<b>Brooklyn</b>

An open-boat tog trip fished on the <b>Big M Express</b> on New Year’s Day, and the bite was tough, and 20 keepers were landed at several drops, but the fish were at least good-sized, the report on the boat’s web site said. A keeper cod was also reeled aboard, and open-boat tog trips are sailing every day when no charter is booked. The Big M Express is docked at Tamaqua Marina in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn.

<b>Staten Island</b>

Three anglers on a trip Sunday limited out on blackfish to 10 pounds with <b>Barbara Anne Fishing Charters</b> and played catch and release with additional ones, Capt. Anthony said. More trips will target the tog Friday and Saturday, and the boat will keep sailing as long as the weather and fishing hold up. Plenty of small blacks were around, but anglers onboard were also connecting with quality, 10-, 12- and 13-pound slipperies. Forecasts were calling for a warm trend after the current two days of frigid temps, and that could be good for the fishing. Open-boat blackfishing trips are sailing every Tuesday when no charter is booked, guaranteed to fish with a minimum of two anglers.

<b>Outcast Charters</b> made it out for blackfish Sunday, and the fishing was a grind, but 35 keepers were boated, and the good thing was that some of the fish were large, Capt. Joe said. A 10-pounder, a 9-pounder and an 8-pounder were hauled aboard, and most of the rest of the tog ranged 3- to 4 pounds, and a handful of 13- to 14-inchers bit. Outcast targets blacks as long as possible each winter and specializes in the fishing.

Stiff weather kept trips from sailing recently with <b>Frenzy Fishing Charters</b>, but a warm spell and better weather was predicted, and Capt. Tommy hoped to get out then, he said. He’ll probably see if any striped bass can be marked, and he might also look for blackfish. He thought stripers were probably still around, and friends were definitely catching blacks.

<b>Bayonne</b>

A friend jumped on a Brooklyn party boat for mackerel fishing with two or three other anglers, but they only caught a total of 10 of the Bostons, said Capt. Akira from <b>True World Tackle</b> and <b>True World Tackle Charters</b>. The boat sailed around for the fish a while and finally ended up off the Red Church at Long Branch, where a few were found. A commercial blackfisher said he was fishing at Sandy Hook Reef but only catching smaller blacks, and maybe bigger ones were in deeper water. True World is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day but closes earlier on Sundays. The shop was preparing to exhibit at the Garden State Outdoor Show next week from Friday to Sunday and at the Nassau Coliseum Outdoor Show the following Friday through Sunday. So the doors at the shop will be closed then, including shortly beforehand for set-up. But stop by the exhibits to check out the deals.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Anglers were talking about decent striped bass fishing and bottom fishing until this week’s cold weather, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. But warmer weather was coming, and the shop will be ready with plenty of bait, including clams, worms and crabs. Over the weekend stripers were jigged in the ocean, and surf anglers scored stripers on clams, worms or rubber shads. The shop is open depending on the weather.

Rough seas kept the <b>Fishermen</b> from sailing on its daily striped bass trips since Saturday, but Saturday’s jigging for the fish was excellent on the boat, Capt. Ron said. Today’s weather also looked like it would prevent the boat from leaving the dock. But striped bass trips are slated for 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and afterward Ron will finally call it a season. The boat will resume fishing in April, when patrons will clam for striped bass. <b>***UPDATE, Monday, 1/7:</b> The Fishermen sailed for stripers Friday, and no linesiders bit, and only two mackerel and an eel were pulled up, so Capt. Ron called it a season, and that was the boat’s last trip until it starts clamming for stripers on April 1. The boat fished everywhere that day, he said. Ron reminded anglers about upcoming events that the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/" target="_blank"> Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund</a> will hold: a public meeting 7 p.m. January 21 at the Manasquan Elks Lodge and a fund-raising dinner on another date that will be open to the public. No info about the dinner was posted on the Fund’s web site at press time, but keep an eye on the site for info. Also check out the site to find out about the summer flounder situation, and Capt. Ron strongly encourages anglers to support the organization.

A blackfishing trip attempted to sail Tuesday on the <b>Atlantic Star</b>, but high winds forced the vessel to turn back, Capt. Tom said. Weather during the rest of the days recently also kept the boat from sailing, including during  hard west winds yesterday, and today’s seas were also forecast to be too rough. But the boat will resume blackfishing tomorrow, and Tom will be called and asked for a report afterward, so stay tuned for an updated report probably by Friday night. The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily through Sunday, and afterward Tom will call it a season until winter flounder fishing opens. <b>***UPDATE, Friday, 1/4:</b> A trip on the boat fished today, and fishing was nice the first half of the day. Blackfishing produced a fair number of shorts during that time, so Capt. Tom would've liked to have seen better catches of blacks, but ling fishing was good during that period. A 5-pound black was the pool winner, and one patron bagged two keepers, and a couple landed one, and shorts bit, and some of the anglers boated a dozen ling, and others picked up three or four, and everyone went home with fish. The patron with the two keeper blacks also bagged eight or ten ling. During the second half of the day the current or tide changed or something happened, and the  bite turned off. But the first half of the day was good. The weather forecast looked fine for Saturday and Sunday, and Tom was sure trips would sail those days. <b>***UPDATE, Monday, 1/7:</b> Trips did sail Saturday and Sunday, and Capt. Tom said the fishing wasn’t as good as he would’ve liked. The reasons were impossible to know, but maybe the water was cold, because the sinkers were coming up cold. The boat fished all different places, including Scotland, the New Grounds, the Mud Buoy and 17 Fathoms, and a few blackfish came up at each drop, some places better than others, but the fishing wasn’t good. “Tire” John Giordano won one of the pools with a 6-pound, 14-ounce black, his only keeper. Some anglers bagged two or three keepers. Ling also failed to cooperate as much as Tom would’ve liked. He hoped the bite would bounce back for those who will continue to fish, and forecasts for decent weather today and tomorrow might help, but Wednesday looked like it was going to blow. Those were the final trips for the Atlantic Star this season, and Tom thanked everyone who fished on the boat this year, and he said he hoped to see everybody when the vessel starts fishing again on the opening day of winter flounder season. Currently that day is March 23, which happens to be Easter Sunday, and no plans for the government to change the opening day were known, but anglers will have to wait and see. In the meantime, Tom will do winter maintenance on the boat and then enjoy a little time off before starting next season.

<b>Sea Bright</b>

<b>Two Rivers Charters</b> fished for striped bass at the Shrewsbury Rocks over the weekend, loading up on the fish during a break in the weather, Capt. Fletcher Chayes said. Lots of shorts and a couple of keepers were jigged on the bottom, and the fish spit up herring. Fletcher’s one of the few charter captains still fishing, and he’s keeping the boat in the water because of duck hunting season. Duck hunting’s been very good for him, by the way.

<b>Neptune</b>

Blackfishing trips with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> sailed the last five days of the year, and seas were rough on some of the days and calm on others, and they were rough on New Year’s Eve, but a bunch of hardy fishermen onboard that day all managed to catch blacks, Capt. Ralph said in an e-mail. Steve Rhodes grabbed the biggest, an 8-1/2-pounder, and other blacks over 6 pounds apiece were boated. Ralph said that if seas were calmer, he’s sure lots of big fish would’ve made for a banner day. On each of the previous four days some of the patrons limited out on the tog to 8 pounds, and ling to 4 pounds were also taken on these trips. The tog bag limit is now four per person, compared with eight before the first of the year. Individual-reservation blackfishing trips will sail 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday in January, and Capt. Ralph expects big fish this month. Three spaces are also available for a trip to the wrecks 50 miles or farther offshore on January 13.

<b>Belmar</b>

Blackfishing was very good, said Capt. Chris from the <b>Big Mohawk</b>, and no trips were able to sail today and the past couple of days because of winds and seas, but previously some good-sized blacks to 11 pounds were boated, and some patrons limited out. The weather will allow trips to resume tomorrow. Waters from 40 to 70 feet were the magic depths, and only blacks and no other fish were being pulled up. The Big Mohawk will target blackfish 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily as long as possible this season.

<b>***UPDATE, Monday, 1/7:</b> The Belmar party boats scored plenty of blackfish and mackerel the past two days, said Johnny “O” from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. Surf anglers tried to clam for striped bass, but the bite was slow, and Johnny heard little about any success. The shop is open all winter, usually from 5 a.m. to 12 noon on weekdays and 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, depending on the weather.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>UPDATE, Monday, 1/7:</b> Offshore wreck fishing was very good on the <b>Jamaica</b> from Friday to Sunday, an e-mail from the boat said. Friday’s catch was made up of a mix of sea bass, porgies, ling and 40 cod. Pool winners included Dave Arbeitman from The Reel Seat with a 10-pound cod and Frank Gordon with an 8-pound cod, and they combined for a total of five cod, 24 sea bass and 24 porgies. Saturday’s fishing was super at a pair of wrecks that were lively, even though they produced only a few fish earlier in the season. Many passengers limited out on both giant sea bass and jumbo porgies and bagged up to 24 ling apiece. A few cod and pollock were also boated. Sunday’s fishing was also good, and high hooks pulled up 30 fish apiece, mostly a mix of sea bass, porgies and ling. Pool winners were Dave Brink with a 10-pound white hake and Tony Vigil with an 8-pound white hake. Offshore wreck trips are sailing 12:30 a.m. every Wednesday and every Friday through Sunday, and space is available on all. The <b>Paramount</b> is fishing daily on 9- and 12-hour trips, and call the boat for more info. <b>Bogan’s Boating School</b> is offering the boating safety certificate course required in New Jersey, and the next classes with openings will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. January 19, 20 and 26. Call the school or visit its web site for more info.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

<b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> is continuing to sail for blackfish, including on open-boat marathons, and the tog are still biting, Capt. Fred said. Reports on the boat’s web site showed that three anglers were aboard Saturday and hit the pieces and the reef around Elberon, and the bite was a bit slow, but nearly a dozen keepers to 7 pounds were bagged, and conditions were beautiful. The site also said Fred targeted blacks with buddies Sunday at Sea Girt Reef, and the fishing was tough, and he wanted to fish in deeper depths from 100 to 120 feet, but a fuel problem with one of the engines made him decide to stick closer to land. But they had a great time. The tog marathons are running on weekends at a great price, and check out the boat’s home page for details.

The <b>Gambler</b> last got out on its daily striped bass trips New Year’s Eve Day, and the fishing was okay, not great, but some stripers were jigged, Capt. Bob said. Rough seas from windy weather kept the boat in port the rest of the time. Offshore wreck-fishing trips for sea bass and such species will begin to sail twice weekly on the boat Saturday, and the trip is full. But openings are available Thursday, and the trips will run 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Saturday and Thursday through January. Afterward Bob will watch the weather and the fishing to decide whether to call it a season or continue heading offshore. The boat’s final striped bass trips of the season will fish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, and Bob heard from a bottom-fishing captain yesterday who saw birds working over striped bass in the ocean from close to the beach to 2 miles out.

Offshore bottom fishing for sea bass and such was decent since the last week or so, said Dave from <b>Fisherman’s Supply</b>. Good numbers of blackfish could be found at the local pieces in the ocean. Only a few boaters were still striped bass fishing, but they landed small stripers around Ambrose Tower, and surf fishing news was scarce. The store is open all winter, and frozen baits are stocked.

The weather kept the <b>Voyager</b> from fishing recently, but an offshore wreck trip was supposed to head out tonight, Dan said. These trips, targeting jumbo sea bass, giant porgies, pollock and cod, leave port 11:30 p.m. every Thursday through Saturday, returning 6 p.m. after the day of departure. Ling marathons are also running 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday.

<b>UPDATE, Monday, 1/7:</b> <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b> was open this weekend, but things were kind of slow everywhere, and nothing was available to report, Rob Sr. said. But the weather was supposed to become warmer, and maybe that will trigger more fishing, and maybe the nearby boats would sail. The shop is open Fridays through Sundays, but call to confirm at this time of year. If the boats get out during the week because of the warmer weather at any time during the season, the shop will be open then, too. Gates Motel, located on the premises, is open all year and is popular with anglers who either stay the night to avoid driving early or late before or after trips on the boats or who simply make a fishing vacation out of visit. Both the tackle shop and the motel are located within walking distance of Manasquan Inlet, the charter and party boat fleet and the surf.

<b>Bricktown</b>

Only a handful of anglers were fishing, and a boater who jigged 22 short striped bass in the ocean north of Manasquan Inlet on Sunday was the only success that Pete from <b>Pell’s Fish & Sport</b> heard about, he said. Very little news trickled in about surf fishing, and most surf casters stopped fishing for the season. Pell’s will be open through Sunday and then will close until reopening March 15. The hours are pretty much full time until then.

<b>Toms River</b>

A few anglers clammed a few short striped bass in the surf at Lavallette at the end of last week, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Herring were sometimes jigged at Manasquan Inlet on Sabiki rigs, and a handful of anglers reeled in white perch at Forge Pond and in the Toms River. Small killies or worms will take the whiteys, and Murphy’s is stocking nightcrawlers. That was about all the news lately. The shop will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the rest of this week, and call the store for next week’s hours.

<b>Seaside</b>

Some customers fished the surf Saturday and scored fairly well on short striped bass, and one of the anglers checked in a 31-1/2-inch 9.3-pounder that sucked down a Grumpy’s clam, the fishing report on <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b>’s web site said. Salted clams were stocked, and the fish also hit sand eel imitations, small popper lures, Calcutta Flash Foil Shads, Calcutta Split Tails, Stillwater Beachrunners and other small lures. “Bring your light tackle and join the fun,” the report said. On Sunday scattered reports about short stripers beached from the surf were heard from equally scattered anglers. Surf anglers were scarce the rest of the week. Grumpy’s is holding a Polar Bear Tournament, and few details about the event were included in the report in the past days, but the contest seemed to be a wintertime surf fishing tournament to keep anglers entertained during the cold months, and the entry fee was only $10. The report also reminded anglers to place orders for custom rods, because spring isn’t all that far away, and orders were already rolling in. Grumpy’s is known for its custom rods. The site also said that now is good time to bring in reels for repairs and servicing to avoid the inevitable rush later in the season. A reminder said that the 2008 Island Beach State Park beach buggy permits now require the truck owner’s license and registration, and Grumpy’s should be able to help with any of the required safety equipment. The shop is open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.   <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>’s brother and friends jumped on the party boat Gambler last Thursday and reeled in about 25 short stripers apiece, and one of the anglers bagged a keeper, and that was the most recent report about boating for stripers, Dale said. He thought 8 to 11 keepers were taken on the trip, and his brother and friends said the boat fished off Asbury Park in 60 feet. No customers seemed to surf fish, and the weather was too cold. Ryan Haines weighed in a 12.26-pound blackfish he pulled from an ocean wreck, but Dale was unaware whether Ryan scored other blacks on the trip and heard no other news about the tog fishing. Frozen bait is stocked, and the shop will stay open all winter.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

<b>***UPDATE, Monday, 1/7:</b>Two customers surf fished Saturday, and one hit the suds Sunday, and the one on Sunday said seas were so flat that he was basically just practicing casting, said Basil from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>. Nothing was heard about any catches from the wash. The party boats on Long Beach Island were blackfishing, and Basil thought one was also heading offshore for sea bass. The shop is open 7 a.m. to 12 noon or 2 p.m. or so on weekends, but call to confirm at this time of year.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

On the <b>Miss Beach Haven</b>, normally targeting blackfish Saturdays and Sundays, one of the trips was added to the schedule last Friday, because of the holiday, and the fishing was excellent that day, Capt. Frank said. Lots of big blacks showed up, including 6- to 10-pounders, and a couple of patrons limited out. No trip sailed Saturday because of a big swell and strong winds, and Sunday’s fishing was a lot slower on the boat and seemed slower for all boats, apparently because of the swell the previous day and somewhat of a lingering heave that day. But shorts gave up a lot of action, and probably 50 keepers were bagged. Frank heard that the tog fishing was supposedly good Monday and Tuesday, and the boat will fish for them 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

<b>Mystic Island</b>

One good piece of news rolled in lately: An angler reported catching white perch up the Mullica River on Monday on live grass shrimp and even stopped by with fillets, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Otherwise nobody else mentioned fishing, not for stripers in the ocean, not for tog at the reefs and wrecks, not even for freshwater fish such as pickerel. Nobody on the radio was even talking about fishing. Live grass shrimp are stocked, especially for perch fishing, and small minnows are being carried for those who want to hit freshwater, such as for pickerel, traditionally a good bet in winter. No clams and no green crabs will be carried anymore this season. But the good news is that striper season reopens in the bays and rivers in only 58 days or on March 1, and only four years are left before flounder season will reopen, he joked. Speaking of flounder, Scott encouraged anglers to check out the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/" target="_blank"> Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund’s web site</a>. Scott contributed to the fund and is concerned about the future of flounder fishing. In other news, now is a great time to take reel and rod repairs to the shop before the spring rush.

<b>Absecon</b>

<b>UPDATE, Monday, 1/7:</b> A few customers were trying to fish, but about all they caught were a few perch in the Mullica River near the Parkway Bridge, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Tony Genovese fished there and hooked perch and a 6-inch striper, the only striper caught that Dave heard about. The store is holding no set hours, but Dave is often there, and call to confirm if you want anything. Boat winterization and winter boat storage are still available.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Surf anglers over the weekend clammed a few striped bass at Brigantine, said Jack from <b>Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle</b>. Anglers with boats still in the water were scarce, but stripers could be boated in the ocean. Catches in both the surf and from boats were sporadic, and anglers had to put in the time, but a number of the fish continued to migrate down the coast. Nothing was heard about striper fishing farther south around Cape May. Little was heard about wreck fishing, but small tog and small sea bass were probably the predominant catches there. The standard frozen baits were stocked, including clams, bunker, mackerel, herring and mullet. Even offshore baits such as butterfish and ballyhoos were on hand. Few boaters were probably chasing bluefin tuna inshore, but some of the bluefins were probably straggling around, and tuna were certainly biting farther south like at North Carolina. The shop is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and open the rest of the week, but call to confirm at this time of year, because the doors could be closed during rough weather or when the staff has to run an errand.

<b>Margate</b>

Striped bass still seemed to be swimming down the coast from up north, and the <b>Jessie O’</b> is available for ocean trolling charters for the fish, Capt. Jay said. Boats up north were reporting catches, so the linesiders should keep migrating to local waters. Blackfishing was also an option, but stripers might be the better bet. Charters were already starting to be booked for spring on both the Jessie O’, an ocean-going vessel, and Jay’s back-bay boat the <b>Fish N’ Fun</b>. The fleet provides all different options for fishing, from the bay to the ocean and for every available species, and charter dates for spring were plentiful but will fill, so reserve dates now. Both boats also offer cruises, and catering and a D.J. are available. Cruises such as bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthdays, weddings and family reunions are popular, and Atlantic City casino skyline sightseeing is also great.  

<b>Longport</b>

Two anglers fished for tog on the <b>Stray Cat</b> on Monday and limited out, so they came home early, and the fishing was pretty good, Capt. Mike said. They fished at the OC Reef, and although previously waters in those depths had been dirty from rough weather, keeping the fish from hitting except farther offshore, the water by this trip had somewhat cleaned up. Mike had run only to the OC Reef because the forecast was calling for rough weather, but the day turned out fine. Lots of anglers have cancelled trips because of the forecast, but the forecast’s been wrong a lot, and Stray Cat makes the call the night before the trip. The water was 44 degrees, and open-boat trips are sailing for tog every day, and Stray Cat will leave the dock even if only one angler shows up, and space is available. Stray Cat will also start running farther offshore for sea bass, ling, pollock and maybe a few cod when the weather allows, and an initial trip is scheduled for this Friday through Sunday, depending on which day the weather is decent, and four openings are available. The offshore trips are limited to six passengers for the boat’s six bunks. When the weather prevents offshore trips, the boat will fish closer to shore for tog instead. The offshore schedule depends on the weather, so if interested, call Mike, and he’ll keep you in the loop. He might also start trying to fish for tog in deeper depths 15 to 20 miles from shore, looking for bigger slipperies. Plenty of green crabs are available on the boat for the blackfish bait, and if anglers want to try any special baits, they might want to buy white leggers to bring along. In other news, Mike was asked whether any mackerel were showing up locally, and he said they were only appearing far offshore at places like the Elephant Trunk and not closer to shore like off North Jersey. <b>UPDATE, Monday, 1/7:</b> Stray Cat sailed for blackfish Saturday and Sunday, and the fishing was slow the first day but pretty good the second. Both trips fished the same wrecks 9 to 12 miles from the coast, and the reasons the fish bit one day and not the next were impossible to know. No offshore trips were able to sail, but the boat will head offshore the first time the weather is decent, maybe tomorrow. Mike heard that an angler sailing from Cape May nailed a 23-pound tog Saturday. Mike also wanted anglers to know that Stray Cat fishes with one anchor, not two. The fishing grounds like the OC Reef are too “sticky” to use two anchors, and vessels end up losing too many anchors to make double anchoring practical.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Daily trips for blackfish kept getting weathered out on the <b>Captain Robbins</b>, and the boat is now sailing for the tog on a new schedule, Capt. John said. Blackfishing on the vessel will take place 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and on Fridays through Sundays, and green crabs will be supplied for bait.

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b> traveled to Florida and fished from Jupiter Inlet, and sailfishing was very slow, he said. Some cold fronts should trigger the fish to start migrating to those waters, and he’ll return later in the season. But he also fly fished behind Jupiter Inlet and tackled lady fish, jacks and snook. He’d also been trying to fish back at home around Sea Isle but kept getting weathered out. He’ll certainly continue trying, looking for striped bass in the ocean.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b> spoke with a few boaters who said they found striped bass a little farther offshore like at the shoals toward Sea Isle, and no birds worked the water, and the anglers marked the fish instead, he said. Bunker were schooling there, so trolling big spoons, Stretch plugs or deep swimmers was popular. A surf angler nailed a 17-pound striper on clam on Friday, and that was the most recent surf report. Tog and sea bass kept biting in the ocean. Frozen baits are stocked, and live eels leftover from earlier in the season are carried. The shop will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and will be closed Sundays the rest of winter until the hours are expanded in March.

<b>Wildwood</b>

The weather and seas were too rough, so nobody reported fishing, including for stripers at the Cape May Rips and such, said Fred from <b>No Bones Bait & Tackle</b>. But 60-degree days were supposed to come next week, and that should get people back on the water. Frozen clams, live green crabs and live eels are stocked, and the shop is open every day, the only tackle shop open in the area, but call ahead to confirm whether anyone will be there at this time of year, because sometimes the staff will step out for a moment. But customers are encouraged to call if they need anything, and they can also leave a voicemail. The Bodacious will be docked at the shop and will run offshore sea bass trips starting Wednesday. A charter boat is still fishing for stripers and tog from the shop’s docks, and trips are scheduled for this weekend, so Fred expected to be able to give a report about that next time.

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