<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Anglers on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> began bottom fishing for porgies and sea bass Saturday, after fluke fishing through Friday, the final day of fluke season, Capt. Tom said. The bottom angling was good both days of the weekend. Mixed sizes of porgies were sacked. A few keeper sea bass came in. Several triggerfish were taken, and one keeper blackfish was belted. Short blackfish, a couple, were thrown back. Sunday afternoon’s trip began a little tough. But the trip got on a spot that put up a healthy catch. Crowds were light on the weekend’s trips, maybe because of weather forecasts. Fishing was good, and Tom hopes that continues. The Atlantic Star is bottom fishing on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. The two half-day trips will probably continue through Columbus Day, a week from today, or longer, maybe up to two weeks from now. But if the fish move deeper before then, requiring a longer sail, one trip daily could begin earlier. Anglers should call the boat if they want to confirm. Eventually the trips will sail once daily, because the fish will move deeper.

<b>Highlands</b>

On the <b>Hyper Striper</b> fishing was good in past days, Capt. Pete said in an e-mail. On Friday ADK Electric’s charter limited out on striped bass to 16 pounds. On Saturday Eddie Krause’s crew boxed four keeper stripers and some big sea bass and porgies. John Gleason’s party on Sunday beat good jigging and chunking for 45-pound bluefin tuna. This morning a charter from Maersk Shipping sacked a good mix of large porgies, triggerfish and sea bass.

Lots of porgies, sea bass and blackfish swam not far from shore at rough bottom and other structure, said Capt. Dave from <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b>. Bigger striped bass began to be eeled sometimes. Trips aboard are mostly switching to the bottom fishing and striper fishing, since fluke season closed. Plenty of bluefish were around that could be targeted. Smaller blues schooled Raritan Bay, and big slammers held at 17 Fathoms and the Mudhole. Open-boat trips are fishing when no charter is booked.

<b>Neptune</b>

A load of big blues were bombed Saturday on the ocean with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said. Large sea bass, very good catches, were pasted Thursday and Friday aboard. Room is available on an individual-reservation trip for sea bass Tuesday. More of the trips, a limited number, will run, including next week on Tuesday, October 9, before sea bass season closes on October 15. The season will reopen November 1 through December 31. One spot remains for a canyon tuna trip Monday to Tuesday, October 15 to 16. Upcoming individual-reservation trips will also include ones for inshore wreck fishing, offshore cod, striped bass-and-blues, and blackfish.

<b>Belmar</b>

The <b>Katie H</b> steamed to Toms Canyon on an overnighter Saturday to Sunday, Capt. Mike said. Two 80-pound yellowfin tuna and a 60- or 70-pound swordfish were landed at night. Five or six yellowfins in the 100-pound class, big ones, broke off, and light leaders had to be used. The fish wouldn’t bite 80-pound leaders, and were aggressive, freaking out near the boat. Maybe the full moon affected the fishing. No particular time was best, and the fish were picked through the night. Nothing bit on the troll during daytime. Waters were 72 degrees, and squid tore up baits. Squid weren’t usually seen, were deeper. Rain fell through the night, but seas were mostly calm. Seas started to become angry, reaching 5 to 6 feet, occasionally 8, on the way home, but became calmer close to shore. The crew had decided to fish the Toms, because Hudson Canyon would’ve been crowded. That seemed a good move, and maybe 20 boats fished the Toms. Very good tuna catches, sometimes limits, sometimes 15 or 18 fish, were heard about from Carteret Canyon. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing the canyons offshore. Inshore trips are also fishing.

With <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b> bluefishing was okay on the ocean Saturday, Capt. Jared said. The 12 passengers ended up with lots of the fish. Trips are also sea bass fishing, and Fin-Ominal is heading back to the canyons for tuna this week. The 50-foot boat can accommodate large to small groups, up to 23 passengers on cruises, and 14 on fishing trips.

Full-moon currents ripped, but sea bass fishing was decent, Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> said. A mostly catch-and-release trip put a beating on blackfish, lots. The anglers kept a limit of one per person, pounding lots of action. Fun. Plenty of bluefish and false albacore filled the ocean. Porgies began to show up. Parker Pete’s sails for any species available, and charters and open-boat trips are running. For availability on open trips, see <a href="http://parkerpetefishing.com/belmar-fishing-trips/open-boat-trips" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s open-boat page</a> online, and sign up for the e-mailed newsletter on the site. Dates are announced in both places.

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 10/2:***</b> In the surf, striped bass fishing was slow, and the stripers sometimes showed up in early mornings, but no big numbers, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> in an e-mail. Large numbers of mullet failed to appear in the surf. Small bait like rainfish schooled the surf. Shark River was loaded with peanut bunker, and they should move to the surf, attracting more stripers there. The river harbored spots, kingfish, porgies and out-of-season, keeper-sized fluke. False albacore didn’t move into the surf, but on the bluefish party boats, sailing the ocean, the albies were hooked on every trip. Party-boating for sea bass and porgies scored well. Blackfishing was good at Point Pleasant Canal.

<b>Brielle</b>

Sea bass fishing was very good, and most targeted them in 60 to 80 feet at the wrecks and rock piles, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Clams caught them well, but a few were jigged. Ling catches were as solid as they were all summer. Not much was heard about porgies locally, but surely porgies were boxed farther north. Plenty of bluefish 1 ½ pounds to 15 pounds, depending on the pod or location, were cranked from the ocean. False albacore, and bonito mixed in, were trolled at usual locations like Manasquan Ridge or the Klondike wreck. Blues popped into the surf that were the same size as those boated, or 1 ½ pounds to 15 pounds, depending on the pod. False albacore crashed the surf sometimes, and striped bass were beached from the surf at first light on swimming lures or soft-plastic baits like Fin-S Fish. Small stripers were landed on Manasquan River at the bridges and at Manasquan Inlet. Small stripers were lifted from Point Pleasant Canal, mostly at night. The fishing, like usual, was good one night, slow another. Bluefish seemed to swim the canal less than before or departed. Stripers were trolled on Raritan Bay on plugs. In offshore waters, a fair pick of yellowfin tuna was snatched from Hudson Canyon from the 100 Square to the East Elbow at night. Swordfishing picked up a bit. Bigeye tuna were sometimes trolled. Nothing was heard about bluefin tuna. Tsunami Timber Lures are on sale at 40 percent off. Wahoo Baitfish Bucktails and Stingo jigs are on sale at 30 percent off to celebrate the store’s 30 years in business.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

An overnight trip to Hudson Canyon from Saturday to Sunday decked yellowfin and longfin tuna with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Alan, the boat’s owner, said in an e-mail. “The guys had lots of shots at tuna on the chunk and troll,” he said. Mushin is a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

Two parties – two brothers and a father and a son – split a mixed-bag charter to the canyons with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>, a report on Andrea’s Toy Web site said Sunday. They went 7 for 13 on yellowfin tuna to 85 pounds and also bagged mahi mahi and tilefish. The trip arrived at the canyon with daylight left to do some trolling. Within a half hour, a rod doubled over, line peeling off the reel hard, until the hook pulled. Bigeye tuna? the report asked. Nothing else bit on the troll. The boat was set up to chunk at night near the fleet, because the vessels had been picking tuna on the troll. “Wound up being the right call,” the report said. At first, the anglers aboard were “a little rusty,” the report said, and went 0 for 6. After some motivational words and coaching, they rallied, landing the seven yellowfins. In the morning, they topped the box with mahi and tilefish, docking by lunchtime. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. Annual open-boat, mixed-bag trips to the canyons are sailing for tuna and a variety of catches like mahi, swordfish and tiles in one outing. Call for info about the unique fishing.

Sea bass began to be targeted on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b> on the ocean, and the fishing got off to a good start on Saturday morning’s trip, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Plenty of decent-sized sea bass were swung aboard. The fishing was somewhat slower but decent on the afternoon’s trip. “Lots of anglers went home with nice-sized bags of fillets,” the report said. The trips began sailing once daily instead of twice, starting today. The Norma-K III is fishing for sea bass 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily through October 14, the final day of sea bass season. Afterward, trips will target cod and ling. Striped bass trips will begin November 1, unless the fish arrive earlier. On Saturday night’s trip, blues 6 to 12 pounds were smoked on the ocean. Current and a swell were difficult to fish, but anglers totaled five to 15 blues apiece. Trips are bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Fishing for blues was “unbelievable” on Sunday’s daytime trip and Saturday’s nighttime trip on the ocean on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Limits of 8- to 15-pounders all around the boat, “if you wanted them,” it said. “More than you want.” Catches of the same-sized blues were very good on Saturday’s daytime trip. Bluefish season’s been one of the best in years. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing 8 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Start scouting for striped bass, a report on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site recommended. It’s time, it said. Reports about keeper striped bass caught began to be heard from Little Egg Inlet. Plenty of throwback stripers had already bitten in Mullica River. Check usual haunts like the inlet, Grassy Channel and deeper parts of the river, the shop suggested. “Get a feel for where they are,” it said. Spots could be caught for bait, so maybe hook them for the livewell at the beginning of a trip, then liveline the bait fish to try for stripers. On the ocean, plenty of sea bass and blackfish were boated at reefs and other structure. The better fishing came from Atlantic City Reef, if boaters could reach there in seas. Croakers began to move farther from the beach, probably to Little Egg Reef, but maybe some could be found closer. Kingfish, blowfish and small striped bass nipped around the mouth of Mullica River. Numbers might’ve dropped off, but catches were made.

<b>Brigantine</b>

One angler beached a 29-inch striped bass from the Brigantine surf today, a report on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site said. The angler, Linda Davoli, also reported banking another, and those were the season’s first stripers caught from the beach that the shop reported. Riptide launched a bounty to be awarded to the angler who checks in the season’s first striper from the Brigantine surf. Linda hadn’t entered the bounty, didn’t get the prize. But the bounty is $5 to enter, and was up to $75 today. Anglers must enter 12 hours prior to catching the fish. Bait including mullet filled the surf. Kingfish and blues from the surf were bigger than before. Riptide’s annual Striped Bass Derby is under way, awarding cash prizes for the biggest stripers beached from Brigantine’s surf, until December 23. Weekly and monthly prizes are also awarded, and entry is only $20. What’s more, with a Brigantine beach buggy permit, entry allows anglers to drive the entire Brigantine beach, unlike the permit alone.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Annual traveling charters to Montauk, New York, launched this weekend, plowing great fishing, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Trips fished the legendary fall migration from the port Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday 30 false albacore, eight or ten striped bass to 19 pounds and a handful of blues were walloped. On Sunday more than 30 albies and a striped bass were smashed. The trips fished with Deadly Dicks and an assortment of soft-plastic lures with conventional tackle and Clouser Minnows on fly rods. The 19-pound striper was fly-rodded. Bait filled waters and fish blitzed throughout the days. Joe will run the charters the next three or four weekends, before the migration slides south, and he begins fishing the migration of stripers and blues from Sea Isle in late October and November. Reserve dates for annual weekend trips to Florida in winter. The trips can fish for a large variety of catches including redfish, speckled sea trout and tarpon in the back country to king mackerel, blackfin tuna and sailfish out front. See info about Montauk and Florida on Jersey Cape’s <a href="http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page4.html" target="_blank">Traveling Fisherman Charters</a> Web page. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Sea bass fishing was becoming good on the ocean, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep</b>. Striped bass charters are being booked that will begin soon this season. Dates are being reserved for winter blackfishing from Delaware.

A bunch of croakers, a few weakfish, some kingfish and couple of blues were reeled in from Delaware Bay on Sunday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. The trip was a fun one, not a charter, with an angler who often charters the boat, called George, and wanted to fish, footing expenses. So George went, and the bay fishing seemed to be slowing down for the season. Previously lots of weakfish, including good-sized, were around. The trip fished in 25 feet near 60-Foot Slough, and the croakers were 8 inches or small. Four or five weakfish to 12 inches bit. Some of the kingfish were healthy sized. In other news, sea bass fishing is good if trips fish the deep, off the coast a ways. Take a trip before sea bass season closes on October 15, and call if interested. The season will reopen later in the year. Striped bass charters are being booked for later this season. The trips, usually starting in late October, usually bunker-chunk for stripers in the bay, but sometimes swim live bait or work bucktails at the Cape May Rips, if the fish show up there.

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