<b>Keyport</b>

Twelve keeper fluke to 20 inches were clubbed from the ocean off Sandy Hook on Friday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Eleven keeper fluke to a 7-pounder were sacked at Ambrose Channel on Sunday, and a 6-pounder was also whacked on the trip. On both trips, covered in the last report, winds and tides drifted the boat excellent, important for the angling. A fluke charter is set for Saturday, and space is available on an open-boat trip for fluke 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday that will fish deep waters at Ambrose Channel. Open, deep-water fluke trips are available 7 a.m. to 1 or 2 p.m. daily when no charter is booked and enough anglers want to go. Call to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fluke fishing was basically good, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Many fluke were throwbacks, but many were sizeable. Most fluke were boated from the ocean, but plenty swam Raritan Bay. Weakfish bit in the bay, though one was the bag limit. Panfishing was great in the bay for catches like spots and kingfish. Jimmy hadn’t heard about ling fishing on the ocean, but surely ling were around. Ling turned out the most consistent bottom fishing this season, he said in previous reports. Good catches of sea bass were made on bottom trips. Bluefish were beaten from the ocean to bay. Cocktail blues sometimes slid into the surf, and sometimes false albacore crashed into the surf. Striped bass gave up a little activity in the surf. Crabbing was excellent in the rivers, and snapper blues swarmed the rivers. All baits are stocked, including worms. “All you want,” Jimmy said about worms. Worms had been difficult to stock last week.

Anglers aboard scored about the same fluke fishing as previously, and some trips put up more action than others, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. A few keepers were picked up, and a quite a few throwbacks were hooked on some trips. A matter of conditions. Sea robins were brutal, and some anglers got the crew to fillet them, taking the fish home to try eating. A few porgies were mixed in, when mussel beds were fished. One woman limited out on fluke Wednesday, but that was an exception, luck. Her husband bagged two keepers. Another angler landed 16 throwbacks and no keepers on a trip. Again, luck: whether a keeper jumped on a hook. Trips fished the channels when the boat didn’t drift too fast for anglers to hold bottom. Otherwise they fished Romer Shoal. The vessel did no fishing in the bay.  Tom hoped things would improve, all in all, he said, “and we’ll keep at it.” The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke twice daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m.

Tough morning, better afternoon, Capt. Ron said about today’s fluke fishing on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> on the vessel’s Web site. “Finally found a line of fish that wanted to bite,” he said. That happened when a breeze came on, and the throttles had to be worked to stay on the line for the third day in a row. “But, hey, that’s why they pay me the big bucks,” Ron joked. High hooks bagged three and four fluke, and lots of throwbacks gave up good action. A 7-pound 3-ounce fluke, the angler’s personal best, was the pool-winner. “Working hard to get it done!” Ron said about Wednesday’s fluking. He started power drifting, like the previous day, and the fishing turned on. Some anglers landed three and four keepers, and a 5-1/2-pound fluke was the pool-winner, and a few others weighed nearly that. On Tuesday’s trip, conditions were the worst of the season, with no drift. After slower fluking, the trip took a ride to look for bigger fluke. “Glad we did,” Ron said. The fishing wasn’t super, but some quality fluke were drilled. A 6-3/4-pounder was the pool-winner, and the same angler boxed a 6-1/2-pounder. A 6-1/4-pounder was eased in, and so were a 5-1/2-pounder and a 4-1/2-pound sea bass. Monday’s trip shoveled up a pick in the morning, “nothing like the past three days,” Ron said, but there was action, despite a lousy drift. Fluking became much better in the afternoon, and the current hit 2 knots. Very good action turned on during the last couple of hours. More throwbacks than keepers bit, but several anglers bagged three or four fluke. A 6-pounder was the pool-winner, and a couple of 4-pounders were honked, and so were a handful of sea bass. The Fisherman is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. However, the boat is chartered Saturday, so no open-boat trip will sail then.

<b>Highlands</b>

At <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> Jay and John on the Par Tee returned with two good-sized fluke 19 and 20 ½ inches they nabbed near the towers on killies, an e-mail from the marina said. Michael Kalnin and dad came back with a 20-inch fluke that gulped a killie off Sandy Hook Point. Killies and all the frozen baits for inshore are carried, including frozen pints and quarts of clam bellies, spearing, Peruvian smelts, cut up shedder crabs, and the different squids like pre-cut, whole and more. Offshore baits are in full supply. 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.

<b>Neptune</b>

Fishing was great, and if anglers want sea bass, they should sail for them now, because sea bass season will close on Sept. 4, though will reopen on Sept. 23, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> in an e-mail. Two spots remain for an individual-reservation trip for sea bass 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2. Three spots remain for a special fluke trip 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, because of a last-minute charter cancellation. A few spots, not many, are left for an individual-reservation trip for fluke this Tuesday. The fluke trips are running every Tuesday and Sunday till fluke season closes on Sept. 29, and kids under 12 sail free, limited to two per adult.  A canyon trip for tuna will fish this weekend, and a cod trip will steam Monday. Last Lady is also bluefishing.

<b>Belmar</b>

With <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> ocean fluke fishing was somewhat picky Wednesday in not the best conditions to drift the boat, Capt. Pete said. But a catch was put together, and the fluking was very good the previous couple of days. No huge fluke showed up in past days, but some good-sized ones did. No lack of action from throwbacks was had. Triggerfish bit, and a few porgies began to appear, and sea bass were sporadically caught. Great sea bass catches were a little tough to claim in warm waters. Big bluefish could be belted on the ocean, and false albacore and bonito swam the same waters. So did a few yellowfin tuna. Parker Pete’s sails for all species available, and charters and open-boat trips are fishing. 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.

Bluefish, lots, all big, to 15 and 18 pounds, were pummeled on both daytime and nighttime trips on the ocean on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, Capt. Alan said. False albacore and occasional tuna were fought. A 50-pound yellowfin tuna was decked a few days ago. On the <b>Tropical Adventure</b>, Alan’s other party boat, “we’re catching fish,” he said. Fluke and sea bass were swung in, and this was the best time of season for the fishing. “They have their days,” Alan said, and on some days the fish were picked. 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.

<b>Brielle</b>

On the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, fishing for fluke was good all week on the ocean, Capt. Joe said in an e-mail. Trips fished deep, in 60 to 80 feet, and fairly good numbers of limits were aced sometimes. Pool-winning fluke weighed 5 ½ to 8 pounds, and Ray Bryant, South Orange, currently led the monthly pool with an 8-pound 7-ounce fluke. Erik Jameson, Bridgewater, this week came close to beating him, with an 8-pound 4-ouncer. Frank Pogue this week threatened to lead with an 8-pounder. The Jamaica II is fluke fishing on two half-day trips 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and on a full-day trip 8 a.m. Mondays. A Special Fluke Marathon will run 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. the final Monday of fluke season, Sept. 24, and call to reserve. “Limited,” Joe said.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

A solid bite of fluke was copped Tuesday from the ocean a few miles from Manasquan Inlet on a half-day trip with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Ray said in an e-mail. In his previous report, he talked about a trip that was overnighting at Hudson Canyon on Sunday while he e-mailed. Other crew members were running the trip, and at the time, on Sunday evening, the trip so far had trolled numerous mahi mahi, and a 400- to 500-pound blue marlin that was fought a few minutes and got off. Ray gave the latest results: No tuna bit that night, and only a blue shark did, and a tiger shark swam around, and baby sailfish schooled past under the lights. “Truth in reporting,” Ray said. Trips for a combo of bluefish and false albacore, and fishing for fluke, are slated aboard for the next few days, “so more info to come,” Ray said. Mushin is a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept in outdoor adventures.  <b>***Update, Friday, 8/24:***</b> All the blues anyone could want were caught and released on a trip on the ocean Thursday morning, Alan, the boat’s owner, said in an e-mail. About a dozen false albacore were also fought and released on the bluefish grounds. Then the anglers wanted to shoot for fluke for fish to take home. They bagged keepers to 23 inches while picking through lots of throwbacks. In the afternoon, another group climbed aboard for bottom fishing on the ocean. Soon, fluke were flying, less than 15 minutes from Manasquan Inlet. They bagged keepers to 22 inches and let go lots of shorts. At first, they kept track of how many they caught. Before long, they lost count. <b>***Update, Saturday, 8/25:***</b> Dozens of big, gator blues were plowed – a few were kept, and the rest were released – and many false albacore were fought and let go on a trip aboard Friday, Alan said in an e-mail. Bluefishing’s been hot, he said. The albies were landed on fresh spearing on small hooks on light tackle. Then the anglers switched to catching fluke.

Super fluke fishing now! a report on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>’s Web site said. The fishing the last two days, on both morning and afternoon trips, was “pretty handy,” the report said. Lots of keepers were crushed, and plenty of throwbacks were let go. Fluke 5 to 7 pounds were pool-winners. Pink or green Gulps seemed to catch the biggest fluke, and squid and spearing hooked plenty of fluke. On nighttime trips, bluefishing remained good. The fishing was slow on one trip, on Tuesday, but bounced right back on Wednesday. Blues were all 8 to 12 pounds. A great trip will bluefish with Wharfside and Broadway Bar and Grill 7:30 to 1 o’clock Tuesday night, Sept. 4. That’s open-boat boat, so anglers are welcome to climb aboard. For more info, call: 732-496-5383. 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. All trips will sail on the usual schedule on Labor Day.

It’s been the year of the bigeye tuna, and fishing for bigeyes was the best yet this season this week, an e-mail from <b>Canyon Runner Sport Fishing</b> said. Two bigeyes were boated with Canyon Runner on Tuesday, bringing the total to 17 for the season aboard. Sixteen of those were taken on Canyon Runner’s 48-foot Viking, and the other was nailed on the 60-foot Ritchie Howell. The fleet hooked more than 40 bigeyes Tuesday and Wednesday, landing at least 20. Canyon Runner won $283,000 for a bigeye in last week’s White Marlin Open! Despite great fishing for bigeyes and white marlin, waters didn’t hold many yellowfin tuna, simply. Fishing for them was slow. But the crew hopes chunking for yellowfins at night starts to turn on at the end of this month and in September, and that great fall fishing for yellowfins will be hammered, like it usually is. Very few dates remain for trips, if anglers want to get in on the bigeye fishing or get ready for fall chunking for yellowfins and swordfish. Call now.

Waters were loaded with fish from both sides of Point Pleasant Canal to Manasquan River to Manasquan Inlet, said Chuck from <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b>. Blues and a few weakfish went crazy at the canal at night. One in six fluke in the river was a keeper, an improving ratio. Hickory shad swam the waters, and striped bass were sometimes found all the way to the mouth of the inlet. Kingfish and croakers were beached from the surf. False albacore were sometimes smoked in the surf, including two heard about from the beach on the Manasquan side of the inlet. Anglers just had to be there when albies popped in, and small metal will catch them. Party boaters smashed great fishing for fluke and blues on the ocean. Waters were warm, and warm-water fish like cobia were around. A cobia was reported boated right off the shore, unheard of. A couple of mahi mahi were reported caught from along jetties to the north, really unheard of. Sharks gathered in the warm waters, and Chuck saw two hammerheads on an ocean party boat trip. The shop’s grounds include the Gates Motel, popular with anglers, within walking distance of the inlet and surf and the charter and party boat fleet. <b>***THIS TACKLE SHOP IS FOR SALE! CALL: 732-899-5760.***</b>

<b>Toms River</b>

Surf fishing for fluke kept improving, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Rigs with Gulps were fished for them. Or 2-ounce bucktails with a squid strip or a 7-inch strip of meat were often used. Blues 1 or 1 ½ pounds hit the surf, swiping mackerel or mullet. A fair number of kingfish littered the surf, nipping bloodworms, clams or Fishbites. Bloods were just stocked, and Fishbites will arrive for the weekend. Sharks were banked from the surf at night. A mixed bag of fish were tugged from the Barnegat Inlet jetty, including small blues, triggerfish, blowfish, spots, fluke and more. Ocean fluke fishing was best at Sea Girt and Axel Carlson reefs. Sometimes fluke were boated off the bathing beach at Island Beach State Park in 50 or 60 feet. Sometimes mostly false albacore and some Spanish mackerel, bonito and blues were trolled on the ocean. In Barnegat Bay, fluke fishing picked up a little at Oyster Creek and Double Creek channels. Most were throwbacks. The bay cooled 5 degrees, becoming 78, and blowfishing improved again in the waters. Toward the BB marker, weakfish and a variety of fish bit, including spots, sea bass, snapper blues, blowfish and more. One angler talked about 20-inch weaks moving into his chum slick. Crabbing was good in the Toms River, along Route 37 Bridge and at Good Luck Point. Lots of spots filled the river.

<b>Seaside  Heights</b>

A bunch of fluke, more than before, were kayaked from the ocean the last few days from Barnegat to Manasquan inlets, said John from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. North of Seaside Heights and Ortley Beach produced. Surf anglers sometimes caught them. Previously farther north turned out more. Fluke were hung from the Seaside Heights Casino Pier. Barnegat Bay was full of juvenile and small fish. John and son on a trip reeled in a 21-inch black drum, croakers, a bunch of weakfish, sea bass, croakers and blowfish. From the shop’s docks, many blowfish and sometimes snapper blues were hooked. Crabbing was off, and waters were hot.  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>

Barnegat Bay served up weakfish in mornings and evenings between the BI and BB markers on pink Fin-S Fish or killies, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Blowfish, lots, were bucketed at the BI and BB and many places in the bay. A bunch of spots and other fish were netted for bait in the bay. Snapper blues swam lagoons. Fluke were lifted from Double Creek and Oyster Creek channels. Fluke catches were heard about from the Tires in the ocean the first time this season. 

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Like every trip lately, bluefishing was fantastic Wednesday on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, according to reports on the vessel’s Web site. “Couldn’t be better,” the report said about the day’s catch. Blues 8 to 14 pounds were cracked from the ocean. Fishing was great, and weather was beautiful. Ice is free aboard to keep the catch fresh. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing 8 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Lots of fluke were docked from Barnegat Bay at <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>, Vince Sr. said. Most came from Double Creek and Oyster Creek channels. Fluke fishing on the ocean picked up, after hardly any were taken locally previously. Now the angling was pretty good. Places they were caught included off the pipe at Seaside. Sea bass were wrenched from the ocean wrecks, and large blues were bombed from the ocean. Back in the bay, lots of weakfish got winged at Meyer’s Hole and the west side of the bay on live grass shrimp. Blowfish swam abundant in the bay, and were either mixed in with other catches, or were targeted near structure like the sailboat, the BI or the 42. Also in the bay, tons of small sea bass schooled, sea robins were plentiful, small blues were around, and a variety of other fish raced around. Along the Barnegat Inlet jetty blackfish and sometimes weakfish and blues were snatched. Crabbing was tough, but some were plucked, mostly at High Bar Harbor or shallow parts of the bay. Clamming was exceptional in the bay all season. Live spots are stocked, and many big fluke are getting  pasted on them. Live grass shrimp are carried, but should be ordered ahead. 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.

<b>Surf City</b>

A variety of fish snapped in the surf, and catches were good, said Dick from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Vacationers and kids could catch something, even. Fluke blanketed the surf up and down the coast, and a healthy number were keepers. Anglers fished for them with Gulps or squid and spearing. Kingfishing was very good in the surf, and sometimes croakers were hooked from shore. Lots of small blues popped into the surf. Three striped bass were banked from the beach Sunday and Monday on kingfish rigs. That was chance, and the season was early for striper fishing to begin. In the bay, lots of snapper blues schooled, and crabbing was fair. Runoff from rains probably affected crabbing, and that should straighten out. Catch the shop’s free surf-fishing classes 6 to 7 p.m. Sundays in the parking lot, rain or shine. The classes are informal but informative, covering the beach fishing that’s happening currently. Bring a lawn chair. 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>

A good couple of days of summer flounder fishing turned up unexpectedly at Little Egg Reef, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Trips with five to seven keepers were reported, and the fish might not have sat exactly on the reef. Reports talked about catches toward the edges outside the reef in 60 feet. Previously the shop reported that most flounder appeared deeper in 70 feet around Atlantic City Reef, seeking cooler waters. One angler who caught at Little Egg Reef said jigging a heavy bucktail aggressively worked for him. Customers headed to AC Reef for fishing for sea bass and blackfish that was apparently good. Boaters seemed to need to push beyond 10 miles from shore for substantial catches of those. A few more flounder than before also showed up at Little Egg Inlet, tight to Little Beach, in 3 feet. Three keepers was high hook, but that was more than before. In the bay plenty of activity came from small fish like kingfish, spots and porgies at the clam stakes on the Mystic Island side of the Fish Factory. Not many blowfish showed up, but a few kings could be bagged. However, blowfish galore were clam-chummed in Tuckerton Bay off East, Middle and West Sedge Islands. Snapper blues and a few weakfish stacked up at the mouth of Mullica River toward Oyster Bed Cove and Goose Cove. Lots of bait schooled that side of the mouth, and the fishing was best on falling tides, funneling bait out from the creeks. Not a lot of the fish were big enough to keep. White perch surely bit in the brackish rivers and creeks, though nobody mentioned locations specifically. Lagoon fishing was good for snappers and spots, fun for kids. The fish were even played from shore at Pebble Beach. Lots of crabs skittered around, and not a lot were big. Maybe another shed was needed to increase the size. Fresh, shucked clams and green crabs are stocked. Bloodworms ran out and will be stocked Friday. No grass shrimp are on hand, is too hot.

<b>Absecon</b>

For ocean anglers, summer flounder fishing was good at reefs and wrecks, said Curt from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. The fish seemed to hold tight to structure, because anglers had to fish close to catch. Try to fish structure that others haven’t. A few sea bass were mixed in with flounder, and the ocean was warm, so fish like mahi mahi, holding along debris, were around. Cobia were heard about that followed rays and turtles. Nothing was heard about tuna inshore. Boaters probably had to sail at least 40 miles off for tuna, unless clean waters moved into areas closer, like at 28-Mile Wreck. A few flounder remained in the bay, but mostly weakfish, quite a few that bit, were targeted in the bay. Anglers had to look for the trout more than a couple of weeks ago, and the fish seemed to move farther north from the shop, along the Intracoastal Waterway. Fish including big spots, kingfish, snapper blues, juvenile sea bass and porgies swam the bay. “Lots of small nibblers around,” Curt said. Blackfish surely swam areas like along the bridges, though nothing was heard about them in the one-blackfish bag limit. Noting was heard about sheepshead in the last week. Some big ones were checked in from places like along the bridges earlier this season. White perch fishing was good in brackish rivers, and Curt is a perch angler. Lots of other fish including small striped bass and snapper blues bit when he perched at Mullica River. Shedder crabs are stocked for bait, and a few soft-shell crabs remain for eating. Live spots and practically all baits are carried. The shop is known for bait selection.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Along the surf, Bob Daley and Jim Hyde landed 50 to 60 fish in a trip: kingfish, spots and blues, a report on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site said. They had a great day, they said, and that seemed about how fishing was going at Brigantine. The summer’s been great for the fishing. Details about the shop’s annual Striped Bass Derby, slated to start in late September, will be announced soon.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Kingfish, spots, larger than usual, weakfish, small, but plentiful, and a few keepers, summer flounder, blues, triggerfish, croakers and blackfish were yanked from Absecon Inlet by anglers on foot, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. The species caught depended on location fished. All were landed out front off the T-jetty. A 22-inch flounder was checked in. Lots of baitfish schooled and were caught, including mullet, herring, peanut bunker and spearing. That’s probably the reason the fish were abundant. Minnows schooled the back bay. Fishing was good.   One Stop opened a second store at Gardner’s Basin at 800 North New Hampshire Avenue. The original, remaining open, is at 416 Atlantic Avenue.

<b>Margate</b>

Back-bay fishing for summer flounder was okay aboard, said Capt. John from the party boat <b>Keeper</b>. Sometimes a keeper was bagged, and he was happy with the fishing. Throwbacks bit, and so did a few kingfish, spots, croakers, blowfish and small blues. A gazillion juvenile sea bass filled waters, and a weakfish showed up in catches here and there. Lots of baitfish crammed waters. Flounder hit minnows and mackerel supplied aboard, and Gulps anglers brought. Sometimes sand sharks caught were cut up for bait. 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>Sea Isle City</b>

The surf was full of spots, and kingfish and good-sized weakfish and blues were mixed in, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The spots and kings were mostly caught on Fishbites, and the weaks and blues were mostly smacked on cut up spots. Summer flounder fishing was good at Townsend’s Inlet Reef and Ocean City Reef. Large bucktails with big Gulps, jerk shads or those types of baits caught. Quite a few cobia were clapped on the ocean 3 miles out, give or take. Cobia 60 pounds were heard about, but most were 35 or 40. Most caught them by luck, running into the cobia, catching them on all kinds of things. Everything from popper lures to spots to a shark rig were heard about. Be prepared to go for them. Plenty of brown and dusky sharks, required to be released, stalked close to shore. Nothing was really heard about offshore fishing, and billfish were mostly caught in this week’s Mid Atlantic $500,000 tournament, Mike guessed, but nothing overly exciting seemed to happen. The back bay put out an occasional keeper fluke. Snapper and cocktail blues swam the bay. Striped bass were slung in from the bay, mostly at night on soft-plastic lures like Bass Assassins or Fin-S Fish, or in evenings on popper plugs or swimming lures.  Crabbing was great.

A trip sailed for bottom fish and mahi mahi on the inshore ocean with George Hand today, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. A bunch of mahi were live-baited, and a bunch of sea bass were bottom-fished. Kevin Mauger aboard wrestled brown sharks on the ocean close to shore Wednesday. On Tuesday he took a fly-casting lesson with Joe, headed to the ocean, caught his-first ever fish on a fly in saltwater on his first cast, and proceeded to fly-rod bluefish, amberjacks and even sea robins, a good intro. On Tuesday evening Chris Miller fly-rodded more blues than could be counted and four striped bass in the back waters, excellent fishing. On Monday a trip that included kids hit the bay for small sea bass and summer flounder, and the kids loved it. Offshore fishing doled out decent bigeye tuna fishing at Wilmington Canyon. Yellowfin tuna were trolled at Lindenkohl Canyon earlier in the week. Lots of white and blue marlin were battled, but offshore news was sketchy, because anglers kept quiet for the Mid Atlantic $500,000. Annual weekend trips will sail again this fall from Montauk, New York, for the legendary run of striped bass, blues and false albacore. The fishing’s been epic for Jersey Cape in recent years, and book now. Reserve dates for annual weekend trips to Florida in winter. The trips can fish for a large variety of catches including redfish, speckled sea trout and tarpon in the back country to king mackerel, blackfin tuna and sailfish out front. See info about both trips on Jersey Cape’s <a href="http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page4.html" target="_blank">Traveling Fisherman Charters</a> Web page. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Good catches of crabs came in during the past couple of days, said Brian from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. A couple of rental boaters talked about hitting kingfish from the back bay. Lots of spots and juvenile sea bass bit in the bay. Snapper blues were sometimes seen among customers’ catches. Not a lot was heard about summer flounder from the bay, and maybe many moved to the ocean for cooler waters. But Mike only works three days a week, doesn’t see customers daily.  The rental boats are available, and a large supply of baits is stocked. Minnows are only $5 a pint, the best price on the island, Mike from the shop said in a previous report. Baits carried also include Gulps, shedder crabs, frozen, chopped shedders in brine, all the different squids, including colored and scented squid strips, tube squid and trolling squid, and frozen herring, whole mackerel, mackerel fillets and salted clams in quarts and pints. Pre-cut squid in green and pink were very popular. Crabs for eating are currently $22 per dozen for No. 1’s and $12 per dozen for No. 2’s. The price can change, depending on the market. Check out <a href="http://www.canalsideboatrentals.com" target="_blank">Canal Side’s Web site</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> jumped on a friend’s boat that trolled for tuna at Spencer Canyon on Tuesday, he said. No tuna showed up, but a white marlin was fought then jumped off near the boat, and a couple of small mahi mahi were landed. Not a lot was heard about offshore fishing, but boaters in the Mid Atlantic $500,000 kept talking about releasing white marlin on the radio. Summer flounder fishing held up well on the ocean, and sea bass were mixed in. Anglers aboard are supposed to flounder fish on the Heavy Hitter this weekend. Lots of small bluefish could be trolled off Cape May Point. Trips are available for all this fishing, and call if interested.

Catches of summer flounder were good at the Old Grounds, said Capt. T.J. from <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>. Not a lot were big, but some were sizeable. A mix of flounder and sea bass bit there. Half-day trips with families, fishing the ocean closer to port, got into plenty of action with a variety of blues. weakfish and bottom fish. Not much was heard about tuna fishing, but boats fishing in the Mid Atlantic $500,000 all ran north. Little was doing south. Charters and <a href=" http://www.legallimitcharters.com/open-boat.php" target="_blank">open-boat trips</a> are fishing.

Fishing for summer flounder was good, except in the last couple of days, said Capt. Paul from the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>.  A bunch of throwbacks but not many keepers chomped the past couple of days. But good catches of keepers were slugged the previous days, even in rough weather during the weekend. A change in wind direction or a little change in weather or something was probably needed. Maybe that’ll happen by the weekend. All trips fished the ocean, and several anglers aboard limited out on flounder through the weekend. On Saturday Barb and Mike Ruhl, Hershey, Pa., both limited out. Mike Paterson, Ridley Park, limited out aboard. Pete Martine, Vineland, bagged four flounder to a 6-1/2-pounder, probably the biggest on the boat in past days. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder 8 a.m. daily.

The ocean dished up good summer flounder fishing at Cape May Reef, Reef 11 and the Old Grounds, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Sea bass were sacked from those areas. Lots of throwback flounder, an occasional keeper, blanketed Cape May Harbor. Bluefish swam the harbor and schooled off Cape May Point. At Cape May Channel weakfish, kingfish, croakers, blues and a few flounder gathered. On Delaware Bay a few boaters shark fished for browns, required to be released. Browns were fought from the surf, and Cape May Point was a good spot. Weakfish surely schooled Delaware Bay. Plenty of croakers, mostly small, occasionally large enough to keep, held in the bay. Not much was heard about offshore fishing, but lots of tuna and white marlin were entered in Cape May’s Mid Atlantic $500,000 tournament. Closer to shore, mahi mahi could sometimes be found at the buoys close to shore. But no place usually held the fish every day, and the fish appeared when bait did. Bloodworms, clams, minnows and all the frozen baits for inshore are stocked. Chum for brown sharking is on hand. Offshore baits include flats of butterfish and sardines and trolling ballyhoos and squid.

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