<b>Sandy Hook</b>

An open-boat trip for bluefin tuna is set for Wednesday with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> from Highlands, Capt. Derek said. Telephone to climb aboard, and he sailed for bluefins Monday. The angling was slow, but a 30- or 35-pounder and a couple of 15-pound mahi mahi were cracked. Lots of bait and some porpoises and whales swam the clear, green to almost blue, 74- to 78.5-degree waters. Derek heard that bluefin fishing was a little better Tuesday and Wednesday. Most bluefins were trolled at Chicken Canyon recently. Bluefins jigged were heard about from Wednesday. Though most bluefins were boated at Chicken Canyon, whether Thursday’s rough weather would change that would be seen.

Ron Koch’s crew boated bluefin tuna, a very good catch, Sunday on the <b>Hyper Striper</b> from Highlands, Capt. Pete wrote in an e-mail. The fish to 50 pounds were trolled.

<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

Fishing for bluefin tuna produced well on some days, not on others, 50 or 60 miles from shore, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> from Belmar. Sometimes the fish popped up at Chicken Canyon, and other times turned up at Atlantic Princess wreck, and so on. The tuna were mostly trolled, and waters were pretty much 80 degrees. Fishing for yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna was best far south.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

Two brothers jumped aboard to get-in on the hot bluefin tuna fishing, a report on <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> from Point Pleasant Beach’s Web site said Saturday. Weather forecasts were questionable, but the trip made the run, and conditions were great. Forecasts were wrong, and the trip first fished where bluefins were caught the day before. But bluefish filled waters. The boat was moved, and the anglers went 6 for 6 on bluefins to 40 inches, keeping one. The trip was ended on a double-header, leaving the tuna biting. Forty knots was made all the way home. Annual mixed-bag trips, both open-boat and charters, are sailing for catches that can include bluefin tuna, mahi mahi, cod and pollock, all in one outing. The trips will probably push farther offshore to the Continental Shelf before too long, when the mix can include yellowfin tuna, swordfish, mahi mahi, tilefish and more. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up, and more variety for dinner. Telephone if interested.

<b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> from Point Pleasant Beach made a run for bluefin tuna east of the Chicken Canyon, a long ride, more than 50 miles, on Monday, Capt. Ray said. He took his twin 9-year-old boys to catch their first tuna. The angling could’ve been better, but a few bluefins were trolled, and the boys landed their first, so that was good. The fishing was “way” good, lots better, Saturday and Sunday. After Monday’s trip, better life was heard about in the afternoon or about 12 noon or 3 o’clock. The trip sailed for home at 11 a.m., because a few tuna were already landed, and only one was being kept. One or two bit on ballyhoos, and spreader bars grabbed bites a little. But the tuna, once found, would’ve jumped on anything. Waters were 78 to 80 degrees and clean but green. Still, the color didn’t seem to bother the fish. Lots of life filled waters, including bait, including an incredible number of sand eels. Porpoises swam. The boat was chartered for bluefins this coming weekend, but weather looks like it’s rolling in. So a fluke charter was taken for today. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

Bluefin tuna fishing amped up, became great, at Chicken Canyon and Atlantic Princess wreck, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle. The fish were trolled and jigged, and trolled cedar plugs especially smoked them. But other tackle including spreader bars trolled them. Farther from shore, a few yellowfin tuna, mostly small, were caught at Hudson and Toms canyons. No bigeye tuna were heard about from there. Fishing for lots of yellowfins and some bigeyes was good far south at Washington Canyon. A few boaters still shark fished, but nothing specific was heard about catches.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

On the <b>Hi Flier</b> from Barnegat, a trip, open-boat, will sail Saturday to Barnegat Ridge for bonito and false albacore, for the first time this season, Capt. Dave DeGennaro wrote in an e-mail. “Are they there?” he asked. “No idea – it's our first run.” But he knew that the waters cleaned up “to a nice color and temp,” he said. “So it’s time to put out the trolling spread … three people max … all fish are shared.” Charters are available.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Big bluefin tuna, 100 pounds and larger, were boated at the Hot Dog, said Jake from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City. They were trolled, but started to be chunked and jigged. Yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna, good catches, began to push north to places like Wilmington and Spencer canyons.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

The Hot Dog served up bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> from Sea Isle City, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Catches of yellowfins and bigeye tuna came from south at Washington Canyon that Joe heard about.

Trips trolled bluefin tuna at the Hot Dog and Massey’s Canyon at dawn, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City. Nothing specific was heard about canyon tuna fishing farther offshore.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Fishing for bluefin tuna was good, and limits were nailed, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep</b> from Cape May. Charters and open-boat trips are sailing for them. 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 to be kept informed about dates for open trips for tuna, sea bass and summer flounder.

Jay Allen’s charter bagged a bluefin tuna, released another, lost one or two and also boxed a wahoo and some mahi mahi at the Hot Dog on Sunday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May, Capt. George said. Seas were rough, and the bluefin was 63 inches, probably 140 pounds, that was kept. The fish were trolled, and George’s buddy caught bluefins that day 20 miles away. Another charter was supposed to fish for tuna aboard this week on Thursday or today. The angler wanted to sail Thursday, but weather forecasts looked rough. Forecasts looked better for today. Trolling and chunking continued to produce tuna at lumps like the Hot Dog. Trips on the Heavy Hitter mostly hooked bluefin tuna but also yellowfin tuna there recently. Jump on the trips while the tuna remain. They could stick around, but they could also depart, and ask about special rates for the inshore trips, closer to port than tuna might swim, before too long.

Lots of trips were heard about that traveled to Poorman’s Canyon for good catches of yellowfin tuna, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b> in Cape May. Some sailed all the way to Washington Canyon, but yellowfin catches seemed no better there than at Poorman’s.

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