<b>Keyport</b>

Fluke, a good mix of keepers and throwbacks, were clutched Thursday on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank wrote in an email. Fluking aboard was cancelled Saturday, because of strong northeast wind, and struggled Sunday, because of a swell on the ocean, leftover from the wind. Only a handful of keepers and throwbacks came in. The fishing should bounce back this week, he thinks. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trip for fluke with spaces available is on Saturday. Four spots are open, and fluke season will be closed starting September 27, so sail for them while possible. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

After a 10.8-pound fluke was busted last week with the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>, an 8-pounder was whipped Sunday aboard, Capt. Mario said. The 10.8-pounder was covered in the last report here. But fluking was picky, and a roll on the ocean, because of wind previously, affected the angling Sunday. He hopes the fishing improves. Fishing for ling, cod and big winter flounder was good on every trip aboard. Charters 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.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

On the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Friday’s fluke trip returned early, because of nasty weather, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the vessel’s website. Saturday and Sunday were nasty on the ocean, too. On Monday – “well, I’ll let you fill in the blanks,” he said. So fluking was no good throughout the holiday weekend’s wind, and seas that the wind kicked up. Monday’s trip did pick up a few keepers and shorts, and a 5-pound fluke won the pool. He reported some good fluking previously, covered here in previous reports. 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.

A few fluke were tugged aboard the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, but the fishing was tough, Capt. Tom said. At first, trips fished the ocean. Then wind picked up, and the outings fished Flynn’s Knoll and Swash and Chapel Hill channels. When wind kicks up, the boat’s fortunate to be able to fish sheltered Raritan Bay, he said. At first on trips in past days, weather was windy. Later in the weekend, wind began to back off, but somewhat of a swell remained on the ocean. A few fluke were landed, including some keepers. Sometimes throwbacks bit, and sometimes even they didn’t hit much. The crew tried to give anglers a good time. Anglers seemed to accept the fishing better than Tom. He wants to catch, of course. No especially big keepers were hooked. 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>

Fishing tried for bluefish on the ocean Sunday, but none showed up, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>. So the trip reeled up ling and a few cod and porgies to save the day. Party boats are catching small blues, but not larger. A buddy said 5- to 8-pound blues swam Long Island Sound all summer, like happened two years ago. Ralph hopes the larger blues appear locally. Anglers could use them, while seasons for other fish are closed, like sea bass season that won’t open until October 22, and fluke season that will be closed starting September 27. An individual-reservation trip for fluke was supposed to fish today. More of the trips will sail next Tuesday, September 15, and Friday, September 25. Individual-reservation trips will fish for cod offshore October 1 and 20. An individual-reservation trip will fish inshore wrecks October 4. Charters are available daily.

<b>Belmar</b>

The shop’s season’s largest fluke from Shark River was checked-in during the weekend, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. Chris Mihail from Newton whacked the 9-pound 8-ouncer on a livelined snapper. The day was his birthday, and snapper bluefishing took off on the river. Lots of snappers, mixed sizes, were clobbered from piers and docks. On the ocean, fluking rebounded slowly, after Saturday’s wind. Some good-sized fluke were decked on party boats on the ocean, but not big numbers. In the surf, small striped bass and small fluke chased bait at Spring Lake. Anglers had fun catching and releasing them on rubber shads and small plugs. After Labor Day, the crowds are gone. “Get out and enjoy the peace and quiet,” Bob said. 

None of the fluke trips fished since Wednesday with <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, because of the blow Friday and Saturday, Capt. Pete said. No trips were slated for Sunday and Monday, and fluking didn’t sound good Sunday in a swell on the ocean. But Pete hopes the fishing picks up. 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.

Tons of mackerel and a few blues and false albacore were fought today on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, “out east,” an email from the part boat said. The mackerel fishing was excellent, and on Monday’s trip, a few small blues were caught at the Mudhole, slow fishing. On Sunday’s trip, blues 4 to 10 pounds were picked on each drift of the boat, north of Shark River Inlet. Fishing was weathered out Saturday aboard. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Nighttime trips for blues on Saturdays will no longer sail, until the fish show up. 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.

Bonito, false albacore, blues, mackerel and a bluefin tuna shoveled up super fishing today on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the party boat’s website said. Blues, mackerel and albies turned out a slow pick on Monday’s trip. Sunday’s trip picked at bigger blues 4 to 8 pounds, and wind kept Saturday’s trip from fishing. See the <a href=" http://goldeneaglefishing.com/tuna-reservation.html" target="_blank">tuna schedule and reservation form</a> on the boat’s website.

<b>Brielle</b>

Bigeye tuna 150 pounds to the upper 200s were trolled at the 100 Square at Hudson Canyon on Bomber CD30 lures, but were also chunked and jigged, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Sometimes white marlin were trolled, and the fishing at night picked away at swordfish. Yellowfin tuna fishing was good from a few miles inshore of the Bacardi wreck to the tip of the Hudson. The 15-pounders to 40- or 50-pounders, lots, were trolled on small lures like jets and feathers or spreader bars with small squids. The yellowfins were also jigged on 60- to 150-grain jigs and hooked on popper plugs, slider lures and also chunks. Closer to shore, ling trips boated 30 to 50 fish per angler, good catches. The fish were medium-sized, not big, not tiny. Bluefish boats began to fight false albacore at the Mudhole. The blues caught were small or 2 pounds. A few boaters trolled for the albies. Fluke fishing was up and down on the ocean. The angling was phenomenal one day last week, and slow the next. Fluke catches were heard about from the Rattlesnake to the Red Church and from Axel Carlson Reef to the Klondike wreck. Six-inch Gulp grubs were the “ticket.” Manasquan River’s fishing was pretty good. The river’s fluking this past week wasn’t quite as good as the previous week, but anglers picked away at them, including some keepers. Small striped bass bit in the river at the Railroad Bridge and Route 70 Bridge on small plugs or small soft-plastic lures like Fin-S Fish or rubber shads. The bass also hit in Point Pleasant Canal. Tons of bait filled the river including spearing, rainfish, peanut bunker, adult bunker and mullet. Bait like mullet and peanuts were yet to migrate to the ocean, really.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Chunking and jigging for yellowfin, longfin and bigeye tuna is breaking open, both during daytime and nighttime, Capt. Alan from <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> wrote in an email. The season’s fishing seemed to be kicking in. On an overnight trip aboard Wednesday to Thursday, competing in the Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club Offshore Open, many anglers were seen fighting fish at all times, among a fleet of more than 80 boats. Mushin’s trip caught tuna, white marlin, blue marlin and mahi mahi. None of the trip’s fish won, but the tournament was great, Alan said. The schedule of open-boat tuna trips to the canyons in October will be posted on Mushin’s website soon. An inshore trip looked for bonito, but water was green, out to 18 to 20 miles, so no bonito showed up. Neither did false albacore.

The northeast blow Friday and Saturday made fluke fishing slow, Capt. Matt from the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b> wrote in a report on the vessel’s website. Wind was calmer Sunday, but the fishing was still affected. Throwbacks gave up great action, and some keepers were mixed in, on the boat that day. Pool-winning fluke were 5 pounds, not huge, on both of the trips that day. Bucktails, Gulps and whole squid caught best. On Monday morning’s trip, conditions failed to drift the boat much, and on the afternoon’s trip, the boat drifted too fast. So the day’s fishing wasn’t as good as Sunday’s. Trips have been fishing “around rough bottom, so be sure to bring extra tackle, just in case,” he said. Plenty of fluke are around, and the fluke trips will sail through the final day of fluke season, September 26. On nighttime trips, bluefishing was tough Saturday, but got into the fish, 4-pounders, and plenty of mackerel Sunday and Monday.  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.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

The surf finally belongs to anglers, not beachgoers, John from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b> wrote in a report on the shop’s website. That was because Labor Day passed. Small blues sometimes tumbled the surf at southern Island Beach State Park. They also swam Barnegat Bay, on the back side of the park. Fluke fishing was spotty in the surf, but should improve later this month. Small striped bass, fluke and blues were played from Barnegat Inlet’s jetty in the park. John fished the park on Labor Day, and was surprised to hook a good-sized red drum. The surf began to show signs of the fall migration. Early runs of a few rainfish and mullet were seen. Maybe false albacore approached the surf. Something slashed through schools of bait, just beyond casting reach. When bait like the mullet really pour into the surf, striped bass fishing can turn on there. The <a href=" http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bonusbas.htm" target="_blank">striper bonus program</a> began September 1, allowing an extra striper 24 inches to less than 28 to be bagged. The angler who weighs-in the heaviest fish from the surf each month wins a $50 gift certificate to the store. Along the dock, snapper blues, small blowfish, small black drum and a few sizable kingfish swam. Crabbing put up lots of throwbacks and some good-sized keepers from the dock and rental boats. 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 stocked currently include eels, sandworms, fresh bunker and fresh clams.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Rough seas and a swell on the ocean made fluke fishing tough Saturday on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s website said. The fishing rebounded a bit on Sunday’s trip, giving up a few keepers and lots of action with throwbacks. The Miss Barnegat Light is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. <b><i>***Tuna trips***</i></b> will fish the canyons overnight from 3 p.m. to 1 p.m. October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 23, 30 and 31. A two-day tuna trip will sail 3 p.m. October 17 to 1 p.m. October 19. Telephone to book the tuna trips.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

A full crew of anglers were set to sail offshore for tuna overnight Saturday to Sunday on the <b>June Bug</b>, but the fishing was weathered out, Capt. Lindsay said. The anglers couldn’t reschedule for Sunday to Monday, when the fishing was possible. Several trips are lined up for the fishing in the near future with anglers who can be somewhat flexible, in case of weather. That can help, and Lindsay knew about three boats that sailed for the angling Sunday afternoon, and was waiting for results.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Ocean fishing for summer flounder had improved at Garden State Reef South and Little Egg Reef, compared with previous weeks, a report said Friday on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s website. That was the most recent report at press time, and was before the weekend’s wind and seas. Mullica River’s white perch fishing “has not slowed down at all,” the report said. Fish deep drops, and bloodworms and Fishbites artificial worms were stocked for the angling. Fish the bloods first, and if catches become good, use the Fishbites. Catch Penn Day at the shop 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. A Penn rep will showcase new Penn rods, reels, gear and shirts. The shop will feature sales, prizes and more.

<b>Brigantine</b>

The 10th annual Riptide Fall Striper Derby will kick off Wednesday, Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b> wrote in a report on the shop’s website. A new category for bluefish, awarding cash for the three heaviest, will be added this year. The contest is for stripers and blues beached 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. Action was reported from the town’s surf. One angler released several brown sharks, required to be let go, tied into double-headers of snapper blues and also banked spots and kingfish from the water. Another angler said the surf’s kingfish were becoming bigger than before. The angler landed 10- to 12-inchers. Fresh mullet is stocked, and should be daily.

<b>Longport</b>

The ocean had cooled 2 degrees and was 74 to 75 degrees on Sunday morning, after Saturday’s windy weather, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b>. That was off a way from shore, and he poked the boat out that morning a little, to check on seas, after fishing for summer flounder was weathered out, because of the wind. Seas that morning remained lumpy, because of the wind. One trip during the wind fished the back bay with kids, catching and releasing baby sea bass. The ocean was supposed to become calmer Monday, he said when he gave this report Sunday evening in a phone call. An open-boat trip will fish for flounder 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. Charters are available, and flounder are biting, Mike said.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Two trips daily were supposed to continue fishing the back bay for summer flounder through yesterday aboard, said Capt. Victor from the party boats <b>Captain Robbins</b> and <b>Miss Ocean City</b> on Sunday in a phone call.  Starting Wednesday, one trip daily will fish the ocean for flounder from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., until flounder season is closed starting September 27. On the bay, small flounder, not a lot of keepers, small, out-of-season sea bass, and sand sharks gave up good action. Kids had a good time.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

A trip was attempted Friday but was called off, because of weather, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. He sat out fishing Saturday and Sunday, because of the conditions, too. Joe will continue fishing for summer flounder. Inshore shark trips, usually within 10 miles from shore, have also been sailing aboard. That usually slows by Labor Day, but has still been good. The fall migration of striped bass and blues is some of the next fishing that New Jersey anglers anticipate. But Joe meets the migration early: Annual traveling charters to Montauk, New York, will fish the migration of those two catches, and also false albacore, starting September 18. The angling can be epic from the legendary fishing port. Annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys will fish 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>.

<b>Avalon</b>

Capt. Jim from <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b> was elk hunting, he said. But summer flounder fishing will remain available aboard until flounder season is closed starting September 27. Striped bass trips are being booked for fall. His season’s first guests are booked to fish for salmon in early October on upstate New York’s Salmon River from Jim’s nearby lodge. Salmon can begin to migrate to the river, from Lake Ontario, by Labor Day, and the fishing usually begins peaking by early October. Fins and Feathers offers a variety of outdoor adventures, including saltwater fishing from Avalon. Duck and goose hunting are available on Delaware Bay and in nearby states, during the waterfowl seasons. Anglers can even enjoy a combo of striper fishing and duck hunting on Delaware Bay during a series of days in fall. Salmon and steelhead fishing on Salmon River, and snowmobiling, are available from the lodge. Fly-fishing for trout is offered on Pennsylvania’s trout streams like the Yellow Breeches.

<b>Cape May</b>

Wind blew 20 knots steady on Friday, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. He was at the dock that day, and wind blew all day Saturday. He knew nobody who fished those days, because of the weather, and didn’t know whether any fished Sunday. Trips aboard will fish for summer flounder on the ocean until flounder season is closed starting September 27. Those he spoke with who flounder fished most recently said the angling was the same as before: hooking lots of throwbacks to bag a keeper, moving around to find one, nothing great. George hopes tuna fishing turns on, so trips aboard will fish for them. Nighttime fishing for tuna usually erupts in late August or September, lasting into November, at the offshore canyons. Currently at the canyons, lots of mahi mahi and some wahoos swam, George heard. He heard about bigeye tuna caught at Wilmington Canyon. One angler’s trip landed a bigeye pushing 300 pounds, after fighting the fish a long time. The angler said lots of mahi mahi were around. Another angler’s trip boated two wahoos and plenty of mahi at Baltimore Canyon. The trip also sailed to the deep, and white and blue marlin were there. 

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