<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fishing for fluke was okay, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Striped bass were caught at night, sometimes trolled during day, and bluefish were chummed. Blues were jigged at the back of Raritan Bay. Good catches of ling and sea bass were socked from the ocean. Weakfish swam the bay, though one was the bag limit. Blowfish were plucked from the bay and rivers. Blues popped up in the rivers in mornings and evenings, now that waters were warm. Crabs were trapped in Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers. All baits – “everything you need,” Jimmy said – are stocked.

Lots of action with fluke continued aboard the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. The fishing improved compared with a couple of weeks ago. No big fluke were hung in past days, but a few more keepers, and lots more throwbacks, bit than before. Anglers were enjoying the fishing. An angler might land 12 or 15 fluke, including a keeper or two. Sometimes someone might land that many, including no keepers. But the angling was better than before, and Tom hopes it holds up. Sometimes Spro jigs caught better than bait. Anglers then often fished with a rig with a Spro on bottom and another tied above. Other times bait caught better. Anglers should be prepared to change up, and can bring two rods, a conventional for bait, and a spinning for Spros. The unused rod can be stowed up top. When bait caught better, killies seemed an advantage. So Tom is encouraging anglers to bring killies to capitalize. Spearing are the bait provided on trips, and they also caught, but anglers might want to pick up killies at a tackle shop on the way to trips. A small amount will do on the half-day trips. If anglers don’t have a bucket with an aerator to keep the killies in, they should bring a small cooler to keep them in. A few trays are kept aboard that anglers can use in the cooler. Killies will stay alive the whole trip in a cooler, sometimes even better than in waters that can become warm in a bucket. 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, Friday, 7/13:***</b> On Thursday afternoon’s trip, J.D. Parks, Ridgefield Park, smoked a 10-pound 10-ounce fluke, and Ed Artell, Basking Ridge, pummeled a 7-pound 7-ouncer, Tom said. Fluking was better on the afternoon’s trip, dished up more keepers, than on the morning’s trip. The trip was enjoyable, and fishing was somewhat better on afternoon trips than on morning trips lately, but that could change any time.

Open-boat trips for fluke are expected to kick back off Saturday afternoon on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron said. New engines were installed, and a charter is booked Saturday morning. Starting 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the Fisherman will fish for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 3:30 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

<b>Highlands</b>

From <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> John Cuozzo on his Elsea Nora limited out on fluke to 8 pounds at the Scotland buoy on bucktails with whole squid, an e-mail from the marina said. A trip on a charter boat from the docks zapped a fair number of keeper fluke and a bunch of throwbacks from Shrewsbury Rocks and the Rattlesnake. Another trip on the boat scored a tough afternoon of fluking on Raritan Bay, catching only throwbacks and sea robins. 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. No bridges before the bay. Convenient, fast access to fishing.

Sailing from Homer, Alaska, Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> fished for halibut this week, he said. The angling was very good, limiting out every day, on bait and jigs. Halibut to 75 pounds were kept, and a 300-pounder was released. Trips fished from 18 to 35 miles from shore, in 60- to 250-foot depths, depending on conditions like weather. Weather was in the 50s and clear, except for winds and rains one day. Waters were clear and beautiful, and mountains met the coast. Salmon fishing from the port was off this year, so none was targeted, but one was caught during the halibut fishing. Back at home, fishing for fluke and bluefin tuna were good, and Derek will resume trips for them next week. The fluke trips are bucktailing the rough bottom with big strip baits. Charters aboard will resume Wednesday, and open-boat trips, fishing for fluke, will kick back off next week on Friday. Call to climb aboard or to be kept informed about the future open schedule.

<b>Belmar</b>

Big bluefish were back, said Capt. Alan from the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>. Both daytime and nighttime trips bailed them, all anglers wanted, probably the best fishing of the season for big ones, 18 to 20 miles from shore. The fish started to be caught again two days ago. On the party boat <b>Tropical Adventure</b>, Alan’s other vessel, fluke and sea bass were reeled from the ocean. On some days, the angling was good, giving up healthy shots of keepers. On other days, the fishing was slower. But overall the fishing was good this season. The Miss Belmar Princess is 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 to 6 p.m. daily.

Fluke fishing was good again Wednesday on the ocean on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. On Tuesday anglers picked at fluke aboard. But the fishing was consistent generally, and six or seven anglers limited out daily. Some landed 10 or 11 keepers apiece, keeping no more than their limits. A few 10-pounders were caught on recent trips. An 8-pounder won the pool Tuesday. Trips fished the rocky bottom. One angler said it well, Chris said: You’re more in the rocks than out of them, the angler said. Gulps on Spro or bucktail jigs caught best by far. Glow or white or green mullet Gulps worked well. The Big Mohawk is fishing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The four anglers aboard Wednesday bucktailed about 15 keeper fluke, including some sizeable ones, tossing back shorts, on the ocean with <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Jared said. Sea bass were also hooked, and more fluke bit than sea bass. The trip was good, and upcoming trips include a charter for bluefin tuna Friday, a cruise Saturday night, and an inshore trip, probably for fluke or sea bass, on Sunday. The 50-foot boat can sail with large to small groups, up to 23 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.

“Fluke bonanza!” Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> said. A trip Wednesday clobbered fluke, limiting out, on the ocean. The fishing had been somewhat tough in picky conditions during the beginning of the week. Afterward, the boat was kept in port Tuesday for maintenance. But the trip Wednesday waxed fluke, not fast and furious, but when drifts were right, the trip picked away, and anglers who bucktailed well, scored great. Fluking aboard’s been terrific when conditions have drifted the boat well. None of the fish was huge on Wednesday, but they weighed up to 5 pounds, and bigger ones were lost. Some big fluke were out there. Sea bass, including large ones, were also caught on the outing. This year’s 17-1/2-inch size limit for fluke “has worked to our advantage,” Pete said. He sounded happy with the size, and a 17-1/2-inch fluke is a thick, meaty fish. Gator bluefish 10 to 14 pounds were also fought in the morning on the trip. Big blues seemed to begin biting again, after lots of smaller blues, cocktails, bit previously. Big blues each year stop biting a moment, and spawning is believed to be the cause. Seemed the spawn was ending. Trips for bluefin tuna and sharks are also available. Bluefins lately were caught closer to shore than before or 35 to 40 miles from the coast, instead of usual areas farther out. Parker Pete’s sails for any species available. Charters and open-boat trips are running. For availability on 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. Cruises are available to watch fireworks on the ocean off Asbury Park every Wednesday, and see the boat’s Web site for times.

<b>***Update, Friday, 7/13:***</b> Plenty of fluke, giving up good fishing, littered waters, including Shark River, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. In the river, the fish included keepers, and many of the larger fluke were caught on livelined snapper blues. Snappers were in, swimming the river, hitting Snapper Poppers, small lures, Sabiki rigs and spearing. Large fluke were crushed on Belmar’s party boats, and pool-winners topped 10 pounds. In the surf, fluke were beached on Spro jigs with Gulps, and kingfish were wormed.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Lots of good-sized sea bass were pounded from a wreck on the ocean Wednesday with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Alan, the boat’s owner, said in an e-mail. Then the anglers fluke fished, “and started off with an 8-pounder,” he said. Countless small bluefish were walloped on the trip. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew prides themselves on the concept of professionalism and sharing the experience in outdoor adventures.

One of the mixed-bag trips to the mid-shore ocean, fishing for  catches like bluefin tuna, sharks, cod and pollock, all in one outing, is slated to fish Friday with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>, Capt. Fred said. Mixed-bag fishing is set to sail all the way offshore Saturday and Sunday the boat. Those trips target fish like yellowfin tuna, bluefins, mahi mahi, sharks, swordfish and tilefish. Both open-boat trips and charters sail annually for this unique fishing, both mid-shore and offshore, aboard this time of year. Anglers can call for info if interested. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. Though Andrea’s Toy is mostly focusing on the big-game angling, trips are also bottom-fishing at the reefs closer to shore, including for sea bass, ling and fluke.

<b>***Update, Friday, 7/13***</b> Offshore fishing was idle aboard most of the week, because of northeast winds, an e-mail from <b>Canyon Runner Sport Fishing</b> said. The winds weren’t terrible “but enough to make any trip just not fun,” it said. The fishing aboard was back at it today. But the time off was handy to get tackle back in shape “after some major abuse the past month,” the e-mail said. Twelve bigeye tuna, including five that topped 200 pounds, and more than 400 yellowfin tuna were bagged aboard this season. Thirty overnight trips for tuna ran, and yellowfins were already caught consistently at night on the chunk. “Wow!” the e-mail said about all of that. One spot opened up on the 60-foot Ritchie Howell for an overnighter Wednesday to Thursday. One-hundred dollars will be knocked off the price if the spot is grabbed today. Not a lot of open-boat spots and charters remain with Canyon Runner through August.

<b>***Update, Friday, 7/13:***</b> Plenty of fluke blanketed Manasquan Inlet, but lots were small, said Chuck from <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b>. Bagging fluke slowed to a pick in waters that warmed to the high 70s. Snapper blues schooled the inlet. Kingfish were nipped from off the end of the inlet. Kings apparently swam the surf from north to south, including at Bay Head, and blues popped into the surf. Minnows, bloodworms and all the frozen baits are stocked. Fresh clams will arrive Saturday. Gates Bait & Tackle is located within walking distance of the inlet and surf and the charter and party boat fleet. The grounds include the Gates Motel, popular with anglers. <b>***THIS TACKLE SHOP IS FOR SALE! CALL: 732-899-5760.***</b>

On the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, sea bass, ling, cod and fluke were scooped from the ocean, Capt. Butch said. The fishing was “pretty decent,” he said, and anglers averaged 10 to 30 fish apiece, depending on skill or experience. On a couple of days good shots of sea bass turned up. But ling fishing was usually best. Three to six cod were usually bagged per day. So were the same number of fluke. A couple of dozen fluke, none big, 18 or 19 inches, were taken Wednesday. Out-of-season winter flounder and blackfish also bit and were released. The flounder were huge and abundant. Not a lot of keeper-sized blackfish snapped, and many were throwback-sized, but some would’ve been keepers. A couple of the tog on Wednesday weighed 4 to 5 pounds. One blackfish per angler will be able to be kept soon. Trips usually fished for sea bass shallow in 65 to 80 feet. A few ling remained there. Then trips usually pushed to the deep in 120 to 200 feet for ling. That’s where most flounder swam. Sometimes they were really stacked up. Waters were about 76 degrees, getting warm. On the last night trips, bluefishing was okay. The blues were small, but big ones were seen on daytime trips in the last days. The boat was headed back out for blues Wednesday night. The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily and bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

For anglers on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, fluke fishing was a little slow on the ocean, but a few of the summer flounder and some sea bass were lifted from the  rocks and rubble, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. The fish seemed scattered, “but we should get another wave of fluke moving into the area shortly,” the report said. Gulps on Spro or bucktail jigs were the set up to fish. Bluefishing was excellent aboard Wednesday night, and big blues were back. Blues 8 to 15 pounds were smashed, and a 17-pounder won the pool. Bluefishing for 6- to 12-pounders was excellent Tuesday night aboard, and large blues began to be seen Monday night, though fishing for them was slow on the trip for them then. A handful of 8- to 12-pounders were honked. The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily and for blues 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

Small blues 1 or 1 ½ pounds hit the surf from Ortley Beach to Barnegat Inlet, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Most were banked on bait like mullet, but sometimes metal caught them. Fluke, mostly throwbacks, sometimes keepers, were dragged from the surf on bucktails with Gulps or squid. Big cownosed rays could be fought from the surf on baits like a chunk of bunker. Small blues schooled Barnegat Inlet. A few triggerfish hugged the inlet jetties. Fishing for fluke, 90 percent small, picked up a little in Barnegat Bay, including at Double Creek Channel and the BI and BB markers. A few blowfish remained around the BB, and fishing for them slowed, but that was typical, and usually picks back up in mid August. Small blues from 4 inches to larger swam all over the bay and could be trolled on Pony Tails or caught on small metal. Snapper blues, spots, small croakers and small black drum could be landed from Toms River at Island Heights and along Route 37 Bridge on the bay. Worms or clams fished on bottom will hook the spots, croakers and drum. Though nightcrawlers are usually fished in freshwater, they worked, and were lots cheaper than worms like bloodworms usually fished in salt. Crabbing was super.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Crabbing was very good on the shop’s rental boats today, said John from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Four-hour trips averaged four dozen keepers. Crabbing from the store’s docks was decent, not great, probably producing one to two dozen keepers per trip, depending on effort. Anglers from the docks grabbed a variety of small fish like snapper blues, blowfish and spots. Rental boaters began to catch snappers. In the surf, sharks were wrestled in evenings, and blues popped in at times, especially at Ortley Beach and Lavallette, like in evenings. A few fluke caught were heard about from along Route 37 Bridge on Barnegat Bay. Otherwise not much was heard about fluke from the bay. Ocean boaters sacked fluke including limits who sailed from Manasquan Inlet. The shop rents different types of boats for fishing, crabbing and cruising, rents water skis, and features the full supply of bait and tackle, a free pier for fishing and crabbing, and more.

<b>Forked River</b>

A trip with Joe from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b> cranked in a couple of weakfish to 2 pounds from Barnegat Bay this morning, he said. Fluke carpeted the bay but were small. Joe’s trip landed about a dozen small ones. Fluke on the ocean were boated more to the south. Party boats sailed south for them. Sea bass were bucketed from the ocean. Back on the bay, blowfish were around, and spots were in, and crabbing was very good.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Fishing for blues was great aboard Monday, excellent on Tuesday, and great on Wednesday on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. The fish were small or 2 to 3 pounds, and limits were tackled all around the boat, if anglers wanted them. Weather was beautiful to boot. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing 8 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Bluefish, very good catches of 3-pounders, were plowed 12 miles from shore on the <b>Super Chic</b>, Capt. Ted said. No bonito were mixed in this week, but a few were last week. A bottom-fishing trip is set for the weekend. The season’s first tuna trips are booked to sail in two weeks. Two are supposed to troll the canyons on day trips then. Overnight tuna trips usually begin aboard at Labor Day. Tuna sometimes already bit at night. The 56-foot Super Chic can accommodate up to 23 passengers on inshore charters and 10 on overnight, offshore charters. The boat sleeps 10 passengers.

Barnegat Bay’s fluke fishing was a little slow, was okay, and many of the fish were throwbacks, but they gave  up lots of action, said Vince Jr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. A big fluke was seen that was boated from Garden State Reef North on the ocean. Sometimes fluke were taken from the Tires on the ocean. A few weakfish were around in the bay, but nothing was really heard about them. Small blues schooled Barnegat Inlet. Blowfish were caught from the bay, but not like earlier this year. Crabbing was okay, not great, for customers. Clamming was fantastic for them. Many, many clams could be gathered. Bobbie’s rents boats and kayaks, including for fishing, crabbing and clamming, is known for bait selection, and features a tackle shop and a fuel dock. Live spots and minnows are stocked. Fresh clams and fresh bunker are carried, though demand for the bunker is low this time of year. Live grass shrimp can be ordered.

<b>Barnegat</b>

The following report was posted Wednesday and is being re-posted today, Thursday, in case anyone missed it. From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “Last week and weekend were outstanding for a variety of species. We came in with fluke, striped bass, weakfish and bluefin tuna. What more can you ask for? I am planning on targeting that variety again this week. (Today, Thursday) we will be sailing open boat, targeting striped bass on light spinning tackle using live grass shrimp. After a few hours of that, we will move in to the bay to use the same bait for weakfish and the mixed bag that often finds our chum, even fluke …. On Friday we will be running offshore for tuna, bonita, albacore and mahi. We meet at the dock at 5 AM and return by 2 PM.  Sunday is available for either back bay fishing or offshore tuna/bonita/mahi, I will decide as we get closer to the date. If it's going to be a perfect weather window, we’ll point the bow east. If it's less than perfect, we’ll fish the bay. If you want to sign on as an angler willing to do either, you are welcome to do that. All trips limited to three people, and all fish are shared. <b><i>If you would like to reserve a spot, it is best to call me on my cell, not e-mail me.</i></b> This past Saturday we ran just a little over 30 miles east of the inlet for some good tuna action, going 5 for 7 on 10-  to 40-pound bluefin. These fish were crushing our rainbow squid bars on light, 20-class tackle. There are bonita and small mahi in the mix now, as well.”

<b>Surf City</b>

Surf fishing clocked kingfish, good catches, said Bruce from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Waters warmed, and kings moved in, and wind directions kept the water temp high. Fluke, mostly shorts, but some keepers, were beached. Lots of small blues, a few 3 pounds, mostly smaller, raced the surf. Crabbing was very good on the bay. All the baits from fresh bunker to minnows to the full frozen selection 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>Mystic Island</b>

Most boaters fishing for summer flounder hit the ocean, said Chris from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Usual places like waters at the Rutgers buoys, Little Egg Reef and Garden State Reef South put up flounder for the last month or so. If anglers wanted to fish for flounder on the bay, waters 20 feet or deeper, like deep spots behind Holgate, were places to look. One angler scored good catches of kingfish in the bay the last week. Sharks including browns and large sand sharks swam Grassy Channel. Weakfish were around. Not a lot were, but anglers who knew how to catch them did at places like the mouth of Mullica River and a hole off Cape Horn that traditionally holds them. Small fish including spots and snapper blues could be angled in the creeks. Chris caught spots and sheepshead at Big Creek. White perch fishing was good on Mullica River and rivers and creeks along the Mullica. Fresh, shucked clams, live grass shrimp, plenty of minnows, chum and all the frozen baits are stocked. Artificials including Gulps and Fishbites are on hand. No shedder crabs are carried.

<b>Absecon</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing remained strong, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Fishing at the top of tides was he “No. 1 rule,” he said. That’s when most keepers bit. Tony Patano, Hammonton, bagged a 6.2-pound flounder and three more that weighed 3 to 4 pounds on 3-inch Gulps on the bay. Dave wondered how he sorted through the smaller flounder on the smaller Gulps, and getting through the smaller fish to grab the big flounder was how the fishing was. It took work that way. Eian who works at the shop mated on the party boats, and the trips landed loads of throwback flounder on the bay, but good numbers of keepers. Shark fishing is something anglers might want to do on the bay. Some real monsters could be fought at the holes at night on nearly all the bays. Set up a chum slick for them, and weakfish and blues could enter the slick, too. The fishing could draw lots of action. Anglers could do that on low tides when big flounder didn’t really bite anyway. Weakfish seemed to be “coming and going,” Dave said. Anglers reportedly slugged weaks at the deep hole off the Atlantic City jetty during daytime. Dave guessed the weaks had to be coming in at night, turning on at places like the back bay off Harrah’s. Triggerfish swam thick at places like the bridges, any structure and the sod banks. Dan McHugh hauled in a 12-1/2-pound sheepshead along the Brigantine Bridge. The surf held kingfish, but Dave wondered how anglers could hook a king among abundant spots that swam the same waters. Lots of spots also held along docks, and Dave now netted spots 3 to 5 inches, good size for flounder bait, to stock at the shop. They were $10 a dozen, somewhat more affordable than the spots he stocked from the South. If anglers want to catch spots for bait, they should have no problem. Fish a small hook with a Fishbite, worm, clam or nearly any bait. White perch packed Absecon Creek in numbers Dave never saw there before. Fishing for them on the creek was best at the Route 9 Bridge or upstream from the bridge, if anglers had a boat that could slide under the bridges. Plenty of spots also swam the creek, and all the brackish rivers held good perch fishing. In addition to the spots, the shop is stocking baits from shedder crabs to chum for bay sharking to offshore tuna baits. Dave guessed nearly every bait used for the time of year is on hand, and if anglers want another bait, the shop will try to get it. The price for minnows was lowered to $7 a pint, because the baitfish were abundant.   

<b>Brigantine</b>

The surf was loaded with kingfish, and one angler banked 25, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Bloodworms and Fishbites will both catch them. Spots swam the surf, and anglers last week could hardly get through them to hook kings. But now landing kings had better luck. Spots also filled the back waters. Fishing for brown sharks, fish that must be released, was awesome in the surf at night. Five- and 6-footers could be wrestled on baits like a kingfish head. Blues 12 to 14 inches moved into the surf Wednesday. A spot could be fished to nab them. Summer flounder started to move toward the ocean from the back bay. So anglers often fished for them at Absecon Inlet, and catches were good. Anglers might want to start fishing the ocean for them. Bloodworms, Fishbites and all baits needed are stocked. Sign up for the shop’s Summer Fishing Tournament, running till Labor Day. Entry is $5 per species for flounder, kingfish and blues, and the winner of each division takes the money.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

At Absecon Inlet anglers on foot tugged in summer flounder, spots and triggerfish from Flagship Resort to Melrose Avenue to the T-jetty, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>.  Kingfishing was spotty for them, but some were caught. Finger mullet schooled abundant in the area. A 7-foot bull shark was checked in that was nailed from land near Harrah’s Casino. Snapper blues ran the back waters. All baits, a large supply, are stocked. 

<b>Margate</b>

Back-bay fishing for summer flounder improved a bit on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>,  Capt. John said. It caught a few keepers, was alright, wasn’t terrible. Waters became clear and good-looking, and lots of bait schooled. Bluefish began to be seen schooling under birds working the waters. None was caught, but they were around. So were snapper blues. The flounder bit minnows and mackerel, provided on trips, and Gulps that anglers brought. Previously silversides and peanut bunker were sometimes able to be netted and kept in the livewell for bait. None was netted recently, but John hoped they showed back up. The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. daily. The fare is only $25 per adult, $20 for seniors and $16 for kids.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Boaters fishing for summer flounder at the ocean reefs weren’t “setting the world on fire,” said Dan from <b>Fin-Atics</b>, but flounder fishing there was better than on the back bay. A trip at the reefs might cooler two or three keepers, compared with zero on the bay. The bay held quantities, but the reefs held better quality. Striped bass catches were practically nonexistent. No bluefish were heard about. Brown sharks, fish that must be released, were caught from the surf. A few kingfish and spots swam the surf. Seas were rough offshore the last couple of days. But tuna lately were snatched from places like the  Elephant Trunk and Hot Dog inshore and Wilmington and Baltimore canyons offshore. At spots like the Trunk and Dog, boaters targeted bluefin tuna, but caught a mix of bluefins and yellowfin tuna. The fish were chunked and jigged during daytime. At the Wilmington and Baltimore, yellowfins were trolled during day and chunked at night. Bigeye tuna were sometimes trolled at the canyons.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Inshore shark fishing, catch and release, was wide open, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Duskies, browns, blacktips and even a few hammerheads swarmed the waters, and trips aboard lately creamed double-digits. Anglers aboard fish for them with mackerel fillets on spinning rods or chum flies on fly rods. The trips are a chance to fight big fish to 100 pounds close to shore, within 15 miles, usually closer, instead of a long trip offshore. Closer to the coast, summer flounder and sea bass were flung aboard from the reefs. Ocean City Reef was especially good. Joe took a short, 2-hour trip on the back bay that landed 20 flounder, throwbacks, with Mike Cunningham, the owner of Sea Isle Bait & Tackle. Lots of action, lots of fun, and the flatfish became active again, after they were less active a moment when the season’s heat first began. Joe will probably fish for striped bass on the bay with popper lures and flies, a specialty aboard, next week. High tides will coincide with dusk, ideal conditions. Jersey Cape is also fishing offshore, and yellowfin tuna were trolled at Wilmington and Baltimore canyons during daytime. Yellowfins sometimes bit at night on the chunk at the canyons. Yellowfins and bluefin tuna were also chunked and jigged at some of the inshore lumps during daytime. Yellowfins were also trolled at the Elephant Trunk during the day. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>***Update, Friday, 7/13:***</b> Ocean summer flounder fishing shoveled up good catches, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>.  The fishing went well at Ocean City, Wildwood and Cape May reefs, and several 5-pounders were weighed in during the weekend, and a few others were checked in sporadically during the weekdays. Bucktails were the best to fish, with Gulps, minnows, squid or whatever bait. If the bucktails weren’t getting snagged, anglers weren’t fishing the right spot. The flounder gathered at “ugly, snag-y, gnarly,” rough bottom, Mike said. A few sea bass were always thrown in the box when anglers fished for flounder at the reefs. But trips targeting sea bass pushed 25 miles offshore to 80- to 100-foot depths. Triggerfish hugged shallow wrecks and buoys. At the inlets and back bay, the flounder population actually increased, but few were keepers. One angler caught 16 in 2 hours, and none was a keeper, but he had a good time.  The population of kingfish increased in the surf, and seemed smaller than usual this time of year, but fishing for them improved. Bloodworms seemed to hook them best, but Fishbites also caught. Brown, blacktip and dusky sharks were fought from the surf to 10 miles from shore. Browns and duskies are prohibited and must be released. Good reports were heard about the fishing from all those waters. Hear about offshore fishing? Mike was asked. “Go get them,” he said. Yellowfin tuna were trolled at the canyons, and most reports seemed to come from Wilmington Canyon. But catches were heard about scattered from Hudson Canyon to Baltimore Canyon and from all the different canyons. One place might fish better one day, and another during another time, and so on. Not a lot was heard about blue marlin at the canyons, but a few white marlin were landed there. Bluefin tuna were chunked and trolled at inshore waters like the Elephant Trunk and 19-Fathom Lump.

<b>Cape May</b>

A tuna trip will head out today with <b>Relentless Sport Fishing</b>, Capt. Dave said. The boat will be run south to the ocean off Maryland, not quite as far offshore as the canyons. Yellowfin and bluefin tuna bit well there, and were mostly chunked. But the trip will try jigging, too. Relentless will keep tuna fishing and is also fishing inshore for catches including summer flounder and sea bass.

Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> joined a trip on another boat today that scraped up lots of sea bass, a good catch, from the ocean, he said. He’ll sail for them again Friday on the vessel. A tuna trip is booked for Saturday on the Heavy Hitter. Yellowfin and bluefin tuna bit around 30 fathoms on the chunk. Trips aboard could troll blues that probably remained off Cape May Point and at the ocean shoals. Charters could also sail for summer flounder. Fishing for all these catches is available, and call if interested.

Strong easterly winds, creating fast drifts, made holding bottom difficult in deep waters that the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> fished for summer flounder on the ocean, Capt. Paul said. But anglers picked at the fish aboard. Many boats didn’t sail because of the winds, but the Porgy IV did. No customers probably landed more than three keepers the past couple of days in the winds. But Carl Keehfus, Villas, limited out on Monday, and Jack Almond, Audubon, limited out on Saturday. Pat McMann from Egg Harbor Township decked the week’s biggest flounder aboard: a 7-1/4-pounder. Ray Spohn, Blackwood, won the pool Wednesday with a 6-3/4-pounder. Occasional sea bass, not many, fewer every day, were mixed in. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder 8 a.m. daily.

A couple of reports rolled in about good summer flounder fishing from Cape May Reef, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Anglers from one trip said sizeable flounder could be boated there, and they boxed five or six that topped 25 inches. Good flounder catches could be made at Reef 11 and the Old Grounds on the ocean. In the back bay, flounder seemed heading for deeper waters in the ocean and Delaware Bay. So in the back bay, the Intracoastal Waterway was a place to find flounder. Flounder also carpeted inlets and waters surrounding inlets. In Delaware Bay, try for flounder at Brown Shoal, Brandywine Shoal or near the shipping channel. Blues schooled off Cape May Point and at the ocean shoals. Croakers, weakfish and kingfish likely swam Bayshore Channel. They did before.  Croakers and weaks were beached from Delaware Bay’s surf. Kingfish roamed the ocean surf. A few sharks haunted the surf at places like Diamond Beach and Poverty Beach. Sea bass were iced at the ocean reefs and wrecks, and Reef 11 seemed a hot spot. Nick joined a trip Sunday that trolled a 40-pound bluefin tuna on the way to Baltimore Canyon. Once the trip reached the canyon, a couple of marlin were raised. A wahoo and a couple of large sharks were seen. Anglers from another boat at the Baltimore  that day talked about trolling three yellowfin tuna and a white marlin. Minnows, bloodworms and all the frozen baits are stocked. Offshore baits include flats of butterfish and sardines and some ballyhoos.

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