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New Jersey Inshore Saltwater Fishing Report 6-30-16


<b>Sewaren</b>

Boaters from <b>Dockside Bait & Tackle</b> lit into fluke, great catches, on Raritan Bay, Linda said. Where, the Triangle? Absolutely, she said. Did they catch on Raritan River like before, too? Absolutely. Bluefish were fought scattered around all different waters, typical this season. No striped bass were heard about locally, but stripers were known to be boated on the ocean. Dockside, on Smith Creek, a tributary of the Arthur Kill just north of Outerbridge Crossing, is accessible from the water at the fuel dock and from land. All baits are stocked, including killies, fresh bunker, fresh clams and all the frozen for fluke.

<b>Keyport</b>

For a trip with the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>, ling fishing was super yesterday, Capt. Mario said. Winter flounder to 4 pounds and cod to 12 pounds were also pumped in, and open trips are fishing for ling, flounder and cod daily. Fluke fishing was up and down, or when conditions were good, the angling connected best. The high hook on fluke this week landed eight, keeping no more than a limit of five. The high hook yesterday bagged five, and, Mario thought, a 6-1/2-pounder was the biggest fluke this week. An 8-1/2-pounder was in the lead for the custom rod that will be awarded for the customer with the biggest fluke this year. Eleven-pounders won the past two years. Open trips are fluking daily, departing in mornings. Open trips are also fluking at 2:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, now that open  afternoon trips are finished striped bass fishing. Charters are available, and Down Deep runs two 40-foot boats.  Join the <a href=" http://downdeepsportfishing.com/short-notice-list/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s website to be kept informed about special trips. See available dates for trips on the site’s calendar.

Raritan Bay kept doling out good fluking, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an email. Throwbacks and keepers turned out action almost constantly, and 12 to 18 keepers to 6 pounds were averaged per trip aboard. The bay is loaded with bait, “and the fluke are getting fat,” he said. Bait seemed to catch better than Gulps lately, but Gulps did hook a good number of keepers yesterday on deck. Two spaces are available for fluking Saturday. No trips will fish next week, because Frank will take his wife on an annual cruise to Bermuda. Room is available on open fluke trips Wednesday, July 13, and Saturday, July 16.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Not a lot of fluke were pasted Wednesday on the <b>Fishermen</b>, but those that were taken were beauties, a report said on the party boat’s website. The fish included a 7-pounder, and the high hook reeled in four keepers. Several had two, and the trip fished several areas, looking for a good drift of the boat. When the tide changed, so did the wind, blowing against, making fishing tough, because of the drift. “Back at it tomorrow!” the report said. The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and for striped bass 6:30 to 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays.

When conditions were right, fluke bit, and the fishing wasn’t bad on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. Trips fished Reach Channel, except when ship traffic disturbed the water or conditions like wind were unfavorable. Then trips fished Sandy Hook Bay, and were fortunate that fluke also held there. Tom was glad not to fish the ocean in strong southeast wind that came up in afternoons that probably riled the ocean. If forecasts look like strong wind, where the boat’s fishing isn’t really affected, unless wind is exceptionally strong. Don’t be scared off. All anglers landed fluke aboard, and not all landed keepers. No really big fluke came in. A 6-pounder won the pool on Wednesday morning’s trip, and a 4-pounder won on the afternoon’s. The Atlantic Star is fluke fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

One trip bagged 10 fluke just downstream from Highlands Bridge on Shrewsbury River, said Joe Sr. from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. There’s a hole across the river from Bahr’s Landing, he said. Fluking was pretty good at the Leonardo flats and fair at Reach Channel. This is the time of year fluke are boated off the nude beach at Sandy Hook on the ocean. Striped bass were no longer weighed-in, but stripers were boated at Romer Shoal and Ambrose Channel, far toward the end of Ambrose. Sometimes the fish roamed one side of the channel, sometimes the other. Crabbing was hot in Navesink River. Some fluke gathered in the river near Oceanic Bridge, too. All baits are stocked.

From Atlantic Highlands, fluking was really pretty decent, said Tom from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b>. The store’s rental boats fished for them right off the harbor, and all returned with keepers lately. The angling was decent for the marina’s party boats. A few cocktail blues schooled the bay, popping up always at different locations, and one day were there, and another weren’t. Private boaters still tackled striped bass sometimes. Sometimes a striper came from Sandy Hook’s surf, and Tom knew a couple of anglers who caught stripers from the surf at Long Branch. Crabs always clung to the store’s killie traps. Many crabs around were pregnant females or had sponges, but crabs were surprisingly large and abundant. Baits stocked include killies, fresh bunker, and all the frozen for fluke, like spearing and the different squids. Crab baits, traps and supplies are on hand. The store, new this year, is the sister shop to Fisherman’s Den in Belmar, and is located at Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, next to the party boats, charter boats and private boats.

<b>Highlands</b>

A 486-pound thresher shark was weighed-in from a 21-foot boat at <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> Wednesday, Marion wrote in an email. Mike Vellucci, Mike Falcone and Grace Antonini subdued the fish at the Rattlesnake on the Samantha Lynne. On the same day, Peter Murphy, Steven Nosti and Johnny “Bucktails” landed 368-pound thresher at the Mudhole, and two days previously, on Monday, they weighed-in a 178-1/2-pounder from the Mudhole. During the weekend, Frank Rella boated fluke to 26 inches at Reach Channel, and Karen Kelly bagged two fluke 18 and 20 ½ inches off Sandy Hook.  On Friday, Paul and Becky on the Second Home cranked in fluke to 20 inches off Great Kills. 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. The fuel dock is available 24 hours a day with a credit card. Baits stocked include all for offshore.
 
<b>Neptune</b>

An estimated 550- to 600-pound thresher shark was landed yesterday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said. The fish bottomed-out the scale at Brielle Yacht Club, so the weight was guessed. Before the thresher was hooked, the trip “had some life,” he said. The shark took an hour to land, and everybody aboard was bushed afterward, so they headed in. Ralph sent photos of the thresher that would be posted on this website, and was headed out on another shark charter today. He hoped to send shots of a big mako from the trip, he said. Individual-reservation trips for fluke are fishing every Tuesday, and two sea bass per angler will be able to be kept beginning tomorrow. Large sea bass have been biting on the trips, and kids under 12 sail free on those outings, limited to one per adult host. Ralph cancelled the trip this week, because the sea bass couldn’t be kept, and will resume the trips this coming Tuesday. A few spaces remain on individual-reservation trips for cod July 13 and 27 and August 3, 17 and 31. If you wait until the last moment to book, you’re unlikely to get aboard. Charters are available daily. Shark and tuna trips are sailing on the Lock and Load, one of Last Lady’s crew’s boat.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 7/1:***</b> Fair fluking, not big numbers of keepers, but enough sizable to keep anglers interested, was pounded on Shark River, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. Charles Dana from Freehold’s 7-pounder was biggest at the shop this week. Marty Westerfield from Wall bagged several of the fish to 3 pounds. Fluking the ocean on party boats scooped up good fishing including larger fluke. Two of Belmar’s party boats reported 7- to 10-pounders. Bluefishing was good on the ocean on the port’s party boats, though the blues were smaller than before. Blues swam Shark River Inlet that shore anglers could wrestle. Reports about schoolie striped bass dragged from the surf just began to roll in from locally.

On the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, fluke fishing, on the ocean, was great yesterday and good all week, Capt. Chris said. A 7-pound 10-ouncer was biggest yesterday, but some sizable were claimed throughout the week. The trips fished every day, though a few of the head boats did not. The Big Mohawk is fluke fishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Ocean striped bass fishing was a little slow, but picked a few, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. The angling wasn’t nearly as good as before, and not a lot of trips sailed, but a little fluke fishing did, on the ocean. The fluking was picking up, not great yet. “You know, there’s life,” he said. Bucktails caught better than bait, and two sea bass per angler will be able to be kept beginning Friday. So those fish could be mixed in then. The ocean’s warming, so Pete hopes the fluking just keeps getting better. Trips aboard include annual On the Water Seminars that teach bucktailing for big fluke in a non-threatening environment. Inexperienced can learn the skill, and experienced can hone it. Trips also include family cruises that fish and enjoy sunset. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Parker Pete’s anyway about individual spaces on charters. Sign up for the email blast on <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s website</a> to be kept informed about the spaces.

At first, four drifts of the boat gave up good bluefishing for 2- to 4-pounders today on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an email from the party boat said. Then the fishing slowed in late morning, picking back up at the end of the trip, and the day’s fishing was good overall. No email came in about Wednesday aboard. But on Tuesday, fishing for 2- to 4-pound blues was slow at first but picked up in late morning. “It lasted most of the day with a slow pick with some shots,” it said. On Monday, bluefishing was decent for 2- to 4-pounders, slowing at noon, once south wind increased. On Sunday, a few drifts put up good fishing for blues to 15 pounds, and other drifts caught some 2- to 4-pounders, until fishing slowed beginning at noon. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.  Family fishing and sunset cruises are sailing 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday through Sunday.

Good shots of bluefish 3 to 9 pounds were bombed today on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, then disappeared, a report said on the party boat’s website. Bluefishing was tough Wednesday and decent for 2- to 3-pounders Tuesday.  On Monday, angling began well for 5- to 10-pound blues. They disappeared, then 2- to 4-pounders were picked a little while. So fishing began well then slowed early. The Golden Eagle is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Afternoon fishing and sunset cruise trips are sailing 4:30 to 8:30 Fridays through Saturdays, reservations required.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

<b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> ran a couple of mako shark trips during the weekend, Capt. Alan wrote in an email. Results were mixed, and a variety of sharks bit, but no makos did. Weather was finally calm enough for the boat to sail for tuna to the southern canyons. A tuna trip was expected to fish today aboard, and afterward, the boat will be kept in Cape May for tuna fishing in July. Three trips per week, “safaris,” will chase yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, mahi mahi and sharks. Limited availability is on tap for the Cape May trips. Telephone the boat if interested.

Fluke fishing was pretty good on the <b>Gambler</b> on the ocean, an email from the party boat said. A good percent were keepers, weighing up to 6 ½ pounds. Lots of out-of-season sea bass were released, and two sea bass per angler will be able to be bagged beginning Friday. Yesterday afternoon’s trip met perfect conditions, and a few of the anglers limited out on fluke. A teaser rig with a spearing-and-squid combo seemed to catch best. The fishing and the weather look promising for this weekend.  Fluke trips are fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily. A trip will bottom-fish 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. today for ling, cod and winter flounder, and trips will bluefish during the same hours Friday and Saturday.

Bottom-fishing has actually been okay on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch sailed. More ling were hooked than before, and ling fishing wasn’t great, but was the best all year. Lots of big winter flounder bit. Huge, beautiful, like 2 to 4 pounds, none small. None needed to be measured, he thought. A few cod still chewed, and a bunch of out-of-season sea bass were released on yesterday’s trip. Sea bass hadn’t been seen lately, but were yesterday, and Butch hopes they stick around for when two sea bass per angler can be kept beginning Friday. Trips fished mostly 120- to 180-foot depths. Lots of conger eels swam certain depths. The water was probably 62 or 63 degrees, and the temperature gauge wasn’t working. Nighttime trip usually fish for bluefish this time of year, but lately fished for catches that included ling, flounder, pollock, cod, mackerel and a few small blues. The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The night trips are fishing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. every Friday and Saturday.

Angling for fluke was much better the past few days on the <b>Norma-K III</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Keepers and throwbacks were swung in, and 4- to 6-pounders won pools. Trips are fishing rocks and rubble, so bring extra tackle, because of snagging. Plenty of sinkers and plain rigs are carried aboard. Last night’s trip picked 1- to 2-pound bluefish, fun on light tackle. That was on bait, and the crew hopes big blues move in. Weather looks great for the weekend, and 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>Toms River</b>

Surf-fishing was slow, but a couple of striped bass and sporadic blues were picked from the water, said Virginia from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Surf anglers mostly fished clams and bunker, and reports about brown sharks, dog sharks and big rays were increasing from the beach. Browns are prohibited and must be released, but anglers enjoy fishing for the browns and dogs, sizable fish, while summer’s warm water attracts them, and the angling was becoming good. Fluke fishing improved in the surf. “I can say that,” she said. Small bucktails with squid or Gulps were cast for them. Fluking could be good in Barnegat Bay behind Barnegat Inlet. Barnegat Inlet began to produce fluke better than before, and anglers on foot lost access to the inlet because Island Beach State Park was closed to beach buggies indefinitely from Area 23 to the inlet because of nesting piping plovers. It’ll be reopened when the eggs hatch. Lots of blowfish hovered the bay toward the BI and BB markers. Boaters anchored and chummed and fished with bits of clams for them. No snapper blues appeared in back waters or the bay yet. Crabbing was terrific. On the ocean, a few stripers were still boated. One charter boated a couple of sizable the other day. One of the Point Pleasant Beach party boats still fished for the bass, but ran far north for them. No stripers were heard about locally on the ocean, at least within 3 miles from shore. Bunker failed to school the water like before. Striper fishing is closed beyond 3 miles year-round. Virginia bottom-fished on a party boat on the ocean at the Mudhole on Monday, racking up 32 ling and a limit of two winter flounder to almost 5 pounds. That’s a big flounder, and fishing for them is good now. The boat’s fishing was good. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Small bluefish rumbled through the surf, if you were at the right place at the right time, and first light and dusk seemed prime time, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. Cut mullet or bunker or small metal or popper lures “will cover most situations,” it said. A few fluke bit in the surf, when an angler was at the right place in the right time. A bucktail jig with Gulp or squid beached some. Crabbing was steady from the dock and the store’s rental boats. The Dock Outfitters, located on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a bait and tackle shop, a café, a dock for fishing and crabbing, boat rentals and jet-ski rentals.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 7/1:***</b> Fluke, lots, were shoveled from Barnegat Inlet and Barnegat Bay around the Dike, said Rob from <b>Van’s Boat Rentals</b>. Twenty- and 23-inchers were seen at the shop, and fluke were practically all the fish seen. Bluefish might’ve appeared here and there throughout the waters. Striped bass might’ve been boated on the ocean on occasion still. Crabbing wasn’t bad, was off to a better start than average, compared with recent years.  Van’s rents boats from 9 h.p. to 50 h.p. for three to five people for fishing, crabbing and pleasure. Kayaks are rented, and facilities include a tackle shop and a marina with slips, gas and full boat servicing.

Lots of fluke were angled from Barnegat Bay, said Vince Jr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. Many were throwbacks, but many were keepers. Most were found between the shop and the Dike and at High Bar Harbor on the other side of the Dike. A charter today bagged four between the store and the Dike. No fluke were heard about from Barnegat Inlet and Oyster Creek Channel. “They’re basically all around us,” he said. None was heard about from the ocean. The season’s first reports about blowfish nabbed locally eased in. No fish like weakfish and kingfish were mentioned. People were sometimes seen who plugged small striped bass along the inlet. A few striped bass were still boated on the ocean, caught at first light among bunker schools. Lots of sharks roamed the ocean. A crew stopped by today who were sailing for sharks. Mako sharks were reportedly pretty far from shore, but around. Thresher-shark fishing kind of slowed that picked up last week. Crabs just began to be trapped locally, and crabbing begins later near near the shop than at some places, because of cool water from the inlet. No customers clammed in past days, but clamming is usually good near the store. 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 bait in season.

<b>Forked River</b>

Fluke were tugged from Oyster and Double Creek channels, between the BI and BB markers and near the 40 marker on Barnegat Bay, said Grizz from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. So that was pretty solid, and good fluke catches began to be reported from the Tires, on the ocean near Barnegat Inlet. Grizz fluked the bay on two short trips this week and last, totaling two keepers among 18 throwbacks. A few blowfish were landed from the bay. Two sea bass per angler will be able to be bagged beginning Friday, and surely sea bass will be caught from the ocean. News about ocean striped bass fishing quieted, and maybe the angling was finished for the season, but that was unknown.  Thresher sharks were fought 3 ½ miles to 8 miles from shore. Grizz two weeks ago reported threshers holding 8 to 10 miles from shore in a band of warm water. He talked about seven confirmed catches there. Plenty of sharks were still around, and some mako sharks were still caught. The store carries all shark supplies including flats of mackerel, mackerel chum, bunker chum, Bloodstream chum and all the tackle. The season’s first fresh, local spearing had been stocked a moment. But the supplier could find none afterward, and the season was a little early. But the shop sells the fresh each year when available, and frozen local and Canadian spearing are on hand.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Most summer flounder were boated from Absecon Bay and Barnegat Bay, said Brandon from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Closer to the store, flounder fishing was spotty on Great Bay and Tuckerton Bay. But flounder began to be plumbed at ocean wrecks. A few were last week, and a few more were this week. Also in the bays near the shop, occasional bluefish schooled that anglers could hit. A few spike weakfish were found in the bays, but no substantial population. Baby sea bass arrived in the bays that do in summer. Kids could catch and release a million. Peanut bunker began to appear in the bays, and apparently lots schooled yesterday. Crabbing was phenomenal, and Brandon would rather crab than fish, because of that. Baits stocked include minnows and fresh, shucked clams. No grass shrimp are on hand, and whether the live bait will be carried again this season was unknown. Water was becoming warm to keep shrimp alive.

<b>Absecon</b>

From <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>, Capt. Dave Showell ran his year’s first summer flounder charter today, and one of the charters is possibly available this weekend, he said. The three anglers on today’s trip bagged 10, more than half a limit, throughout the Intracoastal Waterway between Atlantic City and Great Bay. A 5-pound-even was biggest, and the catch included a 4-pounder and a few solid 3-pounders. The rest were 18 to 20 inches, and a fair number of 17-inch throwbacks were hooked, beautiful fish that looked like they should be dinner, he said. A rig with a jig and a teaser, with a Gulp on the jig and a Gulp and a minnow on the teaser, was the hot tackle. But some were beaten on Gulps with shedder crabs, and some on peanut bunker. The fish hit a variety, and weather was good, and Sunday was the last time it was so much. Sunday was a great day for flounder fishing on the bay, and forecasts look good for the weekend. None of the summer junk fish like sea robins and baby sea bass were around, and lots of flounder were. Now was a really good time for the flounder fishing. Whether flounder are hooked in the ocean should be seen this weekend. Weakfish still appeared in the bay, and today’s trip halfway looked for them, but somewhat late in the day for weaks. Striped bass were certainly around that could be angled at night in the bay or back waters, and anglers who do that keep quiet about details. The surf was rough a couple of days, but kingfish reportedly schooled the surf. Live peanut bunker that Dave’s catching are stocked, and are cheap. A few shedder crabs are available, though if demand runs high, they could run out. Anglers might want to telephone to confirm. Dave kept some soft-shell crabs for eating stocked for the weekend. The store raises them, and keep informed about the supply on the shop’s soft-shell crabs Facebook page.  

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Anglers on foot were into some good-sized kingfish from the sea wall pretty well, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Toss bloodworms to them, and the anglers also pancaked lots of action with summer flounder, lots of throwbacks, but action, along the entire Absecon Inlet, from the T-jetty, on the ocean end, to the sea wall, on the bay end. Fluke Candy Rigs, stocked at the shop, smashed them. That’s a rig that includes a floating jighead, and a combo of squid and minnows was fished on the rigs. “That’s peanut butter and jelly,” he said. All baits mentioned and more, the complete supply, are stocked. Bloodworms are on special for two dozen for $20.

<b>Egg Harbor Township</b>

Back-bay summer flounder fishing was hit or miss, and the flatfish began to migrate to the ocean, said John from <b>24-7 Bait & Tackle</b>. Still, flounder swam the bay, and one spot would be loaded with them one day, and none would be angled there on another. Occasional striped bass, not a lot, were still hooked from the bay at night on top-water lures by anglers walking sod banks. Kingfish began to appear in the surf. Crabbing was good. “Like, really good,” he said. The shop’s rental boats, docked on Patcong Creek, running past the shop, are available for crabbing and fishing from the creek to Great Egg Harbor River to the bay. Patcong is one of the best crabbing places and is a tributary of the Great Egg, meeting the river at the river’s mouth on the bay. Minnows are a whopping half-price throughout the fishing season: $3 for a half-pint, $6 for a pint and $12 for a quart. Fresh bunker are stocked, and fresh clams aren’t so much this time of year. Plenty of bloodworms are carried, including because many are being sold, because of the kingfish. Shedder crabs are stocked when available, and will be this weekend.  <b>The company also owns 24-7 Bait & Tackle in Marmora</b>.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Brown sharks, tiger sharks and kingfish roamed all over the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Dunk bloodworms for the kings and mackerel heads or kingfish heads for the sharks, and release those shark species, required by law. Sometimes bluefish hopped into the surf, and a 29-inch striped bass and a couple of drum were banked from the water. But Andy would shark or kingfish in the surf. A kingfish and a blue were entered in the Riptide Summer Tournament so far. The tournament, running until flounder season closes, is for kings, blues and flounder. Entry is $10 per species, and all the cash is awarded, and anglers can enter one, two or all three categories. The store is loaded with bait, including fresh clams, jumbo minnows and all the frozen. New Riptide T-shirts and sweatshirts are in.

<b>Margate</b>

Summer flounder fishing wasn’t bad, was okay, on the back bay on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. The angling was slowly, surely improving, getting there, and he was enjoying it. Catching some of the fish takes the pressure off. The keepers were good-sized, mostly 19 to 22 inches. One or two weighed 5 pounds and a few weighed 3 and 4 this week. The bay was in the low 70 degrees, a little higher on low tides. The bay was warming and a good temp for flounder, and the ocean was 68 degrees, he thought. Lots of bait schooled the bay, including loads of peanut bunker.  John expects flounder to keep moving in, because of the bait. A couple of bluefish bit off lines, and sea robins and sharks bit. The flounder hit everything: minnows and mackerel that are provided, and Gulps that anglers bring. Anglers should bring Gulps, John always says. The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. daily. The trips are only $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for kids, because fishing is near port, and the pontoon boat is economical on fuel. Rental rods are free.

<b>Longport</b>

The <b>Stray Cat</b> resumed fishing, Capt. Mike said. The vessel was recently repowered and in dry dock, and a trip sailed yesterday, and Mike had already posted a photo of a summer flounder aboard today on the vessel’s Facebook page, before this report was posted. On yesterday trip, he first scoped out 28-Mile Wreck for bluefin tuna that swam there previously. None of the tuna showed up, so the trip anchored at a tug-boat wreck. A bunch of small ling were nabbed. After the trip, the boat was scheduled to flounder fish, including on open-boat trips this Friday through Monday, and maybe Tuesday. The trips will run 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and be limited to 10 passengers, and telephone to reserve. Monday’s trip, on Fourth of July, is beginning to fill, and about four spots are left. After Tuesday, charters are booked. The water was gorgeous, blue and 72 degrees on yesterday’s trip. Was a fantastic day on the water.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Most anglers spoken with who boated the back bay for summer flounder fished toward Avalon and farther south, said Jake from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. The angling sounded hit and miss, and none latched into them great. No flounder were heard about from the ocean. Weakfish, not many, were sometimes licked from the bay toward Avalon. A few striped bass definitely bit in the bay at night at lights, and Jake prefers to fish for them with Z-Man soft-plastic lures on jigheads. Kingfish were sometimes plucked from the surf. Any flounder in the surf? he was asked. You’ll get a couple, not many, he said. Participation in shark fishing slowed on the ocean. A few made the trip for tuna at the offshore canyons.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Two yellowfin tuna to 50 pounds were trolled on ballyhoos, all before 7 a.m., and a mahi mahi jumped off, at Poorman’s Canyon on Monday with Dusty Laricks, Dan Roth and John Martin aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The water was 68 to 74 degrees, and the yellowfins bit in the cooler water. He heard about nobody catching bigeye tuna during the trip. The back bay’s summer flounder fishing’s been improving, becoming much better than before, so that’s great, he said. Flounder bit sporadically in the ocean, and the angling was yet to transition to there fully. The bay holds flounder all summer, but the ocean’s flounder fishing picks up as the ocean warms. Ideal tides, high in evenings, were coming up for popper-plug and popper-fly fishing for striped bass on the bay, a specialty aboard throughout summer. Joe would probably fish for them tonight, and the fishing draws explosive, visual attacks. Inshore shark fishing was good aboard. That’s for sharks that can include browns, duskies and more, and lots of hammerhead sharks haunted the waters lately. Some species including browns and duskies must be released, and the angling, with bait or flies, is catch-and-release anyway. The trips, usually within 10 miles from the coast, are a chance to fight big fish without the long haul offshore.  Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

Somewhat better catches of summer flounder began to be plumbed from ocean reefs, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The number of flounder winged from the back bay also increased. He’d say flounder fishing was decent overall, “not where we want it to be,” but decent. Kingfishing seemed to be picking up in the surf. Occasional blues and striped bass were banked from the surf. At night in the surf, brown sharks and big rays were tackled. Browns must be released by law. Under lights like at bridges or docks at night, stripers with weakfish mixed in were socked, certainly, on soft-plastic lures, especially Bass Assassins. Back on the ocean, nothing was reported about boating for sharks, but tuna were tapped into. A couple of anglers back from Wilmington Canyon reported trolling four yellowfin tuna, all on Bomber CD 30 lures, saying the tuna never bit anything else trolled, including ballyhoos and other artificials. Crabbing was excellent, and Mike crabbed, and when depths 5 feet or deeper were worked, pregnant females were trapped, but good catches of males were made in 2 to 5 feet. The difference was amazing.  

<b>Wildwood</b>

A customer with a son and daughter-in-law returned with two keeper summer flounder and a half-bushel of keeper crabs from the back bay on a rental boat from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>, and the anglers had never flounder fished before, Mike from the shop said. Mike showed them where to go and what to do, and they were tickled, he said. They couldn’t believe how much meat came from the flounder, they told him. A couple of days of good weather is all that’s needed, and flounder bite in the bay. The trip used minnows for the flounder and bunker for the crabs for bait. Flounder were pretty much all the fish that came from the bay. Good flounder catches were also made on the ocean at Cape May Reef. 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 large supply of bait and tackle is carried. Crabs for eating are sold, and the price changes according to market price. The price dropped recently and was currently $25 per dozen for No. 1s and $18 per dozen for No. 2’s. That’s for live crabs, and cooked crabs are another $5 per dozen. Customers enjoy the crabs at picnic tables with tents on the water, or enjoy them at their own location.

<b>Cape May</b>

A few summer flounder were rounded up every day on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> from the ocean, Capt. Paul said. The numbers were fewer than earlier in June, some days fished better than others, and not all anglers scored well. But the flatfish were available to catch. Two sea bass per angler will also be able to be bagged beginning Friday, if sea bass pop up. On Wednesday’s trip, lots of small flounder bit, and wind blew against tide, unfavorable conditions. John Hauser from West Cape May bagged three of the fish to a 6-pounder, winning the pool with that flounder. Pete Kostiopoulos from Claymont, Del., on Monday’s trip limited out on flounder to a 5-1/2-pounder, winning the pool with the fish. The boat drifted fast that day. On Saturday’s trip in strong wind, John Riccardi from Williamstown limited out on flounder to 5 ½ pounds, winning the pool with that fluke. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Bluefin tuna began to show up on the inshore lumps, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. Some were boated, and he fished on a friend’s boat that trolled a bunch of small bluefish, mostly ¾-pounders or 1-pounders, but some 3-pounders, at 5-Fathom Bank on the ocean yesterday. Both of those are common fisheries from Cape May in summer. A tuna trip is slated aboard for Sunday, and a short, 4-hour trip is slated to run for the blues Saturday. Not much was heard about summer flounder in past days, but George knew anglers who nailed flounder well during the weekend on the ocean in good conditions. A friend flounder fished at the Old Grounds in the ocean since, but needed 14 ounces of weight to hold bottom and a drift-sock to slow the boat, not got conditions, and the fishing was slow. Telephone if interested in any of this fishing.

Fishing slammed bluefin tuna yesterday aboard, said Capt. John from <b>Caveman Sportfishing</b>. Three were trolled, and one was jigged, and the fish weighed 50 and 60 pounds. One was kept, and the rest were released, and basically the 20-fathom lumps, the traditional ones that hold bluefins this time of season, now held the fish. Multiple lumps held them, and the angling was good for the fleet that day. Most of the boats were from Ocean City, Md. But was safe to say bluefins showed up in decent numbers for South Jersey boats, he said. Caveman was supposed to turn around and head for South Poorman’s Canyon for yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna at 11 p.m. yesterday, “and I don’t know how we’ll do,” he said from land in a phone call between the trips.

Kingfish, croakers, spike weakfish and small summer flounder were boated at Cape May Channel off Cape May Point, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Surf anglers banked some of those catches in the area. They also took kingfish elsewhere in the surf and weakfish along the jetties but also along the open surf, like at Poverty Beach and Sunset Beach. Surf casters released brown sharks and dusky sharks at night on chunks of frozen mackerel or bunker. Delaware Bay boaters also released the sharks. Summer flounder were probably found at Brandywine and Miah Maul on the bay. Back-bay flounder fishing was a little slow this year, but some decent-sized came from there. Good flounder fishing was mopped up from the ocean at Cape May Reef’s north end. Tuna fishing seemed good from Poorman’s to Baltimore canyons for yellowfins and bigeyes. Crabbing was fairly good and will probably pick up this weekend, because shedding is finished. Baits stocked include bloodworms, minnows, fresh clams and eels. Shedder crabs should be carried this weekend.

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