<b>Staten Island</b>

A sea bass trip Wednesday had to jump around to different places, but ended up with a good catch, including large sea bass to 4 pounds and 2- and 3-pounders, said Capt. Joe from <b>Outcast Charters</b>. Ling were also shoveled aboard, and Joe at first was going to say the fishing was only decent. That was because the angling had to work for the fish. But when the sizes of some of the fish and the number of fish was considered, the angling was good. Outcast is sea bass fishing from Sewaren, N.J., to take advantage of Jersey’s sea bass regs. But Jersey’s bag limit will be decreased on July 1, and New York’s sea bass season will be opened on July 15. Outcast always fishes from either the New Jersey port or Staten Island, N.Y.

<b>Keyport</b>

Fluke fishing was excellent aboard, and the fish weighed up to 7 pounds, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an email. Usually, multiple anglers limited out per trip, and the fish should stay put through the weekend,  in forecasts for good weather. Charters are fishing, and space is available on open-boat trips for fluke Friday and Saturday. On the last trip, whales were seen feeding on bunker, and a large sea turtle swam around. Like the <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/vitaminseafishing" target="_blank">Vitamin Sea’s Facebook page</a> for real-time reports and open-trip dates.  “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

Trips beat bluefish to 10 pounds on Raritan Bay during the weekend with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. That was covered in the last report, and open-boat trips are available next week.  They’re fishing for fluke 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and for blues 4 to 9 p.m., when no charter is booked, and call to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

On the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, anglers pitched aboard fluke, a couple here and there, and the fishing was like before, Capt. Tom said. Some of the fish were good-sized, and he noticed that his website’s reports kept sounding the same. The trips in past days fished Raritan Bay, and ocean fluking didn’t sound productive toward Sandy Hook, where the boat fishes the ocean. Most of the fluke from the bay were throwbacks, of course, and throwbacks seemed to swim most places in the bay. A keeper or two were beaned here and there, and all customers reeled in throwbacks, at least. One of the anglers totaled nine keepers and no throwbacks on Wednesday afternoon’s trip. On the morning’s trip, a keeper was nabbed now and then, and throwbacks chomped. On the last drift, four or five keepers came in, including the pool-winner. The afternoon’s trip returned to the spot, and only a couple of fluke bit. 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.

Good fluking was jigged at the rocks in the ocean, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The flatfish were nipped from the rivers, too. How was Raritan Bay’s fluking? Jimmy was asked. The summer flounder swam the creeks and stuff along the bay, he said. But a captain friend ran a charter that limited out on fluke to 9 pounds on the ocean off Sea Bright while jigging. Striped bass and blues were sometimes boated all the way in the back of the bay on bunker. Blues swam everywhere. Stripers held in rivers, but fishing for them was no good after a certain time. Once the sun is up, the bigger fish won’t hit in the shallow water. Back on the ocean, ling fishing was good at the Mudhole, and a few sea bass were bagged. Not many anglers targeted sea bass. All the out-of-season blackfish an angler could want bit. All baits are stocked.

<b>Highlands</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/20:***</b> An 11.7-pound fluke was docked at <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Marion wrote in an email. Bob Scholl boated the fish on Dave’s Contender, and Ed and Tony on the Hammerhead bagged four fluke on Raritan Bay while fishing Gulps, killies, squid and jigs. Joe and John Reilly from Smith’s Tavern squashed four keeper fluke to 23 ½ inches near Bug Light on Gulps and squid. On the Par Tee II, Jay and “The Other Guy,” Marion wrote, boxed two 18-inch fluke at Flynn’s Knoll that swiped killies and squid. Near the Ammo Pier, Andis Kalnins slapped aboard a 23-inch fluke that inhaled a killie. Twin Lights, located conveniently on Shrewsbury River near Raritan Bay and the ocean, with no bridges before them, includes a marina with boat slips and dry storage, a fuel dock, and a combined bait and tackle shop and ship’s store. Baits include chum and all the flats of frozen baitfish for sharks and tuna. The fuel dock is available 24 hours a day with a credit card. 

<b>Neptune</b>

<b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> will fish Saturday and Sunday, mostly for bottom-fish, Capt. Ralph said. Trips aboard this past Friday and Saturday pasted striped bass to 35 pounds, trophies, and a great bottom-catch of sea bass and ling, covered in the last report. Individual-reservation trips every Tuesday are targeting sea bass and ling this month, and will target fluke starting in July. Kids under 12 sail free on those trips, limited to two per adult host. Charters are available. <b>***Update, Friday, 6/20:***</b> Fluke began to bite in the ocean, Ralph wrote in an email. Most bottom-fishing trips aboard will target them starting in July. That includes the weekly, individual-reservation trip every Tuesday, and now another will be added every Wednesday, starting on July 9. Another one of those trips for fluke has been added for Sunday, July 20. An individual-reservation trip for sea bass and ling has been added for Monday, June 30, the final day of the 15-fish sea bass limit, until the limit is increased back to that number from September 1 through 6 and from October 18 to the end of the year. An individual-reservation trip for cod is set for Thursday, July 17. 

<b>Belmar</b>

For anglers on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, fluke fishing on the ocean was pretty good, nothing great, but they decked a few, Capt. Chris said. Squid-and-spearing and Gulp hooked the fish well. On nighttime trips, striped bass fishing had been good, but wasn’t on Tuesday night. Chris will see what happens with the fishing, and will run the striper trips as long as the fish remain. The trips liveline bunker for the bass. The Big Mohawk is fishing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. See the <a href=" http://www.njpartyboat.com/fishing-reports.php" target="_blank">reports page</a> on the boat’s website for the striper trip dates.

Jigging for blues smoked the fish, lots, in the morning on Monday’s trip on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the vessel’s website said, during the angling. No update was posted about how the angling fared afterward on the outing. But all the 2- to 7-pound blues anglers could want were hammered on Tuesday’s trip, on the jigs, or hammered Run Offs and Krocodiles, and popper lures. As good as the angling was on those two trips, bluefishing was tough on Wednesday’s. Plenty of fish were read, and the fish and bait were seen along the surface, and plenty of birds worked the bait. But the blues “just didn’t want to cooperate,” the report said. The Golden Eagle is fishing twice daily at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

A handful of bluefish were nipped today on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, north of Shark River Inlet, but the fish “didn’t want to cooperate,” an email from the vessel said. A 25-pound striped bass won the pool. But bluefishing was super on Wednesday’s trip, north of the inlet. Blues swam all over the surface, and the angling slowed at the end of the trip. But all the anglers caught blues, and Ava 27s and 47s worked great on the fish. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing twice daily at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. 

Some fluke fishers on the shop’s rental boats struggled to catch keepers on Shark River, but some laid up impressive catches, and all had fun, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. Some of the anglers limited out on the fish, and ocean boaters also racked up good fluking. Some of those fish weighed 8 pounds, and Jesse Thomas from Wall on the ocean limited out on fluke, the smallest just over legal size. He hooked most of them on a combo of spearing and squid. Bob for this report had guessed “you are as tired as I am of hearing of all the big bass” boated from the ocean, he said. So he decided to switch gears and report on the good fluking. “I am proud of myself,” he said. “I didn’t report on any of the big bass we weighed this week. Fluke need their time to shine, also.”

Angling for striped bass was spotty on the ocean but typical, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. Anglers had to work for the fish, but stripers caught were trophies, big, and the fishing was best in mornings and toward dusk. The fishing during the weekend was coming off Friday’s full moon, and winds blew strongly during the weekend. On a trip aboard Monday morning, fishing was great for 1- to 4-pound, cocktail blues, and a few stripers were boated. Bunker didn’t really school the area, but a few boats to the south found bunker, and stripers on them. Parker Pete’s did get a shot of stripers to 42 pounds right before dark that day. No trips fished Tuesday and Wednesday aboard, and striper fishing was tough Wednesday, Pete heard. Parker Pete’s was supposed to fish for stripers again today, so Pete would see what happens, he said. Striper fishing wasn’t finished for the season, and, again, the fish around were big. The angling wasn’t on fire. “It’s just been striper fishing,” he said. Trips will begin to fish for fluke in July, and the month is booking up, and most prime dates are reserved already in July. Call soon to lock in dates for July and August for fluke. Fluking was picking up on the ocean, for the most part. The fishing served up good days and bad, but conditions were starting to become right. Larger numbers of fluke were moving in.  Pete didn’t know much about sea bass fishing lately, but some trips scored well on sea bass and ling. 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.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

After slower fluking aboard during the weekend, lots more of the fish, good numbers of throwbacks and some keepers, bit on Monday’s trip on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, Capt. Matt wrote in an email. That was the most recent report on the site at press time, and Matt often posts reports daily there. The keepers on Monday weighed up to 6 pounds, and squid and spearing caught well, though a few of the trip’s fluke pounced bucktails with Gulps. Once the southerly wind came up, the angling slowed a bit. “Just some shorts, a handful of keepers and some sea bass,” he said. He hopes the fluking keeps improving, and the Norma-K III is fluke fishing twice daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. and is bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

Sea bass and ling were slung aboard the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. Fairly decent catches, he said, and a couple of days were good, and a couple were slower. On good days, anglers averaged 15 to 30 fish apiece, and on slower, 10 to 20, and the fish were good-sized. Not many of the sea bass were throwbacks, and ling were sizeable the past couple of days. Ling started to bite inshore the last couple of days, and sometimes winter flounder, fluke and cod were bagged lately. A little smorgasbord, he said, and trips fished in 60 to 100 feet. The water surface was about 65 degrees, and on Wednesday was 64 to 66, on the fishing grounds. The bottom must’ve been chilly for ling to bite that shallow. Bluefish trips started to sail at night on Fridays and Saturdays last week. But the bluefishing wasn’t good, giving up one or two fish per trip. Nighttime bottom-fishing trips every Wednesday were supposed to begin this week, and results weren’t known at press time, because Butch gave this report just before the trip, in a phone call. The night trips on Fridays and Saturdays will keep bluefishing at least through the Fourth of July weekend. If the fishing fails to turn on by then, those trips will probably bottom-fish afterward. The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesdays, and is bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

<b>Toms River</b>

A few croakers hovered the Toms River at Island Heights, not as many as last week, when the fish first appeared, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. The angling now was hit and miss, but sometimes caught, on bits of clams and sandworms. Bluefish were consistently fought on the river from the Island Heights docks. A customer showed a photo of an 8-pounder. Blues swarmed Barnegat Bay along Route 37 Bridge and Good Luck Point. Striped bass fishing started to slow along the bridge and at Ocean Gate, because water heated in past days. A few fluke were boated on the bay off Cedar Creek or Berkeley Island Park. But the bay’s fluking was better at the BB marker, giving up throwbacks and keepers. Weakfish bit in the bay in early mornings off the park and the Forked River power plant on Fin-S Fish and sandworms. Blues were scattered around the bay’s flats off Island Beach State Park. In the surf, striped bass fishing dropped off, and bluefishing was the most consistent angling. Ocean boaters caught more stripers than surf anglers did. On the boats, more were trolled than were livelined on bunker snagged for bait. One boater fished the Tire Reef, cranking up a few short fluke and sea bass, not a lot of fish, but some. Crabbing finally started to pick up, and crabbers caught who complained previously. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, bought <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River this year, and is running both shops now.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

No bluefish were checked-in from the surf today, but lots were beached this day, said Ray from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. They weighed 5 to 10 pounds, and striped bass fishing slowed a lot in the surf. Thresher sharks were actually dragged from the surf among bunker schools. In Barnegat Bay, bluefish 2 to 3 pounds were cracked, including from the dock. Fluke were pulled-in around Barnegat Inlet. Crabbing improved a lot, and the shop’s rental boaters trapped probably two dozen per trip. The blueclaws were also trapped from the dock. 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>

Barnegat Bay’s fluke fishing was good at Oyster and Double Creek channels and north and south of the BI marker, said Grizz from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Bluefish swam the bay but fewer than before, when bluefishing was crazy. News about weakfish was quiet from the bay. Blowfish started to show up more than before in the bay, kept stealing fluke bait. Blowfish had been more numerous earlier in the season, and became less abundant, like often happens. But the population started building again, and that’s also typical. Anglers say blowfish come in to spawn in the early season, disappear, then return. Striped bass fishing was spotty in the ocean, and the fish were boated, but were starting to become scarce. Thresher sharks chased bunker schools as close to shore as 3 miles. Sharking farther from shore was good for lots of blues and some makos. Crabbing really picked up, all of the sudden, in the last week.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Not much good could be reported about bluefishing throughout the week, a report on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>’s website said. The vessel is sailing for blues daily, and the crew hopes the angling drastically improves. But if it doesn’t, the vessel will switch to fishing for fluke and sea bass by the middle of next week. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing at 8 a.m. daily.

Lots of snot grass filled Barnegat Bay, but when the bay’s anglers found places to escape that, they boated fluke pretty well, said Brian from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. Some big weakfish came from Meyer’s Hole and along the sedges. Blues raced around the bay, and shore anglers bucktailed 1- to 3-pounders along Barnegat Inlet. No striped bass were really brought from the ocean. One charter captain stopped by who found none for his charter, and hardly any bunker. Many thresher sharks were seen at the shop, including a 300-pounder subdued a few miles from shore. Sea bass fishing seemed fairly good on the ocean. One of the crew from the store’s father who runs charters for sea bass located productive catches, not as good as in July. The season was early for crabbing from Bobbie’s, located near the inlet’s cool water. A rental-boat trip with 10 people today tried crabbing, trapping one keeper. A couple of rental boaters clammed the bay, loading up good catches. The clamming is usually good. 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. Baits stocked currently include live spots and minnows and fresh bunker.

Fluke 19 to 22 inches, yanked from the surf, were heard about the last three days, said Josh from <b>Viking Outfitters</b>. They swam right in the wash, and smelts caught them, and the bait is stocked. Fluke were also boated from Barnegat Bay, like at Double Creek Channel. A friend fished Meyer’s Hole last night for a half-hour, returning with a 22-inch fluke. Any bluefish in the surf anymore? Josh was asked. Small blues 1 to 3 pounds, maybe sometimes 4 pounds, were lifted from Barnegat Inlet, he said. No striped bass seemed around at the moment. Nothing was heard about weakfish. Tuna fishing went well, and thresher sharks and brown sharks were around. Anglers were known who were going to fish for mako sharks. The shop carries offshore baits for tuna and sharks. Minnows are stocked, and live spots are hoped to be carried in two weekends. 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>

Not many bluefish and striped bass were reported from the surf, and action with them was waning, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Anglers still tried for the stripers, going at night, because high tide was around 1 a.m. Lots of dog sharks bit at night in the surf, and dogs and skates chewed during daytime in the water. But kingfish were plucked from the surf last weekend and at the beginning of the week, and that was verified, though the season was early. Bloodworms will start to be carried this weekend for them, because anglers were asking for the worms. Fluke were eased from the surf, and that was good news. Either bait, like strip baits, or white or chartreuse Gulps, fished alone on a jig or with a teaser tied above, were tossed to the summer flounder. Not much was heard about pink catching. Barnegat Bay’s fluking was good, and crabbing started to trap the blueclaws in the bay. The bloodworms will arrive Friday, and fresh bunker, fresh clams and minnows are stocked. So are frozen baits including smelts, spearing, all the different squids, and lots more. The store’s annual <b><i>Free Surf Fishing Seminars</i></b>, held 6 to 7 p.m. every Sunday in the parking lot, will be kicked off on June 29. 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 hung from the bay, but lots more throwbacks were than before, said Brian from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Some anglers landed 20, including no keepers, and many of the fish were just undersized, like a half-inch. The fish bit at the clam stakes and between the 130 and 139 buoys. Little was reported about bluefish from the bay. One of Barnegat Light’s party boat’s Facebook page said the vessel will no longer sail for blues at night on the ocean. Weakfish seemed around, and one angler landed a good-sized weak off Seven Bridges Road, saying healthy-sized weaks swam the water on the trip. Great Bay’s nighttime shark fishing gave up no news. Big sand sharks and brown sharks haunt Grassy Channel, biting at night, any time now. The browns are a prohibited species and must be released. Crabbing picked up significantly, and crabbers trapped as many as a dozen to three dozen keepers. Plenty of minnows are stocked, and fresh, shucked clams will be carried for the weekend. Scott from the shop netted three quarts of grass shrimp today to stock live.

<b>Absecon</b>

A charter limited out on summer flounder on the back bay Monday with Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>, he said. The fish included three that weighed 7, 6 and 5 pounds, and Dave was headed back out for the fish on a trip this morning, when he gave this report in a phone call, and couldn’t talk long. Other species were around, “but that’s the hot story,” he said. He was going for more flounder, and that was the top fishing.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Brown sharks started to be slid from the surf, said Jim from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Browns must be released, and kingfish and spots bit in the surf. A striped bass or a drum might be found in the surf, but fishing for both seemed pretty much finished for the season. Lots of sizeable summer flounder were nailed from the back bay. Fresh bunker was stocked, and fresh clams were expected to be stocked soon. Bloodworms were on hand.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

At Absecon Inlet, anglers on foot banked good-sized summer flounder, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Minnows, filleted mackerel and squid caught them, and the anglers also bloodwormed and clammed kingfish and croakers from the inlet. No striped bass were known about that were hooked at the inlet in a couple of days. But straggler stripers swam the water. A large supply of baits is stocked, including minnows, fresh bunker, fresh clams and all the frozen flounder bait, and a vending machine dispenses bait afterhours. One Stop, at 416 Atlantic Avenue, also owns a shop with the same name at Atlantic City’s Gardners’ Basin that stocks the same baits and also rents rods. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-stop-bait-tackle/362952943747080?rf=151870514855225" target="_blank">One Stop on Facebook</a>.

<b>Margate</b>

A few better-sized summer flounder were bagged aboard, some here and there, and the angling was still good, said Capt. John from the party boat <b>Keeper</b>. More throwbacks, an influx of them, were around than before, but keepers were had. The year’s first croaker was hooked aboard, and bluefish were seen schooling the flats, with birds working the waters above. That was too shallow for the boat to fish, but the blues will probably show up sometime where the boat sails. Morning trips fished better recently, because of high tides. But that’ll switch around, as the tides come an hour later each day. Minnows and mackerel are supplied for bait, and John always suggests anglers bring their own 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>Ocean City</b>

A few sea bass were plumbed on the half-day trips this week on the party boat <b>Captain Robbins</b>, Capt. Victor said. Ling were also bucketed, and ling were really hammered on a full-day trip Sunday aboard. Good fishing for sea bass was also socked on that trip, and fishing for sea bass and ling was a little slow on Saturday’s full-day trip. The Captain Robbins is now fishing for sea bass and summer flounder on two trips daily from Sundays to Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m., and on one trip from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Saturday. Victor hopes flounder start to hit on all the trips. The company just purchased a boat to name the <b>Miss Ocean City</b> that will fish for summer flounder on the back bay through summer and for striped bass on the bay in fall. Victor hopes the boat will begin fishing on July 3.

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing was okay, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Not many big flounder were seen this week, but flounder were caught. They swam off places like Kennedy Park and Somers Point, holding in deeper water, like 15 feet, because the bay was warming. A few weakfish were slugged, mostly at night along bridges on soft-plastic lures, and a 5-pounder was the biggest checked-in. The trout will probably stick around all summer. Small striped bass were sometimes played in the surf and bay, and no keepers were known about. No kingfish were heard about from the surf yet, and until they show up, surf fishing is mostly quiet. Small bluefish, less than a pound, were around in the bay. Big blues schooled the ocean at 28-Mile Wreck. Shark fishing was good at places like the 750-Square and the 30-fathom fingers. Blue sharks, some mako sharks and a few thresher sharks were fought. Nobody mentioned tuna the past couple of days. But previously tuna were trolled at Baltimore Canyon.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

A little of everything was reeled in, and fishing for no particular species was on fire, but fishing was pretty good, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Summer flounder fishing kept anglers busy, and the flatfish were hooked on both the back bay and the ocean, at places like Townsend’s Inlet Reef and Ocean City Reef. So that was nice, he said, and the angling gave up decent numbers of the fish, nothing like limits three days in a row, and none big, but anglers were happy with the angling, were catching. Striped bass were wrestled at night under the lights, and not a lot were keepers, but the fish bit, and weakfish were mixed in. Sea bass were flung from the ocean, and one customer bailed them, a good catch, and a cod larger than 30 pounds at the Deep Water Reef, on a trip. Brown sharks, required to be released, stalked the ocean 3 to 8 miles from shore. A couple of customers ran offshore, tackling tuna and larger sharks. The tuna swam the canyons, and the sharks, including makos and threshers, seemed to hold mostly along the 30-mile line.

Anthony Holosko and family inshore-sharked Wednesday evening aboard, landing 12 or more of the fish 20 to 130 pounds, great fishing, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The trips catch and release the fish, and some of the sharks are required to be let go. The fish on this trip were spinner and dusky sharks fought inshore of 10 miles on mackerel fillets on light conventional rods. The 130-pounder was especially large, and the trips also fly-rod the fish. To find the sharks, Joe knows different areas of bottom structure that attract them. He sails there and drifts over the structure while chumming. The trips, usually within 10 miles from the coast, are a chance to fight big fish without the long trek offshore.  The water surface was 71 degrees, warm for the time of year, because of hot days this week. That was compared with 66 degrees the other day. The bottom was surely colder. An opening is available for a charter Saturday, and the sharking usually lasts through August, but is great now, so why wait? Joe asked. The back-bay’s summer flounder fishing was good, and lots of keepers were around, and trips aboard are also fishing for flounder. In other news, trolling for yellowfin tuna, lots, was good at Baltimore Canyon. Joe heard about a blue marlin landed.   Keep up with his fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Avalon</b>

Wind blew too strongly, but a trip Wednesday fished for summer flounder along the Intracoastal Waterway, toggling in a couple of throwbacks, said Capt. Jim from <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b>.  A trip Wednesday bloodwormed kingfish along the ocean. No bluefish showed up during the kingfishing, like blues did over the weekend during the angling. The ocean was clear, and a sinker could probably be seen 10 feet down. Jim hopes the ocean relatively close to shore stays that clear, for fishing for bluefin tuna, mahi mahi and wahoos that he does in summer. If the clarity remains, the fishing might be good, and two trips are already booked aboard for the angling in July. The trips are an opportunity to catch big game without sailing the long way offshore. Fins and Feathers offers a variety of outdoor adventures, including duck and goose hunting along Delaware Bay, during the waterfowl seasons. Trips also fish Delaware Bay, including for summer flounder in summer and striped bass in fall.

<b>Wildwood</b>

In the back bay, summer flounder swam abundant, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. Not a lot were keepers, and many were an inch or two undersized or 16 or 17 inches. But practically all anglers hooked flounder on the waters, and customers had fun. Striped bass and weakfish were around in the bay, not as many as earlier in the season. The bay’s crabbing improved somewhat. The surf tossed up a good run of stripers a couple of weeks ago, and one or two beached were still heard about almost every day. Bluefish 2 to 4 pounds from the surf were seen at the shop. A friend docked a 200-pound thresher shark, and Mike ate some of the fillet, delicious, he said. He also had fresh tuna given to him, and didn’t know where it was caught. The season’s first minnows were stocked last week, after the baitfish were scarce previously. Ten gallons of minnows would be stocked today. Baits carried also include frozen sand eels, peeler crabs, mackerel fillets, whole mackerel, mullet fillets, whole bunker, bunker fillets, salted clams in quarts and pints, bags of fresh-frozen clams, all the different types of squid, like tube squid, trolling squid, strips of unscented and scented squid, green strips, pink strips and more.  Canal Side rents boats for fishing and crabbing and kayaks. <b>***<i>Get a $5 discount</i>***</b> on a rental boat if you mention Fishing Reports Now. Crabs, both live and cooked, are sold for eating when they become available. Mike hopes that’ll be soon.

<b>Hereford Inlet</b>

In the back bay, summer flounder swam abundant, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. Not a lot were keepers, and many were an inch or two undersized or 16 or 17 inches. But practically all anglers hooked flounder on the waters, and customers had fun. Striped bass and weakfish were around in the bay, not as many as earlier in the season. The bay’s crabbing improved somewhat. The surf tossed up a good run of stripers a couple of weeks ago, and one or two beached were still heard about almost every day. Bluefish 2 to 4 pounds from the surf were seen at the shop. A friend docked a 200-pound thresher shark, and Mike ate some of the fillet, delicious, he said. He also had fresh tuna given to him, and didn’t know where it was caught. The season’s first minnows were stocked last week, after the baitfish were scarce previously. Ten gallons of minnows would be stocked today. Baits carried also include frozen sand eels, peeler crabs, mackerel fillets, whole mackerel, mullet fillets, whole bunker, bunker fillets, salted clams in quarts and pints, bags of fresh-frozen clams, all the different types of squid, like tube squid, trolling squid, strips of unscented and scented squid, green strips, pink strips and more.  Canal Side rents boats for fishing and crabbing and kayaks. <b>***<i>Get a $5 discount</i>***</b> on a rental boat if you mention Fishing Reports Now. Crabs, both live and cooked, are sold for eating when they become available. Mike hopes that’ll be soon.

<b>Cape May</b>

<b>Melanie Anne Sport Fishing Charters</b> will sail for tuna on Friday and Saturday, Capt. Frank said. The fish are swimming far south, toward Poorman’s and Washington canyons. That’s a long run, but the trips will steam there. Melanie Anne’s also been shark fishing lately, and three mako sharks 209 pounds, 181 pounds and 157 pounds were landed on the last three trips. Trips are also inshore fishing, including for summer flounder, aboard. Flounder fishing was a little sluggish on the ocean recently, anglers complained. They kept fishing south at Reef 11 and the Old Grounds, bagging a few, and the fish were good-sized. But Frank told them they weren’t fishing their local reef, Cape May Reef. Lots of flounder swam there, on the south side.

Summer flounder fishing had to grind out catches, and some days were better than others, but flounder were around to be caught, and the keepers were good-sized, said Capt. Paul from the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>. Craig Constantino from Voorhees on Monday aboard bagged only one of the fish, but on Wednesday aboard bagged four to a 7-pounder. Throwbacks gave up action that day, but many of the trip’s anglers didn’t even hook one keeper. John Riccardi from Williamstown on Monday aboard limited out on flounder to 5 ½ pounds. Carl Davis from Turnersville on Tuesday aboard won the pool with a 6-1/4-pound flounder, his only keeper on the outing. But that trip scored better flounder fishing than on Wednesday. Some anglers land keepers, and some don’t. “You never know where lightning’s going to strike,” Paul said. The weekend’s trips dealt with strong winds, but quite a few anglers jumped aboard, and the trips pumped in a few flounder. The Porgy IV is fishing for flounder at 8 a.m. daily.  

Croakers gave up good catches along Cape May Point for boaters and surf anglers, and for boaters along the Intracoastal Waterway, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Sizeable weakfish were beached along Cape May’s jetties. Summer flounder fishing was pretty good in the back bay, and flounder began to be taken at the ocean reefs. Some flounder anglers reported quality catches at Reef 11 and the Old Grounds. A few striped bass were soft-plastic-lured along bridges at night. On Delaware Bay, not a lot fished for drum in nasty weather the past couple of weeks. Whether the fish remained was difficult to say, but drum usually stick around longer than anglers fish for them. Participation might drop off, but drum caught at the Cape May Rips weren’t even heard about, and usually are, when the fish begin to depart the bay. Party boats fishing for other species usually run into them. Nothing was heard about sharks and tuna in past days. But the angling for both was known to be good. Fresh clams, jumbo bloodworms, regular-sized bloods, and minnows are stocked.

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