<b>Staten Island</b>
 
The weather was tough in the past days, said Pat from <b>E-Z Catch Saltwater Traps & Tackle Co.</b> But loads of bluefish to 12 pounds swarmed everywhere from the St. George Fishing Pier on the Arthur Kill to the Verrazano Bridge to Tottenville. Anglers fished cut bunker or butterfish for them. Nothing was heard about bunker swimming anywhere in the last days. Snapper blues and porgies roamed the Arthur Kill and everywhere. Fluke filled waters, even if anglers had to wade through lots of throwbacks for a keeper. Nothing hot and heavy happened with striped bass, and one was picked here or there, like when anglers bluefished. But striper fishing usually begins to become good toward the end of September. Crabbing was hopping. In freshwater, the lakes were very dirty from the weather and would probably take a couple of days to clean up. 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>

Fishing is supposed to resume with charters for fluke Saturday and Sunday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. No trips sailed in the weather since a fluke outing Monday aboard, covered in the last report. Lots of miles were traveled on the trip, from the West Bank to the ocean at Sandy Hook Channel, covered in the last report. A few fluke were landed, and the angling seemed affected by the previous storm. Open-boat trips are sailing for fluke either 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily when no charter is booked. Call to reserve. 

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Nobody mentioned fishing since the weekend because of stormy weather, but previously <i>some</i> fluke were landed, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Ling were boated at the Mudhole, and porgies were in. Bluefish were axed, and short striped bass were sometimes reeled up. Crabbing was good. “They like this (stuff),” Jimmy said.

The party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> last fished Monday, because of the weather, and the fluking wasn’t good aboard that day, Capt. Tom said. The weather seemed to take its toll, and now Tom was waiting for the waters and weather to straighten out. This morning’s trip didn’t sail, and he would see whether this afternoon’s would. Many anglers were also busy dealing with the storm, like with flooding. When trips fished, they angled for fluke on the bay and, when conditions were right, on the ocean along the beaches. Tom reminded anglers that fluke season is open later this year than in recent years through September 25. The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

<b>Highlands</b>

Trips aboard stayed docked because of weather through the week, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. But open-boat trips for bottom fish like sea bass, porgies and blackfish are set for Saturday and Sunday. Anglers will try to take advantage of sea bass before the season for the fish closes Monday. Call to climb aboard the open trips, or to be kept informed about future ones. Charters are also sailing. 

<b>Raritan Bay Charters</b> stayed in port during the weather this week, but trips might get out this weekend, Capt. Dave said. He’ll still give fluke fishing a try, but his trips are also bottom fishing. If fluke fishing doesn’t pan out, plenty of porgies are around for bottom fishing, and trips that bottom fish might give sea bassing a shot before sea bass season closes Monday. Open-boat trips are fishing when no charter is booked. 

<b>Neptune</b>

“Let’s hope the rotten weather is behind us,” Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> said in an e-mail. Fishing aboard will be back underway the next few days. Sea bass season closes Monday, and an individual-reservation trip for sea bass will sail 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. A trip for sea bass with Last Lady last weekend copped a very good catch of big ones and dinner-plate porgies. The year’s final, weekly, individual-reservation trips for fluke, running every Wednesday, will steam through September 21, before fluke season closes September 26. On the sea bass trip and those three fluke trips kids 12 and under sail free with an adult, limited to two per adult. An individual-reservation trip for fluke is also set for Saturday, September 24. An individual-rez trip for cod and pollock will fish offshore the same day on Ralph’s other boat.

<b>Belmar</b>

The boats were kept tied to the cleats in the weather, Capt. Alan from the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> said. But trips will start back up Saturday, he hoped.  The Miss Belmar Princess is bluefishing twice daily 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. The Tropical Adventure, Alan’s other party boat, is fluke fishing twice daily 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. When fluke season closes September 26, the vessel will begin bottom fishing on one three-quarter-day trip daily.

Fishing stayed in port aboard because of weather the past couple of days, said Capt. Chris from the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>. He expected to be at the dock this morning to see if the day’s trip could sail. When trips did sail, a couple of good days were scored on fluke, and a couple of bad ones were. Previously bucktails with Gulps beat the best catches. But lately even bait-draggers hooked up. “That shows how (messed up) it was,” Chris said. Anglers will see how the fluking goes after the weather. A few sea bass, not a ton, were mixed in, and Sunday is the final day of sea bass season. The Big Mohawk is fishing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The party boats were kept in port all week, because of the weather, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. Snapper blues from Shark River were about the only catches. Other than anglers who nabbed them, nobody really fished. Surf seas were bad.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Fluke fishing was tough on the ocean because of the weather, said Chuck from <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b>. Fishing for the summer flounder also slowed at Manasquan Inlet because of the weather. Snapper blues schooled the inlet and, as far as Chuck knew, Barnegat Bay. Nothing much was available to report, because of the weather. The shop’s grounds also feature the Gates Motel, popular with anglers, within walking distance of the charter and party boat fleet, the inlet and the surf. <b>***THIS TACKLE SHOP IS FOR SALE! CALL: 732-899-5760.***</b>

A mixed-bag trip fished the canyons with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>, a report on the boat’s Web site said last Thursday. The trip, an annual charter for the anglers, happened to take place during the Manasquan Marlin and Tuna Club offshore tournament, so the anglers entered. When the crew saw the water temps on the satellite charts, they knew the trip was in for a long run, at least to the 500-fathom line. The charter began fishing at Hudson Canyon, finding cold, green waters. The trip made its way to Toms Canyon, and the crew found the water they wanted. The anglers first played with mahi mahi to fill the box and look for a big one for the tournament. Then they trolled “in earnest,” the report said, and a hook was pulled on a good-sized tuna. The trip set up to fish at night, and fishing was slow. Lots of squid schooled, but only blue sharks showed up, until a flurry of tuna at first light. A tuna was jigged, and another pulled the hook. Then a big, 8-foot blue shark moved in, and the tuna were gone. The trip went on the troll, but scored no knock downs through the morning. The anglers decided to deep-drop for tilefish to add variety to the cooler, and a half-dozen tiles to a 20-pounder were pumped in. That was the first time the anglers had tilefished. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. Both open-boat trips and charters are mixed-bag fishing offshore, unique, annual trips.

<b>Toms River</b>

One customer blowfished between the BB and BI markers on Barnegat Bay Wednesday, not leaving for the trip till 3 p.m., coming up with 17 of the fish, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. The customer talked with another angler who was finishing up blowfishing as the customer arrived for the angling, and the other angler had bagged a bucket and a half of the fish. They wore rain gear, and were a little beaten up by the weather, but blowfishing was super. A few anglers fluke fished at Oyster Creek Channel on the bay when possible in the weather, picking a few. The channel and the bay around the BI were the best bets for fluke, and squid with killies or Gulps caught. So fluke remained in the bay, and will stay a while yet. Ocean fluke fishing never really bounced back after the hurricane, and now this week’s weather bore down. At the Route 37 Bridge on the bay, a mixed bag of sheepshead, kingfish, blowfish and snapper blues were hooked. None of the fish were of any size, but the mix was neat. One angler Tuesday landed a 30-pound striped bass, a 4-pound blue and some fluke from the surf. Not a lot was happening in the surf. Blues, snappers 10 inches to a token larger one to 2 pounds, sometimes tumbled through the surf, getting hooked on Sabiki rigs or small metal. A few kingfish nipped in the surf. Another angler snapper fished on the Toms River at Huddy Park, catching the fish, now to 12 inches, on spearing under a bobber. Plenty of crabs, lots, were plucked, no matter the weather. Crabbers kicked butt, Dennis said.  

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Blowfish and kingfish, a fairly good number, were belted from the docks on clams at <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>, Scott said. Snapper blues ran around the waters, swiping spearing for bait. Crabbing was alright from the shop. That all happened in the bay, and nobody really fished in the ocean, because of the weather. Killies, fresh clams, fresh bunker, eels and the complete line of baits is stocked. Catch Wacky Wednesdays, featuring clams for $2.75 per dozen. The Dock’s rental boats and jet skis are available.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Little happened with fishing, apparently because the bottom was churned from the weather, said Vince Sr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. But good blowfishing was bailed on Barnegat Bay. Prior to this week’s weather, fluke fishing seemed somewhat to slow down after the hurricane at places like along the Dike and the waters toward Barnegat Inlet. Waters then had been improving, clearing up, toward the end of the week after the hurricane. Then this week’s weather hit. Crabbing before this week’s weather was good, remained about the same after the hurricane as before. Clamming was good before the weather turned rough, the last time customers clammed. Clammers from the shop usually limited out, a good season for the catches. 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>Surf City</b>

Good-sized fluke started to be banked from the surf, because they were leaving the inlets, heading for the ocean, said Bruce from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Kingfish started to turn on in the surf. Bruce on Tuesday landed 17 kings from the beach, and they were small, but that was the size of the fish in the particular school. The surf was very rough today, and a big, southeast swell was probably under way, because of the hurricane offshore. But Bruce plans to fish the surf Friday. The shop’s bunker supplier ran into a school of big blues 3 miles off the coast. No big blues popped into the surf, but at least they were moving closer. No surf fishing busted loose yet, but the angling was about to start improving. In the bay snapper blues and blowfish bit. Small sea bass chewed in the bay. But none are ever legal-sized. Check out the shop’s <b><i>free surf-fishing classes</i></b> at 6 to 7 p.m. Sundays in the parking lot. The classes are informal – bring a beach chair to sit – and very informative, Sue from the shop said. The classes focus on fishing that’s happening now in the surf, covering everything from bait, tackle and rods to how to cast. Keep up with the latest news in <a href="http://www.surfcitybaitandtackle.com/" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s fishing reports</a> on the shop’s Web site. Or keep in touch on <a href=" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Surf-City-Bait-and-Tackle/207533229268619
" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s Facebook page</a>.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

“I got nothing,” Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> said. Practically nobody fished in the weather, so news was scarce. Plenty of snapper blues could be played in the lagoons. Porgies, sea bass and kingfish gave up a fishery in the bay, the last time anglers headed out for them. Quite a few anglers tried for spots then but found none, looking to keep the spots live for striped bass bait this fall. Local striper fishing usually takes off in the second week of October, and boaters will anchor and fish for them at Little Egg Inlet with fresh clams. Anglers looking to boat for summer flounder on the ocean couldn’t catch a break from the weather. Nobody could sail for blackfish either. Sea bass season will close Monday, so with the weather, that fishery appeared finished. A few fresh, shucked clams are stocked, and should last until the next batch is slated to arrive Friday. Bloodworms and green crabs are on hand. 

<b>Absecon</b>

Well, the weather made most fishing a washout. So here’s the biggest fishing news: Catch <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center's</b> <a href=" http://www.abseconbay.com/abseconbay/sales/Striper%20Sale/striper.htm" target="_blank"><b><i>***Striper Season Kick Off Sale***</i></b></a>! Running this Friday through Sunday, September 18, the sale features an absolute minimum of 25 percent off everything except bait. Some items are 50 percent off, including fluke rigs, soft-plastic baits and more! Click the link for more info. On the fishing front, few anglers headed out, Curt from the shop said, but kingfish were sometimes toggled in from the surf. Kings might’ve been a little bigger to the south. Lots of throwback fluke had swum around the back waters, when anglers tried for them before the weather, and bigger fluke held in the ocean. Curt guessed a few striped bass were eeled and plugged from the back waters at night. Not much was heard about tog, and Curt guessed waters were dirty. Curt, a white perch angler, found fishing for the slabs tough, maybe because of freshwater runoff from rains. Live spots, eels, shedder crabs, soft-shell crabs and minnows are stocked. Live mullet and peanut bunker are carried when available.  

<b>Brigantine</b>

Surf anglers clocked kingfish Sunday and Monday, until fishing shut down Tuesday and Wednesday in the weather that rolled in, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. A 14-pound 33-inch striped bass was weighed in that bit for an angler fishing along the back bay’s sod banks with a frozen, salted Riptide Rotter clam. It’s that time: The annual Riptide Striper Derby will run September 19 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. The Atlantic County Surf Fishing Derby will run September 19 to October 1. 

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Lots of tog, good-sized, 18 inches and larger, chomped in the surf, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Soak green crab or clam for them. A couple of throwback striped bass were beached and released from the surf Wednesday. Mullet 7 to 9 inches and spearing ran the waters. Spots were angled from the sea wall, and the back bay turned out small summer flounder and small blues. All the baits, the full supply, are stocked.

<b>Margate</b>

No trips ran on the party boat <b>Keeper</b> in the past days because of weather, Capt. John said. Wednesday’s weather would’ve been okay for the vessel’s summer flounder fishing to sail, but not enough anglers showed up. Some anglers were supposed to show up to fish aboard today, and John would see “what’s what,” he said. The boat will keep flounder fishing, and green crabs might be carried aboard starting next week to mix in fishing for tog. The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder twice daily 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The fare is only $24 per adult for the 4-hour trips.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

High tides toward dusk this week were ideal for popper-plug and –fly fishing for striped bass on the back bay, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. And a trip tried the fishing with plugs, but waters were dirty from the weather, and the fishing, a specialty on the boat, was slow. The angling’s been excellent this year. But the bay remained warm, and bait was plentiful. No other trips fished aboard because of weather. “Just need it to settle out,” Joe said, “and all hell should break loose.” Canyon fishing was good for tuna, mahi mahi and white marlin in the break in weather between last week’s hurricane and this week’s storms. Jersey Cape is also sailing on those trips, and is angling for summer flounder and bottom fish. Limited space remains for Jersey Cape’s annual trips to Montauk for the fall migration of striped bass, blues and false albacore. The trips fish the legendary run the last two weekends of September and first two of October.  See the <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page4.html" target="_blank">traveling charters page</a> on Jersey Cape’s Web site. Keep up on Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

Surf fishing was mostly the angling heard about in the weather, and catches were fairly good from the beach, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Surf casters banked a mixed bag of weakfish, kingfish, croakers and spots. Croakers began to show up from the surf to 6 or 7 miles from shore before the hurricane, and remained afterward. Snapper blues and a few cocktail blues got winged on the bay. A few striped bass were socked on the bay at night under the lights, mostly on soft-plastic Fin-S Fish and Bass Assassins. A couple of good reports were heard about crabbing.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Fishing was mostly weathered out, but during breaks in the weather, good-sized flounder, including a few 8- and 7-pounders, were decked at the Ocean City and Great Egg reefs, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Cod, ling and lots of sea bass hovered at the offshore reefs. Tuna were caught at Wilmington and Baltimore canyons when boats were last able to sail offshore. The surf was big in the last several days, but previously kingfish, spots and croakers were angled from the beach. Croakers, sometimes with weakfish mixed in, schooled the ocean off the Ferris wheel in 40 to 60 feet.

<b>Wildwood</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder still bit, “believe it or not,” said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. But the shop was closed Tuesday and Wednesday because of weather. Mike hoped to open today, and the business will definitely be open Friday. Bluefish swam the bay, and kingfish, not many keepers, were sometimes around the waters. Baby sea bass roamed the bay like always this time of year. A few striped bass were landed on the bay, and the stripers weren’t a focus for anglers yet, but the catches should pick up, and fishing for them will, as the season goes on. Crabbing remained the same, Mike said. In the last report, he said crabbing slowed because of Hurricane Irene, but will pick up again. Canal Side rents canopy boats and kayaks for fishing, crabbing and sightseeing. 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 $23 per dozen, and No. 2’s are currently $12 per dozen.

<b>Cape May</b>

The <b>Heavy Hitter</b> fished during the weekend between the storms, Capt. George said. A trip Saturday on the boat put anglers on croakers around the reef. A trip Sunday aboard looked for the croakers, but they were gone. Kids were aboard, so the trip moved to off Cape May Point, trolling a bunch of blues. Maybe the croakers moved to off the point, but the trip didn’t look for them there. Still, bluefish and croakers are around, if anglers want to get after them. A good tuna bite happened between the storms, and the season’s first overnight tuna trip aboard is slated for this weekend, if the weather allows the charter to sail. Summer flounder fishing seemed to drop off after the hurricane last week, and nothing was heard about a catch since then. Fall striped bass fishing usually kicks off during the third week of October on the Heavy Hitter. The fish are bunker chunked.

Summer flounder catches were inconsistent aboard since Hurricane Irene, said Capt. Paul from the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>. Of course, stormy weather continued this week, after a break in the weather a moment after the hurricane. During the brief break when trips could sail, sometimes not many flounder were swung aboard, but some were decked Sunday on the boat. The flounder catches that day included Mike Didio from  Deptford’s 7-pound pool-winner, Chris Marocca from Audubon’s three keepers to 5 pounds and George Wilson from Linwood’s three keepers to 4 ½ pounds. On the next day, Monday, not a lot were hooked. The trips fished on the ocean, and a trip might sail today, and anglers were calling and asking. The fishing might be unsettled from the weather, might not clear up until the beginning of the week. But if anglers want to wet a line, trips will attempt to sail daily. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily through the end of the fluke season but also afterward, because the vessel has a Research Set Aside Permit that allows the fishing during the closed season. Daily trips will probably fish for flounder into October.

Things were a little slow in the weather, but when boaters could reach the ocean, they tugged aboard good catches of summer flounder at places like Cape May Reef, Reef 11 and the Old Grounds, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Flounder might also be found at spots like McCrie’s Shoal or 5-Fathom Bank. Flounder also hugged bottom off Cape May Point. Lots of snapper blues, some croakers and occasional kingfish were reeled in from off the point. Snapper blues swam the surf today. Not much was heard about the back bay since the weather. Little was heard about inshore trolling, like for mahi mahi and bonito, but the trolling was probably still happening. Little was heard about offshore because of the weather, but a few boats probably sailed to the waters during the calmer weather between last week’s hurricane and this week’s storms. The fishing for tuna and big game probably remained good offshore. Fresh mullet just arrived at the shop, and jumbo bloodworms are on hand. Green crabs are carried, and fresh, shucked clams might be difficult to obtain, because the weather probably kept clam boats from sailing. But the shop will try to carry the clams during the next days.

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