<b>Keyport</b>

Sea bass, excellent catches, were pounded on the ocean with the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>, Capt. Mario said. Many were big, and ling, cod and winter flounder were mixed in. Open-boat trips are fishing for sea bass daily, and charters are available. Down Deep runs two 40-foot boats, and open, daily trips will steam for ling, cod and flounder once sea bass season is closed beginning June 20. Open fluke trips will fish the ocean beginning that day. Customers prefer to fish for fluke on the ocean, not in the bay in the mud, he said. 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 open trips. See available dates on the site’s calendar.

Fluking is in full swing, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an email. Good angling for fluke was boated when conditions were good. When conditions weren’t, anglers had to work. The trips fished the bay, and some of the summer flounder were big, including an 8.1-pounder. Gulps caught best, though bait caught. Fluke season looked to be shaping up to be good. Vitamin Sea is a dedicated fluke boat from now through summer. Come down for some of the best-eating fish, he said. Saturday 2 to 9 p.m. is available for a charter or open-boat trip. Charters will fish 2 to 9 p.m. when anglers want, and plenty of dates in that time slot are available. Working Man Specials are available 4 to 9 p.m., including this coming Wednesday and Thursday.  One space is left for a trip 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Open trips will fish daily next week when no charter is booked.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Some big fluke were brought in from party boats, including an 11-pounder and a couple around 10 pounds, said Chris from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b>. Fluking’s been good on Raritan and Sandy Hook bays, including nearby on Sandy Hook Bay from the shop’s rental boats. Anglers who rented a boat on opening day of fluke season, scoring well that day, took another trip on one of the vessels this weekend. They landed more than 30, including six keepers to a 4-pounder. The harbor and bay near the store was full of life including peanut bunker, and including cocktail bluefish that began to show. Striped bass locally had first been caught on Raritan Bay this season. Then they were taken in the mouth of Hudson River. Lately, they seemed to be shoving to the ocean. Stripers during the week were boated on the ocean at places like off Long Branch and at Shrewsbury Rocks. Lots of schooling bunker attracted them, and a big school of stripers was reported to swim this morning off Long Branch. Surf anglers at Sandy Hook latched into  bluefish, a good number, and at night a couple of stripers. Baits stocked include killies and all the frozen fluke baits like spearing, mackerel strips, mullet and peanut bunker. All offshore baits are carried like flats of mackerel, bunker and butterfish. Shark supplies are stocked like mackerel chum, bluefish chum and bunker chum. A few sharks were known to be caught. Exact location was unknown.

Wind blew a zillion miles an hour – nothing but big waves and dockside talk about what was caught yesterday, said Jay from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. But previously, fluke fishing was probably improving. Most fluke bit in the rivers, and they’ll pull out to the bay’s channels after a time. Striped bass were boated on the ocean, but also near the Statue of Liberty like before. Plenty of sea bass chomped in the ocean. Sometimes peanut bunker schooled the surf. If surf anglers found birds working the bait and could reach it, sometimes bluefish were banked that worked the bunker. Crabs that were around were small and become good-sized toward late July. All baits are stocked.

When conditions were good, fluke were getting caught, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. That was the best way to describe, he said, or when conditions were better, the fishing was better. All trips fished the bay, including some of the channels in the bay, unless conditions drifted the boat too fast at the channels. Both twice-daily trips fished Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday morning’s also fluked, but the afternoon’s was docked because weather turned bad. The morning’s trip picked at fluke, including throwbacks, and some anglers bagged one or two keepers, some none. Seas were a little rolly in west wind. Mostly throwbacks bit on trips, of course. The previous morning’s trip, on Tuesday, had no drift at first. When a drift began, fluke were picked. On the afternoon’s trip, fluking was good, until wind came up, drifting the boat fast, and anglers could no longer hold bottom. The angling looked like it would be really good, like Saturday morning’s was, covered in the previous report here. Then wind began. Saturday morning’s fluking was the best this year so far, and the catch included an 11-pounder.  The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

The <b>Fishermen</b> began fluke fishing on daily trips Monday, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the party boat’s website. “Slugged away most of the day with a fast drift, after the change of tide,” he wrote. “More keepers than shorts and some beauties at that.” One angler limited out and landed two additional, keeping no more than a limit. The angler’s partner also bagged two. A 6-pound 8-ounce fluke was the trip’s biggest, and several anglers took 5-pounders. On Tuesday’s trip, several anglers limited out, and an 8-pound 8-ouncer was the outing’s biggest. The angler is currently in the lead for the season-long fluke pool. Awesome day, once things got right, Ron said. No report was posted for the next day, Wednesday, and maybe the trip was weathered out. On today’s trip, wind blew too strongly to fish the channels, so the trip went in search mode, pushing down the ocean beach. Water temperature kept dropping, dipping to 59! Life was found, and several drifts slugged away at fluke. No anglers limited out, no 8-pounder was caught, and way more throwbacks bit than keepers did. High hooks boated three good-sized keepers apiece, and a 5-1/2-pounder won the pool. There was plenty of action while the bite lasted, but Ron wouldn’t call 20 throwbacks a good day. He was surprised anything was caught in the conditions.  On Monday night’s striped bass trip, 10 good-sized keepers were reeled in, and a bunch of throwbacks were. Some stripers seemed to newly move into the area. Anglers worked hard, fishing with fresh bunker. The Fishermen is fishing 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. However, the vessel is chartered Sunday morning, so no open-boat fluke trip will fish that day.

<b>Highlands</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/10:***</b> At <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> Chris Ozemko, Scotch Plains, weighed-in a 51-pound striped bass, Marion O’Neil wrote in an email. Greg Hanna on the Annie H boated a 6-pound fluke and some bluefish near the Ammo Pier.  Anthony Pennimede and crew won second place in last weekend’s Brett T. Bailey Mako Rodeo with a 176-pounder. 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 like live bunker are carried when in demand. All offshore baits are carried.

The seven anglers limited out on sea bass Monday with <b>Lady M Charters</b>, a report on Lady M’s website said. Ling and a few cod and fluke were also shoveled aboard, and out-of-season blackfish, keeper-sized, were released. The open-boat trip fished closer to shore at first, when the ocean held a heave from Sunday’s blow. A pick of keeper sea bass among lots of shorts came in there. Then the trip moved off to better fishing. Seas calmed by the end of the trip, “and it was a beautiful day (with) plenty of fillets for the table,” it said. Open sea bass trips are set for Monday and Friday, June 17. Four spots remain for an extended fluke trip June 20. Sea bass season closes beginning that day, and a special open trip will fish for ling, cod and jumbo winter flounder 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 21.

<b>Neptune</b>

A charter Tuesday limited out on sea bass by 11:30 a.m., a great day, Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> wrote in an email. The fishing’s been going like that, and an individual-reservation trip for sea bass was weathered out in Wednesday’s wind. The trip is rescheduled for this coming Wednesday, and sea bass season will be closed beginning the following Monday, June 20. That’s the only individual-reservation trip for sea bass slated before the season ends. An individual-reservation trip for striped bass was supposed to sail today.  Charters are available.

<b>Belmar</b>

The ocean’s big striped bass were hungry and feeding, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. Anglers on charter boats and private boats commonly hammered big ones 40 pounds and heavier, “and 30 pounds does not turn an eye,” he said. “The best part is you can get these fish on plugs as well as bunker or trolling.” Large bluefish shot into Shark River a couple of days this week, “testing the tourist equipment,” he said. Bob recommends you fish now, before summer doldrums. <b>***Update, Thursday, 5/9:***</b> Huge striped bass were boated from the ocean today, Bob wrote in an email. The fishing is the best in years. Many big stripers, he said.  One charter brought in a 51-pound 8-ounce striper and a 47-pounder today. The trip bagged six stripers 30 pounds and larger. <b>***Update, Saturday, 6/11:***</b> Shark River’s fluke fishing was better each day, Bob wrote in an email. Fred Walsh bagged a 3-pound 8-ouncer and a 2-pounder from the L Street Pier on the Shark, and Charlie Dana and daughter rental-boated three keepers and many throwbacks just under legal size on the river. The shop’s rental boats are available to fluke the river. Ocean striper fishing continued to be wild, and a 45-pound 8-ouncer and a 41-pounder were weighed-in, by Frank Conover and Ray Soyka, respectively. Bob hopes anglers release some “to keep the cycle going,” he said. If anglers want trophy stripers, now’s the time.

Striped bass fishing remained decent on the ocean for big ones, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. The fish to 43 pounds were batted aboard, and many of the anglers caught personal bests. The stripers were livelined on bunker when possible. When livelining slowed, in the middle of the day, trolling could land them. Charters and individual spaces on charters are available. Pete’s also running party-boat trips on another vessel that are livelining bunker for the bass with limited passengers, and see info on <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s website</a>. One of those ran the other evening, and bunker were tough to catch for bait, because of a storm. But the stripers that were pasted were large. Ocean fluke fishing began to improve, Pete heard. Dates are available for fluke trips with Parker Pete’s that will fish once striper fishing slows. Those outings are beginning to book. Fluking will include annual On the Water Bucktailing Seminars that teach bucktailing for big fluke in a non-threatening environment. Experienced anglers can hone the skill, and inexperienced can learn the fishing. 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 the boat’s website to kept informed about the spaces. Also see available dates on the site’s calendar.

On the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, fluke fishing was good this week, Capt. Chris said. That was on the ocean, and a 10-pound 11-ouncer was creamed. Many were hooked on Gulps on jigs, “which is a good sign,” he said. Striped bass trips are sometimes running in evenings on the ocean, and the angling went well two nights in a row, on Monday and Tuesday. Chris gave this report Wednesday in a phone call. The trips are only livelining bunker for the bass. The Big Mohawk is fluke fishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. However, the trips will depart at 6 a.m. this Friday and Sunday. For the striper schedule, contact the boat or watch the vessel’s Facebook page or website.

Rough weather including a storm probably slowed bluefishing Wednesday on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an email from the party boat said. “The fish just didn’t want to eat,” it said. They were seen and marked sometimes. The angling was decent Tuesday in the morning, slowing to a pick in the afternoon. But the angling improved at the end of the trip, “in shallow water, with even bigger blues up to 14 lbs.,” the email said. On Monday, great bluefishing was clobbered aboard. The angling was super in the morning and slowed to a pick at the end of the outing, but was great overall. The Miss Belmar Princess is sailing for striped bass and blues 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.

Anglers picked some blues Wednesday aboard, but the angling was off, probably because of stormy weather that rolled through that day, a report said on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>’s website. The fishing was decent Tuesday for 6- to 15-pounders and good Monday for 5- to 10-pounder on Run Off crocodiles and hammered jigs. A special trip was weathered out this afternoon that was supposed to liveline bunker for striped bass. Another one of the trips is slated for 3 p.m. Tuesday, reservations required. 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.

<b>Brielle</b>

Fluke fishing on the ocean was picky on Tuesday morning’s trip on the <b>Jamaica II</b>, an email from the party boat said. Mostly throwbacks bit, but on the afternoon’s trip, Alex Pisani and Bob Plasket limited out on sea bass, and almost all other anglers nearly limited. “Darn good for a halfday,” the email said. Sea bass have weighed up to 4 pounds. Trips are fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and for sea bass and fluke 2 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. However, the boat is chartered this Sunday morning. Trips are sailing for fluke and sea bass 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Monday.  

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

<b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>’s been plowing striped bass, great catches, from the local ocean, Capt. Alan wrote in an email. Livelined bunker and trolled No. 4 Tony Maja bunker spoons nailed them. The fish decked during the weekend seemed to migrate from south. The year’s first tuna trip was weathered out recently. But bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna got lit up at the offshore canyons. Each held “in distinctly different areas of the canyons,” he said. Charters and open-boat trips are available for the fishing, and telephone the boat if interested. Some especially big mako sharks were fought at the canyons during the weekend. The sharks will be the target on back-to-back trips this weekend aboard, competing in Mako Mania. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

A few throwback fluke and a few keepers were rounded up from ocean hills and rough bottom the last couple of trips, slow catching, on the <b>Gambler</b>, a report said Wednesday on the party boat’s website. A 6.7-pounder was bagged on Sunday morning’s trip, and the angler totaled two keepers and a few shorts. On evening striped bass trips, fishing was hit and miss. Big stripers swam the ocean, but weren’t always easy to catch. Fishing for the bass is like hunting a 12-point buck. That’s why the stripers are big. Anglers need to use their best fishing skills from start to finish, be patient about setting the hook, and make sure the reel drag is set right. The big fish should be in until the end of the month, and the Gambler will remain ready to catch them. Everything needed to catch them is aboard. Fluke trips are fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily. Striper trips are running 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. every Thursday through Saturday.

Throwback fluke and some keepers doled out good action on Wednesday mornings’ trip on the <b>Norma K III</b> on the ocean, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the party boat’s website. The fish were pumped in from the boat’s first drift to its last, and a 4-pounder won the pool. Ocean fluking was improving, definitely, and weather was expected to keep the afternoon’s trip in port. Matt wrote the report before the trip.  On Tuesday, both the morning’s trip and the afternoon’s gave up action on fluke. Matt would’ve liked to have seen more keepers, but shorts kept anglers busy, and keepers were clocked here and there. On Monday morning’s trip, a good number of shorts and some keepers were tugged in. On the afternoon’s, fluking was slower, because wind against tide slowed the boat’s drift. The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. and for bluefish 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

Surf fishing for striped bass went well, said Virginia from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. The fish were beached on bunker chunks, clams or, along jetties, eels from Asbury Park to Barnegat Inlet. Fewer blues bit in the surf than before, so more bass hit than blues, and the bass were bigger than previously. Ocean boaters trolled stripers on Mojos and bunker spoons. White and green caught best, and the stripers were also hooked on bunker snagged and then livelined for bait. An egg sinker really needed to be used with the bunker. Party boating for sea bass was excellent on the ocean. In southern Barnegat Bay, bluefish swam and were smaller than the bay’s blues previously, but were better eating-size and still weighed up 10 pounds. Some of the blues spit up blowfish, and anglers could probably fish for the puffers. Fluke fishing was better in Manasquan River than in Barnegat Bay. Lightweight bucktails 1 ½ ounces or lighter caught in the river. Fluke began to hit in 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>

Nothing was reported from the surf, maybe because of strong west wind, said Ray from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. But a 46-pound striped bass was weighed-in yesterday that was boated on the ocean, and a 26-pounder was checked in today that was. Both were hooked on bunker snagged and then livelined for bait. Even if surf-fishing was quiet, crabbing was off the hook from the dock. About a dozen 5-inchers or larger were trapped per hour. 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>Forked River</b>

Wind weathered out shark fishing all week with <b>Tuna-Tic Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Mike said. Trips were rescheduled that could be. But sharks have shown up. Farther from shore, good yellowfin tuna fishing kicked in, so those trips are booking. 

Barnegat Bay served up fluke near the 40 buoy at Oyster Creek Channel, said Brian from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. A few were beaned at High Bar Harbor off the Dike. Blowfish hovered off Berkeley Island Park. That was in 5 or 6 feet of water, he guessed. Some kingfish were plucked off Berkeley Shores from the bay, probably in the same depths. The only bluefish heard about were a few picked off Barnegat Inlet’s north jetty. But most anglers seemed to fish for fluke and striped bass. A 52-pound striper was weighed-in from the ocean off the Seaside Pipe during the weekend. Crabs began to be trapped, and on the bay off Cedar Creek and at Bayville are a couple of places they’re usually nabbed. Baits stocked include killies and all frozen fluke baits like spearing. Shark baits including flats of mackerel and mackerel chum and bunker chum for sharks is carried. Sharks were caught, though no specifics were known.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/10:***</b> A few fluke were bagged from Barnegat Bay, mostly at High Bar Harbor, said Alex from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. Pretty much killies or jigs landed most. Bluefish 8 or 10 pounds, somewhat smaller than blues caught before, were hooked occasionally, mostly at Barnegat Inlet. Sometimes a school turned up in Barnegat Bay, fewer than previously. No weakfish were heard about from the bay. Customers headed to the bay for clamming today, so results would be found out. Crabbing was yet to begin locally, really, and starts later in the year than at some places in the state, because of cold ocean water from Barnegat Inlet. Little was heard about the ocean because of weather. But some trips pulled sea bass from the ocean between rough conditions. 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. Bait currently includes killies and fresh bunker.

A couple of dozen bluefish 8 to 12 pounds were jigged Sunday from the ocean on the <b>Super Chic</b>, Capt. Ted said. Not a ton of blues were around in past days, and anglers worked for them, couldn’t be inattentive. The angling was tough on a trip Saturday. On a trip yesterday, two big striped bass were slugged from the ocean, “bunker dunking,” he said. That helped keep the anglers happy, and the trip tried a little bluefishing at Barnegat Inlet, catching just a couple. Sea bass trips are slated aboard throughout the weekend.  Two boats from the docks trolled yellowfin tuna 35 to 50 pounds, good catches, during the weekend. One of the trips hooked a mako shark at night, but the fish got off, Ted thought. The location of the trips was unknown, but he thought they fished farther south.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Sunday, 5/12:***</b> From an edited email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: (On Friday) afternoon we started our trip on the ocean off Seaside looking for the big stripers with Joe and Crystal Roccia from Bellmawr and Steve Pressler from Wayne on board. We were trolling bunker spoons, and after 2 hours of no action, we throttled up to return to Barnegat Inlet and fish the bay. We anchored in Oyster Creek Channel, put out some clam baits and went 2 for 4 on 14-pound stripers. That saved our trip. (On Saturday) I had Patrick Kerrigan and son Christian along with their friend Dan Cinotti, all from Virginia. We broke Barnegat Inlet early, made a left (as always) and cruised close to the beach, looking for pods of bunker. Made it all the way to the Seaside Piers without finding any bunker, so we swung out to the deep, 60 feet of water, and put out the trolling rods.  About an hour in, the center rod with a big Mojo lure gets hammered. Fifteen minutes later, <a href=" https://youtu.be/y8-ClE-07lY
" target="_blank">Dan decks his 38-pounder</a>. A half-hour later the same rod and lure goes off, and Christian adds a 25-pound bass to the cooler. After a 1-1/2-hour intermission with no hits or runs, the white No. 4 Tony Maja spoon in the starboard outrodder is screaming. A <a href="https://youtu.be/-EMKsu2d8jY" target="_blank">43-pound striper</a> for Patrick to top off our catch. Just then, the forecast 20-knot south wind came up, and we headed for the barn. I have an open-boat sailing at 4 a.m. Monday, returning around 10 or 11 a.m. We’ll be headed to the same area, looking for bunker to snag in the early morning, and then switching over to the troll for the finish. Three people max, all fish are shared. Also running trips at 12 noon or 1 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, returning 6 hours later.  All these dates are also available for your private charter.”

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Awesome catches of striped bass and summer flounder were checked-in during the weekend at <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>, Brian said. The stripers, big, up to 47 pounds, were boated on the ocean on trolled Mojos and bunker spoons and on bunker snagged and then livelined for bait. The flounder were boated on the bay, including off the Fish Factory well, and at the clam stakes in the bay, usual places. No flounder were bagged at ocean reefs yet, really, and the season was early. One keeper 18 inches, the legal minimum size, was reported mustered from Garden State Reef South. Brian and crew tied fluke jighead rigs today that customers favored for flounder locally. Weakfish began to be reported caught, and anglers were hush about locations. But Chris from the shop said some were found at the fifth bridge locally before sundown. Farther north on Barnegat Bay toward Oyster Creek supposedly gave up some before sundown. Purple bucktails with 6-inch Purple Firetiger Mister Twisters worked well on weaks. In Mullica River, striped bass bit heavily on eels along the sod banks. One of the crew from the shop was into them steadily. Sea bass were clutched from the ocean, but 20 miles from shore. Crabs, good numbers and sizes, began to be trapped. Baits stocked include minnows and fresh, shucked clams. Fresh bunker were ordered for the weekend, and the crew will see if they arrive. Live grass shrimp ran low, and whether Scott from the shop will net more was unknown. Weather could be too warm to keep the shrimp alive.

<b>Absecon</b>

Everything seemed to be picking up, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Summer flounder fishing was great by the end of last week, and was this week so far. Windy weather was severe yesterday, but forecasts looked better now. Good numbers of flounder and good-sized were plumbed from bays. Anglers seemed to ignore striped bass, but surf-fishing for stripers was good, and drum were mixed in. Surf casters fished clams and bunker, and northwest wind that’s forecast should flatten the ocean. Stripers swam the ocean near shore, so boaters should be able to get after them. More stripers than before appeared in the bay. Most anglers cast lures or jigs for them. Weakfish, not giant, but including solid 3-pounders, showed up pretty well, especially in the mouth of Mullica River. They also swam usual haunts along the Intracoastal Waterway. Shedder crabs were bait to dunk for them, and plenty of shedders are stocked. The shop also sells soft-shell crabs for eating, and the supply will be plentiful this weekend, and will probably drop off afterward. Some said soft shells will be available from Delaware Bay then, but Dave was yet to see them. All other bait, including minnows for flounder, is in good supply. A couple of trips that ran for sea bass on the ocean were heard about, scoring okay. Not a lot of customers were interested in sea bass, and locals had to sail pretty far for good angling for the fish. <b>***Update, Thursday, 5/9:***</b> Watch a video of soft-shells raised at the shop.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Striped bass, drum and bluefish were smoked from the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Not a ton were, but the catches were seen every day. The stripers were large, too, weighing up to 29 pounds that were checked-in to the shop this week. A couple were hauled to the store today, including a 28-pounder, despite fierce west wind. A bunch of the stripers were seen this week, and the stripers also included a 23-pounder clammed on the island’s north end. Steve Lisowki tackled a 19-pound striper from the shore. A relatively large number of drum filled the surf. Rodney Wert’s 36-pounder was biggest this week at the store. It bit a Riptide Rotter, one of the shop’s clams. Steve Federicci clammed a 16-pound drum and a 3-pound 20-inch weakfish from the surf. The weak bit a big, 8/0 hook, unusual. The blues weighed up to 13 or 14 pounds and swiped bunker or finger mullet. On the back bay, summer flounder fishing began to improve. One trip with several anglers totaled four or five keepers to 6 pounds. Sometimes weakfish were pulled from the bay. The Sal’s Pizza Works from Marlton’s Riptide Striper Bounty is up for grabs for the next angler who weighs-in a striper 43 inches or larger from the town’s surf. Entry is $5, and all the cash is awarded, and was probably almost $100 currently. The Riptide Summer Fishing Tournament is underway for flounder, blues and kingfish. Entry is $10 per species, and all the money is awarded. Anglers can enter one, two or three categories. The shop just donated $1,500 from the Riptide Spring Fishing Tournament to a cancer charity. The annual Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs fishing tournament for kids 5 to 15 will be held July 16 in Brigantine’s surf. The first 100 kids get a free rod and reel combo.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Was windy, but catches were made, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Anglers on foot latched into lots of striped bass, big, from Absecon Inlet late at night, on the second tide, on fresh bunker, fresh clams and plugs. No photos of the fish were posted on the shop’s Facebook page, because the bass were scored in the middle of the night. Sometimes the anglers winged a weakfish from the inlet. Kingfish, good-sized, and occasional croakers, the year’s first croakers, were toggled in from the inlet and the nearby surf, by anglers on foot. Fishing was definitely on, he said. Two dozen bloodworms are $20 through this weekend only. Fresh clams are $6 a dozen, and fresh bunker are three for $5.

<b>Margate</b>

Back-bay fishing for summer flounder improved on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. Not bad, can’t complain, pretty good, he said, and a 6-pounder was decked on Tuesday afternoon’s trip, and another 6-pounder was cracked on Wednesday morning’s. A fair number of keepers began to be bagged, and lots more throwbacks began to be totaled than before. The bay warmed to the temperature it should: the high 60 degrees to the 70s. Low tides were warmer than high. Mackerel caught, and minnows began to grab more bites than previously. Both are supplied, and Gulps always work. Anglers bring their own Gulps and should. 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>Egg Harbor Township</b>

Great Egg Harbor Bay’s summer flounder fishing amped up somewhat in the last four or five days from locally at Somers Point to Longport, said John from <b>24-7 Bait & Tackle</b>. Blues that had swum the bay mostly disappeared. A few remained, and sometimes anglers reeled striped bass from the bay. Kingfish supposedly nibbled at Atlantic City, but that was unconfirmed. The South Jersey Shark Tournament began today, and many anglers bought supplies for tuna fishing, including lots of ballyhoos. No reports about sharks and tuna came in, but the news should begin. Crabbing began to take off at Patcong Creek, running past the shop. Catches included big, and the store’s rental boats, docked on the creek, are available for crabbing and fishing from the creek to Great Egg Harbor River and the bay. Patcong is one of the best crabbing places and is a tributary of the river, meeting the river’s mouth on the bay. Minnows are a whopping half-price at the store throughout the fishing season: $3 for a half-pint, $6 for a pint and $12 for a quart. <b>The company also owns 24-7 Bait & Tackle in Marmora</b>.

<b>Ocean City</b>

The company bought an additional party boat, said Capt. Victor from the party boat <b>Miss Ocean City</b>. The new vessel should begin fishing by July, and after a Coast Guard inspection, he’ll know better when the angling will start. Once fishing begins for the fishing season on the boats, they’ll sail for summer flounder and sea bass from the back bay to the ocean. 

Strong wind blew the past couple of days, but a few summer flounder were yanked from the back bay previously, said Pat from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. A 6-pounder was weighed-in from the bay off Somers Point. Flounder came from usual places in the bay like Rainbow Channel, Ship’s Channel and off Kennedy Park. Striped bass, good numbers, were picked up from the bay to the surf. Water was yet to warm too much for stripers, and when it did warm, weather cooled it back down. The bay’s stripers were mostly schoolies, throwbacks. Many schoolies, good numbers, swam the surf, but some 15- and 16-pounders were eased from the surf. Bluefish were found in the island’s south end surf and sometimes in Corson’s Inlet. A couple of weakfish, not many, were hung from Corson’s. A few kingfish were landed from the surf. A good sign, Pat said. Good catches of sea bass were pitched aboard not far from shore, at Atlantic City Reef, Great Egg Reef, and personal spots between. Mako sharks bit at offshore canyons, and should push closer to shore any moment. Tuna were fought far south, and Norfolk Canyon was the hot spot. Crabbing was slow.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing picked up quite a bit, before brutal wind the past couple of days, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Some sizable striped bass were still smashed from the surf, mostly on clams. Sometimes stripers were hooked at docks and bridges at night under lights. Most large bluefish disappeared that had been around. Very few remained. Good sea bass fishing was cranked from the ocean. Good shark fishing began in the ocean. Thresher, mako and blue sharks were heard about. Crabbing was good, though many crabs were pregnant females.

A buddy said the back bay’s summer flounder fishing was improving, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Joe last fished during the weekend, so he didn’t know personally whether the angling was. Sea bass fishing was good on the ocean. A trip swung them aboard with Joe during the weekend, covered in the last report here. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Wind blew so much, and no customers fished for summer flounder on the back bay in past days, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. But flounder will remain in the bay a while, and a handful of reports were heard from other anglers who fished for them this week, and all had luck on the fish. Nothing was heard about striped bass and blues, and most anglers concentrated on flounder. But stripers and blues were probably around. No customers crabbed yet this year. But crabs for eating arrived today at the store for the first time this year. Mike prefers to carry only local crabs, not crabs from Maryland, and the crabs became available locally from Delaware Bay. The price changes according to market price, and is more expensive early in the season. The shop’s live crabs currently are $20 per dozen for No. 2s and $30 a dozen for No. 1s. When the shop cooks the crabs for customers, the blueclaws are an additional $5 per dozen. Customers enjoy eating the crabs at the store, or take them to their own location to eat. A new area was just installed to eat the crabs, with picnic tables with umbrellas along the water. It’s nice, he said. 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.

<b>Cape May</b>

Trips began fishing for summer flounder on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> on the ocean, and some of the fish were socked, Capt. Paul said. He was sort of surprised, when one would be bagged, then another, and he looked around, and saw some catches. The boat fished for sea bass previously, switching to flounder, even if the season might’ve been somewhat early for flounder in the ocean. Paul thought more flounder might be bagged than sea bass were. Trips flounder fished Monday and Tuesday, and on Monday, Karl Zeigler from Cape May limited out on the fluke to 4 or 4 ½ pounds. On Tuesday, Bob Brett from Whitesboro, N.J., limited out, and Bob Key from Lancaster won the pool with a 6-pounder, one of four flounder he bagged. No trip fished Wednesday, and only four or five anglers showed up at the docks. By noontime, Paul was glad no trip sailed, because wind howled. For the time of year, when the ocean can be cool, a good showing of flounder turned up. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

The <b>Heavy Hitter</b> is supposed to compete in the South Jersey Shark Tournament from Cape May, Capt. George said. The competition begins today, and couple of boats like Vikings will surely fish today, “but they’re not going to like it,” he said. Forecasts were rough for seas and wind, and Friday doesn’t look so good. The Heavy Hitter, a 35-foot Bertram, can handle it, though small boats probably won’t compete in the tournament, lasting through Saturday. George expects to compete Friday and Saturday. George heard about a few mako sharks and blue sharks and no thresher sharks caught this season, so far. The makos bit more in the canyons offshore than closer in. A buddy totaled four or five blue sharks while competing last weekend in Jim’s Bait & Tackle’s shark tournament from Cape May. The buddy won the event with a 535-pound thresher a couple of years ago. Anglers began telephoning to book tuna fishing, and George encouraged them to be prepared to sail as soon as possible whenever tuna popped up. Tuna can come and go throughout the season. More tuna will probably begin to be heard about in another week. A couple of shark anglers reported seeing schools of bluefin tuna last week. Signs of tuna began. A drum trip on Delaware Bay on Sunday aboard ended up with two of the fish 20 and 45 pounds. One had been caught when George reported about the trip aboard that evening for this website in a phone call. That was in the previous report here. The trip was getting ready to sail back to port when the second bent over a rod, after George gave the report. Drum probably still swam the bay, but nobody was known about who sailed for them in rough weather since Sunday.

Pretty good fishing was whipped, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. A few striped bass were still dragged from the surf. Weakfish were wrangled from the surf along jetties on bloodworms under bobbers during daytime and on bucktails and small soft-plastic lures during low-light hours. A few sharks began to be landed from the surf on chunks of bunker or mackerel in low-light hours. Summer flounder fishing was pretty good on the back bay, not dishing up lots of keepers, but sizable, like 22 and 23 inches. A couple of keeper flounder were angled from the surf. Not much was heard about flounder from Delaware Bay yet. Drum should still bite in Delaware Bay at usual spots, but no boaters sailed for them in past days, because of weather. Bluefish sometimes schooled at Cape May Point. Kingfish and croakers were yet to be heard about that can school off the point any time now. For sea bass on the ocean, Cape May Reef seemed picked over a little. Smaller pieces could fish better, and 20 or 30 miles offshore did. The South Jersey Shark Tournament got underway today in Cape May, so shark anglers kept reports quiet. But sharks seemed around, and this is the time of year when pelagics like that appear. Shark baits like flats of bunker and bunker chum and mackerel chum for sharks is stocked. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, minnows, bloodworms and live shedder crabs are carried. 

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