<b>Brooklyn</b>

On the <b>Big M Express</b> anglers on an open-boat blackfishing trip a week ago today averaged 6 to 10 keepers apiece, and an 8-pounder was the largest, the report on the vessel’s web site said. A trip the previous day produced a good pick of the tog to 9 pounds, bigger fish on average this time, at only a single drop, one-stop shopping. The previous trip anchored at three different places. The Big M Express is blackfishing on both open trips and charters, sailing from Tamaqua Marina in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn.

<b>Staten Island</b>

A fly-rodding customer said plenty of striped bass were swimming along Ambrose Channel, said Joe from <b>Michael’s Bait & Tackle</b>. One of the local charter boats was loading up on blackfish on every trip. That about summed up the news, and customers were typically scarce at this time of year, but the shop is keeping donuts and coffee in supply, so stop by if even just to shoot the breeze. Take your reels to the shop to be serviced while turnaround time is quickest.

<b>Bayonne</b>

Customers in the winter will sometimes fish for striped bass and tomcod from the Bayonne Pier, though none seemed to be trying this past week, and they seemed busy with the holidays instead, said Capt. Akira from <b>True World Tackle</b> and <b>True World Tackle Charters</b>. The shop is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, and frozen bait is stocked, and worms were expected to arrive.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fishing for striped bass was excellent on the <b>Fishermen</b> yesterday in the ocean off Long Branch, Capt. Ron said. The boat managed to get in a trip between the rough weather, and customers jigged the linesiders – lots of small ones to slot-sized bass with keepers mixed in – and a 15-pounder was the pool winner. Birds were working, and the stripers were chock full of sand eels, and the boat fished in 55 to 75 feet. At one place the fish finder marked stripers stacked up through 40 feet in the water column. Ron will stick with the fishing as long as possible and is hoping to keep running through mid January. The boat is fishing for stripers 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, but no trip will sail New Year’s Day. Ron also continued to encourage anglers to support the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/" target="_blank"> Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund </a>. The organization aims to fund research to prove that the government’s data on the fluke population is seriously flawed. Environmental groups are insisting that the population is threatened and are pushing to shut down fluke fishing. Visit the fund’s web site to learn more, including about these events: a public meeting 7 p.m. January 21 at the Manasquan Elks Lodge; and the fund raising dinner open to the public 7 p.m. February 21 at the Crystal Point Yacht Club.

Striped bass were hooked along the ocean beaches on private boats and party boats, when the weather was calm enough for boats to sail, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Stripers could also be beached in the surf, and a 33-pounder was weighed in two days ago that a sharpie picked up from the Monmouth Beach suds, and Jimmy thought he caught the fish on a black Bomber at night. Jimmy fished for blackfish yesterday, and the catch was very good, and the tog fishing was turning on during some days and slowing down on others, depending on the weather. Julian’s is open every day when the weather is fair, and clams, worms, green crabs and frozen baits are stocked.

Blackfishing trips on the <b>Atlantic Star</b> sailed Wednesday and Monday, Capt. Tom said. Wednesday gave up fair action, and quite a few of the fish were small, but keepers were mixed in, and a few ling were boated, not as many as on a previous trip last week that produced a bunch of ling including big ones. Frank Brindley from Dunellen won the pool with a 5-1/2-pound blackfish, and Capt. Tom thought the high hook reeled in three or four keeper blacks and also released shorts, and some patrons put two or three blacks in the cooler. The boat fished Scotland and the new grounds south of Scotland, and some of the tog were landed at each drop. Everybody at least reeled in the slipperies, though not all scored keepers, and some of the keepers were good-sized. Monday’s fishing was tough, apparently because of the 72 hours of strong easterly winds beforehand, and the boat stayed in port Tuesday because of Christmas.  The Atlantic Star is fishing for blackfish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, including on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, through Sunday, January 6. Afterward Capt. Tom will take a short break from trips before kicking off next season. UPDATE, 12/31: Blackfishing on Friday on the Atlantic Star was only a pick, no great shakes, and Saturday’s trip was cancelled because of nasty weather. But Sunday’s blackfishing was nice on the boat at Sandy Hook Reef, and some of the fish were big. Some patrons limited out, and some bagged five or six, and others boated no keepers. The vessel fished at a few spots on the reef, and patrons picked away at each. All in all, the fishing was decent, considering the terrible weather Saturday. Only two or three ling bit, but the boat wasn’t fishing an area where ling show up. Still, ling fishing’s been slower since bad weather two weekends ago, though previously a bunch of the hake were reeled in. Blackfish are the main target on the trips anyway.

<b>Neptune</b>

An individual-reservation blackfishing trip sailed today with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, and the catch was good, despite a big heave on the ocean, difficult conditions, Capt. Ralph said. One angler limited out, and another came close, and the rest were inexperienced and bagged one to three keepers apiece. Openings are available on more of these trips tomorrow and Saturday, and Ralph was yet to make up January’s schedule, but individual-reservation blackfishing trips usually take place once or twice a weekend. Offshore wreck-fishing trips are slated for Saturday and January 18, and both are full, but another will be added to the schedule that will fish before January 18, and call to reserve space. Ralph’s last wreck trip was great, and the catch included sea bass, big porgies, ling, cod and pollock. UPDATE, 12/31: A blackfishing trip Friday with Last Lady limited out and came home early, one of the better trips of the year, in flat seas, and even Capt. Ralph released a 7-1/2-pounder. Individual-reservation blackfishing trips will now sail every Saturday in January. An offshore wreck trip has been added to the schedule on January 13, and call to book.

<b>Belmar</b>

Patrons on the <b>Big Mohawk</b> were picking away at tog, and a number of nice ones to 12 pounds were reeled aboard yesterday, Capt. Chris said. Storms and rough weather were often messing up the fishing lately, but the blackfish were still getting hooked, mostly on green crabs, when the boat could sail. The Big Mohawk is fishing for tog 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Blackfishing was very good for boaters in the ocean, and that was mostly the news, except that the weather was terrible, and for example the party boats were only getting out a couple of times a week, said Bob from <b>Fishermen’s Den</b>. Dave Rooney reportedly put together a good catch of the tog on the charter boat Fish Heads, including releasing a 13-pounder. Some mackerel definitely started to appear offshore, so the party boats will begin to try to sail for them, but it was a matter of enough of the macks showing up and being found to make the fishing reliable, and also a matter of getting decent weather to head out. Practically nobody was surf fishing for striped bass or boating for them on private vessels, but Bob was sure the fish could be located if somebody tried. He heard that the bottom-fishing party boat Dauntless from Point Pleasant ran across working birds along the beach front in the past days, so the vessel stopped, and patrons jigged stripers. The shop will be open full time as long as blackfishing lasts, and afterward the doors will be open in the mornings until reopening full time toward winter flounder season.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

UPDATE, 12/31: Anglers on the <b>Dauntless</b> were picking away at mackerel in the past days, and each trip was targeting both mackerel and bottom fish, spending time on each, Capt.  Willie said. The macks were hooked both along the edge of the Mudhole and in the deep in the Mudhole in 150 to 200 feet, and the bottom fish were targeted at the wrecks in the same areas. On Saturday mackerel fishing was very good on the boat, and patrons picked away at ling, blackfish and cod while bottom fishing. The fishing was a little slower Sunday, but patrons picked away at mostly mackerel. The Dauntless is sailing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day, including New Year’s Day.

UPDATE, 12/31: Rob Sr. from <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b> checked in just to say that the shop will be open Fridays through Sundays until reopening full time toward spring. Things were very quiet this weekend. But the shop’s motel, the Gates Motel, will stay open full time all winter and is especially popular with anglers, who stay the night before or after fishing trips on the local party and charter boats or simply stay and make a fishing vacation from a visit. The tackle shop and hotel are located within walking distance of Manasquan Inlet, the charter and party boat fleet and the ocean surf.

<b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> got out on a blackfishing trip before the holidays and before the full-moon tides, and the catch was good, and the tog were still biting, Capt. Fred said. He was waiting for the moon to wane a little more and will try to target the fish again this weekend. Tog trips will continue to sail, including special, 10-hour, open-boat blackfishing trips at a great price, and for details see the boat’s home page. A bunch of small stripers were schooling farther north around the channels off Sandy Hook, and that fishing is also an option. Another push of bigger stripers might not show up again this year, because they might swim too far offshore because of the cool water. The crew will try to take an exploratory wreck-fishing trip offshore for sea bass, cod and pollock, and if the bite is good, Andrea’s Toy will try to offer open-boat trips for this fishing in January. Call if interested, and act now, because Andrea’s Toy might only fish another couple of weeks or so before finishing its season.

A striped bass trip sailed yesterday on the <b>Gambler</b> in the ocean after the daily trips had been weathered out a while, and there was good action off Asbury Park, Capt. Bob said. Gannets and birds were diving, and the first drift’s fishing was great, with non-stop bites about an hour and 45 minutes. Lauren Chiavarini bagged two keepers, and probably half the patrons scored a keeper, and shorts gave up non-stop fights. The first half of the trip was best, and most of the fishing was done in 60 feet, and the water was 43.5 to 47.5 degrees. All the fish hit jigs, and most patrons fished Ava 47’s or Krocodiles, but some threw Crippled Herrings. All seemed to work, but plain Ava’s with no tails were best. The boat will continue fishing for stripers 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through the end of the year and maybe even longer, if the fishing continues like this. A half-day trip from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. will sail on New Year’s Eve, and the boat will be kept docked on New Year’s Day. In January the Gambler will kick off wreck-fishing trips offshore for jumbo sea bass and other species. The first trip will sail January 5 and is already full, but openings are available January 10 and 12. Then the boat will offer these trips every Thursday and Saturday from 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. through January. On the days that sea bass trips sail, no striped bass trips will leave port.

Fishing for striped bass seemed quiet locally, and small ones had been boated in the ocean toward Island Beach State Park previously, but those fish seemed to leave since then, said Dan from <b>Fisherman’s Supply</b>. Even a surf angler hit the local wash this morning and said nothing was doing. Bottom fishing was good at the Mudhole for sea bass and ling, and blackfishing was productive at the ocean wrecks. The party boat <b>Voyager</b>, docked at the shop, fished the Mudhole yesterday for a good catch, and the boat was on a blackfish charter today. Dan believed that the Voyager was sailing open-boat for sea bass and ling at the Mudhole each Wednesday and was offering charters on weekends, but check the boat’s web site or call the vessel to confirm. Fisherman’s Supply is open seven days a week through winter and carries offshore, inshore and surf gear, a full supply of all the different frozen baits through winter, and boating supplies. Look for reports from both Fisherman’s Supply and the Voyager to start being posted here each week, and the usual person who will give the reports was on vacation this week, so details about the Voyager’s trips were unconfirmed, but he’ll be back next week.

<b>Bricktown</b>

Striped bass could apparently be found in the surf, but hardly anyone was trying to hook them, said Jim from <b>Pell’s Fish & Sport</b>. A customer yesterday said stripers including small ones but sometimes a few larger ones were appearing in the suds at times and hitting tins or anything that looked like sand eels. Nothing first-hand was reported about blackfishing, but printed reports were saying catches were decent at the ocean wrecks. Pell’s will be open through the first Sunday in January and then will close till the first weekend in March. Salted clams, lures and other tackle are fully stocked.

<b>Seaside</b>

Only a few surf anglers hit the beach, but they clammed a couple of short striped bass yesterday, said the fishing report on <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b>’s web site. “Not a great deal of info to base a report on, but it’s something,” the report said. Clams were stocked, but don’t expect them to last, because the clam boat was finished sailing for the season. If you were thinking about salting some for the winter, it’s time. Water temps were still within range for striped bass to bite in the suds, so give it a try. In other news, beach buggy permits for Island Beach State Park for 2008 now require the vehicle owner’s registration and driver’s license to be presented. Grumpy’s encourages anglers to take a look at the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund’s <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/" target="_blank">web site </a>, support the organization and draw a line before people try to end fluking and other fishing. The shop’s holiday sale will last through 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve, when the doors will close that day, and the deals include substantial discounts on Megabait jigs, bucktails, Bombers, Creek Chub poppers, Diawa Emcast rods and reels and more. Last but not least, Grumpy’s is known for building custom rods, and now is a good time to place your order before the waiting lists grows long. A list of rod blank orders is being put together, so choose your blank now and avoid high shipping charges. <a href="http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishingreports/" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for updates.

<b>Waretown</b>

Dale from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b> said that his brother heard that patrons on the party boat Gambler got into a good catch of stripers in the ocean this week, so his brother and friends were supposed to try to hop on the Gambler today. Most private boaters pulled their vessels from the water for the season, so news from them was scarce, and nobody reported surf fishing. Al Casanenti weighed in a 22.75-pound monkfish, the only weigh in lately. L&H will remain open all winter and is stocking all the frozen baits including clams.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

UPDATE, 12/31: Bottom fishing at the offshore wrecks for sea bass and such and closer to shore for blackfish were both good, said Basil from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>. Ten or 12 anglers headed out to fish the surf over the weekend, but nobody reported back results. Things were kind of quiet, but it seemed more a matter of participation at this time of year, because fish probably could be caught. The shop is open on weekends when the weather is decent, but call ahead to confirm.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

The <b>Miss Beach Haven</b>’s blackfishing trips were cancelled because of big seas this past weekend, Capt. Frank said. But the boat is slated to target them again this weekend, including on an extra day, Friday, for the holiday weekend. The open-boat trips will sail 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Friday through Sunday.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

A couple of the local charter captains fished for tog this week, so they hadn’t given up on charters yet, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. But otherwise news was scarce, and the weather was often crummy. Nobody even reported fishing for perch up the rivers like the Mullica or trying for freshwater fish in the lakes and ponds, and the holidays probably got in the way of participation. But Scott’s is carrying live grass shrimp for perch and is stocking minnows for freshwater fish. No worms were on hand, but live clams were, if anyone wanted to give striped bass fishing a try this coming week. It’s that time of year to say it: This is a great season to bring rods and reels to the shop for repair before the spring rush creates delays.

<b>Absecon</b>

Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b> heard that a couple of boaters made a loop through the ocean but found no working birds, no marks, no stripers, he said. Things were at a standstill at the moment, he said. A cold week arrived in the beginning of December, turned off the local fishing, and now the temperatures are reasonable, but that’s the way it goes, he added. The shop will be open every day until the first of the year, including for its <a href=" http://www.abseconbay.com/abseconbay/sales/clearance.htm
" target="_blank"> clearance sale </a>through New Year’s, offering 50-percent off on many items and 25-percent off on the rest. But call to confirm whether somebody will be there. Afterward no set hours will be kept during the height of winter, and customers should call the shop if they need anything.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Striped bass could be jigged in the ocean, and no major action was taking place, but schools were showing up here and there, said Jack from <b>Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle</b>. The few who fished were still finding sand eels in the stripers’ bellies, and fishing for the linesiders also still seemed to be going on around Cape May. Surf fishing seemed to die down compared with earlier, but a few surf anglers were scoring an occasional striper at places such as North Brigantine. Not a lot was heard about tog fishing, but the slipperies were hovering around the ocean wrecks. The largest numbers of big ones probably hadn’t turned up yet, but Jack would imagine mid to late January would be the time. Ocean boaters were also running offshore for sea bass along the wrecks. The store is stocking salted clams, live eels, live green crabs and frozen bunker, herring, mullet and mackerel. Its rental boat, a 17-foot Angler with a 50-horsepower engine, is still available for fishing the bay, and somebody rented it last weekend and scored a short striper. Offshore is open every day except Mondays and Tuesdays, but call during weekdays to confirm that somebody will be there. Weekends are a safe bet when the weather’s fair.

<b>Longport</b>

On the <b>Stray Cat</b> anglers left port to fish for blackfish yesterday in 5- to 7-foot seas and a hard easterly wind, and the fishing was tough, and they returned an hour early, Capt. Mike said. Nothing bit during the first hour, and then a small flurry of action began but soon fell apart, so the crew called it a day a little early, considering the seas. A barrage of strong easterly winds has been making tog fishing difficult lately, unlike last year with better weather and wind directions. “Bite the least in the east,” Mike said. Stray Cat is fishing for blackfish on open-boat trips 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and space is available, including on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and call to reserve. The trip on New Year’s Eve will be an hour short, sailing 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., but the trip on New Year’s Day will run the regular schedule. The boat will also start running a few trips offshore for jumbo sea bass, ling, cod and pollock on January 8, if the weather allows, and space is available. Give Mike a shout if interested in any trips. UPDATE, 12/31: Blackfishing improved a lot in the past days on the Stray Cat on trips Friday and Sunday. A trip Saturday was cancelled because of forecasts for rough weather, though the weather turned out fine. Some large blacks were boated, including 10- and 12-pounders and a couple of 13-pounders, and Sunday’s catch included probably 20 of the tog that weighed more than 6 pounds apiece. Waters closer to shore at places including OC and GE reefs was dirty, and the fish refused to bite there, but water beyond 12 miles from land was gin clear, and depths from 70 to 110  feet gave up nice bites. Tog fishing’s been slower this year than last year, but each trip was managing to put together a catch, some better  than others. Capt. Mike still plans to head offshore January 8 and scope out the fishing for jumbo sea bass and such, and afterward Stray Cat’s daily open-boat trips on Saturdays and Sundays will probably either fish offshore if the weather’s decent or fish inshore for tog if seas are rougher. But either way, open-boat trips will sail.

<b>Ocean City</b>

A few anglers tried fishing the surf for striped bass but came up with nothing, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Those were almost the only people who said they fished, though Bill said he knew that stripers were still showing up under working birds in the ocean at times. The only other piece of news was that some reportedly ran offshore and boated sea bass. Nobody talked first-hand about fishing for tog, but the blackfish were still holding on the inshore wrecks. Fin-Atics will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays until the hours are extended in March. The doors will be closed on Sundays until then, and frozen baits are currently stocked.

<b>Wildwood</b>

No customers were even trying to fish in the past days, but some bought bait to give it a shot this weekend, said Fred from <b>No Bones Bait & Tackle</b>. One was buying eels to dunk them for stripers, and another wanted to pick up green crabs to sail for tog. Striped bass should certainly still be in the ocean, though nobody seemed to head out lately, and he weather wasn’t helping. Winds and the bay were calm today, but Fred saw the ocean and said it was rough. The charter boat that’s docked at the shop, the Fins N Grins, was still fishing for whatever customers wanted. The Bodacious was due to arrive at the dock in the next day or so to start sailing offshore for sea bass on open-boat trips, a great opportunity, and give the shop a call for more info. Such trips usually pick up jumbo sea bass, much larger ones than usual, that hold on the offshore wrecks in winter along with a cool variety of other species such as ling, cod and pollock. The Bodacious is a large, party-boat-sized vessel that fishes from Port Norris the rest of the year for everything from flounder to tuna. Fred knew about a local party boat that left on an offshore sea bass trip at 1 a.m. today, rough seas for the fishing, but the boat was out there. The shop is keeping one of its rental boats, a 17-foot Carolina Skiff with a 50 h.p. engine, in the water all winter for those who’d like to fish or boat the bay. Frozen clams, green crabs and live eels are stocked. The doors are open daily, and Fred is usually there during business hours unless he’s running an errand, so call ahead to confirm he’ll be around if you want to pick up bait or anything.

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