<b>Perth Amboy</b>

Fluke swam the channels, and fishing for them was good, when conditions were right, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an e-mail. Fluke also held along the ocean rough bottom, and sea bass fishing was great there. So trips could sail for a mix of both. Space is available for open-boat trips for fluke Wednesday and Friday, and telephone if interested. On a trip Saturday on Raritan Bay, striped bass catches were decent, and bluefishing was slow. That was surprising, Frank said. Wind against tide wasn’t the best for fishing the chunks of bunker for bait. Blues usually swarmed all over the bay, and anglers could fight smaller ones on jigs under birds working the waters. Charters are fishing, in addition to open trips. The Vitamin Sea also fishes from Staten Island. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Keyport</b>

A bluefish trip wrestled 16 of the fish to 15 pounds from Raritan Bay on bunker Friday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. That was from 4 to 9 p.m. with Rob Pena’s group, and a fluke trip Sunday landed several keepers to 6 pounds and 10 times as many throwbacks at Reach Channel on killies, spearing and squid. That was from morning to early afternoon with Ryan Ruen’s group. Open-boat trips are available 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, when no charter is booked. The morning to afternoon trips are for fluke, and the evening trips are for blues, and telephone to climb aboard. 

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

After the morning fluke trip was docked Friday, weather calmed, and the afternoon trip sailed, Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> said. Only a handful of anglers showed up, probably because of forecasts, but the weather, and the fishing, were good on the bay. The fluking was probably some of the best in some time. “Everything was just right,” he said. On Saturday morning’s trip, some fluke were boated, and the angling was better than earlier in the week. On the afternoon’s trip, not quite as many were hooked. But conditions allowed the trip to fish different areas in the bay, and fluke were caught at them, and that was good. A good crowd showed up on Sunday morning’s trip, on Fathers’ Day, and fluke gave up lots of action. The number of keepers bagged was one of the better on trips lately. But the fluking fell apart on Sunday afternoon’s trip, related to conditions, Tom said. A few keepers were managed, and throwbacks were picked. All trips fished the bay, and seas weren’t rough. In strong south or southwest winds, the boat can be ducked into protection on the bay, like at 15-foot shallows, protected by land. When winds weren’t an issue, and the boat could fish different areas in the bay, was good to see fluke bite at each. None of the fluke was big on the trips. Three or four 6-1/2-pounders were largest on trips so far this season. The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily. <b>***Update, Tuesday, 6/18:***</b> A fair number of keeper fluke, one of the better amounts on trips lately, were axed on Monday morning’s trip, Tom said. Action with shorts was very good, and the afternoon’s trip was a little tough, not as productive as the morning’s. Fishing conditions were lousy, because storms rolled through. But when conditions improved, more fluke began to be caught. This morning’s trip also served up some of the season’s better fluking, and everyone bagged at least one keeper, Tom thought, and some iced two or three. So far this afternoon, Tom said when he gave this update then aboard in a phone call, anglers picked away at fluke, a handful of keepers, among very good action with shorts. Fluking was pretty good the past couple of days, and the fish were found in different parts of the bay. Whether spearing, supplied on the boat, killies or Gulps that anglers brought caught best was difficult to say. But if anglers want to fish with killies or Gulps, they should pick them up at a tackle shop on the way to trips. The tackle shop at the marina is closed.

A couple of good drifts started off fluke fishing aboard Sunday, Fathers’ Day, on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Weather was good, and fluke were found at just about every place fished on the trip. So Ron is sure the angling will get hot soon, he said. “Few more days for the water to clear,” he said that day. A 5-pound fluke was the pool-winner, and a larger one was cranked in, but the angler didn’t enter the pool. Nighttime trips aboard banged away at striped bass. Open-boat trips are sailing for them, but charters did on Friday and Saturday evenings, tackling several sizeable bass on each. The fish weighed up to 22 pounds. The Fisherman is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Trips are fishing for striped bass 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays.

<b>Highlands</b>

With <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, striped bass fishing was better on some days than others, Capt. Derek said, but a bunch of 40-pound-class stripers were bombed on the boat in the past week.  Trips fished on the ocean, but a trip today fished the mouth of Raritan Bay, picking stripers, too. Fisher Price will sail for stripers probably the rest of the month, and then switch to fluke, sharks and tuna. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trips for stripers are set for Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Telephone to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open dates.

<b>Neptune</b>

Sea bass and ling, very good catches, were pumped in during three trips this weekend with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an e-mail. The trips were with Mike Wallace, the Mercer County Anglers and Jorge Lopez. Four spots remain for an individual-reservation trip for cod Wednesday, and weather looks good. An individual-reservation trip is full June 30 for sea bass and ling.  Book now for individual-reservation trips for fluke and sea bass that will sail every Tuesday starting June 25. Kids 12 and under will sail free on the fluke and sea bass trips, limited to two per adult host.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b> competed Saturday in the Brett T. Bailey Mako Rodeo, entering a 209-pound mako shark, Capt. Jared said. The mako didn’t win, and a 270-some-pounder did. But the trip with Fin-Ominal landed four makos, including that one, and about 40 sharks total. Fin-Ominal won or placed in shark tournaments in recent years, including winning the Brett T. Bailey two years ago, and is shark fishing now. A short trip Thursday bagged three striped bass from the ocean. Another charter Sunday morning bagged 40 or 50 sea bass and five or six fluke from the ocean. A trip that afternoon scattered ashes in a burial at sea. The 50-foot boat can host small to large groups, up to 23 passengers on cruises and 12 or 13 anglers on fishing trips, for comfort. Cruises can include trips along Shark and Manasquan rivers, the ocean coast, the Manhattan skyline or whatever customers can imagine. In summer, cruises can enjoy weekly fireworks from the ocean. Business or corporate fishing charters and cruises are welcome. Charge the trip to the business card.

Fishing for striped bass was good for a moment through Wednesday on the ocean with <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Pete said.  The angling, with livelined bunker for bait, lit up in evenings, catching large stripers through a trip aboard that day, covered in the last report. But since then, the angling shut off in evenings, starting with rough weather that blew in Thursday or Friday. Now the fishing kicked in very early in mornings, like 4 o’clock, and that was about all. Otherwise, the fishing was a pick at best. But Parker Pete’s fluke fished Saturday and Sunday on the ocean, scooping up good numbers of keepers to 5 pounds, and lots of throwbacks, giving up action, both days. The trips fished shallow in 35 to 50 feet, and sea bass were mixed in. Sea bass fishing’s been good, if anglers want to target them. The boat is also available now for shark fishing, and anglers picked away at sharks: lots of blue sharks and good catches of makos. Bluefin tuna also began to be landed, and Parker Pete’s fishes for any species available. Charters are fishing, and <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/fishing-reports" target="_blank">subscribe to Parker Pete’s e-mailed newsletter</a> to be kept informed about individual-spaces available on charters and for the latest fishing reports. Click on that link to Parker Pete’s fishing reports online, and newsletter sign up can be found on the right side of the page. Or go to the site’s Contact page, and e-mail, asking to subscribe.

Bluefishing was very tough Friday night on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> and for everyone, an e-mail from the vessel said. On Saturday’s daytime trip, a few blues were taken on each drift. At night, the boat was anchored, and the crew began chumming. That began to draw blues, and 10- to 17-pounders were picked through the outing, a major improvement compared with recently. On Sunday’s daytime trip, bluefishing was a little better than recently, but still tough. On the party boat <b>Royal Miss Belmar</b> through the weekend, a few keeper fluke, not many, were toggled in, and throwbacks were released. Sometimes a few small sea bass were mixed in. But Sunday’s fluking was difficult in a stiff southerly breeze. Pool-winners included a 5-pound fluke Saturday and a 3.75-pounder Sunday. The Miss Belmar Princess is sailing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily. The Royal Miss Belmar is fishing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

After fishing was weathered out, trips resumed Friday night on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Bluefishing was slow that night and during Saturday’s daytime trip, though weather was beautiful.  Blues to 12 pounds were picked on Saturday night’s trip. The angling similarly improved on Sunday’s daytime trip, “but it still needs to get better,” the report said. The Golden Eagle is sailing for striped bass and bluefish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and for blues 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily.

Shark River’s fishing was good, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. Rich Pharo, Whiting, docked a 6-pound 13-ounce fluke from the river on one of the shop’s rental boats. Fred Reiniger, Wall, on the ocean limited out on fluke, including a 6-pound 7-ouncer, and his other four weighed more than 4 pounds apiece. Surf anglers sometimes clammed and plugged schoolie striped bass. Phil Serry, Wall, plugged a 19-pound striper from the surf on a black Bomber. Lots of kids fished with dads on Sunday, Fathers’ Day. Was good to see so many, for the future of the sport, Bob said. All in all, a good day, he said.

<b>Brielle</b>

Anglers on the <b>Big Kid</b> won Saturday’s Brett T. Bailey Mako Rodeo with a 274-1/2-pound mako shark, Capt. Ken said. A bunch of blue sharks were caught, and bluefish were hooked, and sharks are in. So are tuna, and bluefin tuna were trolled where the trip shark fished. Sea bass fishing’s been stellar, and striper fishing’s been great in evenings, Ken said. The Big Kid sails for any species available.

On the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, fishing was picky through the weekend, and would’ve been much better, if conditions had drifted the boat better, Capt. Ryan wrote in an e-mail. Currents were “crazy,” he said, and gusting winds were difficult. Customers and their catches included: Ralph Molinari, North Haledon, seven sea bass and four fluke to 5 pounds; Kenny Broyles, Mantoloking, eight sea bass and three fluke to 4 pounds; and Peter Wilson, Philadelphia, six sea bass and three fluke to 5 pounds. “Looks like a much better week,” Ryan said. The ocean’s starting to warm, and fishing should break open any day. The Jamaica II is fishing for fluke and sea bass twice daily at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and on an all-day trip at 7:30 a.m. Mondays. <b>***Update, Tuesday, 6/18:***</b> Fluke fishing was good, the best of the year, by far, on Monday aboard, Ryan wrote in an e-mail. Many anglers limited out, and Jim Eastburn from Mount Laurel’s 9-pound 4-ounce fluke was the trip’s biggest. He wasn’t entered in the daily and monthly pool, though. Almost all anglers hooked a few sea bass mixed in with fluke. “Nice spread of fish,” Ryan said, and the fluke were mixed-sizes, including quite a few 3- to 5-pounders.

Striped bass were boated at Shrewsbury Rocks, mostly on the troll, but sometimes on livelined bunker, late in the day, when the bass chased the baitfish along the ocean surface, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Surf fishing, mostly for stripers, was so-so locally, and seemed better in Ocean County, farther south. Sometimes surf anglers picked fish at Long Branch and Deal, farther north. A few bluefish and hickory shad showed up in the surf. Bluefishing seemed okay on the ocean, though nothing was heard about the angling the last couple of days. Fluke fishing was good in Manasquan and Shark rivers. Stripers and hickory shad also swam the Manasquan. On the ocean, fluking was best from Deal to farther north, and the fish held shallow. Sea bass fishing was very good on the ocean, commonly producing limits. Ling fishing had been good on the ocean, but conditions seemed difficult in past days. Nobody mentioned concentrating on cod. A cod here and there was mentioned caught from the ocean. Plenty of mako sharks and thresher sharks were fought on the ocean. A 274-pound mako and a thresher in the high 300s led Saturday’s Brett T. Bailey Mako Tournament, the last Dave heard. Bluefin tuna trolled from the ocean were heard about again, after news about them dried up a moment. That was probably weather-related, but now the tuna were found at places like 50 miles offshore or at the Chicken Canyon. Starting this week, The Reel Seat will be opened later till 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The doors are opened till 2 p.m. Sundays. The shop is opened at 7 a.m. weekdays and at 6 a.m. weekends.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

After strong winds, a bachelor party trip was able to adjust their schedule, and begin sharking late, at 11 a.m., on Friday with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Alan, the boat’s owner, wrote in an e-mail. Big swells remained, but a 125-pound mako hit after 15 minutes of fishing, and the bachelor himself landed and released the fish. Then blue sharks to 200 pounds gave up steady action. Two hours into the fishing, a bigger mako, 175 pounds, was landed and kept. That happened to be the bachelor’s turn at catching again. A few more blue sharks were released, and the trip headed back in, totaling two makos and maybe a dozen blue sharks, in only four hours of fishing. On Saturday, another group climbed aboard to compete in the Brett T. Bailey Mako Rodeo. The two leaders of the group shark fished aboard the previous week, bagging a 175-pound mako. On Saturday’s trip, the group began fishing at 6:15 a.m. In 15 minutes, a 204-pound thresher shark bit, and was landed after an hour and 15 minutes. The fish was entered in the tournament. The anglers went on to fight about 18 large blue sharks to 200 pounds. While the thresher was fought, a mako 250 or 300 pounds was seen free-jumping three times. “The sharking is here!” Alan said. Charters are available for them, and the boat is booked to compete in the Mako Mania and Mako Fever tournaments this weekend. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

At first, a trip tried to catch bunker for striped bass bait, but only a half-dozen of the baitfish were managed, a report on <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>’ Web site said Sunday. A few drifts were tried for stripers, but none turned up. So the trip fished for sea bass, and more than 50 keepers were boxed at the first two spots. Then the anglers tried for stripers, but after an hour, wanted more sea bass. So they boated more. One more shot at stripers was tried, but none appeared.  The anglers went for sea bass again, copping a good pick. A 15-1/2-pound, out-of-season blackfish was landed and released. Charters are fishing for a mixed bag of stripers, sea bass and blues. Soon, charters and open-boat trips will sail farther out, to the mid-shore ocean, for a mix that can include sharks, tuna, cod and pollock, all in one outing. Telephone if interested. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner.

Anglers picked away at a few fluke during the weekend on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Saturday gave up the better catches that included some good-sized sea bass. Waters warmed each day, so more fluke should move into the area fished the next couple of days, he hopes. On Saturday night’s trip, anglers slugged away at bluefish 5 to 8 pounds. Many were marked, but fewer bit. On Sunday night’s trip, bluefishing wasn’t good at all. “We gave it our best shot, but came up empty,” Matt said, though the trip covered ground. The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. and for bluefish 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

From the surf, striped bass and bluefish were sometimes banked, mostly on clams and bunker, Mario from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b> wrote in a report on the store’s Web site. That’s instead of lures, and the angling was a slow pick, but a change in weather and winds could turn that around quickly. Blowfish were nipped in the surf on small pieces of clam or Fishbites artificial worms. In Barnegat Bay, small blues swam, and crabs began to be trapped more than before. A few good-sized ones were nabbed. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, sandworms and the whole assortment of frozen baits are stocked. The Dock Outfitters features bait and tackle, docks to fish and crab from, once the docks are repaired since the hurricane, and boat and jet ski rentals. The end of June has been the target date to complete the docks, and the decking began to be installed. Construction should be completed soon.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Bluefishing was tough through the weekend on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. The crew is waiting for blues to arrive. “Hopefully soon,” the report said. The fish are overdue. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing at 8 a.m. daily and at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Freshwater runoff from rains last week made Great Bay’s fishing during the weekend better “in the mid to front,” Maureen from <b>Scott's Bait & Tackle</b> wrote in a report on the shop’s Web site. Summer flounder, more throwbacks than keepers, were angled, and catches were scarce farther back in the bay. Fish with brighter colors when water becomes discolored from rains. Plenty of bluefish schooled the bay, Chris from the shop wrote in the report. Mostly dog sharks and skates chomped at Little Egg Inlet, both he and Maureen said. Nothing was heard about striped bass from the ocean in past days, Maureen said. Sea bass fishing was good on the ocean, and sometimes flounder were mixed in, Chris said. The sea bassing was the better fishing, while the bay was affected by runoff, he said.  

<b>Brigantine</b>

In the surf, kingfish swam, including plenty on Saturday, a report said on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site. The fish began to bite Fishbites artificial worms, in addition to bloodworms, apparently because waters warmed. Bluefish and spots sometimes tumbled into the surf. One surf caster caught a spot, livelined it back into the waters, and nailed a good-sized weakfish. Another angler clammed four striped bass, including one keeper, from the surf at Brigantine’s north end on Friday. “Maybe (stripers) didn’t leave after all?” the report asked. Lots of spots held in the back bay, and the store just began stocking the season’s first couple of cages to keep the baitfish in. Boaters weighed in summer flounder including a 6-1/2-pounder and a 5-1/2-pounder.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Mike Grundy’s family reeled in summer flounder to 20 inches on the back bay aboard Saturday, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Fewer bluefish and weakfish swam the bay than before, but the fish remained. High tides will coincide with dusk later this week, ideal for popper fishing for striped bass with lures and flies, a specialty aboard. Inshore shark trips usually begin later this month on the ocean, an opportunity to tug in big fish without the long trek offshore. Excellent fishing for yellowfin tuna was heard about this weekend from around Baltimore Canyon. Large ones bigger than 100 pounds were smoked, and most were “in the standard range (of size),” Joe said. A buddy went 5 for 8 on the tuna, and Joe also sails for the big game. Joe’s new boat he’s adding to his fleet, a 24-foot custom center console that Eastern Boat Works is building, was supposed to arrive this morning.  The vessel features everything he wants for his fishing, and nothing he doesn’t, and will be used on the inshore ocean. He also runs a flats boat on the bay and two larger boats for fishing offshore for big game. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Avalon</b>

Fishing aboard tried for drum on Delaware Bay on Saturday, Capt. Jim from <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b> said. After a couple of hours at the Pin Top, no drum bit, and the decision was made to scope out the bay’s summer flounder fishing. The trip moved farther up the bay to Miah Maull, 14-Foot Lighthouse and the 19 buoy. But a terrible red and brown tide, apparently flowing down from a flooded Delaware River, filled waters, and no flounder bit. Junk fish, a couple of croakers and a ling were reeled in. The trip moved toward Bug Light, because Jim knew large sharks like browns, required to be released, should swim there. Four- and 5-foot sharks were fought there, at least. Flounder fishing could pick up in the bay, like once the discolored water departs.  The angling is due, and waters were plenty warm enough, at 70 and 71 degrees on the trip. Trips might also start fishing the ocean for flounder from Avalon soon. Ocean flounder fishing might’ve begun picking up. Trips will also sail the ocean from Avalon for speedsters like tuna soon. Fins and Feathers fishes Delaware Bay in spring and fall, trailering the boat to wherever’s nearest the fishing, like Cape May or Reed’s Beach. In summer, the boat sails the ocean from Avalon. Fins and Feathers offers a variety of outdoor adventures, including duck and goose hunting, when the seasons are open. Anglers can even enjoy a combo of striped bass fishing and waterfowl hunting on Delaware Bay over a series of days. Fins and Feathers also fishes for salmon and steelheads on upstate New York’s Salmon River from Jim’s lodge, and fly rods for trout on Pennsylvania’s streams like the Yellow Breeches. 

<b>Cape May</b>

Plenty of sea bass were socked from the ocean, Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep</b> said, and marathon, open-boat trips for them worked out well aboard. Some are coming up this week, and sign up for the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s Web site for dates for open trips. A few spots remain for the season’s first open tuna trip Sunday. Charters are also fishing, and the boat also sailed for drum on Delaware Bay. A handful were decked the other night, and the fishing was slowing down, and waters were warming.

Lots of sea bass, including quite a few large, to 18 or 19 inches, were beaten from the ocean on Sunny Gonzalez’s charter Sunday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. That size weighed 3 or 4 pounds, and two ling were mixed in, and undersized sea bass were released. George mated on a friend’s boat on a trip Saturday that picked away at sea bass, not fast and furious, on a green ocean, not good-looking. A bunch of small ones bit. George didn’t hear much about drum from Delaware Bay in past days, didn’t know how the fishing went. A few summer flounder began to be caught from the ocean at the Old Grounds and Reef 11. The fishing didn’t seem consistent so far, and a trip might run to one of those areas, and the fish might bite at the other, or something like that. South Jersey Marina in Cape May’s shark tournament was held this weekend from Cape May, after the event was postponed from the previous weekend, because of the tropical storm. No results and nothing about sharking was heard, though George saw a shark finning on one of the sea bass trips. Tuna were caught at Baltimore Canyon. A friend sailed for them, landing none, but other boaters nailed some. The friend fished shallow, came up with no tuna, pushed deeper, and grabbed a mahi mahi. Telephone if interested in any of this fishing.

Back to Top