<b>Staten Island</b>

Fog settled on the waters the whole time, but a trip aboard Tuesday anchored on the New York side, said Capt. Chuck from <b>Angler Sportfishing Charters</b>. The four anglers bunker chunked loads of big, alligator blues and three fairly good-sized, keeper striped bass to 20 pounds. A good trip, and the anglers, the Edmonton charter, left happy, Chuck said. The group kept the stripers and a dozen blues. They tried fishing with live peanut bunker that were carried aboard, but only the chunks caught. The peanuts probably “didn’t stand a chance,” Chuck said. Waters were 69.5 to 69.8 degrees or about 70, a little warm, in Chuck’s opinion. Trips like this will keep sailing for the moment, or will run for a combo of stripers, blues and bottom fish. This trip did no trolling, because of the fog. But a trip for this same type of fishing is set for Friday, and if fog is no problem, the trip will likely troll for stripers first, before chunking. Angler Sportfishing lately was also chunking for stripers at a few other places, like in the ocean off the Highlands, and at the channels off Sandy Hook.

Fishing remained the same, said Pat from <b>E-Z Catch Saltwater Traps & Tackle Co.</b>. In the past weeks he’s been reporting that porgies and snapper blues were becoming sizeable in waters like the Arthur Kill, and big blues to 10 and 12 pounds swam from locally to Staten Island’s south side. Friday will be the final day of New York’s fluke season. Crabbing was super, and becomes less popular after Labor Day, but September and October are the best months for crabbing. The blueclaws can grow to their biggest sizes of the year by then, and are abundant. 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>Keyport</b>

Fluke season, closing last Monday, was good, a fax from <b>Crabby’s Bait & Tackle</b> said. The 18-inch size limit might’ve been difficult for some anglers, but big fluke were seen at the shop. Richard A. Mades from Jackson Township weighed in a 12.2-pound 31-inch fluke, and several that topped 10 pounds were checked in. One of the crew from the shop saw a 9-pounder decked on a party boat. But now is striped bass time! Clams, sandworms, eels and all the striper supplies are on hand. Places that anglers bagged the bass included the edges of Reach Channel, the Sandy Hook Rip, elsewhere off the tip of Sandy Hook, and off Staten Island’s Mount Loretta. Stripers also swam along the bay’s beaches, but so did big bluefish. Quite a few blues bigger than 10 pounds were weighed in, and a 12.8-pounder that was bunker chunked was largest.  Crabby’s is holding the shop’s first-ever end of season sale on rods, reels, Gulps and more. Stop in for details!

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Striped bass, good catches, were clammed and began to be eeled on boats, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Stripers with some blues were also beached from the surf. A customer who hit the surf daily clammed a 48-inch bass from the beach. Porgy fishing was good, and blackfish bit, and cod and ling fishing began to pick back up. Took a while for cod and ling to chomp again after the hurricane and storms, even though the waters were deep.

Currents ran strong, apparently because of the moon, making bottom fishing tough aboard the past few days, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. High tides were high, and lows were low, and that makes currents run hard. The anglers sometimes couldn’t hold bottom with 12 or 14 ounces. “Unbearable,” Tom said. The fishing, for porgies and blackfish, improved somewhat on Wednesday morning’s trip, during slower waters at the end of one tide and beginning of the next. Then the easterly weather made the day nasty. But the angling, starting Saturday on the boat, once trips stopped fishing for fluke for the season, began good that day. So the fish seemed there, and Tom hoped the fishing was a matter of currents slowing down to pick up the catches. During the past days mixed-sized porgies were landed, and lots of out-of-season sea bass, including large ones, were let go. A few anglers blackfished and caught a few. Some nabbed the tog on crabs they brought for bait, and some reeled them in on clams provided on the boat. Anglers might want to buy a dozen sandworms for the trips at a tackle shop on the way to the boat, because sometimes the worms made a difference in porgy fishing. The marina’s tackle shop was closing any time.  Only a small piece of worm is needed on the hook. Small bits of clam or worm on small, size-4 hooks will hook the fish better than larger bait and hooks. Anglers might want to bring crabs for blackfish, but the tog also inhaled the clams. Different drops produced different fish. Some gave up porgies and no blackfish. Some held blackfish. Sea bass were mixed in on some. And so on. 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., and clams are provided for bait.

<b>Highlands</b>

On the <b>Hyper Striper</b> striped bass bit, and good bottom fishing was creamed, Capt. Pete said in an e-mail Russ Schofield’s party aboard Wednesday limited out on stripers and released a bunch more keepers and many shorts. Some blues were in the mix, then the anglers added a mess of dinner-plate porgies to the cooler.

Bottom fishing aboard cracked lots of porgies and threw back a bunch of out-of-season sea bass, and put each angler on a limit of one blackfish, playing catch and release with lots of the tog afterward, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. Striped bass fishing was up and down during the last couple of days, “was kind of conditions dependant,” Derek said. But some were clammed, and Fisher Price will probably try eeling for stripers this weekend for the first time this season, and will likely clam for them. No stripers were jigged aboard yet this season, but anglers who trolled for stripers connected. Open-boat trips will sail for stripers with Fisher Price Friday to Sunday. Call to jump aboard, or to be kept informed about future open trips. Charter reservations are being accepted for stripers and, later this fall, blackfish. Once the blackfish bag limit is increased to six on November 16 from the current limit of one, combo striper/blackfish trips will also be available. Derek steamed on a bluefin tuna trip on another boat Tuesday. The fishing wasn’t great but wasn’t bad, “considering nobody’s really been doing it,” Derek said. Tuna anglers kept sailing farther offshore to the canyons for yellowfins and longfins, probably running past bluefins. But the trip went 1 for 3 on bluefins to 40 pounds on jigs in 30 fathoms. The 70- to 72-degree waters looked great, weren’t blue, but were clear. If bluefins this year swim closer to shore like some seasons, Fisher Price will go after them on charters or open-boat trips like usual.

<b>Raritan Bay Charters</b> will fish this weekend, Capt. Dave hopes, he said, and that depends on the weather. Forecasts looked questionable. The last trip aboard, covered in the last report, swiped scores of porgies, a boat limit of blackfish and a couple of blowfish, non-stop action in one drop. Several sizeable, out-of-season sea bass were let go. Open-boat trips are sailing when no charter is booked. Trips will bottom fish for catches like this. If anglers are determined to sail for striped bass, trips can sail for them. But otherwise Dave is holding off on stripers until catches pick up.

Few boaters launched in forecasts for rough weather through the week, said Wayne from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>. Forecasts called for rains today, but skies were clear most of the day. One boater showed up this afternoon, picked up clams and mullet for striped bass fishing, then rains began to fall, but the boater headed out. Striper fishing seemed difficult recently, and Gene Graham, the marina’s striper expert, sailed for the bass, finding the angling tough. Little else was heard about fishing. Offshore anglers before a trip stopped by and loaded up on lots of herring and sardines for bait, but nothing was heard about results, because they were from Belmar. Snapper blues swam around the docks, but the population was spotty. Crabs could probably be trapped, but nobody was heard about who tried for them. The wait was on for the fall migration of stripers and blues. Live clams and all the frozen baits are stocked for inshore fishing, and the full array of offshore baits is carried.

<b>Neptune</b>

The following was posted as an update Tuesday, and is being re-posted in case anyone missed it: A cod trip with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> on Monday apparently went well, because Capt. Ralph e-mailed photos of cod caught on the trip, saying the photos spoke for themselves. “Hate to say it,” he said, “but we lost four to six giant cod and pollock … get them next time.” An individual-reservation trip for cod and pollock is slated for 3 a.m. Sunday, October 23. Canyon tuna fishing was the best in years, and now was the time to go. Individual-reservation, overnight trips to the canyons are on the books for Saturday to Sunday, October 15 to 16, and Wednesday to Thursday, October 19 to 20. Individual-rez trips for striped bass will run Sunday and October 9, 12, 25 and 30, and the bass started to bite. Blackfish were already on the chew, and anglers were just waiting for the bag limit to increase to six of the tog on November 16 from the current limit of one. Individual-reservation trips for blackfish are set for that day and November 18, and more will be scheduled, and blackfish charters were filling fast. Bluefishing was on, and if anglers want limit catches, bailing them on bait, join a charter now. “Fall fishing is in full swing,” Ralph said.

<b>Belmar</b>

Fishing was good the last few days, a report on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>’s Web site said. On Wednesday’s trip 5- to 10-pound blues and occasional false albacore bit right away, and kept on through the trip. “Another good day of fall fishing,” the report said. The outing fished the same area the boat had been fishing on previous days. The Golden Eagle is bluefishing daily 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Striperthon trips will begin to sail every Monday and Friday starting next week through November. Check the <a href="http://www.goldeneaglefishing.com/tuna_schedule_res_form_2011.pdf" target="_blank">Golden Eagle’s canyon tuna schedule and reservations form</a> for info about the boat’s tuna trips.

No striped bass showed up yet on trips aboard, but 5- to 14-pound blues were belted on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> on the ocean, Karin said. False albacore were sometimes mixed in, and special trips for albies and bonito will begin sailing next week at 6 a.m. every Tuesday and maybe twice a week. The schedule will be on the boat’s Web site. The bluefish trips will keep sailing, and will target stripers when stripers arrive. For now, the Miss Belmar Princess is sailing for bluefish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The party boat <b>Tropical Adventure</b>, the company’s other vessel, will run for blues when the alby and bonito trips sail. The Tropical Adventure stopped sailing for fluke when fluke season closed Monday. The boat will soon begin bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily for porgies, ling and cod.

A few blues were yanked aboard from the ocean Saturday with <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Jared said. A trip last week on Wednesday hosted Rutgers researchers who tuned an antenna on the ocean. Fin-Ominal runs trips for nearly whatever purpose passengers have, and just call for info. An offshore charter will sail aboard for tuna and big game this weekend, if the weather allows. An offshore trip limited out on tuna on the vessel last week from Monday to Tuesday. Three charters were weathered out on the boat the previous weekend. Fin-Ominal is sailing for blues, bottom fish and offshore.

The boat is being repowered and should be finished in 1 ½ weeks or so, said Capt. Kris from <b>Fish Stix Sportfishing</b>. Then trips will sail for a mixed bag of bottom fish like porgies, blackfish and triggerfish. Bluefish will be on tap, and the fall run of striped bass should begin soon. Fish Stix is a big-time blackfisher, when the bag limit is hiked up to six of the tog on November 16 from the current limit of one. Reservations are being made for trips for all these fish aboard. 

Small blues, like large snappers, were jabbed from Shark River to the surf, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. Striped bass fishing in the surf was “eh,” Bob said. Actually, few anglers fished the surf in the weather. But stripers were dusted from the surf on lures, flies and clams, and the cold snap forecast for the weekend will probably spark more anglers to begin fishing for them. Kingfish and porgies were in the river, and good blackfishing came from the river and the Point Pleasant Canal. On the party boats bluefishing was tremendous on the ocean, and little was heard lately about false albacore that had started to be mixed in on the bluefish trips previously. Maybe the abundant blues kept albies from being hooked. Striped bass were yet to be catches on the boats, but the migration will arrive this fall. Party boats that bottom fished ran into good catches of porgies, triggerfish and blackfish on the ocean. A couple of 180- and 150-pound bigeye tuna were weighed in from the canyons.

<b>Brielle</b>

A cod trip steamed Monday on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, and the catch was good, Capt. Ryan said in an e-mail. The boat had been fluke fishing daily until fluke season closed that day. A small crowd joined the trip, pumping up “well over 100 keeper cod,” Ryan said, and 15- to 18-pounders were the biggest. Catches ranged from three or four cod per angler to a high hook of 14 for one customer. Throwbacks, not many, were also hooked, and hefty ling were sacked. Anglers aboard and their catches included: Pete Talevi, 14 cod to 15 pounds; Dale Isaacs, 11 cod to 14 pounds and 4 ling; Tim Keebler and buddy, combining for 17 cod and 11 big ling; Gene Zubrycki, 10 cod and 5 ling; Alex Winewski, 9 cod to 14 pounds and 4 ling; Ray Bryant, 8 cod to 12 pounds; and Donnito Patrick, 5 cod to 12 pounds. The next cod trip is set for 2 a.m. Monday, and call for reservations. A Mudhole Giant Ling and Cod Trip is scheduled for Saturday, and Porgy Special 12-Hour Trips are slated for Wednesday and October 9 and 14.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

First-time canyon fishers sailed on one of the mixed-bag trips offshore overnight Saturday to Sunday with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>, a report on the boat’s Web site said. The trip arrived at the fishing grounds in time to begin drifting on the overnight chunk. Life began to build around the boat once the lights were turned on and the chunking began. Squid and lots of bait swarmed, and swordfish were seen. A pup sword was caught and released, then a bigger one showed “but would not commit,” the report said. Six blue sharks to 10 feet were wrestled during the night, and a flurry of tuna turned on in the morning. The trip went 2 for 4 on yellowfin tuna and  one 60-pound longfin tuna. Afterward, up on the troll, instant action was scored, and each of the four anglers landed a tuna. A mahi mahi was also bagged, then six more longfins were pumped in. All this happened in less than an hour. The anglers had enough, and the trip ran for home, docking before lunch. Five different species were caught. Mixed-bag canyon charters will keep sailing, and space remains for mixed-bag, open-boat trips to the canyons, and call if interested. Andrea’s Toy is strictly canyon fishing until the end of October, and specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up, and more variety for dinner. Inshore, mixed-bag charters will begin at the beginning of November for striped bass, blues, sea bass and blackfish.

<b>Toms River</b>

In the Toms River snapper blues and spearing swam all over, and crabbing was okay, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Most of the crabs were females, and the blueclaws were somewhat bigger than before. Snappers and crabs held in Barnegat Bay along the Route 37 Bridge. One boater landed probably 20 blowfish on the bay off Good Luck Point on a trip, and snappers swam into his clam-chum slick. Angling for blowfish at the bay’s BI marker was “leaner” than before, Dennis said, and the sizes were smaller, but plenty remained there. Boaters got into better numbers of kingfish while clam-chumming for blowfish in the bay behind Island Beach State Park. Bluefish chased mullet and spearing in Barnegat Inlet, and blackfish and triggerfish were hooked along the inlet jetties. The mullet migration was heavy in the ocean this year, one of the better runs in a while. Surf casters beached blues 1 to 2 pounds, sometimes larger, on mullet, small poppers or metal. Lots of blues were to be had, and participation was down, because of forecasts for rough weather. Surf anglers picked striped bass, mostly on clams, a few on bunker, mostly in the evenings, but also in the early mornings. An occasional one was brought in during mid day. Water temps need to drop before more stripers show up, but that’ll happen. One day this season the bass will become thick. Customers fished the migration at Montauk farther north, and only half the boats limited out on stripers. The migration was yet to build fully there. Fresh mullet, clams and bunker are stocked, and so are killies and all the frozen baits. 

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Catches weren’t that great in the surf, but small bluefish often swam the waters, hitting nearly anything, including fresh mullet, small metal, small popper lures and teasers, said George from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. A few stripers were clammed in the surf, and waters were warm, and anglers waited for them to cool for fishing to take off. Blowfish held in Barnegat Bay toward Barnegat Inlet farther south, and departed from the bay along the shop’s docks. Snapper blues schooled at the docks, and crabbing actually picked up from the shop. Killies, fresh clams, fresh bunker, eels and the complete line of baits is stocked. Catch Wacky Wednesdays, featuring clams for $2.75 per dozen.

<b>Forked River</b>

Plenty of blowfish were flung aboard from the bay, said Grizz from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Fish like porgies could be mixed in, and customers waited for the fall run of striped bass. A few stripers were heard about that were socked, but none was weighed in. Bluefish, lots, schooled everywhere from Barnegat Bay to Barnegat Inlet to the surf. At the inlet they weighed 4 to 5 pounds. The ocean wrecks were reported to be littered with lots of blackfish, and sizeable ones.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Barnegat Bay’s blowfish were a main catch, said Vince from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. Blackfishing was very good along the Barnegat Inlet jetties and the ocean wrecks. Triggerfish and sheepshead were seen that came from along the inlet jetties. Striped bass started to be seen, including from along the inlet jetties and a few from Barnegat Bay. The bay catches especially seemed a good sign for fall striper fishing. Most of the bass were taken on live spot, but sometimes anglers worked Bomber lures for the bass along the jetties. Bluefish ran the inlet, and customers this morning docked with a bunch of 18-inchers caught on smelts and diamond jigs. Though fishing finally recovered from Hurricane Irene, crabbing never did, for some reason. Maybe freshwater from runoff from the rains was a cause, or maybe the blueclaws burrowed into the bottom for the season, but the reason was unknown. The state shut down clamming a moment after the hurricane, because of freshwater runoff, but clamming was reopened, and one group clammed from the shop, limiting out in a couple of hours. Bobbie’s rents tiller motor boats, center consoles and pontoon boats for fishing and crabbing. Single and tandem kayaks are available for rent at the shop or your location. Bobbie’s, the closest marina to the inlet, also features a tackle shop. The store is known for local-caught live and fresh bait. Live spots are always on hand, and minnows, live clams, fresh bunker and the full supply of baits, including spearing and squid, is carried. Quarts of live grass shrimp are available, and call ahead to order them at least a day ahead, and the earlier the better.

<b>Barnegat</b>

Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b> was netting a good amount of peanut bunker lately, and forecasts currently looked good to run offshore toward the Mudhole to try for bluefin tuna, setting up on the chunk, he said in an e-mail. He’s bringing a barrelful of live peanuts, and will start a spearing slick for any of the tuna family: bonito, false albacore, skipjacks “and hopefully bluefin,” he said. Space is available on the trips 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Sunday, limited to three people per trip. All fish are shared, and call to reserve.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Lots of blowfish were bombed, and Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> had thought the catches were tapering off, he said, but the high hook the other day landed a hundred and fifty. Anglers fished clams in clam chum for them, and the bay at the clam stakes along the Mystic Island side of the Fish Factory gave up the most consistent catches. But blowfish were also taken elsewhere. Anglers who fished at the clam stakes off the end of Radio Road picked up a few more kingfish than toward the Fish Factory. Various other fish like porgies were mixed in, and blowfish also swam there. Snapper blues, ¾-pounders being the biggest, were abundant in the back waters. One angler landed more than 60 from the banks of Big Creek on minnows on a trip. Blackfish seemed to be everywhere. Boaters hooked them along the edges and sedges of the bay. Bank anglers reeled them in at the end of Great Bay Boulevard and along Sheepshead Creek. On some days no keepers seemed to bite, and on others keepers to 4 pounds showed up. Not many were keepers, but the fishing was entertaining. Stripers 10 to 20 inches were landed, and most seemed to be plugged, and Scott knew no place specific they were clocked, but places like the mouths of Motts and Oyster creeks or mouth of the Mullica River seemed likely. Anyplace at a mouth where peanut bunker swam. Scott knew no specific lure that was favored. Large, migrating stripers to 20 pounds usually show up by the third week of October, and anglers clam for them at Little Egg Inlet. The shop began stocking eels some time ago, but nothing was heard about eeling for stripers. Anglers eel for them on the Mullica. White perch fishing was good at places like Ballangers Creek and the mouth of the Mullica, like at Oyster Bed Point and Goose Cove Point, and bloodworms were the ticket. Crabbing sort of tapered. “That’s the best way to put it,” Scott said. Fewer people crabbed this time of year, so the number of crabs per person was greater. Waters were 73 degrees this week, and as long as they stay warm, the crabs will be around. Freshwater runoff from rains was the biggest hindrance. Fresh, shucked clams are stocked, and so are green crabs, and lots of the crabs were sold for blackfishing. Bloodworms are on hand, and Scott tried to net grass shrimp to stock without luck. Freshwater again was the culprit. On one trip he caught no shrimp, and on another he netted tiny ones.

<b>Absecon</b>

A few striped bass were tugged in from along the Brigantine Bridge, mostly on live mullet, sometimes on live spots, said Mike from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Lots of blackfish, good-sized, hung around the bridge, and an 8-pounder was weighed in a week ago. Snapper bluefish were around, and no big ones were heard about so far. White perch fishing was very good in the brackish rivers. Kingfish swam plentiful in the surf at Atlantic City. Live mullet, spots, clams, green crabs, minnows and eels are stocked.

<b>Brigantine</b>

All the kingfish and bluefish anglers could want were built up in the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. He fished for them Wednesday evening with a friend, pounding non-stop action with kings, including double-headers. The blues were becoming bigger, around 20 inches, and only pounced on bait like finger mullet, not metal. Boaters eeled and plugged striped bass along the sod banks of the bay. 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. Again, the Atlantic County Surf Fishing Derby is also happening.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Abundant kingfish, lots big enough to keep, filled the surf, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Blackfish held thick along the jetties, and an occasional striped bass came from the surf. A few stripers were weighed in that were 28, 30 or 32 inches. Mullet were around, but not in numbers like they should be. The baitfish would be seen more often where anglers couldn’t reach them to net, like in the channel. Snapper blues and sea perch gathered along the sea wall. Lots of porgies, some blues and occasional kingfish gathered in the back bay toward Routes 30 and 40. Fresh mullet and live clams, green crabs, eels, bloodworms and minnows are stocked, and so is the complete supply of frozen baits.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Few anglers fished, but angling was good, said Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Waters finally settled after the hurricane and storms that followed, and this was a good time of year for fishing. But the weather and forecasts often kept anglers from going. Sometimes the weather in fact was rough, but often it was nice, even if skies were overcast. Sometimes forecasts for rough weather were accurate, but sometimes weren’t. Lots of small blues swarmed the inlets and surf. The blues were 2 or 2 ½ pounds, “but I mean (there were) lots,” Ed said. Lots of kingfish nipped in the surf. Striped bass sometimes started to be banked from the surf. “There is some bait moving around,” Ed said. Out-of-season summer flounder still bit in the inlets. In the back bay more and more activity came from small blues and sometimes stripers. Blackfishing was off the hook everywhere, from the bridges and jetties to the ocean reefs, though only one could be kept, until the bag limit is increased to six on November 16. Lots of the tog, out-of-season sea bass, and tiggerfish bit at the reefs. Offshore fishing was great when boaters had the weather to sail. Lots of yellowfin tuna were trolled during the day and chunked at night at the canyons to the north like the Lindenkohl and Spencer. Swordfish were hauled in at night. Farther north toward Hudson Canyon, yellowfins were trolled and chunked, and longfin tuna were trolled.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Fishing was awesome, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Kingfishing hit the roof in the surf, was the best all fishing season, and some anglers banked dozens, and lots of bloodworms and FishBites artificial worms were sold for bait for them. Cocktail blues to 3 pounds, good-sized, schooled Townsend’s and Corson’s inlets, though more customers fish Townsend’s, so more was heard about there. Anglers fished for them with a surf rig with small, 2-inch floats with filleted mackerel. No mullet were seen along the shore, unusually. Quite a few croakers were boated on the ocean, sometimes at wrecks, sometimes at pieces of bottom like lumps and shoals. Boaters cruised until they found them, and some of the hardheads were sizeable. Herds of triggerfish covered some of the wrecks, getting ready to migrate south, so they might not stick around for long. So not all wrecks held them, and if boaters mark a wreck with no activity, move on to the next one. Some of the triggers can be large. Mike joined a trip with a friend that loaded up on 24 triggers in a short time Sunday afternoon on clam and squid. In the back bay striped bass fishing held steady, produced catches like before, mostly on popper plugs. But some anglers bought Rat-L-Traps for them, and some picked up lures like Bombers and other swimmers. Offshore fishing was fantastic, and anglers showed off photos of catches like swordfish or a dock covered with tuna. Catch the shop’s <b><i>******BIG SALE******</i></b> through the next days for the Harbor Fest in town. The festival features events like chowder contests and displays like commercial fishing traps, and Sea Isle Bait & Tackle is located in the middle of the festivities.

Ten to 12 striped bass, various sizes, and two or three healthy-sized blues to almost 4 pounds were popper-plugged on the flats of the back bay in 3 hours on a trip aboard Monday evening, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. So the fishing, with Tom Scranton and buddy Dale, was great, and popper fishing for stripers, both with lures and flies, continued to produce aboard lately. Stripers in the bay recently were a large variety of sizes from small to bigger, a healthy sign for the population. When Joe sees stripers that are all one size, he becomes nervous. Tons of micro blues 4 to 6 inches, almost the size of the popper plugs, were abundant in the bay. Larger blues began to be more abundant than before in the bay recently. The striper fishing will last a while, and the bay’s waters were beautiful, and filled with bait. Jump on the boat on an After Work Special Trip from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., ideal for the popper fishing during certain tides. Jersey Cape will begin fishing the ocean for the migration of large stripers and blues in late October. The fishing can last into December, and the schedule was becoming tight with booked trips in November. If interested in big stripers during the prime time of year, anglers should reserve dates and think ahead. Jersey Cape is also fishing offshore, and tuna catches were excellent on the overnight chunk at Carteret and Lindenkohl canyons. Swordfish also bit then. Good to great white marlin fishing was under way at Baltimore Canyon. Joe was on his way to New York this weekend for annual trips he offers in Montauk.  Limited space remains for the legendary location’s fishing for the migration of stripers, blues and false albacore in the next few weeks. See the <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page4.html" target="_blank">traveling charters page</a> on Jersey Cape’s Web site. 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>Wildwood</b>

Forecasts called for lousy weather Saturday and Sunday, but the weather turned out beautiful, and trips fished both days on the party boat <b>Adventurer</b>, Capt. Gary said. Croakers, blues and a few weakfish were wrangled in, and the trips moved to wrecks and added a few blackfish to the catch. So the angling was all right, and open-boat trips through October will keep sailing Saturdays and Sundays, probably for a mix of fish like croakers, blues and weaks. If the trips have a chance to fish a wreck, blackfish will be targeted. Afterward if striped bass show up, charters will be available for them. The boat is always available for charter.

Summer flounder season closed Monday, but the fish, some of them decent-sized, remained in the back bay, and anglers released them, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. Lots of small sea bass schooled the bay, and small bluefish were around in the waters. Anglers were just now gearing up to fish for striped bass on the bay, and the angling should open up soon. Nothing was heard about weakfish in the bay, and the trout might be gone for the season, but one never knows. Crabbing remained the same in the bay, and some could be caught. Crabbing never picked up a lot this year, and crabbers could basket two or three dozen, but the catches never became great like expected, and the reason was unknown. Canal Side will remain open through the weekend of October 8 and 9, before taking a break through winter. Canal Side rents canopy boats and kayaks for fishing, crabbing and sightseeing, and will be open until the second week of October, before closing through winter. Baits stocked include minnows, and the price was currently great: $5 per pint including tax, compared with $8 before tax at many stores. Frozen squid strips, whole squid, spearing, mackerel fillets, mullet, clam strips and packaged clams are on hand. Live crabs are available for eating, and No. 1’s are currently $20 per dozen, and No. 2’s are currently $12 per dozen, but prices can change, depending on crab sizes.

<b>Cape May</b>

Bluefish could be trolled on the ocean, and blackfishing was good, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. Sometimes fish like false albacore could be mixed in with the blues. But George mated on a trip, covered in a previous report, that tried trolling albies, and only two showed up. Maybe few albies remained, or maybe more could show up on another day. Only one blackfish can be kept, but anglers can keep their one and play catch and release afterward. No consistent fishing for croakers was heard about. The hardheads would show up at one spot on one day and at another on another. Tuna were chunked offshore at night. The fishing sounded good at canyons toward the Lindenkohl. At the moment, the catches seemed to be made at canyons farther south like the Wilmington on some trips, but seemed like anglers had to get on them on the right day. Another charter boat from the dock trolled a couple of tuna and some good-sized mahi mahi at the Wilmington on Tuesday during the daytime. The Heavy Hitter will probably begin striped bass fishing during the fourth week of October. Currently charters on the vessel were running for blues and blackfish and were sailing offshore for tuna on daytime and overnight trips.

The party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> fished for summer flounder on a Research Set Aside Permit that allows the vessel to target the fish after fluke season closed Monday, Capt. Paul said. Fishing for the flounder aboard was slow, and the weather and seas were rough, but the fluke that were decked were good-sized. Most were 20 or 22 inches, and few were throwbacks. A few of the fish were bagged on the boat during the weekend, but the flounder population couldn’t be found on Monday’s and Tuesday’s trips. Previously the trips found them on Delaware Bay. But by Monday, when flounder season closed, the fish had moved, and without other vessels fishing for them, the fluke were difficult to locate. “Tough to find them by yourself,” Paul said. But he hopes that the weather and seas will settle, and the flatfish will be located. If anglers are looking to try for flounder, the Porgy IV will take them. During the weekend catches aboard included John Hauser from West Cape May’s four keepers, Mike Ruhl from Hershey, Pa.’s, three keepers and John Meehen from Cape May’s three keepers. All of those were 20 to 22 inches. The Porgy IV is sailing for summer flounder 8 a.m. daily.

Cape May Inlet’s jetties were blanketed with blackfish, lots, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>.Tons of bluefish were everywhere, and started to be bigger. They schooled in the back bay to the inlets to Cape May Point and all around. A few striped bass, mostly shorts, sometimes a keeper, none big, began to be caught in the surf. Mullet began to be seen along the surf and ocean, departing the bays some time ago. Small stripers gave up lots of action along the sod banks in the early mornings at the tops of the tides. Good catches of kingfish reportedly came from Delaware Bay, and sometimes kings were plucked from the surf. Not much was heard about croakers. Larger blues could be found in the ocean. Tuna were boated at the Hot Dog and Elephant Trunk, and good numbers were drilled farther offshore in 70 fathoms. White marlin remained around. Live clams and green crabs and the full array of frozen baits are stocked.

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