<b>Staten Island</b>

Anglers wanted a “split trip” to fish for striped bass and sea bass on Tuesday with <b>Outcast Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. They fished for stripers a few hours in the morning, landing the bass to 20 pounds, a decent pick, on Raritan Bay. Good-sized blues were also fought, and weren’t overabundant, which was nice, Joe said. He likes to be able to mix in blues, so long as blues aren’t so abundant that stripers can hardly grab a hook. Then the anglers sea bass fished on the ocean in 50 to 60 feet, and that was also decent. Joe thinks sea bass are yet to migrate inshore fully, but was happy with the catch that included sizeable ones. Ling were also mixed in, and the trip sailed from Sewaren, N.J., to take advantage of Jersey’s sea bass regs. Outcast always fishes from either the New Jersey port or Staten Island, N.Y.

<b>Keyport</b>

Trips last fished during the weekend with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. That was covered in the last report, and the trips sailed Raritan Bay, pounding bluefish, a few striped bass to 35 inches, and the season’s first fluke aboard, to 22-1/2-inches. Fluke season was opened Friday, and charters are booked for this Saturday and Sunday. Space is available on an open-boat trip Friday, fishing for stripers or fluke, whichever the anglers prefer. Open trips are available daily when no charter is booked, and telephone to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Boaters ran into striped bass, big fish, on the ocean along beaches, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Mostly bluefish schooled the area, he’d say, but the anglers did catch bass. They got shots at them, like a shot off Sea Bright on Wednesday morning, before winds came on. In Raritan Bay, bluefish filled waters. Not even bunker were found in the bay, and loads of blues were. Jimmy wasn’t complaining, and he’ll take blues all summer, he said. They’ll hit anything.  Stripers were tugged from the rivers, like the Shrewsbury off Sea Bright. The fish there were wormed on the tides, and time of day didn’t matter. But on Navesink River, stripers bit at night, like at 3 a.m., until a hint of daytime shut them off. Fluke fishing was good in the rivers, and some were rounded up from the bay. Notches in the bay, like at Leonardo, and the creeks also gave them up. Sea bass fishing turned out the fish, good catches, on some days on the ocean. One angler reported good angling for them on one day. Waters were cool, and some fishing seemed to run late this year. The cool waters seemed apparent including because some fish hugged only the coast this year. Bluefish seemed to do that, and no blues swiped ling that were reeled from deeper waters. Hardly any crabs were caught yet, and that seemed because of cold waters. Commercial crabbers weren’t even setting up yet. All baits are stocked.

The party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> was docked Wednesday in forecasts for rough weather, Capt. Tom said. But the fluke angling aboard was back out this morning, when he gave this report in a phone call aboard. The boat so far had made two drifts, and three keepers were bagged, and shorts were picked away at. Winds had calmed, and the sun had started to come out, and Tom hoped the fishing and weather would hold up. Forecasts looked good for the next days, and the Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke on two trips daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m.

<b>Highlands</b>

Sailing from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Paul and Maddy Hess on the Boudicca bagged two fluke 22 inches apiece and two 18 inches apiece on the ocean south of Sandy Hook’s nude beach, Marion wrote in an email. Angelo and Karen Kelly sacked a 5- to 6-pound fluke from off Sandy Hook Point. Dan Lawrence on the Crazy Eight boated his first keeper fluke, a 19-incher, on Navesink River at the Oceanic Bridge. On the Crazy Eight another day, Matt Lawrence zonked a 31-inch  bluefish, and Tim Lawrence bonked a 25-inch blue, at Flynn’s Knoll. Greg Hanna aboard the Annie H juked blues to 15 pounds at Chapel Hill Channel. Bait stocked includes bushels of clams and live bunker in season. Twin Lights, located conveniently on Shrewsbury River near the bay and ocean, with no bridges before them, includes a marina with boat slips and dry storage, a fuel dock, and a combined, complete bait and tackle shop and ship’s store. The fuel dock is available 24 hours a day with a credit card. 

<b>Neptune</b>

Roger Jachts jumped aboard a few hours Tuesday, tackling two good-sized striped bass on livelined bunker and lots of blues on the ocean, Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> wrote in an email. Charters are available, and individual-reservation trips for fluke and sea bass will sail every Tuesday starting June 10. In June the trips will mostly target sea bass, while the bag limit is 15 throughout the month. The limit will be dropped to three in July and August. Kids under 12 will sail free on those trips, limited to two per adult host. Individual-reservation trips for cod are slated for June 19 and July 17, and have been very successful the last few years aboard.

<b>Belmar</b>

Ocean striped bass fishing was insane on Tuesday, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. The fish busted on bunker, and anglers could snag one of the baitfish and liveline it right away for bait. The bass were hooked aboard during morning, afternoon and evening. The fish were aggressive, and the water warmed throughout the day. Parker Pete’s has been catching big stripers to 40 pounds. In Pete’s last report, he said he was on a trip Sunday evening that was just starting to hook large stripers. That angling ended up decent, he said for this current report. On Monday, the stripers were finicky. On Tuesday, that insane bite took off. On Wednesday, weather kept the fleet docked. Great, big stripers have arrived. Pete would like to say the fishing’s “on,” he said, but one can never know, and the fishing’s day to day. But “the fish are here,” he could say, and book a charter. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Jump on <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s website</a> to subscribe to the emailed newsletter to be kept informed about last-minute, individual spaces available to fill in charters. Look for the place to sign up on the right side of the page.

Striped bass fishing was slow aboard Monday, on Memorial Day, and for the fleet in boat traffic, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Katie H</b>. But the fishing went nuts on Tuesday, pummeling the bass to 40 pounds. Book a trip for a weekday. Boating was weathered out on Wednesday. On Monday, when traffic put stripers down, the trip switched to bottom-fishing, cranking up ling, including big, and sea bass. The water reached 60 degrees toward the end of the day in the 100-foot depths fished. That was probably a little cold for the best sea bassing, and for fluke fishing. Fluke season was opened on Friday. Striper trips are trolling the catches and livelining bunker for the linesiders. The best way to catch changes all the time, but loads of bunker are schooling. When Monday’s trip trolled, bunker kept being snagged. Boaters who fished farther north fought plenty of bluefish. The Katie H features speed, plenty of room and all the amenities.

The party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b> was motored out the inlet but turned around after a mile on Wednesday, a report on the vessel’s website said. Too rough, it said, but bluefishing was outstanding aboard Tuesday. All the fish were drilled that anglers could want, and the anglers were in catch and release mode starting at noon. The blues, 5- to 10-pounders, were jigged on Run Off hammered jigs and Krocodiles, and a 12-pounder was the pool-winner. The Golden Eagle is fishing for striped bass and blues at 7:30 a.m. daily.

A 9-3/4-pound fluke was walloped Tuesday on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. Fluking aboard was a little slow the first couple days of the summer flounder season that was opened Friday. But the catches picked up a lot on Tuesday, good to see, Chris said, and some good-sized fluke were pasted on the trip. Jigs beat many of the fluke, but some were baited. Both open and rocky bottom gave up the fish. The Big Mohawk is fluke fishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Nighttime trips are sometimes striped bass fishing.

Bluefishing couldn’t have been better, was excellent, Tuesday on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an email from the vessel said. The trip fished the ocean to the north, and blues swam the water surface during long drifts. Anglers caught all the 6- to 14-pounders they wanted, and Ava 27s and 47s and Krocodiles worked great. The Miss Belmar Princess is sailing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Big striped bass were bombed on the ocean, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. The fish to 48 pounds were weighed-in the last few days, and many 30- to 40-pounders were reported released. Releasing the breeders is commendable, but anglers shouldn’t be chastised for keeping a trophy, he said. They’re legal to bag, and it’s a personal choice. From the surf, Ray Soyka from Asbury Park Fishing Club won the club’s tournament with a 45-pound striper he banked. The Asbury club won with 155 points, and the Shark River club came in second with 99, and Berkeley came in third with 16.  Fluke fishing began like usual, since fluke season was opened Friday. Fluking in rivers was best, but Belmar’s party boats began to dock sizeable fluke from the ocean. A 9-pounder was the largest reported from the head boats. From Shark River, Brandon Gelormine’s 6-pound fluke was the largest, and he decked the fish on one of the shop’s rental boats. One of the party boats reported good sea bass fishing this week. Many of the fish were large. <b>***Update, Saturday, 5/29:***</b> Fred Haydorn, who boated a 55-pound 8-ounce striped bass earlier in the week, reported previously, decked a 50-pounder Friday, Bob wrote in an e-mail. “He seems to have the right combo,” Bob said. Stripers in the 30s and many lighter were seen at the shop. Tom Cook from Shark River Surf Anglers beached two 20-pounders.

<b>Brielle</b>

The new <b>Jamaica II</b> arrived at the dock, the party boat’s Facebook page said on Tuesday. The new vessel replaces the old Jamaica II, and trips are expected to resume soon. They’ll sail on the usual schedule for fluke and sea bass twice daily at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, and for fluke at 7:30 a.m. every Monday, on an all-day trip.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Fluke fishing was off to a pretty slow start during the weekend on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, Capt. Matt wrote in an email. Fluke season was opened Friday, and a few keepers and throwbacks were hooked on every trip, but not a lot. Waters kept warming, so anglers hope more of the fish start biting. Gulps fished on bucktails seemed to catch best. On nighttime trips during the weekend, bluefishing aboard was similar. “Catch one here … one there,” he said, but the angling was mostly slow.  Sometimes the blues were seen swimming along the surface, but wouldn’t bite. More should chomp as waters warm. The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke twice daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. and for blues 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

The Toms River lit up with bluefishing on Wednesday, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Bulkhead anglers wrestled them at Island Heights on chunks of bunker and a steel leader the shop makes. Blues were trolled on Barnegat Bay at Route 37 Bridge and Good Luck Point on pony tails. Blues and a few weakfish swam the bay toward Cedar Creek, farther south. Blues were also popper-plugged there. An angler who hooked a blue on a pony tail off Cedar Creek landed a 24-inch fluke that hit the blue. Fluke were sometimes boated from the bay around the BI and BB markers. Surf fishing was good for blues and striped bass all week. The blues turned on Wednesday until early afternoon, mostly caught on bunker, sometimes on plugs. The striper fishing was spotty but produced some. A few blowfish and fluke bit in the surf. Plenty of fish were around, and weather forecasts kept some anglers from fishing. Eight ounces of weight was needed in the surf this morning, but probably 5 ounces would be able to be used when the tide changed. For boaters on the ocean, catching stripers went great on livelined bunker snagged for bait. Trolling for the bass started to connect fairly well, and bluefish were also whipped from the ocean.  Murphy’s, located on Route 37, recently bought <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard, and is now running both shops now.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Surf fishing dragged in blues that weighed from 3 pounds to the low teens, and the angling seemed to catch a couple of more keeper striped bass than before, said John from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Boaters mugged good striper catches when they found the schools. A few fluke 4 and 5 pounds were yanked from the surf at Island Beach State Park. Fluke with size were boated on Barnegat Bay toward the Forked River power plant and the BI and BB markers. Sometimes 2- to 3-pound blues, not a lot, were angled from the bay. That included from the dock, definitely, and crabbing from the dock was yet to start, was slow, maybe because of cold water. Baits carried include fresh clams, fresh bunker, bloodworms, some great frozen mullet, and all different types of squid. Designer squid, high-tech stuff, he said. The Dock Outfitters, located on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a bait and tackle shop, boat and jet ski rentals, a café and a dock for fishing and crabbing.

<b>Forked River</b>

Many sizeable fluke 22 and 24 inches were reported from Barnegat Bay, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. They were heard about from between the BI and BB markers and from Double Creek Channel. The <a href=" http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2014/041714a.shtm" target="_blank">buoys were removed from Double Creek Channel</a>, because the waters became shallow, because the bottom shifted from Hurricane Sandy. Boaters had to use Oyster Creek Channel to reach the ocean. But some still fished Double Creek, who were familiar with the area. Bluefish swarmed all over the bay, and many boaters trolled them, pretty much catching one after another. On the ocean, trolling boated plenty of striped bass close to shore on bunker spoons, and some anglers swam livelined bunker to catch them. Back on the bay, one angler mentioned nabbing blowfish, but little was heard about blowfish lately. Whether that meant the fish were less abundant than before, or anglers didn’t try for them, was unknown. Big blowfish were heard about from the surf. Nothing was mentioned about weakfish this week from the bay. Crabs began to be trapped, but little was reported about them. Baits stocked include frozen, locally-caught spearing and Canadian spearing. Killies are carried, and fresh bunker and clams will arrive Friday.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

A handful of 2- to 6-pound bluefish were clubbed Saturday on the ocean near Barnegat Inlet on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s website said. But none was found on Sunday’s and Monday’s trips. The captain scouted around plenty, and trips will fish for bluefish this Saturday and Sunday. The boat usually fishes for blues, but if blues seem like they’re not going to appear, trips will switch to fluke fishing aboard. Free ice is supplied to keep your catch fresh. The experienced mates can expertly fillet your fish for a “high-quality, ‘Jersey Fresh’ product,” the report said.

Ocean boaters cashed-in on striped bass Monday, Ray from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b> said. Four big ones were seen at the shop that were trolled. Nothing was heard about the fish Tuesday, and the rainstorm kept vessels from sailing Wednesday. Bluefish, quite a few, tore around Barnegat Bay. Fluke weren’t heard about from the bay. Live spots will be stocked starting Friday. Fresh clams and bunker and minnows are carried when available. Bobbie’s features a complete bait and tackle shop, a fuel dock and boat and kayak rentals. The boats are used for fishing, crabbing, clamming and pleasure. The store is known for bait supply, including live baits from spots to grass shrimp in season.

Surf anglers whacked some big striped bass at night on plugs and bunker, said Josh from <b>Viking Outfitters</b>.  Boaters trolled stripers, good catches, on the ocean in about 50 feet. Bluefish jumped into the surf throughout the day, and 5- to 8-pounders kept being seen, but some to 16 pounds were reported. Josh would throw metal to them, but blues will hit nearly anything. Large blowfish, probably 12 inches, were nailed from the surf and Barnegat Bay. Some sizeable fluke, like 22 inches, came from Barnegat Bay. Some were known to be caught from Oyster Creek Channel. Live spots will be stocked starting Friday. Minnows, fresh bunker, fresh clams and all the frozen baits are carried. Anglers can telephone the shop, located in historic Viking Village, 24 hours a day, and if that’s afterhours, one of the crew can be at the store soon. Bait can be delivered to a boat, a home or the beach anywhere on the island. Besides all the bait and tackle, the shop features fishing clothing, beach clothing, embroidery, beach gifts and more.

<b>Surf City</b>

In the surf, bluefish dominated, and were different sizes, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. They ranged from “racers” to 9 pounds and larger, and an average size couldn’t be named, because so many different sizes were reported.  They were hooked on bunker and artificials, like Daiwa SP Minnows and black-and-purple Bomber lures. Striped bass were sometimes beached from the surf on clam, bunker and artificials. Throwbacks were sometimes caught on metal, Sue thought. Fewer blowfish were heard about from the surf and Barnegat Bay than before, but the ones landed were good-sized. One kid, fishing on foot, swung in a keeper fluke from Barnegat Inlet during the weekend. Boaters latched into good fluking on the bay, right off the Dike. Lots of positive reports rolled in about fishing during the weekend, and business hopped lately. Winds now howled, and Friday is supposed to be calmer. Saturday might blow again, but Sunday is supposed to be calm. The store’s annual <b><i>Free Surf Fishing Seminars</i></b> will be held again this year on Sunday evenings in the parking lot. The starting date is yet to be announced, but last year’s began in June sometime. Bring a lawn chair. Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Surf-City-Bait-and-Tackle/207533229268619" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s Facebook page</a>.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Summer flounder were weighed-in non-stop Friday to Sunday from the bay, said Brian from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish ranged from 18 ½ inches, just larger than the 18-inch size limit, to an 8.8-pounder. Green and pink Gulp swimming mullets, shad darts and teasers mopped them up. Also in the bay, bluefish zipped around, and blowfish were sometimes hooked or stole baits. Drum were no longer reported caught from the bay. Big striped bass to 45 pounds were boated on the ocean toward Barnegat Inlet. Fresh, shucked clams, clams in the shell, fresh bunker, bloodworms, eels, live grass shrimp and minnows are stocked. Minnows are difficult to net currently, but some are on hand.

<b>Absecon</b>

At <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>, the Grand Slam Customer Appreciation Tournament went great this weekend, Capt. Dave said. The free fishing tournament is held annually on opening weekend of summer flounder season, awarding prizes for the biggest flounder, striped bass, blues, weakfish and black drum. Flounder fishing seemed strong on the back bay during the event. Conditions were perfect, and the flounder population had been building up, without fishing being opened for them. An 8-1/2-pound flounder won, and more than 30 of the flatfish weighed at least 4 pounds that were entered. A few flounder sharpies limited out “on solid fish,” he said. Just a lot of nice flounder, he said. Dave on a trip Wednesday started looking for striped bass on Mullica River, but winds came up, and the trip ended up fishing for flounder on the bay a while, grabbing three sizeable ones. Dave’s ready to fish for flounder and weakfish on his charters. A lack of live bait available for striper fishing had been holding up that angling for him, since herring became illegal to possess, and spots weren’t available from suppliers previously. But spots are supposed to be stocked at the store Friday or maybe Saturday morning, though that’s unconfirmed. The surf was the productive place for striped bass and drum catches, and catches of bluefish scattered around. Smaller blues sometimes swam the bay, and Dave saw none or no birds working the waters on the trip, but winds blew. The supply of minnows, a favorite flounder bait, is in dire shape. The baitfish are scarce, like happens during some springs, and Dave could net almost none, and none of the suppliers were able to catch enough to make them worthwhile for their business. But the store stocks the largest supply of Gulps locally, Dave said. Commercial crabbers began to trap shedder crabs, and the favorite weakfish bait is now stocked at the store. Soft-shell crabs for eating should be on hand for the weekend, and the store raises them in season.  Today’s weather looked somewhat rough for fishing, including for flounder, but the weekend looks good, and anglers should take advantage. 

<b>Brigantine</b>

Some big striped bass were still around in the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. One customer clammed a 29-pounder and a 26-pounder from the middle of the island on Tuesday. Another beached a 25-pounder on the south end. Bluefish swam all over the surf, and plenty of drum were hauled to shore. Kingfish began to show up in the surf, and a 7-pound weakfish was weighed from the beach several days ago. The back bay turned out good fishing for summer flounder.  Fresh bunker ran out but is stocked when available. Fresh clams and bloodworms are on hand.  Sign up for the Zorbal.com Riptide Striper Bounty for $5 to win all the cash for the next 43-incher weighed from Brigantine’s surf. Anglers must sign up 24 hours before entering a catch, and the last bounty reached $2,120, and was won on May 19 with a 45-inch striper that weighed 33 pounds. That money was rolled over from fall, when nobody checked-in a striper that big.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

From Absecon Inlet, anglers on foot tied into striped bass, blues, summer flounder, weakfish and sometimes kingfish, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Look for the stripers at sunrise and sunset, dunking clams or bloodworms or casting pink Zooms to connect. The blues were about 18 to 24 inches, sometimes bigger. Flounder were especially located off the Flagship and Melrose Avenue, and the 18-inch size limit was big, but flounder were around. The flatfish also swam the back bay. For the weaks, fish a bloodworm under a float on a 36-inch leader along the jetties. The inlet, located near the shop, is lined with jetties. Kingfish bit at the inlet this morning, and use bloodworms on them. All baits are stocked, including plenty of minnows, though minnows are scarce at some stores. Baits stocked include fresh clams shucked and in the shell, fresh bunker, bloodworms, sandworms and frozen, whole and filleted mackerel, spearing, filleted mullet, herring and shrimp. Friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-stop-bait-tackle/362952943747080?rf=151870514855225" target="_blank">One Stop on Facebook</a>.

<b>Margate</b>

Plenty of summer flounder, good catches, including good-sized fish, were cracked from the back bay on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. He was happy with the fishing, had no complaints, and occasionally a bluefish was hooked, but almost only flounder bit. Minnows were carried aboard during the weekend for bait, but now ran out. Minnows were scarce around the state, but mackerel is supplied aboard, and anglers can bring baits like Gulps that catch well. The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder twice daily from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. The trips are only $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for kids, because the fishing is near port, and the pontoon boat is economical on fuel.

<b>Longport</b>

Aboard the <b>Stray Cat</b>, shark fishing will begin this week, Capt. Mike said. He heard about no sharks, but the ocean temperature raised a lot, to 64 degrees. So he’ll take a look, and sharking this year includes special night trips. A couple of boats from the docks returned with tuna from Baltimore Canyon this weekend. Wreck-fishing will continue on the Stray Cat, like the boat’s been doing, and a wreck trip Wednesday shoveled up ling and sea bass, some nice fish, he said. Though forecasts called for rough weather that day, the trip was slipped in before the weather. The morning was gorgeous, and the anchor was pulled at 2 p.m., and the rainstorm didn’t begin until the way back, when the boat reached 1 ½ miles from port. Open-boat trips are wreck-fishing 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily when no charter is booked, and fish with even one angler. Plenty of weekends remain for charters in July and August, and book before they’re gone.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Fishing was terrific through the weekend, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Lots of summer flounder, striped bass, bluefish and weakfish were scored. The flounder swam the 8- to 10-foot shallows in the back bay, warmer water, because the bay was only in the 60 degrees. A 7-pounder, a 6-pounder and many 5-pounders were weighed-in. Lots of stripers were claimed from the surf, and weren’t big, were mostly throwbacks, but, again, were abundant. Many were 26 or 27 inches, and a few were just keeper-sized, 28 inches, or 29. Drum were occasionally eased from the surf, and a 31-pounder was the largest at the shop during the weekend. Blues, averaging 3 to 5 pounds, sometimes weighing 7 pounds during the weekend, swarmed all over, from the surf to the bay, and were kind of scattered around. Back-bay anglers ran across them while flounder fishing. Blues popped up at the inlets or at places like the 9th Street Bridge at times. Bill wasn’t asked where the weaks were located, but previously reported them from the bay. From the ocean, no sea bass were heard about. Fishing was really good, Bill said.

Weather kept trips from sailing on the party boat <b>Captain Robbins</b>, Capt. Victor said. But sea bass fishing was great aboard during the weekend, covered in the last report. Ling also came in, and lots of other catches, including conger eels, bit. The Captain Robbins is fishing for sea bass 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The <b>Miss Ocean City</b>, the company’s other party boat, will fish for summer flounder on the back bay, probably starting in June sometime. Keep up with the latest: Like the <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/captrobbinsfishing" target="_blank">Captain Robbins on Facebook</a>.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Lots of summer flounder flooded the back bay, and no huge ones were seen, but 2- to 5-pounders were checked-in every day, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Some anglers totaled three or four in the 5-pound range in a day. Flounder fishing was excellent, and minnows and Gulps probably caught them best, and mackerel was probably next best. Bluefish ran the surf, inlets and back bay, and the blues would sort of come and go. From the surf and inlets, mullet hooked the blues best. In the bay, nobody mentioned targeting blues, but blues there were landed on bucktails while anglers flounder fished. Surf fishing for striped bass seemed to slow a bit, but stripers still came from the surf. Weakfish still swam the bay, and fishing for them became more of a nighttime angling. Anglers had to be a little sneakier to catch them than before, and the fishing became a little harder than previously.

Bill Smith aboard Monday bagged three summer flounder and hooked lots of throwbacks, a ton of action, on the back bay, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Joe, his son and his dad headed back out that afternoon, reeling in flounder to 23 inches from the bay. Some quality fish in a short time, Joe said. He and his wife on Tuesday evening rounded up flounder to 21 inches from the bay. Joe fishes for the fluke with a rig with a bucktail on bottom with a Gulp on the hook, and a minnow on a plain, red hook on a 36-inch leader tied above. The bigger flounder usually jump on the bucktail. Flounder were spread throughout the bay in an unusual way this spring. They held in tight pockets, but spread all over the bay, both in usual springtime places, and near inlets, where they’re usually found in mid to late summer, not spring. Currently, they might bite on one drift over the right spot, and not on other drifts. But they were abundant. Take an after-work trip on a weekday, a great time to fish. Bluefish were around in the bay, but trips targeted flounder. Some weakfish also remained in the bay. Coming up, Joe’s inshore shark trips usually begin in mid to late June. Sharks like blacktips, browns and duskies are fought and released on spinning and fly rods, usually within 10 miles from the coast. The trips are a chance to fight big fish without the long trek offshore. In offshore waters, tuna were boated at Baltimore and Poorman’s canyons. Joe only heard about yellowfin tuna, but surely bluefin tuna also roamed the area, depending on location. Bluefins swim colder waters. Joe has made some of his best catches of tuna in the early season. Keep up with his fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>. <b>***Update, Thursday, 5/29:***</b> Joe will run an open-boat flounder trip 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and space is available. Contact him if interested.

<b>Cape May</b>

Ten drum were hauled from Delaware Bay on Ray DeCraene’s charter Monday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. The tub was full, so the trip returned to port, and the fish probably weighed 30 to 70 pounds, a good catch, including good-sized fish.  A trip Sunday on the bay was talked about in the boat’s last report. At the time, the trip was yet to hook drum that evening, when George gave that report aboard in a telephone call. The trip, George Parker’s charter, did end up catching drum, four of them, probably 40 to 70 pounds, none small. Drum were in, and fish for them now, before they depart. The angling usually peaks in May and lasts a little into June. George knew about tuna – bluefins and yellowfins – trolled at Baltimore Canyon. One private boater from the docks landed them.

Weather kept <b>Melanie Anne Sport Fishing</b> from fishing in past days, Capt. Frank said. But trips aboard have been catching drum from Delaware Bay, covered in previous reports. A tuna trip will fish on the boat Saturday. Frank expects to give the scoop about the angling, including things like water conditions, in the next report.

On the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, sea bass fishing wasn’t good, and Tuesday’s trip even tried for summer flounder, Capt. Paul said. Paul wasn’t asked whether Wednesday’s trip sailed, but weather forecasts kept most boats from fishing that day. During Tuesday’s flounder fishing aboard, a few of the flatfish, not a lot, were rounded up, including a few larger than 20 inches. Al Bednarik from Philly iced two flounder 20 and 22 inches, up to 4 pounds, winning the pool. So trips now will “just go fishing,” Paul said, after the boat previously focused on sea bass. He never saw sea bass fishing this slow this time of year. If weather is calm enough to drift rocks and reefs, trips will flounder fish. If winds blow too strongly, the boat will be anchored for sea bass. Reports are heard about smaller boats bouncing around to different wrecks to put together a sea bass catch. They’re finding a few on one wreck, none on another. But wrecks are usually loaded with sea bass this month. Sea bass fishing didn’t seem much different to the north or south. So that’s the plan for the boat. The Porgy IV is fishing at 8 a.m. daily.

The surf harbored striped bass all along the ocean and Delaware Bay around Cape May, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Soak fresh bunker or clams for them, and weakfishing was also good along the jetties both on the bay and at Cape May Point. On the bay, the jetties at Higbee’s Beach and the ferry were most productive. Not so many bluefish roamed locally, and occasionally some were hooked, like at the point or Poverty Beach. Delaware Bay’s drum fishing was good, pretty much off Cox Hall Creek or the Villas and at 20-Foot Slough. Summer flounder fishing sounded good on the back bay along the Intracoastal Waterway to Sunset Lake or North Wildwood. Nothing was really heard about flounder from Delaware Bay and the ocean. But a few sea bass and flounder could likely be rustled up from Cape May Reef in the ocean. Otherwise, little was heard about sea bass in past days. Good catches of tuna were apparently zapped at Baltimore Canyon. No sharks were reported caught, but a couple of shark tournaments will be held in Cape May this weekend, and Nick will compete in one. Fresh clams are stocked, and he hopes to stock fresh bunker. Minnows and bloodworms are carried.

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