<b>Staten Island</b>

Tog catches were somewhat steady, when the weather calmed enough to sail, said Capt. Anthony from <b>Barbara Anne Fishing Charters</b>. A trip got out Tuesday for a catch of 50 of the blackfish to 7 pounds. Depths where the fish were found varied lately, and trips searched different depths through the day. More blackfishing is on the books for the weekend on the boat, and whether the days would turn out calm enough was unclear. Don’t have enough anglers for a full charter? Call Anthony anyway, because he can usually schedule individual spaces. Barbara Anne pays bridge tolls with a receipt.

With <b>Outcast Charters</b> tog fishing was a little slower than lately on a trip Monday, Capt. Joe said. The anglers, picked up from Jersey on the boat, managed to limit out on a Jersey quota of the fish. But trips recently usually limited out fairly soon, playing catch and release with more afterward. But this trip just squeaked out a limit, a little disappointing, Joe said. Charters with Outcast can now either sail from the boat’s dock on Staten Island or can be picked up in Jersey, and call for info.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Jigging bailed good striped bass fishing on Tuesday on the <b>Fishermen</b>, but way too many of the fish were just under keeper-sized, Capt. Ron said in the report on the boat’s Web site. If the anglers had caught as many fish as were read on the fish finder, the angling would’ve been unreal. A shot of bigger bluefish were also fought. Ron had no intention of getting out of bed early Wednesday with forecasts for horrendous winds, and no report was posted for Wednesday, so apparently the trip stayed in port. He likes rough weather for striper fishing, but east winds 25 to 30 m.p.h. and rains in the forecast were too much. Busy action on short bass and a handful of keepers was scored on Monday’s trip, covered in the last report. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

The <b>Atlantic Star</b>’s trips for blackfish sailed Monday and Tuesday, and catches weren’t as good as Capt. Tom would like, he said, but each angler reeled up a few. Lots of currents and winds against the tide made feeling the bites a little tough, but on Tuesday currents let up late in the trip, and then most anglers cranked up two or three of the tog. Quite a few small blacks, including an inch or a half-inch short, were around. Tom expects the boat to stay docked through Friday before sailing again, because of the windy weather, giving waters a chance to settle down. He hopes the weather straightens out then. The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Surf casters jigged and eeled striped bass on incoming tides, and the west winds probably helped them cast a country mile, said Joe from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Boaters also jigged a slew of stripers on the ocean, when fair weather let them motor out, and they didn’t really buy eels to liveline for the bass but bought jigs. West winds usually push the linesiders onto Flynn’s Knoll and Romer Shoal. Customers seemed just be gaining interest in tog fishing.

<b>Highlands</b>

Lots of striped bass could be jigged and trolled down the ocean beaches, but the weather kept trips from getting out, said Capt. Brian from <b>Jersey Devil Charters</b>. Blackfishing was a pick Tuesday but put up a mess of the catches Monday. Jersey Devil is one of the few local boats still able to sail, because most had to be pulled from the waters because marinas were closing. But Brian keeps the boat at his private dock, and will keep chartering as long as the fishing lasts. Charters are sailing, and open-boat trips are available. Call if interested in the open trips, because the more who can go, the easier the trips can be scheduled.

<b>Belmar</b>

Weather kept the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> tied to the dock, but trips sailed a couple of days ago, coming up with a few striped bass and a handful of blues, Capt. Alan said. This will be the last week that the boat hunts those fish, and mackerel trips will begin Friday, December 18, so long as the Bostons arrive. Herring were already around, and that was a good sign. Mackerel fishing should last to mid or late January on the vessel, and afterward trips will bottom fish for ling, cod or whatever’s available close to shore. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Tog catches were okay, a little picky, on the <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. Sizeable ones such as 9-, 10- and 11-pounders were socked, “but the volume’s not as much,” he said. That was probably because of a stirred up bottom. One angler would reel in eleven, while another good angler would deck four, for example. Trips sailed every day lately except Saturday and Wednesday, because of weather, and today’s trip was probably going to be weathered out. The fish were claimed from 30- to 60-foot depths, the same depths as before. No one bait made a big difference, but green crabs are supplied, and white leggers are available on board that are less expensive than at tackle shops. The Big Mohawk is fishing for tog 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Beach anglers had played with plenty of striped bass until the weather turned terrible, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. They threw any sand eel imitations such as Deadly Dicks, Ava jigs, Vision eels or rubber or feather teasers, because the fish fed on sand eels. Excellent blackfishing was copped on the party boats before the weather kept them in port. Party boats that sailed for stripers caught plenty before the blow. Anglers will see what happens after the week’s weather followed by the cold that was moving in.

<b>Brielle</b>

One of the toughest tog bites of the year met Tuesday’s trip with <b>Fish Monger Charters</b>, but all six anglers still went home with a limit of the fish, good bags of them, and they worked hard, Capt. Jerry said in an e-mail. Lots of drops and shifts were made to scratch out the catch – blackfish to 6 pounds – a few here, a few there. The trip began with high hopes, heading to a spot in 60 feet that gave up healthy sized fish on Monday, a trip covered in the last report. But a few shorts and a couple of keepers chewed, until the action dropped to nothing, and more of the same happened at most drops. One area turned up a flurry when the tog began to chew, and some nice keepers came up, and then a few more, until the fishing dropped down to a “death” pick, he said. Nonetheless, the anglers worked hard at the rail through the trip, putting fish in the cooler. The high hook landed more than 10, keeping no more than his limit. Charters and open-boat trips are sailing.

Charters on the <b>Big Kid</b> were weathered out, but three trips are slated for Saturday through Monday, Capt. Ken said. Lots of tog were clobbered on the vessel lately, and trips often mixed in striped bass fishing early, early in the mornings. Both Saturday’s and Sunday’s charters will do a combo of striper and tog fishing, and Monday’s charter exclusively wants tog.

Fishing for striped bass was good on the ocean early in the week, and west winds forecast for Saturday and Sunday will be great for the angling, and trips are running for the linesiders 7:30 a.m. daily, an e-mail from the <b>Jamaica</b> said. Even if the winds are strong, the land should protect seas close to shore with that wind direction. Special blackfish trips are running, and so are offshore cod and pollock trips. The season’s first trip for cod and pollock had been slated for Saturday but was rescheduled for the following Saturday, December 19. See the boat’s Web site for the full schedule of trips.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

Blackfishing with a group on Monday limited out at two pieces with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>, the report on the boat’s Web site said. The tog wanted half a crab with no shell or legs, chewing hard, no scratch bites. The charter also trolled for the bluefin tuna that swam abundant close to shore, and the fish, almost impossible to catch on hook and line when they migrate south close to shore at this time of year, refused to bite. But Capt. Fred from Andrea’s Toy in a telephone call explained that he and the crew call the tuna trolling sight seeing, a great opportunity for anglers to see the fish if they want, but the chances of a hook up are slim. This charter actually tried the trolling first, moving on to tog afterward. The same charter sailed a week before, also limiting out on tog to 8 pounds at one spot in 2 ½ hours, the site said. The fish again wanted crabs, green crabs, the site specified this time, with no shell or legs. They then trolled an hour for the bluefins with ballyhoos way back and one down on a planer, and a Canyon Runner Mini Mamba that can imitate sand eels, with no takers. Next they went into striper mode, landing short bass and big, 10-pound blues. Trips all limited out on tog lately, lights-out fishing, and they found good striper fishing when they “got on them,” Fred said. Charters will fish hard to January 1, and fitting trips between the weather was the only challenge. 

One of the crew members boated striped bass on a trip he took by himself Tuesday on the ocean, an e-mail from the <b>Cock Robin</b> said. At first, he ran south, saw gannets diving, but could jig no bass underneath them, and few fish were marked there. He heard about fish on the radio, steamed north, and found bunker schooling in 15 to 25 feet. He snagged the bunker, dropped them back down for bait and nailed two stripers larger than 40 inches apiece and some blues. He also had countless run-offs. The Cock Robin was weathered out in the past days, but will resume searching for stripers 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily as soon as the weather clears.

Capt. Allen from <b>Reel Class Charters</b> a week or so ago said he was probably finished chartering for the year. He had picked up his new boat, a 30-foot 7-inch Albemarle Express, was mostly working on the vessel, but might fish on fun trips, and give reports if he did. He checked in with no report but did shoot out an e-mail saying <a href="http://www.reelclassfishing.com/" target="_blank"> Reel Class’s Web site</a> was revamped and seemed easier on the eyes, easier to navigate and was 90 percent completed. The 2010 rates are posted, and so are new types of trips and a few new links. Check it out. Attention holiday shoppers: Reel Class new this year is offering gift certificates for charters, shared charters and open-boat trips for any denomination. Tell your family or friends to check out the site and contact Allen to give you a gift you’d really like, instead of new underwear, cologne or a tie.

<b>Toms River</b>

Not a lot fished, but west winds quickly flattened out the surf, and waters were completely fishable, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. A few customers this morning picked up clams and Ava jigs to hit the surf for striped bass, but no results were heard yet. Some on Tuesday fished at the Seaside Casino Pier and Herring Avenue, coming up with some shorts and keepers on Ava’s and teasers or clams, and one on a Tsunami rubber bait. Boaters jigged decent numbers of stripers on the ocean when the weather allowed them to sail, using Ava’s to imitate sand eels in the waters. No customers said they tried eeling for stripers that were previously caught along the sod banks on Barnegat Bay. The eels currently stocked at the shop will be the last ordered for the season and are on sale for $.75 apiece to sell them off. Murphy’s will be open full time through Christmas Eve before taking a winter break. Catch the shop’s sale that kicks off Friday, featuring 25 to 50 percent off on most items except bait.

<b>Seaside</b>

A couple of 28- and 34-inch striped bass were checked in from the surf Tuesday, and loads of short stripers were banked from the suds Monday, and otherwise few fished, so not much was heard from the beaches the rest of the week, said the report on <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b> said. The shorts were nabbed on metal, and anglers said that if metal worked that well, the fish should stick around a while. West winds were favorable for surf angling. <a href=" http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishing_reports.cfm" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for updates.

<b>Forked River</b>

Trolling picked up striped bass on the ocean on umbrella rigs and spoons, and anchoring and fishing with clams or, at night, drifting eels rounded up stripers on Barnegat Bay, said Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Stripers and blues were fought at the bridge on the Oyster Creek discharge from the power plant.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Mostly short striped bass, but sometimes larger ones, generally fish from 26 inches to 32 or 34, turned out bites from the surf to Barnegat Inlet and Barnegat Bay, said Josh from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>. Clams probably worked best in the surf, and anglers at the inlet and bay swam live spots or worked jigs, bucktails or top-water lures. Nobody talked about bluefish, but trollers probably came across blues on the ocean. Blackfish kept holding along the Barnegat Inlet rocks. Live spots, eels and green crabs and fresh clams and bunker are stocked, and the shop will probably be open another two weekends this season.

With great blackfishing happening, trips will target them for the rest of the season with <b>Reel Fantasea Charters</b>, Capt. Steve said in an e-mail. Trips will only fish during weather windows on Thursdays and Fridays, and e-mail or call him if interested in an open-boat trip, he said. It’s assumed he’s also offering charters. Blackfish gave up drop-and-reel angling, very productive catches, and some weighed 9 ½ pounds. A few bigger ones broke off on the boat’s trips, and most keepers were 2 to 5 pounds. Striped bass continued to bite, but keepers became scarcer, typical for late in the season. Steve fished with little brother Ryan and friend Brian “Schmidty” Schmidt for stripers and blackfish on a last-minute cancellation. The action started off slow but finished strong, and they tackled 10 stripers including two keepers and non-stop action with blackfish to 9 ½ pounds. Steve also talked about lots of other interesting stuff in his e-mail, giving a sort of wrap-up of the season, as follows, with editing: “Wow, is it me or does it seem like this year’s calendar (missed) a few months? How can it be December and near the end of the 2009 Reel Fantasea fishing season? What a great year of camaraderie and fishing with all of you! I count my blessing every day, being able to do what I love … and share in the fishing experience  with such wonderful people … as passionate about fishing as I am … (My) only wish is that you all enjoyed your time as much as I did! I continue to be a student on every trip, and keep an open mind on new ideas and tactics to hopefully bring industry excellence of ‘action and catch’ to this endeavor of mine, and hope that I have communicated that only 120 percent effort on my part will do … that you may have become better fisher people or at least have enjoyed your fishing experience. Although the weather kept us on our toes most of the year, when it cooperated, the fish did as well … Give the gift of fishing! I have gift certificates in any amount for the 2010 fishing season for that special fisher person in your life. Hey, it beats a Snuggie or Chia Pet any day, and you don't have to deal with mall traffic or parking. This year’s winners of Reel Fantasea Charters’ season-long tournament are regulars Wayne Salvi and Jay Simmons. Wayne is Grand Master, taking three … top spots for biggest striper, bluefish (and) fluke, while Jay takes the biggest weakfish category. Congratulations guys, (and) remember: Top weights are good for half off 5-hour back-bay trips or a free open-boat trip. Remember, all those who book trips are eligible and entered for the tournament. Can Wayne be unseated from his throne in 2010? Did your Reel Fantasea experience meet your expectations; was there something you may have preferred to do? As I strive for excellence, any feedback, both positive and constructive, would be appreciated. If you were completely satisfied and fully enjoyed your fishing experience, I will be adding a Customer Testimonies page and would love to add your feedback and/or quote. My sincere thanks to all of those who (chose) to fish with me this year, and I hope to see all of you again next season! I wish you and yours a wonderful and blessed Holiday Season and healthy, happy New Year, (and) stay in touch!”

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Ocean boaters were able to sail Tuesday, scoring striped bass on jigs and on the troll, catching as well as could be expected, and that angling, normally anticipated to start at Thanksgiving, was under way, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. He attributed the catches to dropping water temps, and the ocean finally chilled down. When the fish begin to stack up there, that suggests they left the bay, and indeed nothing was heard about striper catches from shore on the bay at Pebble Beach and Graveling Point, where they were previously grabbed. That could be because the weather scared off anglers, but Scott would think the ocean fish meant the shore angling was finished for the season. The ocean trollers last year caught a lot on Stretch lures, and umbrella rigs should also be a popular choice, and Scott heard little about bunker spoons. Other than the catches on Tuesday, little news rolled in, and anglers were definitely becoming scarce by this time of year, and few boats were left in the waters. With the cold snap forecast for the next days, getting boats out of the waters was probably a good idea. Tog fishing was as good as could be during the weekend at Garden State Reef South, and a couple of 10-pounders were checked in from there. The fish were yet to be pressured, because probably three or four days were possible for sailing to the reef for tog since the bag limit increased and anglers became interested in them in mid November. No customers seemed to try for white perch up the rivers. A bunch of fresh, shucked clams arrived at the shop Wednesday, and the store is finished stocking fresh bunker for the season, because of lack of demand. Lots of green crabs are on hand.

<b>Longport</b>

Anglers aboard the <b>Stray Cat</b> tried for striped bass on the ocean Wednesday, instead of going after tog like most of the vessel’s trips, but no stripers showed up, and only dog sharks and out-of-season flounder hit the jigs, Capt. Mike said. The vessel’s usual open-boat trips for tog, sailing daily unless a charter is booked, are sold out during the weekend. The tog trips will fish the ocean toward Atlantic City, because “the fish are north,” he said. The blackfish remained along the sod banks of the bay, so they were yet to migrate out. Looking far ahead, trips, only charters, will launch for sea bass starting April 3 at the 40- to 60-mile wrecks. But for now, open-boat trips are targeting tog 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. <b>Update</b>: The weather for Monday and Tuesday looks calm for a change, good conditions, Capt. Mike said. The weekend’s weather looks iffy. So take advantage of Monday’s and Tuesday’s trips for tog, and space is available.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Boaters ran into a few striped bass Monday and Tuesday, when they could get out in better weather, at the bell buoy off Great Egg Harbor Inlet and at Sea Isle Lump, said Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. The fish were mostly jigged, and surf anglers beached a few stripers, mostly on bunker, some on clam, until the weather took a turn Tuesday night. That was the last heard about catches. The surf dropped to 48 or 49 degrees, and anglers could probably expect to see more catches before stripers all migrate south, but getting the weather to fish was the challenge. One day would be calm, and four days would pass until the next calm. The weather channel called this week’s blow the “storm of the week”! Anglers off Ocean City, Maryland, seemed to start catching stripers, and a friend fished at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia, angling up lots of stripers, though none big. Tog probably moved to a little deeper, warmer waters, but tons littered the artificial reefs, if boaters could reach them. Ed heard the bay got frigid, and nothing was heard about catches there.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Lots of eels were sold, and that probably meant anglers who still had boats in the waters livelined the bait for a few striped bass at the inlets, said Wes from <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. He likes to tie up at the Sea Isle Bridge right near the shop, sending out clam or an eel for a simple trip to catch stripers, usually scoring the fish three out of four outings. Anglers should be able to do that at such areas and also places on the bay like at the bridges. The surf was 48 degrees, a temp when stripers begin to be scarce. But boaters in the ocean could still jig stripers, because waters were warmer, maybe up to 55 degrees, on the bottom a little farther from shore. Eels should also work from the boats, and many seemed to switch to eels once spots became scarce for the season. Big, out-of-season flounder remained in those waters. Tog probably departed the bay because of 45- or 48-degree waters, but they definitely held in ocean. Eels, green crabs, frozen, salted clams and frozen bunker are stocked. Gibson’s will stay open this season until Christmas, and Wes will probably put out a table of hot cider and gingerbread cookies or such treats, maybe this weekend.

<b>Cape May</b>

The weather seemed to keep anyone from sailing in the past days, but striped bass fishing was great previously, including on charters who trolled the ocean through the weekend with Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, he said. Those trips were covered in the last report. The ocean was 50 degrees, so he expects the catches to continue another couple of weeks, unless the coming cold spell drastically cools the waters, but that shouldn’t happen. So he’ll keep running as long as the fish are there. In the last few years trips starting at Thanksgiving often seemed to be able to catch a mess of the bass quickly in an hour or 1 ½ hours, and trips were like that during the weekend. Call if interested in fishing.

A combo trip sailed for striped bass and blackfish on the ocean on the <b>Fishin’ Fever</b>, Capt. Tom said. The anglers scored well on probably 20 stripers including a bunch of keepers in the morning on live bait. Tom wasn’t asked what kind of bait, but previously he said charters were now switching to eels, because spots ran out. But trips recently also trolled and jigged the bass on the ocean, so that was possible to do, too. But this trip then fished for blackfish, and the angling wasn’t as good as it probably should’ve been, because of rough seas, but 11 keepers to an 11-1/2-pounder were boxed. A striper trip also fished at the Cape May Rips the other day on the boat, and a bunch, mostly small ones, were hooked, but a couple of keepers were bagged. Fishin’ Fever did no striper fishing on Delaware Bay, but others said they caught a few on the bay. The bay’s bass probably began migrating out of the area, because the bay was getting cold, some said as cold as the low 40s. But that’s not a bad thing for the rips, because the larger bass usually found in the bay should drop down to the rips.

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