Coming off a career year in 2006, tight end Chris Baker is hoping to improve on a personal best in catches, both on the football field and in the water.

Baker, an avid fisherman, has not been able to get out on his boat on the South Shore of Long Island to fish as much as he would like, but for reasons other than beginning of OTA practices, which he has worked around in the past.

“I want to get out more but it depends on the weather and the water and all that kind of stuff, too, but I’ve been out a few times,” said Baker, who keeps his boat right behind his waterfront home.

The Queens, N.Y., native further developed his passion for fishing when he moved to southeast Michigan before his stellar grade-school career at Saline High School, just a short distance from the shores of Lake Erie.

In the six years since the Jets plucked Baker out of Michigan State, he has adjusted his fishing preference to saltwater and the body of water most conveniently located near his home, the Atlantic Ocean.

“If I was back in, say, an area like Michigan where there’s a ton of lakes, I’d probably do a lot more freshwater fishing,” he said.

The change in his tackle box is not the only adjustment Baker has made since joining the Jets.

The tight end set school career records at Michigan State for receptions (133), yards (1,705) and touchdowns (13) at his position, but joined a Jets team that utilized its tight ends for more traditional, run-blocking purposes.

Baker established himself as a solid run-blocking tight end, backing up Anthony Becht in his first three years with the Jets and earning the nickname “Touchdown Maker” for his abilities as a blocker.

Then in 2005, after Becht’s free agency departure to Tampa Bay, Baker emerged from training camp as the No. 1 tight end on the depth chart and began to establish himself as his own “touchdown maker.” In his first start, he became the first Jets’ tight end to record a 100-yard game since Johnny Mitchell in December 1995.

After recovering from a broken fibula that cut short his 2005 campaign eight games into the season, Baker returned to form in 2006, starting every game of the regular season.

Again, he proved his worth as a skilled receiver as well as a steady run-blocker.

Fans may remember "the catch that wasn’t" at Cleveland last season, an acrobatic, one-handed grab made just inside the sideline in the end zone while receiving a hit from Browns defensive back Brodney Pool.

The Jets were down, 20-13, with 1:06 remaining and facing a fourth-and-4 from the Browns’ 24. The reception, ruled out of bounds, would have been an even more memorable play had it been allowed.

Still, Baker set career highs in receptions (31) and yards (300) last season and he enters minicamp with confidence in his abilities as a receiver and a run blocker.

Asked which kind of “touchdown maker” he preferred being, Baker smiled and responded without hesitation.

“If you’re a tight end, you like to catch the ball,” he said. “Yet I want to be known as a good all-around player as far as catching and blocking and someone that can do everything.”

With the off-season addition of running back Thomas Jones, a 1,000-yard threat in the backfield, Baker’s run-blocking talent may be utilized more this season than last.

It was no surprise, then, at Thursday's OTA practice to see Baker working with a small group of fullbacks and tight ends on blocking techniques on one end of the field while fellow TE Sean Ryan practiced goal line routes with the first offense on the other end.

“We got a couple of dynamic backs in the backfield right now so [my goal is to] help them to get to a thousand yards and beyond, and for me personally just to work on my blocking and be a big part of a good rushing attack,” said Baker.

A short time later, however, Baker returned to his spot with the first-teamers for 7-on-7 drills. In his first action, he was the beneficiary of a nicely thrown ball by QB Chad Pennington. He used his 6'3" frame to make a difficult reception falling backward behind two defenders in the back right corner of the end zone.

Just another day at the office for Chris Baker, “touchdown maker.”