<b>Keyport</b>

Bluefish were wrestled off Sandy Hook on Friday with Mike O’Doy and sons with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Papa’s is bottom-fishing, and 7-hour open-boat trips are available daily when no charter is booked. Call to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Porgies were piled aboard the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> through the weekend, Capt. Tom said. All in all, pretty good fishing, he said. Not many sea bass were socked, and some customers brought green crabs for bait to hook blackfish, bagging a limit of one apiece, releasing others. Some of the blackfish were throwback-sized that were let go, and sometimes one was keeper-sized. The boat will keep after porgies, and sea bass season closed today. When sea bass season reopens November 1, trips will fish for them. When the blackfish bag limit is increased to six on November 16, trips will sail for them. Currently, the boat began fishing on one ¾-day bottom-fishing trip daily today, after bottom-fishing on two half-day trips previously. The Atlantic Star is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Highlands</b>

With <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b> a trip Saturday eeled for striped bass at first a couple of hours, Capt. Dave said. Only a couple of bluefish bit off baits, so the trip proceeded to bottom fish. A mess of porgies and a couple of sea bass were bailed. Sunday was too windy to sail. Trips aboard are fishing for a combo like that: trying for striped bass, and if none bite, proceeding to bottom fish. Open-boat trips are fishing when no charter is booked.

Porgies dominated sea bass on bottom-fishing trips, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. Catches were good, and striped bass bit for trips that eeled for them last week aboard. Stripers to 20 and 22 pounds were beaten, and a new body of the fish seemed to move in. Fisher Price will keep fishing for them. Charters are sailing, and the next open-boat trips will run Tuesday and Thursday. Whether open trips will be scheduled for this weekend will be determined by Wednesday or Thursday. Call to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips.   

On the <b>Hyper Striper</b> Craig White’s party limited out on striped bass to Craig’s 32-pounder Friday, Capt. Pete said. On Friday evening John Sikonick’s charter only managed one keeper, but it was 28 pounds, sizeable. On Thursday Skip Krone’s crew limited out on stripers to 31 pounds in the afternoon, and Chris Estevez’s gang cracked six keepers to 22 pounds in the morning. On Saturday Jamie Kennelly’s charter totaled seven keepers in the morning, and John Vigara’s group reeled in four keepers and some shorts in the afternoon. On a trip this morning Matt Battz’s gang put up seven good-sized, keeper stripers to 22 pounds. Pretty good striper fishing, for the most part, Capt. Pete said. Bobby Hickey’s trip scored good sea bass fishing last Monday morning. Ken Diglio’s outing beat up big blues in the afternoon.

<b>Neptune</b>

Fishing was great through the weekend with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said. On a trip Saturday, bluefish and false albacore, all anyone could catch, were crushed. Big sea bass to 3 ½ pounds and lots of small porgies were also pumped in. On a trip Sunday, sea bass to 4 pounds and small porgies were nailed. Big sea bass bit non-stop for an hour, and both trips returned with the fish-box filled.  An individual-reservation trip for tuna at the canyons was cancelled today because of winds. The trip will sail as soon as the weather breaks, and one or two spaces are available. Call if interested. Upcoming, individual-reservation trips on the Last Lady will include those for: cod, pollock, ling and big sea bass, November 12 (sea bass season was closed during that time last year, and many large ones 5 and 6 pounds had to be released, and Ralph expects the fishing to be good this year, he said); and blackfish, November 21 and 25 and every Saturday and Sunday in July, and any weekday “when I get a call,” Ralph said, and book now, because the dates won’t last.  Individual-reservation trips on the Last Lady II will include those for: striped bass, October 23 and 30 and November 6 and 13; and blackfish, November 15, 20 and 27 and every Sunday and Tuesday in December.  “The boat has been updated – it is now enclosed,” Ralph said in an e-mail. “No canvas, and new inside cabin sitting.”

<b>Belmar</b>

Lots of blues and some false albacore were punched at the Mudhole on Friday with about 12 anglers aboard with <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Jared said. Weather became somewhat rough in the afternoon. A trip with nine anglers bottom-fished Saturday on the ocean, scooping up lots of porgies, a load of sea bass and some triggerfish. A great day, Jared said. No trip sailed Sunday. The 50-foot boat can accommodate large to small groups, up to 23 passengers on cruises, and 14 on fishing trips.

Trips were weathered out in past days, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. Striped bass and blues are “moving in closer,” he said. Whether false albacore remained was unknown. Porgies could be plucked if anglers wanted.  Parker Pete’s sails for all species available, and charters and open-boat trips are running. For availability on open trips, see <a href="http://parkerpetefishing.com/belmar-fishing-trips/open-boat-trips" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s open-boat page</a> online, and sign up for the e-mailed newsletter on the site. Dates are announced in both places.

Definitely saw improvement in surf fishing, said Bob from <b>Fishermen’s Den</b> in an e- mail Sunday evening. Four striped bass were checked in from the surf. Bob Dayton from Wall’s 17-pounder, one of five he banked on a Bomber lure, was largest. Numerous other keeper stripers were reported caught from the surf. “I only hope we hear more of sand eels,” Bob said. No large numbers of sand eels swam the surf, and the baitfish are “key to a truly great season,” he said. “God bless the late, great Jon Geiser,” Bob said. The longtime fishing writer for the Asbury Park Press passed away on October 5.

<b>Brielle</b>

Bluefish schooled off the ocean beaches, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. A customer trolled and jigged them Friday. That was the main action lately, and sea bass season closed today. Fishing for them was good until the closure. Porgies were around, and nothing was heard about ling fishing. A few striped bass began to be banked from the surf, and a 14-pounder was weighed in. Blues sometimes pushed into the surf, but mostly to the north. Nothing was heard about false albacore in the surf in a while. The albies were boated at places like Shark River Reef and the Mudhole. Stripers gathered at the bridges in Manasquan River. Nobody mentioned hickory shad in the river, but the shad could’ve been there. Stripers and blues were landed from Point Pleasant Canal. The stripers weren’t necessarily caught at night, and they bit at 3 p.m. one day. Anglers hook them on bucktails with pork rind, Gulps or other soft-plastic tails. Blackfishing was good in the canal. When boaters could sail offshore between weather, they decked yellowfin tuna, mostly at Toms Canyon, mostly at night. But longfin tuna and a few bigeye tuna were trolled at Hudson Canyon during daytime. Closer to shore, one customer trolled 20 bluefin tuna at the Glory Hole on Saturday. The Reel Seat’s hours were changed to 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Thursday, 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.  Heads up surf anglers: Certain Yozuri lures are on sale at 40 percent off, and so are Tsunami wooden plugs. The shop began stocking Guides Secret Shore Catch Series Lures, Choopy Needlefish Lures and CTS Surf Rods. Wahoo Baitfish Bucktails and Stingo jigs are on sale at 30 percent off to celebrate the store’s 30 years in business.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

<b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> was docked most of the last week because of winds, Alan, the boat’s owner, said in an e-mail. But a trip bottom-fished Saturday, before sea bass season closed today. The trip limited out on sea bass, including many good-sized. The majority of keepers weighed 2 to 4 pounds, and the keeper ratio was 1 in 5. “Many smiles and full bags of fillets …” Alan said. Mushin is available to fish for striped bass, blues, false albacore, blackfish, cod and canyon tuna.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

It’s time: Striped bass trips will launch this weekend on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Bluefishing was good aboard two trips Saturday, one during day, the other at night. Bluefishing was somewhat slower on a trip during daytime Sunday. The Miss Barnegat Light will fish for striped bass during daytime trips Saturday and Sunday and for bluefish Saturday night. 

Striped bass started to be socked along the jetties, said Vince Sr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. Boaters attempted trolling stripers on the ocean, but only hooked other fish like blues or weakfish. Blues ran the ocean and Barnegat Inlet. Small weakfish schooled the ocean, and a few weaks probably remained in Barnegat Bay. Blowfish hovered in the bay. Lots of blackfish snapped along jetties, including at Barnegat Inlet. Green crabs caught them. No customers crabbed or clammed. Live spots and green crabs are stocked. Live grass shrimp can be ordered. Bobbie’s rents boats and kayaks, including for fishing, crabbing and clamming, is known for bait selection, and features a tackle shop and a fuel dock.

<b>Barnegat</b>

From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “The Hi Flier is temporarily laid up for repair. I will be running a 28 ft. Rampage out of Point Pleasant this Wednesday to the Mud Hole for albacore and bluefin tuna. Open boat, limited to four anglers, leaving at 5:30 AM, returning around 2 PM. The plan is to troll around until we find some good water to throw the anchor. Then we will start chunking. I have flats of sardines, butterfish, spearing and gourmet sand eels for hook baits. So far, the NOAA weather forecast for Wednesday is very good, with a light west wind, giving us a calm ocean. All fish are shared. Call to reserve.”

<b>Tuckerton</b>

Trips sailed for sea bass on the ocean with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b> in the past week, when possible between rough weather, rounding up a decent pick, Capt. T.J. said. The outings finished out sea bass season that closed today. Legal Limit will begin fishing for striped bass from Cape May this weekend. Charters and open-boat trips will fish, and open trips are announced on <a href="http://www.legallimitcharters.com/open-boat.php" target="_blank">Legal Limit’s open-boat page</a> online.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

For a report from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>, <a href="http://www.scottsbt.com/fishing/report.htm" target="_blank">click here</a>.

<b>Brigantine</b>

<a href="http://riptidebaitandtackle.com/articles.php?category_id=6" target="_blank">Click here</a> for a report from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Annual traveling charters to Montauk, New York, probably the final of the season, fished aboard this weekend, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. On one of the trips Saturday, tons of blues, including 10- to 12-pounders, and three false albacore were hammered. A great time, Joe said. On Sunday horrendous winds blew, but a trip fished from the legendary port anyway. Blues 3 to 5 pounds, one after another, were pummeled. Was a blast, Joe said. Back at Sea Isle, the migration of large striped bass and blues should blow wide open through November in the ocean. Book the trips. Currently, smaller stripers were beached from the surf, and smaller blues schooled the ocean. Weakfish and croakers probably gathered in the ocean. Stripers swam the back bay. Book dates for annual weekend trips to Florida in winter. The trips can fish for a large variety of catches including redfish, speckled sea trout and tarpon in the back country to king mackerel, blackfin tuna and sailfish out front. See info about Montauk and Florida on Jersey Cape’s <a href="http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page4.html" target="_blank">Traveling Fisherman Charters</a> Web page. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Wildwood</b>

This was the final weekend of full-time business for <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b> for the season, Mike said. The shop will probably be open this week, and the crew has work to do before closing. But the rental boats will begin to be pulled from the waters. The boats will be available to rent this week until the final one is pulled. Striped bass began to be more active than before, though waters were warm for them. Most of the stripers were caught from the surf, but some were cranked from the back bay. A couple of rental-boat trips caught and released 24- and 25-inch throwback stripers from the bay at North Wildwood. The bay’s population of weakfish seemed to drop off somewhat. Small blues were around in the bay. One customer landed weaks and blues from the bay. Crabbing wasn’t bad last week, and a few rental-boaters crabbed. Bait and supplies will be available as long as the shop remains open this week, and the store carries a full array. Crabs for eating will remain for sale this week as long as the shop is kept open. Once the store is closed for the season, it will be reopened when summer flounder season is opened. Check out <a href="http://www.canalsideboatrentals.com" target="_blank">Canal Side’s Web site</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

The <b>Heavy Hitter</b> was kept in port in weather, and Capt. George knew about nobody who sailed in the winds, he said. Striped bass trips usually begin by late October aboard. Charters usually fish chunks of bunker for them on Delaware Bay at first. During some years stripers begin to appear at the Cape May Rips a week later. Charters aboard fish for them at the rips with chunks, eels, spots or bucktails. Trips two weekends ago, in a break in weather, trolled loads of bluefish at the rips on the Heavy Hitter. Charters are also tuna fishing, and call if interested in any of this fishing.

Sea bass season closed today, but fishing for them was good previously on the <b>Down Deep</b>, Capt. Mario said. Striped bass charters will begin next week, and the crew looks forward. Book dates for the trips and also for wintertime blackfishing.

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