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New Jersey Inshore Saltwater Fishing Report 10-31-16


<b>Keyport</b>

Great striped bass fishing was ripped into on Raritan Bay and the ocean with the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b> on rubber shads and jigs, Capt. Mario said. Big stripers moved in, and a bunch in the 30-pound range were seen on Sunday’s trip. Open-boat trips are sailing for stripers daily, and trips are also bottom-fishing aboard, including open trips daily. During the bottom-fishing, some trips fished better for sea bass than others, and up to 5-pounders were cranked in. Big porgies were in the mix, but the sea bass fishing wasn’t great. The daily bottom trips will fish for blackfish beginning November 16, when the bag limit is hiked to six from the current limit of one. Charters are available, and Down Deep runs two 40-foot boats for up to 15 passengers each. Both boats feature heated cabins and full galleys, and are comfortable, he said.  Join the <a href=" http://downdeepsportfishing.com/short-notice-list/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s website to be kept informed about special open trips.

Striped bass fishing remained good, and adult bunker began to arrive in local waters, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an email. When bunker appeared last year, striper fishing became awesome, and that seemed about ready to happen this year. Trips Saturday and Sunday scored well on stripers, but could’ve caught much better. Boat traffic was overwhelming, “and the bass just couldn’t feed without being overrun by boats,” he said. Most stripers jigged then were bonus-tag-sized or 24 inches to less than 28. Today is the final day to apply for a tag. Stripers that were trolled were much bigger, up to 20 pounds. A trip Thursday struggled a little to catch, because of strong northeast wind. Charters are available, and the next open-boat trips with room available are on November 14 and 15. November 17 and 18 are available for charters or open-boats.  Open trips fill quickly, and Frank guesses stripers will stick around well into December. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Anglers on the <b>Fishermen</b> whipped terrific striped bass fishing off the bat Saturday morning near port, a report said on the party boat’s website. White rubber shads and Tsunamis were the tackle for catching the mixed-sized stripers 24 inches to a 26-pounder, the pool-winner. Many anglers decked two keepers apiece, including one bonus-tagged-sized. That’s a smaller striper 24 inches to less than 28 that an angler can bag with a tag. Today is the final day to apply for a tag from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. The catches lasted until the tide changed. “Then it was over,” the report said. Boat traffic surely didn’t help. That was the season’s first daytime trip for stripers aboard, and nighttime trips were already fishing for them, with eels. On Sunday’s daytime trip, no stripers bit until 10 a.m., when outgoing tide finally began. The trip began at the end of incoming, with no current.  When the fish bit, they had moved farther west and to much shallower water. They fed on bunker, like on Saturday. The trip still managed some good-sized stripers, including a few 16- to 23-pounders. A 23-pounder won the pool. A handful came in at the end of the trip on the ocean, where current flowed much better, and the boat drifted better. Weather looks great for fishing in the next days. The Fishermen is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

None of the bottom-fishing trips sailed Thursday and Friday because of weather on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. Wednesday’s trip gave up good catches. The boat resumed the fishing Saturday and Sunday, putting together a pick of porgies and some sea bass and blackfish. Every place fished produced. On Saturday morning, weather was a little breezy, and conditions were bad for anchoring. So the trip sailed to an area where the boat could be drifted for the angling. The anglers picked mixed sizes of porgies and some sea bass. Lots of small sea bass nibbled, and the trip moved to another place, and some better-sized sea bass were thrown aboard. Anglers who bring crabs for bait are pulling in blackfish, not always, but are catching some. When the boat is anchored, most drops hold a few blackfish. No crabs are supplied for bait, because one is the blackfish bag limit. Crabs are provided when the bag limit is increased to six, this year beginning November 16. Then the boat concentrates on blackfish. The best way to describe the weekend’s fishing was that it wasn’t great but all anglers left with dinner. There was plenty of action. The Atlantic Star is fishing for sea bass, porgies and blackfish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Highlands</b>

<b>Lady M Charters</b> is blackfishing from Brooklyn and will blackfish from New Jersey beginning November 16, when the state’s bag limit is increased, Capt. Steve said. On a trip Saturday from Brooklyn, the first two drops blackfished okay, but drops the rest of the day fished tough. On a trip Sunday from there, the tautog fishing was much better. The trip only made two drops, and both gave up life. Anchoring conditions became difficult a moment, but the fishing got through that, and picked and plucked the slipperies throughout the trip. Was a good day, with lots of life. The high hook landed six legal-sized, keeping no more than a limit of four. Many 15-inchers, an inch under legal-sized, bit and were released. Jersey’s blackfish limit will become six beginning that date, from the current limit of one.

<b>Neptune</b>

The anglers almost limited out on sea bass Sunday on a trip, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>. Was a decent day, and lots of fish bit, including lots of small, and some big porgies were mixed in. A trip Sunday failed to connect with stripers in the morning, copped pretty good sea bass fishing afterward, and lucked into stripers on the way home, limiting out on big. So that trip ended up very good, and a super number of boats hampered striper fishing in the morning. Another trip was headed out today. Openings are available Tuesday through Friday. Some anglers expressed interest in Thursday already, and three more anglers are needed for the trip to sail. Five spaces are available November 9. November 11 is available for an individual-reservation trip or charter. For individual-reservation blackfish trips, spaces available include two on November 22, three on November 28 and four on November 30. A special half-day individual-rez trip will blackfish on Thanksgiving, November 24. Six will become the blackfish bag limit beginning November 16, from the current limit of one. In December, spaces available on individual-reservation blackfish trips include: 1, December 1; 2, December 11; 4, December 12; and 5, December 17. Other dates are available for individual-reservation or charter. <b>***Update, Tuesday, 11/1:***</b> Good fishing for striped bass was clutched on a trip yesterday, Ralph wrote in an email. “All on bait,” he said, and a trip will fish for stripers Thursday with bait, and maybe fish for blackfish. A trip will sail for sea bass next week on Wednesday, November 9, and space is available on the trips.

<b>Belmar</b>

Boaters plowed big striped bass to 40 pounds from the ocean in past days, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. They jigged or trolled the fish or hooked them on bunker snagged and then livelined for bait. Surf anglers got into “some old-fashioned bass fishing” for up to 30-pounders on popper plugs and livelined bunker. Stripers weighed from the surf included Felix Vega’s 30-pounder, Marty Westerfield’s 25-pound 8-ouncer, Scotty Pullen’s 27-pounder, Danny Russo’s 23-pounder, Andrew Melli’s 21-pound 8-ouncers and Jerry Taylor’s 11-pound 8-ouncer. Bob himself beached an 11-pounder. Asbury Park Fishing Club won the surf tournament it hosted this past week with 152 pounds. That was for the club’s five heaviest stripers, and the Spring Lake club won second place with 96 pounds. The Shark River club took third with 84 pounds. Time to get your bass fix before winter sets in, Bob said. <b>***Update, Tuesday, 11/1:***</b> Striper fishing was still on, and Mark Manganaro from the Bradley Beach fishing club popper-plugged a 34-pounder from the surf in Ocean County, Bob wrote in an email. John Reilly from Avon boated a 34-pounder on a bunker spoon. Shark River’s winter flounder fishing was super, and limiting out on two was no problem.

Big striped bass, lots, including a 40-pounder, were slugged Saturday on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. One was a slot fish, and the rest were keepers. No throwbacks bit. The fishing was good, mostly on live bunker, a few on swim shads. On Sunday’s trip, after the angling was good a few days, stripers failed to cooperate. The fish were seen splashing along the surface, swimming around the boat, but refused to bite. The trips are sailing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. However, a tuna trip was supposed to sail today to tomorrow.

The <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> on Saturday broke Shark River Inlet and ran into big striped bass rolling on plenty of bunker with birds working the baitfish, an email said from the party boat. The anglers picked away at the bass, a couple of dozen a drift, and sometimes four or five were fought at once. Some drifts fished better than others, and the stripers were 25 inches to 45. They schooled a big spread of water 7 miles north to south along the coast. Toward the end of the trip, wind blew up, and the fishing slowed. But the trip’s fishing was excellent. On Sunday’s trip, stripers refused to bite, after three days of excellent fishing for them aboard. The fishing was terrible, but the crew hoped the angling kicked back in today. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Was a good weekend of fishing, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. Excellent striped bass fishing was clubbed from the ocean Saturday and Sunday in mornings and before dark. Big stripers to 46 inches were hammered, and the fish schooled near port. A bottom-fishing trip sailed Saturday aboard. Dogfish were a nuisance in 80 to 100 feet of water, making the angling tough. But some good-sized sea bass and sizable porgies were pitched aboard. A few weekdays are available for charters in November for stripers and blackfish, once six becomes the blackfish bag limit beginning November 16, from the current limit of one. Plenty of weekends and weekdays are available in December. Stripers can be smaller in December, and Parker Pete’s has bonus tags so anglers can keep a smaller, 24-inch to less than 28 striper apiece, along with the couple of larger stripers anglers can bag without a tag. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Parker Pete’s anyway about individual spaces available on charters. Sign up for the email blast on <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s website</a> to be kept informed about the spaces.

<b>Brielle</b>

Fishing could hardly have been better on the season’s first marathon, 14-hour wreck-fishing trip Saturday on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, Capt. Ryan wrote in an email. The marathons are fishing every Saturday, and all anglers limited out on sea bass on the trip. The sea bass weighed up to 5 pounds, and a good number weighed 3 to 5. Tons of throwbacks also chomped. Quite a few big porgies were swung in, and a couple of anglers limited on porgies. No fancy baits or jigs were needed for the fishing, Ryan said. Fresh clams caught well, and so did practically any bait. One angler caught a 3-pound sea bass on a piece of cheese. The trip fished deep water offshore, and the best fishing seemed 15 to 50 miles from shore this past week. Trips are fishing for 7, 10, 12 and 14 hours, and the boat can reach the fish on any of the trips. A few of the anglers who limited on sea bass Saturday were Justin Murphy from Brick, Bill Carton from Atlantic Highlands, Craig Warren from Neptune, Ed Nolan from Manasquan and Lew Martin from Manchester.

Very good striped bass fishing was socked Saturday from boats on the ocean and from the surf, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. A 50-3/4-pounder was the biggest weighed from a boater and was trolled on a bunker spoon. Boaters caught that way and on Mojos and bunker snagged and then livelined for bait. From the surf, a 23-pounder was the biggest weighed, and surf anglers caught from Monmouth Beach to Island Beach State Park. Surf casters north of Manasquan Inlet hooked stripers mostly on pencil poppers and swimming lures. South of the inlet, they connected on pencil poppers and bunker snagged and then livelined. Anglers surely fished Manasquan River for stripers, but no reports rolled in. Blackfish chewed in Point Pleasant Canal. Weather’s been windy for boaters fishing for sea bass to sail farther from shore to fish deeper water. When they fished closer to shore, sea bass that bit were mostly throwbacks, especially now that 13 inches was the minimum size, compared with 12 1/2 earlier this year. Boaters Saturday also smashed big, monster bluefish on the ocean. Also on the ocean currently, porgy fishing was holding up, and blackfishing was good, even if one was the blackfish bag limit. The limit will be increased to six beginning November 16. Wind usually blew too strongly for boaters to fish offshore for tuna. But when they could reach the waters, the fishing was good. Ninety-five percent of the tuna were yellowfins.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 11/1:***</b> An open-boat trip Saturday and a charter Sunday each limited out on sea bass to 5 pounds and porgies to 4 pounds at offshore pieces and returned early with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Alan wrote in an email. Both species were jumbos, and bites were non-stop during the fishing on each trip. One space became available on a trip this coming Saturday because the angler canceled, and telephone to climb aboard.

Weather on the water was a little breezy Saturday, but sea bass were hungry, a report said on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>’s website. They were hungry on Sunday’s trip, too, in beautiful weather. On Saturday’s trip, keepers and shorts gave up non-stop action, and some anglers limited out, and some bagged a few less. All left with dinner, and on Sunday’s trip, more keepers would’ve liked to have been seen, but the fishing was also good. Jumbo porgies were in the mix on the trips. On Saturday night’s trip, super bluefishing continued. Blues 8 to 18 pounds were crushed. The Norma-K III is sailing for sea bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and for blues 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The <b>Gambler</b> will fish for striped bass on the ocean 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily beginning tomorrow, the party boat’s Facebook page said. Some good reports about the angling rolled around. <a href="http://www.gamblerfishing.net/offshoretrips.php " target="_blank">Tuna trips</a> are fishing on some days.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Popping plugs and swimming lures banked striped bass from the surf at first light and dusk, a report said Friday on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’s website. That was the most recent report at press time, and clams and cut bait hooked the fish the rest of the hours during daytime. A few slammer blues had been added to catches around that time from the surf. Thursday’s report on the site said large bunker sometimes swam close to shore, but not many fish were on them. It said the number of keeper stripers banked was increasing, though not as quickly as anglers liked. This all might’ve changed since those reports. The Dock Outfitters, located on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a bait and tackle shop, a café, a dock for fishing and crabbing and, in season, boat rentals and jet-ski rentals.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Daily trips for striped bass and blues will kick off Friday on the <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Good reports rolled in about the angling from boats from the dock, and bring 3- to 8-ounce, single-hooked jigs for the trips, sailing 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also bring snagging hooks to catch bunker to liveline. Two tuna trips sailed Friday to Saturday and Saturday to Sunday in wind 25 to 35 knots and seas. The fishing wasn’t as good as the crew hoped, “but a bunch of hardy anglers put some fish in the boat,” the report said. A handful of tuna, a few swordfish and some mahi mahi were heaved in. Blue sharks were a nuisance the entire night Saturday to Sunday, and more than 20 were hooked and released. A 150-pound mako shark was bagged just after sunrise. Some of the anglers deep-dropped for tilefish then, catching some nice. 

<b>Beach Haven</b>

Anglers opted not to fish Saturday aboard because of forecasts for wind and seas, said Capt. Lindsay from the <b>June Bug</b>. That was an inshore trip, and for inshore fishing, Lindsay’s hearing about striped bass holding north of Island Beach State Park. That’s as far as the migration seemed to arrive so far, and local anglers waited for the push south to the local ocean. Nothing was heard about offshore fishing in weather in past days.

<b>Absecon</b>

Part of a Facebook post today from Capt. Dave Showell from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>: “I often get asked where I catch the fish. I thought maybe a picture of my GPS trail might help. My dock is up in Absecon Bay Sportsman Center just about where you see the Route 9 symbol. Depending on what is the tide and the wind, I cover all of this. I have been averaging more than 30 miles a day. Take note of the way points, they show narrow sloughs through most of the local waters. In any case for the last four days, every day is getting better. Today we had one over 28", 3 slot fish and at least a half dozen that were a bit short. When I can start getting into double digits, I feel that we are into ACTION and that is what it's all about. The migration is underway and I think we will be back to some outstanding back bay fishing. If you want to get in on the action I'm ready. Today was tough with the weather, and still the best trip yet. I expect some excitement tomorrow … .” Space is available on his charters, including on Wednesday.

<b>Brigantine</b>

A bunch of surf anglers fished, “but the rods are not bending yet,” a report said on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s website. Many striped bass, nailed from boats on the ocean and the surf, were weighed-in to the north. The migration should arrive locally anytime. Several reports came in about good fishing for stripers on the back bay on live bait. Weather was cooler today after a warm weekend, and looks good for the next several days. Fresh bunker and clams were stocked.

<b>Longport</b>

Fishing for sea bass is ridiculously good, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b>. Trips are fishing for them 20 miles from shore, but a charter Saturday aboard fished 12 miles off, because of seas. The number of quality sea bass found was surprising. Lots of blues and porgies also hit, “and the dogfish have shown up,” he said. Blues, porgies and triggerfish have been mixed in on the trips. Good angling. Open-boat trips will sail 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Wednesday’s weather looks good, and remember that on Sunday, clocks will be set back an hour. Trips will fish for blackfish and striped bass once the blackfish bag limit is increased to six beginning November 16, from the current limit of one. A few stripers began to be picked from the ocean, but too few for trips to concentrate on aboard. The migration will build, and striper fishing was excellent last fall on the vessel. Looking ahead, an open blackfish trip will sail 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. That’s a short trip so anglers can return for dinner. An open blackfish trip will run 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. the next day, Black Friday. Blackfish/striper trips will run those hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle City</b> was away this weekend, he said. But striped bass fishing surely remained great on the back bay. The last trip for them aboard landed more than a dozen, covered in the previous report here. He’ll keep after them, and also plans to fish for sea bass and false albacore on the ocean. Sea bass are biting, and his trips tackled albies last year at this time, and he expects to locate them on the next trip. Now’s the time to think about winter trips to the Florida Keys that Joe runs each year. The trips can target a large variety of catches, from speckled sea trout, redfish and snook to sailfish, king mackerel and tarpon. See the <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page3.html" target="_blank">traveling charters’ page</a> on Jersey Cape’s website. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

<b>Wildwood</b>

A trip was canceled Friday aboard because of strong wind, said Capt. Jim from <b>Fins & Grins Sport Fishing</b>. The trip could’ve fished inshore, including for blues that schooled the back bay or occasional striped bass that began to be reported from just off the beach front. But the anglers wanted to head farther out for sea bass. Sea bass fishing this past week was great 25 miles from shore and average to fair 10 miles from the coast. Jim fished inshore for sea bass with a friend this weekend, and they cranked up a few. Fins will jump on blackfish beginning November 16, when the bag limit is increased to six, from the current limit of one. Open-boat trips will be available during weekdays this week, with a minimum of three anglers, if no charter is booked. Fins fishes every day, when there’s demand, and reservations aren’t required but suggested. Telephone for availability.

<b>Cape May</b>

Brian Dilworth’s charter limited out on sea bass 30 miles from shore Sunday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. The fishing was good, drop-and-reel, and a bunch of blues and some kind of mackerel also bit. The anglers kept a dozen of the blues, and the mackerel were the size of Boston mackerel. Plenty of sea bass that bit were only a half-inch undersized, but plenty of keepers bit, too. The different sizes came in waves, or the undersized would bite a time, then keepers would. Seas were sloppy, but the trip was able to fish. The boat will keep after sea bass, and the year’s first striped bass charters are slated for the weekend of November 12 and 13. A friend said boaters from Barnegat Inlet, farther north, lit up stripers this weekend. Cape May anglers waited for the migration to pull south to local waters. Blackfish trips will be able to run once the bag limit is increased to six beginning November 16, from the current limit of one. 

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