<b>Keyport</b>

The weather kept the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> docked, and no trips on any boats really sailed, Capt. Frank wrote in an email. So there wasn’t much to report, but the next open-boat trips for fluke will fish this weekend, and two spots just opened up for Saturday. Charters are also sailing, and charters are now being accepted for autumn trips for striped bass and blackfish. Like the <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/vitaminseafishing" target="_blank">Vitamin Sea’s Facebook page</a>.  “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

Small striped bass moved into the Cliffwood Beach area along Raritan Bay, said Joey from <b>Joey’s Bait Shack</b>. Mostly clams, sometimes bunker heads, grabbed them. Cocktail blues began to show up in the bay. Fluke fishing was good, mostly toward Ambrose Channel and deep water now. Crabbing slowed a little. Anglers now are waiting for striper fishing to pick up. All baits are stocked, including fresh bunker and clams that arrive daily, sandworms, killies, eels, nightcrawlers, frozen bunker and clams, and all the frozen fluke bait, including spearing, finger mullet, smelts and the whole variety of squid, like tube squid and 1-pound boxes of squid. 

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Boat trips will return to fishing today, after the hard easterly in past days, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. While the weather was rough, striped bass and blues were banked from the surf. Snapper blues bit well in the rivers, and Jimmy watched an angler catch them last night.  A variety of fish including stripers were hooked from the Navy Pier. Before the weather, plenty of fluke were boated, and they should be again. Crabbing was good.

Everybody knew today would be tough for fluke fishing after the blow for three days, Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> wrote in a report on the vessel’s website. No trips fished aboard during the wind. On the first drift, a 6-pound beauty, a couple of more keeper fluke and many shorts were hooked, and the second drift there was no good. The trip moved to several places, including some that produced super previously, and the angling was no good. When the tide changed, that didn’t help either, because the stronger the outgoing ran, the rougher the ocean. A good swell from the east also didn’t help. The boat was power-drifted at the end of the trip, and only an odd keeper and a few shorts came in. Big Moe was high hook with three good-sized fluke. The Fishermen is fishing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. However, a charter is booked this Saturday morning, so no open-boat trip will sail then. Evening trips will now sail for striped bass that bottom-fished previously. Those trips are running 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. every Monday through Saturday.

The party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> fished every day except Tuesday this week, Capt. Tom said. None of the head boats from the marina sailed Tuesday in strong northeast wind, and the Atlantic Star was one of the few to sail Wednesday. The fluke fishing aboard wasn’t good, but the fish remained in the area, didn’t migrate away because of the weather, so at least there was that. Monday morning and afternoon’s trips picked at shorts and a few keepers. On Wednesday’s trips, the angling wasn’t good, and somewhat of a swell remained, and the water was riled up. The morning’s trip managed a few keepers and some shorts. The afternoon’s picked up a few keepers but quite a few shorts. The water had settled some. On this morning’s trip, Tom said at 9:30 a.m., when he gave this report aboard in a phone call, one keeper was totaled, and a few throwbacks were let go on each drift, so far. The boat didn’t fish the channels Wednesday and today, like trips did previously. Conditions were too rough, but even at places besides the channels, like at Flynn’s Knoll, heavy, 8-ounce weights still needed to be fished, because of wind and current, though the water was less deep. Tom suggests anglers bring two rods, including a heavier for when heavier weight is needed. That’s been because of fishing at the channels, but the heavier rod was useful in the rough conditions everywhere this week. 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>Neptune</b>

<b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> steamed for cod on the ocean today, the first trip since the wind, Capt. Ralph said. A good catch was pumped in during a window of relatively better weather, and then the weather closed in again. It was rough on the trip. Space is available on the final two individual-reservation trips for fluke the next two Tuesdays, and on a marathon one of the trips Friday, September 26, before fluke season is closed starting September 28. Kids under 12 will sail free, limited to two per adult host, on the two Tuesday trips, but not on the other. Kids sail free like that on the Tuesday trips every year. 

<b>Belmar</b>

None of the fleet seemed to sail in the weather, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Katie H</b>. A day-trolling trip for tuna is scheduled for Friday, and an overnight trip for tuna is slated for Saturday  to Sunday. The trip Friday might be scrapped, and the overnight trip was already scrubbed, because of forecasts for winds and seas. The anglers just rescheduled, and Mike doesn’t mind sailing in 3- to 5-foot seas, but didn’t want the anglers to take a beating. The overnight fishing grounds was a long way to sail, and the water surely got all “torn up.” The chance was too great that maybe the angling wouldn’t produce. Let another boat head there and find the fish again, he said. Some good fishing for tuna happened before the blow. Closer to shore, fluke fishing was good during the weekend on the ocean, before the weather. Good catches of large ones were made. Anglers will see if the weather affected that. The Katie H fishes both inshore and offshore, and is a big-game specialist. The 46-foot boat features speed and all the amenities.

Wind started to drop out, and the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b> was supposed to start fishing again today, a report on the vessel’s website said. The Golden Eagle is bluefishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.  See the <a href=" http://goldeneaglefishing.com/tuna-reservation.html" target="_blank">Golden Eagle’s tuna schedule</a>. Five spots remain for September 28, and nine are left for October 19. Tuna fishing is sold out on October 5 aboard.

<b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> was weathered out the last few days, because of wind, Capt. Pete said. He hopes the boat’s fluke fishing sails again soon, and that fluke remain on the fishing grounds on the ocean after the weather. The angling was good on Sunday, the last trip that sailed aboard, covered in the last report. Pete in past reports said good fluking should continue until fluke season is closed on September 28, as long as no major storm causes the fish to migrate offshore for the year. Parker Pete’s this season ran On the Water Seminars, individual-reservation trips that taught bucktailing for fluke, and might offer one more, because there was interest. Charters can also book the seminars. An email about the seminars said: “Are you tired of reading reports of people catching big (fluke)? Do you usually ‘drag’ bait and hope for the big one? Are you being out-fished when you go out fluking? Are you ready to get hooked on bucktailing in a non-threatening way?” Anglers can email Pete for info about the trips. Also, 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>

Trips were supposed to resume fishing today on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, a report on the vessel’s website said. The boat is sailing for fluke on two trips daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m., and for bluefish from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

<b>***Update, Friday, 9/12:***</b> Fluke fishing was strong, the best of the season, on the ocean from about the final 1 ½ weeks of August until this week’s blow, said Capt. Bob from the party boat <b>Gambler</b>. The fishing was kept in port Monday through Wednesday aboard in the weather. But the trips resumed Thursday and today, and the angling was a little slow, caught some of the fish, not like before the nor’easter. The water probably needed to settle for the angling kick back in, probably within a day or two. The last nighttime ling trip, last Friday, pasted the fish, good catches, mixed sizes to 3 pounds, and some large winter flounder and a few squid. Another ling trip was ready to sail tonight, and the last nighttime bluefish trip caught big blues well on Saturday.  The Gambler is fishing for fluke twice daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. Nighttime wreck-fishing trips are sailing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays for ling, cod, winter flounder and squid. Bluefishing trips are running 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. every Saturday. Five spaces remain for the year’s first tuna trip, a 48-hour one, on September 23. Then three trips per week will fish for tuna through October, and see the <a href="http://www.gamblerfishing.net/offshoretrips.html" target="_blank">Gambler’s tuna schedule</a> online.

When 15 sea bass was the bag limit last week from Monday through Saturday, catches of them were okay on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. The ocean was 74 to 75 degrees, and never became especially warm this year. But the water probably became relatively warm throughout the water column, including the bottom, where the sea bass were, by this time of year. That’s probably why angling for the fish wasn’t great. But the crew was happy for the increased bag limit, and on that Monday, a couple of customers might’ve almost bagged limits. Fourteen might’ve been the high hook, and afterward, anglers probably averaged six to 10 keeper sea bass. Three was the bag limit before, and sea bass season was closed on Sunday. Trips also picked away at ling, not great, and some beautiful, large winter flounder. Fluke were in the mix, and many fluke were hooked on a couple of days. The boat fished in 60 to 90 feet when angling for sea bass, staying shallow. But now the vessel is fishing in 120 to 150 feet. That’s’ where most of the life is, for the fish legal to bag. The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Nighttime trips were wrapped up for the season after Labor Day that previously sailed for bottom-fish and blues.

<b>Toms River</b>

The wind blew weeds into the surf, said John from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. But when the water clears, fluke and blues are swimming the wash at Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park and usual places like that. No fluke were really bagged from Barnegat Bay. No blowfish were heard about from the bay, but John smacked a good catch of huge ones near the BI and BB markers previously, covered in the shop’s report here a week ago. That was news, because blowfish were scarce previously. He’ll head back out for them on Sunday. Snapper blues, fewer than before, skittered the bay and back waters. Crabbing slowed around Tuesday’s full moon, but usually rebounds in a few days. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, bought <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> this year, and is running both shops now.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Surf fishing for fluke was hot the last two weeks, until this week’s weather, said Kevin from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. The angling supposedly slowed starting Monday. His dad that day only landed two, and Kevin and his pop banked 15 a day previously. He hopes the catches bounce back, and he fished the surf Tuesday at Island Beach State Park, both on the ocean and Barnegat Bay. He caught nothing, not even snapper blues, but was targeting fluke or striped bass. No stripers bit in the surf yet, and the bass, schoolies, only chomped in the bays, like along Sedge Islands. On Barnegat Bay at the dock, a mess of blowfish, but lots of small, hovered. The bay toward the inlet needed to be fished for bigger. Snapper blues, growing to nearly cocktail size, schooled along the dock. The week’s full moon affected crabbing, but otherwise, a dozen keepers could usually be trapped in 4 hours. Crabbing will improve, he thinks. 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 still harbored fluke, at Double Creek and Oyster Creek channels, said Mike from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Not many reports rolled in about blowfish from the bay, but some talked about 10 blowfish maybe taken in a trip, when the angling was good on an outing. Snapper blues zipped around. Striped bass fishing will probably begin to amp up by mid-October, and definitely by Halloween, in the surf, and maybe the bay. In the bay, the bass are caught on baits including clams and eels. 

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Barnegat Bay’s fluking was probably the same as Ray from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b> reported all season, he said. Previously, he said many throwbacks, at least 15 for every keeper, were hooked from the bay, and fishing for the flatfish was supposedly better on the ocean. No reports of blowfish came from the bay, except about one or two of the fish picked up on occasion. Striped bass fishing was yet to improve, but the season was early. Crabbing didn’t change, he said, and previously he reported that crabbing was slow. He knew about nobody who clammed the bay recently. 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. Baits stocked currently include live spots, green crabs and minnows. Live grass shrimp can be ordered, but four quarts is the minimum.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Saturday, 9/13:***</b> From an edited email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “Looks like there might be a break in the wind and weather this Monday. They’re forecasting a 5- to 10-knot, north wind, which would mean a run to Barnegat Ridge is looking good. If Monday morning comes, and the inlet or sea condition is not as nice as forecast, I’ll have a box of shrimp ordered as Plan B. I’m only accepting reservations from individuals who are flexible with this plan. Keep in mind that the only one who wants to get to the ridge more than you guys is me! That area is alive with bonita, albacore and who knows what else, after all this easterly wind! But as those of you who’ve fished with me know, I do not sail in borderline or questionable sea conditions. 6 a.m. to 12 noon. Three people max. All fish are shared. I’m going to bring a pail of spearing, so we can troll and bait fish the bonita and albies, if conditions dictate. Call to reserve a spot. Tomorrow, Sunday, is going to be a rough ocean, but the bay is fishable, if anyone wants to call for a charter.”

<b>Surf City</b>

Surf casters yanked in bluefish 1 or 1 ½ pounds on mullet, said Joe from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. The surf remained rough, but was calming, and would take a couple of days to level out, and wind still blew. A 30-inch striped bass was beached from the surf Wednesday. A couple of kingfish were found in the surf. A few spots swam the bay. Registration is available at the shop for the 60th annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic that will be held October 6 to November 30. 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>

Nobody fished during the week, said Brian from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The shop’s crew worked on computer stuff, and a customer went to Little Egg Inlet today. The ocean there held 5- to 8-foot rollers, and the inlet held 2- to 3-foot seas. The customer watched a 30-foot boat get tossed around. Wind is forecast for this weekend, too. Summer flounder fishing had been good on the ocean at Little Egg and Garden State reefs. Maybe – maybe – flounder could be found at the Brick Pile in the bay. Croakers swam the bay, and snapper blues schooled the bay and back waters. One angler plucked blowfish at Sheepshead Creek the other day.

<b>Absecon</b>

Fishing was getting into that time between summer and fall fishing, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Not many fished in past days, and water was dirty. But this was also the time for weather that changes, or for weather’s to “turn over” to get fall fishing going. Logan from the shop headed out with a buddy, and they reeled in several triggerfish, some big, eating-sized snapper blues and a couple of keeper sea bass, some action, despite wind. White perch swam brackish rivers, biting shedder crabs well. Anglers are waiting for striped bass to arrive, and the store’s <b><i>Striper Season Kick Off Sale</i></b> is under way through Sunday. Afterward, the prices will be back to normal, as striper season begins. Dave’s been stocking up for the bass, including loading up on live spots from Maryland.  Plenty of live peanut bunker are carried, and live mullet should be stocked. Mullet were coming and going, weren’t as abundant as during some years, for Dave to net. Bloodworms are stocked, including for kingfish, and kingfish were in and out in the surf. Green crabs are carried for blackfish, and bagging a limit of one was fairly easy. A few shedders are on hand, and a few soft-shell crabs are available for eating. The shop raises them, and the end of the run for them was near. The blueclaws stop shedding as the season cools.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Kingfish and blues swam all over the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Wind blew the past four days, so not much happened with fishing, but he knew the fish were still there. Blues were in heavy at the south jetty today, and a couple of anglers said that was great. Mullet rigs are tying into the blues, and bloodworms are latching into the kings. Sharks were fought from the surf. The annual Riptide Striper Derby was launched Friday and will run until December 23. Anglers were excited, a report on the shop’s website said, because entry in the tournament allows beach-buggy access to the entire length of Brigantine, when accompanied by a Brigantine beach-buggy permit. Otherwise, not all the beach can be driven. The annual Riptide Striper Bounty, for the season’s first striped bass 43 inches or larger checked in from Brigantine’s surf, is also under way. Sponsored by Hess Plumbing this season, the bounty already reached $285. Entry is $5 and required before catching the fish, and the winner takes all the cash. The bounty in spring reached $2,005 when won. A $50 gift certificate to the store is up for grabs for the season’s first striper weighed in from Brigantine’s surf.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

There was weather, but fish were axed from Absecon Inlet, said Jeremy from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. They needed to eat, and the catches included a few kingfish, croakers, summer flounder, good-sized blues about a foot, and blackfish. Customers fish the nearby inlet, lined with jetties, on foot. A few striped bass, not many, were heard about from the surf. But they started to bite a little more than before. Green crabs are $4 per dozen or three dozen for $10. Minnows are $8.50 a pint, and bloodworms on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are two dozen for $20. Otherwise, the worms are $10.75 per dozen. Baits stocked also include fresh bunker, fresh clams, fresh mullet, all the frozen baits, like mackerel, mullet, head-on shrimp and all the different types of squid for flounder fishing, and more, a large supply. A vending machine dispenses bait afterhours. 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>

Summer flounder were tugged from the back bay during the weekend on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. A handful were keepers, not bad for the fewer customers this time of year, and scores of throwbacks were tossed back. Plenty of flounder remained in the bay, though during some years many migrate to the ocean already. That seemed because of this mild summer. The Keeper will fish for summer flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 12 noon Sunday, and the schedule afterward will be determined. 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>

The ocean was calming down last night, Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b> said in a phone call then. Trips for summer flounder on the ocean were sold out today through Sunday. That angling’s been good aboard in 75 or 80 feet. Gobs were throwbacks, but keepers were had, and the population of the fish was better than Mike saw in a long time. Anglers better fish for them before flounder season is closed on September 28. With the seasonable rough weather closing in, better not delay. Charters are sailing, and the next open-boat trips for flounder are set for Tuesday and Wednesday. Autumn blackfish charters are booking up. A few Saturdays remain in November and December. The Stray Cat will sail until January 7, and its fishing will be wrapped up afterward for winter.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Fishing was expected to kick off again today on the party boat <b>Miss Ocean City</b>, after being weathered out in past days, Capt. Victor said. The boat is running for summer flounder and croakers 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily on the ocean. However, the vessel is chartered this Saturday.

Most boaters didn’t fish in a week, because of weather, said John from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. The surf was big, and 6 ounces of weight was needed to fish it. Maybe a few fluke were beached, or other fish like croakers. Along the 9th Street Bridge, Corson’s Inlet and the Longport Bridge, blues, sea bass, croakers, flounder and sharks, all of those species small, were hooked. That was all the news in the weather.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

The water was kind of churned up, but a trip fished the back bay Wednesday with Chris Thompson, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Popper fishing for striped bass wasn’t good because of the dirtied water. But a weakfish was fly-rodded, and that was pretty cool. The trip mostly fly-fished, and weaks seemed to start showing up a little. In the past, weakfishing used to happen in September and October, especially in the ocean. But they also roamed the bay then, and spring has been the time for weakfishing in recent years. That’s in the bay, and included this year. Joe’s trips did catch them there this spring. Summer flounder fishing should be good on the ocean, but trips couldn’t reach the water, because of seas. Joe was sure the ocean was loaded with blues, and he saw bird plays off the beach. Joe each year meets the migration of stripers, blues and false albacore on traveling charters to Montauk. Those trips will begin on September 20, and will last into October. Ever want to fish the run from the legendary port? Joe is going. He’ll also still fish from Sea Isle City during that time, between the Montauk trips. Joe also runs annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys in winter from Christmas to Easter. The Florida trips fish mostly on weekends. That can be for a large variety of catches, from redfish and speckled sea trout to tarpon and sailfish. See <a href="http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page3.html" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s traveling charters Web page</a>. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

Bluefiishing at Townsend’s Inlet was probably best during the weather, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Seas were built up, and current ran, but the 1-1/2- to 2-pounders were caught, on mullet on mullet rigs on bottom. When seas calmed at the bottom and top of tides, the fish were hit on small metal like Kastmasters or spoons. A few summer flounder were mixed in, but the conditions were tough for flounder fishing. Was flounder fishing good on the ocean before the weather? Mike was asked. He couldn’t remember when boaters could last sail for them, he said. But the angling was productive when they did. A few customers fought striped bass fairly consistently on the back bay, all on top-water lures, especially early in the week. All were throwbacks that were heard about. Tons of small sea bass were played at docks, if anglers looked for something fun. A good crabbing report rolled in. A crabber nabbed 60-some of the blueclaws, mostly females, but they were chewing. In other news, hunting for rails was good along the bay. High tides are good for that, flushing the mud hens or American coots from the weeds they otherwise prefer.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Someone telephoned the shop, asking whether anything was heard about summer flounder, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. Mike had to laugh, he said, because flounder remained in the back bay. During many years, many of the fish would’ve already departed, migrating to the ocean. But the cooler summer than usual seemed to hold flounder in the bay. The fish included keepers, not a lot, but some, and keepers are especially the ones to depart, usually. A couple of sizeable keepers were brought in through the weekend. Weather was terrible since, but rental boats are reserved to fish the bay again this weekend. A buddy boated two keeper flounder and four throwbacks on a trip on the bay. A Cape May party boat docked 54 keepers, and released throwbacks, from the ocean on a trip, before the weather. Mike would expect flounder to come from the ocean this time of season. Plenty of snapper blues schooled around, including in the canal. Not many blues of larger size were anywhere locally. Lots of small sea bass swam the bay, like every summer. They aren’t usually keepers, and are usually juveniles. Mike reported a keeper the other week. A few striped bass were mentioned from the surf. Not many were, compared with the number of anglers fishing the beach, but a few of the bass were definitely around. Seemed a sign of the changing seasons. Crabbing seemed to improve a little in the bay. Not a lot were bagged, but many of the blueclaws that were throwbacks in July grew to keeper size now. 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. Baits stocked include minnows and frozen herring in three per pack, Canadian spearing, 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. Crabs, both live and cooked, are sold for eating, and picnic tables were set out this year to enjoy them. The crabs have been from Maryland, because the blueclaws have been scarce for commercial crabbers in New Jersey this season. Live crab prices previously ranged from $28 to $38 per dozen, and the price depends on market price and size of the blueclaws. No. 2’s from Miles River, Md., are supposed to be delivered Saturday, and if they are, the price will probably be $15 per dozen. No. 1’s from the river were stocked at the shop previously, and some were beautiful. But not all the crabs were actually No. 1’s, yet the price was still a higher price for the larger crabs. Cooked crabs are $4 additional per dozen.

<b>Cape May</b>

The <b>Heavy Hitter</b> is supposed to overnight for tuna at the canyons this weekend, but boating looks shot this weekend, because of weather forecasts, Capt. George said. Tuna swam the canyons, all the way offshore. A few stragglers roamed the 50-fathom line, but fishing for them wasn’t practical. The next trip that might sail aboard might be on Tuesday for summer flounder, if the weather shapes up. Flounder fishing was pretty good, not bad, on the ocean, weeding through lots of throwbacks for keepers. Plenty of the flatfish could be cranked in, if conditions were right. Bluefish were mixed in, and trips could target blues on the troll on the ocean. False albacore gathered along the 20-fathom line about the last week that could be trolled.

The fleet sat tight in the weather, said Capt. Frank from <b>Melanie Anne Sport Fishing Charters</b>. Wednesday morning was the first calmer weather since the blow, but the wind picked back up later in the day. A tuna trip is supposed to fish offshore aboard this weekend, and looks like it’ll be weathered out. Frank was going to make the call today. <b>***Update, Saturday, 9/13:***</b> Take advantage of an end-of-season special on a summer flounder charter. Get a $100 discount, because flounder season will be closed starting September 28.

The northeast wind kept the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> docked the past three days, Capt. Paul said. But summer flounder trips were supposed to resume today aboard. The angling, on the ocean, was sometimes good previously, giving up a bunch of sizeable flounder on several days. John Poluchuck from Philadelphia limited out on the fish to an 8.3-pounder. Jack Cassady from Philly won the pool with an 8-pounder on Saturday. Anglers who also limited out on recent trips included Pete Martine from Vineland, Jack Almond from Audubon and John Riccardi from Williamstown. Nobody can know whether the fish will bite, or where, when trips resume. If a swell is leftover today, the fish might not bite until that settles. But Paul hopes to get back on the flounder when the conditions lay out. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Mullet started to arrive in the surf, and keeper striped bass 30 inches, not big, were known to be slid from the water on occasion, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Lures imitating mullet were what to fish, and Daiwa Salt Pro Minnows, or SP Minnows, in Laser Green Shiner worked especially well. But mostly bluefish popped into the surf, at Poverty Beach and Cape May Point. Sometimes weakfish were mixed in at the point. Sharks were still fought from the surf. Blackfish fed along the jetties, mostly on the ocean, instead of Delaware Bay. A few kingfish from the surf began to be mentioned from Poverty and Diamond Beach. Sometimes flounder were banked at the Cape May ferry jetty on Delaware Bay. On the back bay, striper fishing was good at night at bridges. Nick bagged a striper and a weak at a bridge during the weekend. Striper fishing was good along the sod banks in early mornings on soft-plastic lures or popper plugs. Off Cape May Point for boaters, good catches of croakers were sometimes reported from Cape May Channel. No boaters sailed the ocean for flounder in the weather. A couple of good catches of flounder were known about from northern Delaware Bay, like toward Miah Maul, last week. Nick fished offshore last Thursday with Common Sense Charters. A white marlin and a half-dozen gaffer mahi mahi were landed at Baltimore Canyon. Baits stocked include bloodworms, green crabs and minnows.

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