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<b>Brooklyn</b>

A charter on the <b>Big M Express</b> headed out for stripers and blues yesterday afternoon, broke the inlet and saw birds working the water like crazy, the fishing report on the boat’s web site said. Two rods were set up on the troll, and within a minute both were hooked up. A mix of small bass and small blues continued to hit, so the boat moved to another area for larger fish. Three keeper stripers were later picked up, and a mess of shorts kept hitting, and the charter sailed home by 8 p.m. On Monday morning a charter left the dock for sea bass and picked away at the fish at every spot where the boat drifted. They were good-sized fish, and not many were shorts, and a mess of keepers to 3 pounds was bagged, and fluke to 4 pounds and some big ling were also boxed. Open-boat trips take place every day when no charter is booked.

<b>Staten Island</b>

Fluke fishing was off the hook in Raritan Bay, said Joe from <b>Michael’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Lots of small blues filled the bay, and Staten Island surf fishers still picked stripers. Sharking slowed a little, and no tuna were really being caught yet. Crabbing was excellent.

<b>Barbara Anne Charters</b> hosted two anglers on its weekly open-boat trip Tuesday, and they came one fluke shy of limiting out on the flatties, Capt. Anthony said. The keepers weighed up to 4 pounds, and about 15 throwbacks were released. Barbara Anne’s been able to limit out on fluke or come close on all trips in the past week, and that hasn’t been easy with the 19-1/2-inch size limit, but the trips were working hard, and it was paying off. Quite a few 3- and 4-pounders were consistently bagged, and the number of bigger fish seemed it would only improve. The trips usually fished in the ocean, and on Monday the Janaeke charter with two anglers landed 20-some fluke including their limit. On Saturday Tom Calvo’s party totaled 25 fluke including their limit. Barbara Anne is also sea bassing, and that action tends to be very good, and some ling are mixed in, and so are out-of-season blackfish that are released. Open-boat trips fish every Tuesday, guaranteed to leave the dock with a minimum of two anglers. The trips either sail half a day for fluke and the rest of the day for sea bass, or they target one of the fish, depending on what’s biting.

Capt. Tommy Verderosa from <b>Frenzy Fishing Charters</b> attempted to leave the dock yesterday morning for fluke but turned around because of rough weather, he said. But his charters are boating fluke including good-sized ones at the channels and other places, and it’s a good time to look for a trophy. A friend the other day landed a few 4-1/2-pound flatties toward the Verrazano Bridge on big strip baits. Fluke are the focus on Frenzy’s charters, but schoolie striped bass can also be found, if anyone’s interested. Tommy hits Breezy Point in the early mornings for the schoolies, and also fishes spots like the islands, lighthouses and all structure, and lots of cocktail blues are also fought. He often fly rods the stripers, but he also tosses soft plastic lures, rubber shads and bucktails. The late owner of Scags Bait & Tackle, a great angler, taught Tommy lots about fishing bucktails, and Tommy knows techniques that connect.

<b>Bayonne</b>

A charter fluke fished on the bay side of the Verrazano Bridge in the channel along the Staten Island side Saturday and walloped three keepers to 7 pounds, 25 inches, said Capt. Akira from <b>True World Tackle</b> and <b>True World Tackle Charters</b>. The morning produced lots of action, and when the bite settled, the boat made the long run to the ocean off Long Branch for more fluking. Akira made two other trips off Long Branch this year, and one was good, and the other wasn’t, and this time only short fluke, one keeper sea bass and short sea bass bit. Shorts were numerous, though. Fluking’s been good along the channel inland of the Verrazano Bridge, like at the 2 buoy and the 22 buoy, and it’s also been good all along Ambrose Channel, but anglers have to be patient, and there’s strong current that requires heavy sinkers. Fluking’s generally been better than last year, when many shorts were common, but this year some bigger ones to 7 and 8 pounds were hitting.

<b>Laurence Harbor</b>

Some good-sized fluke were reeled aboard Monday with <b>Evening Tide Charters</b> in the bay like around Chapel Hill Channel and the Terminal Channel, Capt. Kyle said. The catch included 5- and 6-pounders, and eight keepers were bagged, and of course lots of shorts, probably 40, bit. Lots of blues from 4 to 8 pounds were mixed in, and 1- to 2-pound, cocktail blues swam the back of the bay. Kyle was still seeing bunker pods in the bay, and he was finding no weakfish yet. A few spike weaks usually start being seen by the Fourth of July, and a larger push of weaks normally begins toward the end of June or beginning of August. When the trout show up, Evening Tide will go after them.

<b>Keyport</b>

Capt. Joe from <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b> and the boat’s mate took a short, 3-hour crew trip yesterday morning between the lighting and thunder and landed a half-dozen bluefish in the bay near port on Crippled Herring lures, Joe said. Six-hour open-boat trips will sail 7 a.m. this Saturday and Sunday for fluke, and open trips are also taking place 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily when no charter is booked. An open trip also takes place 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday.  The open trips fish with a minimum of three anglers, and call to reserve and for prices and further info for the trips. Fluke are currently the target, but weakfish will also be chased when the trout arrive.

Several trips got into fluke in the bay through Sunday on the <b>Lucky Carm</b>, and one trip bagged sea bass, and sea bassing is now an option on charters. Plenty of sea bass can be taken, and fluking’s good for those who know how to catch them, and weakfish trips will sail when weakies show up. Evening charters are available from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. or from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and custom times in the evenings are also available. Open-boat trips are taking place 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day with a minimum of three anglers when no charter is booked, and call to reserve. Charters are also available at that time, and basically hours on charters and open trips are flexible if necessary.  

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fluking was good the past two days on the <b>Fishermen</b> between the channels, and a patch of fish was found, and some good-sized, 2- to 4-pound flatties bit, Capt. Ron said. A 6-1/2-pounder was the pool winner yesterday, and a few patrons bagged six or two shy of a limit, and a couple took four, and the day was good. The boat’s been targeting the channels, and when conditions have been right, the fishing’s been okay. Cold water over the weekend shocked the fish, but they seemed to start feeding again in the past days. The boat also runs bluefishing trips in the afternoons from Fridays to Sundays, and blues were slow to bite the past few weeks, and that happens every year for a moment as the slammers spawn or something. Five striped bass to 25 pounds were also hooked on the bluefish trip Friday, but stripers seemed mostly to leave the area by now. The Fishermen is fishing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Afternoon bluefishing trips are running 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.

On the <b>Atlantic Star</b> fluking on Monday morning’s trip was slow, but the action picked up a bit on the afternoon run, Capt. Tom said. Both trips Tuesday weren’t great, and Wednesday’s trips were tough with crummy conditions for drifting. All the trips fished the bay, including at Reach Channel, off the Ammo Pier, Sandy Hook Channel near Sandy Hook Point, and Chapel Hill Channel. When winds and currents came together to create the right drift, fish were caught, and fluking requires the boat to cover ground on drifts, getting the baits past the flatties. Sometimes the boat power drifted when conditions such as southwest winds against incoming tide prevented a drift. Likewise easterly winds against outgoing will prevent covering ground. If conditions created good drifts during an entire trip, fluke would be caught the whole time. In some areas skates were annoying. Mung Lee nailed an 8-1/4-pound doormat yesterday morning, and most pool winners probably weighed 4 ½ to 5 pounds. The Atlantic Star is sailing for fluke on two trips daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Fluking was good in the bay and ocean, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Christina Brossman weighed in an 8.16-pounder, and Jeremiah Miragliotti checked in a 3.75-pounder. Striped bass where bunker chunked in the ocean off Sea Bright yesterday, and stripers have been clammed at the clam beds, though few boaters were doing that anymore. Bottom fishers in the ocean were pulling up ling and sea bass, and the river was giving up 1-pound fluke, and snapper blues were starting to show up in the back waters, fun fishing for kids. A few weakfish catches were heard about, but they weren’t the push of weaks that anglers are expecting, and the season’s a little early for weakies.

No trips fished on the <b>CRT II</b> since Sunday, but 12 charters in eight days are coming up this next week, Capt. Mick said. On charters during several days through Sunday, fluke fishing had slowed down. Anglers onboard were catching some, but not like before, and they mostly fished anywhere from the TC Buoy and the 1 buoy near Sandy Hook to Chapel Hill Channel and the dredge holes near the West Bank. Lots of small blues invaded the bay, and a few larger blues could be fought offshore, but not in the numbers Mick would prefer. He’s waiting for weakfish to arrive, and years ago weakfish started hitting toward the end of July and beginning of August, but in recent years no body of the fish was arriving till the last week or 10 days of August. But Mick hoped the trend changed this year and the weakfish turned on earlier. Plenty of openings are available for charters in August.

<b>Highlands</b>

<b>Fisher Price Charters</b> set a course for fluke yesterday, and winds and threatening storms caused the trip to stay in the bay, and the catch was pretty good, Capt. Derek said. Fluking’s been about conditions or whether winds and currents combine to create a drift that’s not too slow or not too fast. When winds blow against the tide and bring the drift to a standstill, fishing’s tough. In the bay the right conditions produce bites in the channels and along the dredge holes. But Darren prefers fluking in the ocean, though it’s difficult to say whether either the bay or the ocean’s best. Fisher Price was mostly striped bass fishing until recently, and stripers could still be found in the ocean, if anyone’s interested in a trip. Darren was at the beach yesterday and saw bunker schools with stripers among them, so the bass were still there. Charters will hunt weakfish when that bite turns on, and Darren was hearing a couple of reports about weakfish found, and he was seeing a few of the trout in the rivers. Weakfish seem to arrive later and later in the season in recent years, but he just needs to make the effort and look around and find out whether weakfishing is worth a shot. 

It was a good week of fluking for <b>Sandy Hook Fishing Adventures</b> when conditions were right, and several 5- to 6-pounders were taken, Capt. Bob said in an e-mail. Trips fished both in the bay and in the ocean near the shore with success at both spots. Sergeant Ken Kanach and four sons took a Take a Vet Fishing trip, and they fought 4- to 8-pound blues, even though they had to battle rain, thunder, lightning and fog that also forced the outing to be cut short. They had a great time anyway, Bob said. Squid with killies and squid with spearing have been the top baits, and the key has been the movement of the bait, because those who put action in the presentation got the majority of fish. Only a couple of dates are available for charters in July, and August is starting to fill up. Charters are also available for fall stripers and blackfish, and obviously it’s important to reserve choice dates now. 

<b>Belmar</b>

Shark fishing was slow yesterday at the Glory Hole on an open-boat trip on the <b>Nan Sea J</b>, Capt. Tom said. Some bit, and some were lost, but no sharks were landed. The water was 75 degrees or warm, and maybe that was a cause, and the temp is high for makos, but hammerheads and tiger sharks should’ve at least been around.  Almost no life was in the water. One more open-boat shark trip will sail Wednesday, and all spots are full, and that will be the last of the boat’s weekly, open-boat shark trips this season. They take place in June and July. Charters on the vessel are also fishing for fluke, bluefish and stripers, and Tom’s looking forward to tuna charters. The Nan Sea J starts tuna fishing in September, and that’s not far away anymore.

Shark River put out lots of fluke, and the action was great, and the only problem was the size limit, but more and more keepers were hitting, said Mike from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. Snapper blues were now in the river and were feeding on tinker mackerel and spearing. A few porgies held at Shark River Inlet but hadn’t pushed into the river yet. Mike hadn’t seen good weakfishing in the area in 4 or 5 years, so he was expecting no arrival of the fish. Lots of stripers to 46 pounds were seen that came from the surf and from boats in the ocean, and bunker were schooling the ocean, but not every school came with stripers chasing the baitfish. On the party boats patrons were scoring very well on fluke in the ocean, and bluefishing on the boats was off and on ever since the blues finished spawning. On some trips it was good, and on some trips it was “eh,” Mike said. Sometimes big thresher sharks showed up on the bluefish trips, and a few threshers and big makos were still being seen from shark fishers on private boats.

<b>Brielle</b>

The best action now was that fluke started to bite offshore at spots like Sea Girt Reef, and 40 to 60 feet gave up catches, and the fish were a little bigger, said Greg from <b>Brielle Bait & Tackle</b>. Lots of skates and dogfish also kept biting, and fluke also carpeted the bottom closer to the ocean beaches from Bay Head to Belmar, but many were small. A few keepers could be found, but an angler might land 25 shorts and only a couple legal-sized flatbacks. Blues from 1 to 2 pounds were mixed in with those fish. Anglers yesterday were saying that striped bass and lots of bunker were found off Deal, Asbury Park and Long Branch, but striper fishing closer to Brielle mostly dropped off, though a few could be found. But the fishing wasn’t like before. A few 5- and 6-pound weakfish started being caught around Manasquan Inlet, and that’s good news. Weakies should eventually push up the Manasquan River to places like off the hospital. A ton of hickory shad recently showed up at the inlet, the first of the season, and both boaters and shore anglers fought the scrappy fish. Fluke fishing in the river wasn’t bad upriver toward Clark’s Landing and Treasure Island, and it wasn’t fabulous, but keepers could be bagged. Usually in the river three or four keepers is good. Ocean bluefishing wasn’t so great, and the party boats sailed 30 miles offshore yesterday to find them, and that’s about as far as they’ll sail for blues. When the fish are reluctant to bite closer to shore, the boats can head east to try to find the action. On bottom-fishing trips in the ocean ling were now the predominant catch, and sea bassing was slowing down. But a few sea bass hit, and sometimes a pollock was taken. The only news about offshore fishing was that bluefin tuna were hooked someplace 40 miles to the southeast, maybe offshore of Barnegat Ridge, though Greg was unsure and usually hears about spots closer to Manasquan Inlet. But offshore boaters were saying that bait including tinker mackerel were being seen, and that means that warm, tuna-attracting water was arriving.

Good-sized sea bass, not a ton, but some larger ones including a couple of 3- and 4-pounders, were boated on the <b>Reel-Ality</b> at Sea Girt in only a couple of hours Saturday, Capt. Larry said. Short fluke were also reeled up, and although no keepers were, it showed that fluke were starting to gather around such spots. One drift was also done on the Manasquan River, and short fluke were landed, so lots of flatties were probably there. Larry was hearing nothing about bluefin tuna caught in the inshore ocean yet, and anglers said the fish were still south, but if the tuna show up closer, the Reel-Ality will make the run for them.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

Charters on the <b>Defiant</b> were cancelled because of weather forecasts yesterday and today, but a charter the other evening scored a good catch of blues to 10 pounds in the ocean, Capt. John said. A couple of 30- to 40-pound stripers were also nailed on bunker chunks, and a mess of throwback fluke were released. Inshore charters will keep targeting these species, and open-boat trips are fishing for blues and fluke every Wednesday and Friday with up to six passengers, and call to reserve. Offshore charters are booking canyon tuna trips, and nothing was happening at the nearby canyons so far. Tuna were being hooked far south or 120 miles or more from Point Pleasant, an impractical distance for charters.

The Shamrock Technologies group on the <b>Benchmark</b> on Monday caught all the bluefish they wanted plus fluke to 6 pounds, sea bass and ling, and it was a nice trip, the fishing report on the boat’s web site said.

An ocean fluke trip was weathered out from 15- to 20-knot northeast winds Monday with <b>Reel Class Charters</b> and did no fluking instead in Manasquan River, because Capt. Allen knew that east winds and incoming tide were pushing in cold water that would halt the bite, he said. But a charter with two anglers got out Tuesday to look for fluke and sea bass in the ocean. The boat pushed off to a few spots at a reef, and fluking was good, producing mostly keepers and some shorts. A few sea bass and ling also bit. Allen then got a call about bunker schooling farther south, so he moved there, and big, 15- and 16-pound bluefish were battled among the bunker. Monster thresher sharks then marauded the bunker, and their tails were heard whipping, and the water exploded, and then that was it, the action stopped. The threshers were seen a few times and were 7- or 8-footers, and few striped bass were on the bunker. Next the anglers fished the Axel Carlson Reef and picked up more fluke, finishing the day with a dozen keepers and some sea bass and ling. It was a good trip and good action. Allen also made a couple of drifts close to shore, but that fishing was kind of slow, although he was hearing about fish farther south. Fluke can be bagged in the river when conditions are right, and slack tide is the ticket. The ocean was 68 or 70 degrees, so it had warmed significantly, and northeast winds will do that at this time of year. Allen thinks he’ll be fluking in deeper water than before, and that also means his trips will fluke more often at rough bottom and reefs, where sea bass can also be grabbed. Reel Class is fluke fishing on charters and open-boat trips, and sea bassing is mixed in.

Bunker and stripers disappeared from the local ocean in the past days, and striper fishing became hit or miss, and <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> will now switch gears, Capt. Fred said. Previously charters were scoring lots of big bass from Mantoloking to the Shrewsbury Rocks. Fluke/sea bass combos will be on tap for those who want, and those who’d like to ratchet up the action will make the run to the mid-shore grounds for mixed bags of mahi mahi and sharks. Lots of mahi were swimming the Mudhole, and sharks were still around, and Fred hopes bluefin tuna will push to these waters from farther south. Bluefins were turning on toward Cape May but were yet to arrive in substantial numbers closer to Point Pleasant. Both open-boat trips and charters sail on these mid-shore, mixed-bag outings, and Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag or combo trips for more fun and greater chances of hooking up. Open trips and charters will also eventually sail farther offshore to Hudson Canyon for tuna, mahi, tilefish and sharks, but the canyon’s fishing was dead so far, and warm water was yet to push in. But canyon fishing will come alive later.

Kenny Palmer from <b>Alex’s Bait & Tackle</b> was watching anglers bring up lots of fluke from the wall at Manasquan Inlet in front of the shop, he said. The keeper ratio left a little to be desired, but more keepers than before were appearing. Not much was heard about surf fishing, but Kenny imagined that if surf anglers could locate bunker schools, they could toss out bunker heads or chunks and score a striper.

<b>Toms River</b>

Fluke were picked up from Barnegat Inlet’s north jetty and the pocket in the past days, because the water warmed and was 70 degrees, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Vinny Benwitt checked in a 6-pounder he landed there, and boaters were scoring well on flatties in 30 to 40 feet in the ocean in the past days, also because of the warm water. Dave DeCamp took a 6-1/2-pounder from a boat near the ocean beaches. In turn, striper fishing slowed down with the warmer water in the ocean. But Warren Brown drilled a 33-pound striper in the ocean off Lavallette on a snagged bunker. Fluking in Barnegat Bay was decent, not great, from the BI buoy to Oyster Creek Channel, and when the ocean is warm, incoming tide is best, like it was this week, and when the ocean is cold, outgoing is best. Fluke fishers were using smelts and squid, especially because spearing were scarce lately, and smelts are stocked. The small blues that had been hitting in the bay seemed to thin out, but some were around. Snapper blues from 6 to 8 inches were now in the back waters, and try catching them in the Toms River. Very few weakfish were reported caught. Crabbing was pretty darn good in the river at Island Heights, and it was even good in the bay at the Route 37 Bridge.

<b>Seaside</b>

The only thing that lately seemed to cooperate along the beaches was the stellar weather every weekend this summer, said the fishing report on <b>Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s web site. Surf fishing was a slow pick on clams, bunker, mullet and squid, and Barnegat Bay was the best place to be. The bay was giving up loads of cocktail blues from Johnny Allens Cove to Barnegat Inlet on poppers and metal. No snapper blues started biting heavily yet along the docks, but crabbing was solid, and catches of keepers were becoming more frequent. The surf was 1 to 2 feet, 70 degrees and clean. A free reel cover worth $15 is being given away with any reel purchase while supplies last. <a href=" http://www.bettyandnicks.com/fish.shtml" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for the latest.

<b>Waretown</b>

A charter fluke fished with <b>Perfect Drift Sport Fishing</b> today in the ocean somewhat south of the bathing beach at Island Beach State Park in 30 to 40 feet and bagged probably seven or eight keepers, Capt. John said. Lots of shorts bit, probably 10 shorts for every keeper, and three small blues were landed. Perfect Drift will eventually fish for fluke farther from shore like at the reefs, but the fish seemed to be close to the beach at the moment. John heard that some weakfish were starting to show up in Barnegat Bay, and they’ll only bite early in the morning or late in the day and will refuse to hit during the heat of mid day and during heavy boat traffic of daytime.

<i>BREAKING NEWS</i> on two fronts from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>! His first grass-shrimped weakfish of the season in Barnegat Bay were hooked on a trip today with Howard White, and bonito fishing was on fire at Barnegat Ridge on a trip Tuesday, Dave said in an e-mail. Grass shrimping for weakies in the bay is one of his specialties, and anglers were waiting for the bite to turn on, and it did today. Howard left the dock this morning with Dave and at first got into a barrage of small blues in the bay. So Dave relocated and found a hotbed of weakies. Howard nailed 15 weaks from 1 to 2 pounds or 13 to 18 inches over the next couple of hours. The fish aggressively struck hooked shrimp and lures in a grass-shrimp chum slick. This was just the beginning, and things should only heat up.  On Tuesday Don Cameron from Blue Collar Web Sites and Steve Ondrof sailed with Dave to the ridge and scored multiple hook-ups with bonito over several hours while trolling surface lures. They arrived at 8:30 a.m., a little late because of a delayed departure because of fog. Dave was setting out the trolling spread and only got to the third rod when the first rod screamed, and the bite was on. The anglers kept a number of these delicious fish from the tuna family, and last year these speedsters stayed at the ridge through September, and conditions seemed good for a repeat this year. The water was loaded with sand eels and was 71 degrees and blue. Sand eels are also a bluefin tuna’s favorite food, so Dave’s looking for the bluefins to show up any time, because of the abundance of the bait. Other blue-water bruisers including mahi mahi and king mackerel could also turn up on any given day. If you’re not up to a canyon run but would like to taste blue-water action while high-speed trolling, all these fish at the ridge are a blast. Dave even offers a combo weakfish/Barnegat Ridge charter for those who want it all. The Hi Flier will also be running open-boat trips for bluefins, bonito, mahi, false albacore and other such fish this Saturday through Tuesday, limited to three passengers per trip. The trips can fish at Barnegat Ridge, the Mud Hole or the Cigar, and call to reserve for what looks like a great window of weather.

A customer who’s an excellent Barnegat Bay angler fluke fished the ocean today and boated 30-some flatties but not one keeper, said Dale from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b>. So catching keepers seemed slow, and the fact that the customer moved to the ocean instead of staying in the bay apparently said something about the bay’s fluking. Weakfish and blowfish were supposedly beginning to arrive in the bay, but nobody reported great catches. Fresh grass shrimp are now being carried at the shop for weakfishing. The bluefishing that had been happening in the bay seemed to drop off. Bonito were supposedly hooked at Barnegat Ridge on Tuesday, and the bulk of tuna seemed to be off Cape May. Some of the local boats were traveling down there and scoring well on the fish. Crabbing was difficult to put a bead on, because some customers said it was good, and some said it wasn’t. But Dale and his wife crabbed northern Barnegat Bay around Herring Island toward Bay Head and nabbed 14 keepers in only 1 ½ hours, and incoming tide was best.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Surf fishers were connecting with lots of fluke to 19 or 20 inches, and Loveladies to Surf City was probably the best stretch, and bucktails with Gulps or fluke rigs with killies and squid dragged along the bottom should work, said Kyle from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>. Surf sharpies also locked up on stripers to 47 inches two nights in a row at the tip of the Barnegat Inlet jetty. Stripers were also bunker chunked from the south bar in the suds. Lots of kingfish also bit in the wash on Gulp bloodworms or FishBites bloods. Herring put up scrappy fights in the surf and Barnegat Inlet. Weakfish were beginning to push into Barnegat Bay, and there were no great numbers, but they were there. Grass shrimp bloodworms and sandworms will catch them, and live grass shrimp and both worms are stocked. Double Creek Channel’s fluking in the bay had slowed but then improved because the water warmed. A few bluefin tuna and mahi mahi were reported caught offshore of Barnegat Ridge, and nobody was really sharking anymore.

<b>Brighton Beach</b>

Kingfishing picked up in the surf, and fluking was good in the suds, said Nick from <b>Oceanside Bait & Tackle</b>. More striped bass probably came from the wash locally than farther north on Long Beach Island, and the linesiders seemed to range 26 to 30 inches. Blues also swam into the surf, and boaters were saying ocean fluking wasn’t too bad 2 ½ or 3 miles from shore when drifting was good. Kevin, who works at the shop, was often fluking at Beach Haven Inlet and in the bay behind Beach Haven, and it sounded like the action wasn’t full blast but still produced enough keepers to come home with dinner. No reports were heard about weakfish catches, except two of the trout that Nick heard came from Meyer’s Hole and a couple grabbed from the Barnegat Inlet jetty. Not a lot was heard about offshore fishing, but mahi mahi and bluefin tuna were caught, and Nick guessed that they were boated 30 miles from the coast. The shop was selling lots of frozen bunker for crabbing, so crabbing must’ve been good. The store is also carrying live spots, live eels, minnows, fresh clams, fresh bunker and all the frozen baits. Nick is also co-owner of Barnegat Light Bait and Tackle, and he and his business partner opened Oceanside on Memorial Day weekend. It’s located at 8201 Long Beach Boulevard on the southern end of Long Beach Island.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

<b>Angler Sportfishing Charters</b> has moved to Beach Haven from Staten Island and will now be fishing everywhere from the bay for fluke and weakfish to the ocean for fluke, bottom fish and pelagics like bonito at Barnegat Ridge, Capt. Chuck said. Great news! He started fishing from Beach Haven this week, and it wasn’t bad at all and was pretty good, and Chuck’s pretty encouraged, and he was even surprised with the quality of the fishing. He ran five trips through Monday, and not one was bad. He wouldn’t call any of the trips great, and for example no striped bass were landed, but there were good catches. Lots of fluke could be hooked, despite cool water, and the catches were better in the ocean than in the bay, but the bay was also all right. Trips in the bay were fluking along the drop-offs toward Mordecai Island, and Chuck couldn’t complain at all about the results. Weakfish were also landed in the bay on live peanut bunker that Chuck was also swimming for fluke when he could find the bait, and the weakfishing wasn’t strong, but some of the trout were coming up. In the ocean trips were fluking at a couple of lumps at least 2 miles offshore and on drifts along the sides of reefs, not over top of the reefs. Anglers were boating some very good flatties there, and not many people were targeting such spots. The fluke keeper ratio’s been good, sometimes 50/50, sometimes 1 in 3, but everybody was getting a few keepers, making them happy. Half-day trips usually choose to fish either the bay or the ocean, and full-day trips can fish both, often targeting the bay at first and then running to the ocean.

<b>Tuckerton</b>

<b>Legal Limit Charters</b> was flounder fishing in the ocean in the past several days and scoring some nice ones to 7 pounds, Capt. T.J. said. Charters were fishing 50 to 60 feet near the reefs but not on the reefs. Flounder and tuna were now the focus, and no tuna charters sailed this week, but more of the trips are coming up.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

The last good day of fishing was Saturday, when the Sunshine Foundation tournament took place, and flounder fishing was great in the event, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Some of the fish were taken from the ocean, but the fishing wasn’t easy, because the day started off dead calm with no drift, and later conditions turned totally opposite, with winds that kicked up seas and made the drift too fast. Conditions since then were difficult for fishing, like yesterday’s winds and threatening thunderstorms, not to mention the heat and humidity. Ocean flounder fishing was best around 55 feet and a little deeper, and sea bass were sometimes boated in the ocean but in fairly deep water. Flounder were still hooked in the bay, and most were small, but keepers could be bagged. Try drifting between the islands around the Fish Factory. The inlet was too cold for flounder because of west and southwest winds, and temps ranged from 58 degrees to 74 degrees, a huge difference. Great Bay’s summer shark fishery was great, and customers who sharked Monday night battled seven sandsharks and brown sharks, and others last week also fought lots. Waters near the 138 marker at Grassy Channel were holding the beasts. The bay’s fishing for a smorgasbord of small species or kingfish, blowfish, porgies and baby sea bass was yet to take off but usually kicks in during mid August.

<b>Absecon</b>

Flounder were weighed in from the back bay, even if customers were thinning out for the season, said Ray from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Steve Varani checked in a 9.25-pounder, and Anthony Sullivan showed off an 8.95-pounder, and both ate live spots, and the spots are stocked. Dick Feller, probably in his 70s, weighed in an 8-pounder that was the biggest flounder he ever caught, and the fish ate a Gulp. Capt Dave, the shop’s owner, ran a charter with the Dave Morris party, and they boated a mess of weakfish, flounder and some blues. Larry Gardner on the trip pulled in a 6-pound flounder that took a Gulp. Capt. Dave’s been finding the weakfish farther north like at Great Bay. A few weaks were closer to Absecon, and they were sometimes found along the Intracoastal Waterway, but when weaks were hooked locally, they were usually large. Tony Genovese pinned down five nice weaks from 3 to 5 pounds locally but declined to say where, because he knew Ray could end up giving away the location, like in this report. Surf fishing seemed slow, and crabbing was good and picked up after being slow a week or two.

<b>Brigantine</b>

<b>Fishin’ Fever Sportfishing</b> is focusing on catching big bluefin tuna to 150 pounds that are tearing up the inshore lumps to the south, Capt. Tom said. Five spots are available for an open-boat trip that will sail for the bluefins Saturday, and open trips will run for tuna every Saturday when no charter is booked. The bluefins are being trolled, chunked and jigged. The crew was waiting for canyon tuna fishing to break wide open before targeting those fish, and yellowfins swam the canyons, and they were good-sized or 50 to 80 pounds, but they were scattered. When a warm-water eddy pushes in, they’ll become concentrated. But Fishin’ Fever will keep an eye open and won’t just wait for reports to say the canyons turned on, and the crew is the type that prefers to make the reports, Tom said. Some decent-sized bluefins to 80 pounds were also showing up straight off Atlantic City. Inshore trolling for bonito and mahi mahi was starting to pick up 10 to 20 miles from the coast. Fishin’ Fever is also running flounder charters, and the bite was good in the ocean, especially in deeper water to 100 feet, and some 5- and 6-pounders were coming up.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Kingfish were sometimes reeled in from the surf, and flounder still hugged the bottom of the back bay, and not a heck of a lot were there, and none were of any major size, but flatties were there, said Jack from <b>Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle</b>. Small blues traveled the inlets, and not many weakfish were reported caught. Bluefin tuna were all over the 30-mile grounds and lobster pots, and yellowfin tuna were boated at Wilmington Canyon. The <b>Carly A</b>, the shop’s offshore charter boat, scored well on yellowfins and bluefins from 40 to 60 pounds on the troll last week. Baits are fully stocked at the shop. “You name it,” Jack said. The baits include minnows, shedder crabs, green crabs and all types of squid, including Pro Cut, colored, scented, unscented, boxed and trolling squid. Offshore baits include mackerel, butterfish, sardines, medium and horse ballyhoo, medium rigged ballyhoo, bunker chum and mackerel chum.

<b>Longport</b>

Two spots are available for an open-boat tuna trolling trip Sunday on the <b>Stray Cat</b>, Capt. Mike said. Such trips will also run August 12 and September 2, and openings are available, and call to reserve. The trips sail 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are limited to six passengers. Five, 8- and 12-hour charters are also available for any species on tap, including flounder and other bottom fish, including porgies, triggerfish, ling and sea bass. Trolling trips for blues, bonito, skipjacks, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel and cobia are also an option.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Kingfish apparently finally showed up in numbers in the surf, and a customer totaled a dozen this morning at 54th Street, said Jim from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. FishBites and bloodworms will get the hits, and flounder were also dragged from the surf and taken from the back bay on Gulps and mackerel. Lots were talking about big, cow nosed rays seen in the surf and ocean, a potentially annoying catch, but a cool sight. Blues plied the surf, but more filled the inlets. Small stripers could be caught in the back bay at night on small lures or cut bait. Larger stripers and bunker schools left the local ocean a while ago and pushed north. The ocean reefs were starting to hold flounder, and the bite at Great Egg Reef was good, though Ocean City Reef was dead. Jim heard about porgies landed at the reefs a couple of weeks ago but not since. Bluefin tuna, including bigger ones to 200 pounds, were chunked at inshore spots such as Massey’s Canyon and 19-Fathom Lump. Canyon tuna fishing turned quiet, and canyon boaters were returning disappointed.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Jim Judd and son David targeted the back bay for stripers with popper lures on spinning rods on Monday in only three hours during mid day on high tide, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. They tackled six and had lots of shots at the fish on the flats in 2 feet while Joe poled the boat. When he fishes with popper lures he usually favors plugs like Creek Chubs, Rapala Skitter Pops and Smack-Its. Seventy degrees is the magic water temp for popper fishing, but stripers will smack poppers in temps from 68 to 80, and a charter last week grabbed the fish in 81-degree water. The bay this week ranged anywhere from 58 to 75 degrees, a large difference, and cooler than last week. Cooler water pushed in, and it was helping the fishing. On Tuesday Mike Roth was aboard and fly fished for stripers in the bay, catching and releasing two, and missing a third, on the flats in 1 foot of water. This also took place mid day on high tide, and not as much ground can be covered when fly fishing, and Joe’s been covering lots of ground for catches, and mid day isn’t the ideal time in summer, although these trips proved that the fish could be caught in less than ideal conditions. Ideal conditions at this time of year are high tides in the mornings, and those tides will take place next week. On Roth’s trip he scored the fish on Gurgler poppers and chartreuse and white Clouser Minnows. Other popper flies that work well include Bob’s Bangers, a Spiral Popper that Joe ties that’s made from sheet foam wrapped around the hook shank, and any hard-foam popper. What is also ideal for popper fishing, both with spinning and fly tackle, is summertime, and popper fishing is one of Joe’s favorites and a specialty, so jump aboard now if you want to do it. It’s great fun with every hit seen, and poling the flats is a wonderful experience with the sights and sounds of nature on the back bay. No bluefish were caught on these trips, but blues could still be found in the bay. A few flounder were still being bagged in the bay, and more of the flatties were now in the ocean at places like the Old Grounds and Reef Site 11 and other reefs. Joe is competing in the Mid Atlantic Tuna Tournament this week, so he was keeping mum about any offshore news until after the competition.

<b>Avalon</b>

<b>Over Under Adventures</b>’ boat Low Profile made its first run of the season from Avalon yesterday, heading to the Hambone for bluefin tuna, the fishing report on Over Under’s web site said. The vessel was anchored with a chunk slick by 4 a.m., and the bluefins got going shortly afterward, and the anglers limited out on three of the fish, one in the slot limit smaller than 47 inches and two in the slot over 47. Several others were battled, and a few were missed, and the action was very good but ended by 6:30 a.m. Later the boat moved offshore for a chance to add yellowfin tuna to the box, and no yellowfins were found, but four mahi mahi were picked. The Justified, one of Over Under’s several boats that are fishing from Ocean City, Md., also fished in the morning near the Low Profile, arriving at daybreak. The boat scored a run-off deep down, but then nothing else bit, though the anglers toughed it out on the chunk till 11 a.m. Then the vessel went on the troll, still searching for bluefins, pushed a little inshore, and connected, going 3 for 3, keeping one and also bagging a mahi. Another of Over Under’s boats from OC, Pretty Work, ran that day for yellowfins a bit farther offshore to the 30-fathom line near Baltimore Canyon, and yet another, That’s Right, worked 40 to 50 fathoms inside the Baltimore. The Pretty Work never really came across a bite, but the boat in the canyon nailed nine yellowfins, and by 12:30 a.m. seas had built, and the crew opted to run back to port. Fishing sounded generally slow yesterday. Check out Over Under’s schedule of <a href="http://overundercharters.com/?page=opendates" target="_blank"> open-boat trips</a>, and more dates will be added as groups call and ask about splitting costs with other anglers.

<b>Cape May</b>

On the <b>Sea Fox</b> the Mike Pope family fished Brandywine Shoal in Delaware Bay on Tuesday and boated flounder to 19 inches, blues and sea bass, Capt. Gary said. A 10-year-old youngster also got to fight a 30-inch brown shark. Lots of life including sea turtles and porpoises filled the water. The water was 77 degrees or getting warm. Some of the fish were landed on Gulps, and minnows, squid and strip baits also scored. No croakers were reeled in. Charters will continue to flounder fish from the bay to the ocean, and ocean trolling trips for bluefish, bonito, Spanish mackerel and such species are on tap. Chunking for bluefin tuna is also on the menu at the inshore lumps.

Pretty good flounder catches came from the 9 and 10 buoys in Delaware Bay, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Big, cow-nosed rays roamed the bay, and flounder fishing in the back bay was producing lots, but throwbacks had to be picked through. Schoolie stripers could probably also be plugged or eeled along the sod banks of the bay in the early mornings or at night. Stripers were also eeled at the inlets late at night, and eels are stocked. Weakfishing was spotty, and nobody reported catching any lately. Lots of crabs were nabbed, and it’s been a good crabbing season. A customer grabbed six dozen blueclaws in a morning and came back for more bait, and moving tides were the times to crab. Surf fishers sometimes beached croakers and sea bass. All the bluefish anyone could want could be caught at 4-Fathom Bank and such spots. Bluefin tuna fishing was pretty good at Massey’s Canyon, and yellowfin tuna were fought at the southern canyons.

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