<b>South Amboy</b>

With <b>Reel World Charters</b> a trip limited out on fluke on Raritan Bay today, Capt. James said. Anthony Ruggiero’s 7-pounder was biggest, and the anglers, the Ruggiero party, fished with green Gulp with a killie combos. Reel Class is also fishing for striped bass and sea bass. Good catches of striped bass were still made, and sea bassing was very good.  Active and retired military, first responders and law enforcement get a $50 discount on charters. To receive the discount, call ahead and let Reel World know.

<b>Keyport</b>

Four keeper fluke to 22 inches and a bunch of throwbacks were reeled from Raritan Bay on Larry Strother’s trip with five anglers 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. They fished with spearing and squid, and space is available on a 6-hour open-boat trip for fluke Sunday, leaving between 6 and 7 a.m. A fluke charter is booked Saturday. Open-boat trips for fluke are available 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. daily when no charter is slated. Call to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Striped bass could still be caught, and fishing for them was good on the ocean Wednesday, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Bluefish swam nearly everywhere. Good fluke catches were made from the ocean to Raritan Bay to rivers. Ocean bottom fishers plowed very good catches of sea bass and ling. Lots of crabs were plucked from the rivers. All baits are fully stocked.

Fluke fishing remained not as good as Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> would like, he said. Catches looked like they somewhat might’ve been picking up on Tuesday morning’s trip. The afternoon’s trip was slower, turning out a couple of fluke here, there. Wednesday morning’s trip was similar, and the afternoon’s trip produced more shorts than previously, and some keepers. Then the drift was lost. A few better-sized fluke, including a couple of 7-pounders and a 6-pounder, were drilled on Tuesday’s trips, covered in the last report. Trips fished different places on Raritan Bay, including along both sides of the Navy Pier, and at Flynn’s Knoll, depending on conditions. Though the news talked about heat, weather tends to be more pleasant on the waters, getting more of a breeze. Sometimes one side of the boat, out of the shade, could be warmer. Surely the weather was hot on land Wednesday, but was more comfortable on the waters.  The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke twice daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. <b>***Update, Saturday, 6/23:***</b> The catch began slowly on this morning’s trip, and a few fluke began to be hooked toward the end, Tom said. One angler limited out on the trip, and others bagged one or two, but the fishing wasn’t good. Some anglers landed no keepers, of course. The afternoon’s trip began fishing where the morning trip stopped, and fluke gave up a pretty good pick. Some keepers were hooked on every drift, and shorts gave up action. George Favre, East Rutherford, eased in a 6-pound 12-ounce fluke. Bait caught best, and spearing with Gulp or killies with Gulp worked as well as anything, “but every day is different,” Tom said.

<b>Highlands</b>

From <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> Ed Demunno on the Hammerhead limited out on fluke off the Coast Guard Station, an e-mail from the marina said. Flo Rella and daughter-in-law Melanie on the 2F’s bagged two fluke 24 and 18 inches. Tracy Amarosa, husband and son on the ParTee caught fluke to 3 pounds at Shrewsbury Rocks. The full-service marina features boat slips and rack storage, ship-store supplies, a full line of bait for inshore and offshore, tackle, and a fuel dock, and is located on Shrewsbury River, with no bridges before the bay. Convenient, fast access to fishing.

<b>Neptune</b>

Fishing remained great, Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> said in an e-mail. Eleven cod 15 to 18 pounds and loads of big ling were pummeled on a trip Monday. Fluke fishing was good on a trip today. Despite south winds, “my brother-in-law Jimmy had three keepers and (three sizeable sea bass),” Ralph said. An individual-reservation trip will sail for fluke and sea bass Wednesday. Afterward the trips will run every Tuesday. Individual-rez trips are also fishing on every Sunday in July, but the e-mail didn’t say for what. Call to ask. Mako sharks and bluefin tuna “are in close,” Ralph said. Book a charter now, because they won’t be there long.  Ralph hasn’t “seen this type of fishing,” he said, in more than 20 years. The next individual-reservation trip for cod is set for Monday, July 9.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>***Update, Saturday, 6/23:***</b> On the <b>Katie H</b> anglers on Friday at first got on a striped bass bite early in the morning, putting two 30-pounders in the box, losing a couple, Capt. Mike said. Then the trip sea bassed, rounding up a few keepers, not great action. Next the trip fished for fluke, finding good catches at first, landing a couple of keepers, including a 5-pounder. Then the drift was lost in south winds that came up against the tide. The anglers had a good time, Mike said, and fishing aboard this weekend will compete in Mako Mania.

A trip Wednesday filled the cooler with big striped bass to 4 feet with <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Jared said. The fishing, on the ocean, was great, and 11 of the bass to a 46-pound whopper were bagged. Others weighed in the 30s, and a 22-pounder was smallest. The trip caught them by fishing bunker schools. Fin-Ominal is also sailing for sharks, blues, sea bass and fluke. The 50-foot boat can accommodate large to small groups, up to 22 passengers on cruises, up to 15 on fishing trips. Cruises available include trips to watch fireworks on the ocean off Asbury Park every Wednesday and Point Pleasant Beach every Thursday in July and August.

Striped bass fishing was excellent on the ocean Wednesday, serving up big ones, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. One trip looked for sharks aboard the other day at wrecks 30 to 40 miles from shore. No sharks showed up, but some good catches of cod were pumped in. Waters remained perfect for sharking, and on the trip were 68 to 69 degrees, a beautiful color, and held lots of life, including porpoises and whales. Bluefin tuna were beaten farther from shore, 60 miles out, on other vessels. Closer to the coast, fluke fishing was picking up. No huge ones seemed abundant, but the keeper ratio was improving. Sea bass fishing was decent, not as great as early in the season, and the right spots had to be fished, after anglers pressured the popular places. Parker Pete’s is fishing for all these species and any catches available. Catches remain good, and get out while they are, “and beat the heat,” Pete said. Charters and open-boat trips are running. For availability on the open trips, see <a href="http://parkerpetefishing.com/belmar-fishing-trips/open-boat-trips" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s open-boat page</a> online, and sign up for the e-mailed newsletter on the site. Dates are announced in both places.

Bluefishing kept going strong on the ocean on both daytime and nighttime trips on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, Karin said. The fish to 15 pounds were mostly jigged, sometimes baited, during the day, and baited at night. Ava 27 and 47 jigs, with or without tails, worked best. On the party boat <b>Tropical Adventure</b>, the company’s other vessel, fishing for fluke and sea bass on the ocean was okay, not crushing them, but catching. The Miss Belmar Princess if sailing for bluefish 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily. The Tropical Adventure is fishing for fluke and sea bass 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Fishing was good, but required a little more work than before, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> in an e-mail. Waters were warming, and big striped bass hit early in mornings in the ocean. Get out by 4 a.m., find bunker swimming, and catch the bass there before they stop biting. Joe Diselva did that, landing plenty of stripers to a 42-pounder. He released all except that one, because the fish was hooked deeply. Frank Arnone caught several of the stripers to 34 pounds. Shark River’s fluke fishing was hot, but 1 in 10 was a keeper. “It seems we have to wait for a new body of larger fish to move in,” Bob said. The shop’s rental boats are at the ready for fluking on the river.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Tuna fishing at Wilmington Canyon, 110 miles from port,  went 9 for 12 on yellowfins on Tuesday with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Ray said. The tuna, all about the same size, 40 to 45 pounds, were trolled mostly in the cooler waters in a 67- to 70-degree temperature break. Waters were full of life including bait, and some of the tuna were full of krill, interestingly. A free-jumping blue marlin and a free-jumping, large mako shark were seen. Closer to port, a trip to Chicken Canyon on Wednesday trolled a bluefin tuna for each of the anglers, keeping a 44-incher, releasing the rest, smaller fish. No larger ones seemed around that could be bagged, so the trip began drifting for sharks. No mako sharks bit, but blue sharks chomped non-stop. Waters were a good-looking blue/green, especially attractive for mako fishing. Lots of bait swam, but deep. Lots of dolphins swam, and shearwaters were everywhere, almost a nuisance when sharking. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew prides themselves on the concept of professionalism and sharing the experience in outdoor adventures.

After fishing was docked a week because of winds, an open-boat, overnight trip steamed offshore Sunday on the <b>Canyon Runner</b>, a report on Canyon Runner’s Web site said. “No water in (Lindenkohl Canyon),” the report said, so the trip ran to Spencer Canyon, and began trolling south toward Wilmington Canyon. A couple of yellowfin tuna were decked. A few more were trolled at the Wilmington. At night the trip ran inshore to the Fingers, because weather was better there, and shark fished. But no sharks bit. “The conditions and signs were not great (for tuna fishing on the trip),” the report said, but the trip scratched out a catch of “seven nice yellowfin,” the report said, on Canyon Runner squid spreader bars, Green Machine spreaders and ballyhoos.  

“Just when I thought the run was over!” a report on <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>’ Web site said on Wednesday. A charter this week limited out on striped bass on the ocean. The trip got on the waters at 4:30 a.m., because the captain told the anglers that was the best shot. The group of six limited out in the first hour of fishing, releasing more, until 7 a.m., when they called it quits. More than 20 stripers to 40 pounds were landed. Then the trip sea bassed, cranking in 20 keepers and a little more than twice that many throwbacks. A crew trip fished for tuna on Sunday, Fathers’ Day. They had intended to sail all the way to the Continental Edge, but stopped on the bluefin tuna grounds closer to shore instead, going 4 for 4 on the fish. Then they went sharking, landing a few blue sharks. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing like these two trips for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. Open-boat trips for a mixed bag of bluefin tuna, sharks, cod and pollock are about to begin. The annual trips are unique. Afterward open trips will run all the way offshore for a mixed bag of fish like yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, sharks, swordfish and tilefish. Call for info.

Bluefish 2 to 4 pounds schooled the mouth of Manasquan Inlet in mornings, said Gary from <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b>. Hickory shad were nailed at the inlet at dusk pretty reliably. The shop makes a hickory shad rig with Fin-S Fish that clocks several at a time. Fluke fishing was slow from the inlet wall but picking up. Anglers fished for them with killies or spearing with squid. Divers spearfished a 34-inch striper and triggerfish at the inlet Wednesday. A load of hickory shad and blues, including larger blues 4 pounds mixed in, swam the surf at Point Pleasant Beach. Anglers fished a mackerel tree with an Ava 17 or 27 jig to fight several, a mix of shad and blues, at once. A 30-inch striper was beached from the surf Wednesday night on an Ava 17 with a chartreuse tail. Boaters on the ocean slammed big blues and sometimes stripers. The striper fishing wasn’t great, but wasn’t bad, and the fish were large. All baits are stocked. <b>***THIS TACKLE SHOP IS FOR SALE! CALL: 732-899-5760.***</b>

Ocean fluke fishing the last few days wasn’t great, but was decent, on the party boat <b>Gambler</b>, Capt. Bob said. Throwbacks and keepers were tugged in, and though trips targeted fluke, sea bass outnumbered fluke on lots of drifts. The sea bass were mixed sizes, some of them sizeable to 3 pounds. Trips fished humps and rough bottom in 40 to 60 feet. Tim Boryszewski, Toms River, won the pool with a 4-1/2-pound fluke and bagged five sea bass to 3 pounds on Wednesday morning’s trip. On nighttime bluefishing trips, excellent catches of 6- to 10-pounders were bailed. On the most recent nighttime wreck-fishing trip, on Sunday, fishing was somewhat sluggish, but big ling, some of them 4 pounds, were clocked. Six or 10 would be caught, then the boat would need to be shifted a hundred feet, then 6 or 10 more would come in, and so on.  One angler jigged for squid during part of the trip, easily catching 20. If someone fished for squid the whole time, the angler could probably jig 50 or 80. The squid were good-sized or 6 to 8 inches. A few sea bass and cod were hooked on the trip.  The Gambler is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. Bluefish trips are running 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Wreck-fishing trips are steaming 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays.

Sea bass, ling, cod and fluke, plenty of fish, were scooped aboard the last four or five days from the ocean on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. Out-of-season blackfish and winter flounder were released. The sea bass catches started to amp up a bit, after slower fishing for them a moment. Sometimes half were keepers, other times a quarter were keepers, and sometimes three quarters were keepers. Most anglers pumped in 12 to 15 keeper sea bass. Trips fished for sea bass shallow in 55 or 60 feet. A few ling lingered in those waters, but ling began to move deeper, as waters warmed. The surface was 69 or 70 degrees. After sea bass fishing, trips pushed farther from shore for ling. Wednesday’s trip fished for ling in 170 feet, about as deep as practical, because dogfish were a nuisance deeper. But dogs did begin to thin out from that area. A humongous, 10-1/2-pound ling was creamed on Wednesday’s trip. Butch hadn’t seen a ling that big in some time. A couple of cod 15 to 20 pounds were clubbed on Wednesday’s trip. Probably 25 cod were bagged aboard Tuesday. Ten or twelve were taken on Monday’s trip. The cod usually weren’t big, but keepers were usually 5 to 10 pounds. Thresher sharks were around, and probably a 300-pounder was cut off at boat-side on Wednesday. Nighttime trips for blues began to sail last weekend on Fridays and Saturdays. The fishing was phenomenal, and the bluefish trips will run Fridays and Saturdays through next week, and will start to fish Wednesdays to Sundays on the Fourth of July. A few blues were hooked on daytime trips, and sometimes blues bit off other fish then.  The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Bluefish trips will run 7:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through next week and will sail Wednesdays to Sundays during those hours starting the Fourth of July.

<b>Toms River</b>

Catches of fluke somewhat picked up on southern Barnegat Bay, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Occasional weakfish were claimed in that area around the 40 and Berkeley Island Park in early mornings on pink Fin-S Fish or rubber mullets. The population of blues somewhat thinned out in that area but still remained. Crabbing was okay in that neck of the bay. An oddball striped bass was eeled along the bay’s sod banks at night. At Barnegat Inlet blues 2 or 2 ½ pounds and a few fluke swam. Occasional weakfish nipped in Toms River, “believe it or not,” Dennis said. Spots and Lafayettes showed up in the Toms in crab and eel pots, though they hadn’t appeared there in years. Anglers could hook them on bloodworms, sandworms or nightcrawlers. A few blowfish even showed up in the pots. Crabbing was very good in the Toms, and eels were caught from the river. Surf fishing was slow for stripers, and waters 67 or 68 degrees seemed to push most of the bass farther out in the ocean. Bluefishing improved in the surf. A few fluke and sea bass were boated at Barnegat Reef. Sharks kept grabbing the catches. 

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Bunker schools held farther off in the ocean, instead of in the surf, so kayakers and boaters sometimes ran into striped bass that chased the baitfish, said John from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Surf casters beached an occasional or stray striper or bluefish. Fewer small blues than before, probably 50 percent fewer, schooled Barnegat Bay, but still swam the waters, smacking popper lures or metal. “You’ll hear of a couple of fluke at the buoys (in the bay),” John said, but lots of bay’s fluke were throwbacks. Crabbing was okay, not as good as it was in late May. But customers caught the blueclaws from the shop’s rental boats and docks. Snapper blues started to appear. They were small but began to bite spearing kids fished from the docks.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Anglers on the <b>Super Chic</b> bluefished on the ocean every day, limiting out each time, Capt. Ted said. The fish weren’t far from port, and trips will bluefish through Sunday. Bottom fishing is sometimes scheduled next week. Up to 25 passengers can sail on the 56-foot boat.

“Great fishing today,” a report said about today’s bluefish trip on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, on the vessel’s Web site. “Not jumping in the boat (like) before,” the report said, “but many anglers with limits.” Was pleasant in the breeze on the waters on this hot day. Bluefishing on Wednesday’s trip was superb, and all anglers limited out, even if the fish were smaller. The fishing was excellent Tuesday, and fantastic Monday, for smaller blues both days. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing 8 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Mostly fluke were docked, said Vince Jr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. A good numbers of keepers came in from Barnegat Bay, and most of the catches heard about came from the shop’s side of the Dike. But some were lifted from High Bar Harbor. Not many were caught from Double Creek Channel, and more probably were boated from Oyster Creek Channel. Snot grass had fouled tackle the previous couple of days, but cleared today. The waters were probably the clearest this season. A few bluefish were around. Nothing was heard about weakfish or kingfish. A couple of striped bass were hooked from along Barnegat Inlet’s rocks. Crabbing was slow but improving, and these warm days might help. Many rental boaters nabbed 10 of the keeper blueclaws, and occasionally totaled a couple of dozen. Lots of clams were reportedly around, or Vince Jr. heard good things about clamming. Customers can fish, crab and clam from the shop’s rental boats. Rental kayaks are also available, and Bobbie’s also features a tackle shop known for baits, including live, a fuel dock and more.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/22:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “Bluefin tuna! We went 3 for 4 (on Thursday) on 30-pound class bluefin. I started looking at the Lillian, trolled through the Glory Hole … nothing. By 10 a.m., we were at the Atlantic Princess with a handful of other boats. As I was setting up the third rod in our trolling spread, the first rod was already screaming. We were using 20-pound conventional gear to keep it sporty. Cedar plugs, small daisy chains, little jet lures --  it was ‘old-school’ high-speed bluefin, at it's finest. You don't need a 300-yard ballyhoo! We switched over to sharking to try for a mako, but went hitless, from noon to 2 p.m., and headed for home. I'm back out (today) for some more. Still have openings on Saturday and Sunday for tuna or stripers or both.  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQIeJbuhxmQ&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Here’s a video clip</a> from our first hookup (on Thursday).”

<b>Forked River</b>

Not much was heard about striped bass anymore this season, but fluke fishing was good on Barnegat Bay, including between the BI and BB markers and at Double Creek Channel and High Bar Harbor, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Blues were bombed on the bay. Lots of blowfish were cranked in from the bay. Crabbing was good.

<b>Surf City</b>

Keeper fluke were reportedly dragged from the surf sometimes at Barnegat Light, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Otherwise not much happened in the surf. Crabs were trapped in the back waters. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, killies, all the frozen baits like mullet and mackerel, and artificial baits are stocked.  Keep up with the news in <a href="http://www.surfcitybaitandtackle.com/" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s fishing reports</a> on the shop’s Web site. Or keep in touch on <a href=" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Surf-City-Bait-and-Tackle/207533229268619
" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s Facebook page</a>.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

A charter went 5 for 9 on yellowfin tuna to 45 pounds at Wilmington Canyon on Monday on the <b>June Bug</b>, Capt. Lindsay said. The trip left the dock early, and started trolling at 4:30 a.m., 3 miles inshore of the tip of the canyon. Waters were cool, but patches of changing water temps from 62 to 67 degrees were found when fishing. If a line were drawn down the center of the canyon, all the fish bit on the west side. The boat kept making passes at the notch at the corner of the canyon, and tuna kept hitting there. A 15-pound mahi mahi was also gaffed. The warmest waters seen on the trip were 68 degrees, 10 miles inshore of the tip. Waters warmed to that temp quickly on the way to the canyon, and cooled quickly as the trip motored ahead. East/northeast winds blew 12 to 14 knots at first. But winds shifted to southeast, and conditions calmed. Seas were flat as a lake on the ride home. Thousands of shearwaters were seen when fishing. “Amazing,” Lindsay said. Patches of probably 100 rested on the waters. Pods of small, 6- or 8-inch skipjacks, lots, were seen. “Like candy to tuna and billfish,” Lindsay said. No billfish were seen on the trip. The June Bug is also fishing inshore, including for fluke on the bay. The fluking actually wasn’t bad, and the keeper ratio was good. The bay was full of baby sea bass.

<b>Tuckerton</b>

On a sea bass trip on the ocean Tuesday, lots of throwbacks bit, but the anglers ended up with a good catch of keepers, said Capt. T.J. from <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>. Trips through the weekend will sea bass fish but might also fluke fish. Shark and tuna trips are also available. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing. See <a href=" http://www.legallimitcharters.com/open-boat.php" target="_blank">Legal Limit’s open-boat page</a>.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Great Bay’s summer flounder fishing was turning out okay, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>, but anglers had to look for the fish, and wait for the right conditions. Winds and the tide had to come together to make the angling “click,” he said. A trip might get 25 minutes of fast action, and 4 hours of none. In the heat, the bay was cooler than land, a nice place to be. But greenheads were ferocious, so be prepared with repellant and clothes. Other than reports about flounder, nothing was heard about fishing. Seas probably became fishable for sea bass early this week, but nobody reported going. Weakfish might’ve been around in the bay, but nothing was heard. Sharks might’ve roamed the bay, but nobody mentioned. Big sand sharks and brown sharks swim the bay this time of year. Browns are prohibited and must be released. Anglers fish for the sharks from dusk into night along Grassy Channel to fight a big catch without sailing offshore. Crabbing lately “went flat,” Scott said. Fresh, shucked clams, minnows, bloodworms, live grass shrimp and more baits are stocked.

<b>Absecon</b>

Limits of summer flounder were heard about from the back bay every day, said Mike from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. More of the fish seemed to swim shallower waters, and Gulps worked well on them. Mike heard the shop’s owner mention Ghost Shrimp Gulps. Lots of weakfish caught were heard about. Lures like Fin-S Fish clubbed them at places like off Harrah’s. Not so many blues ran the bay. A few striped bass were slugged at night on the bay, and live spots, a bait for them, arrived at the shop in two sizes. Eian from the shop grabbed white perch from Absecon Creek. Crabbing was good. In addition to the spots, the shop’s baits include fresh clams, plenty of shedder crabs, eels, minnows and Gulps.

<b>Brigantine</b>

<a href="http://riptidebaitandtackle.com/articles.php?category_id=6" target="_blank">Click here</a> for a report from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Along Absecon Inlet anglers on foot toggled in summer flounder and blues, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. They sometimes eased in triggerfish that hugged the inlet rocks, and occasionally picked kingfish. Places where they caught included off the Flagship and Pacific and Melrose avenues and all along Maine Avenue. The flounder, good sized, and lots, and blues jumped on minnows, squid and spearing. The blues also swiped mullet and mackerel. The triggers engulfed clams or other shellfish. The kings chewed bloodworms. All those baits and more, the full supply, are stocked.

<b>Margate</b>

After winds and weather, the back bay began to clear a lot more in the past day or so, said Capt. John from the party boat <b>Keeper</b>. Summer flounder fishing was a little slow, dishing up fewer keepers than before, apparently because of the conditions. But keepers were caught, and the hope was that the clearer waters would make more get netted. Better numbers of the fluke began to bite than before. A weakfish and one striped bass were landed on trips this week. Bluefish were seen schooling. The flounder bit mackerel and Gulps best, and started to bite minnows better than before. Mackerel and minnows are supplied on trips. The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The fare is only $25 per adult, $20 for seniors and $16 for kids.

<b>Ocean City</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder swam a little deeper than before, now that summer was here, said Phil from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Striped bass fishing was slowing down in the bay in the heat, but some were plugged along the sod banks during low-light hours or at night on poppers, swimmers or soft plastics. Few if any stripers were pulled from the surf anymore this season. Kingfish were the catch from the surf, biting bloodworms. Not as many kings swam the surf as might show up later in the season, but a few were around. Sea bass gave up fair fishing at the reefs like Great Egg and Ocean City. Sharks including makos were fought at spots like 28-mile wreck. Tuna probably swarmed the ocean farther from shore, but nothing was heard about them.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

A couple of good catches of summer flounder were heard about from Townsend’s Inlet, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. That tells him the fish probably began to migrate to the ocean from the back bay. Minnows and mackerel caught the fish, and a few blues were yanked from the inlet. A few flounder were boxed on the ocean on party boat trips this morning. The trips walloped sea bass, good catches, and some triggerfish. One angler fly-rodded two striped bass from along the Townsend’s Inlet bridge on Wednesday night on Clousers. Surely stripers were around like that. Many offshore boaters will probably sail for yellowfin tuna this weekend. Good waters for the fishing seemed to hold south of Spencer Canyon into Wilmington Canyon. No news rolled in about sharks like makos. Mike didn’t know if just few fished for them during the weekdays. But a few catches of brown sharks, fish that must be released, were known about from places closer to shore like Avalon Shoal. The shop just loaded up with offshore baits like ballyhoos. All the inshore baits are stocked.

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>, was delivering a boat to New Jersey from Florida, and had reached North Carolina, he said. When he reaches New Jersey, fishing for brown and dusky sharks, catch and release, will probably kick off for the season with him. The fish swim close to shore, 7 to 12 miles off, and weigh 20 to 100 pounds. The trips are a chance to fight big fish, on either spinning or fly rods, without the long trip offshore. Jersey Cape is also fishing for summer flounder on the back bay. Fishing for the bay’s striped bass with popper plugs and flies will last all summer aboard. The trips stalk the skinny waters in a flats boat that’s poled like in a tropical destination. The bass whale the surface poppers with violent, visual attacks. Yellowfin tuna fishing’s been very good offshore, and Jersey Cape is fishing for them. Joe might fish for them when delivering the boat. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Jigging for yellowfin tuna reportedly turned on, and <b>Relentless Sport Fishing</b> will probably get after them on trips Friday and Sunday, Capt. Dave said. The fish swam close to shore. Trips are also fishing for sharks, sea bass and summer flounder.

Fishing for summer flounder was dead for a few days in winds, said Capt. Paul from the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>. But the fishing began to pick up on Monday’s trip, producing a few of the fluke. Then a bunch, no limits, but a good number of anglers with four keepers, were punched on Tuesday’s trip. The ocean swell was settling. A few of the fish were taken on Wednesday’s trip. The angling was a little slow then, but one angler bagged four flounder, and a couple bagged three. Anglers who bagged four this week included Greg Constantino from Voorhees and John Cosenza from Philadelphia. That was on Tuesday, and Jeff and Debby Bucsek on the trip combined for six keepers, including Debby’s 6-1/2-pound pool winner. A few sea bass were mixed in on trips. Friday’s trip fished Delaware Bay, because of 25- or 30-knot winds from the northeast. But afterward trips got back out on the ocean. Winds blew on Saturday’s and Sunday’s trips, making holding bottom tough. But weather and seas began to settle Monday. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Summer flounder anglers shoveled up good catches from the back bay, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. They scored very well at the Old Grounds and Reef 11. Flounder were also angled from Delaware Bay at 14-Foot Light, Miah Maull and Brandywine. Reports began to roll in about kingfish and croakers at Bayshore Channel in the bay. Weakfish were also hooked there and from the nearby surf, like along the bay’s jetties. In strong winds during the weekend, lots of birds worked the surf at Cape May Point above bunker and bluefish that chased them. Sea bass fishing was good at Reef 11 on fresh clams. A temperature break attractive to tuna reportedly formed along the 30-fathom line. No customers talked about tuna fishing farther out. Fresh clams in the shell and shucked, minnows, bloodworms and all the frozen baits are stocked.

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