<b>Staten Island</b>

With <b>Outcast Charters</b>, blackfishing on Monday, before the storm, limited out early, Capt. Joe said. So the angling was really good, he said, for the tautog to 7 pounds. The trip fished in 50 to 80 feet of water, catching at different depths, at a couple of different areas, on green crabs and white leggers. No birds were seen working the water on the trip home to stop on and fish for striped bass. But Outcast does that while traveling to and from the blackfish grounds. Another blackfish trip was weathered out Wednesday aboard. Trips are available from either Staten Island, N.Y., or Sewaren, N.J.

<b>Keyport</b>

The high hook bombed 16 keeper blackfish this week on the <b>Down Deep</b>, Capt. Mario said. The tautog weighed up to 10 pounds on the boat during the week, and another blackfish trip was set to fish today aboard, with a big crowd, in good weather forecasts, after the week’s rough weather. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing, and open trips include a sea bass one that’s supposed to sail offshore at mid-week, if the trip can get the weather. Sign up for the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on the Down Deep’s website to be kept informed about open trips.

Nothing was going on with fishing locally, said Joey from <b>Joey’s Bait Shack</b>. No striped bass from Raritan Bay or other local catches like that were reported. But all tackle – all of it – is on sale for 25 percent off, and gift certificates are available for a 10-percent discount. The store will probably be open about another week, before closing for a winter break. Baits like frozen clams and bunker are stocked, so anglers can stop in for supplies before a trip or for holiday gifts.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Was good action on striped bass, smaller fish, but some anglers landed 25 to 30, on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> the past couple of days, Capt. Ron wrote Tuesday in a report on the vessel’s website. That was the most recent report at press time, and he hopes to fish through the weekend, if weather holds up, and then decide about the future schedule. Is best to telephone before traveling to confirm a trip will sail. Jigs with and without tails and rubber shads caught best. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Not many boats fished in past days, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. But when they sailed, blackfish were swung in, and small striped bass were jigged. In the surf, a few stripers, mostly small, were tied into on bait and plugs. Winter flounder swam the rivers, but nobody fished for them. All baits are stocked, including worms, fresh clams, fresh bunker and green crabs. “We got it all,” he said.

Trips for blackfish resumed today on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said in a phone call at 10 a.m. aboard. None of the daily trips sailed the past two days in the weather. The trip today picked at the fish so far. The catch included keepers, and Tom was unsure how many. Dog sharks were a little annoying, so he shifted the boat’s position now, to see if that caught better. But there seemed to be life, a pick, and that seemed better than yesterday, Wednesday. Blackfishing sounded slow on Wednesday on boats that sailed. The angling today seemed a little better, and Tom hoped “to get some going,” he said. The trips last fished on Monday aboard, and the togging was a pick that day, not nearly as good as on Sunday. The blackfishing was decent on Sunday, though conditions were sloppy a little. Sunday’s and Friday’s blackfishing were best aboard recently, and Saturday’s was slow. The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Neptune</b>

<b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> will fish next on individual-reservation trips for blackfish on Friday and Saturday, Capt. Ralph said. Space was available at press time, and blackfishing trips aboard caught decent last Friday and had a pick on Saturday, covered in the last report. On Saturday, some of the anglers didn’t catch, but the trip ended up with fillets for everybody. One angler landed more than his limit. Individual-reservation trips for blackfish are sailing every Sunday, Tuesday and Friday this month and in January, when no charter is booked. This Sunday is chartered, and charters are available daily. <b>***Update, Saturday, 12/6:***</b> Individual-reservation trips, with space available, will fish for blackfish on Tuesday, Friday and next Saturday, Ralph wrote in an email.

<b>Belmar</b>

The blackfish trip was a great success, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. He mentioned in the previous report that he was supposed to sail on his first-ever blackfish trip, on Monday with Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters. But he worked instead, because forecasts called for small-craft warnings. “… I am not good with that,” he said. But the anglers on the trip scored well. Marty Westerfield heaved aboard a 12-pound blackfish. Kenny Reed, Tom Riggs, John Ozbeck and Charlie Dana limited out, and most of the tautog were larger than 5 pounds. The crew from Parker Pete’s did a great job, Bob said. In other news, striped bass fishing “leaves a lot to be desired,” he said, but small stripers could be hooked with little effort. Winter flounder fishing was good. He didn’t mention where, but talked about good flounder fishing in Shark River in previous reports.

Blackfishing on a trip Monday was a steady pick, not rapid fire, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. But the trip limited out, and a 12-pound blackfish, the biggest so far this season aboard, was hauled in. A few large ones couldn’t be “gotten off bottom,” too. The fishing would catch a few blackfish, wait, catch a few more, and so on. Picky fishing. But a boat limit was made, and some anglers landed more than a limit. The fish were all good-sized roasters 3 to 5 pounds, some 6’s. Parker Pete’s this blackfishing season docked a 10-pounder, an 11, and now the 12. Boaters hooked throwback striped bass on the ocean Monday, before Tuesday’s storm. Striper fishing was sporadic. Stripers are still around, Pete thinks, but he’s trying to focus on blackfishing, because the angling’s better. 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.

No trips fished in the weather the past two days on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. But blackfishing’s been decent, pretty good, including lots of limits, when the trips have sailed. Some big ones were smashed, including a 12-pounder, an 11 and a 10. White leggers caught best and are available for sale aboard for $6 per dozen, lower than at most stores, he said. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. This Sunday’s trip might leave early, and check the boat’s website about that.

Fishing for striped bass was great on the ocean to the north throughout the weekend on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an email from the vessel said. Saturday’s trip fished 18 miles to the north, and the bass were almost all throwbacks, but gave up lots of action, including 15 to 20 catches for some anglers. By the end of the trip, a couple of keepers were bagged, and Steven Bromiley from Philadelphia won the pool with a 22-pounder. Sunday’s trip began fishing 10 miles to north of the inlet, and the angling was practically the same. No bluefish showed up on the trips, but the Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for stripers and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Miss Belmar Princess short- and long-sleeved T-shirts, and hoodies, are available in time for the holidays. To purchase, call the boat at 732-681-0030 or 732-681-6866.

Fishing was docked in weather in past days on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the vessel’s website said on Wednesday, the most recent day one was posted at press time. “But I know the stripers are still there,” it said, and weather looked good for the next days. The Golden Eagle is fishing for striped bass at 7:30 a.m. daily. Offshore wreck-fishing trips will sail every Friday night this month for giant sea bass, porgies and cod, and contact the boat to reserve. Take advantage of a holiday offer: Buy two gift certificates for trips on the boat, and get a third free. The certificates may only be used by the recipient, and only one freebie is available per recipient.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Mostly ling were plowed aboard the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. A few sea bass and some blackfish and cod were axed, but trips mostly targeted ling. The angling was okay, not great, but alright, and some anglers totaled 10 to 20 fish, a mix of the species. The ling were average sized, and plenty were small. Some anglers tossed back small ones, but ling have no size limit, and seeing anglers throw back some of the fish could be frustrating. The blackfish weighed up to 7 or 8 pounds, not huge. Blackfish won pools on some days, and 10- or 12-pound cod did on some. Trips fished for ling in 150 to 180 feet and for blackfish in 90 to 100 feet. The water was 51 to 53 degrees, still warm, on the fishing grounds, and was 55 in the deep at the grounds the other day. But that’s the water surface, and the bottom had to be chilly, because ling bit. The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.  

None of the blackfish trips sailed in past days on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s website. But the crew was ready to fish again starting today, and weather was looking good. The Norma-K III is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Magic Hour Ling and Cod Trips are fishing 3 to 9 p.m. every Saturday. Gift certificates are available for the holidays for fishing aboard, and telephone the boat.

<b>Toms River</b>

Trying to find a keeper striped bass was slow in the surf, but a good number of throwbacks were around in the water, said Mario from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. The fish swam pretty much up and down the local stretch, but most reports about good angling for them came from Island Beach State Park at Gillikens and the pocket at the jetty at Barnegat Inlet, like usual. A variety of lures lit into them including Daiwa SP Minnows, Jetty Ghosts, A.O.K.’s and Ava’s with teasers. Or bucktails did. Usual times of day or tides produced, like when the catches were mostly made last week: on the middle of incoming tide. If high tide was at noon, the catches were made at 9 a.m. On the next day, the catches came an hour later, because the tide is an hour later each day. Or the fish bit 2 hours before and after the tide. Nothing was really heard from boaters fishing for stripers on the ocean. News about winter flounder was scarce from the Toms River, though the flounder season was currently open, unlike in recent years. Two is the bag limit, and few anglers fished for them, like at Island Heights. The few that did reported no success. Fishing for the black-backs was reportedly good on Shark River. Now would usually be the time to pick up the flounder from the Toms, but not many tried. 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>

Keeper striped bass failed to get beached from the surf, but throwbacks were, still fun, said Kevin from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Bucktails with pork rinds hooked them, and one angler banked 53 in the storm Tuesday, another store on the island reported, he said. Wind blew east on Tuesday, and is supposed to start blowing east tonight into Friday. “See what happens,” he said. Nothing was reported from boaters fishing for stripers on the ocean. Blackfishing was pretty good on the ocean on boats and party boats from Barnegat to Manasquan inlets. Shore anglers tugged in blackfish from along the rocks at both inlets. They copped good blackfishing at Point Pleasant Canal. 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>

Anglers played small striped bass along the Route 9 Bridge near the power plant, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. They cast Fin-S Fish on jigheads or weighted rubber shads, he heard. No reports were heard otherwise. No boaters talked about striper fishing on the ocean on the radio in four days. He keeps the radio on throughout the day at the shop.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Between the weather and time of year, Vince Sr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b> said, nobody was seen who fished. Hardly any boats were even seen passing by, and only two were this morning, he said when he gave this report at noon, in a phone call. Just repeat whatever he said for the last report, he said.  That was a week ago today, and catches he reported then included stripers boated from the ocean and Barnegat Bay and blackfish snatched from along Barnegat Inlet’s rocks. This weekend was going to be the season’s final when the shop would be opened at usual business hours, but weather sounds like a washout. Afterward, the shop will be open, but only when the crew happens to be there. But the crew is still doing lots of boat winterizing and shrink-wrapping, and baits stocked still include live spots, green crabs and plenty of other baits. 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.

<b>Surf City</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 12/5</b> Nothing was heard about fishing the last several days, and weather wasn’t good, said Rich from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Participation was slowing down for the season, but he knew that throwback striped bass were eased from the surf. Fresh bunker was the preferred bait, because bunker were still around. But many anglers switched to fishing with fresh clams, when bunker failed to catch. Fresh bunker or clams were the baits of choice. Fresh bunker was stocked today, able to be obtained, because the menhaden schooled locally. Fresh clams, stocked yesterday, are on hand. Green crabs, a favorite blackfish bait, are carried, but nothing was heard about blackfishing, like along Barnegat Inlet’s rocks. More people blackfished when one of the tautog was the bag limit than did now, when the limit is six. Lots of green crabs were sold when one was the limit.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Blackfishing was good at ocean wrecks, when boaters had fair weather to reach the waters, said Brian from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Sea bass fishing was also good at ocean wrecks. Striped bass swam the ocean out of range of the legal fishing grounds. Striper fishing is closed beyond 3 miles from the coast. But boaters couldn’t sail during the week anyway, in relentless seas, wind and sometimes rain. No customers even tried to boat for stripers at Little Egg Inlet or elsewhere in back waters. White perch fishing was great on Mullica River at Amos Landing Road near Garden State Parkway. Bloodworms and fresh, shucked clams will be stocked for the weekend. Eels and green crabs are on hand. That was all despite forecasts for rough weather for the weekend. No grass shrimp were stocked currently, but the store sometimes stocks the live shrimp, when Scott nets them. Brian was unsure whether Scott was going to soon, but the store recently carried the shrimp.

<b>Absecon</b>

Weather was calm today, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. That was after rough weather during the week, and when boaters could sail the ocean in weather lately, many claimed to locate striped bass within 2 or 2 ½ miles from shore. Striper fishing is closed beyond 3 miles, but Dave believes most stripers were located 4 to 4 ½ miles from shore. See Dave’s Facebook post about the subject. But the fish are migrating along the coast, and a few popped up within legal range, for sure, he said for this report. The fish were trolled, and a few stripers were heard about from back waters, like the mouth of Mullica River, up that river and up Great Egg Harbor River, the past couple of days, after the worst of the weather. They were also heard about during the weekend. In the rivers, the bass were eeled or bloodwormed. Local inlets failed to give up productive striper fishing. Some of the most productive fishing was for white perch, with short stripers and occasional keepers mixed in, in rivers like the Mullica. The stripers were hit on bloodworms fished for the perch. Was the perching good? Dave was asked. Yeah, they’re picking some, he said, and there were customers going for them. That angling was a definite possibility. A few anglers tried for blackfish along jetties. But the water was becoming cold for that. Not many boaters blackfished on the ocean in the weather. Weather’s been tough this fall. “It never forgets to blow,” he said. Live spots are still stocked, kept indoors to keep from the cold. Eels, bloodworms and green crabs are carried. A few clams are kept on hand. Whether fresh bunker will be stocked for the weekend was unsure. The supplier didn’t have a lot of demand to sail for them, and the shop didn’t have a lot of demand for bunker either. Weather’s better here: at  Dave’s Guatemala charters. If interested in a good vacation, he said, this winter, give him a call to talk about it. Fish like sailfish and dorado are there now and all year.

<b>Brigantine</b>

One couple of anglers boated a 20-pound striped bass on the ocean Monday, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. The store is stocked with bunker spoons, Mojo rigs and Stretch plugs for trolling the fish, because of demand. Six throwback stripers were beached from the surf the other day, and that was the most action with stripers in a day from the local shore this fall. Five were hooked on clams and one on bloodworm. The annual Riptide Striper Bounty was up to $1,275. Sponsored by Hess Plumbing, the bounty awards the total entry fees to the angler who enters the season’s first striper 43 inches or larger from Brigantine’s surf. Entry is $5 and required before catching the fish, and if nobody wins in fall, the bounty will be rolled over to spring. 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. Gift certificates are available for 10 percent off, and if you can’t stop at the store for them, telephone the shop, and the certificates can be mailed. Lots of phone calls were answered for Stock’s famous pound cakes, from Stock’s Bakery in Philly, that are carried at Riptide. Telephone to order yours if you want the cake for the holidays. <a href=" http://abclocal.go.com/6at4/story?section=6at4&id=8422000" target="_blank">Watch a video about the pound cake</a> and read an article about the cake at the link. Karl Stock is a Riptide customer and a Brigantine surf angler.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

A few small striped bass, not many, but some, were tackled from Absecon Inlet to the surf, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. When small stripers show up this time of year, that’s usually toward the end of the migration. Fish fresh clams, fresh bunker or eels for the bass. Blackfish, not the numbers like before, but sometimes catches, were cracked along the inlet’s rocks. That was mostly on green crabs, sometimes on clams. Green crabs are $4 per dozen or three dozen for $10, and eels are $1.50 apiece or $15 per dozen. 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>Longport</b>

Anglers blackfished Wednesday on the <b>Stray Cat</b> on the ocean, but the angling was no good, Capt. Mike said. Seas were rough, preventing the boat from staying over top the wreck fished, and the trip returned early. The boat’s had tremendous blackfishing in rough seas at times. At other times, blackfishing was slow in large seas. There’s no explaining, he said. The trip didn’t try striped bass fishing, but bait remained along the 3-mile line that stripers have been feeding on. Striper fishing is closed beyond 3 miles from shore, and the Stray Cat is fishing for both blackfish and stripers. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trip will sail on Friday. No trip will sail today, because Mike will let seas calm and clear up. The ocean was full of sediment after the blow in past days. A southerly current also ripped. Saturday’s and Sunday’s weather looks like a blowout. The full moon is also this weekend. After Friday, trips are expected to start again on Tuesday aboard. Mike will let the ocean settle on Monday.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Only one or two days were possible to boat the ocean this week, because of weather, but sounded like striped bass were trolled there, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Only a couple of customers boated for blackfish on the ocean, but they caught, and green crabs were sold for the fishing. A number of stripers, small, none larger than 28 inches, were actually hooked from the back bay. A number of anglers, not just one or something, reported the catches, and the stripers were mostly hit on lures. The angling was like usual, catching toward the top of outgoing tides. Not many stripers were managed from the surf. “One here, there,” Bill said. In addition to green crabs, baits stocked include eels and fresh clams. He was unsure whether he’d stock fresh bunker, because of demand.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Had some weather days during the week, but good striped bass fishing was boated on the ocean during the weekend and at the beginning of the week, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Most of the fish were trolled on Stretch plugs and umbrella rigs. Mike wasn’t asked the type of umbrellas, but has been saying rubber shads all season. Sometimes the stripers were also seen along the surface, and then nailed on soft-plastic lures like Bass Assassins and also on popper plugs. Lot of fun. Not many were hooked on metal jigs like diamond jigs. Bluefish, not a lot, but some, were mixed in with the bass. Anglers did see a few stripers from the surf this week, half on bunker, half on clams. A few trips boated for blackfish on the ocean between the weather, returning with decent reports, “not setting the world on fire.” But not bad.

Charters aboard last fished for striped bass during the weekend, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The angling was good on the ocean, covered in the last report, and Joe heard second-hand that the fishing remained good this week. The fish were smaller on average than before, but were there, and blues were mixed in, and were sizable. Blackfishing’s been good on the ocean. Coming up, annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys will fish from Christmas to Easter. Now’s the time to book, instead of waiting until dates are reserved. 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>

On the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, the next striped bass trip is set for Friday, and Capt. George heard that the angling remained pretty good, he said. Someone said the fish were trolled well on the ocean Wednesday toward Wildwood and Stone Harbor. A trip aboard was also supposed to striper fish today, but the angler had to cancel. More of the trips are slated for Sunday and Monday, but looks like a nor’easter will blow then. If wind like easterly is too rough to fish the ocean, trips might be able to fish for stripers on Delaware Bay now. George heard about a couple of catches including some sizable stripers from the bay. Sometimes smaller, throwback stripers about 24 inches also seemed abundant. But a few better-sized – keepers – seemed to swim among them, reportedly.

<b>***Update, Friday, 12/5:***</b> Fishing limited out on striped bass in 3 hours on the ocean Thursday with <b>Melanie Anne Sport Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Frank said. All the boats out there – “was crazy – were fish everywhere,” he said. No stripers bagged from Delaware Bay were heard about. Melanie Anne didn’t try for stripers at the Cape May Rips recently, but wind was shifting to a perfect direction to try.

The daily blackfish trip was docked Tuesday in the storm on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, but the trips sailed otherwise, including on some rough days, Capt. Paul said. Wind blew on Sunday, and continued to blow afterward, but blackfishing was good on Sunday’s trip. Some of the anglers limited out, including John Batzig from Philly and John Riccardi from Williamstown. Dan Tinsman from Atco bagged four of the tautog to 7 pounds. On Monday’s trip, not many blackfish bit at all, probably because of an ocean swell, because of previous wind. When the boat resumed blackfishing on Wednesday, after the storm, seas were stiff. At a couple of places, mostly a few throwbacks bit, and a couple of spots gave up some keepers. The high hook bagged five, and nobody limited out with six. So the angling slowed after Sunday’s good blackfishing, probably because of weather, because the water wasn’t cold. Forecasts are calling for a gale on Sunday, and anglers better call ahead if thinking about sailing on that trip. The Porgy IV is blackfishing at 8 a.m. daily.

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