Reef Rescue and the N.J. Outdoor Alliance are forming a car pool to Baltimore on Monday in order to demonstrate to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council the importance of our artificial reefs in federal waters. New Jersey has applied for a special management zone that will keep commercial gear off those reefs. Delaware had been granted their application some time ago, and after a favorable draft report following the last council meeting it appeared that request would be approved. Yet, commercial fishing interests have fought hard to prevent that from happening. If so, federal funds from the tax on sportfishing gear may be denied for use on those reefs. Capt. Pete Grimbilas has been fighting for protection of our reefs that were built almost entirely with contributions from anglers and divers -- and their organizations. He feels that there must be a good showing of sportsmen at the meeting in the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore to influence the vote after the 3:30 to 5 p.m. discussion. Those wishing to car pool should call 973 454-0315 for arrangements. The northeast wind that came up on Tuesday created a rough and dirty surf that should be flattened and cleaned up by the strong west winds predicted. With ocean water temperatures still well above  50 degrees, it's likely that striped bass and even bluefish will remain in local waters into the New Year -- and possibly beyond, as was the case last winter. Those fish can be fussy at times, as was the case on Sunday afternoon when Bob Correll of Bay Head made his last trip of the season with his 23-foot Boston Whaler to just south of Manasquan Inlet. Birds were picking, and we had good readings  -- but I only had two hits on a large Tsunami bunker-colored swim shad while my nephew was catching slot-size bass on a white model. I had to switch to white before starting to catch bass in all those marks -- and then a big blue cut off the tail. The action died out suddenly as the sun got lower.  The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a similar problem on Thursday. They reported trying every sort of lure on the fish being marked, but they wouldn't hit anything.  The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant concluded its season in a blaze of glory with loads of slots and keepers over the weekend and into Monday's final trip.The action has all been to the south with remaining schools of peanut bunkers, but I was surprised to see Miss Barnegat Light all the way up to Bay Head on Sunday afternoon. The northern Shore December striper fishery never developed, and the Atlantic Highlands boats dropped out of it. Capt. Rob Semkewyc reported that very few of the bass he saw and marked from his Sea Hunter would hit. He had one shot of bass up to 27 inches before deciding to call it a season after this week's NE blow.  Surfcasters were getting a few shots before the weather changed. Jerry Lasko of Point Pleasant got into a blitz Saturday evening at Mantoking, and topped his catch with a 15-pound bass weighed at Castaways Tackle in Point Pleasant.  Joe Melillo, at that shop, had quite a few surf bass weigh-ins over the weekend.  As usual this winter, there was no repeat of a blitz at the same place two days in a row. There was still some life early Tuesday morning at Mantoloking. Lasko had been catching schoolies in the early morning dark on the black Mambo Minnow, but that morning they hit instead at first light as he and I each hooked up twice during a 5-minute "blitz" of 20-inchers. There was also a shot of larger bass chasing herring at Lavallette, but I got there just in time to see a 28-incher caught on a popper before the NE wind increased within minutes and shut it down. Grumpy's  Tackle in Seaside Park weighed some bass that morning, but there have been none snce then. The appearance of herring is a good sign since the peanuts are overdue departing to the south. Blackfishing has been generally good when boaters have been able to get out in good conditions. The Big Mohawk from Belmar reported a good catch Thursday on both green and white-legger crabs. By far the best bet for bottom fishing has been the jumbo sea bass and porgy action on the far offshore wrecks. The Jamaica from Brielle has been sailing at 11 p.m. the night before every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Additional trips will be added during Christmas week. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations. Limits of sea bass up to 5 1/2 pounds are common, along with plenty of jumbo porgies and some bluefish. A few cod have also been boated. The Golden Eagle also reported a fine offshore wreck trip this week that also included a heavy bite of 3-to-5-pound blues before daylight. Though there's been rumors of large school to medium bluefin tuna at Little Italy and other areas not too far from shore, I haven't been able to confirm that.   Southern N.J. striper fishing has been slow to develop, but there was a new state record boated in Delaware on Dec. 4. The 62-pounder was trolled at Overfalls Shoal by Paul Santa Barbara on a 32-ounce Mo-Jo while fishing with Henny Kaiss on Island Girl. The previous Delaware record was a 52-pounder from the surf on Dec. 8, 2012 by Ben Smith. My office phone (732 223-5729) is still out of order. Contact me at cristori@aol.com. My daily blog at nj.com/shore/blogs/fishing will continue until further notice.