishing was good “on most days,” Jimmy said. Ling nipped at the Mudhole, and not many cod did yet.

After a good catch of blackfish aboard Monday, and fishing for them that ended up well by the end of the trip Tuesday, no trip sailed Wednesday because of winds, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. But today’s trip was out, he said while giving this report on the phone on the outing at 10 a.m. The anglers were picking at mostly short blackfish, and a few ling, though the trip wasn’t fishing at an area that usually gives up ling. There was a ground swell, maybe the reason the fishing was “off the pace” compared with the previous trips. But the weather was calm and warm, and seas weren’t as rough as Tom expected, considering Wednesday’s winds. So he was waiting to see what happens with the fishing. The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily through Monday, January 2, a holiday, because New Year’s will be on that Sunday. Afterward the boat will go on winter break. <b>***Update, Friday, 12/23:***</b> The blackfishing on Thursday ended up a pick on keepers, and quite a few shorts bit, Tom said. Somewhat of a south or southwest swell continued. Rains and north winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts to 25 are forecast for this morning, but the conditions are supposed to diminish later in the day. Christmas Eve Day sounds better, is probably the best option of the two days to fish. <b>***Update, Saturday, 12/24:***</b> Three anglers aboard today’s trip limited out on blackfish, Tom said. Some bagged four or five, others three or two, and one bagged one, and only one customer hooked only shorts. The day was nice, Tom said, and Friday’s trip also ended up with a decent catch of the tog. He wishes anglers Merry Christmas. No trip will sail that day, but Tom hopes all trips will sail from Monday through the following Monday, January 2, the final trip of the year aboard, before the vessel goes on winter break. <b>***Update, Monday, 12/26:***</b>. Anglers aboard today rounded up a steady pick of blackfish through the trip, despite winds 25 or 30 knots from the northwest that made feeling the bites somewhat tough, Tom said. The high hook bagged five, he thought, and a couple bagged two or three, and most bagged one. Only a couple landed no keepers, but they at least hooked shorts. Only one ling was caught, and the boat fished an area that usually gave up no ling. Considering the weather, the fishing was okay, produced some fish. The weather sounds alright for Tuesday, and rains are supposed to fall later in the day, but probably after the trip. Wednesday sounds windy at the moment.

<b>Highlands</b>

Blackfishing continued strong aboard, said Capt. Pete from the <b>Hyper Striper</b> in an e-mail. Charters with limits included those with the Scott Okal, Gene Alexander and Jeff Sheets parties. Ling and cod were added to catches on some days. Space is available on New Year’s Day, “if anyone wants some new year togs,” Pete said.

The boat was pulled for the season, said Capt. Dave from <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b>. He thanks everyone who fished aboard, and wishes everyone Happy Holidays. Trips will kick off again in April, probably starting with striped bass fishing. Winter flounder regs would have to be relaxed for  the option to sail for them .

<b>Neptune</b>

One of the better blackfish catches aboard in a long time was crushed today with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said in an e-mail. The trip limited out, returning to the dock early. One angler released a 14-pounder, a 10-pounder and more. Another limited out by 9 a.m. A 9-year-old, on his second blackfish trip, and his dad whaled good blackfishing. Many 8-pounders were let go on the trip. And so on. “If fishing holds up like this,” Ralph said, “we will be fishing well into the winter.” Dates for individual-reservation blackfish trips and availability include:  Friday, 1 spot; Saturday, 3 spots; Monday, full; December 30, full; December 31, 2 spots; and January 1, 5 spots, leaving at 6 a.m. Four spots remain for an individual-reservation trip for cod offshore on January 2, leaving at 2:30 a.m. “You don’t have to travel north to catch big cod,” Ralph said. The trip will only sail for cod if the weather is good. If the weather is rough, the trip can fish for blackfish, if anglers want. Charters are available daily.

<b>Belmar</b>

On the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b> blackfishing was fairly steady, very good on a couple of days, including on Tuesday, and picky on a couple of days, Capt. Chris said. “Like anything, it’s fishing,” he said. But he sounded pleased with the angling. The tog were good-sized, weighing up to 8, 9 and 10 pounds. Lots of sizeable ones were creamed on Tuesday’s trip. None was huge, but they weighed up to 9 or 9 ½ pounds. White crabs caught best lately. Whites are available for sail aboard for only $6 per dozen, and the crew usually throws in a couple of extra. That’s a better price than at shops, including because of the extra. Green crabs are provided aboard. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. But trips will run at 6 a.m. on Friday and 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Christmas Eve. No trips will sail on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

No trips sailed since Sunday aboard, because of lack of people, said Capt. Alan from the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>. But trips on the couple of boats he heard about that sailed beat striped bass and blues on the ocean, and trips will run for stripers on the Miss Belmar Princess on Friday and Saturday. The mackerel migration was yet to arrive, but trips will switch to fishing for them when they do. The Miss Belmar Princess is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, but no trip will steam on Christmas. The trips will begin to chase mackerel when the run arrives.

Surf casters dragged in striped bass, but the fish were more spread out than previously, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. Fewer were landed than before, but anglers didn’t necessarily have to drive as far to get them. While previously most of the bass were located farther south at Island Beach State Park, now they were spread out at spots including Belmar and Spring Lake, and that was good for local anglers. Catches were heard about from Asbury Park and Bay Head. While last month an angler might land 20 or 30, one might now land five or six, but the fish included keepers. Striper catches will probably continue to New Year’s, if waters don’t suddenly turn cold, like if a snowstorm cools them. Sand eels schooled the waters, and herring swam Shark River Inlet and Manasquan Inlet. Anglers Sabiki-jigged the herring to pickle or for bait. Lots of out-of-season winter flounder carpeted Shark River. Blackfishing was good on ocean boats. Lots of good-sized ones were axed, and a 10-pounder was checked in Wednesday. The mackerel migration was yet to arrive, and anglers waited for them to show up anytime. During some years macks have already been here. But the arrival of fish like stripers was different this year. One never knows whether the mackerel migration will show up within range.  

<b>Brielle</b>

The anglers on a trip aboard today limited out on blackfish to 10 pounds with <b>Fish Monger Charters</b>, Capt. Jerry said in Facebook postings. The fishing was never great, but the anglers worked hard to limit. The ocean held a big heave, and a good chew got going at first, on a mix of keepers, including a few 5- to 7-pounders, and shorts. Then the angling dropped down to a slow pick, but a few of the tog were plucked still. The bites completely stopped, so the boat was moved. “Took a bit to get them going, and it was heavy on shorts,” Jerry said, but some big ones were hooked. The 10-pounder came in, and a 9-pounder and a few 7-pounders. Aboard Tuesday a trip limited out on blackfish to 9 pounds and bagged four striped bass. Blackfishing started with lots of bites but lots from shorts. The bites ended, and the trip made a couple of drops offshore, giving up a slow pick at keepers. The bite was tricky. “Lots of non-committal, one-time bites,” Jerry said. The anglers “played with some stripers between spots and on overtime on the ride in,” Jerry said. Most of the bass were shorts, but the four were keepers, for a bonus for the blackfish trip.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Blackfishing was very good, turning up the fish to 8 pounds aboard, and striped bass fishing was phenomenal on deck, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. The striper trips limited out, all on jigs, and lots of short stripers were tossed back, and lots of blues were mixed in. When trips sailed to the Mudhole, bottom fishing socked healthy catches of ling and cod. Derek’s boat, the Fisher Price III, sailing from the Highlands, was dry docked for the season. But he’s captaining and mating on a boat from Point Pleasant Beach currently on both charters and open-boat trips. Open trips for blackfish are set for Friday, Monday and Wednesday and the following Friday through Sunday. Anglers can call Derek about the Point Pleasant Beach trips: 732-291-7675 or 732-861-3394.

Mostly ling, pretty good catches, were hooked on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. But somewhat of a variety of fish bit, including sea bass, even some porgies, a few cod, quite a few bluefish, and a few striped bass. Anglers landed 15 to 35 fish apiece, and trips fished in 120 to 220 feet, along deeper waters at the Mudhole. Dogfish were “a pain in the neck,” Butch said, and trips fished in the shallower end of those waters in the early mornings, because no dogfish showed up there then. But by the end of trips, the dogs showed up everywhere. Waters at the fishing grounds were 50 to 52 degrees, and were yet to dip below 50 this season. That was relatively warm, and a few stripers even bit in 190 feet, and if stripers held in waters that deep, that showed how warm they were. Waters were probably too warm for the mackerel migration to arrive, and the Dauntless each year mixes in mackerel fishing with bottom fishing during seasons when the macks swim close enough to shore. The Bostons might swim past when waters dip another 3 or 4 degrees. A trip looked for mackerel on the way out and back on Tuesday, in areas the fish are usually first caught, but only fish that appeared to be blues and stripers were marked on the fish finder. But a few herring arrived at the fishing grounds, and herring and hickory shad swam along the docks.  The Dauntless is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, one of the only boats that fishes straight through winter. Christmas is the only day no trip is slated each year.

<b>Toms River</b>

Surf anglers beached striped bass, somewhat smaller ones than before, averaging 9 to 12 pounds, and mostly plugs hooked them, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Previously teasers and metal caught most, and both still worked, but plugs were better. Rapala plugs especially worked, but a variety of other lures did too, like Bombers and Mambo Minnows. Participation dropped, apparently because of the holidays, and the surf dropped below 50 degrees. Few anglers had boats in the waters anymore, but when boaters sailed, they trolled stripers on the ocean. That was nearly everything that happened with fishing. Murphy’s will be open until 6 p.m. today and Friday, from 6 a.m. until probably 12 noon or 2 p.m. on Saturday, Christmas Eve, and probably from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. this coming Monday to Thursday.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

In the surf striped bass were picked at Island Beach State Park and Seaside Park, mostly on jigs like Ava’s or Deadly Dicks and teasers, said Jaybo from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Boating for stripers was outstanding on the ocean. The party boat Gambler from Point Pleasant Beach reportedly limited out on stripers Wednesday. Blackfishing was good on the ocean. Take advantage of seasonal sales at the shop, including $20 gratis added to $100 gift certificates, and $10 off any Shimano Stradic reels.

<b>Forked River</b>

Small striped bass were angled at Harvey Cedars from the surf and boats, aid Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Small stripers and blues were fought at Oyster Creek, the outflow from the Forked River Power Plant. Blackfish chomped along the Barnegat Inlet jetties and the ocean wrecks.  

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

The season was wrapped up on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Here’s a recap. The year’s trips aboard began with great bluefishing, lasting into July. Then those fish moved north, out of range of the New Jersey fleet, but smaller blues showed up, and were hooked aboard. Big, slammer blues returned in September and October, churning out outstanding catches on deck. Tuna trips began around then on the boat, gaffing decent catches of yellowfin and longfin tuna, mahi mahi and swordfish. This fall’s striped bass season aboard was the best in memory, starting in late October, lasting into December. More keepers were caught on the trips than during almost any year. “Great weather and tons of sand eels led to a fall of jigging that striper fishermen dream of,” the report said. “The Larson family, captains Lenny and Lou, YoMate, Ed, Jimmy, James, Cory, Anthony and Joe all wanted to thank you for sailing with us this past year,” the report said. “Without you, we don’t get to do what we love. We wish you all a happy holiday season and a happy new year. Look forward to seeing you all in 2012. The 2012 schedule will be posted in early spring.”

<b>Tuckerton</b>

Blackfishing was good aboard, up and down, depending on weather, said Capt. T.J. from <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>. When weather was rough, “the count wasn’t as good,” he said. Nothing was heard about striped bass fishing locally, and only about three boats were left in the marina. Good striper fishing was heard about from Cape May, though few boats sailed from there, too. Legal Limit will fish another week or so, before T.J. calls it a season. Charters are fishing, and open-boat trips might sail. When open trips are slated, they get listed on <a href="http://www.legallimitcharters.com/open-boat.php" target="_blank">Legal Limit’s Web site</a>.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Was impossible to say whether striped bass migrated along the coast, because no customers fished for them, but with waters in the 50s, there seemed no reason the fish wouldn’t still be around, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Because nobody reported fishing for them, he couldn’t say where the fish might be found, namely along the ocean or at Little Egg Inlet. One customer called to ask if clams were stocked, planning to fish the inlet for stripers with them. Fresh, shucked clams are stocked. “We have the clams we need, which isn’t much,” Scott said. Demand was low. White perch and short stripers on the Bass River were the only confirmed catches. Customers took the fish on grass shrimp and bloodworms, both stocked. Nothing was heard about blackfish. The store will be closed from 2 p.m. Saturday through Tuesday for Christmas. The doors will be closed the following Sunday through Tuesday for New Year’s. Afterward, winter hours will begin: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 12 noon Sundays, and the shop will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

<b>Absecon Bay</b>

Striped bass were still around, said Curt from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. They were boated at Absecon Inlet on live spots or eels, and were jigged or trolled on the ocean, and some were even lifted from the back bay still. A few were hauled from the surf, but not much was heard about anyone surf fishing. Striper fishing on the boats was sort of good on one day, and not as many bit the next. Striper fishing was good today at Absecon Inlet. Blackfishing was good but also like that: good on some days, but success was day to day, probably because of factors like water clarity or the tide. Curt, a white perch angler, hadn’t tried for the slabs in a couple of weeks, but the catches weren’t good the last he went, at least on the Mullica River. But he heard about catches on the Tuckerton River. Eels and fresh clams are stocked, and spots ran out.

<b>Brigantine</b>

One angler had just called, reporting pulling a 30-inch striped bass from the surf that inhaled frozen clam this afternoon, Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b> said in a phone call then for this report. Another customer on Wednesday beached an 18-pounder that swallowed “a frozen bunker and clam sandwich,” Andy said. But otherwise, not a lot happened with surf fishing. The store will be opened through Saturday then will be closed for a winter break.  The shop’s season-long Striped Bass Derby, awarding prizes for the biggest stripers from the Brigantine surf, will conclude Friday. As of this afternoon, the first- through third-place bass were 38 pounds 3 ounces, 37 pounds 14 ounces and 35 pounds 2 ounces.

<b>Ocean City</b>

A few striped bass were banked from the surf, mostly on frozen clams or bunker, said Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Fresh bait was difficult to find this time of year. Boaters rounded up a few stripers at Great Egg Inlet on the same baits or livelined spots or eels, if live bait could be located. Not much was heard about striper catches along the ocean front, at least off Ocean City. Little was heard about reef fishing, but little was heard about anyone fishing this time of season. But blackfish and sea bass probably snapped at the reefs. The shop will be open through next week then on Fridays and Saturdays afterward.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Surf fishing consistently beached striped bass, usually on clams, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Most of the bass were 25 to 35 inches, and a few bigger and smaller were heard about. Three customers headed to the surf today, two calling to report catching stripers within 1 ½ hours. Few boated for stripers on the ocean, but some landed the fish who did. Was difficult to say how the fishing was, because of the few boaters, but stripers were probably still there, and they were still bagged farther north. They either passed Sea Isle quickly this season or were yet to arrive. But the hope was that good fishing for them was still to happen in the next weeks. But blackfishing was the best angling, was somewhat slow to start, but was kicking into high gear. Boaters who knew how to anchor on an ocean wreck scored well on the tog. The shop is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, weather permitting. If the weather is better, the doors could be opened earlier. If the weather is bad, the shop is closed.

Striped bass were heard about that were boated on the ocean off Wildwood in 20 to 40 feet during the weekend, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The anglers hugged the coast, escaping winds, and the fish could mostly be hooked on bait like chunked bunker or livelined eels or spots. The anglers waited for fish to come to them, “so to speak,” Joe said. He ran no trips in the past days, and was mostly transitioning to fish on annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys, sailing from Christmas to April. See Jersey Cape’s <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page4.html" target="_blank">traveling charters page</a> for info. Days remain available for the trips during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, like if anglers happen to be there on vacation. But the trips mostly fish on weekends. 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>

Trips decked striped bass, pretty decent catches, from what Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> heard, he said. He ran no trips in the past days, but heard about the catches along the ocean front during the weekend, and the fish probably also came from the Cape May Rips. The Heavy Hitter was pulled from the waters for the season, but George has access to another boat he’s running charters on. Trips for stripers remain available, and so do charters for blackfish, sea bass and cod. All were biting, and call if interested.

When blackfish trips sailed aboard, they caught the fish, said Capt. Paul from the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>.  On some days too few people showed up for trips to sail, like when forecasts called for rains on Wednesday. But when trips go, they’re “doing okay,” Paul said. Days were scored when several of the anglers on a trip limited out. A 9-1/2-pound blackfish, one of four that Graham Neville from Town Bank bagged on a trip, was the biggest during the past week. Those with limits included Don Mark from Philly, Alex Levantovsky from Philly and Carl Keehfus from Villas. Ken Minnett Sr. and Jr. also limited out. Trips are sailing for blackfish at 8 a.m., but Saturday’s trip on Christmas Eve will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. No trip will fish on Christmas, but a trip will head out on New Year’s Day. Afterward, Paul will consider the fishing and the weather, and decide whether trips will continue to be slated daily or whether maybe only weekend trips or some other schedule will run.

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