<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Lots of winds blew on the weekend, but from the northwest, so daily blackfishing trips fished both days, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. The angling was good, too. Amazing how the ocean, protected by land near shore, is fishable in strong winds if from the west, when the same winds would rough up seas too much if blowing from other directions. Anglers can call the boat the night before trips to get a heads up on the fishing conditions. On Saturday’s trip in strong northwesterlies only nine anglers jumped aboard, but six limited out on the tog, and all caught keepers, and the outing only made one drop. Some of the anglers bagged two or three keepers. On Sunday’s trip winds blew even stronger, but more anglers hopped aboard. The fishing wasn’t quite as good, producing a fairly steady pick on shorts with keepers mixed in. But by the end of the day, the fishing added up to be worthwhile, and a handful of anglers limited out. Some anglers didn’t fish long, retreating to the cabin to escape cold winds. Not everyone on deck caught keepers, but all caught at least throwbacks. This season’s been a healthy one for blackfishing so far, probably more productive than the past couple of years. The trips are catching well. Only one ling was in the mix on Saturday, and none bit on Sunday. The boat began supplying clams for ling fishing, in addition to crabs for blackfish, when a few ling began to be in the mix some time ago. The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

None of the daily striped bass trips made it out during the weekend on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, and today’s trip also stayed tied to the dock, Capt. Ron said in the report on the vessel’s Web site. Winds honked once again, and the weather looks nasty through Wednesday. But Ron will try to sail Thursday and on any of the days prior to then, if forecasts change. Been a tough season of weather. He hopes trips will find life when they return to the waters. “So far the fat lady hasn’t sung, but she sure is tuning up!” he said. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Highlands</b>

<b>Fisher Price Charters</b> blackfished Friday and Saturday, and Friday’s trip limited out on the tog, Capt. Derek said. The fish weighed up to 10 pounds, if he remembered, and Saturday’s trip was tougher in strong winds. But the trip bagged 18 of the fish to 8 ½ pounds. Derek did no striped bass fishing recently, and he’s concentrating on blackfish, after striper fishing earlier this season. He saw no birds working recently to stop on to try for stripers. Fishing for the linesiders somewhat seemed to slow down locally, but a few boats continued to sail for stripers. Charters are fishing with Fisher Price, and Derek’s next open-boat trips are slated to run Saturday and Sunday for blackfish, and call to jump aboard. Those will be the season’s final trips on the vessel, but Derek afterward will run another boat from Point Pleasant. On that boat open trips and charters will fish for blackfish, and cod trips might sail. 

<b>Neptune</b>

Striped bass became difficult to catch, and a trip Sunday tried for them a short time with no bites, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> in an e-mail. If anglers want stripers, he can still catch them, “but the day will be spent all striper fishing (have to go a long way),” he wrote. But blackfishing was great. A trip Saturday creamed a super catch of blackfish. Fishing for blacks on a trip Sunday was a little picky, except for one angler who angled up 10 keepers, including two more than 7 pounds apiece, keeping no more than his limit. Individual-reservation trips for blackfish are filling up, but space remains on Wednesday; December 15, 18, 22, 24 (Christmas Eve), 26, 30 and 31 (New Year’s Eve); New Year’s Day; Sunday, January 2; and all weekends in January.

<b>Belmar</b>

The <b>Nan Sea J</b> ran for blackfish, and catches were mostly good, Capt. Tom said. The tog to 10 pounds were pumped in during the past couple of days, and many of the anglers limited out and then some, keeping no more than their quotas. Charters are blackfishing, and the next open-boat trips for the tog will sail Saturday and Sunday. Call to jump aboard, and anglers can call for the upcoming open schedule.

<b>Brielle</b>

Jim Leck’s charter limited out on blackfish Friday on the <b>Big Kid</b>, Capt. Ken said. David Lau’s charter on Saturday plowed 10- and 12-pound blackfish. Denny Catalda’s trip decked 20 blackfish and a 20-pound striped bass. Mid-week openings are available for charters.

Blackfishing picked and plucked on a trip Friday, but the six anglers limited out, and the trip “size-wise was a day to remember,” said Capt. Jerry from <b>Fish Monger Charters</b> in an e-mail. Two of the tog topped 10 pounds, and another topped 9. Two were 8-pounders, and a bunch were 4 to 6 pounds. The fish “made for big fillet sacks,” he said. The fishing had its lulls, “but then it would pick back up (in) nice flurries,” he said. Though the fishing was a pick, it was worth the wait. Another blackfish charter on Saturday, a breezy day, was a pick, and moved around to different spots, but had its moments, and the six anglers limited out. The catch included a tog more than 10 pounds, another over 9 pounds, two topping 8 pounds and a bunch of 6- to 7-pounders. “Nice day with an awesome crew!” Jerry said.

On the ocean striped bass fishing was mostly slow in the past days, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. One angler trolled four stripers to 35 pounds in 50 feet off the Thunderbird, but that was the exception. Most hooked none, and inexperienced anglers sometimes marked fish they thought were stripers, but the fish were dog sharks. Surf fishing for stripers was sort of inconsistent, at least locally, and sharpies seemed to pick a few of the bass, more shorts than keepers, but some keepers, on outgoing tides. Metal, small plugs like Yozuri Crystal Minnows and Daiwa Salt Minnows, and teasers nabbed the bass. No bluefish were heard about in a while, though a few stragglers were probably yet to migrate south. Blackfishing was good, and fishing for them seemed better farther from shore, like at Axel Carlson Reef or Sea Girt Reef, than closer to the coast. Dan Duffman weighed in a 13.95-pound blackfish he belted with Fish Monger Charters last week. Nothing much was heard about ling or other bottom fish, but lack of anglers trying for them would create scarce news anyway. Bluefin tuna swam the ocean close to shore, and Dave knew about two or three landed in the past week. Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Anglers can fill out a gift wish list at the shop, so friends and family can visit or call the store, ask what your list says you’d like, and conveniently buy you a gift from there. Holiday gift certificates are also available.  The shop is open full time, and will close in January, and open on weekends in February.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Fishing for striped bass on the party boat <b>Gambler</b> racked up good catches Friday and Sunday on the ocean, Capt. Bob said. Fishing for the linesiders was slow on Saturday’s trip that ran to the south. But the action picked back up the next day to the north. That trip, on Sunday, fished in 55 to 60 feet off Asbury Park. Anglers scored well on keepers, and some shorts, first thing that morning. As the day went on, more shorts bit, until mostly shorts were hooked. Tom Mulligan from Point Pleasant on the trip bagged two keeper stripers to 15 pounds, releasing probably five or six shorts. Krocodile spoons and Ava 47 jigs worked equally well to catch the bass on the trip. One bluefish was hooked on the outing. Trips are fishing for stripers every day. Sometimes during this time of year northwest winds will blow strongly, as they did lately. But that wind direction doesn’t hurt the angling and is actually good for catches. The Gambler is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

“It’s over!” an e-mail from the party boat <b>Cock Robin</b> said. “For us anyway,” it said. Striped bass fishing on the ocean turned up poor catching on the vessel once again on Saturday, and the captain decided to wrap up the season for the vessel’s daily trips. However, if anyone’s interested in putting together a late-season trip for stripers or tog, contact the boat, “and we’ll see if we can help put the trip together,” the e-mail said. Holiday gift certificates are available. No better gift than a trip, for the angler.

The boat was stowed away for winter this weekend, a report on <b>Reel Class Charters</b>’ Web site said. The season was the first on Reel Class’s new vessel, an Albemarle 305 Express Fisherman, and the season was successful, the report said. Spring striper fishing was the best Capt. Allen Gonzalez ever saw, and spring sea bass and bottom fishing was terrific. Fluke angling was a little slow in summer, and porgies in fall were as abundant as they ever were in 30 years. Some excellent blackfishing was seen in fall, and autumn striper fishing was “pretty good,” the report said. Overall, a great season for Reel Class. Allen thinks everyone who sailed aboard for making the year so successful. He also thanks deck hands Mike and Kenny for working their tails off, and being a tremendous asset to the boat. Anglers can scroll through <a href=" http://www.reelclassfishing.com/latest-news-and-reports
" target="_blank">Reel Class’s reports for the year</a> on the vessel’s Web site to check out the season.

<b>Bricktown</b>

Surf fishing ran into spurts of striped bass catches, lots of shorts, at Bay Head and Mantoloking, mostly on artificials, according to customers, said Capt. Rich from <b>Jersey Hooker Outfitters Bait & Tackle</b>. A good catch of the bass was beached Saturday morning at Island Beach State Park. Nobody talked about fishing at the Point Pleasant Canal for tog that previously bit there, and Rich would assume that action tapered off for the year. Rich’s <b>Jersey Hooker Charters</b>, sailing from Point Pleasant Beach’s Canyon River Club, on Saturday put anglers on six striped bass 36 to 40 inches, one 28-incher and three throwbacks on the ocean in 55 feet off Mantoloking on the troll. White shads were the ticket, and one striper was hooked on a white Tony Maja No. 1 spoon. Another charter on the boat was weathered out Sunday. <b><i>***Holiday Sale:***</i></b> For every $20 you spend on a gift certificate through December 24, the shop will add another $5! <b><i>***Tautog Charter Specials:***</i></b> Catch the special discount on 5 hours of blackfishing. Or take advantage of 12-hour, marathon trips for monster tog at the southern wrecks and reefs.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 12/7:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “We will be sailing our last trip of 2010 as an open boat striper trip on Thursday, December 9. We meet at the dock at 6:00 AM and return at Noon. The forecast is for diminishing northwest winds, 10 to 15 mph. I'll have the jigging, casting, and trolling gear on board. We'll use it all to put some fish in the boat. After that, the Hi Flier is being hauled out and stored for the winter. I want to thank everyone who sailed with us this year and I look forward to starting up again May 1. Have a great Holiday!”

<b>Tuckerton</b>

A catch of blackfish, a quality mess to 6 ½ pounds, was stacked up Saturday with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. Seas were snotty, so the trip fished in 45 feet close to shore. All other outings were weathered out. T.J. finished up his annual fishing for striped bass from Cape May on his other boat, and all trips, both charters and open-boat trips/shared charters, will hone in on blackfish from Tuckerton the rest of the fishing season. Check the <a href=" http://www.legallimitcharters.com/open-boat.php" target="_blank">open-boat trip/shared charter schedule</a> online for availability. The outings fish every weekend.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Blustery winds and lows in the 20s kept most at the docks Sunday and today, said the report on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site. Few fished on Saturday compared with a couple of weeks ago. But one customer that day clammed two keeper striped bass: one at Little Egg Inlet, the other at Wreck Inlet. Ocean boaters scored a pick of stripers, tough fishing, but some keepers just over the legal size, on Saturday from Harvey Cedars Lump to Brandt Beach Lump while jigging and trolling. 

<b>Longport</b>

On the <b>Stray Cat</b> on the ocean striped bass fishing dropped off in the past days, but tog fishing picked up a bit, Capt. Mike said. However, winds on Sunday’s trip affected the tog fishing, producing a minimal catch. Daily trips, mostly open boat, except when charters are booked, will probably sail for stripers and tog another two weeks. Then the outings, both open-boat and charters, will fish for jumbo sea bass, cod and pollock at the deep-water wrecks. The deep-water trips are already running on charters. The next trips might not sail until Thursday or Friday, because of weather. One of the boat’s Cast and Blast Trips, open-boat trips and charters that gun for ducks and fish in the same day, had been planned for this week but will probably be weathered out. Call if interested in the Cast and Blasts or to jump on any of the boat’s trips.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

The weather was rugged, and no trips sailed, but the migration of striped bass shouldn’t be finished in the ocean by any stretch, said Capt. Joe from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. Charters onboard historically targeted the bass and blues for some time yet, fishing with jigs, bucktails, metal and flies. Joe’s flats boat, one of three vessels he runs, is already in Florida, ready for annual charters from the Keys this winter. The weekend getaways offer anglers to arrive at the islands Friday evening, fish all day Saturday and part of Sunday, and return home that day. The trips catch a wide variety of species, including redfish, speckled sea trout, snook, tarpon, king mackerel, blackfin tuna, ladyfish, sharks, Spanish mackerel and mangrove snappers. Joe reports about the fishing through the season. See <a href="http://www.gibsonstackle.com/page6.html" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Traveling Charters Web page</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Fishing was alright, not great, for striped bass at the Cape May Rips Friday and Saturday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, and a trip Sunday was weathered out, Capt. George said. Lots of throwbacks swam the rips. On Friday Chris Troy’s charter landed six keeper stripers to 34 or 35 inches, eight or nine throwbacks and a few blues. On Saturday fishing was slow with Dave Stockhouse’s charter, and two keepers 31 and 32 inches and a couple of blues were reeled in. Seas and winds were rough that day. The Heavy Hitter will keep striper fishing as long as the fish are around. Afterward trips will fish for tog, and the blackfishing seemed all right. Call if interested in a trip.

When trips got the weather to sail, they scored well on striped bass, lots of small ones, at the Cape May Rips, said Capt. Bob from the <b>Down Deep</b>. Anglers had to pick through throwbacks, like 20 per trip, but at least one keeper per angler was usually bagged. Trips fished with spots, eels and bucktails, and spots hooked lots of small stripers, and eels grabbed most bigger ones. The fish swam everywhere at the rips, including at Prissy Wicks Shoal and Overfalls Shoal. The Down Deep will fish through Sunday, before Bob calls it a season. He’ll try to splash the boat early in spring to fish for stripers and drum. Those trips and all trips are being booked for next year.

Trips wrapped up striped bass fishing for the year from Cape May with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. Previously one of his boats fished for the linesiders at the Cape May Rips, and his other boat sailed for blackfish from Tuckerton. All trips, both charters and open-boat trips, will now run from Tuckerton for blackfish. See the report under that port about a blackfish trip Saturday.

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