New Jersey Fishing Reports

Although New York’s blackfishing closed on December 20 and reopens on January 17, Outcast Charters has been picking up anglers from New Jersey, where the blackfish season is open. That’s what a trip on Thursday or on New Year’s Day did, and the fishing was a grind, but the anglers limited out and released a few more, Capt. Joe said. Another trip is slated for mid week, and Outcast will continue to run blackfish trips that pick up anglers from Jersey. When New York’s season for the tog reopens, anglers will be able either to sail from the boat’s dock on Staten Island or be picked up from the Garden State. Call for info. ***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: A trip for blackfish Tuesday, picking up the anglers from Jersey, was very good, Joe said. The boat limited out by 10:30 a.m., and the sizes of the fish were decent, mostly 3- to 5-pounders, and the bigger ones weighed 7 pounds. Four ling were also hooked, and birds were seen working the waters, but whether striped bass or other fish swam underneath was unknown. Maybe mackerel or herring were underneath. Waters were 40 to 41 degrees where the boat fished, and the day was somewhat breezy, blowing 20 or 25, but not bad, and became relatively warm by 11 a.m. More blackfishing is slated on the boat this weekend.

Atlantic Highlands

Anglers fished for blackfish on New Year’s Eve Day and on New Years Day on the Atlantic Star, rounding up decent catches, Capt. Tom said. The boat was slated to run the last of the trips this season through the weekend, but winds cancelled the angling during the weekend. Waters had chilled on the days fished to 39 and 40 degrees, but the tog kept chomping. Some anglers pumped up seven, eight or nine, keeping no more than their limits, and a few landed no keepers. But the fish were there. Maintenance and Coast Guard inspections will be completed on the boat in the next weeks, and daily trips will probably resume toward the second half of March, and anglers can call the boat in mid March for an update. Tom and crew thank everybody who fished on the boat this year, hope to see them this coming season, and wish everyone a happy new year and safe winter.

***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: An edited e-mail from Capt. Ron from the Fishermen, a vessel on winter break: “Once again, I'm reaching out to everyone who enjoys the pleasure of fishing,” he said. “On Wednesday, February 24, there is a protest in Washington regarding the demise of fishing as we know it. NOAA and the powers that be have decided that we no longer matter, and (they) want to make the world a better place for fish. The Magnuson Stevens Act has come to the point where it is a weapon for the radical enviro's to end fishing as we know it. Our own president has given the power to NOAA to implement programs that will put thousands of hard-working people out of business. Not just fishermen like us, but the tackle shops, restaurants, bait dealers, hotels, fish markets, anyone who makes their living (on) or enjoys the freedom of fishing. It's time to say enough is enough, and our voices must be heard! In these tough times and (and in the) horrible economy, it's hard to commit to such a venture, but if you could try to make the trip to Washington … it will say that we are tired of our freedoms being taken away, we are tired of all the crap this government is shoving down our throats, and maybe, just maybe, we can make a difference. There is strength in numbers -- numbers are what we need to let these people know we have had it! There are several locations for buses on the <a href="http://www.ssfff.org" target="_blank">SSFFF Web site</a>. Hope to see you there. Thank you, Capt.Ron.”

Neptune

Trips sailed for blackfish Wednesday through Friday between the rough weather, pounding out good catches, said Capt. Ralph from Last Lady Fishing Charters. All patrons went home with the fish, and none of the tog weighed more than 10 pounds, but a 9-1/2-pounder tackled on Friday was the biggest of the trips. More ling were also reeled up Friday than on any trip so far this season. The weather was brutal lately, and winds caused the weekend’s trips to be cancelled. Winds looked like they’d continue today and Tuesday, and Wednesday appeared to be the first day when trips will be able to resume in calmer weather. Individual-reservation trips are sailing for blackfish daily when the weather allows, and charters are available. Last Lady will keep fishing another couple of weeks before Ralph takes a winter break. ***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: Last Lady motored out on an individual-reservation blackfish trip today, Capt. Ralph said in a phone call from the waters at 3 p.m. on the trip. The angling was a steady pick, and the boat was kept on the waters later than usual, but Ralph was glad it was, because the anglers continued to catch, and some of the tog then weighed up to 8 and 9 pounds. He expected more of the trips to fish Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday and the following Saturday and Sunday.

Belmar

***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: Trips for blackfish kept steaming on the Big Mohawk when the weather was “right,” Capt. Chris said, and catches were all right. Some quality slipperies to 9 pounds were dragged aboard Tuesday. Great catches were thrown on the deck before fierce winds cancelled trips early in the week. Trips should run today and tomorrow in fair weather. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: Coolers full of mackerel were clobbered Wednesday on the Miss Belmar Princess, and the fishing took off, was good, in the last few days, Capt. Alan said. A trip sailed for them again today, was on the waters when Alan gave this report on the phone from shore, and he hoped just as many macks were sacked. Trips found them more than 20 miles from shore, and will go wherever necessary within range. The vessel’s got a longer range than most, because of speed from three engines. The Miss Belmar Princess is mackerel fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: Party boats kept sailing, scoring well on blackfish and mackerel, said Bob from Fisherman’s Den. That was really the only game in town, and few private boats were in the waters, and surf anglers were scarce, and winter flounder season is closed. But blackfishing on the head boats held up, and good catches were made on the vessels Wednesday, and the Miss Belmar Princess ran for mackerel, finding a healthy population of the fish. Other boats reported fewer mackerel, and maybe that was because the Miss Belmar Princess’s three engines give the vessel a longer rang. The shop is usually open approximately 5 a.m. to 11 a.m., because the party boat crowd made up most business at this time of year. Hours might become fewer in February and the beginning of March, and that depends on how long the party boat fishing lasts, and one never knows.

Brielle

The Big Kid last fished on Wednesday, because of the weather, at 17 Fathoms, Capt. Ken said. The trip put the anglers on cod and blackfish, including big ones to 17 pounds. Charters will keep sailing, so long as they get the weather, and the boat is one of the area’s few that continues to run. Give a call to get out.

The weather finally allowed the Jamaica to fish offshore, an e-mail from the boat said. Anglers aboard on New Year’s Eve Day belted a good showing of cod and jumbo pollock, and ling and hake were mixed in. Pool winners were Jason Hatt from Denver, Colo., with a 40-pound pollock and Jimmy Ricardo from Pittstown, N.J., with a 35-pound pollock. Trips are slated to fish for cod, pollock, hake and jumbo porgies 45 to 65 miles offshore every Friday through Sunday this month and next. The trips are limited to 49 anglers, and $155 is the fare. Visit the schedule on the boat’s Web site or call the vessel for more info.

Fish Monger Charters wrapped up its season, and the boat was hauled and put in dry dock, and trips will begin again in spring, starting with fishing for ling, blackfish, cod and winter flounder, an e-mail from Capts. Jerry and Wayne said. They thank everyone who climbed aboard for a great year, appreciating the anglers for choosing the boat and keeping the crew busy, especially during the tough economic times. “Couldn’t have done it without you guys!” the e-mail said. “Makes all the hard work worth it!” Limits of fish were more common than not for nearly the whole season, and the crew can only hope to have results that are as good next season. Was a fun, fish-catching filled year from start to finish, the e-mail said. That included winter flounder season in spring, a great spring run of trophy striped bass caught on bunker, spring and summer bottom fishing for ling, blackfish and sea bass, bucktailing for big fluke in summer, light-tackle angling for bonito and false albacore next, full coolers of sea bass and porgies toward late summer, and great blackfishing in fall through early winter. “Looking forward to Mongering again in 2010!” the e-mail said. ***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: Charters for 2010 are now being booked, and check out <a href="http://www.fishmongercharters.com" target="_blank">Fish Monger’s Web site</a> for the species and dates when they’ll be targeted. Then call to book!

Point Pleasant

***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: On the Dauntless anglers wrenched up ling and blackfish, pretty good catches, Capt. Butch said. The bottom fishing was improving after rough weather, was surprisingly okay. A few small cod came up, too. Tuesday’s angling was a little better for ling, and Wednesday’s was a little better for a mix of blackfish and ling. Trips got out fairly regularly, not every day, between the weather. Only a few mackerel and herring were reeled aboard, and the crew waited for mackerel, couldn’t be sure whether the Bostons would swim close enough to shore on the southern migration this year. When mackerel do come in during a season, trips go after them in the mornings, when catches are best, and bottom fish afterward. The water temperature was 44 to 46 degrees on the fishing grounds, depending on the water depth. The deeper areas of the Mudhole were 46 on the surface, and trips fished in 90 to 130 feet. But the bottom was probably warmer, and waters along the beaches were 40 degrees on top. They reached the mid 40s 5 or 6 miles from the coast. So fishing was decent, and Butch hoped the angling would continue to pick up and the winter would be a good one for catches. The Dauntless sails all winter long, one of the state’s few vessels that does, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Fishing on the Gambler took one last shot at striped bass along the ocean front, but the angling was no good, so the schedule will now switch, Capt. Bob said. Trips every Sunday through Tuesday will be Mackerel Marathons. Blackfish trips will fish every Wednesday. Trips every Thursday through Saturday will target cod, pollock and ling at the 20- to 50-mile wrecks. All trips will run 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and $85 is the fare, and children and seniors receive a discount.

***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: Capt. Fred from Andrea’s Toy Charters wrapped up his season, he said. Trips had been blackfishing, and all but one limited out lately, according to the reports on the boat’s Web site. Fred thanks the anglers who fished aboard this year, hopes to see them next season, and wishes everyone a happy new year! Only about a half-dozen spots remain for spring charters for trophy striped bass. Andrea’s Toy this year will fish for the bass from Point Pleasant, no longer fishing the Raritan Bay run like past years. Fewer and smaller bass showed up there in recent seasons, so Fred instead will keep the boat at Point Pleasant, fishing for the linesiders later, when much bigger ones move through, and the weather is warmer to boot. The trips will sail from the last week of May to the last week of June, and only half of each week will be booked to allow for windy weather days.

Seaside

A few customers fished the surf in the better weather on New Year’s Day or on Friday and on Saturday morning, and none reported banking fish, but they gained a good time and fresh air and seemed pleased, the report on Grumpy’s Tackle’s Web site said. Afterward nobody was seen who fished, no wonder in the cold that moved in. Now was a good time to bring in reel repairs, and there was no big back up yet. Now was also a good time to order the custom rods the shop is famous for. New products that arrived at the store included the ZeeBaas SurfEdge 3-1/2-inch knife with case and lanyard, the Fin-Nor Marquesa HiSpeed Lever Drag Reels with a 6.1:1 gear ratio, and the Berkeley version of a Gulp rubber bait storage system. Don’t forget to <a href=" https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/" target="_blank">register to fish saltwater in 2010</a>. For the latest reports, <a href=" http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishing_reports.cfm" target="_blank"> click here</a>.

Beach Haven

***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: Blackfishing was a slow pick on New Year’s Eve on the Miss Beach Haven, but some of the fish were caught, “wasn’t great,” Capt. Frank said. But the angling was better on the boat on New Year’s Day in somewhat warmer weather and better conditions. Those were special trips for the holiday, and the boat is normally blackfishing on weekends. Last weekend’s trips were weathered out from strong winds, and the outlook for this weekend’s trips sailing seemed doubtful because of forecasts for winds and cold, but call the vessel Friday evening to find out. When trips do run, the Miss Beach Haven is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Tuckerton

***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: Windy weather was too much, and Legal Limit Charters called it a season, Capt. T.J. said. Trips ran for blackfish through New Year’s Eve. Charters will kick off again in April, beginning again with blackfish. T.J. will move one of his two boats to Cape May toward May, like he does each year, for striped bass and drum fishing, while the other vessel keeps fishing from Tuckerton. He thanks everyone who jumped aboard this past season and wishes everyone a good winter.

Mystic Island

One local logged wind gusts to 56 m.p.h. on Sunday, and the wind chill factor plummeted below zero, said the report on Scott’s Bait & Tackle’s Web site. The weather was downright nasty, and icy winds also blew Saturday. There was no chatter on the radio, so even white perch anglers, who typically fish the tidal rivers like the Mullica in winter, seemed to stay warm inside. One freshwater angler e-mailed a report to the shop on New Year’s Day, saying he and two buddies ice fished, wrangling up four pickerel, three yellow perch and two crappies on both shiners and jigs tipped with mousies. They found 4 ½ inches of ice covering most of the freshwater spots they hit. ***Update, Thursday, 1/7***: Ice, a thin layer, began to form on Collins Cove on the Mullica River, and maybe enough will form by next week for anglers to begin ice fishing for white perch, Scott said. The waters were clear three days ago, but the hard waters could be thick enough by Monday. He wouldn’t want to be the one trying it out, though, he said. Collins Cove is the most popular spot in the state for ice angling for white perch. The fish gather in the cove in winter to escape the colder currents of the Mullica. Live grass shrimp are the top bait, but the shop’s shrimp died when heavy rains caused freshwater to kill them in the lagoon. Scott had no plans to catch more any time soon. Usually the shrimp he catches in November last through the cold months, but the rains did in the supply. Grass shrimp can certainly be caught through winter. The other live baits or minnows and green crabs became frozen and died. Nobody tog fished or reported any kind of fishing. “Dead,” Scott said. Fishing from the party boats at places like Bogan’s Basin in Brielle or for mackerel was the only angling customers talked about. The <a href=" https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov" target="_blank">National Saltwater Angler Registry</a>, a new requirement for anglers this year, was a topic customers asked about. Reel repairs and service were yet to be backed up at the shop. Get your tackle in before the spring rush.

Longport

On the Stray Cat Wednesday was the last time the weather allowed the daily, open-boat trip for blackfish to sail, and the catch was pretty good, Capt. Mike said. No real big fish came up, and the tog weighed 4 to 6 pounds, a slow pick. On Thursday or New Year’s Eve Day sleet and ice forced that day’s trip to stay docked. Ice covered the deck, and the roads were slippery, and winds afterward through the weekend also forced the vessel to stay docked. This Wednesday currently looks like the first day that the weather will calm enough for the trips to get back out, sailing 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The blackfish should still bite, and Mike thinks that the late departure of the fish from the back waters this season could mean the fishing will last a while yet this month. He’s got plenty of crabs for bait. Trips also have the option of running south toward Cape May and Delaware Bay for warmer waters. Trips should continue to run for tog until January 16, when open-boat trips on weekends and holidays will probably start to head to the 30- and 60-mile wrecks for tog, ling, pollock, cod or whatever turns up. Pollock and cod should appear soon. Good weather days are few at that time of year, and the decision to sail will happen the day before the trips. Most of the angling will probably be with jigs, but clams, crabs, shrimp and squid will be carried aboard. The number of passengers is limited, and a reservation and a deposit are required. Anglers can telephone or e-mail Mike to be sent a flier giving the dates for the trips in January and February. During that time if good-weather days pop up on weekdays, those trips or maybe even open trips for tog or something could steam, too. In April trips will go all out for sea bass, when the season for the lumpheads opens.

Ocean City

Not a word was heard about customers fishing, said Bill from Fin-Atics. The shop was closed during the weekdays, including on Friday for New Year’s, opening back up on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend’s winds, especially on Sunday, seemed to keep anyone from fishing. But the shop is open every Friday through Sunday at least through part of February, before hours are extended when the weather breaks.

Sea Isle City

Capt. Joe Hughes from Jersey Cape Guide Service and Gibson’s Tackle is finished fishing locally for the season, and usually kicks off the coming season around March 1, he said. Then he searches out striped bass in the back bay in warm waters like toward the Beesley’s Point power plant. But he wrapped up the first of his annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys this past week, and offers the charters during several periods until Easter. Andy Gaudet and Lindsey and Jodie Clarkson joined him on this past week’s trip, and the fishing was great, Joe said. The shear number of fish caught was the thing, lots of action with a variety of species, especially in the back waters of the Everglades toward Flamingo. From there, the anglers bailed fish including snook, redfish, speckled sea trout, black drum, sheepshead, jack crevalle, gafftopsail catfish, ladyfish, mangrove snappers and blue runners. The sizes varied, and some were healthy sized. Fishing mostly with either shrimp on jigheads or shrimp on Carolina rigs, the anglers never knew what species was going to come up. Joe also landed a ton of the fish including specks, ladyfish and jacks on flies. Although strong north winds caused a lot of the fishing to be done in the back waters, the anglers also got to fish out front at the reef. There they hooked three sailfish and jumped three, and they muscled in a blackfin tuna and a huge, 15-pound false albacore. Was something to see how much larger the albies can grow compared to Jersey. Several king mackerel bit off the lines at the reef, because monofilament was used for sailfish. If Joe had wanted to use wire leaders for kings, several probably would’ve been landed. But sails were the goal. Even though winds hampered some opportunities to fish out front, the option to fish the protected back waters is one of the great aspects of the angling from the Keys. Weekend packages are available that arrive on Friday evenings, fish all day Saturdays and part of Sundays, and go home Sunday evenings. Some remain open. The cold that Joe met as he drove back home was something. The morning was 35 degrees at Jacksonville, Florida, and temperatures never rose above 25 degrees from South Carolina to the north. He’ll be back for the more of the fishing within a couple of weeks. See more about Joe’s <a href=" http://www.gibsonstackle.com/page6.html" target="_blank">traveling charters</a> on Jersey Cape’s Web site. Also see <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a> that Joe created recently, including blogging about these last Florida trips.

Cape May

A trip on the boat was supposed to fish for striped bass during the weekend, but the winds cancelled those plans, said Capt. George from the Heavy Hitter. Nobody seemed to fish in the weather, or he knew nobody he did. Still, he’ll keep offering striper charters, one of the only captains available for the fishing now, as long as the fish are out there. Because nobody seemed to sail for them in the weather, he’ll have to see whether the fish remain. But if anglers want stripers, this is the chance. George’s boat was already pulled from the waters for the season, but he’s running trips on a friend’s boat that remains in the waters. People already called to book drumfish trips this spring. One telephoned, asking George to choose a good date for him, and another gave a ring to book three drum trips in a row on a Thursday through Saturday.