<b>Staten Island</b>

Anglers blackfished the last two Saturdays with <b>Outcast Charters</b>, and other trips for the tautog were weathered out in the past week aboard, Capt. Joe said. This Saturday’s trip had to move around a lot, but limited out. The previous Saturday’s was similar: The trip had to move around to catch. Outcast’s been targeting blackfish, but sea bass were mixed in, and the crew loves all bottom-fishing like this. Blackfish trips this time of year can stop to jig striped bass while traveling to and from the blackfish grounds, if birds are seen working bait along the surface, showing that stripers might swim underneath. Birds were seen on the trip two Saturdays ago, but the anglers didn’t want to striper fish. No birds were seen on this Saturday’s trip. Outcast also fishes from Sewaren, New Jersey.

<b>Keyport</b>

With <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, striped bass and blues were jigged on the ocean Sunday, Capt. Joe said. The catch was good, and birds worked bait along the surface all over, probably as many as Joe saw in some time. Boat traffic filled the waters. Open-boat trips for stripers are available daily when no charter is booked. Telephone to climb aboard.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Bottom-fishing was tough Saturday and Sunday on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. New Jersey’s blackfish bag limit was increased to six on Saturday, from the previous limit of one, so the trips started putting more effort into blackfishing. Not many of the tautog bit, and nothing good was heard about the angling from other places, though blackfish were cranked aboard previously last week. The reason for the slow fishing couldn’t be known, like maybe the full moon. Saturday’s trip, a tough one, started fishing a little north of Sandy Hook Reef. A few blackfish were hooked at each drop, and the boat was moved to the reef, trying for better fishing. But the angling was worse at the reef. Then the trip moved a little east of the reef, and a few blackfish came in. On Sunday’s trip, also tough, anglers picked at throwback blackfish and a few keepers. The trip moved offshore, and blackfishing was no better. A few keeper sea bass and some throwbacks were hooked. A few anglers got a pick of porgies going, giving up on blackfishing. Today’s trip might be weathered out.  The Atlantic Star is bottom-fishing   7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily for blackfish, porgies and sea bass.

Good striped bass fishing lasted the whole trip Friday on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. The trip had to search for ones that wanted to bite, but when they were found, they gave up good action. Lots more throwbacks appeared than before, and keepers were smaller than during the previous week, and bluefish bit on a couple of drifts. Several anglers limited out on stripers. Saturday’s striper fishing wasn’t good aboard, after good catches the previous week, covered in previous reports here. Trollers caught them that day. After seeing how full the bellies of the bass were on Friday, “you had to know (Saturday) would be tough,” Ron said. Some newcomers were aboard from different parts of the state and out of state, including Cape May and Delaware. That was especially tough for Ron, because he knew they traveled. Sunday’s striper fishing was better aboard. The first drift gave up good action on keeper stripers, throwbacks and a healthy shot of blues. The fishing slowed through the next couple of stops, as the current slowed. Took a while for the tide to begin again, and stripers didn’t bite at several areas then. During the last half-hour, in the fog, a couple of more keepers were taken. Fishing was lots better than on Saturday. 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.

<b>Highlands</b>

For <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, fishing for striped bass was still good, Capt. Derek said. The fish were jigged and trolled, and lots more throwbacks bit during the past couple of days than before. But action was great. Anglers aboard blackfished a little this weekend, because the bag limit was pushed up to six, from the previous limit of one. Some were angled, but the blackfishing was tough, because of lousy conditions, mostly. Trips now will probably fish for stripers in mornings and blackfish afterward. Charters are fishing, and open-boat trips are sailing when time is available. Fishing is booked this week, but a couple of open trips will sail before Thanksgiving and in December. Telephone for dates.

Another slammer trip, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote about Sunday aboard in an e-mail. The trip limited out on striped bass, and this has been some of the best fall striper fishing in some time. Metal and soft swim baits caught best, and trolled umbrella rigs also worked great. One space apiece is available for trips Tuesday and Wednesday. A trip Saturday also smashed stripers. The fish weighed up to 24 pounds that day, and many throwbacks were in the mix, but many stripers were landed. Charters are fishing, and open-boat trips are sailing for blackfish daily when no charter is booked. Telephone for availability. Spring striper charters should also be booked, and dates are already being taken. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Neptune</b>

Striped bass bit their heads off, Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> wrote in an e-mail. Now was the time to fish for stripers, but blackfishing was slow during the weekend. The blackfish bag limit was lifted to six on Saturday, from the previous limit of one. On a trip for blackfish that day, one customer bagged five. Others bagged one to three, and some none. Conditions for anchoring were poor in the morning. “If we didn’t have to make so many drops in the (morning),” Ralph said, “we would have done much better (that day).” A blackfish trip on Sunday began with a good bite, “but did not catch what we should have,” he said. The high hook bagged three or four, and others bagged one or two, and some none. “Actually, we had a good bite till noon,” Ralph said. “Next time, we’ll get them.” Charters are available daily for stripers and blackfish, and an individual-reservation trip for stripers will sail on November 25. That’s the only one slated for stripers. Individual-reservation trips for blackfish are set for November 24 and 27, December 1, 7 and 8 and every Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday when no charter is booked. The cabin is heated, and bring a mug, because coffee is brewing. A microwave is aboard.   

<b>Belmar</b>

Surf fishing for striped bass wasn’t great so far this season, “as far as I have seen,” Bob Matthews from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. But boaters fishing for stripers “are having a good old time,” he said. From the surf, most striper catches came from Sandy Hook to Long Branch. But anglers had to be at the right place at the right time, like when Bob and Kenny Reed fished Sea Bright. Stripers showed up a short time three blocks south of them. “That’s the kind of fishing we are seeing,” Bob said. But he also fished the surf in Monmouth County south of Shark River Inlet and in Ocean County. Usually, one striper per day was banked in an area there. The striper would be large, weighing in the high teens to 25 pounds. “But one fish,” Bob said.  Young angler Steve Spadafino from Hamilton plugged a 17-pound striper from Belmar’s surf on a needlefish in the dark. Boaters ran into loads of stripers. Anglers on the Archangel from Belmar Marina sailed south to Seaside on the ocean, returning with a limit of stripers to 30 pounds in a few hours. The captain said trolling with tubes caught best. “Hope things heat up after this full moon,” Bob said. <b>***Update, Wednesday, 11/20:***</b> In the surf, stripers moved again, Bob wrote in an e-mail. The fish showed up toward Seaside, and showed a pattern: Stripers kept biting a few days at Sandy Hook, then to the south. “What happened in between?” Bob asked. Anglers fishing in the middle of those areas beached a few stray stripers. Bob wondered whether years of beach replenishment made the local surf so shallow that stripers there swam farther from shore. Time will tell, he said. But surf fishing was great for stripers to the south. Reports poured in all day yesterday from Island Beach State Park, “about the numbers and quality fish taken (there),” he said. He planned to head there this morning, like most surf anglers he spoke with, and expected to report results afterward. “I hope the island doesn’t sink from the weight,” he said. He’d rather stay and fish Monmouth County. “But it is quite boring,” he said. “I need a bass fix.” In other news, blackfishing was good yesterday on Belmar party boats, and several limits were made.

Fishing nearly limited out on striped bass Saturday on the <b>Katie H</b> on the ocean to the south, Capt. Mike said. The fish were jigged and trolled equally. Sometimes they could be jigged, and when they couldn’t, the trip trolled. Boat traffic was incredible, and that didn’t help, but the catch was pretty good. Six or seven stripers were bagged on a trip Sunday. The trip arrived at the fishing grounds a little late in the morning. Then fog rolled in, difficult for fishing between other boats. But all in all, the anglers were happy, Mike said. The trips did no blackfishing, but sometimes trips will mix up fishing for stripers and blackfish, now that the blackfish bag limit was increased. The limit was pulled up to six on Saturday, from the previous limit of one. Blackfishing sounded a little slow, not really good, during the weekend. But the fishing should improve. Waters were 52 degrees, and when they dip to 48, that should help, Mike thinks. The Katie H features speed and all the amenities, including for comfort in autumn weather.

Jigging and trolling for striped bass was very good on the ocean, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. Sometimes bluefin tuna broke the water surface, and none landed was heard about. But one angler hooked one that got off. Anglers might see the tuna on the striper grounds. Conditions were difficult for blackfishing on Saturday, including for anchoring, like not much wind part of the day. That was the day the bag limit was raised to six, from the previous limit of one. Anglers picked at the tautog, probably bagging at least one apiece, and the high hook bagged five, Pete thought. 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.

The Striperthon was a long one, but worth it, Friday on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. On some drifts, a few stripers were picked, and on some, 20 or 30 were decked. At the end of the trip, stripers going wild were found in a couple of patches, and the anglers had a couple of good shots at them. Some of the trip’s anglers limited out, including with a third, bonus-tag bass. Some customers bagged one, releasing some throwbacks, and some landed only throwbacks. The high hook reeled in a mix of 11 keepers and throwbacks. The trip’s stripers were hooked on Ava 47’s and 67’s, Krocodiles and popper plugs. Certain lures caught better than others at certain times. On Saturday aboard, boat traffic was tough, but striper fishing was decent. The high hook tugged in seven keepers, keeping no more than a limit. On Sunday’s trip, striper fishing was difficult. A few drifts put up good fishing for them toward the end of the outing, once boat traffic dropped off. The traffic was a problem to fish around, and fog also made that difficult. On the good drifts, two to six stripers were hooked at once. Some of the anglers limited out on the trip.  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>

Blackfishing was terrible, but fishing for striped bass and blues was banner, said Capt. Ken from the <b>Big Kid</b>. The blackfish bag limit was hiked up to six on Saturday, from the previous limit of one. But blackfishing will become better. “It can’t get any worse!” Ken said. The stripers and blues were jigged and trolled. Whatever you fish, you’re going to catch, he said. Mid-week openings are available for charters.

Big porgies and large sea bass were sometimes copped Friday on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, and the fishing was okay, Capt. Ryan wrote in an e-mail.  On Saturday, fishing was fair at best again, he said. Big porgies, large sea bass and a few sizeable cod were sometimes shoveled in, “but not enough fish for the turnout,” he said. Most anglers caught some, but none caught big numbers. The fish, especially porgies, were moving around. “They don’t all-out bite every day, or all day,” he said. On Saturday’s trip, John Gogliardo won the pool with a 27-pound cod, and a good-sized hake was also pasted. Traffic from small boats “was ridiculous,” Ryan said. “Weather was too nice.” On Sunday’s trip, Ed Nolan won the pool with a whopper, 7-pound 15-ounce sea bass.

A good spread of striped bass swam the ocean to the south, and between Island Beach State Park and Seaside Park seemed the hot spot to boat them Sunday morning, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Many of the fish were trolled lately on umbrella rigs with tubes or sand eel imitations. Some were jigged, and on previous days, Krocodile spoons caught, and the fish spit up butterfish. Stripers were also boated to the north on the ocean, but the catches were pickier. In the surf, striper fishing seemed better to the north or from Sandy Hook to Long Branch. But a few stripers were beached south at Spring Lake, Manasquan and Island Beach. During daytime, first light to mid-morning gave up most of the bass from the surf. The fish were also hooked in the dark at night. Lures like Daiwa SP Minnows with teasers worked. Teasers mattered definitely. Needlefish lures were sometimes fished, and so was metal. Manasquan River’s striper fishing dropped off. Shad were the only reliable catch from the river, if anglers wanted a fight. Eric tried for blackfish at Point Pleasant Canal, and the angling seemed slow, but the night was cold. The blackfish bag limit was raised to six on Saturday, from the previous limit of one. Blackfishing on the ocean sounded best off Long Branch in shallows like 40 feet. Sea bass fishing was picky on the ocean, but if anglers got on a “small piece,” Eric said, the fishing could be good.  Also from the ocean, nothing was heard about porgies, and ling fishing sounded a little slow. A few bluefin tuna were confirmed trolled west of the Mudhole on Saturday. None was huge, but an 80-pounder was weighed in. Ballyhoos on Joe Shute skirts caught best. A few anglers cast stick baits or popper lures to the tuna. The fish seemed abundant enough for casting lures. Farther from shore, a Point Pleasant Beach party boat returned from the canyons early last week with about 25 longfin tuna that were all chunked during daytime. Catch the sale on rods and reels at the shop. S&S Spro-style and Squidster bucktails are on sale at 25 percent off until Christmas. 

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

A charter with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> fished for striped bass Friday, running south on the ocean, with Capt. Ray at the helm, Capt. Alan, the boat’s owner, wrote in an e-mail. Birds working bait, and fish breaking the surface, were found. The anglers “loaded the box,” Alan said, with 18- to 25-pound stripers. Trolling shad rigs in 50 to 60 feet caught best, and catches were best before 10 a.m. A charter Saturday sailed with Alan at the helm, for a combo of bottom-fishing and striper fishing. The trip ran to the cod grounds, reeling up cod, good numbers of keeper sea bass, including three 7-pounders, and lots of large, 2- to 4-pound porgies. The cooler overflowed with them. One piece was fished the whole time, and when the trip had enough, stripers to 22 pounds were trolled closer to shore, at bird life and fish busting the surface, before the charter returned before dark. The stripers were found where they had bitten all morning. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness.  We’re in the thick of striper- and bottom-fishing seasons, Alan said. Fall and early winter charters are still being accepted.

Anglers with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> first looked for bluefin tuna to cast to on a trip, a report on Andrea’s Toy’s Web site said today. No luck, it said, so the charter ran inshore, and started fishing for striped bass. They settled in to fish at birds working bait along the waters, and the anglers picked away at a half-dozen stripers to 30 pounds. The fishing slowed, and the trip ran farther south, finding another patch of birds. The anglers hammered away at more stripers, limiting out by 9 a.m. With fog moving in, the trip decided to head back early. Another charter kicked off the season’s first striper fishing aboard. The anglers started jigging on the ocean from Manasquan Inlet to farther north. “Nothing to hang your hat on,” the report said. Another captain called, “and off we went,” it said. Sporadic busts of fish were seen along the surface, but the trip decided to troll. Seven stripers to 20 pounds were boxed in a few hours, and other fish were dropped, until the fishing slowed.

Blackfishing didn’t get off to a good start like hoped this weekend on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, but ling fishing was excellent aboard Saturday night,  Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. The blackfish bag limit became six on Saturday, from a limit of one previously, and trips began sailing for them that day. Just a few keepers and throwbacks were managed on the trips Saturday and Sunday. The crew hopes blackfishing improves once the full moon passes. On the ling trip, the high hook plowed 40, and most anglers socked 10 to 25 apiece. A good number of medium to large ling were looted, and some small ones were swung in. Forecasts looked like today’s blackfish trip would be weathered out, but tomorrow’s was expected to sail. The Norma-K III is fishing for blackfish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Magic Hour Ling Trips are running 3 to 9 p.m. every Saturday.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Surf anglers dragged in some good-sized striped bass Saturday and Sunday, reports on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ Web site said. Boaters had been catching them a couple of hundred yards from shore, and the fish pushed into the surf Saturday. On Sunday, 15- to 20-pounders were also checked in from the surf. A 36-incher was brought in this morning from the beach. Ava, AOK and Deadly Dick jigs with a teaser seemed to nail the bass best. But anglers fishing bait also connected, and the 36-incher this morning smacked a needlefish lure in black and silver, at first light. 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. Crabbing and boat rentals are available during the warmer months.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

On the <b>Super Chic</b>, striped bass fishing was good, limiting out, on three trips Friday to Sunday on the ocean, Capt. Ted said. Sunday’s trip took all day to limit, but limited. Saturday’s fishing was very good, and the catch included some bonus-tag bass, totaling 39 keepers for 15 anglers. A few throwbacks were released that day. All the fish were jigged on the trips, and the stripers schooled near port on Friday. On Saturday, the fish were found to the south. On Sunday, they were located far north. So the fish popped up all over, and a few bluefish, not many, were mixed in. About a dozen blues were hooked Friday, three Saturday and four or five Sunday. The anglers on Saturday’s trip originally planned to blackfish, but decided only to striper fish, because the angling was so good.  The blackfish bag limit was jacked up to six that day, from the previous limit of one. But blackfishing was slow on other boats Saturday and Sunday. Conditions weren’t good for anchoring, but the fishing just seemed slow. All fishing seems a little late this season, and blackfishing should pick up, Ted thinks. The ocean was 52 degrees, about right for the time of year. Weather in the next day or two might cool waters.  The 56-foot boat can accommodate up to 25 anglers on inshore trips and 10 on overnight, offshore trips. The vessel sleeps 10 passengers.

Angling for striped bass on Friday started well, lulled in the middle of the trip, then became very good on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. The fish were a mix of keepers and shorts, and a few schools blitzed when the fishing became very good at the end. Bluefish also bit among the trip’s stripers. Saturday’s trip’s striper fishing started well, like how Friday’s trip ended, then shut down, probably because of boat traffic. Next, stripers were hooked here and there, as the trip looked around quite a bit. Bluefish were also caught. In the afternoon, fish swirled along the surface, and sometimes lots of bait was marked. But the crew would’ve loved if the fish had bitten better after the beginning of the trip. Fishing was tough on Sunday’s trip. Fish were seen, including piles at moments, and a few were caught among them. But the numbers weren’t seen like previously. Though fog rolled in, weather was too nice, the report said. Strong westerly winds were needed “to get them balled up and chewing,” it said. Trips are jigging for striped bass and bluefish at 7 a.m. Fridays through Sundays.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Boaters bailed striped bass on the ocean from Long Beach Island’s Red Tower to farther north, Brian from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> wrote in a report on the shop’s Web site on Saturday, the most recent report posted at press time. Fish bit, and anglers were happy, he said. Lots of stripers were reported swimming at Harvey Cedars Lump, 3 miles from shore, in water 50 feet deep or deeper, Brian said. Maureen from the shop, in another post on the site, reminded anglers that striper fishing is closed beyond 3 miles from shore, and that “game wardens are patrolling the ocean front,” she said.

<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>

Check out <a href="http://seaislebaitandtackle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sea Isle Bait & Tackle's blog</a> for reports about ocean striped bass fishing.

Four striped bass to 16 pounds were jigged from the ocean Saturday with Darrel Cooper and Mike Travis aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Fifteen stripers were jigged from the ocean Sunday morning aboard with Mike McClure and two sons. None of the bass was smaller than 10 pounds, and four were 20 pounds or larger, some of them 40 inches. In the afternoon, 15 stripers were jigged, popper-plugged and fly-rodded from the ocean on a trip that Joe took with his son Ryan and Dustin Laricks and Dustin’s son. The fish weighed 10 to 18 pounds, a little smaller than in the morning. Still, they were good-sized. All the stripers were released on the trips, and the fishing was great. Fish boiled around the boat, and striper fishing was probably difficult for a lot of people, Joe thought. But the trips used specialized tackle, like the flies, and the bass foraged on small bait. No bluefish were landed, but lines were bitten off a couple of times, maybe from blues. A bunch of dog sharks bit. Bluefin tuna were seen along the water surface. Jersey Cape usually fishes the ocean’s migration of stripers and bluefish into December, and the angling traditionally peaks around Thanksgiving. Fishing for smaller stripers was good, consistent, on the back bay, and trips can also fish for them. A buddy landed six Sunday morning on jigs. Overall, fishing was excellent, and came alive the past few days, since fish bit from the ocean to the bay. Starting at Christmas, annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys will fish until Easter, mostly on weekends.   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>.

<b>Avalon</b>

Capt. Jim from <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b> might fish Delaware Bay for striped bass next week, he said. That might be good timing, because the striper migration might be a couple of weeks late. The fishing seemed to start late farther north, and was now happening there. Friends fished for stripers on the bay Saturday and Sunday at Tussy’s Slough, only hooking a couple of throwbacks. They saw photos of larger stripers bagged from the bay, but not many large stripers seemed around yet. Fins and Feathers fishes the bay for stripers each fall, and also guides duck and goose hunting on the bay. A trip might hunt ducks on the bay next week. Customers can even enjoy a combination of striper fishing and waterfowl hunting on the bay over a series of days. Jim just wrapped up a waterfowl hunt in Pennsylvania that bagged four geese and three mallards. Fins and Feathers offers a variety of outdoor adventures that include Pennsylvania hunting like that, fly fishing for trout on Pennsy’s streams like the Yellow Breeches, and  salmon and steelhead fishing on upstate New York’s Salmon River, from Jim’s lodge. On the Salmon, salmon fishing is finished for the season, but steelhead fishing is under way, and will last until April. The angling is world-class. 

<b>Cape May</b>

Trips fished for striped bass on Delaware Bay on Friday through Sunday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, and a bunch were hooked, but they were throwbacks, Capt. George said. The biggest probably measured 27 inches, and the smallest were about 18 inches. Bunker chunks were fished, and a few keepers were bagged on the bay on other boats. When they were, they were large, about 30 pounds. Someone from the docks landed a 35-pounder. Nothing good was heard about striper fishing at Cape May Rips. On the Heavy Hitter, the number of stripers hooked was best on Friday, and was mediocre on Saturday, and on Sunday’s was “subpar,” George said. Anglers on the trips included Andy Gallagher’s charter on Friday and Jay Allen’s pipe fitters on Saturday. Two trips sailed Sunday, one in the morning and a short one in the afternoon. That one was with John Voight and nephews Daniel and Ryan, and they released a 25-inch striper. George told them beforehand that the fishing wasn’t good, but they wanted to go. George hopes the fishing picks up soon. Boaters to the north whaled stripers, and those fish will migrate south. The blackfish bag limit was increased to six on Saturday, from the previous limit of one. George heard conflicting reports about blackfishing during the weekend. Some talked about slow blackfishing, and others reported good catches of the tautog. Good fishing for sea bass was heard about from a good way offshore. A couple of boats from the dock rounded them up. Trips for blackfish and sea bass are also available. Telephone if interested in any of this fishing. 

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