<b>Staten Island</b>

<b>Outcast Charters</b> piled up a great catch of blackfish on Monday, Capt. Joe said. The charter limited out early in the morning, playing catch and release with more for quite a while afterward. The fish were medium-sized to 7 pounds, and most were 3 to 5 pounds. The trip even fished an extra hour, because of the good angling and also because the day was so beautiful. Even Joe and the boat’s mate got to fish a bit. Once the limits were made, the trip was able to scope out other spots, looking around, and every place turned up life, an okay amount. More charters are slated for Saturday to Monday.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Striped bass turned on for a moment on Tuesday’s trip on the <b>Fishermen</b>. “Had that change of tide bite this morning,” Capt. Ron said in the report for that day on the boat’s Web site. For three drifts, the anglers hooked the bass every time their lines hit bottom, pulling up mostly shorts but a few keepers. Once the drift sped up to 3 knots, “that was it for the rest of the day,” he said. Amazing how the fish finder’s readings disappear once the conditions turn bad, he said. The screen changed from solid readings on the bottom to nothing. Where do they go? he asked. “(I) still can’t figure it out after all these years.” After slack tide, the trip searched down the ocean beaches, farther offshore and back to the channels off Sandy Hook “for nothing more than a hack,” he said. A 15-1/2-pounder was the biggest striper on the trip, and the angler who reeled in the fish also totaled a bunch of shorts. Monday’s trip came across a couple of shots at shorts between the channels early in the day, and the fishing on the bottom boats sounded similarly slow, and Ron hoped at the time that was just a one-day situation. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

The boat’s blackfishing trips sailed Monday and Tuesday, and the fishing was good, said Capt. Tom from the <b>Atlantic Star</b>. No trip sailed Wednesday because of winds and forecasts, and today looked iffy, but Friday sounded good, and the weekend didn’t look too bad. On Monday a couple of patrons limited out on the tog, and one angler landed no keepers but reeled in shorts, but the rest creeled keepers -- two, three or four for most. The crowd was light, and a few more people showed up Tuesday. A few nailed four or five keepers, and two claimed none, but the rest socked some legal fish. The sizes of the tog were nothing exceptional on the trips, but some of the slipperies were of decent dimension, including about an 8-pounder that won Tuesday’s pool. Probably three ling were mixed in Monday, and none came up Tuesday, if Tom remembered. But the anglers fished only with crabs on both days. Clams are carried aboard, though, and if ling show signs of being around, the anglers can go after them with clams. Until then, they avoided the soft baits, concerned about dog sharks potentially invading.  Most anglers wanted blackfish, though. The cold probably scared off some anglers, but those who failed to sail missed out on some quality togging. When the weather cooperated, the fishing was all right. The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Highlands</b>

Some days were better than others for blackfishing, but catches overall were good, said Capt. Brian from <b>Jersey Devil Charters</b>. Striped bass should still be around, and reaching them was a matter of getting the weather to go, and trips are supposed to try for the linesiders this weekend, trolling and jigging on the ocean. Trips on the boat are fishing for blacks and stripers, and Jersey Devil is one of the area’s few charters still sailing, because many marinas required vessels to be pulled from the waters for the season. But Jersey Devil’s boat sails from Brian’s own dock.

<b>Belmar</b>

A charter on the <b>Nan Sea J</b> put the breaks on good fishing for tog to 7 pounds on Tuesday, Capt. Tom said. Most of the anglers wrangled up a limit or more, keeping no more than their quota, and the fish continued to be located close to shore, and plenty of respectable-sized ones were around. Waters were 48 degrees, and nothing was really heard about striped bass, but straggler stripers probably remained. Tom saw gannets diving but wasn’t focusing on them, didn’t notice much about them, like whether stripers appeared to be underneath. More trips are on the books for Friday through Sunday.

The <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> is supposed to begin sailing for mackerel this weekend, if the weather allows, Capt. Alan said. If the weather prevents the trips, the vessel will begin chasing the Bostons the following weekend. Commercial boats began catching them off Montauk a week ago, so the fish could be close enough now, even if trips have to steam 30 or 40 miles. The Miss Belmar Princess’s three engines allow the speed to reach them, making it to the grounds in 1 ½ hours, and that’s why no other party boats except one in New York can run for them yet, he said. Herring sometimes started to be found already, and last year’s trips on the Miss Belmar Princess began to run across mackerel at Christmas. Once the mackerel trips begin, the boat will fish for them 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Few anglers plied the surf on a cold day like today, but lots of short striped bass and an occasional keeper swam along the beaches, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. He was going to give the fishing a shot this afternoon, and noted that hitting the beach in the cold of the crack of dawn wasn’t appealing to many anglers anymore. Only the hardcore sharpies seemed to fish the suds now, too, but the stripers were out there. The fish continued to swipe mostly artificials like Ava jigs and teasers, and some anglers began to throw small plugs like Bombers. The party boats sailing for blackfish attracted fair crowds, and the fishing was good. None of the local head boats seemed to try for stripers anymore, but vessels farther south at Point Pleasant probably did. The Miss Belmar Princess was supposed to switch to mackerel from stripers this weekend, but strong northeast winds could change that plan. Once mackerel show up, that will add a whole other type of trip to the slate. Lots of sea herring were around and could at least be caught. Some customers honed in on trout stocked at Spring Lake.

<b>Brielle</b>

Jay Maher’s charter ran into a slow pick of blackfish Monday on the <b>Big Kid</b>, Capt. Ken said. But Lou Decibus’s charter banged away at a good pick of the tog on Tuesday at the same place in 80 feet at the reefs. Amazing what a difference a day can make, Ken said. The boat did no striped bass fishing, and everybody wanted blackfish lately. But the crew loves blackfish. More trips were slated for today through Monday.

Blackfish bit right away on a trip Tuesday with <b>Fish Monger Charters</b>, and all good-sized ones, 3- to 6-pounders, started the action, and by the end, the six anglers each took home a limit, and more were caught and released, Capt. Jerry said in an e-mail. The catch included an 11-pound 5-ouncer, a 10-pound 10-ouncer, a 10-pound 4-ouncer, an 8-pound 8-ouncer and quite a few 5- to 7-pounders. A few of the anglers limited out fairly quick, and after a bunch of keepers were picked, the big ones showed up, pounding white crabs. The boat limited by 11 a.m., and the anglers played catch and release the rest of the day. A drop was then tried inshore, but the waters were no good. So the trip returned to the deep for more catch and release. The high hook landed 18 keepers, and another pumped in more than 15, and they only kept their limits. Everybody probably cranked in double digits, keeping only their limits. Two of the anglers drilled their personal-best tog, the 11-pounder and one of the 10-pounders. On Wednesday in winds, cold and wind burn, the anglers on another trip also all came home with a limit of blackfish. Jerry almost second-guessed his decision to sail once the boat was set up on the grounds, because of the weather, but life began right away, and continued to build, and the fish were sizeable. One of the anglers limited out in 45 minutes, and a few shifts were made, and a quality shot of keepers was hammered every time. The blackfish preferred small white crabs over green crabs, and the conditions made feeling the bites a little difficult, but the anglers got used to it after a while. Winds started really gusting on the final drop, and the anchors, a new double-anchor system, dragged a few times until the boat got settled, and quality keepers came up again. Three of the tog weighed more than 7 pounds, and three broke 6 pounds, and the high hook claimed 22 keepers, keeping only his limit. A 29-inch striped bass was also bagged. Charters and open-boat trips are sailing.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

Lots of short blackfish, not many keepers, made the catch slow on a trip Tuesday, said Capt. Fred from <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>. That was the first trip that caught less than a limit of the tog for the boat this season. No striped bass fishing was done, because none seemed to be nearby during the trip, but some of the linesiders remain in the area, and trips will usually target them when they appear. Andrea’s Toy is fishing for blackfish and stripers to the first of the year.

The ocean gave up good fishing for striped bass on a trip today, said Capt. Bob from the <b>Gambler</b>. No customers showed up, but Bob wanted to fish, so he took the crew out. They ran just a little north of the inlet and saw gannets diving, and marks were read a little ahead of them, and stripers were jigged within 3 minutes of stopping on them. In 1 ½ hours Bob bagged three keepers with a bonus tag, always available on the boat, releasing another keeper and a short, all on a big Krocodile. During the same time, one of the deck hands used a Kroc to bat down two keepers and two shorts, and another deck hand also clubbed two keepers. One of the bottom-fishing captains on his way back from a trip today told Bob he read fish on the way home that were surely stripers. Bob’s brother ran the Gambler on Tuesday for a decent catch of the linesiders, not a lot of the fish, but sizeable ones. Surf casters continued to bank short stripers, too. So striper fishing should last a while yet, and the boat is slated to sail for them daily until January, and then other types of trips will sail. Some cod trips will get out, and trips should also hunt mackerel. 

Ling and blackfish were now the focus on the <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Willie said. Ling fishing was starting to improve, and blackfish, of course, had already been chomping. No trip sailed Wednesday because of winds, but Tuesday’s outing made it out, and the anglers put together a healthy catch of ling and blacks. Lots of dog sharks were a nuisance, but sizeable ling were swung aboard, and blackfish to 8 pounds were belted. These two fish will remain the target until other fish, particularly mackerel and cod, might be mixed in. No signs of the mackerel migration appeared so far, but these days they usually arrive at least in January. Both the macks and cod used to appear by Election Day years ago. So did whiting. Many fish migrations changed over the years. Porgies used to get plundered in June, for example, but now get picked up starting toward August. The Dauntless fishes all winter long, one of the state’s few boats that does, and is sailing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

Striped bass, mostly shorts but a few keepers, remained to be had in the surf, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Ava jigs and teasers got the strikes when worked very slowly, but small, 3-1/2-inch 14A Bomber plugs also did the job, and school bus color was productive. Mambo Minnows in white also gained lots of catches. Again, any of the artificials should be worked real slowly. Water conditions were absolutely fabulous in the northwest winds, even if the air was cold, and the suds averaged 48 to 52 degrees, fluctuating day to day. No customers boated for stripers on the ocean in a couple of days, probably because of the cold and the holidays. Plenty of blackfish were hauled from the ocean on green crab and clam. Catch the shop’s sale featuring 25- to 50-percent discounts through Christmas Eve. The shop is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, probably through the weekend after Christmas. Afterward the shop will take a break for a moment, but the doors will be open whenever Dennis happens to be there, and look for his truck.

<b>Seaside</b>

Only a few anglers fished the surf, but they beached short striped bass, said the report on <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b>’s Web site.  The shore was mostly deserted on Wednesday, but a handful of sharpies tried the suds Tuesday, and ones the shop talked with were “getting more than a few fish,” the report said. Keepers were a little scarce, but a couple were beaten. Clams and skinny metal were the popular choices, and some said fishing with teasers worked better, and others said fishing without them did. Do your family and friends not know what gifts to buy you for the holidays? Grumpy gift cards are available. <a href=" http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishing_reports.cfm" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for updates.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

Three to five keeper blackfish per angler were rounded up Saturday on the <b>Miss Beach Haven</b>, Capt. Frank said. A 10.9-pounder was the pool winner, and Sunday’s trip attempted to sail, but rains and winds caused the crew to turn around. The Miss Beach Haven is sailing for blackfish 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

<b>Tuckerton</b>

Tog fishing clobbered a good catch to 10 pounds Tuesday with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. Lots of shorts chewed, creating a tough pick on keepers, but quality fish were tackled by the end, and tons of action lasted all day. Charters are leaving port for the blackfish, and so are open-boat trips with a minimum of three anglers. See the open schedule on Legal Limit’s Web site.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Between the relentless weather and the time of year, participation in coastal fishing ground to a halt this week, and with no customers heading out, no report was really possible, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. He imagined that if anyone tried for the striped bass that were previously trolled and jigged on the ocean, they could probably find the fish. Or if they looked for white perch, the cold-weather staple, up the rivers like the Mullica, they should score. Live grass shrimp, the favorite perch bait, are stocked. So are minnows and bloodworms. Green crabs for tog fishing are also on hand. Nobody mentioned running for tog, though. Fresh clams will no longer be carried this season. But the shop stays open the whole year, and soon Scott will probably be talking about everyone bringing in their tackle to be serviced for the coming season. Maybe the weather will turn cold enough for ice fishing for the perch at Collins Cove on the Mullica, traditionally one of the best spots for the angling. 

<b>Longport</b>

A light crowd showed up for Tuesday’s daily, open-boat blackfishing trip on the <b>Stray Cat</b>, but they caught, Capt. Mike said. He sent photos that included the 8-pound pool winner. The trip fished the wrecks 12 miles from shore in 75 feet, and he was sure the tog remained closer to the coast, including because anglers along the jetties kept catching them. But this windy season stirred up waters close to shore, so trips headed straight for deeper waters to take no chances. The boat is chartered Saturday, but space is available on open trips Friday and Sunday, among other days. The frequent northwest winds lately should be good for the togging, calming and clearing up the ocean. The trips for blacks will continue, but striped bass held at the Atlantic City Fingers, though most of the big stripers moved south of Cape May. During the week of January 10 open trips will begin to steam for pollock, ling and tog on weekends on 10-hour days. On weekdays starting then, only charters will run.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Anglers at the Russ Chattin or Corson’s Inlet bridge whacked striped bass the past three or four nights while casting artificials with teasers, and the fish hit the teasers, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. A report rolled in this morning about a school of stripers swimming south just off the ocean beaches, supposedly moving down from Long Beach Island. Stripers had been absent from the surf, but maybe they popped back in from that school. All the ocean reefs were covered with tog and out-of-season sea bass. Tog still got caught along the bridges and structure including at Corson’s Inlet and the pier on the north end of the island, were yet to leave for the deep. Fin-Atics is open daily through New Year’s Eve, except the doors will be closed on Christmas. Afterward the shop will be open Fridays through Sundays through January.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Trips stayed docked since the weekend, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. But striped bass, like the ones lambasted on the boat during the weekend, should still school the ocean, and blues, also shellacked on the vessel then, could still be out there. Blues would usually depart for the season by then, but they remained. A trip Saturday, covered in the last report, whaled stripers to 16 pounds and somewhat fewer blues, probably a 60/40 mix, to 12 pounds on jigs on the ocean, releasing the bass and keeping a few blues. Looking for a great holiday gift? Jersey Cape offers gift certificates for charters. Call or e-mail Joe if interested. Check out Jersey Cape’s new blog that includes 2009 season photos and 2008 season photos from Jersey Cape’s trip. Videos of trips will be added to the blog. Coming up, Joe will relocate his flats boat to Florida after Christmas, offering annual traveling charters to the Keys through Easter when he travels there. He’ll first fish the area from about Christmas until New Year’s. The trips target species from sailfish, king mackerel and mahi mahi in the ocean to redfish, speckled sea trout, jack crevalles and snook in the back country. 

<b>Cape May</b>

A trip limited out on striped bass Tuesday, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. The anglers first trolled a bunch on the ocean. Then they moved to Overfalls Shoal at the Cape May Rips, tackling a pretty good catch of more on eels and bucktails. George didn’t run the trip, and his boat was already pulled from the waters for the season. But he’s running charters on a friend’s boat, and the friend ran this trip on the vessel, with the Jim Willard charter from Willard Electric. George was told that the waters were 49 degrees in the ocean and 50 degrees at the rips. Plenty of stripers remained in the area, so George will keep offering charters until they depart, and call if interested. Space is available this weekend for a charter and also for trips afterward.

On the <b>Fishin’ Fever</b>, no trips ran in the past days, but reports were heard that said tog fishing was great, Capt. Tom said. They said the same about striped bass fishing, both on the ocean on jigs and on the troll and at the Cape May Rips. He wasn’t asked what the fish were taken with at the rips, but eels and bucktails are typical. He heard about 20- and 30-pound stripers clocked, so the size was there. Charters are fishing for tog and stripers.

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