At our Thanksgiving table we always start the feast with a lap around the table with each of us taking a moment to give thanks for what we have been blessed with over the past year. It’s not a religious thing, just a wonderful moment to voice how grateful we are for being healthy enough to be able to enjoy life with each other.

I don’t want to beat the “Sandy” horse any more than it has been, but there was no Thanksgiving family dinner at many of our neighbor’s homes last year. No laughing kids, no arguing about who gets to break the wishbone, no crazy uncles, and no plan making for where we were going to go for our annual Black Friday mayhem. Many of our family of shops that contribute to our report every week were devastated. Either flooded, knocked off their foundations, looted, or in some cases totally destroyed, never to come back.

I bring this up, again, simply to remind you that although your favorite tackle shop may now look like everything is just fine, our guys are still in recovery mode when it comes to their cash registers. So please, this Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and even Cyber Monday… keep it local. From our northernmost shop, Meltzer’s Sporting Goods up in Garfield, to Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township, all the way south to Hand’s Too down in Cape May, help the guys that help you. Every little buck counts.

I know this is a “North” Jersey report, but I have to tell you that for the first time this year I am thrilled to report that the Fall run is in full swing both up and down the Jersey shore. The Northern/Central guys may complain a little bit that the bite is off from a couple weeks ago, but there are still big bodies of stripers off our coast and the guys from the end of LBI south are finally in on the action. Sometimes you just have to “share” a little!

I jumped on with Capt. Gene Quigley from Shore Catch Guide Service out of Manasquan on Monday. We pushed off the dock a little before 7:00 with the air temperature hovering around 18 degrees and broke Manasquan Inlet trying to decide if left or right was the right turn to make. Capt. Gene chose left and it was a grand slam decision. Once in sight of the Hook, the sky was clouded with birds and my partner and I began a 6-hour, non-stop hammering of stripers. We only had a few that would keep, but without exaggeration, we easily landed 70 between us. The ticket for the day was 1-ounce leadheads with 6-inch Ron-Z tails in olive metallic.

Let’s hit the shops. Have to warn you in advance, that the news is a little thin today (Wednesday) with this mini-nor’easter coming through. Lots of guys did not open today to grab a holiday before the holiday since most will be working Thanksgiving morning at least. I got quite a few answering machines, which is really odd for this time of year.

Garfield Fishing Report

A Meltzer’s Sporting Goods, Mark was out deepwater blackfishing on Monday and had a solid catch day of big fish. Good numbers and good size. The striper bite seems to be sticking on the troll for most, but I guess they were just throwing the wrong thing as my Monday with Shore Catch seemed to prove.

Hazlet Fishing Report

I got Anthony on the horn down at The Tackle Box in Hazlet reporting that the surf bite has been inconsistent to say the least. One day, lots of action with the next couple being a total skunk. When the fish are there, Ava jigs, SP Minnows and needlefish are the ticket. The boat bite has been nothing short of epic. Six pack anglers report literally landing hundreds of bass in a day, although a vast majority are throwbacks. Blackfishing also has been nothing short of sensational with white chins in the 4- to 8-pound range coming off of the reef and the Middle grounds.

Bradley Beach Fishing Report

A little further down the coast, always happy Dominick at The Bait Shop in Bradley Beach has his guitar out to sing a little bad surf fishing blues. Really not much action from the sand the last week, even though there have been a fair number of guys hitting it. His boat customers have been running both north and south, with the left-turners doing better.

Belmar Fishing Report

The boys at Joey’s Bait Shack are selling some umbrella rigs for sure. The troll bite has been just great up north of them. Those that like to troll (a group that does NOT include me, by the way) are connecting dragging anything that looks like a sand eel.

The Head boats working out of Belmar are just annihilating big blackfish. Big Mohawk, Miss Belmar Princess, Ocean Explorer, Miss Belmar Princess, are all running to the wrecks and reefs with full coolers coming back. Thou shall not set on the first nibble, thou shall not forget to change your baits….call ahead for schedules and availability:

Big Mohawk in Belmar – 732-356-0604

Ocean Explorer – 848-565-0519

Ol’ Salty II – 800-836-8862

Miss Belmar Princess – 732-681-6866

Brielle Fishing Report

John was pulling duty at The Reel Seat in Brielle in the rain Wednesday morning with good news from the last couple of days. Again for bass, the troll seems to be the way to put your meat in the box. Umbrellas with sand eel tubes, shads or even guys pulling Stretches are doing well. The fish are on the move so zeroing in is a little tough but once you get in the neighborhood the catching is real good. Again, mostly shorts but keepers in the 13 to 22 pounds range are just fine. Sea bassing and black fishing seems to be heating up size wise as the water temps continue to drop, which makes sense. Offshore sea bass fishermen are catching some monster porgies out there with a few cod and pollock mixed in. There have been Ghost sightings as well but the bluefin seem to be real skittish and not cooperating with casters. Guys are trying everything including trolling for them. Best bet seems to be trolling for stripers and hoping you don’t get spooled if a tuna bites.

Point Pleasant Fishing Report

The Fisherman’s Supply Co. has been a busy place. Jason was on the dock when we came in for fuel on Monday and he says the bite is still full blown ripping. Boat are crushing the bass with good showings from Long Branch up to the Hook on the beach too. The Bill Hurley sand eels or tins with teasers are keeping the beach action running with sunrise and earlier in the day seeming to be best. Afloat, just run to the birds.

Wrapping things up, it looks like there should be some striper on the Thanksgiving table right next to the big bird. If you do not mind the inconvenience of culling through a couple hours of non-stop action to grab the perfect eating sized fish that is.

Best Bet for This Weekend

Find something that floats and get on it. The bird play up off the Hook the last couple of days has been nothing short of insane with huge schools of smaller fish under them. Trolling seems to be the best bet but throwing sand eel imitations like a surfcaster would from the boat is a great plan as well. Black fishing and sea bassing is getting stronger as the water temps drop so grab some lead and a head off.

This is my favorite holiday for family and fishing. Lots of traveling going on, lots of sporty weather. So like Sargent Phil Esterhaus in Hill Street Blues used to say… “Hey, let’s be careful out there”.

… and Stay Tuna-ed!