Note: This report includes updates from October 14, because though an entirely new report would’ve normally been posted that day, the season’s first nor’easter weathered out most fishing in previous days. So no fully updated report was posted on October 14.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Looks like weather will keep the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> tied up a few days, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site Wednesday. A gale warning was posted for that night and today, and heavy rains were forecast for today, and strong northeast winds were supposed to keep blowing. He expected to post an update on the boat’s site on Friday, about whether striped bass trips will resume this weekend. On the bright side, maybe the weather will cause stripers to migrate south to local waters. The Fishermen is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays.

No trips fished Wednesday, because of weather, on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. None of the fleet tried to fish that day, in forecasts for winds gusting to 30 knots. But the Atlantic Star fished Monday and Tuesday, and the anglers caught. The bottom-fishing was enjoyable, and on Monday, the boat fished Raritan Bay, instead of the ocean, to escape strong currents. Strong currents were difficult for fishing around the new moon recently. On the bay that day, customers tugged in a mix of fish, including porgies, croakers, spots and a few weakfish. Only a few anglers showed up, because of weather forecasts. But the day was beautiful on the bay. On Tuesday, the boat also fished the bay, escaping currents, and porgies, more spots than on the previous day, and a few more croakers and weaks than on the previous were cranked in. Those were two of the more enjoyable days of fishing recently, after trips sometimes battled current. Previously, mostly porgies and an occasional sea bass were bagged aboard the ocean. The fishing was sometimes very good, and sometimes slower or even bad, affected by currents around the moon. Overall, porgy fishing’s been good, though. Trips might be on hold a moment, and definitely will be today, in weather. The Atlantic Star is bottom-fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily. <b>***Update, Thursday, 10/14:***</b> The boat was fishing at 9:30 a.m. today, on its first trip since Tuesday, when Tom gave this update on the phone aboard. The trip fished Raritan Bay, escaping the rough ocean, picking at porgies, a mix of keepers and shorts, and a few spots and croakers. The angling wasn’t fast and furious, but picked one fish here, another there, two there, and so on. Tom thought all anglers bagged a couple of fish by then. Trips were weathered-out the previous days, because of storms and northeast winds. Considering those five days of drastic weather, he was happy with the fishing. Tom saw the ocean Sunday, “and it was some kind of nasty,” he said. He didn’t expect the ocean to be calm enough to fish on this morning’s trip, when outgoing tides would push against easterly winds. For this afternoon’s trip, maybe incoming, flowing with the winds, would make the ocean fishable, but Tom would see. The bay was calm on this morning’s trip.

Nothing could be caught from the surf in past days, said Joe from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Seas were too “wild,” he said. But this weather should “stir up” striped bass, helping turn the fishing hot for them. Before the storm, a few good nights of striper fishing were scored on the party boat Fishermen on eels. Porgies were boated on other vessels, and two bluefish 19 ½ and 22 ½ pounds, huge, were weighed in that were trolled. Sandy Hook Bay near the Belford co-op was loaded with eels that were landed. All baits are stocked. “We got everything,” Joe said.

<b>Highlands</b>

Fishing was docked since Sunday, because of weather, with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, Capt. Derek said. But some striped bass to 20 and 25 pounds, pretty good catches, were taken on live and chunked bunker and eels on the boat until then. Trips are slated to run almost every day, but the nor’easter might prevent that until late this weekend or early next week. Charters are fishing, and the next couple of open-boat trips for stripers are set for next week. Telephone to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips. Blackfishing aboard is already booking up, and will start on November 16, when the bag limit is increased to six from the current limit of one. Then combo striper and blackfish trips will be available to Christmas. <b>***Update, Monday, 10/14:***</b> After trips were weathered out about a week, open-boat trips for striped bass will fish Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday aboard, Derek said. He knew about trips that resumed Saturday and Sunday, catching stripers on clams and eels.

Heading out from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Greg and Gary Hanna on the Annie H tied into striped bass to 15 pounds and bluefish to 5 pounds at Flynn’s Knoll on bunker, Marion wrote in an e-mail. Chris Hanlon and Bob Ottman on the Lady Pond Scum jigged and eeled lots of blues and a striper on the ocean north of Highlands Bridge. On the Good Action on the ocean, Steve, Dan and Tom bucketed 20 keeper sea bass, releasing numerous throwbacks, on squid and clams.  Twin Lights, conveniently located on Shrewsbury River, with no bridges before Raritan Bay and the ocean, features boat slips, rack storage, a fuel dock, ship’s store supplies, and a complete bait and tackle shop. When in demand, baits can include bushels of fresh clams, live bunker and offshore baits like flats of sardines.

<b>Neptune</b>

Trips probably won’t resume until Monday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, because of weather, Capt. Ralph said. Charters are fishing, and an individual-reservation trip for cod that was weathered-out last Monday is rescheduled for 1 a.m. next Thursday. Openings are available, and another is scheduled for November 4, and spots are filling. An individual-reservation trip might not be able to sail Sunday, because of weather, that was supposed to wreck-fish inshore, before sea bass season is closed Tuesday. Another is scheduled for November 10, after the season is reopened November 1. An individual-reservation trip for blackfish will sail November 16, the day the bag limit is increased to six, from the current limit of one. <b>***Update, Monday, 10/14:***</b> Winds finally calmed, and today was fishable, Ralph wrote in an e-mail. But he didn’t fish, because the bottom would’ve been riled up from the storm. But weather looks good for Thursday’s cod trip, “even if we get a few rain drops,” he said, and a few spaces remain.

<b>Belmar</b>

Within 5 minutes, tuna started to be smashed on an overnight trip Sunday to Monday at the offshore canyons on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Sometimes five and six were hooked at a time, and the trip ended up with more than 40, a mix of yellowfins and longfins, bagged. The anglers landed as many as four apiece, and some hooked five or six apiece and lost them all. A 100-pound yellowfin was the largest caught. Two big swordfish and a 150-pound mako shark were boated. The boat’s new engines and other improvements for speed, installed last winter, enabled the 100-mile run in 6 hours. Space remains for another one of the trips Monday to Tuesday, and book now “if you want a shot at the tunas,” the report said. See the <a href="http://www.goldeneaglefishing.com/tuna-reservation.html" target="_blank">tuna reservation page</a> online. Bluefishing aboard was weathered out starting Tuesday, but was good for slammers 12 to 18 pounds Monday. Friday’s bluefishing is expected to be blown out, and an update is supposed to be posted that day on the vessel’s site, about whether Saturday’s trip will sail. The Golden Eagle is bluefishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Thursdays through Sundays.

The party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b> was dry docked this week, and could start fishing again Friday, but weather might prevent that, Capt. Chris said. The vessel’s been fishing for sea bass, and sea bass season is open through Monday. After Monday, daily trips will run for porgies and blackfish. The Big Mohawk sails 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

No fishing sailed after the weekend on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> in the weather, Karin said. On Friday and Saturday nights, bluefishing was good aboard for 8- to 15-pounders, by the end of the trips. Anglers averaged eight apiece, and some landed as many as 20, keeping no more than a limit of 15. Blues to 18 pounds were caught on daytime trips Saturday and Sunday, and the angling was a little slower Sunday than Saturday. The Miss Belmar Princess is bluefishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Fishing was weathered out with <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Pete said. Trips had been sea bass fishing, and sea bass season will be closed Tuesday, and reopened November 1. Pete now looks forward to striped bass fishing, and maybe the weather will draw the fish to migrate to the local ocean. He also looks forward to blackfishing starting November 16, when the bag limit is increased to six, from the current limit of one. Charters are being booked. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Pete anyway, or <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">subscribe to Parker Pete’s e-mailed newsletter</a>, to be kept informed about individual-spaces available on charters. Look for the place to sign up on the right side of the page on the boat’s Web site.

The surf was too big except for the hardiest to fish, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. Striped bass catches should be good there when seas calm. The weather wiped out the chance to sea bass fish on the ocean through the week. It put a hold on solid tuna fishing that kicked in offshore. Anglers looked forward to reaching the waters again. <b>***Update, Monday, 10/14:***</b> Crazy weather, but anglers made the best of it, Bob wrote in an e-mail. “Back bays (got lots) of play,” he said. Stripers and blackfish hit in those back waters. But a report rolled in about stripers landed “on the longer jetties in Monmouth County,” he said. Two-ounce bucktails with Fin-S Fish hooked them. Not much to say, but things will improve, he said. “It’s early.”

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Monday, 10/14:***</b> Anglers fished Manasquan River and Point Pleasant Canal during the weather, John from <b>The Reel Seat</b> said. He saw the ocean at Seaside during the weekend. Mountains with snow caps, he said. Though the nor’easter lasted from Wednesday to Friday, winds blew stronger Saturday night than the rest of the week. On the river, striped bass, hickory shad and occasional bluefish were reeled in. Along the canal, blackfish were swung in. Canyon tuna fishing was good before the storm. Before the blow, one Point Pleasant Beach party boat returned with 70 tuna, mostly longfins but a few yellowfins, from Hudson Canyon from an overnight trip that Sunday to Monday. Eels and green crabs are now stocked at the shop. Though most of the river’s stripers were small, some of the larger ones were eeled. The crabs will catch the blackfish. Catch the sale on select rods and reels at up to 50 percent off. The Reel Seat is now open at 7 a.m., instead of 6 a.m.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Porgies and sea bass, mostly porgies, were pitched aboard the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. Porgy fishing was pretty good, and anglers usually averaged 20 to 40 apiece. They usually averaged 5 to 15 sea bass each, and some anglers targeted one species or the other,  so sometimes they bucketed more of one or the other than the average. A few blackfish, not many, were bagged. A few anglers targeted them, but the blackfish were small. Trips fished in 30 to 60 feet, and waters were 62 to 64 degrees. The ocean was loaded with bait, including lots of sand eels and lots of bunker. The bait schooled everywhere, both inshore and offshore, part of the fall migration of fish. Five small striped bass 12 to 14 inches were hooked and released in past days, and one keeper striper was decked Saturday, another sign of the migration. Only a few days are left before the final day of sea bass season on Monday, and trips might be weathered out in the nor’easter the next couple of days. Sea bass season will be reopened November 1. Weather was rough all week, but was fine for fishing aboard before Wednesday. The Dauntless might’ve been the only boat from the docks that was “lit up” Wednesday morning to sail, but too few anglers showed up to fish. Weather probably became too rough in the afternoon to sail, anyway. But even on Monday, during the peak of the tropical storm remnants – the storm before the current nor’easter – the boat fished, and the conditions were fine. The Dauntless is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>***Update, Monday, 10/14:***</b> The party boat <b>Norma-K III</b> was docked the past couple of days in weather, a report said Thursday on the vessel’s Web site. Weather was also expected to prevent trips through this past Sunday. When trips last sailed, sea bass fishing was slow aboard. Lots of drops were made to catch a handful, and a blackfish was bagged occasionally. On nighttime trips, bluefishing was good aboard two weekends ago. Daytime trips had been targeting sea bass through today, the final day of sea bass season. Starting Tuesday, the trips will fish for ling 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. But if striped bass show up, the trips will fish for stripers. Bluefish trips are sailing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 

<b>Toms River</b>

Lots of mullet piled into the surf at Island Beach State Park on Tuesday from daytime into evening, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. A bunch of the fresh baitfish are stocked. Afterward, conditions became too rough in the storm, and nothing was heard about fishing. Some bluefish were hooked there on popper lures until dark. Some of the mullet were corn cobs, and mullet will probably show up again after the storm, but the mullet migration was probably ending. When the large ones like that start to show up, the run is usually finishing. Before the weather, a few striped bass came from the surf, all at night, on plugs and teasers. In the Toms River, snapper bluefish swam, and somewhat bigger blues were hooked on the Beachwood side on Rat-L-Traps and peanut bunker. In Barnegat Bay, blowfishing was slowing down toward the BB and BI markers, and some were found in the ocean. They seemed to be departing. Kingfish were mixed-in in the bay. But now the shop was waiting for the storm to pass.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Small bluefish popped in and out from the surf, chasing mullet, before fishing was blown out, said Mario from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Small to keeper striped bass were dragged from the surf, but the angling was very spotty. Anglers all hope the fishing starts to crank up after this storm, triggering the migration south, and stripers did hold to the north, even as close as Long Branch and farther up in the state. Barnegat Bay’s fishing was mostly quiet, but snapper blues and spots swam around the waters. Small crabs skittered around, but always do this time of year. The Dock Outfitters, located on the bay, features an extensive supply of bait and tackle, a dock to fish and crab from and boat rentals for fishing and crabbing.

<b>Forked River</b>

One angler talked about boating keeper striped bass on Barnegat Bay on livelined spots during the weekend, said Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Another reported landing throwback stripers from the bay on clams. Stripers swam including along the sod banks, but lots of bluefish schooled the bay along the banks, eating baits like spots fished for stripers. Blowfish were nabbed from the bay during the weekend. One kid showed a photo of 65 he totaled Saturday. After this storm, and waters cool, blowfish seem likely to be gone from the bay for the season. Kingfish probably remained mixed in with blowfish then, and the kid caught a few. Nothing was heard about weakfish since last week’s report. Croakers were hooked from Oyster Creek at the bridge on clam and squid. Snapper blues schooled lagoons, and big crabs were trapped from lagoons in overnight pots. On the ocean, sea bass and blackfish were pumped in at wrecks. Sea bass were found including at the Cedar Creek wreck just south of the Governor’s Mansion at Island Beach State Park.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

More striped bass than before will probably be caught soon, said Vince Sr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. Some were landed now and then on livelined spots along Barnegat Bay’s sod banks and Barnegat Inlet’s jetties. A fair number of weakfish were played on the bay, “which is nice,” Vince said. A fair population of blackfish were yanked in along the inlet jetties and ocean wrecks. Some triggerfish were rounded up. Sea bass fishing wasn’t great but was okay at ocean wrecks. Blowfish were plucked from the bay. Crabbing is finished for the year locally, Vince would say. No customers clammed in about 1 ½ weeks, but clamming is excellent in the bay. Those who most recently clammed were the most pleased customers then. Bobbie’s includes a bait and tackle store, a fuel dock, boat rentals for fishing, crabbing and clamming on the bay, and kayak rentals, and is known for a large bait selection. Baits stocked include live spots and green crabs. 

<b>Viking Outfitters</b>, located at historic Viking Village in Barnegat Light, was opened about three months ago, Josh Falcone said. Josh used to work at Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle that was closed, and gave reports from there on this site. Viking is a complete bait and tackle shop, and anglers can telephone 24 hours a day, and Josh can be there quickly. Bait can be delivered to your boat or home or at the beach anywhere on Long Beach Island. The store is the north end’s official weigh station for the annual autumn LBI Surf Fishing Classic tournament that’s under way, after no station was available there in recent years. Josh and his business partner fish every day, and definitely feel the store offers first-hand knowledge about what’s biting. Josh used to give especially detailed reports here when working at the other store. Wasn’t a lot to report now in the weather, but previously, a few small striped bass were beached from the surf, and a ton of them swam the bay’s shallow flats. The bass were 22 to 24 inches at both places, and Josh saw one angler land nine in a row on the bay. Clams and mullet caught them in both the surf and the bay. The mullet migration seemed to disappear, but lots of spearing schooled the bay. Bluefish 1 to 3 pounds were flung from the surf on nearly anything. Lots of reports talked about redfish from the surf, and fresh bunker and clams seemed to catch them.  Blackfish snapped along Barnegat Inlet’s jetty. Good-sized weakfish to 17 and 20 inches were socked along the walkway on frozen or imitation sand eels. Frozen baits are stocked including clams, scallop guts, mullet and sand eels. The live tank is supposed to arrive tomorrow, and baits stocked after the storm will also include live spots, eels and green crabs, and fresh clams and mullet. Featured tackle includes gear like Guides Secret Lures and Oozzie Jigs. Apparel including Grunden, Jetty and Carhartt is carried, and custom embroidery, including for charter and party boats, is offered.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Monday, 10/14:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “I'm moving the Hi Flier north to Manasquan Inlet for the last two weeks of October.  I’ll be running open-boat trips the Saturdays through Mondays of October 19, 20, 21 and 26, 27, 28. We’ll target bluefin tuna at the Mud Hole and stripers and bluefish at Shrewsbury Rocks. The weather and sea condition will dictate what we target. We’ll only be 20 miles to the deepest part of the Mud Hole. If the forecast looks good, we’ll run offshore for bluefin tuna, trolling, jigging, chunking, live-bait fishing – we’ll try it all. These could be anywhere from 20- to 50-pound fish, and I’ll bring every class tackle for any size fish. I also have a pair of 130-class rods rigged and ready, in case we mark a giant bluefin. We have everything it takes to bring one back. All the fish we catch on our trips belong to you guys, except a giant. On the outside chance that we hook one, you guys get to do battle and get a full refund of your fare, but the fish belongs to the boat.  If the wind is from the west or even better, northwest, blowing hard enough to keep us from going offshore, it’ll be a flat ocean along the beach, so we’ll make a left, running the 18 miles north to Shrewsbury Rocks. The stripers and big gator blues have already started cooperating there. I plan on doing some wire-line trolling as well as jigging. The kind of wire-line fishing I'm talking about is fun. What?! You read that right: fun, wire line and trolling, all in the same sentence! Everyone in my family owns a pair of these ‘jig sticks.’ They’re short and stocky 5-1/2-foot fiberglass rods. We use Daiwa Sealine 50H reels spooled with Dacron backing, 150 feet of #30-pound Monel wire line and 25 feet of #50-pound monofilament, tied to a 2-ounce white bucktail, tipped with a red or yellow strip of Uncle Josh pork rind. You let it all out while trolling at slow speed, until the swivel connecting the wire to the Dacron hits the water. Then you sweep the rod with long sharp strokes. This is why the rods are not long and flexible. The stiff rod makes the lure jump. Start with the rod tip at the transom, and sweep the rod until it is even with your shoulder. It has to be sharp enough to make the lure ‘hop,’ not ‘slide,’ through the water. They eat it when your rod is at the transom, causing the lure to fall, and you feel the hook-up as you sweep forward. It’s a train wreck of a hit. Stripers and big bluefish are both suckers for this presentation. Farther north, in the New England states, this is very popular with parachute jigs and a similar technique. But I grew up doing this bucktailing through the 1970s. Sometimes two trips a day to Monmouth Beach and the Shrewsbury Rocks, just to do this on my dad's 23-foot Sea Ray. He would have me jig a hand-held line up the middle, an even scarier hit! He wouldn't stop the boat unless all three guys were hooked up. Mostly 10- to 15-pound bass and 10- to 18-pound gator bluefish doing this. Much more fun than cranking 300 feet of wire and an umbrella rig, though I'm not against doing that, if we need some fish in the box. I always have everything on board, just in case. It's going to be an interesting six days of fishing. 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Three people max. All fish are shared. The same dates are also available for your private charter. Give me a call if you have any questions or would like to reserve a spot. The boat will be back in Barnegat for November 1 to chase stripers along the beach and in the bay.”

<b>Surf City</b>

Bottom was held with 6, 8 and 10 ounces in the surf Tuesday, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Small bluefish were hooked then, and the annual LBI Surf Fishing Classic was kicked off Monday, and a 15-pound 7-ounce striper was entered that day that was beached on an artificial sand eel. But since Tuesday, bottom couldn’t be held, and currently, strong northeast winds are forecast to blow through Friday. Winds are supposed to switch to westerly Saturday, Sue thought, and anglers will see whether conditions change then. Coastal flooding was under way. But anglers hope the storm will cause stripers to migrate down to the local coast. Visit <a href="http://www.surfcitybaitandtackle.com/" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s Web site</a>. 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>***Update, Monday, 10/14:***</b> A 37-inch striped bass, about 16 pounds, was nailed from the island’s surf today. A photo of the fish was posted on the shop’s Facebook page. Brendan from the store also released about 15 throwbacks this morning from the shore, the page said. Ava jigs and teasers caught, and sand eels schooled thick. Another photo showed a couple of the baitfish that got impaled on a pencil popper that was fished. “What are you waiting for?!” the page asked.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

This weather’s going to change everything, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Previously, blackfishing was great along the bay’s banks. Though the bag limit was one, anglers just enjoyed landing them, lots of fun. Green crabs for bait were also sold to anglers who traveled to fish for blacks to Barnegat Inlet’s jetties. One even traveled farther north to Point Pleasant Canal. Blackfishing was a fishery. A good batch of weakfish was around, including plenty that were large, up to 5 pounds. They were hooked including at the mouth of Mullica River, in the bay on the Tuckerton side and along the banks on green crabs while anglers blackfished. No bluefish were mentioned from anywhere. Schoolie striped bass, no large stripers, were around. Striper fishing had been outstanding in the river before last week’s warm spell. The warmth seemed to shut down the fishing. On the ocean, sea bass fishing was poor, but croakers schooled in 18 to 25 feet off the southernmost towers on Long Beach Island and near the Little Egg Inlet bell buoy. Boaters searched for them on the fish finder. But all of this fishing will change because of the storm. The bait that will be available to stock, or when suppliers will be able to sail in the weather, was impossible to know, because of the storm. When available, baits include fresh, shucked clams, bloodworms, green crabs and eels. Live grass shrimp started to be stocked for the season, but freshwater runoff from rains will kill the current supply. More will need to be netted.

<b>Absecon</b>

Though the storm was bearing down, this change was probably needed for fishing, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Gear up for fishing now, to head out once the nor’easter ends, because the weather will probably get striped bass “moving,” he said. Next week’s full moon will probably help. In his opinion, he said, more stripers were probably already biting than usual, before the storm, for the time of year and water temperature. Many anglers fished for lots of schoolies, and definitely a few keepers, in the back waters, and the bass, and also bluefish, at least medium-sized, to 3 pounds, sometimes swam the ocean along the beach. Catches had already seemed to start somewhat. One very good report came in about schoolie stripers chasing peanut bunker, giving up fast action, far up Mullica River toward Green Bank. If anglers can get out, even in the weather, they can probably find them. A few weakfish were around, and the population will either increase or decrease, because of the storm. Small schools of the trout seemed to gather, like along the Intracoastal Waterway, and anglers either found them or didn’t. Mullica River’s mouth held the most bait, and Dave’s planning to fish there once the weather breaks. When the weather clears, he expects his striper charters to be full-on. So he’s ready to run, and the shop is entirely stocked with striper tackle, and with bait. Bait includes live spots, peanut bunker and eels. A few fresh mullet were currently stocked, and mullet was scarce, almost not around, but somewhat better numbers were heard about before the weather. Fresh clams are arriving a couple of times a week. Green crabs for blackfishing are stocked. But waters will probably be too stirred up for blackfish to bite this weekend. “It’s a transition weekend,” Dave said, but be ready for fishing that could pick up once anglers can fish.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Blackfishing had been good for shore anglers along Absecon Inlet’s jetty four or five days ago, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Throwback striped bass, no keepers, had started to be caught from the surf. Then: the weather. The shop’s annual bounty will be awarded for autumn’s first striper 43 inches or larger checked in from Brigantine’s surf. The bounty was up to $165 or $175, when Andy was last asked, last week. Entry is $5, required 12 hours before catching the fish, and the winner takes all the cash. The Riptide Striper Derby, the annual Brigantine surf-fishing contest, is under way until December 23.  When entrants purchase a Brigantine beach-buggy permit, the tournament provides another permit to drive onto the beach along the entire island, instead of only at the cove, south jetty and north end. Prizes are $500, $300 and $150 for first, second and third prizes, respectively. Plus, a monthly $100 prize and a weekly $25 prize are awarded.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Conditions were rough, but striped bass fishing becomes good in rough waters, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Diehards fished no matter, and Noel fished, catching none, but another angler banked a 28-inch striper nearby. Large, heavy lures were what to throw, because of wind. Lures like Daiwa SP Minnows or any popper worked. Yellow poppers were a color to toss. Anglers from the shop fish on foot in the surf and along Absecon Inlet, near the store. The inlet is lined with fish-attracting jetties. No bluefish were seen in some days, but were around before the storm. Noel saw fish working that seemed to be blues on his trip. No blackfish caught were mentioned in three or four days, but blackfish mostly bite in clear waters, not stirred up. Kingfish were hooked before the weather, and two were weighed in, including a 1.4-pounder. Plenty of bait is stocked, including fresh clams, eels, minnows, green crabs, bloodworms and all frozen bait.

<b>Margate</b>

Trips will sail for blackfish on the back bay this weekend on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, if weather allows, Capt. John said. The storm could prevent that, but the boat will run, if possible. The trips are scheduled for 8 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday and Sunday, and will be the final ones aboard this season. Fishing on the vessel will resume, like every year, with summer flounder fishing on the bay, when flounder season is opened in spring. The boat fishes for flounder the entire flattie season, and did this year until flounder season was closed in late September. Prices are great, because the pontoon boat is economical on fuel, and the fishing on the bay is close to port. Trips are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for kids.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Before the storm, kingfish and spots were banked from the surf, said John from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Someone talked about a redfish from the surf, but that was unconfirmed. Small croakers and weakfish schooled in 25 feet in the ocean. But John boated them, and they were tiny. Schoolie striped bass were occasionally reported caught from the surf and back bay. Very decent-sized blackfish were hung from along the fishing piers along the new 9th Street Causeway. Baby sea bass schooled along the causeway. The only news from offshore was that one customer ran a trip for tuna all the way to Washington Canyon, and was skunked. That’s a long sail. According to forecasts, weather looked like fishing wouldn’t pick up again until at least Wednesday.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

<b>***Update, Monday, 10/14:***</b> Weather was miserable last week, and northeast winds were supposed to blow through this past Sunday, at least, <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>’s blog said Saturday. The storm wasn’t supposed to be overly powerful, it said Wednesday, the day the nor’easter began. But the storm was supposed to last a while. It did. But better weather is forecast for this week. Water temperatures dropped a couple of degrees by the weekend. “Hopefully this will really kick things into gear,” the blog said. Visit <a href="http://seaislebaitandtackle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sea Isle Bait & Tackle’s blog</a>.

High tides will coincide with evenings next week on the back bay, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Those are ideal conditions for popper fishing for striped bass with lures and flies, a specialty aboard. Bluefish and weakfish schooled the ocean near shore, and trips aboard are pulling them in. Weather was lousy this week – no opportunity to sail. After Work Special Trips are available from 4 p.m. to dark on weekdays, a great time for fishing. Joe will return to Montauk, New York, this weekend on annual traveling charters, fishing the migration of big striped bass, large blues and false albacore. The trips caught them last weekend, including 30 false albacore on one of the days. That was covered in the last report, and the outings sail until later this month. Then Joe turns all attention to the migration of stripers and blues in the ocean off Sea Isle City. Book those trips now. Reserve dates for annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys, mostly on weekends, from Christmas to Easter. Arrive on a Friday evening, fish all day Saturday and part of Sunday, return that evening, and be back to work Monday. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>. <b>***Update, Monday, 10/14:***</b> Seas were huge, but Joe ventured out to fish at Montauk on Sunday, he said. Bluefish to 15 pounds and larger were fought on every cast. At first, he prospected protected waters. Then he headed for Montauk Point. Seas 4 to 6 feet, sometimes bigger, were met. Some waves were taller than the T-top. But huge areas of birds were seen working the waters, and large bluefish were hooked almost immediately there. A Coast Guard rollover boat, doing rough-weather exercises, was the only other boat seen. The Coast Guard vessel stopped and watched Joe’s trip catching blues. To see no boats fishing on Columbus Day weekend was something, off Montauk Point. None of the fleet fished Saturday in weather. Joe might fish today and give an update that’ll be posted here if he does.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Nobody really fished in the weather, said Fred from <b>No Bones Bait & Tackle</b>. Angling for striped bass, if they arrive, will be the next fishery. A couple of weeks will probably pass before the angling starts to take off. Surf anglers will drill them, and back-bay boaters will reel them in. Livelined spots can be fished for them that are stocked. But clam bellies will begin to be stocked that will also smoke them in the bay. The clams were going to start to be carried this past week, but weather kept clam boats from sailing. Clam bellies are what anglers call the entire insides of large surf clams, including all the goo. Anglers fish them on the hook and chum with them on the bay while anchored in the boat, and the shop will stock large bags of the bellies for that. The usual supply of frozen baits are also stocked. Rental boats are available to fish the bay.

<b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b> was going to be opened through the weekend before being closed through winter, but the shop will now be closed for the season, because of weather forecasts, Mike said. A few striped bass, not many, were around that were heard about. Mike on a trip last week caught and released a couple of out-of-season summer flounder and some small sea bass from the back bay. The bay’s crabbing never picked back up, after it began to taper some time ago. Canal Side, like every year, will be reopened just before flounder season is reopened in spring. Canal Side rents boats for fishing and crabbing on the bay. Baits stocked during the season include minnows, scented, unscented and different colored squid strips, trolling squid, tube squid, pints and quarts of salted clams, non-salted clams in both 1 pound and 9 ounces, whole mackerel, filleted mackerel, mullet, spearing, herring, frozen shrimp and a good selection of Gulp artificial baits. Crabs for eating are sold live or steamed during the season.

<b>Cape May</b>

Fishing was weathered out the last three days on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, Capt. Paul said. On Saturday, sea bass gave up lots of action on the boat. “(But) meh, not many keepers,” he said. On Sunday, some sizeable sea bass were slugged on deck, but not much action was had. Anglers showed up to fish afterward, like a few on Wednesday, but winds gusted to 30 knots then. Waters had been warm, but this nor’easter will change that, and will stir up waters. The storm might weather out trips the next two or three days, and Monday is the final day of sea bass season. If the boat gets out for them before the closure, the ocean could be too stirred up for many sea bass to bite. Then again, Paul’s seen fishing improve after a storm like a nor’easter. The Porgy IV is fishing for sea bass at 8 a.m. daily. After sea bass season is closed, the boat will probably be docked a moment, until either striped bass arrive, or sea bass season is reopened on November 1. If stripers show up, trips will sail for them. Otherwise, trips will run for sea bass when the season for them is reopened. Lots of small stripers, not the migration of large ones in the ocean or Delaware Bay that trips would wait for, swam around bridges and jetties. A few were landed from the surf and back bay. They were even caught at the marina.

Good catches of redfish were slid from the surf before the storm, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Nick, the shop’s owner, and friend beached six on Sunday or Monday evening on chunks of mullet. An angler who showed up next to them caught one, and another down the beach clocked two. Nick and friend returned the next night, but weeds made the waters unfishable. Then the blow began, making fishing impossible. Before the weather, small blues in the surf seemed two sizes: 10 inches or 15 to 18 inches. No mullet migrating the surf were heard about, but a few were reported from the back bay. A few schoolie striped bass were picked from different waters, like the surf and along bridges. Stripers were cracked at the Coast Guard jetty two nights about two weeks ago. No stripers were heard about from Delaware Bay. From the ocean, all that was heard about sea bass, since sea bass season was opened, was that on opening weekend, sea bass catches were better inshore than 25 or 30 miles out. The only big-game catches reported lately were wahoos trolled at the Stone Beds off Sea Isle City and another spot Joe couldn’t remember.

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