<b>Staten Island</b>

A trip, sailing from New Jersey, limited out on blackfish and returned early with <b>Outcast Charters</b> on Saturday, Capt. Joe said. The tautog weighed up to 7 pounds, and the charter fished in 40- to 70-foot depths, the same as recent trips. No other fish like porgies bit. No striped bass were seen, but Outcast will stop to fish for stripers, if the bass are seen when trips are traveling to and from the blackfish grounds. Fishing is available aboard from either Staten Island, N.Y., or Sewaren, N.J.

<b>Keyport</b>

Blackfish to 9 pounds were cranked aboard, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>. Striped bass fishing was a little slow Sunday aboard, but was great the rest of the past week. The fishing remains good, and trips mostly fished the ocean for the bass. The Down Deep, one of the company’s two boats, both 40 feet, is blackfishing daily on open-boat trips, and the Down Deep Bull, the other vessel, is fishing for stripers daily on open trips. Charters are available for either fish. Join 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. Also see the site’s open-trips page about the outings.

Striped bass fishing was good Friday, but a trip Sunday could find no stripers or bait on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank said. The trip looked in many areas, “but it became obvious the fish were only feeding on the outgoing tide,” he said. Blackfishing aboard was okay, and the full moon’s effects on the angling were almost gone, and blackfishing should rebound well. Wasn’t a great weekend of fishing on the boat, and Frank doesn’t sugarcoat, he said. “Bottom line is I came up short. Period,” he said. Water temperature is still excellent for striper fishing, and Frank thinks the fish will remain locally for weeks, unless the temperature severely changes. Looks like the next open-boat trips will fish Thursday and Friday, because of weather forecasts. The trips will jig for stripers if the bass are feeding, and will blackfish otherwise. Many days of good fishing remain. Telephone to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

No wind or current would hold the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> on anchor on blackfish trips Thursday to Saturday, Capt. Tom said. The fishing was no good in the conditions Thursday. On Friday, a few blackfish would be landed, then the boat would move off anchor. More blackfish were bagged than on Thursday, but the fishing still was no good. On Saturday, conditions were the same, but the trip got a pick going. One angler with a touch reeled up more than a limit, and most anglers bagged two to four. A couple bagged none. On Sunday, anchoring conditions were better, and the same angler limited out, and won the pool with an 8-pounder. Some anglers bagged one to four, and some landed no keepers. Conditions weren’t good on most of the trips. But blackfish are around to be caught. The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

The morning’s fishing was a little shaky on Sunday’s striped bass trip on the <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the party boat’s website. No bird life popped up, and a couple of stripers were found here and there at readings that were searched for. Once the tide ran, the angling came to life, like it did Saturday. Plenty of throwbacks and a bunch of keepers mixed in were hooked. Plain jigs and heavier rubber shads caught well, and a 32-inch striper won the pool. Saturday’s trip had life right away, but the stripers were picky, at best. A couple of shots were had at the fish, and they kept moving down the beach. Run and gun. That died at the end of the tide, but Ron told the anglers to wait for the tide to change. That was because on the past couple of trips, the fishing turned back on, once the current began to run again. That’s what happened on this trip, like clockwork. Keepers, throwbacks and slots gave up awesome fishing the rest of the outing. A 17-pounder won the pool. On Friday’s trip, the bite was on, despite boat traffic. Bigger bass to 34 inches bit, and a 23-pounder won the pool. Only two bonus tags were used. Two anglers totaled 24 stripers landed, with keepers mixed in. A number of other anglers landed 12 apiece. Don’t wait long to sail for stripers aboard, Ron warned. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Neptune</b>

A blackfish trip was cancelled today because of wind with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an email. Blackfishing was super on Saturday aboard, and has been on the last few trips on the boat. Bigger blackfish were taken on Saturday’s trip. Good numbers of striped bass have also been biting, and an individual-reservation trip will sail for stripers Friday. Individual-reservation blackfish trips are slated for Sunday and December 13, 19, 20, 24, 26, 27 and 31 and January 1 through 3. Charters are available daily, and if you have a few anglers who want to fish, contact Ralph, and he’ll put together a trip.

<b>Belmar</b>

The <b>Katie H</b> fished for sea bass mid-range Friday, and the angling was pretty good, Capt. Mike said. Some of the fish were sizable, up to 4 pounds, bigger than usual that close to shore. A bunch of big porgies were also waxed, and after a few hours, dogfish moved in. The boat was moved a couple of times, but the dogs continued to be a nuisance. On Saturday a trip fished for blackfish and striped bass. The blackfishing was okay, and a couple of the fish were 5 pounds, and then the angling shut down. Three stripers, two unders and a slot, were bagged. The boat will mostly focus on blackfishing, and might also sail for sea bass, if anglers want. The 46-foot Katie H features speed and all the amenities, comfortable in this season of rougher weather.

<b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> took off Thanksgiving, and striped bass fishing was good on the ocean aboard since, Capt. Pete said. Lots of slot-sized stripers bit, but larger were also bagged. On Saturday, many stripers with blues mixed in were jigged on Avas, hammered jigs and Krocodiles. In other areas, some bigger stripers were found. Sunday’s striper fishing was slower for Parker Pete’s. But stripers to 18 pounds were bagged, and the trip also blackfished, reeling up the tautog to 7 pounds. Blackfishing’s been excellent. Tons of stripers are around, and weather seems to be “holding” this season. Plenty of dates are available for trips in December, including on weekends, for striper fishing or blackfishing. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Parker Pete’s anyway, about individual spaces available on charters. Visit <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.

Surf fishing for striped bass was good in some areas, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. “I haven’t been in these areas, but I keep trying,” he said. He got a call last night saying stripers were biting at Sea Girt. “I said I would go in the morning. They would be gone if I went now. Big mistake,” he said. If you hear fish are biting, don’t wait to go there. “The weather will change or the fish will move,” he said. Look for the fishing to pick up after this blow. Boaters on the ocean ran into the best striper fishing. They’re more mobile, and rubber shads and Krocodiles caught well for boaters. Ryan Degraw from Wall checked-in a 29-pound striper. In Shark River, winter flounder fishing was good. Sundials also bit in the river. Fish soon, “before it gets too cold for us old guys,” Bob said.

Striper fishing should last well into December, and some of the best fishing for them is probably yet to come, because a large spread of the fish is out there, a report said on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>’s website. The boat just received a new supply of bonus tags. Today’s trip was weathered out. On Sunday’s trip, striper fishing was decent, and some keepers, bonus stripers and throwbacks were landed on Run Off hammered jigs, Run Off crocodiles and swim shads. The fishing was slow on Saturday’s trip, and only a couple of stripers were managed, but big bluefish were picked. On Friday’s trip, striper fishing was decent. Lots of throwbacks and bonus stripers and a couple of keepers were hooked. The same Run Off lures and swim shads caught all the fish on these two trips, too.  The Golden Eagle is fishing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 or 3 p.m. every Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday. Striperthons are sailing 6 a.m. to 3 or 3:30 p.m. every Monday and Friday.

</b>Brielle</b>

No real news rolled in about offshore fishing for tuna, and trips seemed not to get the weather to sail, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. The shop was reporting about the angling until now. Close to shore, striped bass were boated north and south on the troll and on jigs. Mojos were trolled, and white and chartreuse sold equally, so the colors seemed to catch equally. For jigging, swim shads and Krocodiles were often fished. Tons of smaller stripers schooled between the channels off Raritan Bay. Bigger stripers 30 pounds seemed caught in the local ocean, closer to the shop. Sea bass were decked from 125- to 150-foot depths, mostly on clams, and a few anglers jigged them. Blackfishing was good on some days and not on others, depending on current. Strong current shut down the fishing. Eight- and 10-pounders were sometimes axed on the good days. Most of the good blackfishing came from 40- to 50-foot depths off the Red Church and Shrewsbury. In the surf, striped bass fishing was pretty good, mostly north of Manasquan Inlet from Sea Bright and Long Branch to Belmar. The stripers were on peanut bunker the past few days. Stripers were beached at Manasquan Inlet’s south pocket yesterday. Farther south, stripers were kind of picked from the beach lately.

On an 18-hour trip Friday, all coolers were filled with fish, and fishing was spectacular on recent trips on the <b>Jamaica II</b>, an email from the party boat said. Friday’s catch included giant sea bass, huge porgies, some cod and even a few blues. Most of the trip’s anglers limited out on porgies and sea bass, and many bagged a couple of cod. Customers who limited on porgies and sea bass included Wes Shourt from Manahawkin, who also won the pool with an 18-pound pollock, Frank Pogue from Trenton, Harvey Jones from Philly, James Kendrick from Camden, Bob Plasket from Medford, Chuck Solan from Brick and many more. A notable catch was Jon McDermott and 12-year-old daughter Elizabeth’s limit of porgies and giant sea bass and four cod. This has been some of the best wreck-fishing in recent falls. Trips include 12-, 14- and 18-hour ones for sea bass and cod, blackfish trips and, on December 28, a cod trip. See the <a href=" http://www.jamaicaii.com/component/option,com_eventcal/Itemid,33/" target="_blank">schedule</a> online.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Blackfishing picked and plucked Saturday on the <b>Norma-K III</b> at every place fished, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the party boat’s website. Some of the bites were scratchy, and some of the fish nailed the bait. A 9-pounder won the pool. On Sunday’s trip, the fishing was a big improvement, and most customers whacked terrific angling. The tautog were hungry, and current ran pretty strong, but most anglers could deal with it. A good number of 4- to 6-pound blackfish were bagged, and the pool-winner weighed a little more than 9 pounds. Some anglers limited out, quite a few bagged two to four, “and just a handful were numb and could not swing at the right bite,” he said. Saturday’s Magic Hour Trip picked at ling and a handful of keeper sea bass. Dogfish were somewhat of a nuisance at first. The Norma-K III is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Magic Hour Ling and Cod Trips are sailing 3 to 9 p.m. every Saturday.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Clamming for striped bass was hot in the surf at Ortley Beach and just north Sunday, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’s website. Bunker schooled, but clams “took the show.” Striper catches increased in the surf beginning Friday afternoon. Good-sized keepers were bagged on “well placed” bunker chunks. Daiwa SP Minnows and thin metal picked the fish. Large schools of adult and peanut bunker swam up and down the coast. “Looks like the fall run still has plenty of steam,” the report said. 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>Barnegat Light</b>

On the <b>Super Chic</b>, good striped bass fishing was tackled Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Capt. Ted said. A trip Saturday blackfished, and that wasn’t bad, putting together a good catch of the fish to 8 pounds for 10 anglers.  The striper trips caught on the ocean to the north and along Barnegat Inlet on livelined bunker and spots. Plenty of bunker schooled the ocean. Sunday’s striper catch was especially good. Fifteen or 18 stripers 40 inches were released, after the trip limited out on unders, and lots of slots were landed along the inlet on spots on the outing.

Great day of striped bass fishing, a report said about Sunday’s trip on the <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, on the party boat’s website. Most anglers bagged an under, and all bagged a bonus bass. Birds worked peanut bunker that the stripers also fed on. The fish bit jigs and top-water lures. Watch a video of the blitz. Saturday’s trip picked away at stripers on livelined bunker. Some of the bass were bonus fish, and some were unders. Late in the trip, mostly bonus stripers and some throwbacks, feeding on peanut bunker, showed up, and those bass were jigged. The trip fished overtime, and that paid off, and most anglers bagged a bonus striper. Trips will fish for stripers and blues 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

Bait was spotty on a striped bass trip on the ocean Friday on the <b>June Bug</b>, and a couple of stripers were hooked but not landed, Capt. Lindsay said. The fish were hooked on jigs, and that was the final fishing for the year from New Jersey aboard. The boat will now be sailed to North Carolina, its winter home. Lindsay thanks all who fished aboard this year, and wishes everybody Happy Holidays and New Year.

<b>Longport</b>

The <b>Stray Cat</b> striped bass fished on the ocean, putting together a nice pick, Capt. Mike said. Twenty-pounders were found off Margate and Ventnor, and the fish were jigged aboard Saturday and Sunday, because the stripers were that abundant. Ava 47s were jigged, and otherwise, the fish were trolled. The ocean was 52 degrees, and trips did no blackfishing in past days, because they striper fished. But Mike’s got a pile of blackfish zeroed in, not big fish, but quality, and trips will also fish for them. Trips today and Tuesday would probably be weathered out, and Saturday is booked. But space is available on open-boat trips Wednesday through Friday and Sunday. Those will be the year’s final trips aboard in New Jersey, and Mike will bring the boat to the Florida Keys afterward for winter. He’ll probably offer some fishing trips there. 

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

More than 30 striped bass to 24 pounds were jigged Saturday on a trip with Jim Campbell and daughter aboard the ocean, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. An out-of-season summer flounder was also hooked and released. Eighteen stripers to almost 40 pounds were landed on a trip Friday with Peter Rotelli and two friends on the ocean three different ways: on the troll, on jigs and one on a Clouser fly. On a trip on Thanksgiving morning with Nick Turicki on the ocean, striper fishing was slower, but a 15-pounder was trolled. Joe also fished with friends and family on Sunday, and they crushed stripers to heavier than 30 pounds on the ocean off Sea Isle, just off the beach. Lots of blitzes erupted, and birds worked the water. So the fishing improved from Thanksgiving through Sunday, and broke wide open. It looks good, and Joe hopes it continues. The stripers were a mix of sizes from 24 inches to large, and he was glad to see the variety. At some places, sand eels swam heavy in the water. At others, lots of bunker did. On Sunday, the bass had 10-inch blueback herring hanging out of their mouths.  Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>. Annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys will fish from Christmas to Easter. See <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page3.html" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s traveling charters Web page</a>.

<b>Avalon</b>

With <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b>, a trip trolled for striped bass on the ocean 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, but none bit, and Capt. Jim only saw one striper caught on another boat during the day, he said. The anglers duck hunted aboard Cape May’s Intracoastal Waterway the previous day, Friday, shooting some ducks. That was a good time, and few ducks were in the area yet, and weather needed to become colder to draw the migration in. Boaters caught stripers hot and heavy in areas on the ocean from Corson’s to Hereford inlets from Tuesday to Thursday. Two, six and eight stripers per boat were landed. Stripers were definitely here now, and anglers need to spend time to lock into them. Anglers couldn’t sail once for them and expect to catch, though they could be fortunate and connect on one trip like that. On Jim’s trip, stripers and tons of bait were marked. Apparently whales swam the area lately. That was a beautiful day on the water, and seas were flat. Fins offers a variety of outdoor adventures, including saltwater fishing and duck and goose hunting. Anglers can even enjoy a combo of striper fishing and duck hunting over a series of days aboard. Salmon and steelhead fishing on upstate New York’s Salmon River and snowmobiling are available from Jim’s nearby lodge. Fins also offers fly-fishing for trout on Pennsylvania’s streams like the Yellow Breeches.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Striped bass fishing is pretty good on the ocean, said Capt. Jim from <b>Fins & Grins Sport Fishing</b>. A trip Friday tied into 23- to 34-pounders right off Wildwood aboard. Fishing on the trip had been slow, but the stripers were located on the way back, and the angling was great. Tons of bunker and some whales have been swimming where the stripers have been. Stripers still seemed to be caught farther north, so fishing for them locally should last a time. Blackfishing aboard’s been pretty consistent, as long as weather cooperates. Weather looks rough the next couple of days, so no trips will probably sail then. Fins & Grins fishes every day, and reservations aren’t required but suggested. Telephone for availability.

<b>Cape May</b>

Fishing for striped bass on the ocean was slower on Thursday and Saturday, and was great Sunday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. Thursday’s and Saturday’s trips bagged three stripers and six stripers, respectively. Sunday’s trip lit up the catches off Sea Isle City. Some of the trip’s bass were trolled, and some were jigged, when the stripers blitzed. Lots of birds worked the water off Sea Isle on the outing, and seas were sloppy, but stripers were there. Stripers on the trips were 32 to 40 inches, and one, on Sunday’s trip, was 45 inches. The anglers were Joe McGee from McGee’s Tavern’s crew on Thursday, Henry Lewandowski’s group on Saturday and Anthony Mergliano’s gang on Sunday.  A trip Friday, with Ryan Moore’s party, loaded up on sea bass, and didn’t limit out, but the fishing was pretty good.

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