<b>Staten Island</b>

<b>Outcast Charters</b> limited out on sea bass Monday, Capt. Joe said. A few ling were bucketed, and out-of-season blackfish, keeper-sized, were thrown back. A trip Tuesday came four short of a limit of sea bass, copped some ling and tossed back a fair number of keeper-sized blackfish. The sea bass weighed up to 3 pounds on the trips, and the outings sailed from Sewaren, N.J., where sea bass season is open. Outcast offers fishing from both Staten Island, N.Y., and Sewaren. New Jersey’s sea bass bag limit was 15 through Tuesday, and became two starting on Wednesday through July. Trips from Jersey will now fluke, but trips from Staten Island will be able to sea bass starting July 15, when New York’s sea bass season opens. Eight sea bass 13 inches or longer will be the limit. Porgy trips are available from either port, and Jersey’s porgy season opened Wednesday, and New York’s was already open.

<b>Keyport</b>

Three keeper fluke and good action with shorts was already pasted on the first drift, this morning, on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank wrote in an email at 8 a.m. aboard. Space is available on open-boat trips Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, and telephone to reserve. Some big fluke are around, “and we know where to find them,” he said. Weather looks good through Tuesday, so he expects good catches.

Space is available for open-boat trips or charters for fluke Friday through Sunday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Raritan and Sandy Hook bays are giving up the fish, and fluking on the ocean began to pick up somewhat. This could be a good month for fluking, and July and August usually are. Water temperatures are about what they should be, and telephone to climb aboard.

Fluke fishing was pretty good, said Capt. Mario from <b>Down Deep Sportfishing</b>. Lots of throwbacks bit, but high-hooks on 12-hour, marathon trips landed seven or eight keepers. They worked through scores of throwbacks for that. The fish weighed up to an 11-pounder aboard in past days. Open-boat trips are fluking on the Down Deep Bull that can accommodate up to 15 passengers. Open trips are fishing for ling, cod and winter flounder on the Down Deep, the company’s other boat. Open trips include 12-hour marathons, sailing 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., on both vessels. Charters are being booked, and join the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep Sportfishing’s website to be kept informed about special open trips. Also see the site’s open-trips page for available dates. Open trips might soon include one for cod, limited to 10 people.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fishing for fluke picked up some keepers on Raritan Bay, not yet like it should, but some, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Many throwbacks bit, and keeper fluke were reeled from Navesink River “on the first part of the tide,” he said, and only throwbacks bit afterward. Bluefish schooled the back of the bay. Not one weakfish caught was heard about. Snapper bluefish, tiny, the size of baby bunker, began to be seen. The blues will grow to catching-size this season. Spots and croakers were yet to show up. Spearing, three-quarters of an inch, appeared for the first time since Hurricane Sandy in 2011. The hurricane ripped out eel grass the baitfish live around. Snapper blues forage on spearing, and the spearing were a “good sign” for fishing in general. Striped bass were boated at Shrewsbury Rocks on the ocean daily, in early mornings, on livelined bunker. Ling fishing was good on the ocean. Two became the sea bass bag limit this month, after 15 was previously. One blackfish will be legal to keep starting July 17.

An 8-pound 2-ounce fluke took the lead today in the season-long pool for the fish on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron wrote in an email. After Ron busted the angler about not bringing his A game and being distracted the other day aboard, the angler was on fire today, and was high hook with four keepers and lots of throwbacks. The leading fish just beat out the previous leader, an 8-pounder boated last week. Today’s trip found some action late in the day, and stayed a bit longer to catch. Several anglers totaled two keepers apiece. The keepers caught were sizable or 3 to 5 pounds, and some 18-inchers were mixed in. Some of the smallest fluke of the year showed up, a size not usually around until fall. The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Trips are fishing for stripers 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays. However, a fireworks cruise that’s full will sail Saturday evening for the Fourth of July, so no trip will fish that night.

For trips on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, fluking was about the same as before, Capt. Tom said. Fishing on Sandy Hook Bay was the best for the trips, and a few fluke began to appear at Flynn’s Knoll. But the boat fished the bay, catching lots of fluke almost every day, sometimes not as much, because the boat didn’t drift as well. The fishing wasn’t bad, at all, but catching keepers was the thing. A handful of keepers was sacked so far on this morning’s trip, when he gave this report at 9:15 a.m. aboard in a phone call. Those keepers were especially large, including 4 and 5 pounds, and didn’t even need to be measured. Some 17- and 17-1/2-inchers, just under the 18-inch size limit, were released. Fishing the bay also sheltered from wind that affected other places.  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>

Still catching striped bass, Capt. Pete from the <b>Hyper Striper</b> wrote in an email. Photos on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hyperstripersportfishing" target="_blank">Hyper’s Facebook page</a> showed the catches, and he expects to land the fish a while longer. The boat is the Hyper Striper, after all. Bucktailing for fluke and sharking are available, and tuna trips are on tap for August and September.

Boating from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Anthony Pennimede nailed striped bass 36 to 42 inches off Sandy Hook’s nude beach on the ocean on bunker, Marion wrote in an email. That was apparently on livelined bunker, and Twin Lights, located on Shrewsbury River near Raritan Bay and the ocean, with no bridges before them, includes a marina with boat slips. It also features dry storage, a fuel dock, and a combined bait and tackle shop and ship’s store. Live bunker are stocked when available. The offshore selection, like frozen flats of baitfish, is carried. The fuel dock is available 24 hours a day with a credit card. 

<b>Neptune</b>

The year’s first cod charter slammed a mess of the fish Monday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said. The trip stopped inshore, on the way back to port, boating sea bass, ling and winter flounder. Individual-reservation trips for cod are set for July 22 and August 5. Two openings were available on the first date, and more were open for the August date, just added to the schedule. If anglers haven’t fished for cod with Last Lady, they should try it, he said. If you want to catch cod, you better go now, he said. The year’s first fluke charter fished Wednesday. The fishing wasn’t red hot, but a few quality fluke to 6 pounds, and enough big sea bass, were decked for all the anglers to leave with fillets. Pink and white Gulps were the “ticket.” Individual-reservation trips will fish for fluke this Wednesday and, starting July 14, every Tuesday, when no charter is booked. Kids 12 and under sail free on those outings, limited to two per adult host. Individual-reservation trips will fish for ling, sea bass and cod on the Sundays of July 12 and 26. Don’t believe weather forecasts, Ralph concluded. Forcasts called for small craft warnings on Wednesday, and the weather was good.

<b>Belmar</b>

A few good shots of bluefish were run into Tuesday on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the party boat’s website said. The trip caught some, up to 12 pounds, and if the shots had lasted a little longer, that would’ve been good fishing. Blues 5 to 10 pounds were beaten on Wednesday’s trip, but not enough. The angling was slow on today’s trip, though the trip gave it a good try. Friday’s trip will look in other places. The Golden Eagle is fishing at 7:30 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Fishing and sunset cruises are sailing at 4:30 p.m. daily, and reservations are required for those outings.

A good six or seven drifts met bluefish that popped up to the surface Tuesday on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an email from the vessel said. That was at mid-morning, and the anglers fought the 6- to 14-pounders aboard. Bluefishing began slowly on Wednesday’s trip, improving in the afternoon. The anglers picked away at good shots of the 6- to 14-pounders. Some keeper and throwback fluke were angled on the trip, too. On today’s trip, none of the fleet caught blues. So the trip settled for hooking fluke and sea bass. Plenty of bunker were found schooling, but no blues chased them.  The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. every Saturday. Family Fun Days are sailing 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday and Sunday for fluke, sea bass, blues or whatever bites. The trips enjoy a sunset cruise on the way home.

Ten keeper fluke were iced, among shorts tossed bass, on Wednesday with <b>XTC Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Scott said. Blues and a throwback striped bass were trolled in the morning on the trip. A trip Tuesday pushed offshore a little, clocking 19 cod, 15 sea bass and a handful of ling. Sea bass trips filled the schedule before then, when 15 was the bag limit. Two became the limit starting Wednesday. A trip Monday will shark fish but also look for bluefin tuna. Bluefins were heard about from inshore like that. Nothing was heard about tuna fishing at the canyons farther from shore.

Sea bass fishing went out with a bang for <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Pete said. The angling was great Tuesday aboard, the final day of the 15 sea bass bag limit. Two became the limit Wednesday for this month. Fluke fishing aboard was a little tough Wednesday, but the fluke bagged were good-sized to 5 or 6 pounds. Action with shorts was non-stop, lots of life. Fluking’s just a matter getting dialed into keepers, and south wind wasn’t good for the fishing on the trip. Pete’s looking forward to fluking continuing to improve this season, he hopes. The fishing’s day-to-day, and wind could go west tomorrow, and the angling could knock the fluke dead. It’s just, get out and bucktail for them, he said. Fluke trips include On the Water Seminars, like last year, that teach bucktailing for the big ones. Space is available on those on July 22 and 28. Anglers can also book charters for the seminars, besides jumping on the trips already slated. Novices can learn bucktailing, and the somewhat experienced can hone skills, in a non-threatening environment. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Parker Pete’s anyway, about individual spaces available on charters. Jump on <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s website</a> to subscribe to the email blast to be kept informed about the spaces. Look for the place to sign up on the right side of the page, where it says Join Our Newsletter.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Fishing switched to ling Wednesday, and the angling was okay, on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. The vessel sailed for sea bass until the bag limit was dropped to two that day, from the previous limit of 15. During the ling fishing, most anglers bucketed 15 to 25 of the fish. Not a lot of anglers joined the trip, and fewer ling per angler probably would’ve been looted if more of a crowd had fished. Butch was happy about the results. Many of the trip’s anglers bagged two sea bass apiece, and lots of sea bass were thrown back. Probably 50 or 60 cod were landed – that’s a lot – and maybe 12 or 15 were keepers. The trip fished the deep in 120 to 130 feet, and the water was 68 degrees there. That was the surface, and the water chilled considerably below. A diver said the water plummeted to 44 degrees 20 or 25 feet down. The water looked like an 80-degree ocean, a light, light antifreeze color. That was because the cold kept the algae along the warmer surface, Butch thought. Porgy season was opened Wednesday, and porgies were toggled in on boats off Long Island. A few porgies were lifted aboard the Dauntless during the previous sea bass trips. The Dauntless might porgy fish later this season. Sea bass fishing was good on the last three trips for sea bass aboard, and half the anglers limited out.  The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Bluefish trips were planned for last Friday and Saturday, but neither sailed, and no blues were around. Fireworks cruises will sale in evenings this Friday and Saturday, the Fourth of July, and no bluefish trips will run this weekend, on the boat.

Since the storm Saturday, fluke fishing slowed on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s website. On this morning’s trip, plenty of throwbacks and a few keepers were hooked. Maybe the fishing was picking back up. Before then, a keeper was slung in here and there, some shorts were released, and a few sea bass were cranked in, “but it (was) not like the fishing we had last week,” he said. Plenty of fluke are swimming, “(but) they just have to get hungry again,” he said. On nighttime trips, bluefishing was tough, like before. So the trips fished for ling, picking the fish, and a few cod. The crew hopes blues move in during the next week or so. The crew will keep giving bluefishing their best, he said.  The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily and for blues 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily. Space is available on a fireworks cruise on Fourth of July off Long Branch.

The nor’easter made the weekend’s fluke fishing kind of tough on the party boat <b>Gambler</b>, Capt. Bob said. But the angling gradually improved each day afterward, and this morning’s trip claimed a good mix of keepers and shorts, and some sea bass and ling, good fishing. This afternoon’s trip, so far, rounded up a few fluke, but lots of time remained on the outing, he said at the beginning of the trip in a phone call aboard, when he gave this report. Rain was somewhat falling then. Pat Hennesy from Ortley Beach axed a 7-3/4-pound fluke on this morning’s trip. Eric Hunz from Brielle’s The Reel Seat won June’s monthly pool with an almost 8-1/2-pound fluke on the month’s final trip, on Tuesday afternoon. Some sizable fluke were mixed in on trips, and pool-winners usually weighed 4 or 5 pounds. Good-sized sea bass and big, “baseball bat” ling were in the mix. The Gambler is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily. Trips are fishing for ling 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 .m. every Thursday and Friday and for blues every Saturday during those hours. The most recent ling and bluefish trips were covered in the last report here. Tuna trips will begin on September 21, and those are filling up on weekends. See the <a href=" http://www.gamblerfishing.net/offshoretrips.php" target="_blank">Gambler’s tuna schedule</a> online.

<b>Toms River</b>

Snapper blues swam the Toms River, but were mostly 2 inches, impossible to catch, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. A few were ½ to 1 pound and could be hooked, like on spearing, but those were too few to target. These baby bluefish grow large enough to notice this time of year, and will keep growing this season. Anglers will fish for them then. Occasional spots were seen in the river. Crabbing was on fire on the river, and good along Route 37 Bridge, on Barnegat Bay. A few fluke held near the BB and BI markers in the bay. Mario from the shop fluked on the bay near Barnegat Inlet, off Barnegat Lighthouse, this week. The angling was a slow pick. Another angler boated one keeper fluke near the Lighthouse. The best fluking was in the inlet. A couple of boaters reeled fluke from the Tires, in the ocean off the inlet. The ocean was warming, becoming close to 70 degrees. Back in the bay, only a few blowfish swam, west of the BB. Some anglers managed ½ dozen or 18. A blowfish population that seemed more promising seemed to depart the bay after spawning, earlier this year. In the surf, bluefish 2 to 3 pounds were picked, mostly on frozen mullet or fresh bunker. Fluke fishing was actually pretty good in the surf, and more seemed to be hooked from there than in the bay. Fish a bucktail with a Gulp. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b>, located on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Lots of bad weather, and fishing slowed, said George from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>.  But crabbing was good from the dock. Fluking slowed at the BI and BB markers on Barnegat Bay. Fluking was good, giving up better numbers of keepers, at Sea Girt Reef on the ocean, mostly on Spros with Gulps. Many surf anglers tied into fluke, usually throwbacks, few keepers. A few bluefish turned up in the surf in evenings, getting bunker-chunked. Surf casters waited for brown sharks, required to be released, to show up locally. They showed up farther south, but George tried for them daily locally, finding none. 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. Baits currently include killies and fresh clams and bunker.

<b>Forked River</b>

Barnegat Bay’s fluke hovered around the BI and BB markers, said Mike from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. A few bluefish swam the mouth of Oyster Creek, along the bay. A few 2-pound blues shot around the bay here and there, but the bay’s population of blues wasn’t in like before. Crabbing was great. Weather was rough for ocean fishing, so new was scarce from there. Baits stocked include killies, local and Canadian spearing, all the shark bait, and nearly all frozen baits. Sharking had been good, when news from the ocean rolled in. The water might’ve become somewhat warm for the best sharking.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

A trip sailed for bluefish on the ocean Wednesday on the <b>Super Chic</b>, but the angling was no good, Capt. Ted said. The trip ran 25 miles north/northeast, and a trip today was expected to look southeast for the fish. If the bluefishing turns out no good, a trip Saturday aboard will probably bottom-fish, including for fluke, instead. Barnegat Bay’s fluking was pretty good, though the Super Chic is too large to fish there. Head boats caught a few fluke on the ocean, though Ted wouldn’t call the angling good. Bonito last year first appeared in mid-July in the local ocean, and the boat fishes for them. The ocean was currently warm enough for bonito, but the water was cloudy, green, not good-looking. Bonito prefer clear water. A couple of inshore trips for bluefin tuna are coming up aboard. Rumors were heard about bluefins at places like the Atlantic Princess wreck, but no concrete news came in. An offshore tuna trip is slated aboard next week. Not much was heard about that fishing recently. A boat from the docks headed for the angling the other day, and mako sharks were fought at night, and tilefish were pumped in during daytime. But not much happened with tuna on the trip.   

Customers fluked right off <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b> and at High Bar Harbor, Kevin said. Lots of shorts, a couple of keepers, bit, but some of the keepers were decent-sized, like 4 and 5 pounds.  One trip reported seven keepers at High Bar, though. Few fluke seemed bagged from the local ocean, before Saturday’s storm. After the storm, few seemed to fish the ocean, in weather. Blues 2 to 5 pounds sometimes showed up in the bay or Barnegat Inlet, but not like a couple of weeks ago. The blues kept coming and going in the inlet now, and someone would say fishing for them was great, and another would say none was found. Crabs were trapped in lagoons, but nowhere else locally. Cold, ocean water from the inlet makes crabbing begin later locally than at other places. But customers who crabbed the lagoons would buy three bunker a day for bait, saying they nabbed a few good-sized. Mike heard about nobody who clammed on the bay. 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 in season. Minnows are stocked, and spots are yet to be available from the South to stock. The year’s first supply comes from there, before spots arrive locally and can be caught to stock live. The season was early to stock live grass shrimp, and the shrimp should be carried later.

<b>Surf City</b>

Throwback fluke, occasional bluefish and a few brown sharks were eased from the island’s surf, said John from Surf City Bait & Tackle. Browns must be released, by law, and most of the surf anglers fished for fluke, and blues occasionally showed up for them. No kingfish were reported nabbed from the surf yet this season. But anglers hope they’ll migrate north to local waters, and kings, good catches, were beached farther south at Brigantine. Striped bass were sort of nonexistent in the last week. Crabbing, mostly on the mainland side of Barnegat Bay, was good, better than John saw in three or four years.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

A trip today had to be cut short because of weather on the <b>June Bug</b>, Capt. Lindsay said. Just a few throwback fluke and sea bass were reeled up, and the boat will host the anglers again Friday “to make up the difference,” he said. The trip fished at Garden State Reef South and moved to Little Egg Inlet, to be closer to the inlet, when the weather began to approach. Lindsay is trying to put together an offshore trip for tuna and other big game Sunday to fish a warm-water eddy 10 miles off the mouth of Wilmington Canyon, more than 90 miles from port. Satellite charts showed 76-degree water there. No radio chatter on the trip and no reports from friends recently talked about big-game fishing, either inshore for bluefin tuna or at the offshore canyons for yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna or white or blue marlin.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Rain fell today, said Chris from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Not a lot of reports came in, typical of the week before Fourth of July. But summer flounder fishing was decent in deeper water, 15 to 30 feet, in the bay and Little Egg Inlet. A 6-1/2-pounder was weighed-in from off the Fish Factory. Bluefish were scattered, weren’t often mentioned, but popped up randomly in the bay or ocean. Sharks, big rays, and skates swam the bay. Anglers could hook bunker on a wire leader to fight the big sharks or even rays in the evening. Weather was tough for ocean fishing, but decent flounder angling was boated at Atlantic City Reef and the Gloria wreck, east of Little Egg Reef, on the ocean. Sizable sea bass were found in those areas. Good catches of sea bass and smaller flounder were cranked from Little Egg Reef. Minnows and fresh, shucked clams are stocked. A few live grass shrimp are on hand, and Scott from the store will likely net more for the weekend. He wasn’t going to try in the rain today. A bunch of Gulp artificial baits are stocked. Offshore baits for sharks and tuna are on hand. A huge order of Avet reels, from the SXJ to the EX, arrived. They’re available at the shop and will be on the store’s website soon.

<b>Absecon</b>

Rough weather and rain kept news from coming in, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. The back bay’s summer flounder fishing had seemed to keep improving. Rain fell today, but weather was calm otherwise. No feedback was heard, though. Wind took a toll these days, and even if anglers fished, fighting the wind “was another thing,” he said. A 31-inch cobia, shorter than the 37-inch legal size, was caught and released in Absecon Bay. A few striped bass hung around bridges. Smaller stripers began to be heard about that were popper-plugged along banks on high tides in evenings. Rainfish, silversides, spearing or whatever now schooled, seeming to bring in fish like the stripers along banks. The minnow population seemed to improve a little, though the baitfish weren’t abundant. Dave saw mullet, probably not even finger-sized, in ditches. No peanut bunker were seen so far this season, and adult bunker still flipped around Absecon Creek. They weren’t abundant enough to catch for bait to stock, or the menhaden weren’t in demand enough to bother. Not many snapper blues, a few, were seen yet, and the season was somewhat early for them. Larger blues 1 or 1 ½ pounds weren’t around, though quite a few usually are, this time of year. The appearance of fish like that seemed two weeks late, or Dave hoped that was the reason. Crabbing was probably the “bright spot” or was good. The blueclaws were about finished shedding after the full moon this week, so crabbing should pick up. Crabs that shed don’t feed, so trapping them becomes difficult then. The supply of soft-shell crabs for eating was about finished, because the shed was finishing. A limited number of shedder crabs are on hand for bait, and the shop raises the crabs. No live spots are available to stock for bait yet. They were unavailable from Chesapeake Bay, where the year’s first come from. Later, they can be caught from local waters to stock.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Surf casters beat brown sharks, required to be released, and kingfish, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Andy fished for the sharks on Tuesday with outdoor writer Nick Honachefsky, and they banked none. But a bunch of the sharks were fought from the shore Wednesday. One angler beached a 29-inch, keeper striped bass from the surf at the island’s south-end jetty. Summer’s an unusual time for that. A few keeper flounder were boated from the back bay. The fishing was hit or miss, or some anglers waxed a couple, and some caught zero. Joe Rogers and John Lawson bagged a 5-pounder apiece. Crabbing’s been great, and should become again, now that the moon is waning. Riptide will be the featured local business at the Brigantine Farmers Market from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, selling items like <a href=" http://abclocal.go.com/6at4/story?section=6at4&id=8422000" target="_blank">Stock’s Famous Pound Cake</a> and T-shirts. Click the link to watch a video about the cakes from Philadelphia’s Stock’s Bakery. The shop carries the cakes, and Karl Stock from the bakery is a Riptide customer and Brigantine angler.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

From <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>, customers whacked good-sized weakfish at night on soft-plastic lures, Noel said. They lit into great summer flounder fishing in past days, mostly on minnows, but also on Gulps. Fishing the baits on floating bucktails, named Fluke Candy, stocked at the store, smashed the flatfish. Customers also hit kingfish and croakers, and all these fish were hooked while the anglers fished on foot. That was from the ocean surf near the T-jetty and along the T to up Absecon Inlet to the sea wall, toward Gardner’s Basin. The T is at the ocean end of the inlet, and Gardner’s is at the bay end. Bloodworms are two dozen for $20 on Mondays and Tuesdays and $10.75 per dozen the rest of the week. Minnows are only $8 a pint or $15 a quart. Catch the special on bucktails at $1.79 for 1/8 ounce, $1.85 for ¼ ounce, $1.89 for 3/8 ounce, $2 for either ½ or 5/8 ounce, $2.20 for 1 ounce, $2.29 for 1 ½ ounce, $2.99 for 2 ounce and $3.49 for 3 ounce. The bucktails come in white, pink-and-white, yellow-and-white, chartreuse-and-white and red-and-white.  One Stop also has a shop at Gardner’s Basin.

<b>Egg Harbor Township</b>

A couple of anglers said summer flounder were bailed today at Great Egg Harbor Inlet, said Collin from <b>24-7 Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish seemed to be migrating to the ocean somewhat from the back bay, but flounder were still hooked at Rainbow Channel in the bay. Bluefish were still around in the bay and inlet. White perch fishing was good in rivers like the Great Egg Harbor. Striped bass were caught along 9th Street Bridge at night. Most anglers fished bait for them, but the bass could be grabbed on lures like pink Fin-S Fish under the lights. Sand tiger sharks and brown sharks, required to be released, were battled from the surf, even a little more than before. A 65-pound cobia was weighed-in from Atlantic City Reef. Whether mako sharks continued to bite for ocean boaters was unknown. Good fishing for yellowfin tuna was heard about from Massey’s Canyon. No bluefin tuna were mentioned from there. A buddy’s trip subdued a couple of 200-pound bigeye tuna somewhere last week. Crabbing began to improve, maybe because the full moon was passing. The store’s rental boats, docked on Patcong Creek, are available for crabbing and fishing from there to Great Egg Harbor River and the bay. Patcong is one of the best crabbing places. Baits stocked include minnows, shedder crabs, bloodworms and all the frozen, a large supply. That includes all offshore baits like flats of sardines and butterfish.  <b>The company also own 24-7 Bait & Tackle in Marmora</b>.

<b>Margate</b>

Back-bay summer flounder fishing was okay, said Capt. John from the party boat <b>Keeper</b>. The fishing didn’t bail the flatfish, but keepers were taken on every trip, except on Wednesday afternoon’s. Lots of throwbacks bit, and at least that was a little action. The bay was dirty, and wind never let up this flounder season. Wind blew, and rain fell. The bay’s temperature wasn’t bad for the fluke fishing. Just, the water clarity was no good. A few baby sea bass chomped, including three or four landed on Wednesday morning’s trip. A croaker was hooked last week, and no bluefish showed up, aboard. Baby bunker schooled all around. Lots of silversides swam. All the baitfish were small. These were fry born in the water that will grow this season, and the abundance seemed to bode well. Fishing just needed a break from the weather. Gulps caught the flounder well. Minnows and mackerel worked that are supplied aboard. Anglers brought their own Gulps, and John recommends that. The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. daily. The trips are only $28, because the fishing is near port, and the pontoon boat is economical on fuel. Rental rods are free, too.

<b>Longport</b>

The <b>Stray Cat</b> returned from a trip to Wilmington Canyon today that tackled nine sizable mahi mahi and a white marlin, Capt. Mike said soon afterward, at 6 p.m., in a phone call. The trip trolled ballyhoos and cedar plugs in the 74-degree, gin-clear, calm seas, and the boat will head right back out to the canyon Friday. Fishing aboard is sold out this weekend. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trips are available next Wednesday and Thursday, and will fish for summer flounder and sea bass at the ocean rock piles.

<b>Ocean City</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing was pretty much “sifting,” said Pat from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Many throwbacks, including many 17-1/2-inchers, just shorter than the 18-inch size limit, bit. Fishing sifted through them to land a keeper. Still, the water was dirty almost throughout the past couple of weeks, because of weather including wind. Rain was falling this morning. The water clarity hindered the angling lately, and there was a stretch of good weather this season, when the fluke were caught well. The flounder began to gather near inlets, on the migration to the ocean. Some remained at Ships Channel and Rainbow Channel. Adult bunker schooled the bay. Ocean flounder fishing was spotty, at the reefs, like it was in the bay. A few striped bass were hung along bridges and inlets, mostly at night, usually on eels. Not much happened in the surf. Brown sharks, required to be released, swam the surf and inlets. A few flounder began to be banked from the surf. No news rolled in about shark fishing and tuna fishing on the ocean. Few boats could sail for them in the weather.

Fishing sailed aboard all week, catching summer flounder, sand sharks and small sea bass, said Capt. Victor from the party boats <b>Miss Ocean City</b> and <b>Captain Robbins</b>. The angling was a little slow on keepers, but alright, he guessed. An 8-hour trip will fish for ling on the ocean Saturday. Two half-day trips will fish the back bay Sunday.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Mike Spaeder and son popper-plugged a couple of striped bass and had several other bites on poppers on the back bay Tuesday evening aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>. On Monday, two other anglers reeled in a striper, three bluefish, a keeper flounder and throwback flounder on the bay in the evening aboard. A family aboard that morning bagged a 3-pound flounder and played throwbacks. Ken McCarthy and son on Wednesday played a bunch of throwback flounder on the bay on the boat. The bay’s been a little dirty, because of weather. Inshore shark fishing is good. Trips with Jersey Cape fight and release the sharks, like browns and duskies, usually within 10 miles from the coast. Most of the sharks are required to be released, and the trips are an opportunity to fight big catches without the long trek offshore.  Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Wildwood</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 7/3:***</b> Weather was a washout Thursday, and often this week, and the back bay’s summer flounder fishing was a little slow, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. But the fishing just needs better weather, he thinks, and today was off to a calm, flat start. The flatfish were brought in, during days with calmer weather. They were seen Tuesday or Wednesday. One angler ran into weakfish in the water one day this week. Crabbing picked up a little. Canal Side rents boats for fishing, crabbing and pleasure and kayaks. <b>***<i>Get a $5 discount</i>***</b> on a rental boat if you mention Fishing Reports Now. A full supply of bait is sold, including minnows, scented and unscented squid strips, trolling squid, tube squid, spearing, herring, mullet, whole and filleted mackerel, clams in quarts, pints, a pound or 9 ounces, whole or cut bunker, and Gulps. All sorts of tackle and supplies are stocked, including bucktails, rigs, hooks, minnow boxes, buckets and traps, nets, different crab baskets and more. Spooling reels with line is available. Rods and reels are sold. Crabs, both live and cooked, are sold for eating, and picnic tables are set out to enjoy them, with umbrellas. Soda is available, or customers can bring their own libation. The crabs are currently No. 2’s for $15 per dozen live and $20 per dozen cooked. The crabs are cooked in advance in the morning. Mike won’t carry No. 1’s until the size is noticeably larger than No. 2’s this season. Otherwise, customers pay a higher price, for little difference, for No. 1’s. But 1’s will be carried later, and the season was early.

Capt. Jim from <b>Fins & Grins Sport Fishing</b> worked on another boat several days on short trips that tugged in a handful of sea bass and summer flounder and some weakfish, he said. The trips, from Cape May, fished 4 hours apiece, mostly with inexperienced anglers, off Cape May Point and Wildwood. Fins & Grins will begin targeting bluefish that are schooling the ocean shoals, trolling the fish with light tackle. That’s fun fishing, for anglers who want action, and the 4- to 6-pound blues are good eating. Spanish mackerel and bonito will move into the same shoals, 10 or 15 miles from the coast, before long. Mahi mahi and cobia began to gather at ocean buoys, like at the lobster pots. Cobia can weigh up to 100 pounds, and a 50-pounder was the biggest aboard. Live bait like eels are pitched to them at the buoys, and the cobia fight like a cross between a shark and a tuna. When they near the boat, they shoot underneath and all around, putting up a severe fight. Shark fishing was excellent on Delaware Bay for species like sand tigers and browns, required to be released, and Fins will keep after them into August, tagging them for NOAA and letting them go. See coverage of those trips aboard from past reports here in recent weeks. The fish can weigh several hundred pounds, an opportunity to fight big catches without the long run offshore. The bay trips are half the price, too. Fins is also fishing on the shark trips farther from shore, in 20 to 30 fathoms. Sharks swimming there include mako, blue, tiger and duskies. Crabbing should become phenomenal again in the back bay, after this week’s full moon, and Fins runs crabbing trips. Up to 15 passengers can jump on the boat, and all the crabbing supplies are provided. Telephone if interested in any of these trips. Trips fish every day aboard, and reservations aren’t required but suggested. Telephone for availability.

<b>Cape May</b>

Weather wasn’t great, keeping most boats from fishing, but yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna were taken anywhere from Massey’s Canyon to the Hot Dog lately, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. Trips are booked to fish for them Friday and Sunday aboard. Not much was heard about tuna from canyons farther from shore. Some seemed to be caught there, but more catches were talked about from this fishing closer in. News about summer flounder was scarce from the ocean, because of weather. Many boats attempted to head for the flatfish during the weekend, but turned back.

On the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, summer flounder were swung in last week on Wednesday, and the fishing was especially good last Thursday, Capt. Paul said. Then the bottom fell out, when weather deteriorated. No trip even fished Saturday, the first not to sail on a Saturday in some time, because of the storm that developed throughout the day. Action with the flatfish was never the same, since the blow. Trips fished the ocean, either at the artificial reefs or the Old Grounds. Hardly any flounder were found on Tuesday’s trip at the Old Grounds. “Went the wrong way,” he said. A few flounder were pitched aboard this Wednesday’s trip, including Sam Citron from Wildwood Crest’s 7-1/2-pounder. That was despite the boat barely drifting, though wind blew. Current against the wind caused that. But a few flounder are swimming the waters, and the fishing just needs weather to settle. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Scott from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b> fishes commercially, and knew that summer flounder bit at Reef 11 and Cape May Reef on the ocean, he said. The flatfish also hit in the back bay. He fished at Reef 11, and probably one in three of the flatfish was a keeper. At Cape May Reef, probably one in five was. Lots of junk fish swam areas like that. Flounder were migrating in from farther offshore, and were gathered beyond the bell buoy off Cape May Inlet. The back bay fishing picked some healthy-sized keepers. Delaware Bay held lots of sharks like sand tigers, required to be released, and that’s all that was heard about from there, almost. Sand tigers grow large, and an angler the other day said he released 13 of them to 8 feet from shore at Cape May Point, among sunbathers. Croakers and snapper blues nibbled from shore from Cape May Point to Higbee’s Beach and the concrete ship on Delaware Bay. In the ocean surf, weakfishing was spotty, at North Wildwood, and the trout were departing. But if anglers targeted them, they jigged a few. Weakfishing was similar, on jigs, along the 2-Mile Bridge or South Wildwood Bridge.

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