<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/9:***</b> Ling, fairly good catches, were swung aboard, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The full moon might’ve made the fishing tougher, because of factors like the tides, but the fish were around. The moon might’ve also affected blackfishing, but that should let up within a couple of days. The fact that blackfish still bit showed that waters were warm. Cod, “a little more than a few,” Jimmy said, seemed around, but again, the moon made it difficult to say. Nothing was heard about striped bass, but they probably still swam along the coast, because waters were as warm as before. Crabs and fresh clams are stocked, and so are all the frozen baits. Julian’s is open till noon daily, and the hours will be increased on March 1. Striper season, currently open in the ocean within 3 miles from shore, will open in the bays and rivers that day. Stripers might be aggressive early this year, because of the warmth, but one never knows. Wintry, rough weather could still happen.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/9:***</b> Mackerel fishing served up super catches every day on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, Capt. Alan said. The fish, mixed sizes, schooled 18 miles to the southeast, instead of to the north or northeast like before. So maybe they’ll stay in range another week. “But we’ll see,” Alan said. The head boat was the only to sail for macks from the port Wednesday in the weather. All the mackerel anyone could want were hooked. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for mackerel 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/9:***</b> The season was wrapped up on the party boat <b>Big  Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. The vessel ran for blackfish until now. Chris thanks everyone who fished aboard this past year, and looks forward to kicking off trips again on April 1, sailing for blackfish.

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/9:***</b> Fishing was great for the time of year, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. During some years winter weather would’ve caused the shop to be closed. But the store is open daily, and anglers are catching. Mackerel fishing was excellent on the party boats, and at least one of the vessels sailed per day. Only one headed out Wednesday, because of lack of crowds in the weather. But the mackerel fleet sailed today. The mackerel migration was good this winter. Only one of the head boats still sailed for blackfish this season, and caught. Striped bass were beached in the surf, despite the late season, and quite a few fished the waters. Most of the bass were banked at Deal and Elberon or from Asbury Park to the north. Artificials like Bomber lures or rubber eels hooked them. The type of lure didn’t matter, but anglers had to use artificials, reeling very slowly. Lots of customers fished for freshwater trout, because the local pond was stocked. Fisherman’s Den is open daily until about noon on weekdays and 4 p.m. on weekends, unless the shop is closed because of weather.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>The Reel Seat</b> opened back up on weekends, Dave said. The shop had been closed for a winter break since the holidays. Not a lot was heard about fishing, because Dave had only returned to the shop on Saturday, but ling fishing seemed good, and blackfishing seemed to slow down compared with a couple of weeks ago, but the tog seemed to be picked still. A few cod seemed to be picked, not the better catches of them like last year, and mackerel fishing seemed good. A few striped bass, 24- to 30-inchers, were picked from the surf from Asbury Park to Long Branch, despite the late season. Most were hooked on lures. Herring season was closed, so anglers couldn’t bag herring that swim Manasquan Inlet in winter. The Reel Season is open during weekends this month. Heads up: Recreational and commercial anglers will rally on Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, March 21, to support reform of the Magnuson Stevens Act. The Recreational Fishing Alliance is helping to organize the event.

Fishing was excellent Sunday on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, Capt. Joe said in an e-mail. Mostly big ling, impressive-sized, were crushed, and a mix of cod, mackerel, sea bass and even a handful of whiting bit. The crew started filleting at 10 a.m., and were still at it when the boat was docked. Anglers and their catches included: Wesley Shourt, Howell, 64 ling and a cod; Pete Macowski, Brick, 53 ling and 3 cod to 12 pounds; and Paul Amodio, Aberdeen, 41 ling and 2 cod. Bob Eagle and Kendall Wortham from Newark teamed up for 109 ling and 5 cod. The Jamaica II is sailing for ling and cod 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and Sundays and on 14-Hour Wreck Trips 3 a.m. Saturdays.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/9:***</b> On the party boat <b>Dauntless</b> ling fishing was pretty good, fairly decent, Capt. Butch said. “Grab a rod and come fishing,” he said. Mostly ling were hooked, but sometimes blackfish, cod and a handful of mackerel were. Anglers boxed 20 to 40 fish apiece. A couple of keeper blackfish to 4 or 5 pounds were decked on Wednesday’s trip. Fishing aboard that day turned up 12 or 15 cod, including 6 or 7 keepers. The mackerel were small, so most anglers weren’t interested in them. When the mackerel migration swims close enough to shore to target them on the bottom-fishing trips, the boat each winter mixes in angling for them, bottom fishing the rest of the day. That hadn’t happened so far this season. Trips fished shallow in 100 to 140 feet, because a swell earlier this week caused silver eels, some of them 5 feet long, to invade waters that were deeper. Waters were 47 to 48 degrees on the bottom-fishing grounds. Out-of-season sea bass, including a couple of big ones on Wednesday, still bit this close to shore on trips, the warm waters apparently keeping them from pushing offshore. Striped bass were seen 1 ½ to 2 miles from  the coast on the way home on most trips, another sign of warm waters. Even a big, out-of-season fluke was landed aboard the other day. The Dauntless is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Trips still sailed this winter with Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> when the weather allowed, mainly concentrating on blackfish, he said. Some days turned up good catches, though the angling was slower last week in strong currents. Still, some better-sized blackfish to 11 pounds were clubbed. Fishing for ling and cod are also on tap, and an open-boat trip for blackfish, ling and cod will run Tuesday. Call Derek to climb aboard or to be kept informed about the future open schedule: 732-291-7675 or 732-861-3394. Also call for charters. Derek the rest of the year sails from Highlands on the Fisher Price, but is captaining and working the deck on a boat from Point Pleasant Beach this winter. The Fisher Price was hauled from the waters for the season a while ago. But reservations are beginning to be taken for striped bass trips that will launch the Fisher Price’s trips from Highlands starting the first week of April. Derek knows about a couple of boaters who are still jigging stripers on the ocean during this warm season, running across the fish close to shore on the way back from bottom-fishing trips. So spring striper fishing might begin early. 

<b>Toms River</b>

<b>***Update,  Thursday, 2/9:***</b> <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> will be open 9 a.m. to 1 or 2 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and might start opening Fridays to Sundays starting next week, Dennis said. Previously the store was open during no set hours for a winter break. Bloodworms should arrive at the store sometime Friday and should definitely be stocked Saturday. A few anglers asked for them to fish for white perch on the Toms River, and would only perch fish if they could get bloods. Shiners are stocked, and a couple of dozen were sold today for anglers fishing in freshwater. Nightcrawlers and garden worms are on hand. One customer fished on a party boat, pulling in 20 good-sized ling and some mixed-sized mackerel. Nothing was heard about surf fishing. Otherwise anglers stopped in to buy rods, reels and gear, something to do.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/9:***</b> “It’s really February,” said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Participation was dead in coastal fishing. But striped bass season will open three weeks from today on March 1 in the bays and rivers. Graveling Point, a nearby shore-fishing spot at the confluence of Great Bay and the Mullica River, is one of the first places to give up stripers each year. The shop will offer an annual award of a $100 gift certificate to the angler who weighs in the season’s first keeper striper from Graveling. Check out the <a href=" http://www.scottsbt.com/fishing/stripers/springrun.htm" target="_blank">Graveling Point spring striper run page</a> on Scott’s Web site for info including a map and dates for the first catches in previous years. Nothing was heard about anyone fishing this week. White perch should bite in brackish waters, and Collins Cove on the Mullica River is usually the place to find them this time of year. The cove is within eyesight of the Parkway Bridge. Anglers brought in rods and reels for repairs. Get them fixed before the spring rush. Business was going well at <a href="http://www.pennparts.com" target="_blank">PennParts.com</a>, the shop’s online business featuring every Penn Reel part on the market, and many that are discontinued.

<b>Ocean City</b>

A few blackfish, some ling and a few cod were pumped in from the ocean wrecks and reefs, said Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Nothing was heard about striped bass since two weeks ago, when the fish were reported caught to the north. Ocean temps were high enough to hold stripers, but probably few if any fished for them. Not a lot of feedback rolls in during this time of year.  But the shop is open Fridays through Sundays and will reopen daily on March 1.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

About two or three party boats sailed for blackfish from local ports, and the fishing was okay, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. A 13-pound blackfish was weighed in from a party boat. A couple of buddies blackfished at AC Reef, and the fishing took work, was slow, but they were able to catch some, and the ones that were landed were good-sized. Though crabs are great bait for blackfish, anglers should also bring clams. Sometimes the tog will refuse crabs but jump on clams. Anglers should also be prepared to be patient, because the catches might take time, but should be able to be made. Nothing was heard about striped bass fishing, but a couple of customers were headed to the surf to try for stripers Saturday. Mackerel were supposedly boated farther north in the state. Anglers hope the macks will migrate to the South Jersey Coast within range, so maybe party boats will go after them. The store is usually open a moment on weekday mornings, like around 7 or 8 a.m., and till about noon on weekends. Green crabs and fresh clams are usually stocked, and all the frozen baits are on hand.

<b>Cape May</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 2/9:***</b> The weekend’s blackfishing trips sailed Saturday, staying in port Sunday, on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, Capt. Paul said. The fish were caught, so more of the trips are slated for this Saturday and Sunday. Conditions were tough on Saturday’s trip, and the boat flopped around on anchor. Most of the anglers bagged one or no blackfish, but a few limited out. The new 15-inch size limit, an inch larger than before, forced anglers to toss back 14-inchers, making the angling more difficult. But several limits were scored, including by Ken Minett from Voorhees, Alex Lavantovsky from Philly and Oscar from New York. Alex and Oscar tied for the pool. A couple of others also limited. Cold and weather might blow in during the weekend, but the trips will sail if possible. After this weekend, Paul will decide whether the boat will keep sailing this winter, depending on how this weekend goes. The Porgy IV is set to sail for blackfish at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

No trips steamed with Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, and he knew about no local charter boats that sailed, he said. But he’s one of the few captains available for charters this season, and trips for cod and blackfish are on tap. Call if interested, and also call to book striped bass and black drum trips that are upcoming. Stripers in recent years have migrated to Delaware Bay in March, earlier than most boats are in the waters. But George has been going after them, and will charter for them again this year. Drum trips with him will begin around May. The Heavy Hitter was pulled from the waters for the season earlier this winter, but George charters on a friend’s boat this time of year.

Back to Top