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New Jersey Inshore Saltwater Fishing Report 8-24-17

<b>Sewaren</b>

For customers from <b>Dockside Bait & Tackle</b>, fluke fishing improved considerably, Rich said. The fish were boated throughout Raritan Bay. The fishing was good at the Keyport Flats. The summer flounder came from near the 47 and 49 buoys near the Triangle. Lots were hung from Princes Bay off Raritan Bay. Bluefish were randomly boated in the bay when they popped up, chasing bait. Good catches of porgies and sea bass were made. Even small striped bass were angled at the piers at Perth Amboy and Carteret. Dockside, located on Smith Creek, a tributary of the Arthur Kill, is accessible from the water at the fuel dock and from land. The fuel dock is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Killies, fresh bunker, fresh clams, sandworms, bloodworms and all frozen bait is stocked. 

<b>Keyport</b>

Fluking was good especially on marathon trips that worked rocky bottom farther from shore, Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b> said. The next marathons, open-boat trips 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., will sail Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise, open trips are fluke fishing at 6 a.m. daily and 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. On Down Deep’s other boat, porgy fishing was fantastic. Many large to heavier than 3 pounds were slammed during the weekend aboard. Open trips are porgy fishing at 6 a.m. daily and 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, too. The afternoon trips, both for fluke and porgies, will discontinue after Labor Day weekend. Charters are available for either fishing, and each boat accommodates up to 15 passengers. Sign up for the Short Notice List on <a href="http://downdeepsportfishing.com" target="_blank">Down Deep’s website</a> to be kept informed about special trips. Look for the link underneath “Contact.” Book fall striped bass, sea bass and blackfish charters and open trips.

When conditions were good, so was fluke fishing, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an email. He was on a cruise with family this week and will resume fluking aboard this weekend. Like all season, fluking was up and down. When conditions failed to drift the boat naturally, or when boat traffic was heavy, the fishing had to grind out catches. Fluke should begin gathering in the channels soon, and Frank hoped that was before fluke season closes beginning Sept. 6. Charters are fishing, and a couple of spots are left Saturday for an open-boat trip for fluke. Telephone to reserve.

<b>Leonardo</b>

<b>Sour Kraut Sportfishing</b> will next fish Sunday, Capt. Joe said. He’ll have a table at Leonardo State Marina Flea Market on Saturday. Porgies are reportedly still biting well. Fluke fishing sounds mediocre. False albacore with Spanish mackerel are supposedly beginning to appear close to shore in good numbers. Many tuna anglers seem tight-lipped because of the Manasquan Marlin & Tuna Club Offshore Open this weekend. But inshore tuna fishing seems hit and miss. If a trip finds the fish, it can chunk or jig catches.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

On the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Tuesday was one of the better days of fluking, Capt. Tom said. More keepers were hooked than before. On Wednesday, the angling was slower. The morning trip copped some keepers, and the afternoon trip scored fewer keepers but more throwbacks than in the morning. This morning’s trip picked throwbacks and a few keepers so far, he said aboard at 10 a.m. when he gave this report in a phone call. The fishing was better than on Wednesday, not as good as on Tuesday. The trips fished Raritan and Sandy Hook bays, and spearing provided aboard seemed to catch as well as anything. Some anglers fished killies they brought. When fluke bit, they bit everything. Sometimes angler skill made a difference. Trips are fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

Customers boated more fluke than before, including more keepers, said Tom from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b>. A group on one of the store’s rental boats today limited out on fluke, not great-sized, but 18 or 19 inches. Lots of snapper blues and some cocktail blues swam all around. Party boats bailed porgies, lots. Those Tom knew who tuna fished returned mostly with yellowfins, not many bluefins. They also caught mahi mahi.

Some big fluke were shoveled aboard Tuesday, a report said on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>’s website. Conditions were no good at the beginning of the trip, but anglers “worked the snags hard” and pulled in some beautiful fluke. One angler on the trip pasted an 8.7-pound fluke and a 4-pound sea bass. Another angler cracked four big fluke to a 7.1-pounder, keeping no more than a limit of three. Fluke 6.9 and 6.7 pounds were drilled, and so were a couple of 4- and 5-pounders and several huge sea bass. Not many throwback fluke bit. The fluke caught were quality lately. On Wednesday’s trip, a couple of more big fluke were slapped aboard: a 7.2-pounder and a 6-pound 10-ouncer. The angler with the 7.2-pounder winged three beauties. Another angler toggled in three keepers, and a few beat two apiece. On today’s trip, catches began with a fluke here and there and throwback sea bass, plenty, and conditions failed to drift the boat much. The boat was moved, a good bite was found, and the trip stayed there, fishing overtime. Several anglers limited out, and a 6-1/2-pound fluke won the pool. Good-sized sea bass were slugged, but not like previously. Plenty of little “bait stealers,” some porgies and triggerfish and a few mackerel were mixed in. Trips are fishing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Highlands</b>

Taking a trip from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Jay, Tracy and Johnny on the Par Tee II boated fluke 22 and 18 inches at the New Ground, Marion wrote in an email. Paul and Becky on the Second Home bagged four fluke off the Towers. Jim Hutchinson, John DeBona, Al Ristori and Jerry Gomber with Capt. Erwin Heinrick on the Scales and Tales laid up three sizable fluke and some sea bass at Rockaway Reef. 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>

Big sea bass and fluke were batted aboard the weekly individual-reservation trip Tuesday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> on the ocean, Capt. Ralph wrote in an email. At first on the trip, big sea bass chewed well, and a few fluke came in. Toward the end of the trip, more fluke, up to 6 pounds, were found on three drifts. Only two of the trips, sailing on Tuesdays, remain before fluke season is closed beginning Sept. 6, and spaces are available. Kids under 12 sail free on those outings, limited to one per adult host. An individual-reservation bottom-fishing trip Monday reeled up triggerfish, porgies, fluke, blowfish and sea bass, and all anglers left with fillets. Charters are available daily.

<b>Belmar</b>

Fluke fishing was great on the ocean on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. Outstanding, very solid, he said, and all customers limited out. Some landed lots more keepers, keeping no more than a limit. Bucktails with Gulps on spinning rods were the tackle to fish. Spinning rods enabled anglers to cast around, and fishing bait was not the way to go. Some 10-pounders were axed. A couple of 9-pounders were taken Tuesday aboard. Trips are fluking 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

With <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, excellent fluke fishing was smashed from the ocean yesterday, Capt. Pete said. The fish weighed up to 8 pounds, and most of the anglers limited out. Many of the keepers topped 23 and 24 inches, and lots of shorts gave up action. Spaces are available for the fishing this weekend and this coming final full week of fluke season.  Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Parker Pete’s about individual spaces available with charters who want more anglers. 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 future spaces.

A 3-hour trip hosted a birthday party for kids 5 to 7 years old yesterday with <b>Celtic Stoirm Charters</b>, Capt. Mike said. They played with throwback sea bass on the ocean. Charters will fish for fluke and sea bass today through Saturday aboard. Sunday is available.

Good fishing today! an email said from the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>. The day’s trip picked right away at sea bass and a few fluke. Mackerel took a while to begin biting, but ended up hitting well. Fishing was good for those three catches Tuesday and Wednesday, too. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Trips are also fishing 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily, and the afternoon trips also watch whales and porpoises and catch the sunset on the ride home. Fireworks are watched on Thursday’s afternoon trips. The Royal Miss Belmar, the company’s other boat, will begin fishing on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. for fluke and sea bass, after not fishing for 2 ½ years. The email gave no reason the boat hadn’t fished and didn’t say whether the trips would sail daily.

Big fluke were still clobbered, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an email. He talked about the big fish in the last report here. Fluke seen from the ocean in past days at the store included Matt Salco’s 8-pound 2-ouncer and Brittany Durand’s 6-pound 9-ouncer and  5-pound 8-ouncer. All were hooked on Gulps, and too bad another month isn’t left for fluking, because big would surely be seen, he said. Fluke season will be closed beginning Sept. 6. Enjoy what’s left of the season, and get your personal best, he said.

Chub mackerel, bluefish and sea bass put up decent fishing Tuesday on the ocean on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. The mackerel were more difficult to catch than usual, but were caught. Mackerel and bonito swam around the boat, and the bonito refused to bite. Wednesday’s trip’s fishing began slowly, while the boat looked for blues and sea bass. The boat was moved, and very good fishing for sea bass, chubs, blues and fluke got whaled. There was so much action with mackerel that many anglers simply dropped mackerel rigs into the water and just watched the mackerel bite the bait on the hooks. Mackerel swam high in the water column. Was exciting, and anglers had a good time. On today’s trip, fishing was slow. Mackerel and sea bass were angled, but too few. Lots of fish swam the chum slick but refused to bite. The weekend’s weather looks great, so jump aboard. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. However, a charter is booked Friday morning, so no open-boat trips will fish then. Fishing and sunset cruises are running 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Spaces are available for 24- and 31-hour <a href=" https://www.goldeneaglefishing.com/tunafish" target="_blank">tuna trips</a> in September and October. Reserve them.

<b>Brielle</b>

The following report was posted Tuesday as an update and is being re-posted in case anybody missed it: Big fluke and big sea bass, very good catches, were plowed the past three days on the ocean on the <b>Jamaica II</b>, an email said from the party boat. Many anglers limited out, and this was the best fishing aboard all season, by far. The boat was in the yard for maintenance in prior days. In the past three days, many of the fluke weighed 3 to 6 pounds, and pool-winners weighed 8 to 10. Alan Mansara from Toms River is in the lead for the monthly pool with a 9.6-pound fluke. The winner wins not only the cash but also a year of free fishing aboard. Ernie Washington from Philadelphia eased in a 10.6-pound fluke, but wasn’t in the monthly pool. “Too many mackerel around also” the past three days, the email said.  Anglers and their catches also included: Kimmie Chan, Trenton, three Fluke 8.5, 6.6 and 6.1 pounds; Ed Nolan, Manasquan, limits of fluke to 6 pounds and sea bass; Ray Bryant, South Orange, limit of fluke to 7 pounds; and Sean Duffy, Princeton, limit of fluke to 6 1/2 pounds and limit of two 4-pound sea bass. Trips are fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Porgies, very good catches, were sacked on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. Sea bass and triggerfish were swung in, and so were a few blackfish and fluke. A couple of days late last week fished slowly. But the past days fished terrific. Some anglers totaled 25 to 50 porgies, and almost all limited out on two sea bass apiece. A couple of dozen triggerfish, a couple of keeper blackfish and a couple of keeper fluke were in the mix yesterday. Blackfish caught previously were mostly a bunch of throwbacks. But a couple of bigger showed up yesterday. Trips fished in 20- to 50-foot depths in the ocean, and are sailing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. During some summers, trips also bluefish at night. But not a lot of blues showed up at night yet this summer, and Labor Day’s almost here, so those trips look unlikely to run this year. A few blues, not a lot, were hooked during the weekend at night on other boats. Those trips have been angling chub mackerel, saving the night. Yesterday was the first time this season that chub mackerel showed up in catches during porgy fishing on the Dauntless.   

Lots of action with fluke, including a fair number of keepers, was licked the last few days on the ocean on the <b>Gambler</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Pretty good, it said, and pool-winning fluke usually weighed 4 to 6 pounds. A 9-pounder was hauled in Saturday. Thursday night’s wreck-fishing trip fished fair for mixed sizes of ling to 3 pounds. Some anglers totaled 10 apiece, and some jigged squid who tried for them. During a night bluefishing trip – the report mentioned no specific date – mostly big chub mackerel gave up good action. Trips are fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily. Trips are wreck-fishing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursdays and bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. A <a href="http://www.gamblerfishing.net/tripinformation.php" target="_blank">Shark in the Dark Trip</a> will sail 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Reserve online. The <a href=" http://www.gamblerfishing.net/offshoretrips.php" target="_blank">schedule of tuna trips</a> is posted on the boat’s website, and spaces are filling.

Some good-sized fluke were pitched aboard most of the weekend’s trips on the <b>Norma-K III</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. The fishing was decent, and 6- to 9-pounders won pools. Sea bass were also bagged, and on Tuesday morning’s trip, excellent fluking was pounded. The catch included a 9-pound 2-ouncer and 4- to 7-pounders. A fast drift slowed the angling on the afternoon’s trip, but shorts and sometimes keepers were picked. Trips are fishing rocks and rubble, so bring extra tackle because of snags. Sinkers and plain rigs are available aboard. On Thursday and Saturday nights’ trips, plenty of chub mackerel bit. Only a few bluefish were landed, and getting through the macks was difficult. On Sunday night’s trip, bluefishing was much better for 2- to 3-pounders. “The big blues should be here soon,” the report said. A good number of big schooled offshore, and the crew hopes they’ll pull closer in.  Trips are fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily and bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Thursday through Sunday.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

The <b>Tin Knocker</b> will next fish this weekend, maybe competing in Manasquan Marlin & Tuna Club’s Offshore Open or just fishing inshore for tuna, Capt. John said. Trips are also fluking.

<b>Toms River</b>

<b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> was busy today, including at 8:45 p.m., just before closing time, Mario said. Many anglers were going to fish tomorrow. Ocean fluke fishing was definitely pretty good. A customer and his buddy boated five keepers 20 to 22 inches at Axel Carlson Reef. Barnegat Bay’s fluke were migrating closer to Barnegat Inlet, but not much was heard about fishing for them. Surf-fishing for fluke could be good. A few customers yesterday yanked keepers from the surf on Jetty Ghost Mulnuts. Lots of snapper blues tore around the surf. Snappers swam abundant along the bay and back waters. Throwback striped bass were angled in the bay a little south of Ocean Gate on small swimming lures at night. Crabbing was picking up in the Toms River on both sides. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

After hot and humid weather, forecasts looked better for the rest of the week, a report said yesterday on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. Lower temperatures and humidity and “favorable wind directions,” it said, should be good for surf fishing. Different-sized snapper blues ran the surf. They’re fun on light tackle but also make great bait to liveline for large fluke in the surf. Chances of banking fluke increased, the closer to Barnegat Inlet that anglers fished at Island Beach State Park. The fluke population usually only increases in the surf in late August into September. The fish swim there while migrating offshore from back waters. Cooler weather hinting at fall “should jump start those surf guys who are stuck in the summer doldrums,” it said. Mullet will begin to pour into the surf from back waters before long, one of the first migrations of different fish into the surf that will last throughout fall and later. Large brown sharks and sand tiger sharks, both required to be released, tested tackle at night in the surf at the park. In Barnegat Bay, plenty of snappers swam, and crabbing was slow. 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>

Ocean boaters made off with fluke from Garden State Reef North, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Ocean fluking at the Tires was iffy but sometimes dialed up keepers. If boaters fluked Barnegat Bay, near Barnegat Inlet fished best. Blowfish began to be reported from near the BI marker and the research buoy on the bay. The research is between the BI and BB markers. Snapper blues swam the bay and back waters, and sometimes bigger came from the bay. Fresh, local spearing were only stocked twice this season so far. This was not a great year to obtain them. But frozen local and Canadian spearing are carried. Baits stocked also include killies and, for blowfishing, clam chum. Freshwater baits include nightcrawlers.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Most fluke were bagged from the ocean, but some were still lifted from Barnegat Bay, said Chris from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. In the bay, fish for them near Barnegat Inlet, because the fish seem to be migrating out. Snapper blues and baby sea bass schooled the bay. Sea robins bit there. No weakfish were known about from the bay. Tons of blackfish hovered along ocean wrecks. Blackfish also snapped along the inlet’s rocks. Crabbers found lots of pregnant lately in the bay. Clamming was great in the bay. Killies and green crabs are stocked.  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.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

The ocean held pretty good catches of summer flounder, said Brandon from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. A few were bagged from the bay, mostly near Little Egg Inlet, but some farther back. Still, more swam the ocean by this late in summer. Sharks including browns, required to be released, stalked the bay. Lots of snapper blues were played from docks on lagoons on spearing. Occasional white perch were hooked from there on bloodworms. Anglers in the know loaded up on perch in Mullica River. Sometimes customers traveled north and angled blackfish along Barnegat Inlet’s rocks. Crabbing seemed good. Good numbers of bunker were sold for bait for crabbing, so crabbers seemed to catch. Baits stocked also include minnows, bloodworms and green crabs. Fresh, shucked clams are expected Friday.

<b>Absecon</b>

Ocean reefs fished well for summer flounder, said Jay from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. A few were boated at Absecon Inlet. But shore anglers locked into good flounder catches from Absecon Inlet in Atlantic City. Flounder were migrating to the ocean. Kingfish were plucked from Brigantine’s surf and the Ventnor Pier. Striped bass nibbled in Mullica River. Capt. Dave, the store’s owner, boated the bass: throwbacks and a couple of keepers. Gulp swimming mullets will hook them, and Jay also knew about some eeled at night. White perch fishing was good in the river. Lots of peanut bunker schooled back waters. Five gallons were caught in one throw of a castnet for a tuna trip Jay joined. A few mullet swam local back waters, but plenty schooled at Tuckerton, where Jay keeps his boat. Tuna fishing was decent, and the trip Jay joined landed some on livelined spots and broke off some on the bait, because light leaders had to be fished. That was at Lemke’s Canyon. Live spots, peanuts and eels are stocked. Plenty of shedder crabs and soft-shell crabs for eating are in supply. The store raises them, and keep up with the supply on <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/SoftshellCrabs/" target="_blank">Absecon Bay Sportsman’s Soft Shell Crabs Facebook Page</a>. This should be one of the last times substantial numbers are carried this summer, because crabs stop shedding when water cools.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Lot of flounder, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. The fluke, including healthy-sized, were hit from Absecon Inlet left and right. Nothing is better than minnows and squid to catch them. Fish a “stinger-hook” rig or a Fluke Candy rig that the store stocks. The stinger rig has tandem hooks, and a strip of squid gets impaled on the top hook, and the minnow gets placed on the bottom hook, like the minnow is body-boarding on the squid. The Fluke Candy rig features a sinking bucktail on bottom and a floating bucktail above on a leader. Also from the inlet, kingfish were bloodwormed, and some good-sized blackfish, among smaller, were hooked on green crabs or clam. Triggerfish were angled from the inlet on either of those baits or shrimp. Plenty of snapper blues were snatched from the inlet. “Dime a dozen,” he said, and the snappers, chasing baitfish, were forage for the other fish, keeping the other fish around. For the snappers, fish spearing or minnows on a Snapper Zapper rig or a spearing rig that Noel makes, and both are stocked. The rig he makes comes with a long-shanked hook, and a spearing is hooked along the length, from the mouth to the rear end. Customers fish the nearby, jetty-lined inlet on foot. In the back bay, occasional resident striped bass were reeled in from shore. All baits mentioned and more, the full supply, are stocked.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Kingfish moved heavily into the surf and Absecon Inlet, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Previously, the fish were beached from the surf sometimes and not others or by some anglers and not others. But the fish swarmed all over the surf and inlet today and yesterday. Three or four customers reported getting into them today. Andy saw an angler yesterday swing kingfish from the inlet one after another while watching the Atlantic City air show. The angler fished bloodworms on a kingfish rig, and bloods caught the kings best in the surf and inlet. Fishbites artificial worms could be fished for them, but bloods worked best. Both are stocked. Snapper blues appeared in the surf here and there. Brown sharks were around in the surf that must be released by law. Two-and-a-half weeks remain for Riptide’s Summer Fishing Tournament. A 13-ounce kingfish is in the lead in that category, and no blues and summer flounder were entered yet. 

<b>Margate</b>

Back-bay fishing for summer flounder was slower in past days but still caught on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. The water was dirty, and when the water was clear last week, catches picked up. This week, lots of snapper blues also bit, tearing up minnows meant for flounder. Lots of baby sea bass and a bunch of sea robins also hit. Tons of baitfish schooled. Minnows provided aboard hooked the flounder. Mackerel also supplied aboard caught some of the flatfish, but sea bass usually beat flounder to the hook when mackerel was dunked. John always recommends bringing Gulps that work well on flounder. The back of the bay was 78 to 80 degrees. Flounder usually bite so long as the water temp is lower than 84. When the water’s clear, trips have tied into them as warm as 86. Trips are sailing for flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. daily. The rate is only $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for kids, because the fishing is near port, and the pontoon boat is economical on fuel. Plus, rental rods are free.

<b>Longport</b>

The ocean cleared, and bluefish showed up closer to shore, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b>. Trips trolled them and a few false albacore that began to appear. That was 5 miles and farther from shore, and previously, dirty water from rain and rough weather shoved the blues farther out. Sea bass catches were strong aboard the ocean. Summer flounder disappeared from the area for the moment, and they’ve come and gone repeatedly. They’ll show up permanently like Sept. 8, after flounder season closes beginning Sept. 6, he said half-jokingly. They’ll appear when trips are trying to fish for croakers, he added. A few croakers and small weakfish are swimming close to shore, but the population is spotty. Lots of 9-inch flounder are holding along lumps there. Because flounder season this year closes early, a discount will be offered for tuna trips to the offshore canyons starting in September, until fall sea bass season opens. The sea bass season is yet to be announced. Anglers should telephone, because of the substantial savings for tuna. The trips will also deep-drop for tilefish, depending on the tide. The discount is for open-boat trips and charters. Sept. 9 and 17 to 18 are already sold out. The open trips will run every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, unless a charter is booked. A $100 deposit is required for the open trips, and the trips will be limited to six passengers.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>, was away for a couple of days this week, he said. On Saturday, he, his son, Rick Linus and Tom Herter boated four keeper summer flounder 4, 5, 6 and 7 pounds, some keeper sea bass and a bunch of throwbacks from the ocean. A trip Wednesday landed a 4-pound, keeper flounder, three keeper sea bass and throwbacks from the ocean. Joe will keep inshore shark fishing that’s been going well aboard. That angling will wind down before long. A few openings are available for charters Labor Day weekend, and Joe would recommend ocean flounder fishing. Not a lot of openings are available this time of year. Annual traveling charters to Montauk will fish the migrations of striped bass, bluefish and false albacore from mid-September to October. See the <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page3.html" target="_blank">traveling charters page</a> on Jersey Cape’s website.  Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

Much fishing was the same as last week, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. At ocean reefs, summer flounder catches might’ve slowed a little, and whether that was because of a swell or the time of year or something was unknown. Weather was hot last week. A keeper flounder was hooked occasionally from the back bay. But the bay was crammed with small sea bass, small blues, small spots and a few baby porgies. Anglers could take kids and fish with Fishbites artificial worms on small hooks for drop-and-reel catches. Tons of sharks like browns and duskies swam the ocean. Many of the species, including browns and duskies, are required to be released. That angling should be opened, Mike thinks. Anglers are seeing pods swimming past. One angler’s trip watched the Atlantic City air show on the water this week and released 25 sharks, a variety of species. The only tuna report was about someone who docked a tuna, a mahi mahi and a 100-pound mako shark or a catch like that. The fish were trolled at Lemke’s Canyon. The surf harbored tons of kingfish, spots, small blues and a couple of croakers. A couple of pompano were rumored to be beached from the surf. This is the time of year for that, when the water’s warmest. Tons of crabs skittered around back waters. Nobody complained about crabbing.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Catches of summer flounder and crabs began to pick up after they somewhat dropped off, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. Rough weather including rain, not to mention hot weather, might’ve affected the catches previously. The flounder included lots of throwbacks but some keepers. Baby sea bass were abundant in the bay. Not a large population of crabs were trapped, but there was some action. Opportunity to catch fish or crabs was pretty good, after the lull. 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 is stocked. So is fishing and crabbing tackle and gear. Live crabs for eating are sold. The price depends on the market and is currently: $20, $25, $30 and $35 per dozen for four different sizes, from small to large, respectively. Cooked crabs are $5 per dozen additional. The prices have been the same for some time now this season. A special is underway on No. 2 crabs for $35 for three dozen live or two dozen chilled that were cooked. The cooked crabs mentioned above are cooked-to-order and still hot, not chilled. Live and steamed clams and cooked and uncooked shrimp are available. Customers enjoy the food at tented picnic tables on the water at the store, or enjoy them at their own location. Wine from Natali Vineyards in Cape May Court House is sold at the store. The state recently approved that.

<b>Cape May</b>

Bluefish and Spanish mackerel were trolled at 5-Fathom Bank on trips during the weekend on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. Trips this weekend are supposed to fish for summer flounder aboard. Reports sounded like flounder bit well at ocean reefs on some days. Tuna fishing was slow but maybe will turn back on. Anglers contacted George for tuna fishing but he encouraged them to wait for the fish to bite next.

Ten keeper summer flounder, maybe 70 or 80 throwbacks, and a half-dozen keeper sea bass were swung from the ocean Wednesday with <b>Fishin’ Fever Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Tom said. Flounder fishing is pretty decent, and some openings are available for this coming final week of flounder season. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing. Tuna fishing on a trip Monday gained no bites. Four white marlin were raised but never committed. So the trip tilefished, cranking in 45.  

A good weekend of summer flounder fishing was socked on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> on the ocean, through Monday, Capt. Paul said. A hard southerly wind created rough weather and seas Tuesday aboard. But Sam Citron from Wildwood Crest limited out on flounder on the trip. Seas remained rough on Wednesday’s trip, leftover from Tuesday’s wind. On Saturday’s trip, an angler named Haig from Havertown limited on flounder to 6 pounds. But Joe Yannul Jr. from Broomall won the pool with a 6.8-pounder. Several anglers limited on the trip. On Sunday, conditions failed to drift the boat much, always tough for flounder fishing, but Mike Jung from Cape May Court House limited on flounder to 6 pounds on the trip. Many anglers reeled in no keepers on the trip, but Jung jigged up some. On Monday’s trip, several anglers limited, including Mike Wolf from Philadelphia and Ken Minnet from Mays Landing. Anglers lost tackle fishing sticky bottom on the outing.  Trips are fishing for flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Catches of summer flounder from the ocean included limits, and the fishing was pretty good, even really good, the past two weeks, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Surf anglers nabbed kingfish, 8-inch snapper blues, a few small weakfish and a few small flounder. In Delaware Bay’s surf, somewhat bigger croakers began to be angled, after smaller were previously, like along jetties including the ferry jetty. The only flounder boated from the bay came from farther north, like toward Fortescue, that were heard about. Weakfish 18 or 20 inches had been reported boated from the Delaware side of the bay, nothing on fire, but some. Anglers who knew how to target sheepshead nailed a good number to 7 or 8 pounds at jetties, bridges and old pilings or similar places. Nobody really targeted blackfish in the one-blackfish bag limit this time of year, but some were reported caught now and then along places like that. A white perch tournament was held during the weekend, and the anglers could hardly buy a perch at places like Dennisville Creek and Maurice River. Maybe dirty water was the reason, and water had been filthy. Crabbing was awesome nearly everywhere like along docks, creeks and the sides of roads, another great year for that. This made three years in a row.

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