<b>Keyport</b>

Fluke fishing was slowing down the last several days, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an email. But it’ll improve, and the fish, throwbacks and keepers, were still decked aboard. The keepers were sizable, all of them 4 to 6 pounds. The water was up to 81 degrees at some areas, and some trips traveled 50 miles “in various directions to find the best bite of fluke we can,” he said. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trips with spots available will fish Wednesday through Friday. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Highlands</b>

With <b>Lady M Charters</b>, fishing on the ocean began tough Saturday, Capt. Steve said. The charter reeled in one keeper fluke and a few throwback sea bass at first. Then the anglers bagged 13 more fluke from 1:30 to 3 p.m. On a charter Sunday on the ocean, two keeper fluke were taken right away, and Steve thought the angling would be good. Then only a few more fluke and sea bass were bagged. Spots are available for an open-boat bottom-fishing trip to the Mudhole Saturday.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fishing Raritan and Sandy Hook bays, fluke catches were about the same as before on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. When conditions drifted the boat well for the angling, the fish, mostly throwbacks, were picked. A few of the fluke were keepers, but not as many as he’d like. On some parts of trips, a bunch of throwbacks hit. A few more keepers were tackled Sunday afternoon than recently. Mornings fished tougher the past couple of days, because the boat hardly drifted. Afternoons fished somewhat better, and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, all customers caught, and not all caught keepers. Several places at Reach Channel were fished Saturday aboard, but the boat failed to drift. So, how many fluke gathered there couldn’t be known. No especially big fluke came in during past days.  The Atlantic Star is fluke fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

All good things come to an end, a report said on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>’s website. The hot fluke fishing clobbered in past weeks aboard became a pick during the past couple of trips. Trips now would search for better. Don’t wait for the news, and be the news instead, when trips get back on the meat, it said. Trips in past days fished deep, shallow, mussel beds, mud, rocks, snags, current, you name it. The captain wasn’t complaining, because fluking aboard had been some of the best in years. A couple of tough days just meant new places needed to be searched, starting over. More than a month of good fluking should be left.  The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, for striped bass 6:30 to 11 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and for fluke, blues, porgies and whatever can be bagged 6:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

<b>Belmar</b>

Ten fluke to 4 or 5 pounds were bagged, and the charter also limited out easily on sea bass, good-sized, yesterday on the <b>Katie H</b> on the ocean, Capt. Mike said. Fluking’s been good on the ocean, and the day was beautiful on the water. Nothing was heard about tuna boated at Hudson Canyon or other local canyons, but tuna trips are slated for later this month aboard. The angling’s got to break open soon.

Top 10 fluke entered at Belmar in Saturday’s Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s fluke tournament, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email: Greg Heisler, 6.175 pounds; James Eagan, 6.6; John Henry, 6.53; Jason Ferrante, 6.29; David Temple, 6; Ryan Smith, 5.86; Bud Brown, 5.355; George Mazsak, 5.315; Joe Gogan, 4.975; and Peter Sykes, 4.88. The annual contest is held at different ports throughout New Jersey.

Bluefishing was tough Saturday and Sunday on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. A few were caught on the trips, and Sunday’s outing switched to fluke fishing during part of the afternoon. Several sizable, 3 to 6 pounds, were bagged, and plenty of throwbacks were released. Bluefishing was also difficult on Friday’s trip, and the trip ended up bagging sea bass, porgies and fluke. Previous trips smashed lots of chub mackerel and a few blues. 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 daily, reservations required. Saturday’s cruise scored good fishing for sea bass and fluke.

Ocean fluke catches picked up in past days after the blow last week, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. Lots of 3- to 6-pounders bit, and Parker Pete’s competed in Saturday’s Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s fluke tournament, catching none huge, but lots of sizable, and other boats entered a few huge. Pete waited for final results, but knew Parker Pete’s placed. Fluking continued to be decent when conditions drifted the boat decent for the angling. Trips aboard include On the Water Seminars that teach bucktailing for big fluke, and one was supposed to sail today that was full.  Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Parker Pete’s anyway about individual spaces available 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. The spaces and available dates for other trips are also posted on a calendar on the site.

<b>Brielle</b>

After sluggish fishing earlier in the week in strong east wind and a big ground swell, the conditions settled, and catches picked back up Friday on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, Capt. Ryan wrote in an email. Fishing became even better Saturday aboard, serving up some great catches. Sean Elumba from Stamford, Conn., limited out on fluke by 9 a.m. on the trip. “Now that’s a fast bite,” Ryan said. Dave Tootchen from Philly limited 20 minutes later. Lots of 3- to 6-pound fluke were swung in lately, and good August fluking seemed to be kicking in. Most customers also limited on sea bass.  Duane Lochten from Philly whacked an 8.2-pound fluke, the biggest last week aboard. He wasn’t entered in the monthly pool that awards not only the cash but also a free year of fishing aboard. Customers who limited on fluke recently included Ed Nolan from Manasquan, Roy Williams from Philly, Dave Nelson from Princeton, Wayne Geller from Lincroft and Ed Martin from Atlantic Highlands. See photos of catches on the <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/J2fishing/" target="_blank">Jamaica II’s Facebook page</a>. The Jamaica II is sailing for fluke and sea bass 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday through Sunday and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Monday.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

After fluke fishing was a struggle last week, the angling picked up Sunday on the <b>Norma-K III</b> on the ocean, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the party boat’s website. The catch included good-sized keepers, throwbacks and a decent sea bass catches. A 7-pound 4-ounce fluke was belted on the afternoon trip, putting the angler in the lead for the monthly pool. Quite a few 4- to 6-pounders were clubbed on the trip. August is usually a good month for fluking on the boat. The trips will fish sticky bottom, so bring extra tackle. Plenty of sinkers and plain rigs are carried aboard. On nighttime trips, bluefishing was good most of the past week, but was slow Friday and Saturday. Plenty of the fish were read, “but could not get them biting at all,” he said. The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily and is bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Finding a keeper fluke in the surf wasn’t easy, and the more ground that was covered, the better the chances, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. The bag limit is two fluke 16 inches or larger at Island Beach State Park, compared with five fluke 18 inches or larger in most of the rest of the state. That could increase the odds of beaching a keeper at the park. Sharks, some real rod-benders now and then, were fought from the surf. On Barnegat Bay, crabbing was okay from the dock and the store’s rental boats. “No real blitz, but a catch can be put together,” it said. Snapper blues grew larger each day that could keep anglers catching at places like the dock.  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>

Fishing somewhat improved Sunday on the <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website said. “Had a showing of <i>big</i> fluke,” it said, and a good variety of fish were also hooked on the trip, including sea bass, small blues and porgies. “Overall, a real nice day, with lots of action had by all,” it said. Weather was rough a couple of days in the middle of the week, and the ocean, where trips fish, took days to settle afterward. So the angling bounced back slowly. Weather looks good this week, “so get down here,” the report said. The Miss Barnegat Light is fishing for fluke and sea bass at 8 a.m. daily.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

A trip trolled 20 fathoms Friday on the <b>June Bug</b>, Capt. Lindsay said. No “major” fish bit, he said, but bonito to 6 and 7 pounds were nailed. They jumped on ballyhoos and wouldn’t touch spreader bars and spoons. “They wanted the good stuff,” he said. The trip fished from east of Barnegat Ridge almost to the Resor wreck. The water was 78 degrees the whole trip, and the water was a good-looking color and held loads of baitfish. The baitfish were short and couldn’t be seen close up to be identified. They’d sound when the boat neared. Probably 20 or 30 sea turtles were seen, as many as Lindsay ever saw at one area. They apparently foraged on the bait. An inshore trip Thursday landed mostly throwback fluke and sea bass. A trip is supposed to fish offshore canyons this coming Thursday. White marlin fishing hit the wall late last week, on Thursday, Lindsay thought, at Lindenkohl and Spencer canyons. Double-digits were caught on some boats. Tuna were known to be boated there, but how good the tuna angling was, was unknown. Was too bad the marlin hadn’t shown up the previous weekend. Fishing for them was slow then in the Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club’s White Marlin Invitational Tournament.  

<b>Mystic Island</b>

A couple of anglers reported boating keeper summer flounder along the Intracoastal Waterway around Grassy Channel, and flounder fishing seemed somewhat better last week than before, a report said Saturday on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s website. The anglers fished a couple of rigs the shop ties, and outgoing tides fished better than incoming. The Brick Pile off Tuckerton sometimes turned out keepers well. Quality catches of flounder were sometimes made at Black Point farther south. In the ocean, flounder were pumped in at wrecks off Brigantine. Other fish could be mixed in, including sea bass, blackfish, triggerfish and sheepshead. Bring clams and crabs for bait for them.

<b>Brigantine</b>

One angler waited until 10 p.m. to fish for sharks in the surf, releasing a sand tiger shark on the trip, a report said on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s website. The angler bought bait for the angling at the store earlier in the day. The shop’s owner yesterday saw a 5-foot brown shark kayaked and released a short distance from the surf. Beachgoers were amazed that the fish came from the water they swam. Sand tigers and browns must be released by law, and sharks swam all over the water. Big rays ran the water, and so did kingfish. Snapper blues were reported seen in the surf yesterday. Two reports said spots were hooked from the surf. “Yes, spot being caught in the surf,” the store’s report said. Spots were caught in Delaware previously. “… will we see them move up here in full force?” the store’s report asked. The surf was 78 degrees and had been dirty a couple of days late last week. Wind blew south 5 to 10 knots Saturday and east 4 to 8 knots today. The sky was clear this morning and began to be cloudy this afternoon. Summer flounder were bagged in back waters, but anglers worked for the keepers. The shop’s tanks are full of minnows, favorite flounder bait. That included big minnows.

<b>Longport</b>

Fishing improved much in past days, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b>. Spinner sharks and a huge number of brown sharks swam the inshore ocean. Evening trips are catching and releasing sharks, and browns are required to be let go. A few summer flounder bit, and flounder fishing, on the ocean, was a little off this year, for unknown reasons. Tons of spike weakfish schooled. So did small bluefish. A few tuna trips are coming up, and if anybody wants to telephone for dates, they’re welcome. Open-boat trips for striped bass, blackfish, sea bass or whatever’s biting will fish every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from September 10 to January 15. Trips will fish for sea bass offshore once 15 becomes the bag limit beginning October 22, from the current limit of two.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Three anglers headed to the ocean Friday morning aboard, spin-rodding two mahi mahi 13 and 15 pounds, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. In the afternoon, four anglers landed a bunch of summer flounder, throwbacks that were released, on the back bay aboard. A flounder trip with a family the previous day, Saturday, was similar. A trip Thursday fought and released a spinner shark on the ocean. That was one of the inshore shark trips, usually within 10 miles of the coast, on the boat. High tides at dusk will be ideal for popper-plug and –fly-fishing for striped bass later this week on the bay. The fishing’s been surprisingly good and is a specialty aboard in summer. In another news, white marlin fishing took off in past days at the canyons. A bunch caught were heard about. A good number of mahi, including big, also swam the water. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

<b>Avalon</b>

Summer flounder fishing was slow on the back bay Saturday aboard, said Capt. Jim from <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b>. Wind blew strongly, preventing the trip from fishing the ocean. The wind also prevented good drifting of the boat on the bay for the angling. The drift was too fast, shoving the boat toward shore before an area could be fished well. A few small flounder were hooked on the outing, and not one flounder was seen caught on other boats. The trip with Fins spent a lot of time at the angling. The bay was 78 degrees, and the ocean, when Jim last saw, was 76. In the bay, flounder seemed to be gathering toward the inlet, on the trip before this one, covered in the last report here. A flounder charter is booked for Wednesday.

<b>Cape May</b>

A bigeye tuna 70-some inches, probably close to 300 pounds, was nailed Friday at Wilmington Canyon with <b>Caveman Sportfishing</b>, Capt. John said. The trip returned that night, too late to weigh the fish anywhere. The fish was fought 3 ½ hours to land it, and excellent white marlin fishing happened a few miles away during the trip. The boat trolled for bigeyes in deeper water along 100 fathoms. Many boats will probably fish for the whites now, because the White Marlin Open began today from Ocean City, Md. A trip with Caveman today was supposed depart at 2:30 a.m. to fish for tuna inshore. Good catches of yellowfin tuna were chunked at Massey’s Canyon, 40 miles from Cape May. The angling had slowed but sounded better recently. Good big-game fishing was happening from South Jersey, John said: bigeyes and whites at the Wilmington, and yellowfins inshore. <b>***Update, Monday, 8/8:***</b> Chunking for tuna caught none on today’s trip, John wrote in a text. The fish were landed on only a couple of boats, mostly in early morning.

A charter bagged a couple of summer flounder and the boat’s limit of sea bass Sunday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. Throwback flounder, a couple, and plenty of throwback sea bass also bit. A big flounder, 6 or 7 pounds, got off. Mahi mahi appeared behind the boat a moment but disappeared before bait could be pitched to them. The anglers, Jim MacHenry’s charter from Paul MacHenry Motorcraft, needed to fish heavy weight, because seas were 3 to 4 feet, occasionally bigger. Seas were supposed to be calmer. A half-day trip was supposed to bluefish today. Anglers from three different trips reported to George that tuna were caught Friday at Massey’s Canyon and the Hambone. Tuna fishing is still available aboard. Good white marlin fishing was also heard about that day.

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