<b>Brooklyn</b>

Six keeper blackfish, six keeper cod and a few big ling were bagged on the <b>Big M Express</b> on an open-boat trip yesterday, and a few shorts were also hooked, Capt. Steve said. Bottom-fishing was slowing down, and the water was cold, but the open trips will sail daily until the fish stop biting. Anglers were fortunate to still be fishing, considering the time of year. Call to reserve a space on the open trips, and the vessel’s web site said cod and ling will probably be the targets, until tog fishing picks back up. A charter Sunday sailed for tog, but the fishing was slow, the site said. Still, twelve keepers to 8 pounds, some shorts and a few jumbo ling were reeled up. 

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Boaters were pulling up bottom fish—ling, cod and blackfish—from the ocean, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The boats from the harbor will target them this weekend. Nothing much was heard about striped bass anymore, and Jimmy also heard about no mackerel catches. He sailed pretty far offshore in rough seas Sunday and saw no mackerel boats either. The water temperature was holding or was about 45 degrees in the relatively warm weather this season. Julian’s is open every day, so long as the weather is decent, and worms and fresh clams are stocked, and so are frozen baits such as bunker.

<b>Belmar</b>

The <b>Big Mohawk</b> was still blackfishing, and catches were good, not great, and the bite was starting to slow down, but trips will continue at least through the weekend, Capt. Chris said. An 11-1/2-pounder was hauled aboard Tuesday, and the boat’s been fishing in 60 to 90 feet, a little deeper than before. A few cod were coming up, but no substantial numbers, like the newspapers were sometimes saying. The Big Mohawk is blackfishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

UPDATE, 2/4: Fishing on the local party boats for blackfish and mackerel was a little slow Saturday, but the weather was windy, said Mike from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. They probably fared better in Sunday’s good weather, and windy weather plagued the boats most of the week. But they continued to target blacks, and the Miss Belmar Princess kept running for macks. Fisherman’s Den is open every day.

<b>Brielle</b>

UPDATE, 2/4: Good news: <b>The Reel Seat</b> reopened for the season from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, Dave said, until the hours are increased when fishing starts to turn on. Strong winds kept the party boats from fishing offshore at the wrecks most of last week, but Dave was sure they must’ve sailed during yesterday’s good weather, though nothing was heard about the trips yet. Bottom fishing sounded good closer to shore on the Dauntless lately for ling, cod and even a few whiting. Quite a few cod were biting this winter, and more whiting were hitting than in recent years. Dave saw anglers jig herring at Manasquan Inlet in the late afternoon last week, and late in the days on incoming tides was supposedly the time to find them.  Herring were also apparently schooling along the beaches, and Sabiki rigs will get the bites at both places. A few small striped bass were reportedly beached in the surf at Deal, and try tossing plugs for them. Clams should also work, but clams are probably overkill with the small fish. Catch Dave working the booth for the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net" target="_blank"> Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund</a> at the Atlantic City Boat Show from Wednesday through Sunday. He said the SSFFF hired a lead scientist to collect data in an attempt to dispute the government’s data on the summer flounder population. The government is threatening tight restrictions on fishing for the fluke, including a moratorium in 2009, based on government surveys of the fluke population. Many in both the recreational and commercial fishing industries strongly dispute the need for such restrictions, saying that the fluke population is healthy and that the government’s surveys are highly flawed, and the SSFFF hopes to fund its own survey that the government will consider. The SSFFF has already held public meetings at Absecon and Manasquan, and the next meeting is slated for 7 p.m. March 6 in Brooklawn, near Gloucester City, at American Legion Post 72 at 11 South Railroad Avenue. If you care about summer flounder fishing, consider attending, because if anglers do not fight, a flounder moratorium will very likely take place.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

The <b>Andrea’s Toy</b> headed out on no trips in the past days because of the weather or other obligations, but tog fishing, both on charters and weekend open-boat trips, is still available, Capt. Fred said. He’ll keep the vessel in the water one more week. For more details about the open trips, offered at a great rate, see the boat’s home page. 

Herring could be hooked at Manasquan Inlet, and that was about the only fishing happening, said Brian from <b>Fisherman’s Supply</b>. But the Voyager, docked at the shop, was bottom fishing. Brian said he was unaware how the party boat’s trips were going, but he promised to get someone to fax a report from the vessel, so look here for an update if he does. Fisherman’s Supply stays open all winter. UPDATE, 1/31: A fax from the <b>Voyager</b> said a trip Tuesday to the north end of the Mudhole and the Farms produced a pick of ling and cod, and the high hook scored in the low teens, and patrons each put seven to 15 ling in the bucket. More cod were showing up than in recent years, and ling and cod trips are fishing on the boat 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday. An offshore trip Friday to the 60- to 80-mile wrecks in 175 to 200 feet found that the water was 2 degrees cooler than the previous week. Patrons picked at sea bass from 1 ½ to 4 pounds, porgies to 3 pounds and ling. Plus pollock to 15 pounds and cod to 10 pounds were mixed in. The boat moved north on the last drop, and 55 keeper cod to 20 pounds and an equal number of short cod were hooked. “Overall a decent mess of fish,” the fax said. Lots of conger eels also showed up during the trip because of the cooler water. Check the boat’s web site or call the vessel for the schedule of these offshore trips.

Bottom-fishing trips on the <b>Dauntless</b> sailed every day recently, and catches were mostly decent, Capt. Butch said. Ling, some blackfish, a few more cod than before, some good-sized pollock and even still a handful of mackerel were boated in 120 to 220 feet, usually along the edge of the Mudhole. Patrons were mostly averaging five to 20 fish apiece, and today’s fishing was tough because of lots of current, but some anglers still landed 15 to 18 fish. Jim Mulvey won the pool two days ago with a 21-pound pollock, and he also grabbed a 10- or 11-pound cod. Cod numbers were larger this year than the past couple of years, and mackerel and herring came through late this year, and cod and pollock always follow them. The water is cold enough to hold the cod and pollock at the wrecks, so Butch hoped fishing for them would continue this winter. Years ago cod fishing was productive off Jersey, but then waters farther north off New England became the main place to targeted them. The Dauntless fishes all year long from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

UPDATE, 2/4: A few herring schooled up Manasquan Inlet, said Rob Sr. from <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b>. That was about the only news during this time of year, the same news as recent weeks. The shop is open on weekends when the weather is good, and anglers can call the store to find out whether the nearby party boats at Manasquan Inlet are fishing. The store opened 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. this past Saturday, for example, though only a few customers showed up. Gates is located within walking distance of Manasquan Inlet, the party and charter boat fleet and the surf. The grounds also include the Gates Motel, especially popular with anglers and open all year. Anglers often stay at the motel to avoid driving mornings or evenings before or after trips on the boats. Or sometimes they simply make a fishing vacation out of a visit.

<b>Toms River</b>

UPDATE, 2/4: A couple of anglers picked up nightcrawlers Saturday at <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> to white perch fish on the Toms River, Dennis said. The river was 36 degrees that morning, and a few pickerel could be hooked on the Toms and at Trilco on killies. Nightcrawlers were stocked at the shop, and Dennis hoped to carry killies soon. The shop is open 9 a.m. to 12 noon or 1 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays but might be open on Wednesdays when the weather is mild, like was forecast this week.

<b>Seaside Park</b>

The surf was 41 degrees over the weekend, the report on <b>Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle’s</b> web site said. The report said weeks ago that fishing news on the site was probably finished for the season, but the site was checked for this report today to see whether anything was new. The shop on January 18 said again that nothing was biting in the suds, but the annual winter sale was under way, and quite a few items were listed. <a href=" http://www.bettyandnicks.com/fish.shtml" target="_blank"> Click here</a> to check it out.

<b>Grumpy’s Tackle’s</b> was reporting nobody fishing, but the weather was looking decent for the weekend, and some anglers were planning to try to score a catch in the surf then for the shop’s Polar Bear Fishing Tournament this winter. Mike Hogan from Hogy Lures stopped by yesterday and showed off cool, new, hand-poured soft plastics, and a box of the goodies should be available within a week or two. Place your orders for Grumpy’s custom-made rods before spring has sprung, and orders were backing up. The store is well-known for custom rods. News about other items that were arriving at the shop was also posted in reports that were still being placed daily on Grumpy’s web site. And if anyone catches anything, surely it’ll be posted. So <a href="http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishingreports/" target="_blank"> click here</a> for the latest.  

<b>Beach Haven</b>

An open-boat, bottom-fishing trip sailed 30 miles offshore on the <b>Miss Beach Haven</b> this past weekend and was a slow pick, but 15 keeper cod, some big ling, a number of hake and lots of conger eels and silver eels were hooked, Capt. Frank said. The same types of trips are slated for this coming Saturday and Sunday, and space is available both days, and afterward Frank will wrap up the vessel’s season. The trips will run 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and call to reserve.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

White perch fishing at Collins Cover on the Mullica River was an option, though anglers were scarce, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Live grass shrimp, the best bait, was stocked, and so were minnows. Small minnows could also be used for the perch, but the shrimp are preferred. The minnows are also good for pickerel or crappie fishing in freshwater, and both fish will stay active in the cold. Largemouth bass in freshwater will likely be sluggish at this time of year.  No green crabs are being carried for tog fishing anymore this season, and demand dried up, but some of the party boats should still be sailing for the blackfish. Cabin fever was setting in for angling customers, who were visiting the shop and talking about it. Reel and tackle repairs were piling up, and there was a two- or three-week turnaround, so bring your repairs to the shop quickly. Striped bass season opens in the bays and rivers March 1, so the leeway to do repairs in time for the opener was running out.

<b>Absecon</b>

White perch fishing, about the only game in town, seemed good in the Mullica and Egg Harbor rivers, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. A couple of anglers telephoned about green crabs for tog fishing, but no green crabs are stocked, because demand is low. Dave’s also not bothering to catch grass shrimp for perch fishing, because of demand. But frozen baits are stocked, and the shop is open most of the time, but call to confirm at this time of year. The shop will be closed Saturday, because Dave will be working the booth for the <a href="http://www.ssfff.net" target="_blank"> Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund</a> at the Atlantic City Boat Show. Take a look at the SSFFF’s web site and learn about the government’s threat to seriously restrict summer flounder fishing. If local anglers lose flounder fishing, they won’t have much else to fish for during much of the season.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

A longliner reported boating tuna at the canyons, believe it or not, said Dominic from <b>Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle</b>, and Dom saw a satellite chart that showed warm water there, running from the Hudson to the Wilmington, if he remembered correctly. Otherwise news about saltwater fishing was scarce, but the shop is open, and all the frozen baits are stocked. Call to confirm that someone will be there at this time of year, in case the staff leaves for a moment. They were doing inventory now.

<b>Longport</b>

<b>Stray Cat Charters</b> stayed in port during the past days, but open-boat trips will probably fish offshore Saturday and Sunday for sea bass, ling, cod and pollock, and will probably target inshore waters Tuesday through Thursday for cod, ling and pollock, Capt. Mike said. Space is available. The offshore trips typically fish 60 to 80 miles from the coast, and the inshore trips usually run 30 or 40 miles off. Mike reported last week that tog fishing was finally finished on the vessel till spring, because the blackfish stopped biting for the most part, because of cool water. He’s said in the past that the fish stay on the grounds but go into a dormant state until the water warms. UPDATE, 2/4: An offshore sea bass trip scored very well Sunday with Stray Cat, and the anglers came only 12 short of limiting out the boat. The bite was slow at first but started popping at 12:30, and then the fishing was pretty hot, and the weather was fantastic. The next offshore trips will probably head out this coming Saturday and Sunday, and space is available. If enough anglers are interested in bottom fishing closer to shore during the week, Stray Cat will also run those trips.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Anglers typically white perch fish up the rivers like the Tuckahoe, Great Egg and farther north at Collins Cove on the Mullica at this time of year, said Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. He heard nothing about any of the local boats bottom fishing in two weeks. Striped bass had been biting down south in the ocean off the Chesapeake Bay, and the fish had now apparently pushed a bit farther south. The action was reportedly somewhat inconsistent but gave up quality linesiders. Fin-Atics is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day but is closed Sundays. The crew was busy re-stocking the shop, including with new, 2008 gear, so stop by and take a look.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

A tog trip sailed Saturday on the <b>Captain Robbins</b>, and Mike Williams limited out on the blackfish and won the pool with a 6-1/2-pound cod, Capt. John, the boat’s owner, said. Capt. Mike Weigle ran the trip. A few cod were biting lately, but catching one was no guarantee. John also joked that Joe Sullivan had three throwbacks and a broken hook. Tog trips are slated for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday through Monday, and afterward the boat might take a break for winter.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Some of the boats were fishing offshore for sea bass or inshore for tog, but the fishing seemed to be winding down, probably for about a month, said Fred from <b>No Bones Bait & Tackle</b>. The Bodacious, a party-boat sized vessel docked at the shop, hit the offshore grounds Saturday, and patrons reportedly landed a number of sea bass. Another trip was slated for today, but the boat was still docked, so the outing must’ve been cancelled. Offshore boats this season seemed to be putting patrons into sea bass, but the fish seemed smaller than in years past. Big jumbos were less common, apparently because the grounds were becoming picked over. Local boats have been sailing offshore for the bottom fish maybe 10 or 12 years. The Fins ‘N Grins, also docked at the store, tog fished Saturday with six anglers, and something like three keepers were nailed. So that fishing seemed to be coming to a close. The boat’s been targeting the Cape May Reef, and another boat farther south was fishing Reef Site 11, probably a dozen miles south of Cape May Reef, and catches of tog there were supposedly much better. Fred’s been checking the water temperature in the bay behind the shop every day, and it was 36 degrees, and no ice was around. The previous day it was 33, and the day before it was 32, a warming trend. Even if the bay plummeted to 26 degrees in January and February, the water temp in March is what matters. If cold weather puts a chill on the water in March, it’ll delay spring fishing, because that’s the time when stripers start moving around, and temps in January and February make little difference. But herring usually first start appearing in local waters sometime in February, if anglers want to catch them to save for bait later in the season. Different species of the herring move through the bay, and some migrate up the freshwater rivers, and some don’t, and they’ll all hit Sabiki rigs. Fred catches them, fillets them and salts them down for his own personal bait, and the big scales and silver color make them look like a disco ball. Fred’s been walking along the beaches every evening, and he’s seen no surf fishers and also no birds hitting the water. Even those who’ve seen birds have said they seemed only to be feeding on small bait fish. Fred and his crew from his TV fishing show Jersey Cape Fishing will man the Comcast booth at the Atlantic City Boat Show on Saturday and Sunday, February 9 and 10. Stop by and say hello. He’ll also be giving a free seminar at the Wildwoods Boat Show in early April. No Bones Bait & Tackle stays open all winter, but call to confirm before stopping by, because sometimes the staff might leave on errands. But supplies including frozen clams are stocked.

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