<b>Sandy Hook</b>

Bonito, false albacore and a few mahi mahi were tackled at the Klondike and the Farms, said Capt. Joe from <b>Sour Kraut Sportfishing</b> from Leonardo. He heard about a few small bluefin tuna landed at Little Italy and the Atlantic Princess. It’s that time of year when a variety of fish like these can be fought inshore.

Nothing was heard about fishing for tuna or other big game, probably because seas were too rough for trips, said Johnny O. from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b> in Atlantic Highlands. All offshore baits are stocked.

Mike from <b>TAK Waterman Surf n Fish</b> in Long Branch did no fishing for tuna this past week, because of windy weather and rough seas, he said. He’s been fishing on a friend’s boat for bluefin tuna mid-range with popper lures, and catching, covered in previous reports here. TAK Waterman is a shop for fishing and surfing. The store also carries the TAK Waterman line of clothing for watersports.

<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

The next tuna fishing is booked for Monday aboard the <b>Katie H</b> from Belmar, Capt. Mike said. Whether the trip fishes mid-range or offshore is the charter’s decision. But the trip will probably fish mid-range. That sounded best recently, giving up a mix of bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

Overnight trips for tuna were blown out throughout the weekend, and wind was going to keep the trips docked afterward for days with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> from Point Pleasant Beach, Capt. Alan wrote in an email Sunday. When the fishing was canceled last week because of weather, several trips targeted inshore speedsters like bonito, Spanish mackerel, other mackerel, chicken mahi mahi and bluefish. That action was great, and mostly trolled the catches, on Clark spoons and feathers. The trips also stopped at wrecks and limited out on sea bass, sizable ones.

The <b>Tin Knocker</b> from Point Pleasant is next supposed to fish on an overnight tuna trip today to tomorrow, Capt. John said. Mid-range tuna fishing sounded decent for bluefins and yellowfins.

Tuna – yellowfins from legal-sized to 50 pounds and bluefins from legal-sized to 70 pounds – were picked away at mid-range, like around Chicken Canyon, on the troll, said Alex from <b>The Reel Seat</b> from Brielle. Tuna fishing sounded slow farther offshore, like at Hudson Canyon. Mahi mahi were decked inshore of the Chicken at lobster- or sea-bass-pot buoys.

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

Tuna fishing on the <b>Tuna-Tic</b> from Forked River was scrubbed because of weather, Capt. Mike said. The fishing was next slated for yesterday through Saturday. Those trips would probably fish inshore, because canyon tuna fishing offshore was slow recently. More tuna trips are booked for Monday to Wednesday.

Fishing for tuna was weathered out Sunday on the <b>Super Chic</b> from Barnegat Light, Capt. Ted said. Weather looked better for a trip that’s supposed to sail for tuna tonight to tomorrow. A tuna trip is also slated for Sunday. A trip today, before the tuna trip tonight, was maybe going to fish for bonito, king mackerel and fish like that, inshore. That angling was good toward the end of the week on boats. 

Before the rough weather lately, a ton of mahi mahi swam close to shore that boaters hooked on plugs and stuff, said Vince Sr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b> in Barnegat Light. Cobia swam Barnegat Ridge. 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 on Barnegat Bay.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Fishing at the Cigar and 750 Square landed a couple of mahi mahi Sunday on the <b>Stray Cat</b> from Longport in the morning, until northeast wind built and roughed up seas, Capt. Mike said. The water was 80 degrees, and otherwise, the boat’s been trolling bonito and bluefish non-stop, closer to shore. That angling’s been great. However, rough seas canceled fishing in past days, including postponing a tuna trip Wednesday. Watch a video of the seas close to shore aboard this week.  “Just a little chop,” Mike wrote on his personal Facebook page when he shared the video. “7 foot,” he wrote. “Riding the ditch,” someone else commented.

Most customers who fish offshore were in Cape May to compete in the MidAtlantic tournament this week, said John from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City. Entrants seemed to catch white marlin well. Fishing for whites seemed good from Cape May and for tuna seemed good from Ocean City, Md. Some mahi mahi were caught, too. 

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

A trip with Dan Rath and friend trolled four mahi mahi and two amberjacks inshore last Friday aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> from Sea Isle City, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The mahi fishing’s been good. The water’s been clear, and continued to look gorgeous on that trip.

Nothing was heard about fishing for tuna or big game, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City. Like three boats fished the first day of the MidAtlantic tournament from Cape May this week. No customers reported offshore fishing in the rough weather. But good shots of tuna should turn on in the next weeks, and the store is fully stocked with baits for offshore fishing.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Trolling at 5-Fathom Bank pounded lots of bluefish and chub mackerel and some bonito and Spanish mackerel on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May, Capt. George said Sunday. The Spanish had been scarce there but began to appear. Three or four per trip started to be hooked. Seas were rough during the weekend. George fished on a friend’s boat Friday in 6-footers. That trip competed in the Cape May Marlin & Tuna Club’s Ladies Day Offshore Tournament and won second and third place in the mahi mahi division. Wind huffed from northeast and flags flew straight on Sunday when George worked on his boat at the dock. Later in the week, on Wednesday, he said fishing was weathered out aboard since the weekend. Weather’s been so rough that some of the boats in the MidAtlantic tournament from Cape May fished Monday and Tuesday, but none fished Wednesday. Rough seas because of the weather beat up the trips Monday and Tuesday. A trip soon is supposed to fish for mahi mahi and wahoos 30 miles out aboard, and that angling’s also available.

Mahi mahi fishing was good at the East and Middle lumps, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b> in Cape May. Spanish mackerel and king mackerel were also there. Decent-sized, small bluefish schooled 5-Fathom Bank. Bonito roamed from the Bank to Sea Isle Ridge or so.

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