<b>Keyport</b>

Few fish bit on a fluke trip Tuesday, said Capt. Joe Romaniello from <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>. The day was beautiful, after rough weather previously, and even throwbacks were scarce. Sea robins hardly chomped. But fluking was good on a party boat trip a buddy joined the next day, including at one of the area’s Papa’s fished. The trip with Papa’s fished at Ambrose and Sandy Hook channels, Scotland and all over, covering lots of waters. Eight-hour open-boat trips for fluke are available daily through Sunday that will fish deep waters and wrecks.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Amazing how on Tuesday, September 11, the clear skies and a light, northwest breeze were like the day 11 years ago aboard, Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> said in a report on the vessel’s Web site. “Certainly made me reflect …” he said. But the breeze against the current kept the boat from drifting at first, and a few fluke were picked. The boat was power drifted, but that didn’t help. Later the current ripped, and 10 and 12 ounces of weight hardly held bottom. Still, some better-sized fluke came in, including the 6-pound pool-winner and some 3- to 5-1/2-pounders. Strong winds against current also hampered the previous day’s, Monday’s, fishing aboard, but a 7-pounder and a 5-pounder were honked, and two anglers totaled between them nine “beauty keepers,” Ron said. Forecasts currently called for good weather, and fluking aboard was much better on Wednesday. Several anglers limited out, and a 7-3/4-pound fluke was the pool-winner. “Great weather, good fishing – doesn’t’ get any better than this!” Ron said. The Fisherman is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. However, the boat is chartered this Friday, so no open-boat trip will sail then. <b>***Update, Friday, 9/14:***</b> Fluke fishing was very good aboard the past two weeks, Ron said in an e-mail. Ron axed a 10-pound 2-ouncer, his personal best, on a trip this week, covered in a previous report, on spearing with squid. Many 3- to 5-pound fluke, and several limits of the fish, were smacked during the two weeks. In the past three weeks, six fluke 8 pounds and larger were eased aboard.

The fleet boated fluke Wednesday, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Were the fish now caught farther from shore than before? he was asked. They were landed all the places they were in summer, he said. On some days, the flatfish were taken down the beaches. Some remained in Raritan Bay. Spots, croakers and weakfish schooled the bay. Porgies were pasted along the piers. Bluefish, false albacore and striped bass were sometimes beached from the surf. Albies and blues were fought offshore. The full supply of bait is stocked.

No trip fished Monday morning aboard, and only a few vessels sailed, and only a few anglers showed up at the docks, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. But Monday afternoon’s trip ran, and conditions were crummy for the fluke fishing. The boat rocked and rolled at Flynn’s Knoll, and had to be moved down the beach. A few fluke bit. “Nothing good,” Tom said. Tuesday was beautiful weather, gorgeous, and the morning’s trip fluked at the Knoll and down the beach. A load of shorts  bit – “the ratio was out of control,” Tom said – and not enough keepers did. A few keepers were lifted aboard, and all anglers at least hooked throwbacks. On the afternoon’s trip, fewer fluke bit, but some better-sized keepers did. Wednesday morning’s trip’s fluking was a bit better along the beach and channels. A couple of anglers sacked two and three keepers, and decent action with shorts turned up. Wednesday afternoon’s trip’s fishing was about the same. It wasn’t great, but some anglers pulled in one or two keepers, and some scored none, and throwbacks gave up action. Tom’s wife reeled in three keepers, got lucky, joining the trip, one of the few times she does. Weather was now great, and anglers seemed to be scared off earlier in the week, though weather and the swell had already calmed.  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>

Fourteen  keeper flounder to 4 pounds and 60 throwbacks were reeled in today from the channels and rough bottom with <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b>, Capt. Dave said. Action lasted practically all day – somewhat better in morning than afternoon – on the open-boat trip with five anglers. Open trips are fluking when no charter is booked.

With <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> fluke, good catches, were bucktailed from deep waters, Capt. Derek said. The fish to 5 or 5 ½ pounds were cranked aboard Wednesday. Charters are fishing, and open-boat trips for fluke will sail Friday and Sunday. A few more of the open trips will fish until fluke season closes later this month. Open trips for striped bass will fish at night if enough anglers want. Bait for stripers or worms or eels were difficult to get this time of year. Call to climb aboard open trips or to be kept informed about future ones. Fall charters for stripers, bottom-fish and blackfish are being booked.

Many weakfish, including two 18-inchers, and some spots, croakers, blues and keeper fluke shoveled up lots of action in 30 feet around Sandy Hook on a trip, an e-mail from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> said. The anglers, Ed Moehring and buddy, fished with pink Gulps, and Ed and Toni on the Hammered belted fluke and blues at Sandy Hook Channel. Tracy Amarosa bagged two fluke 21 and 19 inches, out-fishing her husband and another angler, at Sandy Hook Channel on the Par Tee. Killies and all the frozen baits for inshore are stocked, 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. Live bunker and clams will be carried again this fall. Offshore baits are in full supply, including flats of herring, sardines and butterfish. 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>Belmar</b>

Fluke fishing was good Wednesday on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b> on the ocean, Capt. Chris said. The fishing began tougher, and the fluke had to be found. But good catches were creamed toward the end. Rough bottom in 40 feet gave up most of the trip’s fluke. “Good, solid day,” Chris said. Gulps on bucktails caught best, “far and away,” Chris said. The Big Mohawk is fishing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

An overnight trip for tuna was headed for the canyons today to Friday on the <b>Katie H</b>, Capt. Mike said. He’ll try to give results Friday that will be posted here in an update if he does. A fluke trip is slated to fish the ocean Saturday.

More bluefish, big ones, 8 to 15 pounds, were beaten on some days, and on other days more false albacore were, on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, and the fishing was very good, on both daytime and nighttime trips, Capt. Alan said. Skipjacks were also fought, and the albies were abundant and large this year. Trips fished at Shark River Reef, the same place as previously. On the party boat <b>Tropical Adventure</b>, Alan’s other vessel, fluke fishing was good on some days and slow on others on the ocean. When conditions were right, the fishing was good.  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 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 3:30 to 6 p.m. daily. When fluke season ends, the boat will bottom fish on one ¾-day trip daily.

Anglers, part of a two-boat trip, fished for false albacore on the ocean Wednesday with <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Pete said. All the albies and bluefish anyone could want were pounded. On Pete’s boat, the anglers fished with butterfish and spearing in a chum slick. They also tried for mahi mahi along lobster pot buoys, and mahi were seen, but wouldn’t bite. On the other boat, anglers tried trolling in the morning in an attempt to find tuna. No tuna showed up, but plenty of albies swiped the spread. Parker Pete’s will definitely run more albie trips. Fluke fishing was good for the fleet on the ocean Wednesday morning. Then winds or any conditions to drift a boat dropped off, ending the bite. Weather is beautiful this time of year, and anglers should get out while it is. Parker Pete’s sails for any 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.

Mullet were “on the move,” said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> in an e-mail. “Getting more reports of bass and blues in the surf,” he said. Party boaters tackled great numbers of blues and all the false albacore they could want on the ocean. “This is the best time of the year to get out and fish,” Bob said. Winter’s long, he reminded, and might not be mild like last year, “(when) we all fished,” he said.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

After the weekend’s storm, <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> was ready to run offshore for tuna on back-to-back, overnight trips today to Friday and Friday to Saturday, Capt. Ray said in an e-mail. Three spaces are available for Friday to Saturday’s trip, and e-mailing Ray is the best way to reserve:  <a href="mailto:rayconj@comcast.net" target="_blank">rayconj@comcast.net</a>. “First come, first served,” he said.

Fluke, including good-sized, blanketed the ocean, and were boxed on the party boat <b>Gambler</b>, and the boat drift was a factor in past days, Capt. Bob said. On this morning’s trip the boat drifted at first, and fluke were swung in. Then winds stopped, so the boat stopped drifting, and catches stopped. But an 8-pound fluke was socked this morning. Fluke trips, running 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily, will continue through Tuesday, September 25. The season’s final nighttime wreck-fishing trip will run today from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The season’s final nighttime bluefishing trip will sail 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Trips will begin to focus on tuna fishing offshore starting Monday, October 1. See Gambler’s <a href=" http://gamblerfishing.net/offshoretrips.html" target="_blank">tuna-fishing schedule</a> online.

After fluke fishing wasn’t so good a couple of days, the fishing bounced back on  Wednesday afternoon’s trip on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said.  A 5-pound fluke was the pool-winner on the trip. On nighttime trips, bluefishing was solid for 6- to 12-pounders, and a few false albacore were in the mix. 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.

Bottom-fishing was okay, not a bail, on the ocean on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. Ling catches were steady, putting up 10 to 20 per angler on average, some days more. Porgy fishing had been good a couple of days, until the weekend’s storm “broke up” the fish. But Butch hopes the catches rebound, and today’s trip nabbed a handful, including good-sized porgies. Out-of-season sea bass were released, and plenty of big ones appeared after the storm, and the season will open later in the month. On nighttime trips bluefishing was very good, plowing 6- to 12-pounders. 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. Fridays and Saturdays.

Manasquan Inlet’s fluke fishing was good, and lots of keepers were tugged in during the last few days, said Chuck from <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b>. Lots of bait including mullet, spearing and bay anchovies flooded the waters. If an angler fished from the inlet wall an hour, a fluke catch would probably be made. Waters were loaded with bluefish from Point Pleasant Canal, Manasquan River and the inlet to the ocean. Striped bass and blues were winged from the canal every night. The population of weakfish seemed up and down. Some remained in northern Barnegat Bay near Mantoloking Bridge this week, but fewer than last week. Blowfish hovered in the bay from the bridge to farther south. Stripers began to be beached from the surf every morning, mostly on swimming lures like Bombers, but also on metal or chunks of bunker. Surf anglers seemed pleased with the bass. False albacore swam everywhere from the surf to farther out in the ocean. Kingfish nibbled in the surf. Tuna fishing offshore sounded very good. The shop’s grounds include the Gates Motel, popular with anglers. The store and motel are within walking distance of the charter and party boat fleet, inlet and surf. <b>***THIS TACKLE SHOP IS FOR SALE! CALL: 732-899-5760.***</b>

<b>Toms River</b>

Boating on Barnegat Bay rustled up blowfish, spots, croakers, weakfish, a few fluke, a few kingfish, and snapper blues at the BI and BB markers, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Weaks were wrangled at the clam stakes, Pelican Island Bridge and the Toms River at Island Heights. Small striped bass, snapper blues, lots of croakers, lots of spots and a few black drum were clammed and wormed at Island Heights. Crabbing was so-so. Surf casters dragged in fluke, kings, puffers and 2- or 3-pound blues. A few striped bass were reportedly beached from the surf, and none was weighed in yet. On the ocean most fluke were boated north, like off the Red Church.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Bluefish chased mullet in the surf at Ortley Beach and Seaside, said John from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Lots of keeper fluke were banked there Wednesday. A 12-pound striped bass was weighed in that jumped on a swimming plug in the surf. In Barnegat Bay fishing was very good for a variety of fish including weakfish, croakers and blowfish. From the shop’s docks, spots, small blowfish and fish like that nipped. Crabbing was off. 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>

Blowfish hovered Barnegat Bay near the BI and BB markers, said Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. The bay’s fluke fishing slowed a little, but the summer flounder were boated in the middle of the bay and at Oyster Creek and Double Creek channels at the top of incoming tides. Lots of weakfish swarmed the bay. Snapper blues were around, and striped bass fishing should pick up in a couple of weeks. Crabbing slowed compared with earlier in the season, but produced a few, and crabbing from boats was better than from shore.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

The <b>Super Chic</b> was motored out for blues Friday on the ocean, and a good catch of big ones to 12 pounds was clobbered, Capt. Ted said. Fishing aboard was weathered out during the weekend, and two bluefish trips are slated for Saturday, and a fluke trip is on the books for Sunday. Ted hopes sea bass will snap when sea bass season opens later this month, so trips can get after them. Space is available for overnight trips for tuna offshore on weekdays but not on weekends. The 50-foot boat can accommodate up to 25 passengers on inshore trips and 10 on offshore, overnight trips. The vessel sleeps 10 passengers.

Excellent bluefishing was cracked Wednesday on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> on the ocean, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. False albacore were also pumped in. Bluefishing was also super on Tuesday, smoking 8- to 15-pounders. No trip sailed Monday, and this season’s bluefishing been one of the best on the boat.  The Miss Barnegat Light will sail for bluefish daily through Sunday and afterward on weekends.

Live grass shrimp smashed very good weakfishing from Barnegat Bay, said Vince Sr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. Fluke were flung in from Oyster Creek and Double Creek channels and near Meyer’s Hole, and fluking turned on in the ocean the last few days. Lots of blowfish jammed the bay, and abundant juvenile sea bass swam the bay. Blackfish were yet to get active. Clamming was excellent on the bay all season, and crabbing all year was “shaky,” Vince said. Live spots are stocked. So are live grass shrimp, but shrimp 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>

Mullet and bunker, peanuts to adults, ran the surf, and fishing was good from the beach, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Spots, kingfish, fluke, including a healthy number of keepers, tailor blues and occasional striped bass were banked. The annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic will be held October 6 to December 2, and registration should be available at the shop in a couple of weeks. In the bay, weakfish, blowfish, snapper blues and juvenile sea bass bit. 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>

Little was heard about ocean summer flounder fishing since last week’s storms, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. That was probably because of seas, and reports about mediocre action with flounder, mostly throwbacks, came from Little Egg Reef, but news was scarce from Atlantic City Reef, in deeper waters, where the best flounder catches came from previously. The bay churned out the smorgasbord of small fish that it had been, including sea bass, blowfish, porgies, blues and weakfish, including at the stakes off the Fish Factory and off the end of the shop’s road. Weaks from the bay were up to 3 pounds or 20 inches. Shore anglers banked blues and striped bass at Graveling Point in evenings on salted clams and mullet. Crabbing was better than previously, and wasn’t great, and lots of freshwater was probably the reason. Fresh, shucked clams and green crabs ran out but will be stocked Friday. Bloodworms and live spots and mullet are on hand.

<b>Absecon</b>

Weakfish flooded the back bay, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. He ran a charter Wednesday at the bottom of the tide, not ideal, but a couple of sizeable weaks 18 inches and a good catch of smaller ones chomped. Evenings to dark seemed best for weakfishing this week, in the dropping tide. Absecon Channel and Main Marsh Thorofare were places to catch weaks. Dave’s trip fished all over. Not much was heard about summer flounder in the bay. Little feedback came in about flounder in the ocean, though seas and weather calmed. But flounder surely swam the ocean, the place to find them best previously. Only two weekends remain for flounder season, and weather looks good this weekend. Bait in the bay was “building and building,” Dave said, and mullet will probably shoot out from the bay, running down the ocean coast, on the new moon this weekend. Anglers should have a chance at striped bass attracted to the mullet along the shore. One angler hooked a 30-inch striper in the bay while weakfishing, and more and more striper stories were heard from the bay. Croakers finally schooled the ocean in 40 feet. Spike weakfish, not many big, schooled the ocean closer in, reportedly. Bluefish sometimes schooled along the shore. White perch fishing was good on brackish rivers, and was a good bet if anglers looked for fish for the pan. Crabbing was “going,” Dave said, and should continue, as long as waters remain reasonably warm. This was a time to trap crabs to sit back and eat during the football games on a weekend. Live spots, mullet and peanut bunker are stocked. Shedder crabs and fresh clams are on hand. Last chance: Catch the shop’s <b><i>Striped Bass Season Kick Off Sale</i></b>, running through Sunday, featuring at least 25 percent off on all tackle in stock. Afterward, the full supply of tackle will be carried at usual low prices.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Kingfish, spots and blues were yanked from the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Fishing was good, steady. Andy totaled 15 or 20 spots in 15 or 20 minutes from the beach. He landed a pompano, and lots of pompano were reportedly around in the surf. One angler copped seven or eight blues 12 or 14 inches, one after another, running into them in the surf. No striped bass entered the surf yet. The annual Riptide Striped Bass Derby will be held September 17 to 12 noon December 23. Cash prizes will be awarded for the heaviest stripers landed in the Brigantine surf: $500 for first place, $300 for second and $150 for third. Also, $25 will be awarded weekly, and $100 will be awarded monthly. Fish entered must be 34 inches or larger, and entry is required 24 hours before weighing in a fish and is $20. Entering the tournament allows beach buggies to be driven on more of the beach than usual with a Brigantine beach buggy permit and a Riptide Striper Derby pass. Entrants with the permit and pass can drive the entire front beach and the cove. Passes are available for the Atlantic County Striper Derby, launching September 24, for $25 at the shop.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Absecon Inlet’s anglers, fishing on foot, tugged in sizeable spots and kingfish, lots of blackfish and snapper blues, and some summer flounder, said Jeremy from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. He saw a photo of a striped bass, good-sized, slugged from shore, probably Wednesday night. Bait including mullet, bunker and spearing filled waters. The bunker were no longer peanuts, were grown. 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>

Summer flounder remained in the back bay, and a few were caught every trip on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. Other fish including lots of juvenile sea bass, a few weakfish and some blues were hooked. Mullet began to get active, running around the bay. Tons were seen. Not a lot of trips sailed, because crowds became lighter, so the boat will run on weekends now, no longer on weekdays. Trips will fish 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 12 noon Sundays. The fare is only $25 per adult, $20 for seniors and $16 for kids.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Surf anglers plucked kingfish, spots and small blues, and lots of mullet began to run the surf, Great Egg Harbor Inlet and Corson’s Inlet, said John from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. The finger mullet should begin to draw in striped bass and blues. Not much was heard from the ocean reefs, because few fished them. A few keeper fluke were reported caught from Great Egg Harbor Inlet this week. Schoolie striped bass were snatched from along the sod banks and sometimes splashed on bait at lagoons. Offshore boaters had to run to the northern canyons for yellowfin tuna, toward Hudson Canyon, at Carteret Canyon or at least Lindenkohl Canyon.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

A trip on the ocean bombed blues and amberjacks, a bunch, on flies, jigs and top-water lures, every way to catch them, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. It was good, he said. “Lot of fish.” He saw water temps 71 degrees at the inlet. Weakfish and croakers schooled the ocean in 40 or 50 feet. Summer flounder swam the ocean and remained in the back bay. High tides at dusk, coinciding every two weeks, are ideal for popper-plug or –fly fishing for striped bass on the bay this week. The bay’s striper fishing, with poppers at dusk, or sub-surface lures and flies at night, will keep getting better as waters cool. The migration of large striped bass and blues on the ocean will slam the coast in late October and November. Trips for the fishing should be booked now. Coming soon this month, annual weekend trips will sail from Montauk, New York, for the legendary run of stripers, blues and false albacore. The fishing’s been epic for Jersey Cape in recent years. 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>

Some summer flounder were still caught from the back bay, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. A 4-pound weakfish and a couple of 19-inchers were docked. Not a lot of legal-sized weaks swam the bay, but shorts did, at least giving up action. Juvenile sea bass crammed the bay. Crabbing was so-so on the bay. Lots were trapped, but many were small. One rental-boat trip returned with 18 keepers Wednesday, and the customers were happy with that. Surf fishing seemed to improve a little. A customer beached bluefish hooked on mullet. More action with striped bass than before seemed to come from the surf. 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 said in a previous report. Baits carried also include live spots, Gulps, frozen, chopped shedder crabs in brine, all the different squids, including colored and scented squid strips, tube squid and trolling squid, and frozen sand eels, herring, whole mackerel, mackerel fillets and salted clams in quarts and pints. Crabs for eating are $22 per dozen for No. 1’s and $12 per dozen for No. 2’s. Check out <a href="http://www.canalsideboatrentals.com" target="_blank">Canal Side’s Web site</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

<b>Relentless Sport Fishing</b> ran for tuna Friday on a one-day trip before the storm, Capt. Dave said.  Three yellowfin tuna, 70 to 80 pounds, good-sized, and some mahi mahi, chickens, were trolled. Waters were 80 degrees everywhere. No temperature breaks. Storms could probably be used to break up the waters, or the cooler weather might help. Waters were full of life, more than Dave ever saw. More porpoises and whales than he ever saw swam the area. They just lay around, sunning. “Unbelievable,” Dave said. Another trip will steam for tuna offshore Friday.

Anglers are supposed to fish for tuna this weekend on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. However, big swells are predicted then, after the rest of the week is supposed to be calm. If forecasts are rough, the trip might fish for mahi mahi, where George knows they’re holding closer to shore. Little was heard about other fishing, and almost none of the fleet seemed to sail. Previously lots of blues could be trolled off Cape May Point, and summer flounder fishing was good on the ocean when conditions drifted the boat right. Trips are available for all this fishing, and call if interested.

Not many summer flounder bit, and weather and seas were rough on trips for them in past days aboard, said Capt. Paul from the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>. Then the ocean was slick as glass on Wednesday’s trip, and no winds blew. Weather was gorgeous, but too calm. The boat hardly drifted, and would need to drift for better catches of flounder. A few flounder were managed at the Old Grounds, but probably only 10 were keepers on the trip. Not many flounder seemed to swim the Old Grounds at the time, Paul thought, but a few did. No boats seemed to run into good flounder catches that day, the first day in five with calm conditions on the ocean. But flounder will probably show up, or somebody will probably locate the bite somewhere, sometime. Paul hopes the fishing rebounds, and trips will keep after flounder. If anglers want to try for flounder, this is where they can hop aboard. Quite a few out-of-season sea bass, including many keeper-sized, were hooked and released. Sea bass season will reopen later this month. The Porgy IV is sailing for summer flounder 8 a.m. daily.

The season’s first striped bass, a 28-incher, was checked in from the surf, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Another angler lost a bigger one. Mullet schooled the surf, and spots, and likely kingfish, remained in the surf. Redfish, the southern species, were reported banked at Cape May Point. Croakers and weakfish swam Delaware Bay, and most of the weaks held at the flats somewhat farther up the bay at the stakes and Bug Light. The only news heard about summer flounder was that they began to be caught closer to shore on the ocean. So Cape May Reef was probably a good place, and along the ocean front probably held them. Flounder still roamed the back bay. Bigeye tuna caught at Hudson Canyon were the only catches heard about from offshore. Not much was heard about yellowfin tuna. Fresh clams, bloodworms and all the frozen baits for inshore are carried. Offshore baits include flats of butterfish and sardines and trolling ballyhoos and squid.

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