<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

A trip attempted to sail for blackfish Saturday on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> with a few anglers, “regulars,” Capt. Tom said. But winds were difficult, and when the vessel reached a little ways down the channels, the anglers were asked if they wanted to bag the trip. They did, so the boat was returned to port. Sunday began with fog, and somewhat of a ground swell, and a handful of anglers jumped on board for blackfish. Anchoring was difficult at first, because “conditions kept changing,” Tom said. But the fog lifted, and anchoring improved, and conditions became okay. The anglers picked away at a mix of keeper blackfish to 10 pounds and throwbacks. Not everyone landed a keeper, but a couple of anglers limited out. Weather forecasts looked good for today and Tuesday.  The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. <b>***Update, Monday, 12/3:***</b> Today’s trip sailed with a small crowd, and somewhat of a ground swell remained, but the day was gorgeous, Tom said. There was no fog, and anchoring conditions were better. “We were able to sit longer,” he said. The trip ended up with a fair catch of blackfish, not great. Two anglers caught no keepers, but caught throwbacks, and the rest landed one to four keepers. “But a nice day overall,” Tom said. Weather’s supposed to be good again Tuesday. “So, let’s hope we keep it going,” he said.

<b>Highlands</b>

Limit of blackfish or nearly limits were bombed on every trip with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, and bigger ones, including a bunch of 8-pounders and some 9-pounders, began to show up, Capt. Derek said. The fishing was pretty good, he said, and on one day, the fish would bite green crabs. On another, they’d chew white crabs, and on some days, both worked. A trip fished for striped bass aboard Saturday, and winds were rough. Fishing conditions were difficult, but the bass bit well. Two keepers were bagged, and probably 40 throwbacks were let go, on jigs. A few bluefish, not many, were mixed in. Charters are fishing, and open-boat trips will sail Wednesday through Friday. Blackfish will primarily be targeted, but if stripers pop up, the trips will mix in jigging for them. Call to jump aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips.

Another fine week of togging, Capt. Pete from the <b>Hyper Striper</b> said about blackfishing this past week aboard, in an e-mail. Angus Fidulli’s party limited on the tautog to 8 pounds last Monday. On Wednesday Scott Okal’s gang crushed a super catch of the fish to 7 pounds.  On Friday Eric Halbeck’s crew “also beat up the togs,” Pete said, to 8 pounds. The Marty Metz party on Sunday steadily picked away at the slipperies to 6 pounds, a few short of a limit.

<b>Neptune</b>

Blackfish catches became very good, finally, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> in an e-mail.  Previously, not many days gave up good fishing for the tautog since a trip two weeks ago. But the fishing aboard was now good on Sunday and excellent on Friday, and will only become better. On Sunday’s trip, Darren Stiles landed more than 10 legal-sized blackfish, keeping no more than his limit. A trip Saturday had to return to port. “Too rough,” Ralph said.  If anglers want to sail for blackfish this week, call him, and he’ll try to put a trip together. Individual-reservation trips for blackfish are slated for Sunday (1 spot available) and December 16 (1 spot), 23 (3 spots), 24 (6 spots), 30 (4 spots), 31 (5 spots) and every Saturday and Sunday in January. Charters are available for blackfish and striped bass. <b>***Update, Tuesday, 12/4:***</b> In spring-like weather, “also very calm,” Ralph said in an e-mail, Matt Smith’s charter on Monday nailed “a good pull of togs,” Ralph said. Individual-reservation blackfish trips have been added on: Monday (6 spots) and December 14 (6 spots), 19 (6 spots), 21 (6 spots), and 29 (3 spots).

<b>Belmar</b>

Striped bass fishing heated up on the ocean for boaters, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> in an e-mail. Stripers 20 to 30 inches swam plentiful, and surf-fishing for stripers was “at the whim of the winds,” Bob said. West winds turned out “some fair fishing,” he said. But during northeast winds, the catches weren’t so good. Bob saw stripers as small as 11 inches landed from the surf Friday night. Fishing should be better this week, “if the weather forecasters are right about the wind directions,” he said. Blackfishing was very good on the ocean, and anglers often limited out. The shop’s business was almost ready to be moved to a trailer in the parking lot, “(so) we will be able to serve our customers as a full-service shop (after the hurricane),” Bob said. He’d like to see a publication run a story about “the havoc caused to some tackle shops by Sandy, and the resilience they’ve had in trying to do business as usual,” he said. “Good luck, and God bless.”

With <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, blackfishing on Sunday was “good, very decent,” Capt. Pete said. Striped bass fishing was also good aboard that day. Fishing on Saturday was weathered out on the boat in strong northeast winds. On previous days, blackfish sometimes “bit their heads off,” Pete said, and at other times, the fishing was slower. But bigger blackfish than before began to be caught. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing, and Parker Pete’s sails for any species available. 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>Brielle</b>

Fishing limited out on striped bass last Monday on the <b>Big Kid</b> to the south on the ocean, Capt. Ken said. Then the trip blackfished, barreling up 24 keepers. A trip Tuesday limited out on stripers by 10:30 a.m., then limited on blackfish. On Friday striper fishing was slower aboard, and four keepers were bagged, Ken thought. On Saturday striper fishing was also slower on a trip, but blackfishing was awesome on the charter. A charter Sunday limited out on blackfish. Stripers on the trips were trolled on shads. Weekdays are available for charter, and the rate is discounted to $700 on those days, from the usual $750. Call about weekends. A few weekend dates might be available, including this Saturday, because of a cancellation. The Big Kid fishes year-round.

Boaters jigged and trolled striped bass on the ocean off Island Beach State Park and Seaside, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Deadly Dicks were the best jigs, but Ava’s also caught. On the troll, umbrella rigs with tubes or shads were fished. Surf fishing for stripers was “pretty darn good,” Eric said, at Spring Lake and Sea Girt on clams, but also on lures, including Daiwa SP Minnows. Guides Secret Mucho Minnows were a top-seller. Lures like 5-inch swim shads also connected. A few stripers were reeled from Manasquan River at the railroad bridge on Bomber lures, Fin-S Fish or DOA’s. A few stripers came from Point Pleasant Canal on the same lures. Mostly throwback blackfish were yanked from the canal, but a few keepers were bagged. Good blackfishing was sacked from Axel Carlson Reef. Not a lot were big, but anglers could limit. Eric limited out there on Thursday, releasing lots of throwbacks. Good action, he said. Green crabs are now stocked for blackfish bait. Cod fishing produced on the ocean, and weeding through out-of-season sea bass was a biggest challenge. Plenty of ling were scooped from the ocean.  The shop’s owner, Dave, a tilefish angler, designed three rods for tilefishing – 7 feet, 7 ½ feet and 8 feet – that might be the first-ever for the sport. Check them out. Head to The Reel Seat for holiday gifts, including tackle packages at discount prices, at least 20 percent. Additional tackle is also available at special holiday prices. Tsunami Timber Lures have been discounted 40 percent all season.

Blackfishing was good aboard the ocean most of the past week, an e-mail from the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b> said. “Fair with the ling on Wednesday,” it said. On a trip Saturday, wreck fishing was “crazy,” the e-mail said. “All kinds of bites.”  Cod to 21 pounds, lots of sea bass, tons of porgies, some ling and “too many bluefish” chomped, the e-mail said. “Yes, 15-pound blues do like 2-pound porgies,” it said. Seas were a little choppy in the morning, but calmed in the afternoon. The trip’s anglers and their catches included: Alex Pisani, 21-pound cod, the pool-winner; Dave Thomas, two cod, 50 porgies “and a bunch of other stuff,” the e-mail said; Ray Bryant, two cod, 31 porgies, “plus,” the e-mail said; Carter Makin, 49 porgies, 10 ling, “plus,” it said; and Dale Isaacs, 44 porgies, a cod, 10 ling and other fish.  On a trip Sunday, fishing was good for mostly big porgies, ling and a few cod. “Did the porgy thang in the morning,” the e-mail said, and the trip fished for ling in the afternoon. Dogfish were a tough nuisance in the morning, “but not bad later” it said. “Overall, mostly all did well and went home with a cooler full … “Nice day, too!” Anglers and their catches included: James Anderson, 37 porgies, 18 ling and a cod; Dennis Fuchs, 31 porgies, 21 ling and a cod; Bernard Fuchs, 31 porgies, 21 ling and a cod (both scored the same numbers); and Mark Adamrek, 28 porgies and 18 ling. The Jamaica II is fishing the Mudhole wrecks 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday and Wednesday. Trips are fishing the wrecks for cod, ling and porgies 3 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday. Blackfish trips are running 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday. A Cod Special, fishing for cod, pollock, porgies and ling, will sail at 2 a.m. this Saturday.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

On the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b> the weekend’s blackfishing was decent, Capt. Matt said in a report on the vessel’s Web site. On Sunday’s trip anglers picked away at all places fished, and a 12-pound blackfish, a whopper, was the pool-winner. One or two limited out, and one or two got skunked, and most bagged two to five of the fish. Green crabs caught best, “once again,” Matt said. “Anchoring conditions were a little funny late this morning,” he said, “but we managed.” Fog was thick in the morning. Conditions were rough on Saturday, but the trip sailed. Bites were difficult to feel because of winds, weather and currents. A couple of anglers limited out, and some landed no keepers, and others bagged one to five. An 8- to 9-pounder was the pool-winner, and Matt caught one in the double-digits, “but that doesn’t count,” he said. The fishing was best on the first stop, and slower on the second. At the third spot, usually great, “(there) was no life at all,” Matt said. A ling and cod trip was weathered out Saturday evening. The boat’s been fishing for blackfish, striped bass, and ling and cod. The schedule’s been subject to change, and check the vessel’s Web site, or call the boat, for the schedule.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

A few keeper striped bass, many throwbacks and a few big bluefish mixed in were smashed Saturday on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Good action, it said, and charter boats had gotten into the bass and a few blues the previous day, Friday. Waters seemed to be clearing then, maybe picking up the angling. But Saturday’s trip was the final for the year aboard. “Thanks to everyone for a great year fishing aboard the Miss Barnegat Light,” the report said.

<b>Barnegat</b>

From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “(Thursday through Saturday) were awesome for striper fishing. (Dave hosted his annual fishing flea market in Freehold on Sunday.) (On Thursday), I had Tim Whyte and his son Tommy on board … and they caught 18 bass between them. Only one was over 28 inches: 9-year-old Tommy's new personal best, a 29-incher. All on live spots drifting in Barnegat Inlet. (On Friday), I had three guys on an open-boat. We made the left, and ran up to the bathing beach off Island Beach State Park. After a slow start, we hammered away at stripers and blues. We had four keepers, including a pair of 14-pound bass. We caught fish trolling, casting and jigging. Lots of birds, readings, and the migration-style fishing we have been waiting for. We caught a lot of fish casting the 10-pound spinning outfits armed with 3/8-ounce jigheads and BKD soft plastics in the shiner pattern. (Dave included photos of a striper trolled on a Tony Maja spoon and a double-header trolled on one of his homemade umbrella rigs.) (On Saturday), I had brothers Steve and Bobby Fischer of Waretown, who combined for 10 stripers, including four that made the cooler. Today through Thursday are available for open-boat trips or charter. It looks like the forecast has the wind turning for a westerly angle, and air temps into the 50s. Calm seas, warm weather and stripers feeding inside and in the ocean. We’ll be ready to cast, jig, troll and liveline. Open trips are 7 AM to 1 PM. Limited to three people. All fish are shared. Call to book a spot. Don't e-mail me. I’LL BE ON THE WATER! See you on board.”

<b>Brigantine</b>

Boaters pounded striped bass, lots, at least 30, on Sunday at Absecon Inlet and on the ocean, a report on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site said. They fished livelined spots on the drift or bunker or clams on anchor. Two boaters that day checked in four stripers to 23 pounds they bunker-chunked from the ocean just off the inlet. Ken Biondi that day livelined a spot for his 15-pounder from a boat. Surf anglers fared less well that day, but did catch stripers. One surf caster checked in a 19-1/2-pounder, taking over second place in the Riptide Striper Derby. “Kurt ‘Fishbucket’ actually was able to catch a 28-inch striper,” the report said, “but was not used to having a fish on the end of the rod, and had to throw it back, due to the lack of filleting skills.” He also released a throwback redfish from the shore. “Even though the beach seemed slow,” the report said, “for Kurt to catch <i>two</i> fish, it <i>must</i> have been <i>on fire</i>!” The bait supplier did a good job at keeping the store stocked with fresh bunker during the weekend. The shop’s bounty is up to $575 for the season’s first striper 43 inches or larger checked in from the Brigantine surf. Entry is $5, and the angler who checks in the fish wins all the cash. Anglers must enter 12 hours before catching. Riptide’s annual Striped Bass Derby is under way, awarding cash prizes for the biggest stripers beached from Brigantine’s surf, until December 23. Weekly and monthly prizes are also awarded, and entry is only $20. What’s more, with a Brigantine beach buggy permit, entry allows anglers to drive the entire Brigantine beach, unlike the permit alone.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Capt. Joe Hughes, from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>, did no fishing during the weekend, was traveling, he said. But a few striped bass were boated on the ocean, mostly on the troll, he heard. Wasn’t on fire, he said, but the fish were caught. Joe will keep fishing the migration of stripers on the ocean. Annual weekend trips to Florida will fish this winter, beginning at Christmas. The trips can be a mini, fish-filled vacation. A large variety of catches are possible, including redfish, speckled sea trout and tarpon in the back country, to king mackerel, blackfin tuna and sailfish out front. Anglers can arrive on a Friday evening, fish all day Saturday and part of Sunday, return home that evening, and be back to work on Monday.  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>

Twelve striped bass, a limit, a dynamite catch, were plowed Friday on Delaware Bay on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> with Joe Devito’s charter, Capt. George said. Three stripers apiece were bagged on charters aboard the bay Saturday and Sunday with Ryan Moore’s group and Chris Troy’s crew, respectively. The fishing seemed slower on those days, but striper catches were happening on the bay. All the trips fished with chunks of bunker, and each trip also missed a few bites that might’ve been stripers. A few skates and other junk fish were hooked. Another trip aboard was sailing for stripers today, and catches of the fish will probably continue, so long as waters don’t become too cold, and bait remains. The next days are supposed to warm to the 60s. Bait schooled plentiful, and George found the stripers by looking for bait on the fish finder, then started fishing there. He tried to get away from boats in crowds at popular places like Tussy’s Slough. A couple of trips on other boats were heard about that decked stripers at the Cape May Rips, but 90 percent of the fish seemed small. Small stripers were in the mix in the bay, too. An angler from the docks caught blackfish, none huge, up to 5 or 6 pounds, on every trip. Blackfishing seemed to begin to produce in past days. Call if interested in a charter for any of this fishing. 

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