<b>Keyport</b>

Striped bass were finally socked from Raritan Bay, both from shore and boats, said Joey from <b>Joey’s Bait Shack</b>. Eight of the fish were weighed-in, and a 19-1/2-pounder was largest, and was boated at Reach Channel on the bay on a bunker head. One customer boated and released a 25-pounder on the bay, according to the customer. From shore, many of the bass were throwbacks, but bigger ones were showing up more often than before. They were moving in, Joey said. Bunker, clams and, at night, eels were fished for stripers. Baits stocked include fresh bunker, fresh clams and live eels.

The <b>Vitamin Sea</b> sailed for striped bass on Tuesday, Capt. Frank wrote in an email. Action was good, though most of the fish were throwbacks. “We did find some good livelining under the bunker schools,” he said. Stripers chased bunker in both the ocean and Raritan Bay. Trips are full this Saturday and Sunday, but space is available Friday on an open-boat trip for stripers. Weather doesn’t look good for the weekend anyway, and Friday might be the only opportunity. More open trips are planned, and telephone for the schedule. Open blackfishing will begin on November 16, when the bag limit will be lifted to six of the tautog, from the current limit of one. Like the <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/vitaminseafishing" target="_blank">Vitamin Sea’s Facebook page</a>. Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

Striped bass fishing started to become good, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep</b>. The fish were hooked all different ways, including on livelined and chunked bunker, eels and jigs. Charters are fishing, and open-boat trips for stripers are eeling and bunker-chunking at 5 p.m. every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Sea bass fishing was good like before. Sea bass weighed up to 3 ½ pounds, and porgies up to 4, aboard. Blackfish also hit, and many had to be released, because of the one-blackfish bag limit. Mario can’t wait for the bag limit to be raised to six, starting November 16. Sign up for the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s website to be kept informed about open trips for stripers, sea bass and blackfish.

<b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b> is supposed to fish for striped bass this weekend, but wind might cancel that, Capt. Joe said. The trips are carrying bunker to chunk and eels to liveline for bait. Diamond jigs are also kept ready, in case stripers that can be jigged appear under birds. This cold front might be good for striper fishing. Open-boat trips are sailing for stripers daily, when no charter is booked, and telephone to jump aboard.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Striped bass bit, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. That was in the bay and ocean, on chunked or livelined bunker, clams, eels and sometimes jigs. Stripers also bit in the surf, “as long as it’s blowing,” he said. That didn’t mean only when weather was rough. The fish chewed as long as weather wasn’t too calm, hitting at night on plugs. Bottom-fishing was great for porgies and sea bass, “and everybody gets their (limit of one) blackfish,” he said. Not many bluefish were heard about locally, and blues were boated farther south.

On the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, bottom-fishing was good again today, Capt. Tom said. Forecasts look like the angling will be weathered out Saturday and Sunday, so jump aboard Friday to take advantage of the good catches, he said. The angling was also good on Tuesday and Wednesday. On today’s trip, loads of porgies, terrific-sized, were plundered. But a few sea bass were hung, too. On the previous two days’ trips, fishing for large porgies was also good, and some spots gave up sea bass, and a few blackfish, not a lot, were bagged. Trips tried to get some sea bass for everybody aboard, after they bucketed a healthy catch of porgies. It was just good fishing, and that was the best way to describe, Tom said. The Atlantic Star is fishing for sea bass, porgies and blackfish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Things are finally starting to shape up, Capt. Ron from the <b>Fishermen</b> wrote about striped bass fishing in a report on the vessel’s website. On daytime trips, some better-sized were landed on bunker and eels, and smaller bass that swiped jigs gave up just a showing. “Couple of areas are now starting to produce,” he said, and water was 58 to 60 degrees, but should cool, because of the weekend’s cold front. Loads of bait schooled up and down the coast, “and out to the east,” he said. Nighttime trips slugged away at stripers, good angling, when conditions were right. A couple of the fish weighed 20 to 24 pounds last week. A couple of anglers limited out, and lots of shorts gave up action. The Fishermen is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. every Monday through Saturday.

<b>Highlands</b>

From <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Greg Hanna on the Annie H limited out on striped bass to 20 pounds while trolling and livelining off Sandy Hook Point, Marion wrote in an email. Ed and Tony on the Hammerhead bagged a striper at Sandy Hook Channel on an eel. Twin Lights, located conveniently on Shrewsbury River near Raritan Bay and the ocean, with no bridges before them, includes a marina with boat slips and dry storage, a fuel dock, and a combined bait and tackle shop and ship’s store. The full supply of bait is stocked for inshore and offshore, and the fuel dock is available 24 hours a day with a credit card. 

<b>Neptune</b>

Stripers are biting, Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> wrote in an email. The boat’s engines are being rebuilt, and he expects to start fishing again in two Fridays, November 7. The vessel will cruise 5 knots fasters, “with no smoke,” he said. Limited dates remain for charters and individual-reservation trips in the next month, and book now for prime dates. Individual-reservation trips will fish for stripers November 9 and 11 and for blackfish November 16, 20, 23 and 30. The blackfish bag limit will be hiked to six starting November 16, from the current limit of one. Last Lady will fish into winter, as long as fish remain. <b>***Update, Saturday, 11/1:***</b> Not many spots remain on the striper trips on November 9 and 11, so Ralph added another one of the trips for November 13, he said in an email. “Thanks for all the bookings,” he said.

<b>Belmar</b>

Lots of sea bass and lots of big porgies were plowed, and fishing was good, on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. Winter flounder and ling were mixed in. He was pleased, and the Big Mohawk is fishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Big bluefish were picked from the ocean Wednesday on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the vessel’s website said. The trip spent lots of time trying to get stripers to bite. “Saw plenty of readings on bunkers all over the place,” it said. Only a couple of the bass were hooked aboard, but today’s trip will try for stripers again. On Tuesday’s trip, striper fishing was decent. The bass 15 to 35 pounds were clocked on hammered jigs and Krocodiles, sometimes in shots of four or five at once. At other times, “the fishing was a little boring,” the report said. The anglers had to work for stripers, but some were caught. On Monday’s trip, striper fishing was excellent, and almost all anglers limited out on two, and bagged another with a bonus tag. Several anglers limited out on the first drift, and caught and released more stripers afterward. The fish weighed 15 to 35 pounds and bit jigs, Krocs and popper lures. Plenty of big blues were also tackled. The stripers on this trip were the first of the season aboard, and this was an excellent start. The Golden Eagle is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The fishing wasn’t as good as on the previous day, but striped bass to 27 pounds were decked on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> on Tuesday, an email from the vessel said. That was the most recent email at press time, and plenty of stripers swam in many places, so don’t wait to get them, it said. On the previous day, Monday, the trip wrecked stripers, lots, to 30 pounds.  The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for stripers and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

On the ocean, striped bass fishing was decent, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. Big ones were around, and the bass to 38 pounds were clubbed with Parker Pete’s this week, and trips aboard have been livelining bunker for bait. The fishing was good on bunker at first light. Fishing aboard picked at stripers the rest of the day, and the angling usually lit up again in afternoons. Dog sharks started to be a nuisance sometimes, but the striper fishing was generally decent.  Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Jump on <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s website</a> to subscribe to the emailed newsletter to be kept informed about last-minute, individual spaces available to fill in charters. Look for the place to sign up on the right side of the page.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 10/31:***</b> What a week of bottom-fishing on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, Capt. Ryan wrote in an email. Limits of sea bass and porgies were common, and the fishing was only slower on Tuesday. On the trips, sea bass ranged from throwbacks to 5 ½ pounds, and porgies averaged 1 ½ pounds to 3 ½, huge. Ten- to 12-pound cod won most pools. A few of the anglers with limits were Bob Plasket, Omar Richardson, Wesley Shourt, Huang Seng, Robert Duff, Edgar Vitola, Ralph Molinari, Eric Slonaker and Wayne Nelson. Trips will probably be weathered out this weekend.  The Jamaica is fishing on 7-, 10- and 12-hour, open-boat trips for sea bass and porgies. Fourteen-hour trips, reservations required, are fishing for sea bass, porgies and cod every Saturday. Saturday, November 8, is sold out.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

A quick, half-day trip snagged bunker to liveline for bait to hungry striped bass to 28 pounds on the ocean this morning with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Alan wrote in an email. The fish were found in two distinct areas miles apart, “so this is a great sign for the fall run,” he said. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

At every place stopped at on the ocean Wednesday on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, sea bass gave up good life, Capt. Matt wrote in an email. A few porgies also chomped, and anglers did have to pick through throwbacks and dog sharks, but the fishing was decent. Was a beautiful day on the water. The past days were warm aboard, and Tuesday’s trip picked away at sea bass and porgies. Current ran strongly, tough to fish, and 12 ounces of weight needed to be used to reach bottom, to get in the game. Some anglers scored okay, and some had tough fishing. On Monday, the fishing improved a lot, compared with the weekend. Quite a few sea bass and porgies, both big, and a few winter flounder were swung in. The Norma-K III is fishing for sea bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

Small bluefish and a few keeper striped bass were slid from the local surf, said Mario from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. A 15-pound striper was weighed-in from the surf. Another angler weighed-in a 26-1/4-pound striper boated on the ocean a little to the north on bunker snagged and then livelined for bait. Barnegat Bay held lots of throwback striped bass and plenty of blues behind Island Beach State Park and off Cedar Creek. Small swimming plugs, like X-Raps in Glass Ghost color, and small poppers, like Smack-It Junior lures, caught them. Mario had more fun with the fish in the bay than catches in the surf currently. A large body of sizeable, migrating stripers is swimming the ocean to the north, and anglers hope they push south to local waters. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, bought <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River this year, and is running both shops now.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Bunker, a lot, schooled just beyond casting range from the surf this morning, with striped bass on them, in the Ortley Beach area, said Kevin from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. A striped bass was beached from the surf here and there lately, but fishing for them was spotty. The migration remained north, like toward Long Branch and Sandy Hook. But good-sized blues 6 and 8 pounds were fought from the local surf sometimes, on nearly anything, like metal, popper lures and more. A buddy tied into them on a Daiwa SP Minnow lure while trying for stripers. Lots of skates filled the surf.  The Dock Outfitters, located on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a bait and tackle shop, boat and jet ski rentals in season, a café and a dock for fishing and crabbing.

<b>Forked River</b>

One customer eeled a keeper striped bass along the sod banks on Barnegat Bay at night, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. More customers than before bought eels but also umbrella rigs, for trolling stripers on the ocean, this week. The migration of stripers reportedly started to arrive in the ocean to the north. Eels are stocked, and no fresh clams will be this weekend, because of rough weather. Shad and tube umbrella rigs, bunker spoons, weighted hooks for snagging bunker to liveline, and all the supplies for the striper run are stocked.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Many striped bass were docked today at <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>, Vince Sr. said. The fish were boated on the ocean and in Barnegat Inlet, mostly on livelined spot. Sea bass fishing was excellent on the ocean. More keeper blackfish were seen at the shop than in a long time. They were bombed at ocean wrecks and along the inlet’s rocks. Bluefish were around, and showed up at the confluence of Oyster Creek and Double Creek channels on Barnegat Bay. Bobbie’s features a complete bait and tackle shop, a fuel dock and, in season, boat and kayak rentals. The boats are used for fishing, crabbing, clamming and pleasure. The store is known for bait supply, including live baits. Baits stocked include live spots, plenty, and green crabs, and fresh clams and bunker.

<b>Barnegat</b>

From an edited email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “It’s on … This is the ‘tip on a horse’ kind of fishing we’ve all been waiting for. The near-shore striper fishing is all lit up right now.  Snagging bunker, jigging and trolling. All sizes of the fish. Early and late hours of the day.  Anywhere from Deal to Ortley Beach. Five- to 10-knot, northeast wind forecasted for Friday, so this is a‘hurry up,’ last-minute open-boat. Leaving the dock at 12 noon, and fishing until 6 p.m. Might be possible to leave at 11 a.m., so please be flexible. Currently sailing out of Manasquan Inlet, so we could make the left or the right. Three people max. All fish are shared. Better to call, as I won't be online much. Also sailing open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. Same info as above. Looks like after a hard NE, and then N, on Saturday and Sunday, Monday is supposed to be heavy NW. That usually lays the ocean out, flatter and flatter, as the day goes on. See you onboard!” <b>***Update, Saturday, 11/1:***</b> From an edited email from Dave: “Got ‘em! If you want to catch stripers, you have to react ... now! Epic fishing with 12- to 30-pound fish up off Ortley Beach (on Friday). Sea condition was sporty in a stiff N/NE wind, so we stayed on the troll. Anywhere from 60 feet of water into 25 feet. Bunker spoons, bucktails and a jumbo shad worked really good for us. Color didn't seem to matter – they were hitting everything. Third day in a row of this kind of fishing. These fish are spread out from Monmouth Beach all the way down to Seaside. Snagging bunker is working, too. The party boats are catching pretty good on jigs, so we might start putting more effort into that technique. However you guys want to catch them. It's the size of the fish that is making this such an opportunity. All solid fish. Sunday's forecast is looking better now, a cranking NW wind, so we’ll be sailing another open boat this Sunday, and Monday. Leaving the dock at 7 a.m. and returning at 1 p.m. Three people max. All fish are shared. NW makes everything good. Flattens out the ocean and activates the fish. The harder it blows, the flatter it gets, up to about a mile and a half off, and then it gets sloppy. But all the action has been inside that mile and a half, so we are good to go. Calling or texting is better than email if you would like a spot.”

<b>Surf City</b>

Surf fishing for striped bass started to pick up, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. The water temperature dropped to 60 degrees, and a 39-pound 9-ounce striper from the surf was entered today in the Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic at another shop. No stripers were entered during the first two weeks of the tournament that began on October 6 and runs until November 30. The shop holds a customer appreciation barbecue on the final day of the tournament each year. Stripers must be 34 inches long to enter, and 11 stripers were entered since October 21, nine days ago. So the fishing was picking up, mostly along the island’s north end. Five of the 11 stripers were entered at Surf City Bait & Tackle. A good-sized striper was boated in Barnegat Inlet. Bluefish were dragged from the surf. Kingfish were today. Skates and dog sharks bit in the surf. The store’s striper tournament, for surf anglers, is under way until December 31. Entry is $10, and all entry fees will be paid out for first, second and third prizes. First gets 50 percent, and second gets 30 and third gets 20. New this year will be a Tsunami Air Wave surf-rod, from Folsom Corporation, awarded for fourth place. Stripers must be 28 inches or larger, the legal size, to be entered. Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Surf-City-Bait-and-Tackle/207533229268619" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s Facebook page</a>.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

The season’s first migrating striped bass began to be caught on the ocean near Shark River, farther north, said Brian from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. But occasional larger stripers like that were also clobbered locally. A 25-pounder was clammed in Mullica River. A fish that size obviously came from the fall migration, and was silvery, because it came from the ocean. Waters locally were 60 degrees, a little warm for stripers. Stripers were sometimes bagged in Absecon Bay and Absecon Inlet. Six stripers were entered in a local tournament during the weekend. Catches of white perch were heard about from the Mullica. Blackfishing was good along Barnegat Inlet’s rocks. Tuna fishing went well on party boats at Hudson Canyon. Lots of longfin tuna and some yellowfin tuna were boxed. Baits stocked include fresh, shucked clams, eels, green crabs and bloodworms. Fresh bunker might be stocked. The shop started to be readied for the Black Friday sale during Thanksgiving weekend. Customers who purchase more than $100 will be entered in a raffle for a Penn Battalion and Battle rod and reel combo that weekend.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Boating for striped bass lit up on Saturday, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Two 40-1/2-pounders were weighed-in from two different boat trips that day, covered in the last report. One was trolled on the ocean on a parachute jig, and the other was eeled on the back bay. The bay trip also eeled a 29-incher. The two bay bass were Bud Mondau’s first-ever stripers, subdued on Joe Rogers’ boat the Sea Hunt. Another trip eeled three stripers to 15 pounds on the bay. Livelined eels seemed to catch the bay’s stripers better than livelined spots did, but some were whacked on spots. One angler waxed a 32-incher and a 34-incher on spots. A 44- or 45-pound striper was known about from Absecon Inlet. Surf fishing was dead until Wednesday. A 44-pound 50-inch striper, weighed at another shop, was beached from the surf that day on Brigantine’s north end. That was sacked on bunker, Andy believed. Kingfish were picked off in the surf now and then, but kingfishing was slow. Fresh bunker and clams and live eels and spots are stocked. Live green crabs will arrive Friday. The annual Riptide Striper Bounty was up to $970. Sponsored by Hess Plumbing, the bounty awards the total entry fees to the angler who enters the season’s first striped bass 43 inches or larger from Brigantine’s surf. Entry is $5 and required before catching the fish. The annual Riptide Striper Derby is under way until December 23, awarding prizes, and allowing beach-buggy access to Brigantine’s entire length, when accompanied by a Brigantine beach-buggy permit. Otherwise, not all the beach can be driven. The Brigantine Elks Fall Striper Classic will be held November 14 to 16. Proceeds from the tournament, for boaters and surf anglers, will benefit the Elks’ veterans programs.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Keeper blackfish, lots, were pulled from Absecon Inlet today, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. The tautog were good-sized lately, along the jetties that line the inlet, located near the shop. Customers fish there on foot, and a 44.9-pound 50-inch striped bass was weighed-in from the surf, and was landed on fresh bunker. A 20-pound 35-inch striper was heaved from the surf. Other stripers were bagged from the surf and inlet, and the inlet’s channel was lit up with fish now. Things were popping, he said. Green crabs are $4 per dozen or three dozen for $10, and eels are $1.25 apiece. Baits stocked, a large supply, also include fresh bunker and clams. Friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-stop-bait-tackle/362952943747080?rf=151870514855225" target="_blank">One Stop on Facebook</a>.

<b>Ocean City</b>

A small crowd fished Wednesday on the party boat <b>Miss Ocean City</b> on the ocean, and all the anglers limited out on sea bass, Capt. Victor said. The sea bass measured up to 18 inches, and bluefish were also caught, a good day, he said. Open-boat trips are fishing every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Groups of 10 or more receive a discount.

A few throwback striped bass, a few almost keepers, were managed along the surf jetties on soft-plastic and top-water lures, said Justin from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Small blues popped into the surf sometimes, and were mostly taken on bunker, and a couple of customers banked the blues, mostly 10 inches, this week. A few blackfish bit along the jetties, but not many fish were eased from the surf. Stripers that migrated south reportedly arrived in the ocean farther north in the state. But the back bay locally turned out quite a few decent-sized stripers. They were close to keeper-sized or keepers, mostly beaten at night. But they were also angled during daytime. Soft-plastic lures, bunker and clams caught them. Eels worked on the bass, both during daytime and nighttime, though sometimes eels work best at night. Blackfish, lots, gathered along the Longport Pier and the 9th Street Bridge. Coming up with a keeper was hit and miss, and the tautog mostly bit during higher water or the last of incoming tides and the first of outgoing. Nothing was heard about sea bass from the ocean, and boaters seemed hardly to attempt to sail the ocean, because of wind in past weeks.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Pretty good striped bass fishing was smoked, mostly from the back bay, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Most there were probably popper-plugged, and high tides and slack high fished best with the top-waters. But the fish were also popper-plugged throughout incoming and outgoing tides. Some of the bigger stripers, though, were smashed on livelined eels or spots in the bay’s deeper holes, mostly in evening, and even in the dark. Stripers started to be found along bridges at night on soft-plastic lures. No stripers were heard about from the ocean yet, but when boaters looked for them, they located 1- to 3-pound blues. Small blues schooled Townsend’s Inlet, and were mostly hooked on mullet. Sea bass were boated on the inshore ocean. But the better-sized sea bass, and the numbers of keepers, seemed to come from 15 miles from shore and beyond. Blackfishing was excellent, both for shore anglers, like on the Avalon side of Townsend’s Inlet, and the ocean, like at the wrecks 5 miles out. Some good-sized were snatched up.  The shop’s <b><i>***South Jersey Striper Slam***</i></b> will be held November 7 to 9. The tournament will be open to boaters and anglers on foot who fish from Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Cape May Inlet, from the back bay to the ocean. Winners will win all the cash from the entry fee, and Calcuttas will be included. An awards ceremony will be hosted at Shoobies Restaurant, with sandwiches, sides and soda.

Popper fishing for striped bass has been good on the back bay, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The fishing, with lures and flies, is a specialty aboard. This cold front blowing through should make the ocean’s striper fishing begin locally. Joe recently wrapped up annual traveling charters to Montauk that fished the migration of false albacore, stripers and blues, to turn all attention to the run of stripers and blues on the ocean off Sea Isle. He said then that the angling usually begins off Sea Isle by the beginning of November. Those trips, fishing in November and December, should be booked now. Everybody telephones for the fishing when the stripers arrive. Is also a good idea to book traveling charters to the Florida Keys, fishing from Christmas to Easter.  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>Cape May</b>

The season’s first striped bass fishing will be weathered out this weekend on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. Wind will keep boats from sailing on both Saturday and Sunday, and most charter boats from Cape May had seemed to plan to begin striper fishing this weekend. But striper trips will now begin on the Heavy Hitter, and telephone if interested. Sea bass trips are also available, and blackfishing aboard will begin on November 16, when the bag limit is raised to six of the tautog, from the current limit of one.

Fishing was already cancelled, because of weather forecasts, this weekend with <b>Melanie Anne Sport Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Frank said. The boat was going to begin striper fishing for the season during the weekend, and a 40-pounder was heard about that was caught on Delaware Bay at 60-Foot Slough. A 40-incher from the bay was also reported. No fish, not even blues, swam Cape May Rips. Dead, he said. Water was 60 degrees this week, and with the cold front now, Frank hopes the water drops to 58. That could be good for striper fishing. More striper trips are booked for next week, and the boat will compete in Utsch’s Marina’s striper tournament at the end of next week. Sea bass trips are available, and blackfish trips will begin on November 16, when the bag limit will be increased to six of the tautog, from the current limit of one.

A bunch of fish were scooped aboard Tuesday on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, Capt. Paul said. The fishing got off to a slow start, but scored alright, lots of action, in the afternoon, and all anglers left with fish. Sea bass, a few big blues 6 to 8 pounds, and a few triggerfish were bagged. The blues were larger than usual, and usually were 1 to 2 pounds lately. A small crowd joined Wednesday’s trip, and a couple of the anglers limited out on sea bass. The trip landed sea bass – some of the anglers bagging more than others – a few triggerfish and a few small blues, “had some fish,” he said. The fishing hasn’t been great, but was probably better than last year, and some fish are around. Paul heard nothing about striped bass showing up, and expects to keep bottom-fishing. During some years, the boat switches to stripers, if the striper migration moves in. The Porgy IV is wreck-fishing for sea bass at 8 a.m. daily.

A couple of striped bass were boated on Delaware Bay, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. They were chunked on bunker, and one came from the Cock and Balls. A few were cracked at mid-bay, like at 20-Foot Slough. Lots of stripers remained in the back bay, nipped while boaters chummed and fished with clam or bunker during daytime, and while working soft-plastic lures and popper plugs along the sod banks and bridges at night or early in morning. Stripers started to be seen from the surf, and Nick, a surf angler, would dunk clams or bunker for them. Blackfishing was good along jetties. Sea bass fishing was reportedly good on the ocean in deep water. Fresh clams and bunker and live spots, eels and green crabs are stocked.

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