<b>Staten Island</b>

A few Jersey boats were fishing for ling and cod inshore and sea bass offshore, said Dino from <b>Michael’s Bait & Tackle</b>. That was about the extent of the news, but the store is open, about 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. People were coming in, and cabin fever was setting in. They were buying rods, reels and tackle to get ready for spring, and they were also dropping off reel repairs to prepare for the impending season.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

A few boaters fished 17 Fathoms on Sunday and did catch bottom fish, mostly ling, but seas were rough from the get-go, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Otherwise nobody really fished, except that one angler, Mark Capalbo from Dumont, did weigh in a 6.4-pound sea bass that he hauled up on the Jamaica on an offshore wreck-fishing trip Saturday. He limited out on the fish and had a good trip. But the offshore boats weren’t having such good sea bassing for the most part lately. Once striped bass season opens in the bays and rivers March 1 customers will start soaking worms and clams in the bay and reeling in the fish. Worms and fresh clams will be stocked for the opening. No worms or live clams were carried at the moment, and the clam boat was broken down. But this time of year gets to the point when there’s no use stocking fresh bait anyway, because it would just have to be frozen after nobody buys it. But salted clams are stocked and work fine, and the shop salts them down well. Julian’s is open every day till 12 noon when the weather’s fair. The shop should be closed tomorrow in the snowstorm that was forecast. Hours will probably be extended to 2 p.m. daily on March 1 until full-time hours kick in when business starts to pick up this season.

<b>Neptune</b>

No trips left the coast with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, but charters are available, Capt. Ralph said. Last week he said bottom fishing for ling and cod was an option, and water temps at that time were on the verge of whether blackfish would bite or not. Last Lady’s two boats are some of the only charter vessels still available for charters this winter. If you’ve got the itch to get outdoors and fish, here’s your opportunity.

<b>Belmar</b>

UPDATE, 2/25: The party boat Ocean Explorer sailed Sunday, and John from <b>Fishermen’s Den</b> believed the boat was running for blackfish, but the vessel was yet to return when he have this report that day. He thought no trips on the boat fished last week. Previously the folks from the store said the vessel was now the only party boat fishing from Belmar. Nothing was really biting in the surf, and the same was true about Shark River, though the river was probably paved with out-of-season winter flounder. Worms and clams should be stocked for the opening of striped bass season in the bays and rivers this coming Saturday. Fisherman’s Den is usually open 5 or 6 a.m. and closed by 12 noon these days when the weather is decent. Hours will be extended to probably 5 p.m. as soon as more anglers start fishing.

<b>Brielle</b>

UPDATE, 2/25: Offshore wreck-fishing trips on the party boat Jamaica sailed Friday and Saturday nights, but no results of the trips were heard about yet, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Offshore wreck fishing on the local party boats the previous weekend was so-so, and some patrons bagged decent catches, and some didn’t, probably depending on their level of experience. Dave knew that one trip that weekend on the Jamaica produced some big sea bass, but not a lot. Sea bass fishing’s been like this for unknown reasons. Even the commercial draggers were fishing south instead of farther offshore like they usually do. The party boat Voyager is also sailing on these wreck trips and also made it out on its first weekly cod trip of the season two Fridays ago, coming back with 25 keepers. But the snowstorm weathered out those Friday trips this past week.  Dave also knew that the Paramount was bottom fishing Sunday and thought the Jamaica II was targeting cod on a trip this weekend. Nothing was heard about herring caught at Manasquan Inlet, and nobody was coming to the shop to buy Sabiki rigs for herring, and they normally do if the herring can be found. The Reel Seat will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Sunday, and the good news is that the hours will be extended afterward because the month of March will be here. Starting next week in March the shop will be open Wednesdays through Sundays until extending its hours even more when the fishing picks up. The shop will be closed when it exhibits at the Saltwater Fishing Expo in Somerset from March 14 through 16, a Friday through a Sunday. Dave hopes to exhibit Shimano’s new Lucanus jigs for bottom fishing at the show, if the jigs are available by then. The Reel Seat also always exhibits all kinds of other cool items like Shimano’s other jigging systems, the store’s famous tuna spreader bars and its well-known, custom-made fluke rigs. Be sure to stop by. The  <a href="http://www.ssfff.net" target="_blank"> Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund</a> will also exhibit at The Saltwater Expo. The SSFFF will also hold a public meeting in South Jersey at 7:30 p.m. March 6 in Brooklawn, near Gloucester City, at American Legion Post 72 at 11 South Railroad Avenue. That meeting time has been changed to 7:30 p.m. from the previous 7 p.m. to allow anglers to come from the state’s meeting in Galloway that should decide the year’s fluke bag limit and season. Also catch the SSFFF at the Asbury Park Fishing Club’s Flea Market on March 9 at Asbury Park Convention Hall.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

The first of the season’s 12-hour cod trips on the <b>Voyager</b> sailed Friday in less than perfect weather and 20- to 25-knot winds, the report on the boat’s web site said. But the first cod, a 10-pounder, was reeled aboard moments after anchoring, and a couple of more quickly came up, and then a few more were picked. The crew then decided to work their way inshore because of the poor weather, and a few cod and some ling were taken at each drop. Patrons ended up with 25 keeper cod and some throwbacks, and the high hook came back with four cod, and some customers landed two or three. The crew was hoping this Friday’s weather would be better for the next trip. On Friday evening the boat left port on an offshore sea bass trip, and fishing for the lumpheads was good, and plenty of porgies, ling and even some whiting were mixed in. High hook scored a mess of the fish including an 18-pound pollock. The cod trips are running 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Friday through March 28, and no reservations are required. The offshore sea bass trips are sailing 16 ½ hours at 11:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, and reservations are required. In other words, two trips from 11:30 p.m. through 6 p.m., leaving port both Fridays and Saturdays. The web site’s schedule also said ling and blackfish trips were featured on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but the report mentioned nothing about it, so call the boat to confirm. Voyager is docked at <b>Fisherman’s Supply</b>, and Dennis from the store said local fishing news was quiet, and not even anything was heard about herring fishing at Manasquan Inlet. But the store is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day.  

Bottom-fishing trips on the <b>Dauntless</b> along the Mudhole in 120 to 200 feet managed to sail a couple of times in the past days, Capt. Butch said, and patrons mostly picked away at ling but also came up with some cod, a few blackfish and sometimes a pollock. Some of the pollock were large, and others were small, and the fishing generally was slower than last year, but catches were bagged. Six or seven mackerel were boated Sunday, so a stray mackerel still showed up at times.  The water was 41 degrees, “getting cold now,” Butch said. The Dauntless is sailing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day when possible, one of the only boats still running. The vessel’s been fishing every day all year long for decades, probably the only Jersey boat doing so.

UPDATE, 2/25: Nothing was new or changed this past weekend, and everything was the same as before, said Rob Sr. from <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b>. Previously he said fishing at Manasquan Inlet was slow, but herring occasionally swam through, and patrons on the party boats were pulling up ling, cod and a few blackfish. The store is open Fridays through Sundays when the weather’s decent, and the Gates Motel, located on the grounds, is open all year. The motel is popular with anglers who stay overnight and avoid driving in the mornings and evenings for trips like on the party boats. Anglers also sometimes stay at the motel simply for a fishing vacation when the bite is on at the nearby inlet or surf, as well as on the party boats. Both the store and the motel are located within walking distance of the party and charter boat fleet, Manasquan Inlet and the surf.

<b>Toms River</b>

UPDATE, 2/25: A few perch were hooked in the Toms River on nightcrawlers, and one or two or such might be bagged, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. So the fishing was nothing great but something to reel in. The surface of the river was 40 degrees at the beginning of last week, and a netter there pulled up perch, winter flounder and even a few striped bass. One of the stripers was decent-sized, and the other couple were small, but apparently stripers were stirring around. Even a few blueclaw crabs were seen dropped onto the docks by seagulls, and a handful of the hardshells were skittering about. Dennis will try to stock bloodworms this week for the opening of striper season in the rivers and bays this coming Saturday, and he should know by today whether bloods will be available. Nightcrawlers and killies are stocked. Customers sometimes headed to the surf to fish, but nothing was heard back from them, and the water was cold. But one person said the water was 2 degrees warmer than this time last year. Murphy’s will probably start keeping longer hours when striper season opens this weekend, and upcoming hours will probably included 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Sunday.

<b>Waretown</b>

Anglers were catching and releasing out-of-season striped bass, usually shorts, at the Oyster Creek power plant discharge, and were also picking up perch at the mouth of the discharge and the lagoons, said Dale from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b>. The lagoons were mostly ice-free so far, allowing the opportunity. For the stripers anglers cast soft plastics, small ones like tiny Fin-S Fish, in colors like chartreuse or pink. For the perch they throw small shad darts tipped with grass shrimp. Frozen grass shrimp are stocked, and only frozen baits including clams are on hand. Live bloodworms will probably be stocked March 1, when striped bass season opens in the bays and rivers. L&H is open through winter.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

“Traditionalists” will certainly hit Graveling Point on Great Bay on March 1, the opening of striped bass season in the bays and rivers, to try to hook a linesider, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. In other words, they might not score until the water warms, but some will try. Bloodworms are the bait to dunk at the point, always one of the first places to give up the fish each year, and the shop is already carrying the worms. A few dozen were already sold last week, probably to people who were either hording them to be ready for the opening or were currently fishing for white perch. Scott plans to stock more of the bloods next week to be ready for stripers. Scott kept hearing people say they saw a boat or two perch fishing at Collins Cove on the Mullica River—the place for perch—but he heard from nobody who actually did. Live grass shrimp, the bait of choice for perch, are stocked. Basically fishing news was quiet, the dead of winter. People used to fish for winter flounder in the back waters around now, but the season is closed till later next month. The shop was actually catching up on reel repairs, as customers brought them in to prepare for spring, and the waiting time was in good shape. Previously repairs were backed up, but the staff was hunkering down and getting them done. Little time was left to prepare for the coming season, so bring in your repairs before it’s too late.   

<b>Absecon</b>

UPDATE, 2/25: Perch could be picked up from the brackish rivers like the Mullica, but a few customers tried for the slabs over the weekend and found the fishing tougher, and the snow might’ve cooled the water, said Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Striped bass season opens in the bays and rivers this coming Saturday, and the relatively warm winter might produce catches off the bat this year. The store is always the first to report the season’s first keepers, and last year its first ones came from the warm shallows of Delaware Bay and the Egg Harbor River. The store offers great prizes for the first keeper stripers of the year checked in: a $200 gift certificate for the first keeper; a $100 gift certificate for the second keeper; a $100 gift certificate for the first keeper over 20 pounds; and a $100 gift certificate for the first keeper over 30 pounds. The shop should stock bloodworms and clams for the opening, and the doors will probably now be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting this Friday, and until then, Dave will often be at the shop, like he has been all winter, but call to confirm. Let the season begin!

<b>Ocean City</b>

Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b> thought the local bottom-fishing boats sailed this weekend, but heard nothing about results, he said. People were saying tog pushed a little farther offshore, but again no word came in about specific catches. Maybe the biggest news was that the shop is geared up for the opening of striped bass season, and the supply of tackle is in good shape. When the season opens March 1 in the bays and rivers, customers will dunk clams for the fish at first, and some might try reeling in lures at a slow retrieve. No bloodworms will be carried for stripers until later in the season. Though the season opens in less than two weeks, the bite usually doesn’t take off until later, when water temps reach the high 40s or 50ish. The water was 40 degrees yesterday, and cooler weather, including snows forecast tomorrow, won’t help. Close to 2 inches of snow covered the ground today from the storm yesterday. Fin-Atics is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily but is closed on Sundays.

<b>Newport</b>

Mike from <b>Sundog Marina</b>, located on Nantuxent Creek along Delaware Bay, checked in to say the doors are now open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and white perch were turning on in the creek, if anyone’s got the urge to throw a line in the water. The marina is usually included in the Delaware Bay fishing report, but that report begins in mid to late April, when other shops on the bay start holding full-time hours for striped bass anglers, and the area’s charter boats begin to sail. But no need to wait to fish, now that Sundog’s open. The boat ramp is available, and bloodworms and grass shrimp will start to be carried at the shop as soon as there’s a demand. Slips have been added at the marina this year for some of the best local prices on the bay, Mike said.  He also said the <b>boating safety certificate course</b> required in New Jersey will be offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at the marina’s Waterfront Café on April 12, and if you were born after 1948, you’ll be required to earn the certificate this year. What’s more, <b>Sundog’s online store</b> is up and running, and you can order boating and fishing supplies from the site and choose to have products delivered either to your door or the marina. To check out the online shopping, visit <a href="http://www.sundognj.com/" target="_blank"> Sundog’s web site</a> and follow the links. If you need an item that's not found online, give the marina a call or stop by, because the product might be at the shop or might be able to be looked up in Sundog's catalog of more than 20,000 items.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>  fished from Jupiter, Florida, over the weekend, he said, but before a report about that, he also said only a couple of weeks are left before striped bass fishing should begin to take off in the back bay around Sea Isle. Striper season opens in the bays and rivers in less than 10 days on Saturday, March 1, and Joe usually hooks his first by March 15. At first he’ll toss flies such as Clousers or leadhead jigs, working them slowly along the bottom. He’ll prefer outgoing tides that pull warmer water into the bay from the creeks and rivers, instead of cold water from the ocean on incoming. Afternoon high tides on water coming off the flats are a preference, because the water’s had a chance to warm up through the day. The fishing was gangbusters for him in spring last year, with eight or nine stripers landed per trip. The stripers in the bay are small, so the fishing’s catch and release, but fast and fun action. In Florida Joe sailfished one day and went 1 for 1 and also landed a king mackerel, all on live goggleyes fished under a kite in the ocean, targeting the edge of 100 to 200 feet, no more than 1 ½ miles from shore. Joe said the area’s sailfishing’s been great, but as always sailfishing is sporadic. Anglers might fish all weekend and see no sails, and then they might catch six per trip the next four days. Northerly winds with cold fronts usually trigger the bite, pushing the fish through the waters on a southerly migration in winter, and southerly winds usually produce slow fishing.  Other boaters who trolled the ocean nailed kings and wahoos, and the trolling’s usually done with wire leaders to prevent bite-offs. Toothy barracudas can also come along and hit. A mono leader would give a better chance to troll a sailfish, but the sails in the area prefer live bait and kite fishing. Joe also fly fished one day behind Jupiter Inlet, reeling in a 3-pound grouper, jack crevalles, gafftopsail catfish and a mangrove snapper, also jumping off a ladyfish and an 18-inch snook. Anglers never know what they’ll pull up along the mangroves, and, for example, Joe thought he probably never fly rodded a grouper before, so it was cool. He cast a deerhair shrimp pattern that he ties, working the fly on a 7-weight rod with a floating line.

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