<b>Keyport</b>

Ten keeper fluke to a 5-1/2-pound 24-incher were bagged, and lots of throwbacks were let go, on a trip Sunday on Raritan Bay with Nick Clemente’s group with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. The fish gave up lots of action, and the four anglers fished with a variety of peanut bunker, killies, spearing, squid and bucktails. No effects of the nor’easter were apparent, and waters looked good. Open-boat trips for fluke are available 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3 to 9 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. daily this week when no charter is booked and enough anglers want to go. Call to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Drifting conditions were good throughout today’s fluke trip with “the Monday crew,” Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> said in a report on the vessel’s Web site. “We slugged away at the short and keepers once again,” he said. Capt. Ron Sr. limited out and then some, and the newest deck hand, Mike, landed seven fluke, including a 4-pounder. Both kept no more than a limit. The pool winner, Doc, bagged a 5-pound beauty.  Ron got through a busy schedule of fishing last week, including running charters that were rescheduled from when the boat was re-powered recently. The fluking wasn’t the best, “but did manage to pick at the shorts and keepers each trip,” Ron said. Bucktailing caught best, especially the bigger fluke. That took work, “(but) work hard, and you will be rewarded,” Ron said. The Fisherman is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 3:30 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. However, charters are slated this Friday and Saturday mornings. No open-boat trips will sail those mornings.

Fluke fishing was slow aboard the last days, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. He hopes the angling bounces back after the effects of the storm. Even throwback fluke shoveled up less action during the weather the past days, compared with previously. However, Ron Ross, Plainfield, eased in a 10-pound fluke on Saturday afternoon’s trip. That was the third 10-pound fluke of the season on the boat. Fishing was better, produced more keepers, on Saturday afternoon’s trip than on the morning’s. The morning’s trip wasn’t good. The catch on Sunday morning’s trip was better than Saturday morning’s, but not as good as Saturday afternoon’s. Friday morning’s trip fished in miserable weather, and too few anglers showed up for the afternoon’s trip to run, and that was probably just as well, Tom said. All the trips fished on the bay, because the ocean was riled up from the weather. Some anglers during the trips bagged two or three fluke, and lots landed no keepers. Ron Ross was back out on Sunday, claiming two keepers. His buddy also boxed two. The same anglers seemed to catch. Anglers who worked harder at the fishing caught better. Combos of Gulps with killies or spearing caught better, and Gulp with killies probably worked a little better. Spearing are supplied for bait on trips. Ron Ross’s 10-pounder grabbed a Gulp and killie. Anglers who worked Spro or bucktail jigs in the pulpit bagged one or two fluke apiece on Sunday.  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>Highlands</b>

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 7/24:***</b> The boat was down for maintenance but is back, Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> said. Open-boat, BYOB – bring your own bucktail – trips for fluke will fish Friday through Sunday. The trips fish rough bottom in deep waters with big strip baits. If snapper blues and peanut bunker can be gotten, they’ll be aboard for livelining. Call to jump aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips or to book a charter.

<b>Neptune</b>

Bottom fishing on the ocean was cancelled aboard Sunday, because of rough seas the previous two days, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>. A canyon tuna trip was slated for today. An individual-reservation cod trip became full for Monday, August 13. Another one of the trips will probably be scheduled, because of the good response. Individual-rez trips are fishing the inshore wrecks 5 a.m. every Sunday. A one-day trip for tuna to the canyons, trolling or chunking, whatever it takes, is set for 12 midnight Monday, August 20. Individual-reservation trips are fishing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday. Kids under 12 sail free, limited to two per adult, on those two trips. Charters are on tap for all species available. 

<b>Belmar</b>

A heave remained on the ocean Sunday, when a trip beat lots of small bluefish with <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b>, but the swell was far apart, and seas were like a lake otherwise, Capt. Jared said. Two, sometimes three, blues were hooked at once on a rod, about 10 miles from shore. The charter, a corporate trip with 14 anglers, was originally supposed to bottom fish. But they bluefished instead, because bottom fishing for catches including fluke would be slow in stirred up waters from the storm. The storm slammed the ocean two or three days. The only bottom catches were probably fluke tugged from deep channels to the north. Only a couple of anglers on the trip had ever fished before. By the end, they had the knack, catching plenty, removing fish from hooks, re-baiting, and so on. A trip today was probably also going to fish for blues instead of bottom fish, because bottom fish probably remained affected. Two half-day trips sailed aboard Saturday. On the first, the ocean was rough, but the anglers wanted to bottom fish, and nothing bit. Waters were like chocolate milk. The second trip, a family outing with 12 people, didn’t want to reschedule, so they fished Shark River, because bottom fishing would surely be slow on the ocean, and an 8- or 9-foot swell remained. They caught four keeper fluke and released lots of throwbacks. Jared’s been finding that larger groups tend not to want to reschedule, because getting all the people back together is almost impossible. Smaller groups, like six anglers, often reschedule. Fin-Ominal’s 50-foot boat, a larger boat this year than the previous vessel,  can accommodate 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.

<b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> fished Thursday, when the nor’easter began, but even party boats returned early that day, Capt. Pete said. Then the weather stayed nasty through Saturday, and boats got back out Sunday. But Pete rescheduled a trip that was supposed to fish aboard that day, because an ocean heave remained. Boaters who sailed that day picked at fish, Pete thought. The ocean was “upside down,” he said, but should keep improving, if the weather stays okay. Parker Pete’s has mostly been fluke fishing on the ocean. Another captain who sometimes runs the boat fished offshore Sunday, and the fleet picked at yellowfin tuna at the canyons on the troll, Pete believed. 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>Brielle</b>

The nor’easter toward the end of the week kept fishing docked, but fluke catches were good on the ocean to the north previously, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Catches were made off Monmouth Beach and Sandy Hook, but a few decent catches began to be hung from Axel Carlson Reef, on the eastern side. A handful of keeper fluke, among throwbacks, were reeled from Manasquan River. Fluking was holding steady there. Snapper blues began to grow large enough to be hooked in the river. Tons of spots schooled the river, and nothing was heard about hickory shad in the river, but that didn’t mean shad weren’t there. Ling fishing was good on the ocean, and sea bass fishing dropped off in the ocean. But if anglers located a wreck that held a better population of sea bass, they caught. Small sea bass were lots more abundant than previously. Bluefin tuna gave up good fishing, and the main population seemed to hold around the Resor wreck. The tuna were fought both inshore and offshore of the wreck, mostly on the troll, but sometimes on jigs. Yellowfin tuna were apparently boated just west of Toms Canyon. The fish were trolled during daytime, and nothing was heard about catching them at night. Wahoo Baitfish Bucktails and Stingo jigs are on sale at 30 percent off to celebrate the shop’s 30 years in business. The shop’s fluke tournament for Manasquan and Shark rivers is running to Labor Day. Entry is $10, and half the money is donated to Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund, and the other half to Shark River Surf Anglers Kids Trout Tournament. The store makes no money on the event, and prizes will be awarded for the first and second heaviest fluke from each river, the heaviest fluke from a lady entrant, and the heaviest from a kid age 16 or younger.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

With <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> a trip today fished inshore wrecks and rocks, Alan, the boat’s owner, said in an e-mail. Sea bass, including a 4-pounder, were slung aboard from all. Fluke fishing was picky in south winds. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on the professional concept, sharing the experience in outdoor adventures.

A trip for bluefin tuna left the dock before lunch for the mid-shore ocean “to wait for the seas to subside a bit,” a report on <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>’s Web site said today. From the photos posted, the trip looked like it sailed Sunday, because skies were clear. Skies were cloudy in the storm during previous days. On the first stop, life including flying fish filled waters, but only bluefish bit. At the second spot, 10 miles farther from shore, even more life swam, including turtles and whales. One knock down, a  bonito, was scored. Fifteen miles farther out, tons of bait filled waters. “Two swings and misses,” the report said. “Nothing.” Ten miles farther, the ocean was a desert. No life. “Clock was ticking, and (the) sun was going down,” the report said. The trip headed back inshore, and trolled again. Bluefin tuna clobbered four rods. One of the tuna was landed, and three got off. “Great evening with some great (families),” the report said. 

The storm “got the best of the fluke and blue fishing,” a report on the party boat <b>Norma K III</b>’s Web site said. The angling is expected to turn back on once the ocean swell calms. On the vessel’s daytime trips, fluke fishing seemed like keepers “had lock jaw,” the report said. Throwbacks gave up action, and good-sized sea bass were sometimes decked. On nighttime trips, big bluefish became difficult to find. The crew expected to target 1- to 3-pound blues for a couple of trips, and hoped big blues showed back up afterward. 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.

On the party boat <b>Gambler</b> fluke fishing on the ocean was sort of slow since the nor’easter Friday, but was a little better on each trip, Capt. Bob said. Fluke to 5 pounds and sea bass to 3 pounds were swung aboard from “little bits,” Bob said, of rocky bottom in 60 feet 1 or 1 ½ miles from shore. Bluefishing was slow on Saturday night’s trip 15 or 20 miles almost straight offshore from Manasquan Inlet.  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.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Trips were docked for maintenance on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, and bluefishing will resume aboard Tuesday on the ocean, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. On a trip last Tuesday, the last time a report was posted on the site, lots and lots of bluefish were crushed, and all aboard limited out. The fish were a little bigger lately than before, some weighing 4 pounds. When trips resume Tuesday, the Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing 8 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Fishing resumed on the <b>Super Chic</b> on Sunday after the weather with a trip for blues, Capt. Ted said. The fishing was good, and the blues were somewhat larger than before. More of them were 2 and 3 pounds than previously, and a few were probably a little bigger. The fish were jigged offshore 12 miles from Barnegat Inlet. No bonito were in the mix, though bonito were sometimes caught previously this season among the blues. More bluefish trips are slated for this week, and bottom fishing is scheduled aboard toward the end of the week.  A one-day tuna trip was cancelled during the weather last  week. Currently the next tuna fishing is on the books for Labor Day. But tuna fishing aboard is an option now. A few yellowfin tuna were trolled at the canyons within range, and bluefin tuna fishing was decent within range. The bluefins could be jigged. The 56-foot Super Chic can accommodate up to 25 passengers on inshore trips and 10 on offshore, overnight trips.  The vessel can sleep up to 10 passengers.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Wednesday, 7/25:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “Had more great weakfishing this past Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.  Even in the awful weather. Friday was the only washout – it rained from sunup to sundown. The water stayed clean, and the fish cooperated. Fourteen- to 20-inch, 1- to 3-pound weakfish, on live grass shrimp. Both sides of the Dike are giving up fish. All while chumming live grass shrimp with ultralite tackle. Plenty of hickory shad in the mix, and both species are visually eating our live grass shrimp chum right next to the boat. We have also been catching fluke, sea robins, sand sharks, spots, sand perch, blowfish and more. I will be running open boat for these fish in the bay: Friday 6AM to 11AM and Noon to 5PM, Saturday 3PM to 8PM, and Sunday 6AM to11AM and Noon to 5PM. If the weather and sea condition are forecasted as perfection – i.e. no mention of thunderstorms, light and variable winds – I could run open-boat tuna on Friday and/or Sunday. If that happens, the afternoon weakfish trips will be bumped to 2PM to 7PM on those days. There is also a potential to do it all. We can fish offshore early and then finish up in the bay with the weakies. This week coming up, the potential to shrimp the jetty for stripers and blackfish are the afternoon trips on Friday and Sunday. We do this in combination with the weakfish in the bay, a few hours of each. Give me a call to reserve a spot.”

<b>Tuckerton</b>

With <b>Legal Limit Charters</b> anglers picked at summer flounder, mostly small, a few keepers, and bluefish on the bay in past days, during rough weather and seas, Capt. T.J. said. Few boats sailed the ocean until Sunday, because of the conditions. On Sunday the seas were even “kind of lumpy, but smooth on top,” T.J. said. Charters and <a href=" http://www.legallimitcharters.com/open-boat.php" target="_blank">open-boat trips</a> are fishing.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Rough weather arrived Friday morning, and waters remained stirred up Sunday, a report on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site said. Not much was reported about fishing. Even on Sunday, Little Egg Inlet remained frothy, and the ocean was a “no go,” the report said, because of a swell. A few catches, including a summer flounder and a weakfish bagged, were heard about from the bay on the radio Sunday. But that was all.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Surf anglers kept bailing kingfish, spots and blues all day long, a report from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site said. A 5-1/2-pound summer flounder was weighed in that was boated at Absecon Inlet. Boaters fishing for the flatties there “are catching some nice fish, but not a lot of keepers,” the report said.  A 2-1/2-pound flounder was checked in that was banked from shore at the cove. “To think that with all the people at the cove (the angler) was able to sneak away with dinner,” the report said.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

A couple of trips started fishing for striped bass at night on the back bay aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Mike Roth on Wednesday night fly-rodded a dozen stripers on Clouser Minnows on sinking lines, and Dave Stewart on Thursday night fly-rodded seven on the same flies and line. Stripers are also biting popper lures and flies on the bay during high tides at dusk. No trips sailed Friday and Saturday in rough weather. Mike Grundy, his son and father sailed Sunday aboard the bay, reeling in a bunch of throwback summer flounder and a keeper. Joe’s trips recently also fought a variety of fish on the ocean, including sharks, bluefish, triggerfish and flounder. Sometimes they honed in on the sharks exclusively, and other times they nailed the variety of species in one outing, depending on angler preference. Both trips were fun. The sharking, catch and release, tackled mostly browns, blacktips and duskies. The fishing is a chance to wrestle big fish, up to 100 pounds, close to shore, within 15 miles, usually closer. That’s instead of the long trip offshore. Not much was heard about tuna fishing during rough seas in past days. The weather stirred up and changed waters at the inshore lumps where tuna bit recently. That’ll happen during weather. Jersey Cape is also fishing for tuna and billfish. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Charters on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> are supposed to steam for tuna today and Tuesday, Capt. George said. He’ll try to give an update on today’s trip that will be posted here this evening if he does. The last tuna trip aboard, an overnighter two Saturdays ago, limited out on yellowfins in 30 fathoms on the chunk. That was covered here in a report that Monday. Nothing was heard about fishing in past days in rough weather. <b>***Update, Monday, 7/23:***</b> One tuna bit, pulled the hook and got off, on today’s trip, chunking in 30 fathoms, George said. Lots of boats scored well, including a couple only 1 ½ miles away. The fishing was a matter of right place, right time. Tuna had bitten where the Heavy Hitter fished before the boat arrived. The boat will sail for tuna again Tuesday. George heard nothing about other fishing like for summer flounder.

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