<b>Staten Island</b>

The boat limited out on blackfish in a couple of hours on a trip Wednesday, said Capt. Joe from <b>Outcast Charters</b>. After the charter was sure that a limit would be bagged, they looked for bigger ones, and found them to 8 pounds. Next they decided to try a drift or two for sea bass within 3 miles of shore, and the catch was okay, not phenomenal. At the beginning of the trip the gang stopped on striped bass schooling under working birds. Three 26- or 27-inchers were jigged. The fish were all shorts, so the trip continued to the blackfish grounds. Outcast will often mix in striper fishing on the tog trips if the bass are around, usually at the end of the trip if schools are seen. 

Angling for blackfish, the only focus on the boat now, was okay when trips could sail in the weather, said Capt. Anthony from <b>Barbara Anne Fishing Charters</b>. Most of the slipperies were 3 to 5 pounds, and occasional ones were 8 pounds. A trip left the dock Wednesday, but Anthony’s other captain, who ran the boat, was yet to give the results. Don’t have enough anglers for a full charter? Call Anthony anyway, because he can usually arrange individual spaces. Barbara Anne pays bridge tolls with a receipt.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fall fishing was at its best! Capt. Ron from the <b>Fishermen</b> said in an e-mail. Striped bass catches on Wednesday’s trip turned on starting with ebb tide, lasting all day. Several anglers limited out and released more, and the pool winner creamed a 22-1/2-pounder. He bagged three keepers, and another angler totaled 14 stripers, keeping three. Yet another totaled 12, keeping three. The beginning of the trip was “shaky,” Ron said, and dog sharks were a problem, “enough ‘endangered species’ to make a thousand fish and chip sandwiches,” he said. But all of that changed on the ebb. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Pretty darn good: That’s how to describe bottom fishing on the boat, said Capt. Tom from the <b>Atlantic Star</b>. Monday’s trip stayed docked, but Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s sailed, and patrons cleaned up on catches, mostly big porgies, including some beauties. A handful of sea bass were clobbered, and anglers who worked for blackfish hooked the tog, and more and more, including big ones, were coming up. All customers caught fish, and the angling was a pleasure, really, Tom said. Enjoyable. The loads of big porgies were fun, feisty fish to catch, and tasty to boot. Tom hoped the catches would hold up, and saw no reason they shouldn’t. Friday looked like winds would blow at first during the day, but that could change, like maybe the winds would stop after tonight. But the weekend looked like calm weather for a change. The Atlantic Star is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. The trips will switch to blackfish when the bag limit increases to six of the tog on November 16.

Everything was getting caught, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The big roll finally settled, although clamming for striped bass was happening for boaters in the roll. The only problem is that clams become difficult to get when the clam boats stay docked in the conditions. Boaters eeled stripers, and they belted plenty of bottom fish: porgies, some blackfish and a few sea bass, but sea bass were pushing offshore, thinning out. Surf casters reeled in striped bass on some days and not on others. But that’s surf fishing, and they plugged, clammed or jigged the fish. Blues sometimes tumbled into the surf in the last couple of days. Blues and bass could be found in the bay, and river anglers could knuckle in stripers.

<b>Highlands</b>

Anglers aboard whaled away at striped bass, very good catches, mostly on the ocean while clamming, jigging or trolling, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. The bass, fish to 15 pounds, seemed to turn on most in the early mornings when anglers jigged for them. Bluefish were mixed in and seemed to take over toward the afternoons. One trip tried a little blackfishing, and the outlook for that angling looked great for when the bag limit increases to six of the tog on November 16 from the current limit of one. Trips will start to target them then. Striped bass charters are currently sailing, and a few dates remain available, and open-boat trips are also fishing for the linesiders, including on Saturday and Sunday. Call to climb aboard and also to be kept informed of the open schedule.

Strong winds blew during surf-fishing trips in the past week, but a couple of trips got out and played short striped bass around Sandy Hook, mostly on jigs, because of the breeze, said Bill Hoffman from <b>Skylands Angler</b>. Mornings were a little better than afternoons, and he expected the angling to be good this week. Bill also took trips on the trout streams, and they fished well, prime season for that angling as well surf casting. Skylands Angler guides trips in the ocean and bay surf during the fall and spring migrations at Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park. Plus Bill guides fly-fishing trips for trout on the Musconetcong and Pequest rivers and Ken Lockwood Gorge. He aims to teach anglers, whether beginners or advanced, how to fish the waters, even so they can come back and catch on their own. He also offers trips for other freshwater fish, like pike, hybrid striped bass, carp and largemouth bass, if anglers want to fly rod for them.

<b>Neptune</b>

With <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> striped bass fishing kept improving on the last few trips, Capt. Ralph said in an e-mail. On an individual-reservation trip for the linesiders on Wednesday, the fish were hooked on the first few drifts. Then bluefish—all anyone could want—took over. The anglers blackfished a short time to finish the day, wrangling up a few to 4 pounds. Ralph plans to striped bass fish at the clam beds with light tackle this weekend, because that action opened up in the last days. Individual-reservation striper trips are fishing Sunday and the following Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15. Individual-reservation blackfish trips are on the books for November 16, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, every Saturday and Sunday in December and on New Year’s Eve Day. Charters are available daily.

<b>Belmar</b>

Joe Rella’s group on a trip Tuesday with <b>Last One Charters</b> first looked for striped bass at the Shrewsbury Rocks, Capt. Rob said. Tons of blues from a few pounds to 10 pounds attacked, and three keeper stripers and maybe 10 or 12 throwbacks were jigged. Next they bottom fished a while, angling up a decent number of sea bass, mostly keepers, including some to 3 and 4 pounds, within 3 miles from shore. They also picked up blackfish, a limit of one per person, releasing probably 15 to 18 other keeper-sized ones and a bunch of shorts. Plus they plucked a few porgies. A trip today was supposed to do the same type of combo fishing for stripers in the morning and then blackfish.

A bunch of blues, 1- to 3-pounders, and some striped bass, no size to them, were jigged on the ocean Saturday on the <b>Nan Sea J</b>, Capt. Tom said. He was in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, afterward, and did fish there on another boat. The trip first tried for king mackerel, but none showed up. Then the trip bottom fished, and triggerfish, sea bass and snappers were sacked. The crew on the boat said Hatteras surf anglers sometimes rounded up puppy drum. The Nan Sea J is slated to do lots of fishing this weekend.

Mainly blackfish chomped on bottom-fishing trips, said Capt. Chris from the <b>Big Mohawk</b>. Some 9- and 10-pounders were clocked, so big ones were around. The tog crunched crabs well, but they sometimes inhaled clams, and the fish gave up a fair number of bites. Trips fished in 30 to 60 feet in 56- or 57-degree waters, and a few porgies and sea bass grabbed baits. But tog were mostly the catch. On some days dog sharks flooded the waters, and on other days they weren’t too bad. They weren’t too abundant on Wednesday, but they were thick the previous day. The Big Mohawk is fishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The weather kept things a little quiet, but decent catches of blues were dragged in when trips could sail, said Capt. Greg from the <b>Golden Eagle</b>. The weekend forecast looked fine for a change. Striped bass fishing picked up somewhat on the trips, and when blues disappear, stripers will become the focus. The Golden Eagle is bluefishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Good catches of blues were decked when trips could get out in calm weather, said Capt. Alan from the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>. Trips sailed Wednesday and today, and Friday’s fishing would probably be weathered out. Striped bass were occasionally rapped, three or four of them on some days, eight or ten on another, and none on another. Nothing consistent, but Alan hoped consistent striper fishing kicked in within a week or two. Trips will focus on stripers once that happens. Trips now tried jigging for stripers close to shore in the mornings, and if none showed up, the boat was motored farther from shore, and patrons put a beating on big blues. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and for blues and stripers 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. But this will be the final weekend when the evening trips will run this season.

<b>Brielle</b>

A combo trip on the ocean first dusted up eight keeper striped bass on Tony Maja’s Custom Bunker Spoons on the <b>Big Kid</b> on Wednesday, Capt. Ken said. Numerous shorts were dragged up and let go, and the area was loaded with blues. Then the anglers fished at Axel Carlson Reef, reeling in 23 keeper sea bass, eight blackfish and a slew of porgies. The weather was beautiful, and a trip today was supposed to sail for the same type of fishing, and customers love the combo trips, Ken said.  Fishing on the boat will probably be weathered out Friday, but clear weather predicted for the weekend looked like a go for charters. Tog charters should be booked without delay, because space was filling. The Big Kid will sail for the blackfish right into winter.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

On the <b>Dauntless</b> anglers pumped in plenty of sea bass and porgies within 3 miles from shore, Capt. Willie said. The fishing was holding up, and catches of blackfish were increasing, looking like the tog angling would be good when the bag limit jumps to six on November 16 from the current limit of one. Crabs were carried aboard for blackfish bait. When the bag limit amps up, trips will target bottom fish in general, but more effort will be put into tog. Ling will also become a focus as the season goes on, when fish like the sea bass make the scoot offshore for the winter. Waters were around the mid 50-degree range, depending on location. The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

The <b>Cock Robin</b> fished the ocean off Island Beach State Park to look for striped bass and blues on a beautiful day Wednesday, an e-mail from the boat said. Patrons managed a decent scratch of blues, lost a 15-pound striper and tossed back a short. Forecasted westerly winds should keep the ocean calm and help stripers become more and more plentiful. Trips are fishing from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, and special striper trips will be announced soon that will depart earlier. Customers on Thursday trips can help donate fish to Joan Valentine House, providing meals to people. Customers every day can donate food and non-perishables that the crew is collecting for St. Gregory’s Pantry in Point Pleasant. Captain Jim’s Camp Cock Robin for kids, limited to 12 anglers, featuring a dedicated mate for the youngsters, is under way every holiday, including today and Friday, because of the teachers’ convention.

Yellowfin tuna and longfin tuna, plenty of the fish, were battled aboard Saturday at Toms Canyon after daybreak in 66-degree waters on the <b>Sea Devil</b>, and the trip was very good, the report on the boat’s Web site said. A 130-pound bluefin tuna, the biggest fish on the trip, and a 100-pound bigeye tuna were also shellacked after daybreak. Two small yellowfin tuna and an 80-pound swordfish were boated at night. The yellowfins on the trip averaged 30 pounds, and the longfins averaged 60 to 70. A third of the anglers scored multiple fish, and some lost more than they landed. Jack Tackett from Flemington was high hook with two yellowfins and two longfins. Only a few more of the trips are scheduled this season, and openings are available on Saturday evening and the following weekend. See the schedule and info on the boat’s Web site.

<b>Toms River</b>

The surf threw out striped bass and blues all day long the last two days basically from Brick Beach to Island Beach State Park, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Sand eels crammed the waters, so plugs and metal like needlefish, Ava’s and Deadly Dicks worked best, and teasers were a must. Clams and bunker caught, but the plugs and metal were better, and the season’s been one of the best for plugging in a long time. Boaters were able to fish the ocean in calmer weather the past couple of days, and they also nailed the fish but tight to shore, where the sand eels swam, and bunker were scarce in the area. The boaters trolled umbrella rigs with tubes or shad rigs, but replaced the shads with sand eels. None of the bass were monsters, and most were 24 to 29 inches, but 16- or 20-pounders were sometimes grabbed. Weigh-ins included: Kris Berkebile’s 11-pound 6-ounce bass and 8-pound blue banked at Ortley Beach today; his two 6-pound blues beached at Ortley on Wednesday; Bill Kisslan’s 10-pound 6-ounce bass yanked in at Island Beach; Ryan McMullin’s 16-pound 4-ounce bass; Rick Anderson’s 13-pound 6-ounce bass; and Jason Estelle’s 11-pound 4-ounce bass. Stripers were also eeled at the sod banks on Barnegat Bay at night on outgoing tides. More of the linesiders came from the suds, but the sod banks produced. In other news, blackfish lined the Point Pleasant Canal. Many were small, but there was action.

<b>Seaside</b>

Artificials or metal, needlefish, plugs and rubber lures—with teasers being a must—started gaining more action from striped bass in the surf by mid week, but most weigh-ins were clammed, said the report on <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b>’s Web site. Lots of catches, mostly stripers by far but a few blues sprinkled in, were reported on the site every day. “Short duration mini blitzes would be the best way to describe it,” the site said. Fishing would be dead one moment, and then all heck would break loose, fish after fish, for 20 to 45 minutes. Seas were rough on Monday, requiring 10-ounce weights, but catches were made anyway. Eighteen striped bass, including a 19-pounder and a 17-pounder, but mostly 7- to 10-pounders, were weighed in today, and so was one 6-pound blue. <a href="http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishingreports/" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for updates.

<b>Forked River</b>

Boaters clammed striped bass during the daytime at places like Double Creek Channel and Barnegat Inlet, said Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. They eeled the fish at night at Barnegat Inlet. Blues swam the bay and inlet, and blackfish were hung from along the rocks at the inlet, usually on green crabs, but sometimes on clams. Ocean boaters trolled stripers in 40 to 60 feet on Tony Maja’s Custom Bunker Spoons or on umbrella rigs with shads or sand eels. Nobody mentioned blues in the mix, but blues were probably out there.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Surf casters banked lots of 24- to 30-inch striped bass on clams, said Josh from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>. Bigger ones were around but were scattered, and 8- to 10- or 12-pound blues were also beached, and bunker was probably the bait for them. Boaters were able to run the ocean in the calmer weather, trolling stripers in 30 to 40 feet on lures like Stretch plugs. He hadn’t heard that they’d caught any blues. Barnegat Bay boaters muscled in 12- to 15-pound stirpers, mostly on drifted live spots, but also on clams when anchored. Linesiders were also eeled at Barnegat Inlet at night. Plenty of tog chomped along the inlet. Eels, spots, fresh clams, fresh bunker and green crabs are stocked. “Any other news?” Josh was asked. “The Yankees won the World Series. You can put that in there,” he said.  “Then nobody’s going to come to your shop,” he was told. “That’s okay,” he joked.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

Capt. Lindsay from the <b>June Bug</b> is calling it a season, he said, and will move the boat to its winter home at Oregon Inlet, North Carolina. He thanks his New Jersey charters this year. In North Carolina the vessel will run striped bass charters starting at the first of the year if the weather becomes cold enough to make them push that far south. During some years the bass move in, and during others they don’t. But when they do come, they’re big bass nailed in 35 to 65 feet in the ocean right off the inlet from mid December to mid February, great fishing. In March from Oregon Inlet the vessel begins offshore fishing for tuna and big game, until the boat is moved back to Jersey around – you guessed it! – June. Actually the vessel is returned just before Memorial Day.

<b>Tuckerton</b>

Little Egg Inlet fishing gave up striped bass to 43 pounds on clams on Friday with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. The waters held not a ton of the fish, but they were big. Charters will keep going after them, and will start blackfishing on November 16, when the bag limit gets lifted to six of the tog from the current limit of one. Open-boat tog trips will run every Saturday. T.J.’s other boat did lots of fishing for stripers from Cape May, covered in the report from that port.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

“Oh my goodness,” said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The striped bass that kept being weighed in were almost tedious, he said. But it was fun, was good to see everybody catching. One hundred stripers must’ve been checked in from last Thursday through Sunday, and they continued being carried to the shop since then. A 35-pounder was the largest that came through the doors during the weekend, and other 30-pound-classers were seen, and lots of 20-pounders were weighed. Most of the fish were hooked at Little Egg Inlet, but catches were also made through the bay, including at Grassy Channel and from shore at Graveling Point and Pebble Beach, and in the Mullica River. Fresh clams were the predominant bait, but anglers tossed fresh bunker if they could find the menhaden, and the river produced a little better on eels. A good crowd of anglers now gathered at Graveling Point and Pebble Beach in the evenings, and the high hook there Tuesday evening whaled a dozen bass. Plus they were all keepers! But the angler only kept one, good to see. Better weather allowed boaters to look for the linesiders in the ocean during the week, and one marked lots of the fish in 35 feet off Holgate on Wednesday, but the bass refused to bite. So jigging and trolling in the local ocean seemed unproductive, and the inlet was the place to be. Bluefish were very occasionally landed among the stripers. Nobody mentioned tog fishing or white per fishing. Angling was all about stripers. But the tog bag limit increases soon, and the blackfish will draw attention then. Plenty of fresh shucked clams are stocked, and eels and green crabs are on hand. No live grass shrimp are currently carried for perch fishing because of demand. But one customer stopped by looking for the shrimp, so Scott netted some for him along the docks.  

<b>Port Republic</b>

The Mullica River went crazy with striped bass, said Mary Ann from <b>Chestnut Neck Boat Yard</b>. Bunker schooled everywhere, and anglers bailed the stripers on snagged bunker, eels or spots. One boat had just docked at the shop with six keepers aboard. Mary Ann’s sister Violet, Violet’s son Cody and Cody’s friend nabbed three of the fish on Great Bay this morning. One of the mechanics headed out on lunch break, tried to snag bunker and snagged a striper instead. Stripers were also whacked at Little Egg Inlet, usually on clams. Most people concentrated on stripers, but white perch should be able to be collected from the river. Eels are stocked, and a few spots currently remained in the livewell, and more should arrive any time. Fresh clams and frozen baits are carried.

<b>Absecon</b>

Fishing for striped bass was really breaking loose, said Curt from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Most catches came from Absecon Inlet and the ocean near the shore, and live spots were the best bait at the inlet during the daytime. But eels got grabbed at night at the inlet. Charters with Capt. Dave, the shop’s owner, limited out on every trip in the past few days on live spots at the inlet. Five keepers were banged out on each of the trips today and Wednesday, and four were boxed on Tuesday. One customer weighed in a 44-pounder he heaved in from the Brigantine surf. The bay also gave up stripers, including on clams, but the inlet was better. Curt heard about keepers eeled on the Mullica River, and he had no luck when he tried the river, but he switched to the inlet and began connecting. He was out of the loop on the river’s white perch fishing, because he concentrated on stripers, but the slabs were bucketed on the river. Curt heard about few bluefish found in local waters. Tog were plenty hungry along the sod banks and jetties. Spots and eels are in full supply in the live tanks, and fresh clams, fresh bunker, green crabs and a complete array of baits are on hand.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Big bass were everywhere in the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. The fishing was strong off the Brigantine Hotel on low tides, but other areas including Brigantine’s north end were also smoking. Fresh bunker held an edge for best bait, but fresh clams worked. So many large linesiders were seen, including 40- and 45-pounders, that the number was almost ridiculous. John Beare took the lead in the Riptide Striper Derby with a 43-pound 10-ounce 49-inch striper. Scott Robins checked in a 40-pounder. Andy expected to see a 50-pounder any moment. Kevin Rudd won the Derby’s monthly prize for October with a 36-1/2-pounder, and now held second place for the season-long grand prize. Other catches included Ron Mazur’s 35- and 33-pounders, Peter Hoang’s 34-pounder, John Rose’s 36-pounder, Benny Ortiz’s 29-pounder, Jerry Miller’s 25-1/2- and 15-pounders and Bruce LeBlanc’s 17-pounder. Bluefish were also around, like a 10-pounder that Bruce McCooley tamed and a 12-pounder that Paul Lavigna added to his catch, if Andy remembered Lavigna’s catch correctly. Lavigna also cashed in on a 17-1/2-pound striper and a 16-pounder on the trip. Boaters were able to fish the ocean in better weather this week, and they also caught stripers. Andy took a trip on Tuesday that boated four stripers to 22 pounds and some blues at the inlet bar. The Riptide Striper Derby, an annual event, is under way, lasting through December, and all proceeds are donated to charity. Cash prizes will be awarded each month and at the end of the tournament for the biggest fish. The $20 entry in the tournament allows beach buggy access to the entire stretch of Brigantine during the event for those with a Brigantine permit. The Atlantic City Surf Tournament, also allowing access to the whole stretch, will end Monday, so Riptide’s contest will then be the only one providing the access. Participants must sign up 24 hours in advance to enter a catch.

<b>Longport</b>

Striped bass fishing went bonkers at Great Egg Harbor Inlet! “Limits for everyone!” said Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b>. Gobs of fish on eels and clams, he said, and all the boats on B Dock caught their quota on Wednesday. On the Stray Cat  one of the vessel’s Cast and Blast Trips, a combo of fishing and duck hunting, was sailing today on the ocean. Anglers fish for stripers and blues on the front of the boat and gun for sea ducks on the back. But daily, open-boat trips will resume Friday through Sunday and afterward, steaming for striped bass early in the day, heading out for tog in the afternoon. The open trips will switch exclusively to tog when the bag limit cranks up to six of the blackfish on November 16 from the current limit of one. The tog schedule was beginning to fill, and the 16th is sold out. Five spaces are available the next day, and room is available on that Saturday, November 21, and on a special trip on Thanksgiving, November 26, running 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for only $40 per person. Room is available on New Year’s Eve Day and New Year’s Day itself. No trips will fish on Christmas Eve and Christmas.

<b>Somers Point</b>

George Mac from Somers Point and crew on the Mac Attack limited out on two to four striped bass each day this week at the north bar at Great Egg Harbor Inlet on eels, a fax from <b>Dolfin Dock</b> said. Sounds like a bite was going down. Gene Doebley from Somers Point drilled a 28-pound striper on a live spot. Location wasn’t mentioned in the fax, but maybe the fish also came from the inlet. Barry Jacobson from Egg Harbor Township and gang were bunker chunking stripers to 46 inches on trips at 20-Foot Slough on Delaware Bay.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Stripers, stripers, more stripers and blues and more blues, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. The inlets were loaded with striped bass, and bigger and bigger ones showed up. Smaller ones like 25- and 26-inchers were around, but the little rats were gone. Big bass 25 pounds and larger filled the surf, and a 52-incher was tackled in the suds today. At the inlets and surf the fish were taken on fresh clams, fresh bunker, eels and spots. Surf sharpies sometimes hooked the linesiders on swimming plugs and rubber lures around the jetties. Ocean boaters shellacked large blues and sometimes stripers. Bill had to grab the phone when he gave this report and never got to talk about back-bay fishing, but previously lots of stripers bit in the bay, and that probably continued.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

The inlets sometimes pulled in striped bass, including a few large ones, and big blues, said Wes from <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. Big bass like 25-pounders occasionally got clubbed, and the blues were slammers to 14 or 15 pounds. They weren’t there all the time, but a few showed up this morning. Metal, plastics, clams and bunker got strikes. Surf anglers along the ocean front sometimes beat stripers on lures and bait. Ocean boaters trolled and jigged mostly large blues and occasional stripers. Lots of stripers filled the back bay, getting socked on clams, spots or, in the evenings and at dusk, popper lures. The fish are usually smaller, but a 22-pounder was weighed in that slammed a popper on the back bay. Tons of tog gathered around the bridges and such, and many anglers bought green crabs for bait for them. Farther south, Delaware Bay turned out big stripers on bunker chunks, and a 40-pounder was weighed in from the waters. Fresh clams, fresh bunker and all the baits are in full supply.

Big blues, the biggest kind, swam the ocean, and a few striped bass were scattered in the waters, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. When the blues were scattered, his charters trolled for them. When they were grouped up, his anglers cast jigs or fly rodded for the gators. Back-bay popper lure and popper fly fishing for striped bass, a specialty with Jersey Cape, was going strong, and high tides in the mornings were the best time to fight them in the past days. Surf anglers could beach striped bass on swimming lures and poppers. Joe this month will take an annual trip to Culebra, Puerto Rico, offering charters for species including bonefish and tarpon. In winter he’ll offer annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys for everything from bones to redfish. See the <a href=" http://www.gibsonstackle.com/page6.html" target="_blank">Traveling Charters</a> page on Jersey Cape’s Web site.

<b>Wildwood</b>

The <b>Adventurer</b> was forced to stay docked during the weekend because of the weather, Capt. Gary said. But a striped bass charter on Saturday should sail, and forecasts looked  calm. Striped bass, not ton but big ones, bit bunker chunks on Delaware Bay, and that’s where the boat should head. No open-boat trips will sail through the weekend for stripers but look for the trips possibly to run next week. When the open trips leave port, they sail 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.

<b>Cape May</b>

A good number of striped bass, all big fish to 24 pounds, were drummed up Tuesday at the Cape May Rips on eels with the Pickets charter, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>.  Seas were like a lake, despite forecasts for small craft warnings. A trip today was supposed to hit the rips for stripers, and most charters on the boat are eeling the rips, but trips will also bunker chunk for stripers on Delaware Bay if anglers prefer, or if seas are too rough at the rips. Forecasts called for a gale warning on Friday, but the weekend looked calm.

Fishing for striped bass, mostly bunker chunking, was a slow pick, but produced some large ones to 30 pounds at 60-Foot Slough on Delaware Bay on trips Friday through Monday, said Capt. T.J. from <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>. The weather was brutal, and he heard the catches continued Wednesday evening, but he wasn’t there, so that was all hearsay, he said. A trip today with Legal Limit was supposed to target stripers at the Cape May Rips. A few dates remain for striper charters, and chunking might only last another couple of weeks, before bunker becomes scarce. Open-boat trips are running for stripers whenever possible, and the dates are posted on Legal Limit’s Web site. Trips on T.J.’s other boat, docked in Tuckerton, clammed stripers, including a 43-pounder, at Little Egg Inlet. That boat will begin blackfish trips when the bag limit increases to six of the tog on November 16 from the current limit of one.

<b>Jaftica Sportfishing</b> will bunker chunk for striped bass on Delaware Bay this weekend, Capt. Ray said. A couple of friends smoked the fish Wednesday, one landing 17, and the fish were good-sized, like 20 to 40 pounds. Plenty were also boated at the Cape May Rips lately, and Ray spoke with anglers who scored well there on Tuesday. Jaftica is also fishing the rips, using eels, spots and bucktails. Jaftica will fish for the linesiders practically every day the weather allows, until the angling ends, and good dates remain for the trips.

Delaware Bay boaters hauled in big striped bass, catching them on bunker chunks, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. The Cape May Rips served up stripers on eels or spots, but the big bass came from the bay. Nick was telling customers to fish the sloughs like at 60-Foot Slough or 20-Foot Slough or Brandywine or areas like Bug Light, telling them to get off by themselves. Few stripers were landed in the surf, oddly enough, but they should migrate down. One angler said he pulled a circle hook on a large striper in the wash, but otherwise a few shorts were beached. Birds worked beyond casting range from the surf, and boaters could reach stripers underneath them, and Nick heard about stripers trolled on a few vessels on the ocean on Stretch 25 lures. On the back bay stripers could be drawn in with clam bellies. Or they could be pelted on popper lures in the early mornings along the sod banks. Fresh bunker, fresh clams, especially for the surf fishing, eels and green crabs are stocked. Lots more greenies will be carried when the blackfish bag limit is increased to six of the fish on November 16 from the current limit of one.

Back to Top