Well, we have reached December. The last month of the calendar year and the fishing is definitely on the slow side. But in no way is it over, at least for those of us who need to wet a line to keep Jack Frost off of our heels. The striper bite has slowed down as the water temperatures fall but they are still out there. Once again, slow down you retrieve! And black fishing has been good and will only get better in the chilly water. Don’t forget white perch and some of those big trout the NJDEP has stocked recently. Plenty to do still before you hang those stockings by the chimney with care. Let’s see if some of our regular contributors can point you towards the action this week.

Many charter boats are filling in the striped bass slowdown with a concentrated attack on the blackfish. Captain Pete Sykes of Parker Pete’s Charter Fishing in Belmar is doing just that. His custom 35’ Donnel is not only a joy to fish off of but also a fish finding magnet. Pete is looking to fill some slots for blackfish trips in December. These are open boat trips through the end of the year. You can reach Captain Sykes at (732)496-5028. Pete also has some dates available for a standard 6 pack charter if you are interested. If you like the thought of fishing on a boat with a ton of cockpit space, this is the one I would highly recommend.

If you have are looking for a bigger ride to the blackfish holes, check out the New Big Mohawk in Belmar. Captain Chris Hueth is a bottom fishing professional and his trips of late have been off the charts. Weather permitting, the Mohawk sails every day and has been on the fish lately. Pool winners up to 7 pounds have been the norm of late and green crabs have been the best bait. The Mohawk breaks port each day at 7am. Be there or be square.

In Brick Township, the go-to guy is Rich Wilkowski, captain of the Jersey Hooker Charter Fishing Team and owner of the shop of the same name. When I reached out to him this week, he was busy marking down items at the shop for those of you looking to do some holiday shopping. Fishing in the area has been good with the main target being tautog. Recent trips have netted fish up to 12 pounds, so it’s obvious he knows what he is doing on that front. Best baits are white leggers if you can get them and green crabs work almost as well. White leg crabs are to tog what spot are to striped bass. If you are in the area, stop by the shop and check out some of the deals they are working up.

The Miss Belmar Princess has been working the Shark River Inlet hard of late and it has paid off in striped bass. While the fish have shortened a bit, as is normal for this time of year, they are still catching. Captain Allan Shinn reports that recent pool winners have been in the 20-25 pound range. They are still picking up bluefish in the mix and even the occasional cod. The Princess sails daily (7:30 am) through the end of the year. If you are looking for a gift for that fishing fanatic in your life, consider a gift certificate for the Miss Belmar. They currently have some packages that could save a few bucks and provide a lifetime of fun.

If you are looking for some freshwater action now is one of the best times of the year to go after it according to Tackle Box Joe Loretti at Harry’s Army and Navy in Robbinsville. The NJDEP has finished its winter trout stocking program and there are some trophy rainbow trout available this year. Places like Green Turtle Pond in Passaic, Lake Aeroflex in Sussex and Lake Shenandoah in Ocean county have all received a winter injection of trout for your fishing pleasure. And there are plenty more. For an exact list, check out the NJDEP website at http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/wintrstk13.htm for all the stockings. And stop by Harry’s to check out some of their holiday special and pick up some bait while you are there.

In Point Pleasant, I had the chance to speak with Rich at Reel Life Bait and Tackle about the local bite. He tells me that while the beaches haven’t been on fire of late, anglers are still catching keepers using AVA-like jigs with a green tube. I take it there are still plenty of sand eels in the area. On the water, anglers slow trolling any kind of umbrella rigs are having the best hook up ratio. The canal is still giving up blackfish which is a bit surprising for this time of year but Rich believes that is due to the up and down temperatures we have been experiencing lately. Reel Life will continue to stay open 7 days a week through the end of the year and will trim back to five days come the New Year. The most probable scenario has them closed on Tuesday and Wednesday but Rich suggest calling ahead to be sure.

For better or worse, Island Beach State Park has once again this year, been the hot spot in the state. Not only for the “feet in the sand” crowd but even the boaters found the area off Bathing Beach to be one of the more productive holes. And if you heading there without stopping in Betty and Nick’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park, you may as well flip a coin in regard to what or where to fish. Rarely is a fish caught on the island that owner John Bushell Jr. is unaware of. When I spoke with him this week, John tells me that there is still an abundance of sand eels off the beach along with hickory shad. So it makes sense that angler throwing metal or slim profile swimmers arte having the best success. The bigger fish have departed according to John but there are still plenty in the ten pound range. He also told me that to his surprise a red drum was weighed in yesterday. It was taken on a Bomber lure. John didn’t know the color but I would place money it was yellow. That is a hot color for reds this year. John asked me to remind you that he is running some sweet deals for you Christmas shoppers. Be sure to check out the 30% discount on gift cards.

In Sea Bright, Giglio’s Bait and Tackle is a shop that still works to earn your business. I spoke with Tom Giglio this week, who has been with the shop since his family started it in the early 60’s. He informed me that there have been good reports coming out of Sandy hook the last few days and that word has it another nice movement from Long Island seems to be coming our way. Most of the fish are slightly short but there have been a good number of keeper bass in the mix. A slow retrieve using metals (Tom recommends the Halco Twisty) or the slim profile diving plugs like the Daiwa SP Minnow. He also told me that slim profile rubber baits have been getting some attention on the beaches. If you are attacking them from boat side, Tom tells me that umbrella rigs and a slow troll is still the best option. Blue fish are pretty much non-existent in the area. There is plenty of bait in the area with sand eels being the most prominent. Giglio’s stays open on winter hours through the end of the year and will move to half days on weekends starting the first of the year. A great place for Christmas shopping if you have an angler on your list.

On Weekends, the Mimi IV out of Point Pleasant is strictly charter. But on the weekdays, it operates as an open boat. Captain Kenny and his crew are some of the best you will find for blackfish and other bottom and deep water dwellers. And here is a plus, they keep the number of anglers down to a comfortable level and they accept no charge reservations. At 62 feet, the Mimi is a comfortable ride and stable fishing platform which goes a long way for me this time of year. With the prime weather conditions we have had this year, they have been sailing just about every day. Recent trips have blackfish up to 10 pounds and more than a few passengers getting their limits. Bait of choice, as usual, has been green crabs. The Mimi IV leaves it’s berth each day at 7 am. I suggest calling ahead (732-380-8019)to reserve a spot.

Best Bets for the Weekend

The water is getting a little chilly and for most of you, the to-do list is getting longer. With the holidays quickly approaching, there is only so much time left to put some time in fishing. There are fish around, mostly striped bass and blackfish and they need to be coaxed out of the water. Slow, slower slowest is the song you need to sing when retrieving your bait. The weather has been a roller coaster ride lately, one day moderate, the next cool and then downright cold. This weekend looks to be a mix in that regard as well. Bait can be hard to come by this time of year but as long as you have some metal or a slim line lure, you are armed to the teeth. And if you are out shopping, don’t forget to stop in your local B&T and check out their wares. Most are having some sort of Christmas special as good as or better than your local big box store. But whatever you do, please stay safe out there. We only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.