<b>Staten Island</b>

Three good trips sailed aboard through the weekend with <b>Angler Sportfishing Charters</b>, Capt. Chuck said. A half-day charter with the Roberts crew fished on deck Saturday morning, bombing big blues and three short striped bass on bunker chunks. Too many blues attacked to catch many stripers, but the location was where Chuck was finding a better showing of the bass. The anglers were ready to return to port by the end of the trip at 11 a.m., were worn out, instead of staying longer for a chance at stripers, if the blues backed off. The Schmidt charter on Saturday fished a long time, from 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., tackling 11 striped bass to 22 pounds and more than 40 big blues on bunker chunks. On Sunday morning the O’Donnel charter again whacked large blues and three stripers to a 23-pounder on bunker chunks. The other two stripers were around keeper size. All the trips bunker chunked, but Saturday morning’s charter trolled a short time in the ocean off the Highlands, but nothing, not even blues, bit. So the trip set up to chunk around Ambrose Channel, where Angler’s been fishing. When trolling is effective, Angler often trolls at first on trips, locating fish before setting up to chunk. Waters were becoming a good temperature for striper fishing, dropping to 66 ½ degrees. Though trips currently had to work for stripers, some of the linesiders were being caught, and the trips certainly nailed lots of action.

<b>Keyport</b>

Bottom-fishing aboard Sunday barreled up action with porgies, blackfish and out-of-season sea bass at Sandy Hook Reef, said Capt. Joe from <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>. The sea bass were released, and lots of boats fished the area. Was a beautiful day, and the anglers with Papa’s had a good time, Joe said. Bottom-fishing trips will continue, and striped bass charters are being booked for the fall run.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Bottom fishing “had its moments” the last few days on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. Mixed sizes of porgies were bucketed, and so were blackfish, and out-of-season sea bass of all sizes were tossed back. More of the porgies were undersized than were keepers, but some real beauties were mixed in. The angling was tough on Sunday afternoon’s trip, but was better during the other recent trips. Trips jumped to different locations a lot, because some areas held small fish. Green crabs for blackfish bait were difficult to find for everyone, and Tom was trying to grab a supply without luck. But some anglers brought their own green crabs or fiddler crabs, or caught their own crabs under rocks. Sometimes they scored well on blackfish, keeping their limit of one, passing more of the fish to others aboard to take home. The Atlantic Star is bottom fishing for porgies and blackfish on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Two trips daily might continue through this weekend, before the boat begins fishing on one ¾-day trip daily for the same species. But that’s subject to change, and anglers can call the boat to confirm the schedule.

<b>Highlands</b>

Striped bass, porgies, tog and blues made up the catches on the <b>Hyper Striper</b> the past few days, Capt. Pete said in an e-mail. Here’s a rundown. Friday: Craig White’s charter, limited out on striped bass early, released a bunch more, then limited out on tog. Saturday morning: Jamie Kennely’s party, tough striper fishing, only giving up shorts, switched to bottom fishing. Saturday afternoon, Steve Nicoletos’ party, four keeper stripers, action with shorts, big blues. Sunday: Eddie Hahn’s gang, two keeper stripers, a bunch of shorts and a good pull of porgies.

Fishing for striped bass was good Thursday, slow Friday and good Saturday and Sunday for <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, Capt. Derek said. The fish, stripers to 25 pounds, were clammed and were livelined on bunker. Fisher Price will mostly concentrate on stripers. Trips had also been bottom fishing, piling up plenty of porgies and blackfish, keeping a limit of one blackfish per angler, releasing the rest. And trips will still bottom fish if anglers want. But otherwise Fisher Price will stick with stripers for now. Bottom fishing will kick in again aboard when the blackfish bag limit is increased to six on November 1 from the current limit of one. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trips might fish for stripers Friday to Sunday. Call to confirm or to be kept informed about future open dates.

<b>Neptune</b>

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 10/11:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>: Fall fishing is in full swing, and on most days fishing is great for most species. Our canyon trip Oct. 7-8 was a disaster. Had numerous fish miss the lures, spit the hooks, and had mechanical problems, blew a turbo, and didn't get back till late Sat.  We did get back safe -- both Capt. Harry and myself are mechanics, and we can fix most anything. Other boats did very well with the fish.  Now for the good news: On Monday we took the Last Lady II on an offshore cod trip. Left super early, and got to a wreck offshore before dark. One of the best trips of the year. Boxful of cod to 30+ lbs and pollack to 24+ lbs. Great group of DPW guys with the Rob Michalkovich party from Secaucus, along with fireman Mike. Oct 23 open-boat for cod full. Nov 8, next open-boat for cod, 2am leave, $225/person. We are also available for full-boat charters, $1400. During the week we did very well with big blues and some stripers while targeting blues. The bass are in, and so are the bluefish. Unfortunately, we are releasing a lot of BIG sea bass – open-trip schedule for them -- Nov 6-- $100/person -- on the Last Lady II. OPEN-BOAT SCHEDULE: STRIPERS, Oct 29, 5am leave, $100/person, on Last Lady. STRIPERS/SEA BASS, Nov 6, 5am leave, $100/person, on Last Lady II. COD/POLLACK, Nov 8, 2am leave, $225/person, on Last Lady. CANYON, Oct 17-18, 2 spots left, $500/person. BLACKFISH, Nov 16, 18, $100/person, 7am-3pm.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>Fish Stix Sportfishing</b> did a little fishing, pumping in porgies and blackfish, and jigging lots of throwback weakfish and small blues, Capt. Kris said. Trips are being booked for bottom fish, striped bass, blackfish or a mixed bag. Striper fishing should kick in soon for the fall migration. Fish Stix is a big-time blackfisher, particularly when the blackfish bag limit is raised to six on November 1 from the current limit of one.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 10/11:***</b> A weekend wrap-up from the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b> from an e-mail from Capt. Ryan: Mostly ling “and a sprinkle of cod,” Ryan said, were belted around the boat on a trip aboard to the Mudhole on Friday. “Good Mudhole trip,” Ryan said, and anglers and their catches included: Knowell (the only name given), 51 ling; Mike Sibilia, 49 ling, Dennis Stock, 38 ling and 2 cod; Jack Decker, 34 ling; and Tom Dranwelis, 32 ling. On Saturday aboard, “fishing was not as good because of strong current, but the sharper fishermen still managed decent catches,” Ryan said. The type of fishing and location weren’t explicitly mentioned in the e-mail, but the outing sounded like another Mudhole trip for ling and cod. On Sunday on one of the boat’s porgy trips, “nothing exciting,” Ryan said. Porgies were picked in lots of locations, and blackfish bit everywhere, and boat traffic was “ridiculous,” he said. But fishing was better on a Mudhole trip Monday on the vessel. A good spread of big ling and some cod were once again pelted around the boat. “Not quite as good as Friday,” Ryan said, “but much better than Saturday.” Catches varied from 6 or 8 fish per angler to as many as 40. “Overall a good day!” Ryan said. Big, out-of-season winter flounder “were also very hungry,” he said. Double-headers of flounder 3 pounds and larger were hooked. Anglers on the trip and their catches included: Ed Raimes, 40 ling and 2 cod; Curtis Wiserman, 36 ling and 2 cod; Connor Frances, 33 ling; Omar Richardson, 27 ling; and Mike Kane, 21 ling and the 12-pound, pool-winning cod. Weather looked questionable for this Wednesday’s cod trip aboard, “(but) will see (today),” Ryan said. Coming up: ¾-Day Porgy Trips 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. this coming Thursday and Tuesday and October 13, 18, 20 and 23; Mudhole Wreck Trips for Big Ling/Cod 5 a.m. this coming Friday, Saturday and Monday and October 12, 16, 21 and 23; Cod Trips 2 a.m. October 12, 19 and 22; 12-Hour Porgy/Blackfish Trips 5 a.m. October 14, 15, 19 and 22; and Inshore Tuna Trips 2 a.m. October 17 and 24.

Striped bass were trolled at the Shrewsbury Rocks and were beached from the surf, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. The bass from the surf that he heard about came from Belmar to Manasquan Inlet, but stripers could’ve been banked from the surf elsewhere, too. Most from the surf were plugged on small lures like Yozuri Crystal Minnows or Daiwa swimmers. Teasers also worked, and the stripers were usually hooked in the mornings or before dark. Bluefish were taken in the surf south of Manasquan Inlet. A few stripers were yanked from the Point Pleasant Canal, and small stripers were played on Manasquan River, including under the Route 35 Bridge. Blackfish gathered in the canal, and an angler might catch 20 throwbacks for each keeper. Blackfish bit in the ocean, but few tried for them, because of the one-fish bag limit. Loads of porgies snapped in the ocean, and anglers should be aware that porgy fishing is closed in federal waters beyond 3 miles from shore. The Coast Guard was reportedly checking anglers. Nothing was heard about cod. Bluefishing was good on the ocean, and catches of them were known about from the Shrewsbury Rocks and the west side of the Mudhole. False albacore landed were heard about, and no bonito were. False albacore were boated at the Shrewsbury Rocks on Saturday. A few bluefin tuna were reported reeled in from between the Triple Wrecks and the Atlantic Princess wreck. Farther from shore, canyon tuna fishing produced, and Spencer Canyon gave them up the most during the weekend. Tuna at the canyons were both chunked at night and trolled during the daytime. Sometimes the fish were chunked in the mornings during daylight. 

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 10/11:***</b> An overnight trip offshore Sunday to Monday located good-looking waters at Spencer and Wilmington canyons on the party boat <b>Gambler</b>, Capt. Bob said. But lots of boats filled the area, seeming to hurt tuna fishing. Longfin and yellowfin tuna, mostly 30- to 60-pounders, were muscled in, but fewer than hoped for. No swordfish were landed. The next trip offshore aboard is supposed to steam Thursday to Friday, but weather forecasts are currently calling for 30-knot winds. So Bob will watch forecasts, and hope they diminish. The tuna trips will continue at least through the month, and a couple might sail in November, if the fishing holds up. Room is available on the trips, especially on weekdays. Anglers might even be able to jump on a trip last minute, if a space or two are available. Don’t hesitate to call to ask. Visit the <a href="http://www.gamblerfishing.net/offshoretrips.html" target="_blank">Gambler’s tuna schedule</a> online. An Exotics Trip, targeting false albacore and bonito, is slated for 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Striped bass trips will begin November 1. Anglers can join the <a href="http://www.rfanj.org/" target="_blank">Recreational Fishing Alliance Fall Fish-a-Thon</a> aboard 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, November 4, targeting bottom fish including cod, ling, sea bass, tog and porgies, limited to 40 passengers.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Bluefish, excellent catches, were clobbered around the boat on Friday’s trip, a report on the <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>’s Web site said. The party boat’s trip Saturday plowed another great catch of blues, five to ten apiece for the better anglers, and false albacore were mixed in. The 6- to 12-pound blues smacked bait and jigs. The catch was also good on Saturday night’s bluefish trip. The 5- to 16-pounders came through in waves. Only a few of the Saturday night trips are left this season.  The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing 8 a.m. Fridays through Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays. The <a href="http://www.missbarnegatlight.com/TunaFishing.html" target="_blank">Miss Barnegat Light’s tuna trips</a> are fishing overnight Sundays.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Striped bass just began to bite, said a report on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site. The fish could be found “off Graveling Point,” the report said, at the Mullica River, Grassy Channel and Little Egg Inlet. “But there are just a few – it’s not jumping really, really good yet,” the report said. Blowfish and kingfish were around, but less abundant than previously, in Great Bay and Tuckerton Bay. Croakers schooled the ocean off the Red Tower and near the Rutgers buoys. Weakfish held off the Red Tower in 25 feet. A visitor to the site posted a report about catching weaks mostly 8 to 12 inches, but a couple of 15- to 16-inchers, on the ocean. The angler decided to fish for stripers at the jetties on the way home, missing a couple of touches, but landing a “nice, fat, short bass,” the angler said. Tog fishing was phenomenal, and the report didn’t mention location, but the shop’s reports previously talked about plenty of tog caught along the sod banks from the Fish Factory to Little Sheepshead Creek. Lots of small bluefish swam from the lagoons, where they weighed almost a pound, to Little Egg Inlet, where they were nearly 3 pounds. 

<b>Brigantine</b>

“They are here!” a report on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site said. Linda Davoli today landed nine keeper-sized striped bass to 13 ½ pounds in the Brigantine surf. That is the season’s first report from the shop that mentioned multiple stripers hooked in the surf. Previously an occasional bass was reported caught from the beach. “The first school came in, and (Linda) followed them from 25th Street to the south end jetty,” the report said. “Let the games begin!” The annual Riptide Striper Derby is under way, lasting to December 23. Anglers who enter the first, second and third biggest stripers from the Brigantine front beach will win $500, $300 and $150, respectively. Plus a $25 weekly prize, a $50 monthly prize and a $100 woman’s prize will be awarded. Entry in the tournament provides beach-buggy access to the island’s front beach for those who have a Brigantine beach-buggy permit.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Striped bass, bluefish, false albacore – they all swam in abundance at Montauk on trips aboard this weekend, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. He was guiding annual trips to the legendary port that fish the fall migration of the fish, and will keep running the trips this weekend and maybe longer. Call if interested. “It was borderline excessive,” Joe said. Tons of the fish, about equal numbers of all three species, crammed the waters. Darrel Cooper and buddy Matt joined the trips Saturday and Sunday. On both days they nailed multiple slams, all three species, whaling more than 60 fish total each day. They fished with spinning rods, using jigs with soft-plastic tails for the stripers and blues, and Deadly Dicks and sometimes soft plastics for the albies. The stripers weighed up to 18 pounds, and the blues and albies weighed up to 10 pounds. Sometimes there were so many fish on the surface that it looked like someone could walk on top of them. So many bay anchovies swam that the waters turned red. The fish fed so voraciously that the waters looked filled with glitter, because of scales. “It was Montauk, man!” Joe said. Back in Sea Isle, striped bass fishing is very good on the back bay on popper lures and flies, and the fishing is a specialty for Jersey Cape. The angling will probably last through the end of the month, and After Work Special Trips are great for the fishing. Then from Sea Isle, Jersey Cape will begin fishing the ocean for the migration of larger stripers and blues. Much of November is already booked for that fishing, and anglers should plan ahead if they want to go. Thanksgiving is traditionally the peak, and the angling will last into December. See Jersey Cape’s <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page4.html" target="_blank">traveling charters page</a> for more info about the Montauk trips. Also see the page for Jersey Cape’s annual trips to the Florida Keys this winter from Christmas to Easter. Reserve now, taking advantage of the best rates, like on airfare. Anglers can arrive at the Keys on a Friday evening, fish all day Saturday and part of Sunday, return Sunday evening, and be back to work Monday. The trips can be a mini, fish-filled vacation, for a large variety of catches from redfish to sailfish. Keep up on Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

It’s time: <b>O-Beth Sportfishing</b> will begin striped bass trips this weekend, Capt. Eric said. The trips this fall will bunker chunk on Delaware Bay for the fish. This is the annual move that O-Beth makes to Cape May for fall striper fishing, after sailing from Margate in summer. O-Beth begins the season at Cape May, sailing for stripers and drum in spring, moves to Margate for summer, fishing for everything from summer flounder to tuna, then wraps up the year back in Cape May, chunking for stripers through fall.

Capt. Bob from the <b>Down Deep</b> was out of town, didn’t fish, he said. But tuna fishing was good offshore, bluefish were caught inshore, and trips are sailing for both. Striped bass charters aboard will begin in a couple of weeks, and Bob would guess the fish would begin to be seen next week. An overnight tuna trip is slated aboard this weekend.

An overnight trip offshore limited out on yellowfin tuna on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> Saturday to Sunday with five anglers, Capt. George. “We could’ve sunk the boat with them,” he said. The trip, Bill Brennan’s charter with Mike, Ryan, Anthony and Wayne also aboard, chunked the fish a few miles from Spencer Canyon in 1,000 feet toward the 100-fathom line. The charter had been trolling toward the area, and George heard from another captain, from a party-boat sized charter boat, who said his anglers were on the fish. The Heavy Hitter’s trip arrived there and kept drifting the area through the night, and catching. Most of the tuna weighed 30 to 50 pounds, and one probably pushed 70, and a couple were around 60. The Spencer was loaded with boats, and anglers kept saying to go to the Spencer, but the trip found the fish a few miles from there. Tuna fishing’s been good, and charters on the Heavy Hitter will keep after the fish. Not a lot seemed to be happening inshore, and many fisheries were closed down by regulations, and hardly any boats were seen inshore. Good thing tuna fishing was happening. Striped bass charters will begin inshore aboard probably toward the end of the month. Call if interested in fishing for tuna or stripers. 

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