<b>Keyport</b>

The <b>Down Deep Fleet</b> fished for fluke “close to home” because the ocean was rough, Capt. Mario said. High hooks landed eight legal-sized apiece, keeping no more than a limit of three each. The angling was great. Fluke season closes beginning tomorrow, so beginning then, one of Down Deep’s boats will fish for porgies, and the other will fish for porgies and blackfish. Open-boat trips will fish daily for each angling, and the porgy fishing’s been fantastic aboard. Charters are available for 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.

Each angler limited out on big, thick fluke Saturday and Sunday on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank wrote in an email. A good mix of sizes including 6-, 7- and 8-pounders were clubbed, and the fishing was excellent. Was too bad New Jersey’s fluke season would close beginning tomorrow, when the angling was the best of the year. But the Vitamin Sea will just begin fluking from Staten Island at Tottenville Marina that day, because New York’s fluke season is open through Sept. 21. New York’s sea bass season is also open, so trips will be able to scoop up both. Jersey’s sea bass season closed on the first of the month. Anglers need no license to fish New York aboard, because the boat’s license covers that. Join trips aboard for the best fluking of the season, he said. Charters and open-boat trips are sailing. See the open schedule and up-to-date reports on <a href=" http://www.facebook.com/vitaminseafishing
" target="_blank">Vitamin Sea’s Facebook page</a>.

<b>Leonardo</b>

“Slower fluke fishing ended the season for the <b>Sour Kraut</b>,” Capt. Joe wrote in an email. Fluke season closes starting tomorrow. Dates are beginning to book for striped bass charters in November. Reserve while the dates you’d prefer remain.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

In these last few days of fluke season, fishing for them was about the same as previously on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. Throwbacks and a few keepers were picked. Only a few anglers fished aboard Sunday morning, and no trip fished that afternoon, because of forecasts for rough weather. Trips fished the bay and Flynn’s Knoll, and not as many fluke as usual showed up in the bay this year. Trips on the ocean only began scoring better catches of the flatfish in the past two or three weeks. Similar reports were heard from Long Island to Cape May. Fewer fish seemed to migrate in than during some years, for whatever reasons. Beginning Wednesday, trips aboard will fish for porgies 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

Fluking was better Monday on the <b>Fishermen</b> than in the past week, a report said on the party boat’s website. Weather was rough much of the week, and no trip fished Sunday aboard, because weather – strong east wind and rain – gave no chance of fluking the ocean, where trips have been fishing. Before then, the most recent report was Thursday on the site, and that was covered in the last report here. On Monday’s trip, three anglers limited out on three fluke apiece, a few bagged two apiece and many reeled in no keepers. An 8-pound 9-ounce fluke, a beauty, won the pool. Fluke bit until wind blew straight from south. Then they stopped hitting. Sea bass “would have made a lot of customers happy” on the trip. But sea bass season was closed beginning Friday. The trip had to leave one area because too many sea bass bit. Fluke season will close starting Wednesday. Trips will begin porgy fishing Friday, sailing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Neptune</b>

Many, many porgies were swung from the ocean aboard Friday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an email. On Thursday, the final day of sea bass season, big sea bass were clocked, and “we found the fluke,” it said. Another sea bass season is supposed to open later this year, and the dates are yet to be announced. An individual-reservation trip for fluke was full today, the final day of fluke season.

<b>Belmar</b>

Some of the party boats fished but not so many charter boats did because of weather, said Capt. Mike from <b>Celtic Stoirm Charters</b>. He was going to run someone else’s boat Sunday, the day he gave this report. But the trip was canceled because of forecasts. Now that fluke season closes after today, trips with Celtic will bottom-fish for catches like ling, cod and maybe pollock. Fishing for bonito, false albacore and chub mackerel is an option. Tuna fishing usually peaks this month to November, and he hopes it does, so he can jump on that angling. Fall striped bass charters are booking quickly. Reserve while plenty are left.

Lots of chub mackerel, a good catch of large bonito, a nice shot of bluefish and a few false albacore were tackled Monday on the <b>Golden Eagle</b> on the ocean, a report said on the party boat’s website. Great fishing and many happy customers, it said. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. 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> this month and in October. Reserve them.

Fishing "started on the (chub) mackerel right away," picking at them on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> today, an email from the party boat said. Some bonito and false albacore were also caught. Catches lasted until mid-day, and then stopped. The boat was pulled closer to shore to look for bluefish, but that failed to produce. Trips are sailing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. The afternoon's trip was weathered out.

<b>Brielle</b>

Not a lot could be reported because of rough weather, said John from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Fluke fishing had been good on the ocean before the weather, and fluke season will close beginning tomorrow. Fluke were reeled from Manasquan River, and so were small striped bass and small bluefish. Not much bit in the surf. Bonito, false albacore and chub mackerel were boated at ocean reefs and farther from shore. From the Mudhole to farther out probably gave up mahi mahi along lobster-pot buoys. Tuna fishing picked up at Hudson Canyon and other canyons when boaters had windows of weather to reach those areas. The fish were mostly trolled, John thought, but he was unsure how chunking for them fared.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

<b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> and other charters have found solid fishing for yellowfin and longfin tuna at local canyons, Capt. Alan wrote in an email. Charters and a limited number of open-boat trips are fishing for them with Mushin. Space is available for a trip from 12 midnight Thursday to Friday evening. Trolling’s been best, and Mushin’s been leaving the fish biting while trolling. But trips aboard will fish for the tuna any way necessary. This is the fall tuna fishing you’ve been waiting for! he said. A day trip aboard Saturday competed in the Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club Offshore Open. That was the second of two days of competing for Mushin in the event. This trip with Mushin fished after weather prevented tuna fishing five or six days previously. The trip consistently picked tuna on the troll: big yellowfins 65 to 70 pounds at first, and longfins later in the day. Purple and black plastics caught best, like lately for Mushin. The water quality was good for the angling, and the water temp has become what tuna, though not marlin, like. Conditions look good for fall.  Telephone to jump aboard.

Fluke fishing was sold out today, the final day of fluke season, on the <b>Gambler</b>, the party boat’s website said. Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, trips will sail for false albacore, bonito and bluefish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

On the <b>Norma-K III</b>, fluke fishing was picky, a little slower than in previous weeks, during the weekend through Monday, Labor Day, a report said on the party boat’s website. A 7-pounder was largest Monday afternoon when the report was posted and the trip was still fishing. On Friday night’s trip, bonito 1 to 6 pounds, lots, were crushed, and a few chub mackerel and some bluefish were picked. Big bluefish should show up any day, it said. Trips were fluke fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily through today, the final day of fluke season. Beginning Wednesday, trips will fish for porgies and blackfish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Trips are bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Thursday through Sunday.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

Bonito, a bunch, and Spanish mackerel were trolled Saturday on Clark spoons on the ocean on the <b>Tin Knocker</b>, Capt. John said. Canyon tuna fishing is heating up, so now’s the time to book the angling aboard, he said.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Bluefish 6 to 9 pounds were fought from the dock and “at the end of our property” the past few days, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. Blues that size are unusual in those waters this time of year, but they were there. Cut bunker seemed to catch them best and could be fished with a float or without. Snapper blues also schooled the waters, like usual this season. But if you fish for the bigger, bring a medium-action rod. Small rods for snappers won’t do for catching the bigger. Fluke were angled from the surf at Island Beach State Park, but today is the final day of fluke season. Crabbing “left a lot to be desired.” 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>

Tuna, a very good catch, were trolled at Toms Canyon on Saturday on a trip that Capt. Mike from <b>Tuna-Tic Sportfishing</b> joined on a friend’s boat, Mike said. Three sizable yellowfin tuna 60 to 70 pounds and 12 longfin tuna were reeled in. Mahi mahi were also caught. The Tuna-Tic was getting an engine rebuilt, and that will be finished in the next day. Mike’s charters are concentrating on tuna. 

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Fishing for fluke was better the last few days on the <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> on the ocean, a report said on the party boat’s website. Trips were fluking daily through today, the final day of fluke season. Trips will fish for blues, bonito and false albacore 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday. Reserve <a href="http://www.missbarnegatlight.com/TunaFishing.html" target="_blank">tuna trips</a> for later this month and for October.

The <b>Super Chic</b> fluked Saturday on the ocean, catching pretty well, Capt. Ted said. Keepers to probably 5 pounds were bagged, and lots of shorts were thrown back. Wind blew probably up to 20 knots that wasn’t supposed to blow until later in the day. The boat was anchored, because fishing was more comfortable that way, and most of the fluke were hooked on jigs, while the vessel swung on the anchor line. Another fluke trip was supposed to fish aboard today, the final day of fluke season. Space is available for open-boat, overnight tuna trips this Friday to Saturday and Sept. 15-16, 16-17 and 23-24. The first two are 30-hour trips, and the second two are 24 hours, and each is limited to 10 passengers. Ted hopes to get this weekend’s one of the trips in before Hurricane Irma might arrive next week.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

Four trips fished for inshore pelagics this past week on the <b>June Bug</b>, catching decent, Capt. Lindsay said. One of the trips sailed Friday all the way north to off the middle of Island Beach State Park, fighting false albacore. Landing them was fun, and one bonito was also hooked but got off. Chub mackerel reportedly swam there previously, but none showed up this day. Fishing on the other trips went about the same as on this outing.

<b>Longport</b>

Fishing was going to head 30 miles from shore to troll bluefish and Spanish mackerel yesterday on the <b>Stray Cat</b>, Capt. Mike said before the trip. Weather broke that day after forecasts kept trips from sailing in previous days. Summer flounder season will close tomorrow. Because the season this year closes early, a discount will be offered for tuna trips to the offshore canyons now, 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. For open trips, a few spaces were left for Sept. 16 and 18.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

An inshore shark trip Sunday morning released three of the fish to 80 pounds aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The sharks were a spinner, a dusky and a brown, and the dusky and brown, both required to be released, were large. The sharking usually begins to slow this time of year, or the fish depart for warmer water. The trip fished farther from shore than previously to avoid runoff from rain. The water where the trip fished, 72 degrees, was very clean, the cleanest Joe saw all season in the area. A trip Thursday on the back bay landed small seas bass and a couple of summer flounder. The ocean’s flounder fishing was definitely better, but flounder season closes beginning tomorrow. Annual traveling charters will fish from Montauk beginning at mid-month for the migrations of striped bass, false albacore and bluefish. If you’ve ever wanted to fish the run from the legendary port, Joe’s going! 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>.

<b>Avalon</b>

Capt. Jim from <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b> did no fishing but guided hunting for doves and Canadian geese in Pennsylvania, because the seasons for both opened there, and also opened in New Jersey and New York, he said. Thirty-eight doves were bagged, and the geese were scarce. The goose season was originally opened to cull the birds from places like parks. But the geese seem to know to stay in the parks to be protected from hunters. Fishing mostly would’ve been weathered out in the past week anyway. Fins fishes saltwater from Avalon, but Jim was going to scope out salmon fishing on upstate New York’s Salmon River from his nearby <a href="http://www.sjlodge.com/" target="_blank">lodge</a> last weekend. But guests ended up booking the lodge then. Labor Day weekend is traditionally when anglers begin trying for the salmon, though Jim mostly fishes for them in late September and October, when the angling usually peaks. Guests can hire guides for the fishing or can fish on their own. Or Jim can show guests how to fish for the salmon, and then the guests can fish on their own.

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