<b>Perth Amboy</b>

The anglers on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> on Saturday limited out on striped bass by 9 a.m., releasing more afterward, Capt. Frank wrote in an e-mail. The catches tired them out, so the trip returned early. A trip Sunday was cancelled because of winds, and forecasts looked like a trip slated for today might’ve had the weather to sail. Weather looks good for Tuesday, and space is available for an open-boat trip for stripers that day and also on Thursday and Friday, unless a charter books. Telephone to confirm and climb aboard. The Vitamin Sea also fishes from Staten Island. Starting Saturday, the boat will be moved to Highlands at Sandy Hook Marina. That’s because the blackfish bag limit will be raised to six that day, from the current limit of one, and Highlands is closer to the blackfish grounds on the ocean. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

What a difference a day makes, Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> wrote about Sunday’s striped bass fishing aboard in a report on the vessel’s Web site. On Saturday’s striper trip, just finding a spot to fish among boat traffic was tough. But in forecasts for rough weather on Sunday, there was plenty of room. Anglers slugged away at stripers, from throwbacks to the 21-pound pool-winner, the whole trip. The high-hook landed three, several bagged two, some bagged one and some bagged none. Winds did come on, but the weather was certainly fishable.   The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays.

Weather was a factor on the daily bottom-fishing trips on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. No trip fished Thursday in weather, but Friday’s trip sailed in strong winds from the west. The winds prevented the boat from fishing offshore, but it fished along the beach, and the angling was tough. A few blackfish were hooked. Winds calmed on Saturday, so the trip that day pushed offshore. Lots of sea bass, mostly throwbacks, but some keepers and some porgies bit. Blackfishing wasn’t as good. The trip moved inshore, and some blackfish and porgies were netted. Plenty of fish, a mix of species, were hooked on the trip, but the angling wasn’t good, or not enough were keepers. Sunday’s trip fished, and very strong winds began later in the day. The vessel fished inshore, and in the morning, a few porgies were picked, and blackfish put up a slow, delicate bite. The fishing was tough that day, and Saturday’s angling was best among these days. The angling wasn’t good, but a mix of all species hit, and most anglers bucketed fish, that day. The Atlantic Star is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily for porgies, sea bass and blackfish. Starting Saturday, blackfish will be targeted more than previously, because the blackfish bag limit will be increased to six that day, from the current limit of one. But customers will still be able to fish for sea bass and porgies if they want, and sometimes the different species swim the same place.

<b>Highlands</b>

With <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, striped bass fishing was very good, pretty much limiting out on every trip, Capt. Derek said. The fish in past days weighed up to 20 and 25 pounds, and were jigged, trolled and eeled. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trip will fish for stripers Wednesday. Telephone to jump aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips.

<b>Neptune</b>

Striped bass fishing couldn’t have been better Thursday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an e-mail. The anglers limited out in an hour. On a trip Friday, another group almost limited out aboard, and the fishing was currently better on other weekdays, because of boat traffic. Too many boats filled waters on a trip Saturday, but the anglers managed six keeper stripers that day with Last Lady.  Winds weathered-out fishing aboard Sunday. An individual-reservation trip for blackfish is full on Saturday, the day the bag limit will be increased to six, from the current limit of one. But space is available for another on Sunday and on November 17, 24, 27 and 29 and December 1, 7 and 8. Book early to reserve a spot. Green crabs, white leggers and clams are provided. All tackle is available at no extra charge. The cabin is enclosed and heated and includes a microwave and a coffee machine. Charters are available daily for stripers, blackfish and bottom fish.

<b>Belmar</b>

When trips could sail between weather, striped bass fishing was good, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. Anglers had to run pretty far north to reach the fish, but found good catches of the bass to 25 pounds on most days. Saturday’s catches were slower, in boat traffic, but the bass were bagged. The fish bit early in the morning, and Pete heard that they bit again later in the day. Trips jigged and trolled them. Parker Pete’s was docked Sunday because of winds. Pete also looks forward to the blackfish bag limit being increased to six on Saturday from the current limit of one. That’s essentially the opening of blackfish season, and trips will fish for them. Plenty of mid-week dates are available for charters. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Pete anyway, or <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">subscribe to Parker Pete’s e-mailed newsletter</a>, to be kept informed about individual-spaces available on charters. Look for the place to sign up on the right side of the page on the boat’s Web site.

A couple of anglers limited out on striped bass, and many bagged one, Sunday on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Customers picked away at bluefish, too, and all the fish were jigged on Ava 47’s and Krocodiles. Boat traffic was too heavy for stripers to bite at first on Saturday’s trip. So anglers aboard “banged away at the blues,” the report said. In the afternoon, when boat traffic let up, birds started to work bait, and customers tied into a few stripers. Ava 47’s and Krocs caught all the fish on this trip, too.  The Golden Eagle is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and Saturdays and Sundays. Striperthons are fishing 6 a.m. to 3:30 or 4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays.

<b>Brielle</b>

Catches of striped bass were slow Saturday, and thousands of boats filled the ocean, said Capt. Ken from the <b>Big Kid</b>. Five of the bass were bagged aboard that day, then the anglers sea bass fished. Sea bass fishing was a little slow, but caught some and also a cod and some blackfish. A charter was cancelled Sunday because of winds. Trips will keep fishing for stripers, and blackfishing will become available starting Saturday, the day the bag limit is jumped up to six, from the current limit of one. The crew loves blackfishing. Mid-week dates are available for charters.

On the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, good fishing continued for sea bass and porgies, though weather kept trips from sailing farther offshore, where the vessel fished before, Capt. Ryan wrote in an e-mail. The catch on Sunday’s trip included sizeable sea bass and big porgies. “All went home with decent bags of fillets,” Ryan said. C.J. Davis won the pool with a 12-pound cod. Customers and their catches in the past week included: Kirk Moore with a 14-pound cod, a limit of large porgies and 14 sea bass; Ed Nussome with limits of both porgies to 3 ½ pounds and sea bass; and Ryan Borgunn with limits of both porgies and sea bass. Because waters are warm, and sea bass fishing is great, the boat will sail for sea bass Saturday on an extended, 12-hour trip, instead of blackfish. The blackfish bag limit will be hiked up to six that day, from the current limit of one.  Fourteen-hour Sea Bass Marathons will fish on the Saturdays of November 23 and 30. Extended, 12-hour sea bass trips will run Wednesday and on Friday, November 29. One was fishing today, too. On all other days, sea bass trips are sailing 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The larger body of striped bass seemed to hold to the north in the ocean, and fishing for them was fairly decent, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. They were jigged and trolled from Long Branch to Shrewsbury Rocks and Monmouth Beach. Fish also schooled off Manasquan Inlet, and on some days, seemed to include striped bass, and on others, only bluefish. Mostly sand eels schooled the waters locally, and sometimes bunker schooled to the north. Surf fishing for stripers was fairly good throughout the whole stretch from Sandy Hook to Island Beach State Park. Good catches were heard about including at Sandy Hook and Spring Lake up north. Lavallette and Seaside were some of the productive spots down south. Plugs like Daiwa SP Minnows and teasers hooked them at night, and teasers should definitely be fished. Stripers remained in Manasquan River, and the population seemed to taper somewhat, but the size seemed larger than before. A keeper was bagged here and there, and Manasquan Inlet was packed with sand eels and squid, believe it or not, Eric said. Sea bass fishing seemed good in 40 to 70 feet in the ocean. Plenty of the fish remained inshore, and porgies were plucked from the ocean. Blackfishing was good on the ocean, and the bag limit will be increased to six on Saturday from the current limit of one. Nothing was heard about offshore fishing for tuna anymore. Winds probably kept boaters from sailing there, and many offshore anglers probably wrapped up the season. But bluefin tuna 20 or 30 pounds were heard about from the mid-range ocean, just inshore of the Mudhole. Catch the big sale on select rods and reels at the shop. New gear for striped bass fishing was coming in, including new Hogy products, the new Savage lures and the new Stormr surf jacket.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

The most consistent striped bass catches reportedly came from far north, so a charter Friday steamed there with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Alan, the boat’s owner, wrote in an e-mail. On the way, the trip stopped on birds working bait along the waters. One striper and some blues were bagged. The trip kept sailing north, and was rewarded, Alan said. Shots of stripers and blues were found under clouds of birds. The fish were skittish, often swimming away after 30 seconds of fishing for them on a cast or two. To catch them, the anglers were ready to cast before the boat pulled up. Rough seas made the angling tough, and the anglers sorted through bluefish to catch stripers. But they reeled in good-sized stripers to 20 pounds. Gold jigs caught better than chrome. The catches made the long trip north worthwhile, and waters between Spring Lake and Monmouth Beach were dead. “But there’s a lot of signs that (the) fall fishery is about to bust wide open,” Alan said. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

A handful of keeper sea bass were swung-in Saturday on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, and strong currents affected the fishing in the morning, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. A few ling and porgies were in the mix on the trip. On the Magic Hour Ling Trip that night, a weekly trip that fishes deeper, strong currents also made the fishing a little tough. But a few anglers “were locked in,” Matt said, and caught okay. Others had difficulty. Sunday’s sea bass trip was weathered out. The Norma-K III is fishing for sea bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through Friday. Starting Saturday, the trips will fish for blackfish, because the bag limit will be increased to six beginning that day, from the current limit of one. Magic Hour Ling Trips are sailing 3 to 9 p.m. every Saturday.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

From the surf, striped bass 10 to 20 pounds kept being weighed in, reports on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ Web site said. Many of the fish came from Island Beach State Park, and maybe that was because “access to the beach is spread out,” the reports said. That apparently meant that at other locations, some beach access was unavailable, since the hurricane. But stripers seemed to be spread in the surf from Island Beach to Ortley Beach. Clams hooked most, but metal, swimming plugs and needlefish lures with teasers also caught. “Remember to always add a teaser ahead of your lure,” the reports said. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, sandworms eels and frozen baits are stocked. The Dock Outfitters features an extensive supply of bait and tackle, a dock to fish and crab from and boat rentals for fishing and crabbing.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Fishing was tough Saturday in boat traffic on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. About 20 bluefish and a couple of keeper striped bass were landed. Angling was somewhat better on Sunday’s trip. A few more stripers than before were boxed, and a smattering of blues came in. Fish broke the water surface at times, and other fish were marked in the water column. Birds were scattered over a large area, working bait along the surface. “But the bite never got hot and heavy,” the report said. “… get tired of saying that when it breaks open, it’s going to be awesome, but it will be,” it said. Trips on the Miss Barnegat Light are jigging for striped bass and blues at 7 a.m. Fridays through Sundays. A trip was also fishing for them today for Veterans’ Day.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Waters should be thick with striped bass, but aren’t, Brian from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> wrote in a report on the shop’s Web site today. The bass were boated on the ocean farther north. The Italian American Club held an annual tournament locally this weekend, and only two stripers and two bluefish were weighed at the shop for the event. The stripers were 17 pounds and 16 pounds, and the blues were 10 pounds and less than a pound, an 8-1/2-incher. Fish usually would be checked in for the event throughout the days, up to the last minute. Waters were 54 degrees, Maureen from the shop wrote in a report on the site Saturday. A few keeper stripers were hooked at Little Egg Inlet, but not many were around. Zero fish were reported from the Graveling Point area. One angler reeled in a keeper striper and a throwback from the sod banks at the fifth bridge on Seven Bridges Road or Great Bay Boulevard. Forecasts seemed great for boating and surf fishing this week, “if the fish ever get here,” Brian wrote in his report.

<b>Brigantine</b>

An 18-pound striped bass was weighed-in from Brigantine’s north-end surf Friday at <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>, a report on the shop’s Web site said. Another angler saw a 35-incher beached at mid-island that day. One keeper striper and a throwback were banked from the surf Saturday that were known about. Otherwise, the fishing was dead, “and not due to the lack of anglers trying,” the report said. The town’s surf fishing will last longer than usual this season, because stripers are “about three weeks behind schedule,” the report said. Four-hundred pounds of fresh bunker arrived at the shop this weekend, and the 18-pounder was hooked on bunker. Fresh clams were also carried. Riptide’s annual bounty will be awarded to the angler who checks-in the season’s first striper 43 inches or larger from Brigantine’s surf. A couple of stripers larger than that were already brought to the shop this season, but the anglers weren’t entered in the contest, mentioned in previous reports here. The bounty was up to $805 on Wednesday, according to the last report here. Entry is $5, required 12 hours before catching the fish. The winner takes all the cash. The Riptide Striper Derby, the annual Brigantine surf-fishing contest, is under way until December 23.  When entrants purchase a Brigantine beach-buggy permit, the tournament provides another permit to drive onto the beach along the entire island, instead of only at the cove, south jetty and north end. Prizes are $500, $300 and $150 for first, second and third prizes, respectively. Plus, a monthly $100 prize and a weekly $25 prize are awarded.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Fishing dealt with weather sometimes in past days, but the migration of striped bass began to appear in the local ocean, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. He planned to sail for them today, in forecasts for better weather. Trips aboard fish for the bass by looking for birds working bait along the water surface. Stripers sometimes feed on the bait. If no birds are seen, trips troll along structure, and once stripers are found, the anglers jig for them. Jersey Cape also fly-fishes for them. Bluefish sometimes school the same places at this time of year, and both the stripers and the blues are the largest of the season. They’re mature fish swimming south to spend winter. Fishing had already been good for smaller, younger stripers 20 to 30 inches, yet to migrate, on the back bay aboard.  Joe is catching them on jigs and flies. Livelined spots can also be fished for them, usually grabbing bigger bass. Trips aboard will still sail for them, and the trips on the ocean usually run until Christmas, if the fish are still around, and weather allows. Annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys fish from Christmas to Easter, mostly on weekends. Lock in dates and reserve now. See <a href="http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page3.html" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s traveling charters Web page</a>. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

A 27.9-pound striped bass, trolled in the ocean off Townsend’s Inlet on Saturday on an umbrella rig, was the first fish entered in <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>’s South Jersey Striper Slam tournament this weekend, the shop’s blog said. Stripers started to be boated from the local ocean, and anglers from another trip scored good trolling for stripers to 36 pounds off Avalon during the weekend. Trolling seemed best for now. The tournament was held Friday through Sunday, and better weather and more fish entered was hoped for next year. Reports about surf fishing were slow on Saturday, and a few throwback stripers and some redfish caught were reported. Blackfishing was good, and a 5-pound 11-ouncer was weighed-in from Townsend’s Inlet that chewed green crab for bait. The blackfish bag limit will be jumped up to six on Saturday, from the current limit of one. Visit <a href="http://seaislebaitandtackle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sea Isle Bait & Tackle’s blog</a>.

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