<b>Staten Island</b>

Schoolie striped bass swam along the Staten Island shoreline from the Arthur Kill to Great Kills, said Pat from <b>E-Z Catch Saltwater Traps & Tackle Co.</b> Clams became nearly the exclusive bait for them, and the fishing was catch and release, because New York’s striper season was closed, but most were undersized anyway. A few anglers, braving the elements, targeted them from shore for something to do. Boaters, including on party boats, beaned blackfish and cod. E-Z Catch is open through winter from Tuesdays to Thursdays, and fresh clams and vacuum-packed bunker are stocked through the season. The store is also a <b><i>premier manufacturer and supplier of saltwater traps</i></b> for wholesale and commercial, including custom building and servicing. See the online <a href="http://www.e-zcatch.com/catalog" target="_blank">catalog of traps</a>. E-Z Catch is also a train store.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Boaters still bailed good catches of striped bass, all on jigs, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Surf casters banked some, mostly on worms and clams, sometimes on jigs. Nothing was heard about bluefish or whether they were still around. Blackfishing on most days was “pretty good to excellent,” Jimmy said. A few more cod than before started to show up, and ling bit. The weather looks good for the near future, and fishing should stay the same then, so long as no heavy snow falls.

The striped bass trip aboard Wednesday was weathered out from winds, but trips, the final aboard for the season, were expected to sail today through Saturday, Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> said in a report on the vessel’s Web site. “Better to go out on a happy note than to beat this to death,” he said. He added elsewhere: “Hope to see you for some end-of-the-year striper fishing at its finest!” On Tuesday’s trip, in cranky conditions, a few stripers were caught close to port at first. Gannets worked the waters hard, and the fish moved fast, so the bites didn’t last long. The boat was sailed down the ocean beaches, and a couple of keeper stripers, mostly shorts and an odd bluefish were banged right away on a couple of good drifts. Seas became worse, and currents ran harder, as the day went on. Next, at several stops at working birds, fish busted all around the boat, and a few keeper stripers and shorts were picked. “Very frustrating, to say the least, as we couldn’t get the bite going,” Ron said. Stripers were around, “but we didn’t catch them like we wanted,” he said. A 14-pound striper was the pool winner. The Fishermen is sailing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily through Saturday, the final trip of the season, before the boat goes on winter break. Check out a <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWrRRiM3xp8&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">video of Christmas Eve’s trip</a>.

On the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> no trip sailed Wednesday, because of winds, but the weather looks good for today through Monday, Capt. Tom said. He expects the daily blackfish trips to sail then, and those will be the final trips of the season. The boat will go on winter break afterward. Tom will likely give updates on the fishing that will be posted here. The Atlantic Star is blackfishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, including on New Year’s Day, through Monday, and will go on winter break afterward. <b>***Update, Saturday, 12/31:***</b> Some fish, mostly blackfish, a couple of ling, were caught around the boat on a trip today, Tom said. The fishing wasn’t great, but one angler limited out, and a couple bagged three, and another took two, and his friend boxed one, and a couple of sizeable blackfish were creamed. Fish were hooked on all of the four or five drops. The angling wasn’t as good as Tom would like, but the catches were made around the boat. The year’s final trips on the boat are expected to sail Sunday and Monday. White crabs are for sale on trips in addition to green crabs and clams supplied.

<b>Neptune</b>

Blackfishing was very good on most days, Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> said in an e-mail. Individual-reservation blackfish trips are booked through the weekend, but will sail every weekend until the fish stop biting. Space is available for an individual-reservation cod trip offshore at 2:30 a.m. Monday. After Sunday prices for trips will go up to $125 per person for blackfish and $250 per person for cod. Green crabs are supplied for blackfish, and fresh clams are supplied for cod, and the tackle is provided for both. <b>***Update, Tuesday, 1/3:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Ralph: “Had good to excellent fishing for blackfish from Fri - Sunday. Even caught keeper sea bass before season closed (12/31), along with keeper cod and ling. Sunday was the slowest fishing, but Joe Dean had well over his limit. Fishing for me is in deeper water -- reason I cancelled yesterday's trip -- too windy offshore. I expect good fishing to continue -- weather turns warmer -- end of week. OPEN BOAT BLACKFISH, 6 PERSON LIMIT: 6am leave, 1/7 (Sat) and every Sat. Will sail on other days when people call and can't go on Sat's.  OPEN BOAT OFFSHORE COD, 2:30 AM leave, Monday, 1/16, MLK Day. Available for charter any day: blackfish, offshore cod, Mudhole cod.”

<b>Belmar</b>

The three anglers aboard Saturday, Christmas Eve, limited out on blackfish to 8 pounds, a report on the <b>Fish Stix Sportfishing</b> Web site said. But the fishing wasn’t easy. “Slow, scratchy bite all day,” the report said, and lots of dogfish bit. The trip moved deeper, and tons of short blackfish, a few keepers, chomped. The trip began, broke the inlet, at 6:45 a.m. in cold, brisk, northwest winds. Blackfishing aboard a trip Thursday also turned out a scratchy bite, but 20 keepers to 8 pounds for the five anglers, and 90 percent of the tog were 5 pounds or larger. “So we did have some meat, and beautiful weather!” the report said. But there was a big swell. Charters and <a href="http://www.fishstixnj.com/index.php/trip-info/belmar-open-boat-fishing-trips
" target="_blank">open-boat trips</a> are fishing. <b>***Update, Monday, 1/2:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Capt. Kris from Fish Stix: “NEW YEAR'S DAY BLACKFISH: Had Tim, Dan, Capt Steve (Legacy), Richie and Matt out Sunday for the first trip of the year. Went right back to where we left em biting Saturday. Started with a slow pick of shorts, keeps and dogs. Wasn't looking too bad. What a beautiful morning it was, flat as a lake and almost T-shirt weather. Couldn't ask for more. Stayed on the piece and stuck it out for the afternoon bite that it has been. Wind shifted and had to re-set. Life died out. Wiggled around a couple times. Lots of life but scratchy bites all day. Lots of shorts too. Then the south wind picked up to 30 knots and seas built to 4-5 ft. Called it a day a bit early, due to conditions not getting any better. Back at the dock around 3:30. Ended up with 14 decent keepers. Not a good way to start off the new year. But we tried our best. NEW YEAR'S EVE BOAT LIMIT TO 9 LBS: We had the Brandon Lee charter out for a tog fest on New Year's Eve day. Started off the morning with shorts and dogs, picking a couple of keepers here and there. Made another drop, and it was the same. Looked like another day in the dog pound. Went inshore for another drop, and picked a few decent fish. Then zero life after that. Took a ride northeast, hoping for something to change. Set up shop around 1 pm or so. Had some good flurries of nice 4-5 lb fish. Put five in the boat, wait 20 minutes for a bite, and so on ... Made a little wiggle, and finally got what we were looking for. 6's, 8's and 9's hitting the deck, one after the other. Solid fish here. Most fish ranged from 4-7lbs, couple 8's and 9's too. Headed back to the dock with a boat limit of 48 keepers to 9 lbs. Very nice day out on the water for December 31st. Can't ask for better weather! Thanks guys, nice job! TOUGH TOGGIN TODAY, THURSDAY: Well today we had the all-star crew. Eric the Mortgage Man, Blackfish Doug, Joe Jigs, Bottom Bouncer and a 'dunkin donuts' guy. The bite sucked. Made a few moves and adjustments, too. Didn't have a bite all day. A million dogs to add to the frustration. Called it an early day. Ended up with 10 keeps to around 4 or 5 lbs. Thanks again. Another day ....”

Capt. Jared wrapped up the season for <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b>, he said. He thanks everyone who fished aboard, and looks forward to kicking off trips again in April. Fin-Ominal will unveil its new, bigger boat then: a 44-footer that will probably accommodate 18 to 20 passengers, compared with 6 on the previous vessel. <b>***<i>Boat for Sale</i>:***</b> Fin-Ominal’s previous, beautiful boat, a 42-foot Sportfisherman is for sale, because of the upgrade. Check it out.
Striped bass bit well, and the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b> was expected to sail for them today, after the blow Wednesday, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Plus, Striperthons will sail 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday. Mackerel trips will begin soon, and mackerel were reported caught off New England. The crew is keeping an eye on the migration south.

Striped bass fishing was excellent aboard, believe it or not, said Karin from the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>. That was unusual for the time of year, but Monday’s and Tuesday’s trips, with light crowds, limited out on stripers. A few blues were hooked, but mostly stripers were. The fish basically swam off Shark River Inlet, and trips lately stayed out late, because the bite happened from mid to late day. Reggie Barnes from Asbury Park won Monday’s pool with a 22-pound 10-ounce striper, and Karol Wietecha from Garfield won Tuesday’s with a 25-pound 6-ouncer. A trip was out today, but no results were heard yet. The Miss Belmar Princess is sailing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., including on New Year’s Day. When the mackerel migration arrives, the daily trips will go after them. No mackerel appeared yet, and waters were warm. But one never knows when the run will begin.

<b>Brielle</b>

With <b>Fish  Monger Charters</b> a trip today limited out on blackfish to 7 pounds, Capt. Jerry said in a Facebook posting. The boat was back out after a few days of weather, and after a few drops, good life was found. Some good-sized keepers, including a double-header of them, came up. So after a tough morning, the fishing wound up with a quality catch. The angling slowed at times, but everyone the crew talked with reported tough fishing, “so we grinded it out, and were rewarded with a nice cooler!” Jerry said.

Conditions were a “little snarly in the wee hours” on Sunday, but fishing for ling and cod was good that day aboard the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, mostly in 160 to 190 feet, Capt. Ryan said in an e-mail. Anglers and their catches included: Greg Rottet, Whitehall, Pa., 37 ling and a cod; Mark Myrick, Jersey City, 35 ling and 2 cod; Herbert Lee, Tenafly, 49 ling; Dave Prybycowski, Mendham, 56 ling and a cod; and Paul Bender, Waretown, 48 ling and 2 cod. <b>***Update, Sunday, 1/1:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Capt. Joe: “Excellent ling fishing most of the week, with some nice cod thrown in for good measure. Catches included: Alex Rajnai, Carteret, 7 lb 3 oz ling; Kevin Wisnocki, Phila, 57 ling and 3 cod to 12 lbs; Eric Crane, Trenton, 61 ling, 3 cod, 4 hake and 5 sea bass; Tom Belvoir, Camden, 18 lb cod, 34 ling and a 3 lb lobster; Mac Dubois, Bristol, Pa., 48 ling and 2 cod; and Chester Coyne, Bel-Air, Md., 35 ling and 2 cod. Offshore wreck trips continue, fishing for cod and ling, Weds, Thurs, Friday and Sunday, 5am-5 pm. Also 14 hours on Saturdays, 3 am-5 pm. Special Added Mudhole Trip, MLK Day, Jan 16th, 7:30 am-5:30 pm.  No reservations required for any trip.”

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>
Mostly ling, good catches, were swung aboard the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. But a few sea bass and bluefish were mixed in, and so were a few good-sized cod and blackfish. Even a few striped bass showed up. Customers landed 15 to 30 or 35 fish apiece. Trips fished in 130 to 200 feet, looking for spots with fishable currents. Strong currents swept some areas. Dogfish were a “pain in the neck,” Butch said. Sometimes trips could fish a spot a while without the dogs becoming too much of a nuisance, and other times trips had to move to escape dogs quicker. Waters were 49 to 50 degrees, relatively warm. They were warm enough for bluefin tuna to be seen. A load of the tuna were seen Friday or Saturday aboard, and a few were spotted Tuesday. No mackerel were found, and Butch heard about none so far. When the mackerel migration arrives, trips mix in fishing for them, along with bottom fishing. But a few herring were around close to shore and at the docks. The Dauntless is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, including on New Year’s Day. The vessel fishes daily all year long, straight through winter, one of the only boats that does. Christmas is the only day a trip is never scheduled.

<b>Toms River</b>

Few fished the beach, but surf angling for striped bass was still good, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Between the Seaside Heights piers seemed the best area, and plugs like Bombers worked best, though metal and teasers sometimes still caught. The plugs caught better now because the fish moved slower than before in cooler waters. Brian Gregor checked in an 11-pound 11-ounce striper and a 9.7-pounder from two trips to the surf in the past days. A few ling or spotted hake were clammed from the surf. The fish grew up to 12 or 14 inches, tasting great. No boaters were heard from who fished for stripers on the ocean, though surf anglers reported seeing an occasional boat. A few boaters will fish the ocean for stripers this weekend. Blackfish and sometimes ling and cod were boated at the ocean wrecks. Customers started asking about white perch fishing on the Toms River, and a customer for the first time this season reported trying for them, picking up two. The shop is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Saturday. Afterward, the hours will be “hit and miss,” Dennis said. 

<b>Tuckerton</b>

Blackfish trips are supposed to run today and Saturday with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. Nothing was heard about fishing locally, including about striped bass, because few boats remained in the waters, and because of the holidays. Charters are fishing, and open-boat trips can sail by request. T.J. will wrap up his season sometime next week.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

“Happy winter,” said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Anglers seemed to “hibernate” between Christmas and New Year’s, he said. The shop was closed from Saturday afternoon, Christmas Eve, through Tuesday. Then winds blew 40 m.p.h.Wednesday. So nothing was heard about fishing, not about striped bass, blackfish, white perch or any fish. The crew at the shop talked about digging out the ice fishing gear for the season. Nearby Collins Cove on the Mullica River, near the Parkway, is the state’s most popular spot for ice fishing for white perch. Perch seek the warmth of the cove, outside the main currents of the river, in winter. But the weather was too warm for ice. Bloodworms, grass shrimp, a few green crabs, nightcrawlers and minnows are stocked. Fresh, shucked clams are no longer stocked this season.  

<b>Absecon</b>

A couple of anglers checked in two striped bass per trip from eeling at Absecon Inlet two days in a row, said Curt from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. The fish were 28 to 31 inches, and a few catches of stripers were heard about that were still clammed in the back bay. One was a 15-pounder that shop owner Capt. Dave’s nephew Eian bagged. Plus stripers that were jigged on the ocean were heard about on occasion. Not many anglers fished, but stripers were around. The fishing could be day-to-day, good one day, not the next, and anglers had to find the bass. Blackfish seemed to push off to the ocean wrecks mostly. Occasional ones might’ve been landed at the jetties in the surf, but nothing was heard about the tog caught at places like the Brigantine Bridge. Sea bass bit offshore in at least 100-foot depths. Curt, a white perch angler, made up a catch of the slabs Sunday. Not all were big, but some were sizeable. So the perching seemed all right on the brackish rivers. Eels, green crabs and fresh clams are stocked. Jumbo minnows are carried, and stripers will actually bite them. Small minnows are stocked for white perch and freshwater.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Fish were still around, though few anglers fished, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. But catches were good for the time of year, and waters were relatively warm. Whether fishing will hold up by this point in the season is never known from year to year, but this year it has, and should keep going a few weeks. A few boaters decked striped bass at Great Egg Inlet on Sunday. Only stripers were heard about lately, and no bluefish were. The ocean was rough lately for boaters to fish for stripers there. Surf casters landed a few stripers, both on bait and lures. When boats sailed for blackfish on the ocean, the togging went well. All seemed to swim the ocean by now, and not much was heard about catches on the bay. Fin-Atics is open daily through New Year’s Eve Day. Afterward the shop will be open Fridays to Sundays.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Blackfishing was phenomenal on the ocean, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Green crabs were steadily sold for bait. A few striped bass were around. One local who fishes daily hooked two to six stripers per trip at the Sea Isle Lump, but the fish only bit early, like 7 or 8 a.m. He marked lots of the fish and tons of bait, but the bass seemed only to feed a short time. “So not a real active bite,” for some reason, Mike said, but catches were made. Surf anglers picked a few stripers on clams, and the angling was nothing great, but a couple of the bass beached were heard about every day. Occasional stripers were even heard about from the back bay, like along the bridge lights or at the deep holes. The fish bit things like dark Bomber or Yozuri lures in darker areas or eels along the lights. The shop is open daily, weather permitting. If the day is nice, the doors are likely opened. If the weather is raining or nasty, they could be closed.

Annual traveling trips to the Florida Keys kicked off aboard this week, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Most of the trips are weekend getaways from Christmas to April, but sometimes Joe sails from the Keys at other times, like this holiday week. The first trip fished a short time Monday, jumping a tarpon, landing a bunch of mangrove snappers and some groupers and jacks, at the reef. The next trip on Tuesday motored to the back country in the Everglades near Flamingo. Redfish, speckled sea trout, jacks, ladyfish and blowfish, a smorgasbord, were clobbered. Winds blew on the next trip on Wednesday, so the trip fished close to port, mostly at the bridges, reeling in jack crevalles, barracudas and snappers. Joe was out again Wednesday night, fly-rodding for tarpon when he gave this report over the phone. But most of the trips fished with artificials like Gulp shrimp on jigheads or live shrimp. The variety of places that can be fished is one of the great things about the Keys. No matter the weather, there’s someplace to catch. The weather was blazing hot on Monday and cooler during windier weather later. Waters were warm or 75 degrees. A few sailfish were caught so far this season from the Keys, and the angling seemed yet to peak. See Jersey Cape’s <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page4.html" target="_blank">traveling charters page</a> for info. Anglers can arrive at the Keys on a Friday evening, fish all day Saturday and part of Sunday, return Sunday evening, and get 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"

<b>Cape May</b>

Blackfishing was going alright aboard, and most anglers landed a few keepers, and some limited out, and a couple of big bruisers were hauled in, said Capt. Paul from the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>. Alex Levantovski from Philly aboard crushed a 17.8-pound blackfish, a big one! Word must’ve gotten out, because afterward people were calling to sail, despite forecasts for winds. Ken Minnet from Voorhees and Mike Chwieroth from Plymouth Meeting were a couple of the anglers who limited. The Porgy IV is slated to fish for blackfish at 8 a.m. daily through Monday, including on News Year’s Day. Afterward Paul will decide whether the trips in January will continue to run daily or on weekends, depending on the weather, fishing and demand.

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