<b>Staten Island</b>

Five striped bass to 20 pounds and a mess of big bluefish, weighing in the lower teens, were jigged Saturday on the ocean with <b>Outcast Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. The trip at first fished for sea bass on the ocean, but the angling was mostly slow, probably because of a roll from southeast winds during previous days. Sea bass season is open in New York and closed in New Jersey. Outcast has been shoveling up good catches of them. Four blackfish 16 inches or larger can be kept in New York per person, while only one can be bagged in Jersey. A trip aboard sailed for blackfish Saturday on the ocean, and the slipperies to 5 pounds were landed, but lots of drops had to be made. Sea bass were mixed in, and the reason for the slower fishing couldn’t be known, but maybe stirred up waters were the cause. Outcast pays bridge tolls with a receipt.

<b>Keyport</b>

Two striped bass 18 and 23 pounds were eeled on a short, 4-hour trip Thursday with Rich Joseph’s group of four anglers with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Waters at Keyport Harbor were 54 degrees that day but warmed to 60 recently. Papa’s is sailing for stripers and porgies. Open-boat trips are available 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily when no charter is booked. Call to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Striped bass began to show up, and water temps were dropping, “(and) things are looking up,” Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> said in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Daily striper trips will probably begin Friday, and he expects to post an update on the boat’s site Tuesday or Wednesday.

On the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> Saturday’s bottom-fishing trip made a couple of drops between the channels at first, Capt. Tom said. But strong currents ran, and nothing bit. Waters held a big ground swell, and the trip was moved to Sandy Hook Reef. Porgy fishing was pretty good there. Shorts chomped, but so did a fair number of keepers. Two anglers tried for blackfish with no luck, but bucketed porgies. The day was beautiful – shorts and T-shirt weather. Sunday’s trip motored straight to the reef. The keeper porgy ratio was much better the previous day, for unknown reasons, though action was just as good. The catch of keepers definitely wasn’t as good, but all anglers grabbed at least a few keeper porgies, Tom thought. The ground swell wasn’t as big. Sizeable, out-of-season sea bass sometimes were hooked on the trips and released. Trips sailed with small crowds, plenty of room. Anglers shouldn’t hesitate to fish even on weekends. Friday’s trip was weathered out.  The Atlantic Star is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Neptune</b>

Three keeper striped bass and a mess of big blues were slugged from the ocean Saturday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said. The fishing was fair, and striper fishing “started,” he said. One space, maybe two, are available on an overnight tuna trip Wednesday to Thursday. Ralph will know today whether two are available. Call to jump aboard. <b>***Update, Monday, 10/22:***</b> “The stripers are in,” Ralph said in an e-mail. “Time to book.” An individual-reservation trip for stripers will sail Tuesday, and contact Ralph to go. More of the trips will sail on the Tuesdays of October 30 and November 6 and 13. Two spaces remain for the tuna trip Wednesday to Thursday mentioned above, and the weather looks great. Individual-reservation blackfish trips will run November 16, 18, 20, 21, 25 and 27 and every Saturday and Sunday in December. If anglers are interested in another date, they can call Ralph, and he’ll arrange a trip if possible. An individual-reservation trip for cod offshore is set for November 12.

<b>Belmar</b>

A couple of striped bass and tons of blues were trolled on the ocean Sunday on a trip with nine anglers with <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Jared said. The 50-foot boat can accommodate large to small groups, up to 23 passengers on cruises and 14 on fishing trips.

Jigging and eeling for striped bass improved a little on the ocean, and the fish were eeled aboard, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. Lots of bait filled waters, and birds worked the bait, and ocean temps were dropping. Striper fishing should keep becoming better. Porgy fishing was an option, and blackfishing kept improving. 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.

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 10/23:***</b> Fishing was in “a definite change,” said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> in an e-mail. Waters were cooling, days were shortening, and baitfish were “on the move,” he said. Party boat’s sailing for blues clobbered jumbos and good-sized striped bass. Private boaters mostly clocked the bass on livelined eels or trolled tubes.  Surf fishing for stripers was a little slow, and most of the fish swam deeper. But that could change overnight. “We need the sand eels to move closer in, and we’ll have all the bass we need,” Bob said.  Party boats that bottom fished put customers on plenty of blackfish and porgies. Excellent catches of sizeable blackfish were whacked from Shark River Inlet, Manasquan Inlet and Point Pleasant Canal.

<b>Brielle</b>

Ling fishing scored okay Saturday on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, Capt. Ryan said in an e-mail. Current ran strong into wind, and 12 ounces of weight and heavier was needed to hold bottom in 265 feet most of the day. Mark Adamarek totaled 37 ling, and Walt Semana copped 34. Carl Jones won the pool with a 12-pound cod. A bluefin tuna trip was running at 2 a.m. today. A porgy trip is slated for 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, and a ling and cod trip is set for 5 a.m. Wednesday.

A few striped bass were boated from Shrewsbury Rocks on cast soft-plastic lures like D.O.A.’s or Got Stryper Pintails, jigs or trolled umbrella rigs, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Bluefish were mixed in and were also decked at Shark River Reef. Surf-fishing for stripers gave up a slow pick at Deal. A striper was occasionally managed from the beach locally, like at the Manasquan Inlet pocket or the Mantoloking pipe. No bluefish really came into the surf locally. Sometimes stripers turned up in the surf at Sandy Hook. The fishing was hit or miss. Stripers swam Manasquan Inlet and Manasquan River. They held around Mantoloking Bridge, swiping small swimming plugs like Yozuri Pins Minnows. Fishing for stripers was picky at Point Pleasant Canal. Blues ran the canal. Porgy fishing was good at Sandy Hook Reef or different bottom structure to the north. Lots of ling were looted farther from shore. Even farther, yellowfin tuna fishing was good when boaters got the weather to reach the canyons. Plenty were chunked at night at South Toms and Lindenkohl canyons. Sometimes yellowfins and longfins were chunked at Hudson Canyon. Where the fish bit depended on where the fish-holding waters moved. Swordfish were chunked at night, and bigeye tuna were sometimes trolled during daytime.  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>

A mixed-bag jigging and bottom-fishing trip sailed with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> on the ocean, a report said Friday on Andrea’s Toy’s Web site. Trips began targeting striped bass, blues and bottom fish inshore, after Andrea’s Toy previously focused only on offshore fishing for tuna and big game.  Autumn weather was closing in on offshore trips. This trip first saw striped bass and blues busting the water surface under working birds, and began jigging. Blues to 10 pounds were caught, “beating the bass to the lures,” the report said. Then the anglers bottom-fished, scooping up lots of small porgies, out-of-season sea bass and throwback blackfish. The anglers went back on the jig, finding more birds working the waters, catching blues. “Fun day with good weather,” the report said. “Wish the bass would’ve cooperated.” But Andrea’s Toy will keep after stripers on mixed-bag trips for them, blues and bottom fish.

With <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> an overnight tuna trip was weathered out during the weekend, Alan, the boat’s owner, said in an e-mail. But two trips fished inshore “and picked away at some striped bass,” he said. The outings also crushed consistent bluefishing and a 9-pound bonito, trolling and jigging for all the fish. Lots of bait flooded the 62-degree waters. “Looks like striper fishing will break open soon,” Alan said.

Looking ahead: Only twelve dates remain for bluefin tuna fishing from Manteo, North Carolina, this coming winter and spring with <b>Canyon Runner Sport Fishing</b>, an e-mail from Canyon Runner said. The fishing, from mid February to mid April, busted wide open for Canyon Runner in 2010, became even better in 2011, “and continued on (this past season),” the e-mail said. “It is now hard coded in our fishing calendar every year.” An average of 10 to 15 bluefins, no less, were landed per trip. The tuna averaged 100 to 300 pounds, but dozens of 350- to 600-pounders were smoked. The tuna fishing was the best the crew ever ran into. Those “in the know,” the e-mail said, already re-booked, and half the dates are already full.  Charters and open-boat trips will run. Canyon Runner’s dates do fill. Reserve to ensure a trip.

On a ling trip Sunday aboard, more weight than usual had to be fished to reach bottom in currents, but the catch was decent, a report on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>’s Web site said. Most of the ling were medium-sized, and some were large and small. Gulps and clams caught well. A 15-pound cod won the pool, and anglers and their catches included: Dean Castagnola, Ocean Township, 45 ling; Jack Glasser, Toms River, 31 ling; Ritchie from Spring Lake, 21 ling; Frank Barreca, Lakewood, 17 ling, Mario Bello, Point Pleasant, 15 ling; John Radeesky, Flemington, 15 ling; Frank Laske, Yardsville, 12 ling; and Bob Wilson, Hatfield, 12 ling. A couple of anglers caught fewer. Bluefishing aboard Saturday night drilled an excellent catch of 8- to 14-pounders. The Norma-K III is sailing for ling and cod 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and for bluefish 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Saturday. The blues trips will continue through November 3. Daily striped bass trips will launch November 1, running 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Magic Hour Ling Trips will fish every Saturday starting November 10, steaming 3 to 9 p.m. through winter.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Quite a few striped bass were yanked from Barnegat Inlet in the past several days, mostly on livelined spots, said Vince Sr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. A few were beached from the surf on fresh bunker. Blackfish, good catches, were hung along “the rocks and wrecks,” he said. Customers mostly hone in on stripers and blackfish this time of year. But blowfish swam Barnegat Bay. Nothing was heard about weakfish from the bay, but Vince wasn’t at the shop for days last week because of weather. Bluefish ran the bay and weren’t so numerous to be a nuisance at the inlet. Anglers usually didn’t need to be concerned about them grabbing spots meant for stripers. Live spots and green crabs are stocked. So are fresh clams and bunker. 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.

The party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> steamed for striped bass Saturday for the first time this season, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Two keepers were sacked, and the captain said lots of the bass were marked, the report said. Bluefish were caught, and a trip Sunday also landed blues. “But not too lucky with any stripers,” it said. The crew hopes striper catches will become more plentiful as waters and weather cool. Trips will fish for stripers 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday through Monday, November 2 through 5.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

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

<b>Brigantine</b>

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

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Along Absecon Inlet anglers on foot cranked in blackfish, good-sized, redfish, weakfish, blues, spots and sometimes kingfish, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Plenty of bait including peanut bunker schooled the waters. Mullet were around but fewer than before. Small striped bass, probably young fish yet to migrate, were reeled from along the bridges. Waters were 64 degrees, and would need to cool before the migration of large striped bass slammed the coast. All baits are stocked, including fresh clams, mullet and bunker; bloodworms; eels; and green crabs. “Everything – you name it,” Noel said.  One Stop opened a second store at Gardner’s Basin at 800 North New Hampshire Avenue. The original, remaining open, is at 416 Atlantic Avenue.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

The migration of large striped bass and blues should start in the next couple of weeks along the coast, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Charters will attack the angling, the best of the year, on the ocean as long as the run lasts, peaking in November. Currently stripers could be cracked from the back bay. Sub-surface lures like swimming plugs and soft-plastic lures and sinking flies like Clouser Minnows will catch them better than popper lures and flies that Joe specializes in fishing during  summer and early fall for them. Cooling waters make the fish less likely to smash a surface popper.  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 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>Cape May</b>

<b>Legal Limit Charters</b> fished for striped bass Saturday, but nothing was doing, Capt. T.J. said. One striper here or there was bunker-chunked on Delaware Bay on other boats. But striper fishing was yet to take off.  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.

Bluefish were trolled at Cape May Rips on Saturday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. The fishing, with John Boight’s group of three, was tough at first. A small blue was hooked on occasion. But the angling turned on later in the morning, and a load of 1-1/2-pounders, larger than earlier, were bailed, sometimes four at a time. The trip tried blackfishing afterward a little, and the togging was slow, giving up one throwback. Striped bass charters will begin soon. The bass usually begin to be bunker chunked on Delaware Bay this coming weekend or the final weekend in October. Someone said some stripers were chunked recently. But private boaters from the docks chunked with no luck. Striper fishing sometimes produces at the rips after it begins on the bay. At the rips the fish are chunked, livelined on eels or spots, or bucktailed.

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