<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

On the <b>Katie H</b> from Belmar, anglers steamed to Toms Canyon on an overnighter Saturday to Sunday, Capt. Mike said. Two 80-pound yellowfin tuna and a 60- or 70-pound swordfish were landed at night. Five or six yellowfins in the 100-pound class, big ones, broke off, and light leaders had to be used. The fish wouldn’t bite 80-pound leaders, and were aggressive, freaking out near the boat. Maybe the full moon affected the fishing. No particular time was best, and the fish were picked through the night. Nothing bit on the troll during daytime. Waters were 72 degrees, and squid tore up baits. Squid weren’t usually seen, were deeper. Rain fell through the night, but seas were mostly calm. Seas started to become angry, reaching 5 to 6 feet, occasionally 8, on the way home, but became calmer close to shore. The crew had decided to fish the Toms, because Hudson Canyon would’ve been crowded. That seemed a good move, and maybe 20 boats fished the Toms. Very good tuna catches, sometimes limits, sometimes 15 or 18 fish, were heard about from Carteret Canyon. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing the canyons offshore.

John Gleason’s charter jigged and chunked good fishing for 45-pound bluefin tuna Sunday on the <b>Hyper Striper</b> from Highlands, Capt. Pete said in an e-mail.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

A fair pick of yellowfin tuna was snatched from Hudson Canyon from the 100 Square to the East Elbow at night, Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle said Sunday. Swordfishing picked up a bit. Bigeye tuna were sometimes trolled. Nothing was heard about bluefin tuna.

An overnight trip to Hudson Canyon from Saturday to Sunday decked yellowfin and longfin tuna with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> from Point Pleasant Beach, Alan, the boat’s owner, said in an e-mail. “The guys had lots of shots at tuna on the chunk and troll,” he said. Mushin is a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

Two parties – two brothers and a father and a son – split a mixed-bag charter to the canyons with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> from Point Pleasant Beach, a report on Andrea’s Toy Web site said Sunday. They went 7 for 13 on yellowfin tuna to 85 pounds and also bagged mahi mahi and tilefish. The trip arrived at the canyon with daylight left to do some trolling. Within a half hour, a rod doubled over, line peeling off the reel hard, until the hook pulled. Bigeye tuna? the report asked. Nothing else bit on the troll. The boat was set up to chunk at night near the fleet, because the vessels had been picking tuna on the troll. “Wound up being the right call,” the report said. At first, the anglers aboard were “a little rusty,” the report said, and went 0 for 6. After some motivational words and coaching, they rallied, landing the seven yellowfins. In the morning, they topped the box with mahi and tilefish, docking by lunchtime. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. Annual open-boat, mixed-bag trips to the canyons are sailing for tuna and a variety of catches like mahi, swordfish and tiles in one outing. Call for info about the unique fishing.

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “October is enough to make your head spin with opportunities. Bluefin tuna of any size in the Mud Hole, and striped bass on the move. In order to capitalize on the best of these fisheries, I moved the Hi Flier to a marina in Neptune, using Shark River Inlet for easy access to both the Mud Hole (23 miles) and the Shrewsbury Rocks (8 miles). When the weather looks perfect, we’ll set our sights on the tuna fishing offshore, and if it blows hard from the west, we’ll stay along the beach, fishing for stripers. It’s also possible to do both in the same day. These grounds are not new to me. In fact, it is where it all started for me. My dad kept our boat in Shark River from 1970 to 1980. I’ll be running charter and open-boat trips for both striped bass and tuna. This is not a permanent move. We’ll return to Barnegat on November 1 or sooner, if fishing lights up there earlier. I’m available this Saturday and Sunday for charter or open boat. On Monday night I set out for the canyon on the party boat Gambler, Point Pleasant Beach, with my two boys, Nicholas, 14, and Maxwell, 11. They couldn’t have made me more proud. They both stood up to the rail and boated an 80-pound yellowfin tuna each. We weighed the fish back at the dock, and along with the one I added, they came in at 78, 80 and 82 pounds, one of which was the pool fish. We still don't know who caught which, as we just had them tag our fish collectively as ‘DeGennaro,’ but if you ask any one of us, it was ours that won the pool. Calm seas, cooperative fish and a coming of age for two future offshore fishermen. I could not have asked for anything better. The crew on the Gambler were awesome with the kids, coaching and inspiring, all the way. Special thanks to crew Todd and James. Looking forward to a great October. See you on board.”

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Boaters ran north for tuna, like to Carteret and Toms canyons, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b> from Ocean City. Catches of yellowfin tuna, sizeable, 80 or 90 pounds, were heard about. Were they mostly caught at night on the chunk or during day on the troll? Bill was asked. He heard about catches from both, he said. Nothing was heard about longfin tuna or bigeye tuna.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

Yellowfin tuna were boated at night at a couple of different places, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> from Sea Isle City and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. White marlin were still around.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Tuna fishing seemed slow in waters closest to Cape May, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b> from Cape May. Boaters ran north for them. White marlin fishing seemed to drop off, but wahoos were beaten closer to shore.

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