<b>Sandy Hook</b>

Anglers sailed for thresher sharks with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> from Highlands, not far from shore, Capt. Derek said. He didn’t want to say exactly where the fish held. But a trip last Friday trip went 4 for 4 on threshers 130 to 320 pounds. A trip Sunday went 3 for 7, and the threshers landed weighed up to 100 pounds. A couple that were larger were lost. The fishing slowed a little since, but a friend landed a 220-pounder then, and good-sized ones were still around. The next bluefin tuna fishing aboard is supposed to sail next week. Derek knew a couple of anglers who fished for them in past days, picking away on jigs and the troll. Some smaller bluefins pushed closer to shore recently. Charters and maybe open-boat trips are sailing for the bluefins. Anglers can telephone about the open trips.

<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

Bluefin tuna are within range for <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> from Neptune, Capt. Ralph wrote in an e-mail. The fish were seen on every inshore-wreck and cod trip aboard recently. Charters are fishing, and an individual-reservation trip for the tuna is set for August 26. The trip will troll, jig or bait-fish, whatever it takes.

A trip Sunday was supposed to sail for bluefin tuna on the <b>Katie H</b> from Belmar, Capt. Mike said. But he rescheduled the trip, because of reports about the angling, especially in boat traffic during the weekend. To catch, trips had to be on the grounds very early in the morning. The Katie H is an offshore specialist.

Bluefin tuna anglers caught some, and landed mahi mahi at the lobster pot buoys, this week, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> from Belmar. Waters were dirty farther offshore at Hudson Canyon, but yellowfin tuna were still boated there. The fishing sounded like it started to improve. Trips sail for any species available.

Catches of tuna, both bluefins closer to shore and yellowfins farther off, were made, not bailing them, but getting some, said Capt. Jared from <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b> from Belmar. The 50-foot boat can host small to large groups, up to 23 passengers on cruises, and up to 12 or 13 on fishing trips, for fishing comfort. Corporate charters can sail, and can charge the trip to the business card.

Reports from the party boats <b>Golden Eagle</b> and <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> from Belmar said a few bonito began to be mixed in during bluefish trips aboard the vessels this week.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

Four anglers fished on one of the open-boat, mixed-bag trips to the mid-shore ocean Monday with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> from Point Pleasant Beach, a report on Andrea’s Toy’s Web site said. When the trip reached the bluefin tuna grounds, the life the captain wanted to see was there. The anglers went 3 for 4 on the tuna to 50 pounds through the morning, a slow pick, but catches. The trip tried chunking and jigging for the tuna, and some 10-pound mahi mahi were decked. The trip was ended with fishing at wrecks, cranking in a few big, baseball-bat ling and cod to 20 pounds. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. On the current trips, both charters and open-boat, catches can include bluefins, mahi, cod, pollock and ling, all in one outing. Later in the season, the trips will push farther offshore, running overnight, for catches that can include yellowfin tuna, swordfish, mahi, tilefish and more.

Fishing for bluefin tuna was very good at Chicken Canyon and Atlantic Princess wreck, depending on the day, time of day and boat traffic, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle. The fish were trolled, chunked on sardines and jigged. At offshore canyons, tuna fishing was best from the Wilmington to farther south.

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

On the <b>Super Chic</b> from Barnegat Light, an open-boat tilefish trip on Sunday piled up a great catch, mostly bluelines and some goldens. Probably three bluelines were cranked in for every golden, and the bluelines were healthy sized or 5 to 8 pounds. The goldens were small, but one was 15 pounds. A previous open tile trip also caught well, covered in a previous report, and Ted might try to run another one of the trips during the second half of the month, probably on a Saturday to Sunday. The season’s first overnight tuna charter is slated for Labor Day weekend. Bluefin tuna swam the inshore ocean, and Ted hadn’t heard about yellowfin tuna farther offshore recently. Any bonito yet at places like Barnegat Ridge? Ted was asked. A friend tried for bonito at the ridge Saturday, only catching small bluefish, Ted said. The 56-foot boat can accommodate up to 25 anglers on inshore trips and 10 on overnight, offshore trips. The vessel sleeps 10 passengers.

From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b> from Barnegat: “I ran to Barnegat Ridge on Saturday, and it was not good. Everything looked good: bluish-green water, 70 degrees, porpoises, good readings. But a bajillion 1-pound bluefish. I was up to 7.5 knots, and they were still chomping on my newly-rigged tuna lures. Arrgghh! I never mind bluefish, when I’m inshore, but they’re no consolation when we’re looking for tuna, bonita, albacore, mahi. Even skipjacks are more welcome. It's not about edibility. It's a presence of mind. Any of the blue-water fish make it a successful effort. I’m by no means giving up on it. The game changes all the time out there. A week is an eternity.” Charters and open-boat trips sail for this fishing on the Hi Flier.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Not much was heard about tuna fishing, said Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b> from Ocean City. The angling didn’t seem particularly great within range, or was slow, according to people, and not many customers seemed to sail for them.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

No news really came in about tuna, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City.

Yellowfin tuna fishing was good at Lindenkohl Canyon, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> from Sea Isle City, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. He’d imagine bluefin tuna could still be angled inshore at places like Massey’s Canyon, where they were last known to be caught. But the Lindenkohl’s fishing was good, he reiterated.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Tuna trips were good, limiting out, mostly on bluefins, at the inshore, southern lumps on the <b>Down Deep</b> from Cape May, but the number of yellowfins caught was increasing there, Capt. Mario said on Sunday. Charters are sailing, 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 to be kept informed about open-boat trips, both inshore and offshore.

Fishing for tuna was slow Saturday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May, Capt. George said. The angling had been on fire at places like the Hot Dog through early last week, mostly for bluefins, but yellowfins occasionally bit. A few tuna were still caught in the area afterward, but not like before. Maybe the fishing will pick back up, and another trip wants to sail for them Saturday. This trip trolled the area, and waters were full of life, including porpoises and whales. No tuna showed up, but a couple of 15- to 20-pound mahi mahi were bagged.

Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b> in Cape May sailed for tuna on the inshore ocean on a trip that only scored a few knockdowns and large bluefish, he said. Sounded like tuna mostly swam farther away at canyons like the Baltimore.

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