<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

Capt. Scott from <b>XTC Sportfishing</b> from Belmar fished for sharks from Atlantic City with friends Sunday, he said. A 100-pound mako shark and a couple of blue sharks were landed from the 66- or 68-degree, clear water. The water was mostly green but a bit of blue, and was good-looking. Anglers were supposed to compete last Friday in Jim’s Bait & Tackle’s in Cape May’s shark tournament aboard but canceled.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

Sounded like yellowfin tuna were sometimes trolled at Hudson Canyon, Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle said. Some good catches of mako sharks came from the Hudson. Closer to shore, bluefin tuna 40 to 80 pounds were reported pushing sand eels at the Resor wreck. False albacore were fought in the area, though the season was early for that. A handful of makos were landed in the area. But anglers really needed to fish the Hudson to catch makos.

The year’s first tuna trip was weathered out recently with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> from Point Pleasant Beach, Capt. Alan said. 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. 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.

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

Wind weathered out shark fishing throughout the week with <b>Tuna-Tic Sportfishing</b> from Forked River, Capt. Mike said. Trips were slated for Monday, Wednesday, Thursday to today on an overnighter, and Saturday. The trips were rescheduled that could be. Shark fishing began for the season on trips Friday and Saturday. A dozen blue sharks were cranked-in on Friday’s trip, and probably 10 were pumped-in during Saturday’s. No mako sharks showed up, but water was ideal for sharking: 64 or 65 degrees where the boat fished, good-looking and holding lots of life. Probably 100 boats fished where Mike first wanted to shark. So the Tuna-Tic was sailed 12 miles away to fish on its own. Lots of makos seemed to hold farther offshore at Hudson Canyon. But conditions were perfect for makos closer to shore, where the trips fished. Yellowfin tuna catches were hit, so tuna trips became available.

Two boats from the docks trolled yellowfin tuna 35 to 50 pounds, good catches, during the weekend, said Capt. Ted from the <b>Super Chic</b> from Barnegat Light. One of the trips hooked a mako shark at night, but the fish got off, he thought. The location of the trips was unknown, but he thought they fished farther south.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Mako sharks bit at offshore canyons, and should push closer to shore any moment, said Pat from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City. Tuna were fought far south, and Norfolk Canyon was the hot spot.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

Thresher sharks, mako sharks and blue sharks caught were heard about, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

The <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May was supposed to begin competing today in the South Jersey Shark Tournament from town, Capt. George said. The competition began Thursday, and a couple of boats like Vikings would surely fish that day, he said when he gave this report that day. “But they’re not going to like it,” he said. Forecasts were rough for seas and wind, and today didn’t look so good either. The Heavy Hitter, a 35-foot Bertram, could handle it, though small boats might not compete in the tournament, lasting through Saturday. George expects to compete today and Saturday. He 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. More tuna will probably be heard about in another week. A couple of shark anglers reported seeing schools of bluefin tuna last week.

Anglers kept hush about sharking because the South Jersey Shark Tournament got underway in Cape May, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b> in the town. Shark baits like flats of bunker, bunker chum and mackerel chum for sharks is stocked.

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