<b>Keyport</b>

An 8.6-pound fluke was sacked, and fishing for the summer flounder was good again, this morning on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank wrote at 10 a.m. in an email on the trip. Fluke apparently began to migrate out, he said, and the fishing was great yesterday aboard. Fluke weighed up to 6 and 7 pounds on that day’s trip, and because the angling seemed improving, he’ll probably run open-boat trips for fluke next week. Charters are also sailing, and Frank had also planned to begin bottom-fishing now. Some big bluefish were around too, and a few grabbed fluke rigs on yesterday’s trip. Bookings are being accepted for fall striped bass and blackfish trips. Weekends fill quickly, so book now. Anyone who books a striper charter will be provided a bonus tag to bag an extra bass. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!” <b>***Update, Thursday, 9/17***</b> The trip today limited out on fluke, Frank wrote in an email.

Trips for ling and cod have caught well aboard, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>. Big winter flounder were also hooked on the trips, and the trips’ angling was slow the last few days, for some reason. Fluke trips had to sail far to deep water to catch, and the angling was picky recently. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing, and join the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s website to be kept informed about special open trips. Also see the site’s open-trips page for available dates. Open trips include 12-hour marathons, both for fluke or ling, cod and flounder. Charters are beginning to book up for fall striped bass and sea bass and fall and winter blackfish. 

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fluking wasn’t great Monday in strong wind, but Tuesday was a complete turnaround, one of the season’s best days of the fishing, on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. Tuesday and Wednesday’s weather was the best in some time, and conditions were right for fluking at the channels on Tuesday morning’s trip. More keepers were bagged on the trip than in quite a while, and shorts gave up good action. Conditions weren’t as good afterward, and the afternoon’s trip fished at Flynn’s Knoll at first, managing a couple of keepers. Conditions allowed the trip to fish at the channels afterward, and a few more keepers came in. Half as many keepers were bagged in the afternoon than in the morning, and short action wasn’t as good in the afternoon. But that was because of conditions, and the day was one of the better for fluking aboard. The afternoon’s number of keepers was still better than in some time. Monday’s trip fished down the ocean beach to escape wind, and, again, fluking wasn’t great. But the trip was able to pick up a few fluke and not beat up customers in the wind and seas. All trips sailed, and that was the most important thing, Tom said. Take advantage of the pleasant weather forecast currently, and jump aboard. Bring two rods, a lighter for shallower water, and a heavier for deeper. Sometimes anglers need to fish 40- or 50-foot depths with 8 ounces of weight. The fishing depends on conditions. When conditions are right, trips fish the channels. The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

Along the channels and down the ocean beach, fluking was fair, giving up keepers somewhat better than before, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Small bluefish also schooled the channels and down the beach. Porgy fishing was good, and lots of blackfish snapped. “Can only keep one,” he said about blackfish. Lots of sea bass swam. “Can only keep none!” he said. One is the blackfish bag limit, and sea bass season is closed. Some ling and cod were boated at wrecks at the Mudhole. Striped bass were sometimes eeled at the channels and off Sandy Hook Point and Breezy Point. Stripers were sometimes eased from the surf at Sandy Hook Point. Kingfish, croakers and blues were banked from shore at Monmouth Beach and in Raritan Bay. Good tuna fishing was decked offshore, and boaters had the weather for the fishing this coming weekend. Many departed for the fish today. In back waters, crabs were still trapped, and snapper blues, growing large now, swarmed. All baits are stocked.

An 8-pound 14-ounce fluke took the lead today in the season-long fluke pool on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the vessel’s website. Tom “The Hammer” Krako walloped the flatfish, his personal best, beating an 8.7-pounder, the previous leader. Two fluke heavier than 10 pounds and few larger than 9 were drilled aboard the past couple of weeks, but the anglers weren’t in the pool. Fluking was tough on most of today’s trip, because the boat failed to drift. Slight current flowed against slight breeze, no matter where the boat fished. Many miles were covered on the trip, from inshore to offshore, at all snags and rock-bottom the boat fished the past few weeks. The boat was power-drifted, but only a few fluke were landed.  But late in the trip, a spot was found where the boat drifted, and the anglers began to pick away. Conditions are everything, Ron said, and fluke, and bait, are still there. On Tuesday’s trip, big fluke were crushed once again aboard, he wrote. Every fish was earned, not a hot bite, but some beauties were plastered. An 8.2-pounder won the pool, just missing the lead in the season pool. The same angler bagged a 7.6-pounder on the trip, and a few of the trip’s other anglers landed 6-pounders. A few tugged in 5-pounders. The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Trips are fishing for fluke, porgies, croakers or whatever bites 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays.

<b>Highlands</b>

At <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Ed and Tony on the Hammerhead docked five keeper fluke, including a 6-pounder, at Sandy Hook Channel on Wednesday, Marion wrote in an email. They fished killies, Gulps and squid, and on Sunday, Russ Chelak pulled in with two keeper fluke from Flynn’s Knoll. On the same day, Paul and Becky on the Second Home came back with a 21-inch, keeper fluke that pounced on a killie in the bay off the Ammo Pier.  Twin Lights, located on Shrewsbury River near Raritan Bay and the ocean, with no bridges before them, includes a marina with boat slips, dry storage, a fuel dock, and a combined bait and tackle shop and ship’s store. Baits stocked include the full offshore selection. The fuel dock is available 24 hours a day with a credit card. 

<b>Neptune</b>

For <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, fluke fishing was great on the ocean the last couple of days, when the boat drifted well for the angling, Capt. Ralph said. The fishing was some of the best of the year. When conditions failed to drift the boat well, the fluking was slow. The fishing, Ralph hoped, looked like the final 1 ½ weeks of fluke season would be good. The season will be closed starting September 27, and the year’s final individual-reservation trip for fluke will fish Friday, September 25. Individual-reservation trips will fish for cod October 1 and 20 and will fish inshore wrecks October 4. An individual-reservation trip for sea bass was just added for October 27. An individual-reservation trip for sea bass trip is full on October 22, opening day of sea bass season, and that booked quickly. Charters are available daily.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> was back out for fluke Wednesday on the ocean, Capt. Pete said. Weather was rough through early in the week, and the trip, in beautiful weather, picked away at some good-sized fluke, with shorts in between. Action wasn’t great, but steady, and the fish weighed up to 8 pounds. A big thresher shark grabbed a bucktail, was fought 45 minutes and got off at the boat, when the crew was ready to gaff the fish. Giant, out-of-season sea bass bit on the trip and were thrown back. Bunker schooled, and all the activity was good to see, he said. 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.

On the ocean, fluke fishing was good all week on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. The fishing was a little slow Wednesday, because the boat failed to drift. Pool-winning fluke averaged 7 to 9 pounds during the week, and the Big Mohawk is fluke fishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Fishing was super for blues, small and monsters, today on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the party boat’s website said. One- to 2-pounders were caught at first, and blues to 18 pounds and larger were tackled later. Wednesday’s trip had some shots at 20- to 23-pound blues. Some were caught, but fishing was better on the previous day, Tuesday, aboard. Then, small blues were bonked in early morning, and blues 18 to 22 pounds were bashed aboard later. The big blues crashed the water surface – white water was everywhere – and were difficult to hook, but some were managed. On Monday’s trip, big blues never showed up, but small blues and a few weakfish were picked. The Golden Eagle is fishing at 7:30 a.m. daily. Fishing and sunset cruises are sailing at 4:30 p.m. daily, and reservations are required for those outings. See the <a href=" http://goldeneaglefishing.com/tuna-reservation.html" target="_blank">tuna schedule and reservation form</a> on the boat’s website.

Big bluefish to 20 pounds were jacked aboard at lumps to the north in the ocean during part of Wednesday’s trip on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an email from the party boat said. Excellent readings were marked, “(but) they just did not cooperate well,” it said. Still, plenty of bunker schooled, and the outlook seemed improved for fishing for big blues, because bunker began to school, and big blues were also punched aboard on other trips at moments recently. Also on today’s outing, at first, small blues were also caught, on the ocean south of Shark River Inlet. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. 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.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 9/18:***</b> From an edited email from Capt. Ryan from the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>: “Mixed week of fluke fishing, and all depended on conditions. Nice drift: good fishing. Too fast: slow fishing. Bucktailers with 6-inch swim mullets, in any color, surely did best. Sung Hwang’s 7-pound 12-ounce fluke was top fish this week, so far. Lots of throwbacks on some days, as fish seemed to pile out of  rivers. But some hefty 4-, 5- and 6-pounders among the shorts. Frank Pogue leads the monthly with a 9.6-pound fluke. Iffy-looking weather for a day or two after this weekend, so get out while it’s nice. Half-day fluke 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily except this coming Monday. Fluke Marathon that day from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. September 26 is the last day of fluke season. Deep-water wrecks 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. September 27 and October 2, 4, 9, 11, 16 and 18 for cod, ling and winter flounder. Tuna/false albacore/bonito 4 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. September 28 and October 5, 12, 19, reservations required, and call to reserve. Cod at 2 a.m. October 10 and 17.”

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Porgies began to be swung aboard the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. They began to show up, so trips started to target them. If the fishing became slower on a trip, the trip pushed deeper and fished for ling. Ling fishing began to slow, but fishing aboard was decent. On Wednesday’s trip, anglers bagged five to 15 porgies apiece. When the tide changed, porgy fishing slowed, so the trip sailed deeper for ling, and most anglers bagged five to 10 ling apiece. Plus, big winter flounder were decked on trips. So were a few keeper cod, and quite a few throwback cod. Plenty of out-of-season sea bass schooled, and trips tried to fish for porgies where few sea bass held. The boat will target the sea bass, once sea bass season is opened starting October 22. The sea bass population seemed to bode well for that. Trips currently fished for porgies in 30 to 50 feet, and for ling in 150 to 200 feet. The ocean was 74 degrees, and an ugly, green color, like all season. That seemed because the bottom was cold, and the surface was warm, and plankton filled the warm water. Small baitfish were seen near the beach. Bunker were seen Wednesday for the first time in a month. The menhaden schooled the deeper water, where the trip ling fished.  The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nighttime trips for blues are finished for the season that sailed previously.

<b>Toms River</b>

Plenty of bait schooled the surf, and cocktail blues 2 to 3 pounds chased the bait, said Mario from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Sometimes throwback striped bass swam among the bait, and the bait included mullet that migrated to the ocean from back waters. Mullet got chased onto the beach yesterday. “It’s starting to turn on – looking good,” he said. “Lot of good stuff happening.” Sometimes weakfish held among the bait. Rumors said false albacore crashed into the surf at times, but that was unconfirmed. Surf anglers fished fresh bunker or fresh mullet, and both are stocked. Or surf anglers cast popper lures, swimming plugs or metal. Barnegat Bay’s fluke fishing was sporadic. Two anglers might score well, and others might say they hooked only throwbacks. Depends on who you talk to, he said. Blowfish and kingfish could be hooked at the research buoy between the BI and BB markers in the bay. Anchoring and chumming was key. Nothing was heard about fluking on the ocean. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Bluefish tore through the surf today at Island Beach State Park and Seaside Park, and mullet schooled all over, said George from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. The mullet migration was under way, and fish were on them. “It started,” he said, and he pasted blues 3 to 4 pounds from the surf that chased weakfish onto the beach at Seaside Park Wednesday. George found a baby barracuda among the weaks on the shore. False albacore ran through the surf on a couple of days, and he caught albies from the surf recently. Anglers saw huge explosions 200 to 300 yards from shore at times that they guessed were tuna.  George saw a 30-inch, keeper striped bass banked from the surf on a teaser Tuesday morning. That was the only striper he saw on his surf trips, but throwback stripers kept being reported from shore along Barnegat Inlet’s north jetty in mornings and at dusk. Along the dock on Barnegat Bay, blowfish, small black drum and snapper blues swam. A buddy’s been limiting out on fluke on Shark River every weekend on rental boats from Fishermen’s Den. The river was paved with the fish 30 feet off the store, and the buddy and his dad totaled at least 70 throwbacks per trip. The dad didn’t limit, but the son did. Fluking wasn’t so good this season on Barnegat Bay from Point Pleasant Canal to the BB marker. Crabbing wasn’t so good locally, currently. Fresh mullet are stocked. So are fresh clams, and fresh bunker will be carried for the weekend. Live eels are on hand.  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>

Boaters on the ocean plumbed fluke from 70- or 80-foot depths, kind of deep, said Grizz from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Good fluking was still had in Barnegat Bay, near Barnegat Inlet on high tides. Blowfish were copped from the bay just south of the 40 can and at Meyer’s Hole. Sometimes kingfish bit among the blowfish, and some anglers said a couple of spots, not many, bit among the fish. Tuna fishing was good at Hudson Canyon for bigeyes and small yellowfins. Baits stocked include fresh spearing on weekends and the full selection of other baits, including killies, daily.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Fluke fishing was good, said Vince Sr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. Fluke gathered in Barnegat Bay not quite to Barnegat Inlet, Kevin from the shop said. Blues swam the bay now, and blackfish bit along the inlet’s rocks, Vince said. Baits stocked include green crabs for blackfish, and customers can order live grass shrimp ahead of time. The shrimp are often fished for weakfish, and weakfish were caught from the bay. Live spots will be carried soon. Crabbing became much better than before, and crabbing kicks in later in the season locally than at some places, because of colder, ocean water from the inlet. Vince wasn’t asked about clamming, but clamming is always good in the bay, the shop’s reports have said in the past. 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.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

The <b>June Bug</b> will fish for tuna overnight Friday to Saturday, Capt. Lindsay said. Weather looks good for the trip, after rough weather the last two weekends. Reports said bigeye tuna were chunked and trolled at the 100 Square at Hudson Canyon from 5 to 10 a.m. and that an odd yellowfin tuna bit during daytime there. A few longfin tuna, not many, swam the water, and reports also said anglers could sink the boat with mahi mahi in the area. Longliners said a mass of longfins seemed headed that way. The only news from canyons farther south was about bigeyes caught, all from Wilmington Canyon. But the Wilmington seemed full of weeds now. A friend said a scallop boat got covered up with bluefin tuna at the Elephant Trunk two days last week. No further news was heard about that.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Ocean boaters slapped croakers aboard from off the Red Tower in 60 feet on the ocean, said Brian from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Summer flounder anglers reported good catches, including limits, this weekend from Garden State Reef South and North and Little Egg Reef. One trip fished for cod and pollock, and on the way in, stopped for blackfish, reeling them up. Nothing was heard about blackfish hooked along the bay’s sod banks, though this was the time of year the blackfish bite there. No blowfish were heard about, except two weeks ago, when they were angled off Green Street. Mullica River’s white perch fishing was good. Just got to find the big ones, he said. Crabbing was phenomenal, yet to slow down. The blueclaws were good-sized to 6 inches. Stop at the shop to see the owner from S&S Bucktails on Saturday, October 3, including to see new products, and for discounts.

<b>Absecon</b>

The back bay harbored lots of small fish including croakers, kingfish, snapper blues and small black drum, said Curt from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. White perch held in the bay and Mullica River at certain places. If anglers like to fish for panfish like these, the fish were in. The panfish will probably huddle up, he said, even more, when weather becomes even cooler. Weather was still warm, but recently cooler than before. Blackfish and triggerfish have been heard about from along bridges and rocks. The blackfish were also mentioned from along sod banks. Sheepshead would normally be around, and a 6-pounder was weighed-in, but none was since. One customer who fishes along Brigantine Bridge would’ve mentioned if he ran into sheepshead. But he didn’t, and few of the fish must’ve shown up this summer. Striped bass were mentioned that were plugged in the back in early mornings, evenings and nighttime. Natural colors were fished in daylight, and dark colors were fished at night. Curt likes to fish Gulp jerk shads or 6-inch Gulp grubs for them when the day turns just light enough to see. Stripers feed more on scent then, he thinks. The stripers currently were younger, resident fish, yet to migrate. The migration of large, mature stripers is impending to the local area this fall, and the shop’s annual <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/events/116175675401683/" target="_blank"><b><i>Striper Season Kick-Off Sale</i></b></a> is under way through Sunday, beginning last Friday. Almost all gear is 25 percent off, and many more specials and closeouts are offered. Deals include ones on tackle like castnets, bunker-spoon trolling rods and more. Facebook specials are available to those who Like the store’s Facebook page. Stock up, and get ready to catch, the page said.  Capt. Dave, the shop’s owner, was running a charter today to the ocean reefs. The reef fishing’s been on and off, and if anglers had good GPS numbers to fish, they could score well. Some places are hit every day. The angling gave up a mixed bag including croakers, summer flounder, an occasional blackfish, a few porgies, and out-of-season sea bass. The sea bass were released, and lots more boaters would fish, if seasons like for sea bass were open, or the weakfish and blackfish bag limits were more than one. Offshore catches moved somewhat farther from the coast than before, but were good, 50 miles or farther off. The angling, like for mahi mahi, had been relatively close to shore previously. Cobia might be able to found closer to shore, and this was still the time of year for that. Baits stocked include live mullet, and fresh and frozen mullet, for that matter. Live peanut bunker and eels are on hand, and so are all standard baits like bloodworms.  Shedder crabs for bait and soft-shell crabs for eating are in supply. The crabs will be available a limited time longer, because crabs will stop shedding soon through winter. The store raises the crabs. The shop carries a large selection of live baits. Fresh bunker should be carried as soon as the bait becomes in demand for striper fishing. Crabbing began to taper off a bit, but was good, and should last another month, at least. Bait including mullet schooled absolutely everywhere in the bay. Peanut bunker were a little less abundant than mullet in the water. Lots of bait crammed the bay.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Double-headers of kingfish, small, were snatched from the surf today, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Tom Reddy beached a snapper blue, used it for bait, and banked an 18-inch weakfish from the surf. Brown sharks, required to be released, were fought from the surf here and there. Fresh mullet is stocked daily, and the baitfish began to migrate the surf. Anglers needed to find them, but mullet were there. Riptide’s Summer Fishing Tournament is taking place until September 26, awarding cash for the biggest kingfish, blues and summer flounder. Anglers can enter one or up to all of the three categories. The annual Fall Riptide Striper Derby kicked off last week, and includes a new category for bluefish, awarding cash for the three heaviest. The contest is for stripers and blues caught from Brigantine’s surf. Entry includes a permit that allows beach buggies to drive the entire Brigantine front beach, when accompanied by a Brigantine beach-buggy permit. Without the tournament’s permit, not all the beach can be driven. The Elks Fall Striper Tournament is set for November 14 and 15 for boaters and surf anglers. First, second and third prizes will be awarded for the two heaviest fish, and Brigantine beach-buggy permits will be available at the event. Anglers can telephone the shop for info about the contest.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Customers mugged kingfish, croakers and blues, mostly, and blackfish, pretty good fishing, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. They caught kingfish most of all, bailing them. The blackfish were better-sized than before, good-sized. The anglers occasionally tapped into a striped bass in mornings and evenings on plugs. For the other fish, they dunked bloodworms and shrimp. But for the blackfish, they soaked green crabs. All these catches came from along the T-jetty and off Vermont and Massachusetts Avenues. The anglers fished for them on foot, and lots of bait jammed the water. The bait included mullet and spearing. Lots of action, he said. All the baits mentioned and more, a large supply, are stocked. Bloodworms are two dozen for $20 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 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>

The back bay’s fishing was pretty dead, except triggerfish were angled from the water, said Collin from <b>24-7 Bait & Tackle</b>. Triggers usually hover along structure like bridges or rocks. Nothing was really heard about summer flounder from the ocean, and the bay’s flounder fishing tapered off some time ago. Brown sharks, good catches, required to be released, were fought near the bell buoy off Great Egg Harbor Inlet. Kingfish bit in Brigantine’s surf. Customers who fished offshore often said bigeye tuna were boated. None mentioned yellowfin tuna caught, and the anglers all sailed to Hudson Canyon. Swordfishing was good at night at the canyon. Bigeyes were previously reported from Wilmington Canyon. But the Wilmington was full of grass now. <b>The company also own 24-7 Bait & Tackle in Marmora</b>.

<b>Margate</b>

A few summer flounder were rustled from the back bay on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. The angling wasn’t good, and snapper blues and baby sea bass were slung in. The bay was dirty, but lots of baitfish schooled the water. John never saw so many silversides before, and the bait also included mullet and peanut bunker. Flounder season wasn’t easy this year, and that’s unusual. The boat is fishing on weekends now, until flounder season is closed, after fishing daily previously, the usual schedule. The trips will sail for flounder on the bay 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. this Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 12 noon this Sunday and the following Saturday, September 26. Flounder season will be closed starting the next day, Sunday, September 27. Then the boat will be finished fishing for the year. Trips will kick back off when flounder season is opened next spring, and the boat specializes in fishing for flounder on the bay each year. 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>

On the <b>Stray Cat</b>, summer flounder fishing was great on the ocean the past three days, Capt. Mike said. Sixteen-, 17- and a few 19-inchers were pumped in, and 3-1/2- to 4-pounders won the pools. Not so many of the fish were keepers, but all anglers left with dinner. Croakers, weakfish, bluefish, whales, porpoises, sea turtles and miles of bunker swam. The ocean teemed with life. “Gangbusters!” he said. Only 10 days are left of flounder season, closing starting September 27. Charters are fishing, and open-boat trips will sail for flounder Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. “Coulda, shoulda, woulda,” he said!

<b>Ocean City</b>

The party boat <b>Miss Ocean City</b> began fishing the ocean on 6-hour trips daily, scooping up croakers, bluefish and still a few keeper summer flounder, Capt. Victor said. The trips are sailing 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. However, the boat is chartered this Friday, Saturday and Monday, so none of the open-boat trips will sail then. The <b>Captain Robbins</b>, the company’s other party boat, will fish for sea bass starting October 22, opening day of sea bass season.

Summer flounder fishing at ocean reefs was day to day, or good one day, not the next, like before, but some bigger flounder, including a 26-incher from Great Egg Reef, were cranked in, said Justin from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. That made him want to feel optimistic about the angling. A few keeper flounder 19 or 20 inches were heard about from Corson’s and Great Egg Harbor inlets. Flounder fishing had mostly slowed from back waters like that, but some of those keepers were suddenly heard about. Lots of fish, not a lot of big, filled the back bay. Loads of sea bass and micro bluefish swam the water. Southern kingfish, averaging 2 pounds, were talked about from along 9th Street Bridge. That’s different from northern kingfish commonly caught in New Jersey, like from the surf. Northern kings have been small in the surf this season. But bigger were recently reported, mostly from toward mid-island. Small ones still swam there, but a few were bigger recently. Small pompano were hooked among kings in the surf. A few striped bass caught were mentioned from along 9th Street Bridge and Corson’s Inlet, and from rivers. But they had no size, and even hardcore striper anglers said the fish were small. Back in the surf, a few croakers nibbled. A few small weakfish seemed to hold in 3 feet in the surf. More croakers and spike weaks schooled in 30 to 40 feet in the ocean. Offshore boaters sailed for tuna today, in weather forecasts that finally looked good. That was all that was heard about offshore.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Rob Ferber plowed half a gazillion blues, amberjacks and rudderfish Tuesday aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Joe and son whacked another half a gazillion Wednesday, and both trips fished on the ocean with soft-plastic lures on jigheads. The fish could’ve been fly-rodded, too, Joe noted, and the angling’s been great. Summer flounder fishing was also good on the ocean currently. Annual traveling charters to Montauk, New York, will be launched aboard this weekend, fishing the migration of striped bass, blues and false albacore. If you ever wanted to fish the legendary run from the port, Joe’s going. Annual traveling charters will fish the Florida Keys from Christmas to Easter.  Visit <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>.

The mullet run kicked off in the ocean, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. That was the exciting news, he said, and a couple of striped bass were weighed-in from the surf. Anglers fished live or chunked, fresh mullet for the bass and some blues in the surf. The blues were smaller or 1 or 2 pounds, but the mullet migration seemed to amp up fishing. Even a few summer flounder began to be beached from the inlet. In the back bay, the baitfish also seemed to light up striper fishing at night under lights. The stripers were mostly throwbacks, but the number caught jumped way up. Anglers fished live or chunked, fresh mullet for them, or cast soft-plastic lures like Zooms and Bass Assassins. Fresh mullet is stocked when available, and a load was on hand today. Crabbing was off the charts this season. Some crabbers, like, say, two who spent the day, nailed a bushel in a trip.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Fishing was good for a mixed bag of croakers, blues, kingfish and weakfish inshore, said Capt. Jim from <b>Fins & Grins Sport Fishing</b>. The croaker fishing, with kings mixed in, was great aboard Monday and Tuesday. Baitfish all began to show up, and the outlook seemed good for fishing. Looked like a normal fall was shaping up. All the ocean reefs held lots of throwback summer flounder and a few keepers. Fins fishes for any species available, and 4-, 6- and 8-hour trips are on tap. Trips run daily, and reservations aren’t required but suggested. Telephone for availability.

A buddy was headed to Reef 11 today to fish for summer flounder, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. That’s in the ocean off Delaware, and the buddy fished there previously this week, scoring okay in some wind. No wind blew today, when Mike gave this report this morning in a phone call. Customers still landed flounder from the back bay, and the fish migrate to the ocean during some years by now. The bay’s temperature dropped somewhat. Not a lot of customers fished this time of year, so the bay’s flounder fishing could be difficult to gauge. But some fished a couple of days early this week. All caught the fluke, and not a lot were keepers, but one or two in 20 seemed keepers. Lots of baby, out-of-season sea bass bit in the bay. Small striped bass, many of them 20-inch throwbacks, but a couple of keepers, like 32- and 38-inchers, gave up action in the canal. The fishing goes through periods when it’s strong, and seemed to quiet down in past days. But surely the angling will pick back up, and a couple of hours before sunlight seemed best to catch them. Crabbing was pretty decent, when crabbers got a good weather day. Many crabs were females currently. A crabber yesterday trapped a couple of dozen keepers. 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. The full supply of bait, tackle and supplies is stocked. Minnows will be carried to the end of the month. Spearing sold well for bait all season, and was good for drifting on a boat, not casting. Gulps were always a good seller. New Penny Shrimp Gulps were popular, and a ton of Gulp mantis shrimp, white with a light-green or chartreuse tail, were sold this week. Crabs, both live and cooked, are sold for eating, and picnic tables are set out to enjoy them, with umbrellas. The crabs were currently No. 1’s for $30 per dozen live and $35 per dozen cooked, and No. 2’s for $20 per dozen live and $25 per dozen cooked. Mike was expecting crabs to be delivered from both Delaware Bay and Maryland. He hadn’t tried the Maryland crabs recently. He wasn’t asked whether shrimp and oysters remained for sale for eating, but the shop carried them previously. Last week’s report said the steamed shrimp were $12.95 for a pound, and the shrimp were good-sized, about 35 shrimp in a pound. The report also said the oysters were medium-sized and were $10 a dozen, and were from Port Norris, because they were a good price there. Again, Mike wasn’t asked whether shrimp and oysters were on sale now, but they were previously.

<b>Cape May</b>

Strong wind kept Monday’s trip for summer flounder docked on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, Capt. Paul said. Tuesday’s trip sailed to the Old Grounds in the ocean, and the boat only drifted .3 to .4 knots, almost not drifting. That’s never good for flounder fishing, and throwbacks didn’t even give up good action. But a handful of good-sized flounder were cracked. Bob Brett from Schwenksville, Pa., won the pool with a 7.1-pounder. Conditions failed to drift the boat on Wednesday’s trip, too, and no great numbers of flounder were hooked, but more keepers were belted than on Tuesday. Alex Levantovsky from Philadelphia bagged three keepers to a 7-pounder. Another angler reeled in a flounder heavier than 6 pounds, and John Hauser from West Cape May bagged four keepers. The bottom line, Paul said, was that not a lot of keepers bit on trips, but some did get bagged on each trip. No anglers limited out, and some days fished better than others, he continued. But flounder season will end soon, he said, and if anglers want a chance at the fish, the boat is sailing for them. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.  

Anglers on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> might fish for summer flounder on the ocean this weekend, Capt. George said. He spoke with nobody who fished the past two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, and Monday was too windy to fish. Sunday became windy in the afternoon, and on Saturday, bluefish were trolled off Cape May Point on the Heavy Hitter, written about in the last report here. Heavy Hitter will sail for tuna this fall, if the angling takes off like it does sometimes that season. Fall striped bass charters should be booked, because anglers are telephoning for the fishing. Charters will sail for sea bass, once sea bass season is opened starting October 22, and for blackfish, once six becomes the blackfish bag limit starting November 16, from the current limit of one.

Ocean reefs shoveled up summer flounder, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Weather was beautiful for the fishing in past days and was supposed to be in the next days. Mullet began to migrate the surf, and a few striped bass were dragged from the water. Surf sharpies who usually reported landing a striper one night, two on another, and none on another, were now quiet. That seemed to mean they were into catches. Joe did hear about one angler and son who reeled in 30 in a trip. Bluefish three-quarters of a pound to 1 ½ pounds tumbled the ocean surf in town. Some kind of jacks 12 to 16 inches bit in the surf. Sometimes red drum, the southern species, were yanked from the surf. Nothing was heard about croakers, and little was mentioned about weakfish. Nobody talked about blackfish, and few anglers if any targeted the tautog, Joe thought. The last thing heard about Delaware Bay was that flounder were boated toward the number 1 buoy. Crabbing was fantastic. 

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