<b>Staten Island</b>

Fishing for tog was good with <b>Outcast Charters</b> on Saturday, and the anglers came only two fish shy of limiting out, Capt. Joe said. The blacks weighed up to 6 pounds, and a couple were 5 pounds, and most weighed 3 pounds, and a few just made the legal size. The weather was fine, but Sunday’s storm weathered out a charter. A charter also fished Tuesday, and blackfishing was very good, and the anglers limited out with no problem. The fish were larger this day and weighed up to 9 pounds, and few a 7-pounders were nailed, and the rest of the keepers weighed 3 to 5 pounds. One of the anglers reeled in 25 keepers, taking home only his limit.

<b>Bayonne</b>

The boat was pulled from the water, and charters were finished for the year, said Capt. Akira from <b>True World Tackle</b> and <b>True World Tackle Charters</b>. Few customers were fishing during the week, but some this winter might dunk sandworms from the Bayonne Pier for small striped bass and tommy cod, and sandworms are stocked. The store is open full time.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Lots of life filled the water Friday, and loads of striped bass bit for anglers on the <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron said in the report on the boat’s web site. Most of the stripers were throwbacks, and a few were keepers. Jigging for small stripers was also good on the boat Saturday. “I hate to keep saying small, considering they used to be slot fish,” Ron said, referring to the slot size limit of 24 inches to less than 28 in effect until a couple of seasons ago. He asked a few anglers if they’d rather bag a keeper and not have much action or have steady action and maybe boat a keeper. “All said a keeper would be okay,” he said, “but the action is what keeps them coming back.”  He heard that stripers were still biting at Montauk, and last year the fish were hooked off Jersey after they left Montauk. According to Ron’s log book, fishing for big stripers was excellent last year from December 13 to 20, and then a few days produced little ones again afterward. He thinks the fishing’s not finished and that decent weather should produce good catches. No report was posted Sunday, and presumably the boat’s trip that day was weathered out during the storm. The Fishermen is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. On another note, Ron is a board member of the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/" target="_blank"> Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund </a>, and the group held a meeting in Absecon on Thursday for industry members, and “50 hard-working businessmen showed up and gave their support,” despite lousy weather, Ron said. “Most of the guys already had a check in their pocket, realizing how important our fight is,” he said. Ron thanked those who attended. The fund hopes to raise enough money to fund research that will prove that the government’s data on the fluke population is flawed. The government is threatening drastic cuts in fluke bag limits that many recreational anglers believe are severe and unnecessary. The cuts would harm many fishing businesses, including party boats, charter boats and tackle shops that rely on the fluke fishery more than any other fishing, and the cuts would drastically limit saltwater fishing that is made up of fluke angling the majority of the season. The Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund might be the final opportunity to head off the cuts or a moratorium. Visit the site, learn about the organization, attend the meetings listed, and consider making contributions.

Blackfishing trips sailed Friday and Saturday on the <b>Atlantic Star</b>, and the nor’easter prevented the boat from fishing Sunday, Capt. Tom said. Blacks were boated both days, and Friday’s catch was better than Saturday’s, and quite a few of the tog were small, but some nice ones also came up. Bill Hoblitzell from Outback Fishing Charters hauled aboard a 9-pound 1-ouncer and a 6-pound 6-ouncer on Friday. More ling than before were also bagged, and the hake were holding on the same grounds as the blackfish were. A few more people tried for the ling than before, and some were hooked on the green crab baits meant for blackfish, so the crew offered clam for bait to those who wanted to target ling, and they reeled some in. Dogfish were no problem, and only one or two were hooked these days. Sometimes when dogfish are abundant the crew will avoid fishing with clams, because soft baits can draw them in. Customers were predominantly fishing for blackfish, but ling could also be grabbed. No trip sailed today because northwest winds were hammering waters, but that might help push down the ocean, and winds were supposed to diminish tomorrow, so the boat should resume fishing. The Atlantic Star will sail through Sunday, January 6, before taking a winter break. Trips will run Christmas Eve Day and on New Year’s Day, and Christmas is the only day no trip is slated to fish.  The Atlantic Star is fishing for blackfish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Belmar</b>

On the <b>Nan Sea J</b> blackfishing was pretty good, and charters picked up the fish to 9 ½ pounds, Capt. Tom said. The water was 45 degrees, and two more blackfishing charters are slated this week before the vessel is pulled from the water Saturday for the season. In the meantime, blackfishing trips are available, and so are striper charters.

<b>Brielle</b>

Striped bass, plenty of shorts, still swam the ocean, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Keepers were challenging to find, but the crew from the Aye Roller weighed in a 40-1/4-pounder that was jigged. No customers reported surf fishing, and rough weather kept anglers scarce in general the past couple of days. Blackfishing was all right at the ocean wrecks when boaters could get out. Nothing specific was heard about sea bass fishing at the offshore grounds, but Dave thought that a couple of boats including the Jamaica and the Voyager sailed on the offshore trips Thursday to Saturday. The Reel Seat is open through Christmas Eve, and the shop will be open on weekends in February. In January no set hours will take place, but Dave will be at the shop at times, and when he is, customers are welcome to stop in. In other news, Dave is involved in the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net/" target="_blank"> Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund </a>, and an industry was held Thursday in Absecon, and about 50 business owners from South Jersey showed up. The organization needs anglers support, and visit its site to learn about it. Be sure to check out the group’s meetings, including a meeting for the public January 21 at the Manasquan Elks and a fund-raising dinner open to anyone February 22 at Crystal Point Yacht Club.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

Bottom-fishing trips on the <b>Dauntless</b> fished every day during the past week except Sunday, because of the storm, and catches were good, Capt. Willie said. Patrons averaged 25 to 30 ling apiece nearly the whole week, and they boated a handful of cod, a few sea bass and a few blackfish. The pool winner reeled up a 12-pound cod Saturday, and the boat was lately fishing at the Mudhole in 100- to 150-foot depths.  The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. daily.

<b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b> closed early on Saturday because of strong winds, and the doors stayed closed Sunday during the storm, so the shop’s hours were now depending on the weather, Rob Sr. said. But boaters landed striped bass in the ocean when the weather was decent last week, and blackfish were reeled in from the Point Pleasant Canal. Green crabs are stocked for blackfish bait. The Gates Motel is also located on the grounds, is open all year and is especially popular with anglers. Both the tackle shop and the motel are within quick walking distance of the surf, Manasquan Inlet and the charter and party boat fleet. So anglers often stay at the motel to avoid early morning or late evening drives before or after trips on the boats, or they simply make a fishing vacation out of a visit.

Good striped bass action took place to the south in the ocean Saturday on the <b>Gambler</b>, and previously the boat had been fishing to the north toward Sandy Hook, Capt. Bob said. But a lot of shorts were biting up north, and on Saturday the boat pushed south, and gannets were found dive-bombing the water three-quarters of the way down Island Beach State Park. Patrons there jigged a bunch of stripers, mostly bigger shorts from 22 to 25 inches, but also some keepers.  Ed Mackin nailed three keepers, and his son also bagged a keeper, and both fished with plain Ava 47 jigs. Pete Kellison nabbed two keepers and released a fish that was just under the legal size. The stripers were working sand eels in schools of the baitfish that were so thick that customers were foul hooking the medium-sized baits. A bottom-fishing boat was fishing a little farther offshore and reported seeing lots of birds working just beyond the 3-mile limit from shore where striper fishing is closed, and the birds were working northwest. Today’s winds were looking too strong for the boat to sail, but they were forecast to drop out tomorrow, when the vessel should get out. The Gambler is fishing for stripers 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. In January offshore wreck trips for giant sea bass will run 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. twice weekly.

Trips with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> were weathered out both Friday and Saturday, and the anglers Friday even attempted to sail but turned around because of rough seas, Capt. Fred said. But charters are still sailing for blackfish and striped bass, and 10-hour, open-boat blackfish marathons are running every Sunday when the weather allows, and obviously the storm this Sunday didn’t allow. But the marathons are offered at a great rate, and they often mix up the action with either striper fishing or sea bassing, when the blackfish are targeted in deeper water where sea bass are holding. Striped bass were no longer schooling at the Shrewsbury Rocks, and the water was void of the linesiders from Manasquan to Sandy Hook. However, a big body of stripers was located off the tip of Sandy Hook, and some of the fish were also swimming to the south off Island Beach State Park.

<b>Seaside</b>

Surf-fishing news was coming to an end for the year, said the report on <b>Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s web site. The wash today was 2 to 5 feet, choppy and 44 degrees. But keep checking the site for winter info like about fishing flea markets and the shop’s winter sale specials. The site is already listing deals on a number of reels, and both closeout sales and holiday specials are on tap. Gift certificates are also available. <a href=" http://www.bettyandnicks.com/fish.shtml" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for the latest.

“Now that’s wind,” said the report today on <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b>’s web site, and even though the winds were west, they were brutal and were forecast to last until midnight. So today might’ve been a day for options other than surf fishing. Yesterday’s report said, “It’s Sunday and it’s gnarly.” Saturday’s surf action was less than spectacular, but some reports rolled in about short stripers hooked from the suds at Island Beach State Park, but no fish were weighed in. On Friday the report said the night shift took stripers at Area 7 at Island Beach on shads, squids and needlefish, and teasers were a good idea. Sporadic shots of the fish also appeared all day Friday from A7 south, and anglers had to work for them, and most were shorts, but they were fun. But several keepers were checked in Friday that weighed 8 pounds to 8.4 pounds. All bit shads except one that inhaled a Grumpy clam. Grumpy’s is known for building custom rods, and now’s the time to order the rods for spring. The shop was ordering blanks and would be happy to order one for you. Now is also a good time to bring in reels for repair. “You know what happens when you wait till the last minute,” the report said. <a href="http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishingreports/" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for updates.

<b>Margate</b>

A trip Wednesday on the <b>Jessie O’</b> will probably try trolling the ocean for striped bass, Capt. Jay said. The stripers are out there, but the weather in the past days seemed to keep most boats from sailing. Tog are also hitting, and several recent trips on the Jessie O’ caught them. The boat is targeting both stripers and tog. In addition to charters, open-boat trips are also running, though probably not daily anymore, and simply call the boat to confirm the schedule. Buy a space on an open trip now and receive a free trip in spring. Now that’s a bargain! Or get a few anglers together and book a charter at a good rate. Also, it’s not too late to reserve space on a special, 10-hour, open-boat trip that will sail Christmas Eve day for stripers, but the clock is ticking.

<b>Longport</b>

Tog fishing was very good Saturday on the <b>Stray Cat</b>, and the fish were hitting before the baits even settled to the bottom, even attacking on the way down, and “it was a bail!” Capt. Mike said. Seas were 2 to 3 feet, and the fish seemed to like it. The boat only fished one wreck all day and left them biting, and the water was 46 degrees. Tog trips also fished Thursday and Friday, and lots of the fish were bagged, though the bite slowed down around noon both days. So then the boat left the area at Ocean City Reef where it had been fishing, and the anglers picked at more blacks here and there at other pieces on both trips. But all in all, tog fishing was very good, and anglers who were targeting big ones could hook them. If anglers were waiting for good weather, there is no good weather in December, Mike said.  You have to go to catch, and get up off the couch! he joked. Open-boat tog trips are sailing daily, and space is available throughout this week, except Saturday, when the trip is sold out. But openings are available Sunday.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

On the <b>Captain Robbins</b> blackfishing trips sailed a few days between rough weather this past week, and the number of larger blacks that were boated increased, Capt. John said. An angler named Shin won the pool last Monday with a 9-pound blackfish. On Thursday Jake Stern took the pool with a 6-3/4-pounder, and Burt Gibbs limited out on the fish to 6 pounds, and so did Bob Lisicki.   On Friday “Scoops” Morrison limited out, and on Saturday John Levnescki limited out on blacks to a 12-1/2-pound whopper, and Bob Bowman limited out on the tog to an 8-pounder. The Captain Robbins is fishing for blackfish 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and green crabs are supplied for bait.

Weather like a hurricane kept trips from fishing this weekend, but striped bass can still be jigged in the ocean under working birds, no doubt about it, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. Anglers will fish on the boat this weekend, provided the weather holds, and Joe plans to fish for stripers Christmas week. It wouldn’t be unusual for the linesiders to keep biting in January.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Winds, winds, winds were the deal much of the weekend, but striped bass bit at the Cape May Rips and along the ocean beach front when conditions were better previously during the week, said Fred from <b>No Bones Bait & Tackle</b>. As of Sunday morning the fish were also still hitting at both places, including under bird play along the beaches. Ninety-nine percent of the fish were shorts, but there was lots of action. Jigs or bucktails got the strikes at the rips, and some anglers livelined spots, if they could find any, and eels. Eels are stocked at the shop, but all the spots died because of cold water. Diamond jigs, bucktails and any kind of soft plastic lures on bucktails drew the hits along the beaches. The back bay apparently was too cold for striper fishing, and an experienced angler gave the bay a try, drifting eels early in the morning Thursday before sunup, and after sunrise he set up a clam chum slick and fished with clam, but nothing was caught. Only one of the shop’s rental boats for fishing the bay is left in the water, but Fred even discouraged potential renters this weekend, saying they had a better shot at success in the ocean, like on a party boat. A surf angler beached a 31-inch striper Saturday morning, and another was happy to report landing his last striper of the season in the suds recently, though it only measured 13 inches. The fish sucked down clams in the surf, and clams are stocked all year long. The wash today was brown like coffee from rough seas in the past days, and winds today were blowing west, the direction that pushes down the surf, but the winds were honking, and the dirty water will take time to clear up. No Bones is open every day, one of the only tackle shops still open along the South Jersey Coast this season.

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