<b>Sandy Hook</b>

Wayne O’Neil from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> in Highlands steamed offshore two Sundays ago, and a few skipjacks and bonito bit, he said. Canyon waters were the same warmth everywhere, holding no temperature breaks to concentrate tuna. Closer to shore, something big grabbed a line 4 or 5 miles southeast of the HA buoy, when the boat fished near a troller. But the line broke off for the inexperienced angler. Offshore baits are in full supply, including flats of herring, sardines and butterfish. Half flats might be available for certain baits, if anglers want to save. 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>Shark River Inlet</b>

Canyon fishing was slow on an overnight trip Saturday to Sunday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> from Neptune, Capt. Ralph said in an e-mail. At night, one shark was caught. The next day, on the troll, one 60- to 70-pound yellowfin tuna was cranked aboard, and two white marlin were raised. “Water has just moved in,” Ralph said, and he expects very good fishing in two or three weeks. An individual-reservation trip for tuna at the canyons is set for Sunday to Monday, September 23 to 24.

The next offshore trip for tuna is scheduled for the second weekend of September on the <b>Katie H</b> from Belmar, Capt. Mike said. Recent tuna trips aboard were rescheduled because of slow catches reported. Mike will see whether the fishing changes before the next scheduled trip.

An overnight trip fished Lindenkohl Canyon last week from Tuesday to Wednesday with <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b> from Belmar, Capt. Jared said. No yellowfin tuna showed up, but loads of life filled waters, and many fish bit. Whales, porpoises, 8-foot manta rays and sea turtles were seen. Fifteen white marlin were raised on the troll, and four came tight. Jared never saw so many whites in a trip before. All the small mahi mahi anyone could want bit on the troll. Skipjacks and false albacore were also trolled. Probably not more than 20 minutes passed without a hook-up while trolling. Amazing action, just no yellowfins. The trip trolled everywhere from shallow, “to very shallow,” Jared said, to deep. At night, two swordfish, a small one released, and a 140-pounder kept, were landed. Lots of sharks were fought at night. The trip was long, leaving at 7 a.m., returning the next day at 9 p.m.

Wayne from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> in Highlands steamed offshore two Sundays ago, and a few skipjacks and bonito bit, he said. Canyon waters were the same warmth everywhere, holding no temperature breaks to concentrate tuna. Closer to shore, something big grabbed a line 4 or 5 miles southeast of the HA buoy, when the boat fished near a troller. But the line broke off for the inexperienced angler. Offshore baits are in full supply, including flats of herring, sardines and butterfish. Half flats might be available for certain baits, if anglers want to save. 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>Manasquan Inlet</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 8/31:***</b> “It finally happened,” an e-mail from <b>Canyon Runner Sport Fishing</b> said today. Great yellowfin tuna fishing was crushed at night at the canyons. The fishing happened close to port to boot, within 70 to 80 miles, “and no more,” the e-mail said. During the last two nights, trips on boats chunked 10 to 20 yellowfins apiece, and bigeye tuna and swordfish spiced up catches. Bigeyes and blue marlin were also tackled during daytime, and one trip on a vessel totaled four bigeyes. A trip with Canyon Runner returned Thursday from a trip that whacked “a blue marlin, sword, wahoo and yellowfin!” the e-mail said. Not many dates remain for trips aboard. Now’s the time to grab them. Contact Canyon Runner if interested.

Closer to shore, bluefin tuna fishing dropped out, was slow, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle. At the offshore canyons, yellowfin tuna catches were hit or miss. Some trips found them, others didn’t. A mix of trolling during daytime and chunking at night caught them. Bigeye tuna were trolled at southern canyons.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Wahoos were cracked at the Cigar, and plenty of white marlin and blue marlin roamed Wilmington Canyon, said Phil from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> from Sea Isle City, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>, was set to fish offshore Thursday, he said the night before the trip. On a trip aboard last Friday, white marlin and mahi mahi to 20 pounds were trolled at Baltimore Canyon. <b>***Update, Saturday, 9/1:***</b> Two white marlin were landed at Wilmington Canyon on trolled naked ballyhoos on the trip Thursday, with Jay and Luc Vonczoernig aboard, Joe said. Waters were 77.7 degrees, holding no real temperature breaks. A blue marlin and some mahi mahi were heard about that were caught on other vessels in the area that day.

A few wahoos were fought at the Cigar and the Lobster Claw, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City. A few mahi mahi were taken from the Cigar, and those were the offshore catches heard about.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Tuna trips were cancelled on the <b>Down Deep</b> from Cape May, because the crew was waiting for catches to pick up, Capt. Mario said. Book now for fall trips for tuna.

Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May helped out on another vessel, Casworth Express, competing in the Mid Atlantic $500,000 last week on Thursday, he said. The trip went 1 for 1 on white marlin, fishing from Wilmington Canyon to along the 100-fathom line toward Spencer Canyon. The white was landed toward the 100 line between the Wilmington and Spencer, as the boat was zig-zagged from shallow to deep along the line. A squid boat was working there, so the trip headed to the area. Overnight trips for tuna are slated for September on the Heavy Hitter. Last year, tuna fishing turned on a couple of weeks or so after the hurricane in late August. In other news, mahi mahi could be caught at the lobster pot buoys 25 or 30 miles from shore. Trips are available for any of this fishing, and call if interested.

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