<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

<b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b> is open, Jimmy said. As much bait as possible is stocked. Green crabs for blackfishing will be on hand for the weekend. Fresh bunker and mullet are carried. No fresh clams are stocked, because of demand. Too few boats “are left,” Jimmy said. Frozen baits are in supply. Access isn’t allowed to the surf. People aren’t being allowed near Sandy Hook. Parts of the area might be washed away. Access is prevented at Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach. If anglers have a boat in the waters, they should sail, because fish are there, and few others are on them. Striped bass are in, and blackfish are biting. A friend sailed and caught. Electricity is back on at most of Highlands, though is off at Jimmy’s house. But his house escaped flooding. Julian’s is open daily. 

<b>Highlands</b>

Capt. Pete from the <b>Hyper Striper</b> hopes to begin fishing later this season, for blackfish on the ocean, he said. Currently he was helping clean up Twin Lights Marina, the marina he sails from, after the hurricane. Boats wound up in streets, and were now put back in place. Now Pete was helping gut the buildings. Many docks were destroyed.

A new boat is set to arrive for <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, but is in Long Island, Capt. Derek said. Long Island suffered from the storm, and was without power, where the boat was located. So the vessel couldn’t be delivered. But Derek expects to be back fishing by November 16, when the blackfish bag limit is increased to six from one. He’ll fish for striped bass and blackfish. He had to find a dock to sail from, after his dock was destroyed. But he found a dock and bait. A couple of friends fished from boats, reeling in blackfish and jigging striped bass and blues. The fish were in. When Fisher Price resumes fishing, charters and open-boat trips will sail.

<b>Neptune</b>

Fishing on the Last Lady II, the bigger boat from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, will be cancelled, Capt. Ralph said in an e-mail. He gave no reason, but said in a previous report that the cabin was damaged, when the boat was found between the bridges, after someone let loose the ropes, after Ralph had left the boat with ropes tied. That was after the boat had survived the hurricane. But the Last Lady, his other boat, will sail, and here’s the revised schedule. Charters are available, and individual-reservation trips will include those for: cod, pollock and hake offshore, November 26; striped bass and blackfish, November 13, 20, 27 and 30; and blackfish, November 21 and every Saturday and Sunday in December and January.  All bait and tackle is included. White leggers will be carried for blackfish when available.

<b>Belmar</b>

Daily trips should resume Saturday on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, fishing for striped bass and blackfish on the ocean, Capt. Chris said. The boat is new, replacing the old Big Mohawk. The new vessel was ready to begin sailing just before the hurricane. Then it had to be battened down at the slip, but weathered the storm. Starting Saturday, the Big Mohawk should begin fishing for striped bass and blackfish 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

“We’re still digging out,” said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. The boat remained out of the water since the hurricane, and probably will at least a week. When trips begin, Parker Pete’s will sail for striped bass and blackfish. Parker Pete’s fishes for any species available. Charters and open-boat trips run.

Electricity came back on at home on Wednesday for Bob from <b>Fishermen’s Den</b>, he said in an e-mail, an hour afterward. The past 10 days were difficult, “with no heat or lights,” he said. But he felt fortunate, when he saw truckloads of family belongings “being dumped,” he said. Though the marina fared well, and none of the boats were seriously damaged, the store didn’t come through as well.  Four feet of water flooded the store, “causing serious loss of goods,” Bob said, and other damage, including to freezers. But the building was structurally sound, and the shop will be reopened as soon as possible. That could take a couple of weeks. “The fishing scene is bleak,” Bob said. Striped bass swam the surf and rivers, “but you can’t fish for them in most towns,” he said. For some areas, things won’t return to normal the rest of autumn. Party boats and private boats will probably “have the best of the fishing,” Bob said. As a surf angler, he hopes he’s wrong. “Thank God we are here to talk.”

<b>Brielle</b>

Aboard the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b> a trip will fish for striped bass on the ocean 12 noon to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Capt. Joe said. Trips will fish for cod 3 a.m. Saturday and at the Mudhole 5 a.m. Sunday. The boat was ready to fish this week, but no anglers were around. More will probably arrive this weekend, and weather forecasts look good.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Point Pleasant was “wrecked,” said Capt. Butch from the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>. At night, the area was pitch black. “No lights,” he said. Then on Wednesday, 3 or 4 inches of snow fell in the nor’easter. But the Dauntless survived the hurricane, and is bottom fishing on the ocean. A trip first sailed Sunday, after the hurricane, with a few people aboard. The boat was available to sail the rest of the week, except Wednesday, because of the nor’easter. But no anglers showed up, so trips didn’t get out. Turn out will probably be better this weekend, including because of good weather. On Sunday, the boat fished for sea bass and porgies, before sea bass season was closed in state waters. The season was already closed in federal. But now trips will probably sail for ling, cod, striped bass and blues. “More like winter fishing,” Butch said, except for stripers and blues, fall fish. The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

The party boat <b>Gambler</b> was in good shape after the hurricane, Capt. Bob said. So was the dock, but authorities blocked the street from public access. When it’s unblocked, trips will begin to fish for striped bass on the ocean 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>***Update, Friday, 11/9:***</b> Fishing will probably begin next Friday on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. “We still have no power,” it said, and power lines are down in the parking lot. When trips resume, the Norma-K III will fish for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and on Magic Hour Ling and Cod Trips 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Saturday.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Fishing for striped bass will begin daily on the <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> as soon as restricted access is ended on Long Beach Island, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Access was restricted for clean up.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

The <b>June Bug</b> was kept at Forked River on the mainland in the hurricane, suffering no damage, Capt. Lindsay said. But he’s calling it a fishing season in New Jersey, and will move the boat to North Carolina, its winter home, as soon as possible. The boat each year is returned to New Jersey in June for charters. Lindsay’s home on Long Beach Island was somewhat damaged but is okay.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

<b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> will reopen in spring, a post from owners Scott and Maureen said on the store’s Facebook page. “We are saddened for those that were lost and their families,” it said. “We will get through this … Hang in there folks. You know where to find us, and can stop in to say hello.” In case anyone missed it, this was the report here from Scott the morning of the hurricane, taken from the shop’s Web site: “‘Things look pretty bad,’ Scott said … The hurricane grew stronger overnight, and in the middle of incoming tide this morning (the morning of the hurricane), waters were already higher than the peak the previous morning. Mullica River was ‘in the 9- to 12-feet storm surge area,’ Scott said. In a storm in 1992, the surge reached 10 ½ feet, he believed. Scott never left his house during a storm. ‘I am educated and watch a lot of factors of winds, tides, etc.,’ he said. ‘If conditions don’t improve, I am outta her for tonight’s high tide and Sandy’s arrival, period! … We have done everything possible to prepare over the last two days. You just come back and pick up the pieces. That’s all you can do. Be smart; be safe.’”

<b>Absecon</b>

Water temps dropped to 45 degrees from Absecon Creek to Absecon Inlet, because of snow, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. That seemed to shock striped bass, because he fished for them today with no catches. But he ran a charter with four anglers Tuesday, the day before the snowstorm, that nailed four stripers 15 to 18 ½ pounds. Most charter dates are full, but a few remain. Dave saw other stripers caught at Absecon Inlet, and heard about some lifted from the back bay, seeing photos, too. The waters were 55 degrees Wednesday, and were 63 degrees the Friday before the hurricane. An angler who bought frozen clams reported banking a couple of stripers from the Brigantine surf at the old Brigantine Bridge on Wednesday evening. The back bay and inlet were open to fishing, unlike waters farther north, after the hurricane. Beaches were open in Brigantine and Atlantic City. The boat launch at Absecon Creek is perfectly functional. That might be the state’s most northern ramp that’s open after the hurricane. Getting fresh bunker for bait was an issue, after the hurricane. No fresh clams seemed available. Suppliers from farther north at Point Pleasant Beach and Long Island provide the clams, and whether any of their boats could sail after the hurricane was a question. None of the suppliers have been in touch with the shop, and Dave’s been unable to reach any. Destruction was worse there. Plenty of live spots are stocked, and more can be gotten. Plenty of live eels are on hand. Green crabs are carried, and whether they will become scarce, after the supply runs out, is unknown. The crabs usually come from north, but whether locals will begin catching them to supply is unknown. Speaking of green crabs, nothing was heard about blackfishing, and waters were dirty, hampering the angling. But waters were clearing today. Weather forecasts look promising for the weekend. 

<b>Brigantine</b>

Few fished today and Wednesday because of weather, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. But boaters crushed striped bass at Absecon Inlet previously. A striper bite took off Saturday in the surf then slowed. A 15-pounder was checked in from the beach that day, then another keeper was brought in, and catches continued. Frozen, salted clams are stocked. The bunker boat will sail Friday, and the shop will see whether it catches, so fresh bunker can be stocked. Fred from the shop is trying to get to his spot pen after the storm, so spots can be carried. The bounty is up to more than $300 for the season’s first striper 43 inches or larger checked in from the Brigantine surf. Entry is $5, and the angler who checks in the fish wins all the cash. Anglers must enter 12 hours before catching. 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>Atlantic City</b>

The store is open daily, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. It was flooded during the hurricane, and Atlantic City took a hit in the storm, but Noel felt fortunate, compared with areas farther north that were destroyed. His home on the mainland was fine. All baits are stocked, including a few fresh clams, scarce in the state. More clams will arrive Friday, and so will fresh bunker, also scarce because of the storm. Good-sized striped bass were landed at Absecon Inlet from shore at the T-jetty, off the Flagship and at the Melrose Avenue jetty. They were hooked on clams 2 hours before high tides and 2 hours after. Stripers made up most catches, but good-sized blackfish were snatched from along the inlet jetties.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Striped bass were socked this week, before the nor’easter Wednesday, said Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. The store, built higher than surrounding buildings, sustained no damage from the hurricane. Surrounding businesses and buildings were all flooded. Electricity never went off at Fin-Atics, so frozen bait is in full supply. Fresh bait will arrive Friday, but the type and amount was yet to be known. The shop was waiting for suppliers to tell. Some of the stripers were caught on boats at the inlet on live eels and spots. A few were clammed from the surf. Lots of stripers, many throwbacks, were winged from the back bay. No access was prevented to the surf, as far as Ed knew. Work was being done on some beaches, and the shop suggested avoiding those places. Few fished since the hurricane. “(But) there’s some fish,” Ed said. More will probably begin to angle soon.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

None of the store was damaged, and only a couple of bait pens were lost at the docks, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Before the hurricane, he had left the pens at several docks to ensure not all were lost, and that worked. No frozen baits were lost, so frozen baits are fully stocked. More about the bait supply in a moment. First, fishing. Few anglers fished since the storm. But several were heard about. One grabbed a couple of striped bass at Townsend’s Inlet Bridge on salted clams Tuesday, before Wednesday’s nor’easter, on a quick bite, when high tide began to run out. Another plugged two throwback stripers at Corson’s Inlet that day on a Bomber plug with a teaser. A nearby angler dragged in a throwback striper, two throwback redfish and a 12-pound bluefish on mullet. Those were the only anglers known about, and maybe the catches were a good sign. With good weather forecast for this weekend, more should fish, and more should be known, Mike hoped. In addition to frozen baits mentioned above, live eels and green crabs are stocked. Fresh bunker will arrive Friday. No fresh clams are available, but the local clam boat sails from Sea Isle, so a supply should arrive soon.

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>, will try to fish this weekend, he said. Forecasts look rough through Friday, probably preventing trips. He already fished Sunday, his first time after the hurricane, for striped bass and blues on the ocean, covered in the last report. None was found, but the migration could show up any moment. Stripers were heard about that were tugged from the surf on lures and mullet.

<b>Cape May</b>

The party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> will fish for striped bass through the weekend, Capt. Paul said. If a good catch is made, trips will keep sailing for stripers daily. Few striper catches were heard about anywhere in the state, but few fished since the hurricane. A trip farther north toward Barnegat reportedly beat stripers, but how anyone sailed from there after the storm was unknown. Harbors there were severely damaged, and the inland waterway there might’ve been closed, or the government might’ve discouraged boaters from sailing the waterway. But Cape May fared considerably better in the hurricane, covered in previous reports. Paul will head trips out for stripers through the weekend, probably livelining eels or spots at Cape May Rips. If the angling is slow, he might keep the boat docked until stripers come in. The boat will probably blackfish daily starting November 16, when the bag limit is increased to six, from the current limit of one. The Porgy IV sails at 8 a.m. 

Nothing flooded or was damaged at <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>, and Cape May was in great shape after the hurricane, Nick said. Pretty good catches of striped bass were boated on Delaware Bay, including at 60-Foot Slough, on bunker chunks and at Cape May Rips. Most anglers at the rips fished eels, but sometimes anglers there fish spots or bucktails. Surf anglers on the bay banked stripers at Wildwood Avenue in Villas. In the ocean surf at Cape May, Nick took a trip, landing only skates and dogfish. But he saw a fly-rodder reeling in small stripers and, Nick guessed, small redfish. Small fish seemed to swim that day. Stripers that should migrate south to the local area this season seemed to swim to the north like they should this time of year. Nothing was heard about blackfishing along the jetties, but a few anglers were seen blackfishing there, so Nick guessed the tog were around. Fresh bunker are stocked, and call reserve to ensure a supply. The Cape May bunker boats weathered the storm fine. No fresh clams are stocked, and the clam boats farther north got hit with a snowstorm. Eels are on hand, and green crabs will arrive by the weekend.

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