<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

The party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> fished for porgies Tuesday, Capt. Tom said. That was the most recent time weather was fishable, and the day’s trips fished Raritan Bay, instead of the ocean, because the ocean was rough. The morning trip picked at the fish, and all anglers bagged some. The afternoon trip’s catch was quite good. All anglers bagged some for dinner, some to freeze and some to give to neighbors, he said. On the previous day, Monday, the boat could’ve fished, and weather was gorgeous, but too few anglers showed up. Sunday’s trips sailed, covered in the last report here. The porgy fishing that day wasn’t great, but both of the day’s trips landed the fish. The trips fished the bay, because wind roughed up the ocean. Wind weathered out fishing on previous days. Strong easterly and northeasterly wind was supposed to begin again today, and the hurricane, or remnants, might smash the coast Sunday to Monday. The boat might not fish again until Monday, because of weather. Tom hopes forecasts change, and anglers can telephone the boat for updates. Or Tom expects to give an update or updates that will be posted here, when he knows when the boat might fish next.  The Atlantic Star is fishing for porgies and blackfish 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily, and clams are supplied for bait.

“Dead,” Joe from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b> said. Wind blew strongly from northeast. “Big waves,” he said. But kingfish and croakers gave up pretty good catches in the river. Striped bass were eeled at Highlands and Sea Bright bridges. Stripers and blues, not a lot, had been eased from the surf. The stripers were small, but bigger will show up. “We got to get over this weather,” he said. Porgies had been around, here and there, like some in the surf that gave up good catches at Sandy Hook’s nude beach. Whether they’d be there after the current weather couldn’t be known.

<b>Neptune</b>

Because of the possible hurricane, all trips are cancelled through October 8 with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an email. An individual-reservation trip on October 4, set to fish inshore wrecks, is rescheduled for October 11. Individual-reservation trips will fish for cod offshore on October 20, sea bass on October 27 and blackfish on November 16. “Be safe,” Ralph wrote. “Let’s hope we don’t get a direct hit from the hurricane.”

<b>Belmar</b>

Tuna swam the fishing grounds offshore, and Capt. Mike from the <b>Katie H</b> hopes they’ll remain, after this weather, he said. The boat is mostly tuna fishing for now, and will fish for sea bass, once sea bass season is opened starting October 22. Trips will sail for striped bass and blackfish afterward. The weather was unreal. “How much more northeast wind can you have?!” Mike asked. The 46-foot Katie H features speed and all the amenities. Fish in comfort in the fall weather.

“As I sit here and write … the wind blows hard out of the northeast,” Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> wrote in an email during the weekend. “I know fall is upon us.” No trips fished aboard since then, because of weather, he said in a phone call Wednesday evening. He didn’t expect to sail again until the middle of next week, or end of that week, because of forecasts. Strong, northeast wind blew again today, and a hurricane or tropical storm might slam the coast at the beginning of next week. A couple of boats fished from Belmar on Tuesday, landing fish like ling and winter flounder, he thought. Pete blackfished at Point Pleasant Canal, and the tautog bit great. No keepers were hooked before bait ran out, but lots of throwbacks snapped. When trips start back up with Parker Pete’s, they’ll sail for bottom-fish including porgies. Pete hopes to see striped bass by mid-October. The crew is excited “to get the striped bass gear out,” he said, and prime dates are available for those trips into November, but don’t wait to book. They do fill up. Sea bass fishing will be launched aboard starting October 22, opening day of sea bass season. If sea bass fishing is like last spring, “go buy yourself a second freezer,” he said. Fish for sea bass earlier in the season, before sea bass migrate to the deep, farther from shore. When trips last fished, huge sea bass to 24 inches were hooked as a by-catch, and released. Blackfishing will begin aboard once the bag limit is increased to six of the tog starting on November 16, from the current limit of one. Good dates for that fishing are available, but again, don’t wait to book, because they fill up.  Even if anglers don’t have a crew of six to fill a charter, contact Parker Pete’s anyway. Individual spaces are available on charters who need anglers. Simply call or contact the boat to book. Jump on <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s website</a> to subscribe to the email blast to be kept informed about the spaces. Look for the place to sign up on the right side of the page, where it says Join Our Newsletter. Hundreds of anglers are on the list, just waiting to fish with you, Pete wrote in the email. “Many fishing friendships have been made on the trips.”

On the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, bluefish 10 to 21 pounds, a good catch, were plowed Tuesday, a report on the party boat’s website said. A tuna trip sailed Sunday to Monday aboard, but no results were posted on the site at press time. Those were the only trips that fished recently aboard, between the weather, and the boat’s fishing will be weathered out today through Sunday, because of forecasts for wind and, later in the weekend, the potential hurricane or tropical storm. Bluefish trips are slated for 7:30 a.m. daily. See the <a href=" http://goldeneaglefishing.com/tuna-reservation.html" target="_blank">tuna schedule</a> online.

A great catch of bluefish to 20 pounds was whacked Tuesday on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an email from the party boat said. The trip fished on the west side of the Mudhole, along hills and rubble, and the slammers were mostly jigged on Ava 47’s and Krocodiles. A few were caught on bait. No trips will fish today through Monday, because of weather forecasts. The boat is expected to resume fishing Tuesday. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

A few anglers tried surf fishing Wednesday, but the fishing was practically impossible, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Wind calmed Tuesday, and surf casters beached a few bluefish. Not much fishing was possible in the wind lately, but crabs, blowfish and baby black drum scurried around the Toms River at Island Heights and in Barnegat Bay behind Seaside Heights or Seaside Park. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Wind blew too hard to hear about surf fishing this week, but blowfish and kingfish were still angled from the dock, said George from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Crabbing was actually good, too. The store is expected to be open daily through the weekend, no matter the weather. Baits stocked include eels, sandworms and fresh clams and mullet. The Dock Outfitters, located on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a bait and tackle shop, boat and jet ski rentals, a café and a dock for fishing and crabbing.

<b>Forked River</b>

Boaters had popper-plugged bluefish at Barnegat Inlet, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. They had boated blowfish on Barnegat Bay. That was all before the wind. Crabbing was alright, the last time he heard.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

Yellowfin tuna had begun to show up, finally, before the wind began last week, said Capt. Lindsay from the <b>June Bug</b>. Not just onesies or twosies, he said. He knew about a couple of trips that landed 15 and 20 apiece. Weather like this is not unusual in fall. The current blow was further evidence that anglers should set aside a four-day window for tuna charters in autumn, like Lindsay always suggests. Then the chances of getting two days for an overnighter are better. Doctorate student meteorologists he knew said the weather coming this weekend could become another perfect storm, and they would know more today. 

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Stan Gola, owner of S&S Bucktails, will be on hand at <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Brian from the shop said. Stop by, including for education, discounts and giveaways. For every $20 a customer spends on S&S products, the customer will be given an S&S sticker. Customers who spend more than $30 will be given a sticker and a package of Gulps. Though weather mostly nixed fishing, striped bass were reported eeled from Mullica River. Bluefish were also hooked from the river. White perch had been angled from the river, but nothing was heard recently. The northeast wind shoved saltwater into the river.

<b>Absecon</b>

At <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>, the crew was sort of battening down the hatches, Capt. Dave said. He took advantage and pulled his boat to clean the vessel and make it completely ready for striped bass fishing. He’ll begin striper charters as soon as the weather passes. A few stripers had begun to bite, before this weather. Some were definitely around. The shop’s bait supply is in good shape for stripers. Plenty of live spots are on hand, and some live mullet are in stock. Some mullet escaped. Plenty of eels are in supply. Anglers couldn’t know what would happen with the small fish, like croakers, that had been around. Dave’s got a feeling fishing will be all about stripers after the weather.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b> was helping people batten down the hatches, he said, but the shop was open. If anglers need anything during the weather, telephone, and if nobody answers, leave a message, and Andy will get back to you. He’s checking the messages. Nobody was really looking for fishing reports in the impending storm, but small striped bass were sometimes plugged form the surf. Small blues were nabbed from the beach. Mike Amici came in first place for the kingfish category, with a 12.6-ouncer, winning $330, in Riptide’s summer fishing tournament that was wrapped up Saturday. Linda Davoli came in first for both the bluefish category, with a 9-pounder, and the summer flounder category, with a 3-pounder. She won $100 for each. All entry fees were awarded, and anglers could enter one, two or all three categories. The Cook Plumbing Riptide Striper Bounty was up to $350 and will be awarded to the angler who weighs-in the season’s first striper 43 inches or larger from Brigantine’s surf. All entry fees will be awarded, so the bounty will grow, and anglers must enter 24 hours before the catch. The Fall Riptide Striper Derby is under way, and includes a new category for bluefish, awarding cash for the three heaviest. The contest is for stripers and blues caught from Brigantine’s surf. Entry includes a permit that allows beach buggies to drive the entire Brigantine front beach, when accompanied by a Brigantine beach-buggy permit. Without the tournament’s permit, not all the beach can be driven. The Brigantine <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/events/101452876877022/" target="_blank">Elks Fall Fishing Classic</a> will take place November 13 to 15. Click the link for more info.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Anglers banked striped bass, good-sized, off the Steel Pier and along the T-jetty, mostly on plugs, but also on bait, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. “But this wind picked up for real,” he said. Tides were especially high, too. Blackfish, a couple of 19-inchers, were bagged at Absecon Inlet off Caspian Avenue. Anglers had to work to hook keeper blackfish, and that’s toward the back of the inlet. Customers fished all these areas on foot. They also plucked blowfish and blues from the inlet toward the back. Bloodworms are two dozen for $20 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Minnows are only $8 a pint or $15 a quart. Catch the special on bucktails at $1.79 for 1/8 ounce, $1.85 for ¼ ounce, $1.89 for 3/8 ounce, $2 for either ½ or 5/8 ounce, $2.20 for 1 ounce, $2.29 for 1 ½ ounce, $2.99 for 2 ounce and $3.49 for 3 ounce. The bucktails come in white, pink-and-white, yellow-and-white, chartreuse-and-white and red-and-white.

<b>Egg Harbor Township</b>

The rental boats were being removed from the water today, said John from <b>24-7 Bait & Tackle</b>. The shop will be closed for the weekend, but the crew will stop in every couple of hours, in case anglers need bait or supplies. <b>The company also own 24-7 Bait & Tackle in Marmora</b>.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Some bigger blues to 16 or 18 inches had been heard about from the surf, said Justin from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Blackfish, including keepers, were reeled from along the Longport Bridge, near Great Egg Harbor Inlet. Out-of-season summer flounder were hooked and released along 9th Street Bridge on the back bay the past two days. Baby, out-of-season sea bass remained along the bridge, and some were actually keeper-sized or 13 inches recently, though that was unusual. The juvenile sea bass swim the bay in summer. White perch schooled Great Egg Harbor River.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Striped bass were angled in evenings in the back bay and at night under lights in the bay, before the weather, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. A few bluefish were plucked from the inlet during brief stages of the tide when the current didn’t scream. Nobody really crabbed in the weather. Baits stocked include live spots, green crabs and bloodworms, and eels would arrive soon.

None of the annual, traveling charters to Montauk, N.Y., fished last weekend aboard, and the trips were canceled for this coming weekend, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Weather was rough last weekend, and is supposed to be this weekend. “If I’m not even thinking about it, that’s telling you something,” he said. The Montauk trips fish the fall migration of striped bass, blues and false albacore through October. Anglers can meet the migration at the legendary port, before the run slides south to New Jersey. Annual traveling charters also fish the Florida Keys from Christmas to Easter. Visit <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page3.html" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s traveling charters Web page</a>. The migration of stripers and blues usually arrives off Sea Isle City in November, and Joe will jump all over them. Currently, his trips from Sea Isle are fishing for stripers on the back bay with popper-plugs and -flies. Those are younger bass, yet to migrate, that live in the bay year-round. The fishing is great sport, drawing explosive, visual attacks along the water surface. Trips will fish for sea bass aboard, once sea bass season is opened starting October 22, until the migration of stripers and blues arrives. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

<b>Wildwood</b>

<b>Fins & Grins Sport Fishing</b> was docked in the weather, Capt. Jim said, and he knew about no boats that fished. But a trip is scheduled aboard for the weekend, and if the hurricane passes east, the outing might sail. Forecasts showed a possible window of calm wind, if that happened. The anglers didn’t mind rain. If the trip sailed, it would fish for croakers, weakfish and blues along the ocean front. That angling should be good. When the weather breaks, Jim will also begin trips that light-tackle striped bass on the back bay with top-water lures. Those trips are for one or two anglers, and fish during right conditions, including tops of tides. Trips are being booked that will fish the fall migration of the big stripers in the ocean or Delaware Bay that will arrive this season. Trips are also being booked for sea bass fishing that will begin once sea bass season is opened starting October 22, and for blackfishing that will begin once the bag limit is hiked up to six of the tautog starting November 16. One is the current limit. Fins and Grins fishes every day, and reservations aren’t required but suggested. Telephone for availability.

<b>Cape May</b>

No trips fished this weekend on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, because of wind, Capt. Paul said. A couple of boats fished off Cape May Point for small blues, escaping wind. Anglers wanted to sail toward the end of the week on the boat’s summer flounder trips, before flounder season was closed starting Sunday. But weather was rough. None of the vessel’s daily trips sailed last week, if he remembered, because of wind. “The fish won,” he said! Few flounder were bagged in the final week of the season. The boat will probably be tied to the dock until daily trips resume, fishing for sea bass, starting October 22, opening day of sea bass season. The crew is doing painting and maintenance to the boat that can’t be done in the cold of January.   

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