<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

Shark fishing produced a mako on every trip, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> from Neptune in an e-mail. But the last trip was slow, and a small mako was released. Shark trips now either had to fish overnight or sail more than 40 miles offshore. Trolling for tuna was red hot, and three spaces are available on an open-boat tuna trip July 29 to 30.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

Friends of friends bailed yellowfin tuna and a few bigeyes, some catching up to 18 tuna, on the troll at the 150/050 on the southwest corner of Hudson Canyon on spreader bars, plastics and ballyhoos, said Capt. Fred from <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> from Point Pleasant. The warm waters would now spin down to Toms Canyon. No bluefin tuna swam local inshore waters, and only spots off Cape May gave up bluefins, typical of the early season. The annual open-boat, mixed-bag offshore trips were kicking off this week, because tuna-trolling, mahi mahi fishing and tilefishing were all turned on. Call for availability.

A few canyon boaters scored alright, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle during the weekend. One fished the West Wall of Hudson Canyon in 73-degree waters, reeled in five yellowfin tuna and 25 mahi mahi and released a blue marlin. Another bailed 12 yellowfins at the same area. Greg Mulligan shark fished and released 30 browns and a hammerhead. A couple of other anglers fought small makos at the Mudhole.

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

Two large blue sharks and a dusky were battled to the boat at the deep end of the Glory Hole on Saturday with <b>Seafood Fishing Charters</b> from Forked River, Capt. John said. Another shark broke off, and although no makos showed up, the sharking went well. The waters were 68 to 69 degrees, clear and a little green. Bait and porpoises schooled, and mackerel and fresh bonito were the hooked baits. A tuna-trolling trip will point the bow east for the first time tomorrow. Space remains on a two-day, open-boat trip that will compete in the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club Tournament July 30 to August 2.

Relentless south winds were finally forecast to let up, so the <b>Hi Flier</b> from Waretown was heading for Barnegat Ridge today through the weekend to search for bluefin tuna, bonito and false albacore, Capt. Dave DeGennaro said in an e-mail. Mild west, northwest and northeast winds were predicted. Both single reservations for open-boat trips and charters are available through Sunday. Call for the schedule beyond then.

No customers mentioned fishing offshore this week, probably because of rough weather and winds, but offshore anglers needed to sail far for catches, said Josh from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>.  Over the weekend a few yellowfin tuna were reported boated, and a few sharks were battled at the Fingers.

<b>Little Egg Inlet</b>

Customers looked for bluefin tuna but found none at 28-Mile Wreck, the 750-Square and the Cigar, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Mystic Island. Apparently that fishery was yet to happen, although bluefins turned on farther south.

<b>Absecon Inlet</b>

Bluefin tuna fishing was on fire at places like Massey’s Canyon, the Hambone and the Tea Cup on the troll, chunk and jig, said Dominic from <b>Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle</b> in Atlantic City. Fishing farther offshore seemed best at the northern canyons. The <b>Carly A</b>, the shop’s offshore charter boat, is in action, and a canyon trip was heading out today. The vessel will run one open-boat trip per week.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Bluefin tuna were chunked, jigged and trolled at inshore spots including 19-Fathom Lump, Massey’s Canyon and the Hambone, and all points between, said Dan from <b>Fin-Atics</b> Ocean City. No customers fished the offshore canyons in the last few days, but Toms Canyon was supposedly one of the places to go.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

The boats from <b>Over Under Adventures</b> whacked bluefin tuna from Avalon and also from Ocean City, Maryland, an e-mail from the company said. The bluefins ranged 50 to 130 pounds, and the largest swam south of Maryland, but the big ones should arrive off both Maryland and New Jersey within a week. Over Under trolled the fish, finding no reason to chunk, but boaters who did chunk smoked plenty. Low Profile, Over Under’s boat that had been fishing from the Bahamas since spring, arrived in Avalon to join Justified, the company’s vessel that was already fishing from the town. Both will chase tuna from Jersey through fall. In September That’s Right, the only boat from Over Under that’s licensed for more than six passengers, will move to Jersey to join the other vessels.

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City planned to run offshore for bluefin tuna in the next days, and jigging for the fish at 19-Fathom Lump and Massey’s Canyon sounded turned on, he said. Farther offshore, canyon fishing seemed a matter of water temps that were mostly the same everywhere with no temperature breaks. Tuna were certainly still there, but the lack of breaks offered no specific areas to search, so finding them became more a matter of chance.

<b>Hereford Inlet</b>

Bluefin tuna put tackle to the test at 19-Fathom Lump and Massey’s Canyon, and chunking for the fish was red hot for customers, but some trolled a few, said Cathy from <b>Sterling Harbor Bait & Tackle</b> in Wildwood in an e-mail. Gaffer dolphin were mixed in. Robert Christopher from the Cara Mia checked in an 88-pound bluefin he chunked at 19-Fathom. Alan Ritter from the Big Bully stopped by with an 81-pound bluefin that he trolled. Mike Lobianco and Billy McFetridge on the Carlyssa fished Wilmington Canyon last week and boated nine yellowfin tuna, eight dolphin and eight tilefish.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Loads of bluefin tuna got hammered at spots like Massey’s Canyon, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May. He talked with some anglers who drilled 20 of the fish on the chunk. The Heavy Hitter is sailing for the tuna.

Bluefin tuna fishing produced at the inshore grounds, and the fish swam fairly deep, so trollers used downriggers, planers and weighted lures with medium to horse ballyhoos dropped back 200 to 300 yards, said Matt from <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b> in a fax. Islanders in blue-and-white or pink-and-white were a couple of choices. Chunking for the tuna also worked. At Massey’s Canyon on the troll, Bob Gillard nailed a 146-1/2-pound bluefin and released another five, and the crew on the Gold Rush bagged a two-fish limit and released six more. On the chunk at 19-Fathom Lump, Pete Safaras belted an 85-pounder and broke off two.

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