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New Jersey Inshore Saltwater Fishing Report 9-14-17

<b>Staten Island</b>

Fluke fishing was so-so on Raritan Bay aboard, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an email. But the choice between fluking or not fluking was a no-brainer. New Jersey’s fluke season closed, so the boat began fluking from Staten Island, because New York’s fluke season is open through Sept. 21. Mostly throwbacks bit, but the keepers were thick, fat and up to 25 inches. Gulps and peanut bunker caught equally. Practically no fluke swam Ambrose Channel. Practically none held near the West Bank. Fluke were also scarce or nonexistent in the deep around the Verrazano Bridge that can hold giants. Although fluke are being bagged on the boat, fluke fishing was off this season around Raritan Bay. The fish seemed to remain elsewhere. Or maybe fisheries management was off. The large legal minimum size for fluke – 18 inches in New Jersey and 19 in New York – seems to kill females that matter for breeding. No lack of bait swam the bay. The 2018 season will be interesting. Charters are fishing, and only a few open-boat trips remain before New York’s fluke season closes. For open trips, two spaces are available Saturday, and four are left Tuesday. Spaces are also available Wednesday. Telephone to reserve. Your next chance for fluke is 2018! Frank said.

<b>Sewaren</b>

Striped bass were actually reported eeled from East River at Queensboro Bridge, said Rich from <b>Dockside Bait & Tackle</b>. That’s at 59th Street, and New York anglers still boated good catches of fluke. Rich wasn’t asked where, and New York’s fluke season is open, but Jersey’s is closed. Lots of porgies were boated on clams and worms. That could be anywhere from the ocean, like at reefs, to Raritan and Sandy Hook bays at structure like that. Baits stocked include eels, bloodworms, sandworms, fresh bunker daily and fresh clams. Dockside, located on Smith Creek, a tributary of the Arthur Kill, is accessible from the water at the fuel dock and from land.

<b>Keyport</b>

The <b>Down Deep Fleet</b> is beginning to carry crabs aboard for blackfishing, Capt. Mario said. So trips aboard will fish for blackfish along with porgies that trips have already been targeting. The porgy fishing was off the hook, the best in 35 or 40 years. Great, really unbelievable, fantastic, he said. Open-boat trips are fishing for porgies and blackfish daily, and charters are available for up to 15 passengers. When striped bass begin to bite, one of the company’s boats will striper fish on open trips daily and charters, and the other will continue bottom-fishing. 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.

<b>Leonardo</b>

Capt. Joe from <b>Sour Kraut Sportfishing</b> caught peanut bunker for tuna bait on a trip, he wrote in an email. While he did that, at Atlantic Highlands Marina, he caught-and-released fluke that recently became out-of-season. The trip would’ve limited out easily. Bucktails hooked the fluke, but livelined peanuts caught better. Joe will tuna fish when weather allows. Charters aboard will also keep porgy fishing like they’ve been. 

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Ocean boaters knocked the socks off porgies, said Johnny O. from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b>. Striped bass were eeled, and that was at river mouths, he thought. Bluefish were fought from the surf, he thought. Snapper blues still in back waters? he was asked. “There’s enough,” he said. Crabbing seemed to slow somewhat. The shop is located at Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, down the dock from party, charter and private boats.

Plenty of porgies were plundered on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. All customers caught, and the fishing was good. Some of the fish were good-sized, and some were shorts. Some trips only had to make one drop, and a couple of afternoon trips finished early, because anglers were satisfied.  Weather was often super – beautiful weather and good fishing. Don’t get put off by forecasts for possible storms. A little rain fell once. Trips are sailing for porgies 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily. <b>***Update, Sunday, 9/17:***</b> Weather looks fine for Monday’s trips, but Tuesday might be weathered out because of the offshore hurricane, and Wednesday is questionable, Tom said. He hopes weather is calm again Thursday, and Monday might be the day to fish, if anglers want to fish in the next days.

Non-stop action with porgies six trips in a row, a report said yesterday on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>’s website. The ocean and weather were perfect on the trip, a Top 10 day. All anglers left with plenty of meat. The bite was also great – “business as usual,” it said – on a trip Monday, the most recent day mentioned previously. The captain suggests keeping the bigger porgies, 10 inches or larger, that are best for filleting. A 9-incher doesn’t leave much meat after cleaning. Release them unless those are for the smoker or grill, because enough porgies are biting. Fish for porgies while they’re in, and trips are sailing for them 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Porgies, porgies, porgies were bailed in the bay from Perth Amboy to Sandy Hook, said Ron from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. He joined a trip that boated a mess of them at rock piles at a couple of spots off the Perth Amboy Bridge and the Arthur Kill. The trip also reeled up a couple of 12- to 15-inch striped bass, a couple of 10- or 11-inch blackfish, lots of small sea bass and some out-of-season fluke, including keeper-sized, that were released. Those were all on the porgy rigs. The fluke bit small pieces of worms on the rigs. Porgies were also shellacked on the ocean. A couple of boating trips were known about that cleaned them up. A couple of customers headed to eel for striped bass, though not much was reported about that fishing yet. Eels sold out but more are expected to be stocked. Baits carried, the full supply, also include worms, fresh bunker and fresh clams. Cocktail bluefish swam everywhere. A buddy hooked 1- to 2-pound blues on every cast at Keansburg. A person wouldn’t know the blues were there, and the fish never busted the water surface. Customers bought green crabs for blackfishing, but nothing was mentioned about the angling. No abundant news in the one-blackfish bag limit. A couple of small striped bass, no keepers, were beached from the surf. Was difficult to fish past blues in the surf. News about false albacore was scarce locally, though albies were boated to the north and south. No albies were heard about from the surf since Ron, a surf angler, reported two weeks ago that he ran into someone he knew who said albies shot into the surf at Point Pleasant Beach. Crabbing was pretty good. A buddy was catching them at Keansburg. Someone else rental-boated a bushel from Red Bank in 4 hours in traps and while scooping.

<b>Belmar</b>

Another excellent day of fishing was pounded today on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Bonito, all you wanted, made up most of the catch. Chub mackerel, false albacore and blues were also winged. Run Off hammered jigs and bait caught, and weather looks good for the weekend. The year’s first tuna trip aboard sailed Sunday to Monday, first fishing Hudson Canyon. The angling was slow throughout the night. After sunrise, the trip pulled 30 miles closer to shore, where tuna were caught a few days before. But no luck. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily when no tuna trip is sailing. Trips are also fishing 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays. Spaces are available for <a href=" https://www.goldeneaglefishing.com/tunafish" target="_blank">tuna trips</a> this month and in October. Reserve them.

Excellent bluefishing was laid up yesterday on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an email said from the party boat. Most anglers limited out on the 2- to 3-pounders. Some drifts held the fish a while, and some produced none, so the boat was moved back to readings after 15 minutes, starting a new drift. There was no lack of readings, and Ava 27 jigs with tails or without caught best. A couple of whales were seen feeding on bunker. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily.  

Capt. Mike from <b>Celtic Stoirm Charters</b> is supposed to be a second captain on a tuna trip to the canyons Friday to Saturday, he said. Tuna were reportedly nailed at the Bacardi wreck, and someone said the fishing was good at Baltimore Canyon during the weekend. But that was unconfirmed. Fall striped bass and blackfish charters are being booked.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Two tuna trips ran to the canyons this weekend with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Alan wrote in an email. Longfin tuna and huge yellowfin tuna were trolled. Some of the yellowfins weighed 90 to 95 pounds. Although the trips trolled the catches, chunking for tuna is improving on some boats. Mushin is finding plenty of squid and other bait at local canyons that should hold tuna for fall. Alan reminds anglers that during this time of year, forecasts often call for big seas because of distant hurricanes. But the seas are often gentle swells hundreds of miles away from the hurricane. Mushin’s crew watches forecasts all the time, and trips do not sail if weather is questionable. Still, the crew asks anglers to trust their judgment and sail if the crew deems the forecasts fishable.

On the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, fishing pummeled porgies, very good catches, Capt. Butch said. A couple of days fished slower, but still good. Most customers bagged 25 to 50, and more blackfish began to be hooked than before. Crabs began to be carried for blackfish bait, and a bunch of customers who tried for blackfish limited out on one apiece. Some caught more, keeping only a limit. A few triggerfish and small blues were decked. Lots of out-of-season sea bass and fluke were released. Trips fished to the north and mostly shallow, in 20 to 50 feet of water. The ocean’s surface was 70 degrees or warm, and the fish were warm to the touch. The porgy fishing should remain good a while. The fish being in shallow water suggested that. A few began to move deeper. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Good porgy fishing was docked the past few trips on the <b>Norma-K III</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Some places fished better than others, but anglers left with good catches. A few sizable blackfish were also bombed. Tonight’s bluefish trip was expected to sail, and reports sounded like some bigger began to move in. The crew hopes to get on them. Trips are fishing for porgies and blackfish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and bluefish 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursdays through Sundays.

Only a few customers showed up, but the <b>Gambler</b> steamed 20 miles from shore yesterday, and they began catching immediately, a report said on the party boat’s website. Bonito, false albacore, bluefish, chub mackerel and porgies were grabbed. Great diversity, and the porgies hung beneath the other fish. The porgies were big, the size of dinner plates. The other fish were mixed sizes and bit mostly 1- to 2-ounce jigs, not bait. Cast the jig, let it sink 40 feet, and retrieve fast. Crazy good action. Don’t miss it! Watch a video of the bonito, albies, mackerel blitzing. The trip was amazing and weather beautiful. The boat is sailing for this angling 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily except when tuna or mid-range trips are slated. <a href=" http://www.gamblerfishing.net/offshoretrips.php" target="_blank">Tuna trips</a> will begin Monday and sail into November. Monday is full, and reserve the trips, because they fill. Trips are wreck-fishing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursdays and bluefishing Fridays and Saturdays during the same hours.

<b>Toms River</b>

Some decent-sized blues and snapper blues tore around the surf, said Mario from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Mostly bunker and mullet hooked the decent-sized blues. Rumors said false albacore ripped into the surf, but that was unconfirmed, and Mario didn’t want to report albies in the surf. This was the time of year for them. The same-sized blues, up to 8 to 12 pounds, were fought from Barnegat Bay and the Toms River from docks, piers and bulkheads. Again, bunker and mullet hit them. Snappers swam the same water. Back in the surf, throwback striped bass were beaned along Barnegat Inlet’s north jetty. Throwback stripers were plugged on the bay at Ocean Gate at a couple of places on small swimming lures. Crabbing was a pick. Overnight pots caught the blueclaws much better. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Bluefish 7 to 12 pounds roamed Barnegat Bay, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. They sometimes raided the bay along the dock, including Tuesday at sunset. They gave up some action Wednesday. The blues seemed only to want cut bait. Anglers fishing artificials locked into none. Snapper blues schooled along the dock. Surf fishing was quiet but will improve when mullet migrate the water, departing back waters. Mullet were yet to do that, but big blues and small striped bass seemed to begin hanging at inlets, waiting for bait like that. Mullet began to “show in all the early spots now, marking the beginning of their fall run,” it said. Keeper stripers caught were reported from Manasquan River “and nearby.” Crabbing was “less than slow,” the report said, for the moment. But crabbers hope for one more good round of crabbing before the catches drop off for the year. 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>

With <b>Tuna-Tic Sportfishing</b>, a trip to Hudson Canyon fished okay Wednesday, Capt. Mike wrote in a text with a photo of the outing. A 160-pound swordfish, a yellowfin tuna and 40 mahi mahi were belted. The photo showed anglers with the sword at night.

Blowfish hovered near the BI marker in Barnegat Bay, said Mike from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Big bluefish raced around Oyster Creek. Boaters motored up the mouth to get after them.  A few blackfish were reported landed, but Mike heard no locations. One customer was headed to the ocean for blackfishing today. Out-of-season fluke were hooked and released. Crabbing slowed a bit but was good in lagoons, creek and rivers. Baits stocked include green crabs.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

A trip fished for tuna overnight Sunday to Monday on the <b>Super Chic</b>, Capt. Ted said. No tuna bit, and a bunch of mahi mahi 3 to 8 or 10 pounds, decent-sized, not tiny rats, were reeled in. The trip, departing at 8:30 a.m., began fishing at Lindenkohl Canyon at 3 p.m., trolling to look for good water, landing some mahi. Another boat there had spent the night at the canyon and caught no tuna. The Super Chic was anchored at the Lindy at 8 p.m. to spend the night chunking. No tuna bit, so in the morning, the trip sailed to Wilmington Canyon, where some warm water was. Plenty of squid and mackerel were around, but no tuna were. The trip did more pot-hopping and trolling and caught mahi. The water at the Lindenkohl inshore of 100 fathoms was pretty green and beyond there was a little blue, okay-looking. Some spots beyond 100 weren’t. Where the boat chunked at the Lindy, the water wasn’t blue but was good-looking, and was 72 degrees. An open-boat trip will fish for tuna Saturday to Sunday, and three spaces remain. Spaces are available for another Sept. 23-24, and the trips are limited to 10 passengers. For inshore angling, bluefishing is pretty good for 2- to 4-pounders, and some bonito are around.

Barnegat Inlet’s jetty attracted blackfish, said George from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. The bag limit was only one, but anglers drilled their one. Green crabs are stocked for bait for them. Bluefish maybe 16 or 18 inches schooled the inlet and Barnegat Bay, maybe the ocean. No striped bass were seen yet. 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>Beach Haven</b>

The ocean’s striped bass fishing kicked in last fall from mid-October through November on the <b>June Bug</b>, Capt. Lindsay said. Good catches were whipped on trolled Mojos, bunker snagged and then livelined and diamond jigs. Was a great season, and not one bluefish was mixed in on the boat’s trips. Lots of bunker are currently schooling within 3 miles from shore, but no fish are on them. Fishing for stripers is closed beyond 3 miles. False albacore were around currently, but trips would troll a while and pick one, troll again and pick another. That’s how the fishing was a week ago, but albies, no bonito, were fought aboard. Some yellowfin tuna 60 to 80 pounds were both trolled during daytime and chunked at night offshore.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

The closure of summer flounder and sea bass seasons hampered participation in fishing, but some anglers blackfished, said Brandon from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. That was despite the bag limit of one blackfish. Anglers caught them well. Local waters along sod banks were packed with the tautog at spots like off Great Bay Boulevard and the Coast Guard Station. Sometimes sheepshead were hooked during the blackfishing. Anglers also traveled north and south to fish for blackfish at Barnegat Inlet’s jetties and Absecon Inlet in Atlantic City’s jetties. Large catches of blowfish to 150 of them were reported from the bay near the shop, though the fish were small. They weren’t worth keeping, but some anglers fished for them for fun. Good fishing for large white perch came from Mullica River. Brandon fished for them quickly, reeled up six, good-eating-sized, and left. Crabbing was fair, and bigger crabs seemed around than before. Not a lot would be trapped, but good-sized were. Some crabbers considered crabbing good, because of the size, and some thought crabbing was slower, because of the number. Baits stocked include green crabs, bloodworms and minnows. Fresh clams were ordered for last weekend, but weather kept clam boats from sailing.

<b>Absecon</b>

We’re in the beginning of stripers, I’d say, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. A few striped bass were picked along banks of bays. The bass began to “move” a little better in the mouths of Mullica and Great Egg Harbor rivers. Most stripers were small or undersized, but somewhat bigger stripers began to show up. The fish could be hooked during daytime, but nighttime was the right time. The smaller stripers could be played on small, 4-inch Gulp swimming mullets. Gulp Nemesis fished best, though the tails could be bitten off, and that could be expensive. Plenty of peanut bunker schooled. Some mullet were around, and stripers were usually on them. Dave would focus on stripers, but that’s him, and other fish were around. Blackfishing was especially good. One is the bag limit, until that’s increased later in the year, but the tautog seemed to be moving in. A couple of customers landed blackfish along sod banks, not just along jetties and bridges. Still, Atlantic City’s jetties at Absecon Inlet served them up great. Lots of snapper blues 1 pound swam the surf and around inlets. A few weakfish  swam the mouth of Mullica River where bait did, and weakfishing was improving, not fantastic, but improving along bridges at night. Some were picked. Panfish were around like kingfish, a few spots, snappers and a few porgies. No big concentrations of spots were found. The porgies were small or none seemed to be keepers. The panfish were something to bend a rod. Shedder crabs were stocked, but probably only for another week. So were soft-shell crabs for eating that probably will also only be carried that long. A few cold nights will stop crabs from shedding. The store raises the crabs. A few live mullet are on hand. Dave expected to pick up his beach-buggy permit to be ready to castnet mullet when they migrate the surf soon. The shop’s <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/events/418469918551084/" target="_blank"><b><i>***Striper Season Kick-Off Sale***</b></i></a> is underway through Sunday. Stop in, talk stripers, gear up and save.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Many blackfish were cranked from Absecon Inlet, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Many were 14 to 14 ¾ inches, just under the 15-inch size limit. But some were keepers. Noel could guarantee an angler would catch 25 or 30 blackfish. Green crabs fished best for the tautog. Triggerfish were also claimed from the inlet, on the crabs, shrimp and clam necks. The necks stay on the hook well. Kingfish and spots bit in the inlet. Plenty of blues, now tailor-sized, no longer snappers, schooled the bay near the inlet. Striped bass, schoolies, invaded the bay near the inlet, near Harrah’s, last night. Squid or clam necks on bucktails or plugs could be fished for them. The necks stayed on the hooks on the cast bucktails. Fishing was on and cracking! Noel said. If you don’t catch in September, you may as well hang it up! Lots of baitfish schooled these waters. Crabbing was phenomenal. Go crabbing at the high school bridge at Route 40 or near the Home Depot on Route 30. All baits, a large supply, are stocked. 

<b>Brigantine</b>

From the surf, blues, spots and kingfish were yanked in, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Brown sharks, required to be released, still roamed the bay. An angler kayaked five. Fresh mullet are stocked daily. Bloodworms are in, and green crabs will arrive Friday, so long as the supplier has them. All frozen baits are carried. The annual Fall Riptide Striper and Bluefish Derby is underway until Christmas Eve. The $25 entry fee includes a permit to drive Brigantine’s entire front beach, when accompanied by a Brigantine beach-buggy permit. Without the tournament permit, not all the beach can be driven. Catches entered must be made from Absecon Inlet in Brigantine to Wreck Inlet from the beach, sod banks or jetties. Prizes will be $500, $300 and $150 for the three heaviest fish. Additionally, prizes for the three heaviest bluefish will be $300, $200 and $100. Anglers must enter 24 hours before catching. The annual Elks Tournament will be held Nov. 10 to 12 in Brigantine for surf and boating anglers for the heaviest stripers. Cash will be awarded for first through third places in each of the two categories. Half the entry fees will reportedly benefit the Elks veterans’ committee, and the other half will reportedly be awarded.

<b>Ocean City</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 9/15:***</b> A couple of kingfish, a ton of snapper blues and some weakfish 13 to 15 inches floated the surf, said Justin from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Bloodworms were best bait to dunk in the surf, for the kings and weaks. There were “whispers” about brown sharks, required to be released, remaining in the surf. But fishing for them became uncommon this late in the season. The back bay was loaded with snappers and small sea bass. At night, striped bass, mostly throwbacks 18 to 24 inches, the “fun” size, swiped mostly soft-plastic lures along bridges. Blackfishing was terrific at places like that in the bay. The tautog were decent-sized, but few fished for them. White perch were hammered in Great Egg Harbor River. Literally no customers seemed to fish offshore. Few if any tuna seemed to bite within range.  

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Things were picking up, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Mullet were yet to migrate to the surf and ocean, but were “moving” in the back bay, a start of the migration. Not a lot of anglers fished, but fishing was pretty darn good. Lots of bluefish from snappers to 2 pounds swarmed the surf and inlets. Kingfish and spots also hit in the surf. The kingfishing was best from sunup to 8 a.m. Afterward, spots and blues harassed the bloodworms fished for kings. Blues to 5 pounds, good-sized, ran the bay. They were pasted on swimming, popper and soft-plastic lures, depending on conditions. When mullet are active, fish become active, including a handful of weakfish and striped bass in the bay. A bazillion throwback blackfish and a few keepers snapped along structure like jetties. Water needed to cool to draw in bigger. Triggerfish hugged buoys and wrecks on the ocean closer to shore. Farther from shore, 10 to 15 miles out, a couple of false albacore, skipjacks and Spanish mackerel were trolled. Mike heard about good fishing for white marlin at Baltimore Canyon.

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> was getting the boat ready last evening for annual traveling charters to Montauk when he gave this report in a phone call then. The trips will kick off this weekend and fish into October, sailing for the migrations of striped bass, false albacore and blues. Albies were reportedly chewing well. The fishing should be good this weekend, and good weather was forecast. See the <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page3.html" target="_blank">traveling charters page</a> on Jersey Cape’s website. In November, Joe will turn all attention to the migrations of stripers and blues off Sea Isle City in the ocean. If anglers want to fish for them, they should think about scheduling now. Joe runs annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys from Christmas to Easter.

<b>Wildwood</b>

In the bay, snapper blues 8 to 12 inches swam all over, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. So did lots of small sea bass and still lots of summer flounder. But sea bass and flounder seasons closed. A friend released a 23-inch flounder from the canal and tugged in a 29-inch striped bass from there.  The bay was still 72 degrees or warm. Pretty decent, Mike said. Crabbing was alright on the bay. A rental-boat trip yesterday trapped two dozen keepers. Lots of the bay’s crabs were females. 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. Minnows are no longer stocked, now that flounder season closed. Minnows are favorite bait for flounder. Spearing ran out, and Mike will see if he can stock more. Live crabs for eating will remain available through Sunday at the store. Afterward, the supplier is pulling his pots for the year. The prices are $20, $25, $30 and $35 per dozen for four different sizes, from small to large, respectively. Cooked crabs are $5 per dozen additional. 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. More and more people were sitting to eat. Some bring their own adult beverages, and wine from Natali Vineyards in Cape May Court House is also sold at the shop. The state recently approved that.

<b>Cape May</b>

No trips fished last weekend on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, Capt. Paul said. Only two anglers wanted to go Saturday, so Paul figured he wouldn’t fish Sunday, because football began that day. But he’ll try to fish this coming Saturday and Sunday, and a few anglers said they wanted to go each day. Paul will look at the weather and make sure the hurricane isn’t headed this way that was tumbling around to the south. The trips, departing at 8 a.m., would fish for triggerfish, porgies, blues or whatever can be bagged. If anybody wants to wet a line, he’ll try to fish.

Bluefish should still school 5-Fathom Bank, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. They did a week ago, and trips aboard troll for them. George is waiting for tuna to show back up within range. Or he hopes they’ll move back in.

The ocean surf harbored blues 1 to 3 pounds, sometimes bigger, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Mullet tackled them well on mullet rigs or smaller high-low rigs, and fresh mullet are stocked when available. Green crabs and bloodworms are carried. Mullet remained in back waters, but a few surf anglers reported seeing a few in the surf. The baitfish will migrate to the surf soon. A few striped bass, mostly schoolies, were slid from the ocean surf. But a few 30-inch keepers were heard about. Blackfish hit along jetties and inshore wrecks. Sometimes triggerfish did. Delaware Bay’s surf served up kingfish, spots, croakers and stripers. Bloodworms were best bait there, but clams or squid could be fished.  Bluefish to 8 or 10 pounds began schooling 5-Fathom Bank. Inshore trolling boated spotty mahi mahi and Spanish mackerel catches, not great. Lots of white marlin and some tuna were taken at Baltimore and Wilmington canyons. Yellowfin and not longfin tuna were heard about. Attractive water moved into the Wilmington, and a customer was fishing there today. A trip yesterday at the Wilmington totaled nine whites, Nick thought, and some yellowfins. A few large wahoos 80 pounds were heard about from around those canyons. One was 80 pounds dressed, and that’s big.

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