<b>Perth Amboy</b>

The <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, sailing from both Perth Amboy and Staten Island, steamed for blackfish from Staten Island on a trip, Capt. Frank wrote in an e-mail. New York’s blackfish season opened recently, and more than 24 keepers to 6 pounds, a good catch, were slung aboard, on green crabs. Striped bass fishing began to improve on the ocean on clams and jigs. Charters are sailing, and an open-boat trip for stripers will fish Sunday, and three spaces were open, when Frank e-mailed Wednesday. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Keyport</b>

Striped bass will be targeted on a charter Sunday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Clams and eels will be carried aboard for bait, and Joe just loaded up on jigs, in case jiggable fish are run across under birds working waters. He knew that 5-pound blues were also around. Bookings are now being taken for striped bass charters, and just telephone to reserve a date. Open-boat trips for stripers will now be available 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, and call to climb aboard.

<b>Atantic Highlands</b>

Bottom-fishing was pretty slow the last couple of days aboard, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. The vessel’s trips Monday and Tuesday caught “enough to get by,” he said. The trips at first fished Raritan Bay, because of the rough ocean after the storm. Porgies, croakers and spots were booted up from the bay. Soon each trip fished both the ocean and the bay. The ocean still held a fairly sizeable ground swell currently, and currents screamed, because of the full moon coming this weekend. After Monday and Tuesday, fishing was tough on Wednesday morning’s trip, and the afternoon’s trip stayed in port. On this morning’s trip, the boat was first stopped on the bay, and a few fish were caught. Then the trip was moved to the ocean, and was fishing there when Tom gave this report at 9:30 a.m. over the phone aboard. The angling was off to a slow start there. The Atlantic Star is bottom-fishing for porgies and blackfish 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily through Sunday. Starting Monday, one trip daily will sail 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the same fishing. The angling each year is switched to one ¾-day trip like that, instead of two half-day trips, because of travel time to reach the fish that are pushing farther from shore.

Just enough customers showed up Tuesday for the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> to sail for striped bass, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. That was the first report about fishing aboard since the storm. “Found some very nice fish,” he said. A handful of keepers and some throwbacks were tied into on clams and eels. A 16-pound striper was the pool-winner, and the ocean then was dirty from the weather, calming down and “still 63 degrees,” Ron said. “Anytime now,” he said. The ocean was still angry on Wednesday’s trip. Another butt kicking, he said, and the anglers first jigged for stripers. Ron thought for sure the fishing would be lights out, because of bait readings. Some huge bluefish to 22 pounds were managed. The boat was moved to search for stripers, and a couple of good-sized ones were clammed, until the tide dropped off. The anglers started to eel for the fish, waiting for the tide to move again, but the angling was no good. The trip covered a bunch of miles, fishing all three ways for stripers: clamming, jigging and eeling. Trips are fishing any of those ways – whatever it takes. The Fishermen is sailing 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.

Boating for striped bass wasn’t so good Wednesday, but many boaters beat good fishing for them the previous day, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. But some caught none, too. Surf fishing was good for striped bass and sometimes blues, and Sandy Hook, federal land that’s popular locally with surf casters, was expected to be reopened this morning, because of the federal government reopening, and that will help. Bluefish were jigged at the Mud Buoy on Wednesday. Nobody reported porgy fishing. One is the blackfish limit, but the tautog are snapping. From the bay and rivers, some fish were caught, “mostly bass,” Jimmy said. All baits are stocked, including clams and eels, after the storm.

<b>Highlands</b>

A trip that fished a couple of hours eeled and clammed four keeper striped bass and 20 throwbacks Tuesday with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, Capt. Derek said. On Wednesday, fishing aboard eeled a throwback right away, then clammed a 15-pound keeper and probably 90 to 100 throwbacks. Charters are fishing, and two spaces are available on an open-boat trip for stripers Saturday. The next open trips for stripers are three slated for Wednesday through Thursday. Telephone to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips.

No boaters fished in 10 days from the docks, because of weather, said Marion from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>. Bushels of fresh clams can be ordered for striped bass fishing, and bushels will be stocked when demand picks up. Marion was unaware whether live bunker will be carried, but the baitfish usually are, when enough anglers want them for stripers. All frozen baits for inshore and offshore are in supply. 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.

<b>Neptune</b>

<b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> had pulled back into the slip a little while ago, when Capt. Ralph gave this report in a phone call this evening, from an individual-reservation cod trip, he said. Fishing was fairly slow, not as good as he expected, but cod, pollock, ling and scup were eased aboard. Weather was beautiful, and a good bunch of people fished on the outing, he said, and Ralph expects the next one of the trips to catch well. That’ll be on November 4, and spots are filling. An individual-reservation trip for inshore wreck fishing is scheduled for November 10, after sea bass season is opened 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>Belmar</b>

The <b>Katie H</b> might sail for striped bass this weekend, Capt. Mike said. Fishing was weathered out aboard until now, but striped bass caught from the ocean Tuesday were heard about. But on Wednesday, the striper fishing wasn’t good, and lots of big bluefish were hooked. Canyon tuna fishing had begun to pick up offshore before the storm. Some boats scored all right, and the storm was too bad, because some canyon trips had be cancelled aboard, because of the weather. Trips will keep trying for canyon tuna.

Most boats didn’t fish because of weather, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. But a few started sailing Tuesday and Wednesday, and some ran into pretty good catches of striped bass, sizeable ones, and blues on the ocean. The moon will be full at the end of the week, and Pete expects the fall migration of those fish to really come on afterward. The ocean was down to about 63 degrees, an expected temperature, on course for the time of year. Parker Pete’s sails for all species available. 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 party boats Miss Belmar Princess and Golden Eagle returned with lots of striped bass, Bob from <b>Fishermen’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. He didn’t mention a day or days they caught, but Tuesday seemed likely. The fish were jigged on Ava 47’s, and surf anglers also got in on stripers, on Ava 27’s with tube-tails and teasers. Bob suggests anglers grab sand eel imitations like that, needlefish lures, Diawa SP Minnow lures, and so on, and hit the beach. Stripers from the surf on clams were also heard about, typical after a storm, when seas break up clams, and the fish feed on them. Blackfish were “feeding heavily,” Bob said, at Point Pleasant Canal, the inlets and any rocks. <b>***Update, Saturday, 10/19:***</b> Catches of big blues were whacked the past few days like Bob never saw before, he wrote in an e-mail. One larger than 24 pounds was the biggest weighed in, and Sam Liebman, Elkins Park, Pa., bombed the fish on the Miss Belmar Princess. The party boats returned with blues weighing up to the 20s and stripers to 33 pounds that were all jigged on Ava 47’s and Krocodiles. The head boats that bottom fished caught porgies and blackfish well. Surf fishing kept amping up, and many stripers were beached in Monmouth and Ocean counties, mostly on sand eel imitations with a teaser. “If you’re going to fish, go now,” Bob said. “It’s time.” 

Trips for porgies and blackfish will begin after a couple of days on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, after the vessel’s been dry docked, Capt. Chris said Wednesday. Previously, the boat sea bassed, before sea bass season was closed. When trips begin, they’ll sail 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, the usual schedule.

Many anglers limited out on striped bass Tuesday on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an e-mail from the vessel said. Fishing was kicked back off aboard that day, after the storm, and a good number of the bass, weighing up to 22 pounds, were thrown aboard, “with only more to come,” the e-mail said. The trip also picked away at 10- to 15-pound blues. The fishing, on the ocean north of Sea Bright, on jigs, was excellent, the report said. On Wednesday’s trip, big, tackle-busting blues were whipped. “They were some real beasts,” and the fishing was astounding, it said. The fish, and a handful of throwback striped bass, were jigged on nearly anything, including Ava 47’s and 67’s, Krocodiles and red and green Bananas. A 22-pound blue was the pool-winning fish. Giant blues were hammered again on today’s trip on jigs. The population of big blues has been unprecedented, the e-mail said, and on the trip, some showed up along the water surface, but most were stacked along bottom. A 24-pound 3-ouncer, officially weighed at the tackle shop, was the outing’s biggest, and the angler hadn’t entered the pool. “A couple of handfuls of throwback stripers,” the e-mail said, were caught. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

After the storm, the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b> resumed fishing Tuesday, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Big bluefish to 20 pounds and more than a dozen striped bass were axed aboard that day, and a couple of customers limited out on the bass. All the fish were jigged on Ava 47’s, Krocodiles or swim shads.  Wednesday’s trip whaled large blues 15 to 19 pounds, a good catch, while jigging. Only one throwback striper was caught, “but that is not unusual for the early part of the striper run,” the report said. “Some days, they bite, and other days, (they’re difficult to find).”  Striper fishing will become more consistent, as more of the fish migrate to the waters, it said. On today’s trip, huge blues and a good number of stripers were plastered. All were jigged, and the blues, up to a 23-1/2-pounder, were some of the largest the crew ever saw. Many topped 20 pounds. The stripers weighed up to 24. The Golden Eagle is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Thursdays through Sundays. An overnight tuna trip was weathered out Monday and is rescheduled for this coming Monday. See the <a href="http://www.goldeneaglefishing.com/tuna-reservation.html" target="_blank">tuna reservation page</a> online. Good tuna fishing was smashed on a trip aboard just before the storm, covered in the previous report here.

<b>Brielle</b>

On a cod trip, the catch was fair, on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, Capt. Ryan wrote in an e-mail. Nothing spectacular, a fair sprinkle around the boat, he said. “Some guys were hot – some were not,” he said. Most of the cod caught were keepers. “Very strong tide on deep wrecks didn’t help,” he said. Some ling were landed, and huge sea bass and jumbo winter flounder, both out of season, were released. Wes Shourt, Manahawkin, was high hook with eight cod to 27 pounds. Trips for ling and cod at the Mudhole were set for 5 a.m. today and tomorrow, Friday. A cod trip will run at 2 a.m. Saturday, and a porgy trip will sail at 5 a.m. Sunday.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Sailing was weathered out with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>, Capt. Fred said. A few more mixed-bag, canyon trips, both charters and open-boat, will fish this season, if weather allows. Then charters will home in on striped bass and bottom-fish on the ocean. The canyon trips, covered in previous reports, target a variety of catches that can include tuna, mahi mahi, sharks, swordfish and tilefish, all in one outing, each year. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner.

Taking advantage of the weather lay up, maintenance was done on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. No trips fished since the weather, but fishing will start again Friday aboard. Trips will fish for ling and cod 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and for bluefish 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The party boat <b>Dauntless</b> resumed fishing Monday, after the storm, Capt. Butch said. None of the rest of the local fleet tried to sail that day, and a big ground swell remained on the ocean even on Wednesday. Conditions weren’t beautiful for the trip Monday, but the day was pleasant on the waters. Fishing was best aboard that day, compared with Tuesday and Wednesday, because Monday was the final day of sea bass season. Two of the anglers nearly limited out on sea bass, catching 18 or 19, Butch thought. Most bagged 10 to 15, and a handful of blackfish were bucketed, and one keeper striped bass and a couple of throwbacks were landed. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the boat fished for porgies and blackfish. Porgy fishing will take a moment to rebound after the storm, and some were caught. Some anglers totaled 10 to 15, and others five or six, and a few blackfish were hung. Sea bass were sometimes hooked and released, but the trip tried to avoid them. Trips fished in 60 to 80 feet, not closer to shore, because the ocean was riled up closer. Waters were 63 or 64 degrees, only a couple of degrees lower than before the storm. Though porgy fishing wasn’t bad before the storm, Butch hopes sea bass will be around when the season for them is reopened November 1. They should be, because waters are relatively warm, and should remain that way, unless another four- or five-day storm changes that. The Dauntless is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

Surf fishing began to pick up, after the blow, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Mostly striped bass were socked, mostly on teasers fished with Ava’s. The teaser color didn’t matter, just as long as a teaser was fished. Anglers fished the tides, catching on high outgoing and incoming. Most of the bass were throwbacks, but a few were keepers, small or 7 or 8 pounds. A token one was 20 pounds or larger. The fish were becoming fat, feeding on abundant sand eels in the surf. Stripers caught were full of them. Clams probably caught next best, and a few were clammed, bunker-chunked or eeled. A few bluefish popped into the surf. Blackfish were sometimes bagged along the jetties. Blackfishing was very good at Point Pleasant Canal. A few boaters were heard about who fished Barnegat Bay’s sod banks for stripers with eels, and eels just arrived at the store. But most customers fished the surf, and the season’s first big effort at the sod banking will probably happen this weekend. Winds are supposed to blow northwest, good for the bay fishing. Nobody mentioned boating the ocean since the storm, but a few customers geared up to troll the ocean for stripers this weekend. 

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

The surf started to give up striped bass, including some keepers, said Mario from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. They were eeled, and some were plowed on teasers. The waters cleaned up well, once west winds began, after the nor’easter. Nothing was heard about bluefish from the surf. In Barnegat Bay, cocktail blues raced around, and a few crabs were trapped here and there. 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>

Small striped bass started to be nipped from the surf, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Nothing was really heard about stripers boated along Barnegat Bay’s sod banks yet. One customer said some were caught, but nobody reported the fishing first hand. Few boaters seemed to fish yet after the storm. Kyle almost felt like he expected striper fishing to take off because of the storm, like the weather would cause the fall migration to pile south to local waters. But the ocean was still warm, in the low 60s, and the season was early. Blowfish were still lifted from the bay. One trip found them near the BB marker in 7 ½ feet. Boaters anchor, chum with clam and fish with clam or squid for them. Blackfish were angled along Barnegat Inlet’s jetties. Baits stocked include fresh clams, eels, green crabs and killies.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

A trip Friday, sailing for bluefish, is supposed to be the first fishing since the storm on the <b>Super Chic</b>, Capt. Ted said. Two overnight tuna trips are slated aboard for the weekend, rescheduled from last weekend, because of weather. Better tuna catches than before had started to be docked from the offshore canyons, before the storm, and boats returned with very good catches from trips that sailed two Sundays ago, before winds began to build in the nor’easter. The 56-foot boat can accommodate up to 25 anglers on inshore trips and 10 on overnight, offshore trips. The vessel sleeps 10 passengers.

Along Barnegat Bay’s Sedge Islands, striped bass were sometimes punched on bucktails and artificials, said Vince Jr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. But stripers were also boated on drifted spots on the bay. The season’s first few stripers started to jump on the livelined spots along Barnegat Inlet’s jetties more than before. The fishing wasn’t great, but began. Lots of spots are stocked, because striper fishing with them should light up this season. Blackfishing was definitely good along the inlet’s jetties, and green crabs are carried for bait for them. Vince heard nothing about bluefish.  Clamming is always possible and usually great on the bay. Bobbie’s includes a bait and tackle store, a fuel dock, and boat and kayak rentals, and is known for a large bait selection. In addition to the spots and green crabs, baits currently stocked include fresh bunker at times, and frozen baits including sand eels.

Fishing will start back up this weekend on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, sailing 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. The vessel obviously would’ve been weathered out last weekend, though the report didn’t say. Previously, trips fished those hours for bluefish, bonito and false albacore. Bluefish seem more likely to be the quarry after the nor’easter, this time of year. But the site didn’t say, and anglers can likely telephone to find out.

Striped bass, small, but enough to mention, were dragged from the surf, said Josh Falcone from <b>Viking Outfitters</b>. He didn’t see much bait tight to shore, but some was probably around. Most of the bass seemed to be landed at sunrise and sunset, with scattered mid-day action. A variety of bait, and popper lures, seemed to latch into them best, and not as many were hooked on metal. Baits included bunker, clams, mullet and sand eels. A 42-pound striper was boated in Barnegat Inlet on a popper. Small bluefish, like 3 pounds or 1 pound, came from the surf. That was almost like August fishing. The surf became fishable on Tuesday, Josh guessed, after the storm. Six- and 8-ounce weights held bottom then, and now the surf wasn’t flat, Josh would say, but was definitely fishable. Though these fish were caught, most anglers seemed to target blackfish along Barnegat Inlet’s jetty on crabs or small pieces of clam. On Barnegat Bay, a friend boated stripers on the flats Tuesday and Wednesday on Gulp jerk shads. The shop was opened about three months ago, and Josh used to work at Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle that was closed, and gave especially detailed reports from there. He and his partner from the new shop fish every day, and feel they definitely offer first-hand knowledge about what’s biting. Customers can telephone 24 hours a day, and someone can be at the shop quickly, during off hours. Bait can be delivered to boats, homes and the beach. Featured tackle includes gear like Guides Secret Lures and Oozzie Jigs. The store is especially geared for surf and bay fishing, but provides the full supply of offshore baits and supplies. Frozen baits are stocked, and the livewell is expected to arrive any time for live baits. Clothing including Grunden, Jetty and Carhartt is carried, and embroidery, including for charter and party boats, is available. The store is the north end of Long Beach Island’s official weigh station for the annual autumn Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic tournament that’s under way, after no station was available there in recent years.

<b>Surf City</b>

Many anglers fished the surf Tuesday and Wednesday, because of special prizes available then from the season-long Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Mostly throwback striped bass were beached, and not many keepers were, and a 37-1/2-inch keeper was checked in today, and a redfish was weighed in yesterday, both from the shore at Loveladies. One angler fished the beach 22 hours, catching and releasing a keeper on Tuesday and another on Wednesday, and throwbacks. Eels, clams and lures usually hooked stripers from the surf. But while anglers competed for the special prizes, they bought every kind of bait. Currently, four stripers were entered in the tournament, and seven and a bluefish were entered at this time last year. About the same number of anglers were entered now and this time last year. So this year’s tournament seemed on par. Waters now were warm, and the season was early for surf fishing. The nor’easter had put the angling on hold, but winds switched, and anglers got back out. 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>Mystic Island</b>

The nor’easter only recently ended, so no reports rolled in about fishing, said Maureen from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Previously, blackfishing was great along the bay’s banks, and a good batch of weakfish was around, including plenty of large to 5 pounds. They were hooked at the mouth of Mullica River, in the bay on the Tuckerton side, and along the banks while anglers blackfished. Schoolie striped bass schooled back waters before the blow. Croakers hovered in 18 to 25 feet in the ocean. But Scott from the shop, before the storm, said the weather was going to change everything about fishing. Baits stocked currently include fresh, shucked clams, eels, bloodworms and green crabs. Freshwater from the rains probably killed the supply of live grass shrimp. Scott likely needed to net more.

<b>Absecon</b>

Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b> ran a trip Tuesday that bagged five striped bass on the back bay, Curt from the shop said. Dave on the shop’s Facebook page said the trip was his first striper charter of the season and a fantastic day. The bass that were bagged were 28 to 30 inches, and a 28-incher was also released. Keeper size is 28 inches or larger, and more than 20 throwbacks were released.  The trip’s stripers were hooked on livelined spots and eels and Gulps. The trip began catching at Great Thorofare off Little Beach, “and once the tide started to run out, we had fish at every stop …” Dave wrote.  “This is a great early bite,” he said. Curt didn’t hear a lot about other striper catches, and mostly throwbacks hooked were known about from the bay. A few keepers and mostly throwbacks were beached from the surf. Redfish were reported dragged from the surf, and one angler said they were 22 to 24 inches. Weakfish could be located at places like the mouth of Mullica River, Main Marsh Thorofare and the Intracoastal Waterway. Fishing for them was supposedly best farther south. Blackfish were around at bridges, other structure and inshore wrecks. Blackfish are usually reluctant to bite in dirtied waters, but the bay, like around bridges, cleared up well after the storm. Tides were high from the storm, but strong winds didn’t often blow. Curt, a white perch angler on brackish rivers, last perched on Sunday. Lots bit, but they were small, and winds blew hard. Baits stocked include live spots. Live mullet are no longer available this season, and the shop is known for bait selection, including live.

<b>Brigantine</b>

The season’s first striped bass was weighed in from Brigantine’s surf Wednesday at <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>, Capt. Andy said. Ray Standhope checked in the 29-1/2-inch 9-pounder, winning the shop’s T-shirt for the first. Sand eels schooled all over the surf, seeming good for the impending migration of stripers. Boating for stripers blew open, was good, the past two days at Absecon Inlet, around Brigantine Bridge and in the back bay. Fresh clams are stocked. The shop’s annual bounty will be awarded for fall’s first striper 43 inches or larger checked in from Brigantine’s surf. The bounty was currently up to $225, and 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>

Blackfish, very good sized, were tugged in, once the storm passed, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Customers fish for them from the jetties at nearby Absecon Inlet, lined with the outcroppings, and the surf. Big kingfish, quite a few, showed up in the waters today, and were mugged off Harrah’s on Wednesday afternoon. Straggler striped bass were also reeled in by anglers on foot, and an 18-1/2-pound striper was weighed in from the beach. One Stop carries a large supply of bait, and fresh bunker will arrive Friday. Baits currently carried include fresh clams, eels, bloodworms, and frozen, large mullet. A friend castnetted 18 big mullet on one throw and 24 on the next at a couple of pockets of water, before the baitfish disappeared. Mullet mostly migrated away from the coast for the season.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Spots plucked from the surf were almost all that was caught that was heard about, said Justin from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. But decent striped bass fishing began to be talked about from the back bay. In the surf, seas were still a little rough, after the storm, and currents ripped, and though water clarity was good, weeds choked the water still, since the storm. Water at inlets was also clear but full of weeds. Ocean City Fishing Club’s 100th annual surf fishing tournament began today and runs through Sunday. Many anglers were fishing the beach if just for that. On the bay, because three different rivers drained into the bay at almost the same place, some places where anglers tried to striper fish were a little dirty, and some looked like chocolate milk. But more stripers than before were nailed on spots and eels wherever anglers could find the bay water that held the fish.  Offshore fishing for tuna was probably out of the question. Seas were well over 5 feet as late as Tuesday, Justin knew, and he couldn’t imagine boaters ran offshore, and heard from nobody who did.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Along the back bay’s sod banks, striped bass fishing was excellent at dusk, and was almost the only fishing going, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. A couple of other types of fishing were rebounding after the storm. More on that in a moment. A friend boated a good catch of stripers along the sod banks at dusk on MirrOLure Poppers. Then he drifted eels there, missing more stripers. He had an excellent night. Striper fishing became super along bridges on Wednesday night. The fishing had been tough because of the storm, started improving, then busted open that night. Bluefishing also shut down during the weather, but started to produce a few now. Ones caught that were heard about came from the inlet, and the angling still wasn’t good, but showed life. A few weakfish and speckled sea trout were hooked while anglers bluefished at the inlet after the storm, and that was encouraging. Anglers fished the tides for everything, because currents ran strong, because of the coming full moon. But if they worked the tides right, fish bit. Only one person mentioned boating the ocean since the storm, but the trip fished wrecks, pumping in triggerfish, blackfish and keeper porgies. Anglers tried to catch in the surf, but not much was landed. Waters were dirty, and the moon currents ran strong. A couple of sand sharks that one good surf angler banked was about all that was heard about.

<b>Cape May</b>

Fishing was docked since the storm on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, and Capt. George heard about no trips, he said. He’s mostly waiting for striped bass charters to begin, and his first is booked for November 1. The striper migration used to show up earlier, even by Columbus Day, but not in recent years. Still, one never knows, and the fish could arrive any moment. Last year’s striper fishing aboard, on chunked bunker on Delaware Bay, was mostly good. Sometimes a few boats caught stripers at Cape May Rips on live bait like spots or eels last year. But that was inconsistent, not really predictable, and short lasting. Trips used to clam or troll stripers on the ocean, like off Wildwood, in autumn. But that never really happened in some years. That could all change, but chunking on the bay was best in recent years, and mostly good last year. Sea bass season will be opened November 1, and charters will be available for them, too.

Sea bass fishing, before sea bass season was closed Tuesday, was never able to sail again on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, since the last report, because of the storm, Capt. Paul said. A trip might’ve been able to run Monday, but northeast winds still blew, and the boat was kept docked. It’ll be tied up now – no trips will fish – until either some other fish in season, like striped bass, can be caught, or sea bass season is reopened November 1. The boat will at least start fishing daily again for sea bass then. Paul heard second-hand about small striped bass, a few keepers, landed from the surf and along back-bay bridges, after the storm. But he heard about no stripers migrating the ocean, Cape May Rips or Delaware Bay, where the Porgy would fish for them. Then again, few boats probably fished since the weather, so nothing could really be heard about places like that. Trips were known about that are supposed to fish this weekend. When the Porgy IV fishes, it sails at 8 a.m. daily.

From the surf, fishing was pretty good, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Bluefish, mostly tailors – but mixed sizes, it seemed – were beached, and striped bass, including a few keepers, sometimes started to be banked. A few redfish were slid in. Mostly clams were fished from the shore, for the bass, and mullet was dunked for the reds. Blackfishing was fairly good along jetties. Nick worked the surf the past few nights, and seas dropped, after the storm, and looked pretty nice. Currents will be heavy because of the full moon that’s coming. Nobody really boated since the storm, and there wasn’t much to boat for anyway, since sea bass season was closed, and one is the blackfish bag limit. Sea bass season will be reopened November 1, and the blackfish bag limit will be hiked to six on November 16. Migrating stripers should be boated this season before long. Fresh clams, green crabs, bloodworms and frozen mullet are stocked.

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