<b>Staten Island</b>

Anglers with <b>Barbara Anne Fishing Charters</b> piled up fluke at Ambrose Channel, Capt. Anthony said. The fishing was “killer,” he said, “with some very large fish filling out the day.” Doormats to 9 pounds were drilled. Anthony often accepts bookings from two or three anglers, able to pair them up with other anglers to make a full trip. A couple of spaces had been available Tuesday and Thursday but are now full. But two openings remain on Friday. Call to claim, and Barbara Anne pays bridge tolls with a receipt. Trips will begin to concentrate on sea bass and bluefish soon, and blackfishing will get under way October 1, when New York’s tog season opens.

<b>Keyport</b>

A charter with Joo Kim’s party of six ran to the ocean off Sandy Hook this morning for fluke with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. A 22-inch keeper and heavy action with shorts, including probably two dozen 17-1/2- to 17-3/4-inchers, just under the 18-inch size limit, were scored. Squid and killies were the bait. Really a good day outdoors, Joe said, though the weather was hot, and a pleasure to be on the trip with the anglers. They were from Michigan and on business in New York City. Open-boat trips are sailing for fluke daily when no charter is booked, and call to reserve. Eight-hour charters are fishing for sea bass and porgies.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Lots of fluke, mostly shorts, gave up action on the <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said, and keepers were scarcer than preferred, but sometimes anglers lucked out and bagged them. Everybody caught, but not everybody caught a keeper. Sometimes a lucky customer landed several keepers, like an angler on one of the afternoon trips who took home four. The boat mostly fished on the bay, but fished down the ocean beaches on Friday afternoon’s trip, the first time the vessel fished on the ocean in a while. That was the only place sheltered from north/northwesterly winds. The fishing in the ocean was about the same as in the bay: lots of shorts and a few keepers. The winds on the bay on the morning trip made fishing tough, probably some of the toughest fluking lately. The flatties in the bay were spread out, a large population, and trips fished and caught at places including the Navy Pier, Reach Channel, Chapel Hill Channel and off Sandy Hook Point. More of the flatties, mostly shorts, showed up at Reach Channel on Saturday morning’s trip than had been there in a while. Chapel Hill Channel churned out a mess of the fish, mostly shorts.  The boat fished at Chapel at times including Saturday afternoon, and a few patrons picked up two or three keepers, and some landed one, and others boxed no keepers, but all at least caught shorts. “Tire” John nailed a 6-1/4-pounder on the afternoon trip and probably had a couple of keepers on the morning trip and a couple of more in the afternoon. Some anglers brought their own killies, and sometimes that can make a difference, but Tom couldn’t say that killies or any baits out-produced another lately. Spearing and squid are supplied on the boat. Some anglers fished Spro jigs or bucktails instead of rigs, and that might make a difference when there’s no drift, but the anglers have to work them, not just fish them like a weight on a rig. The Atlantic Star is fluke fishing on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The fluke trip Saturday on the <b>Fishermen</b> began fishing on the bay, because Capt. Ron knew the winds and tides would fail to create the right conditions for fishing the channels, he said in the report on the boat’s Web site. Patrons began picking shorts and a handful of keepers on the bay, until boat traffic became too fierce. The Fishermen was steamed to the channels to catch the change of tide. Winds still blew against the tide, but the fluking turned on! John Froelich, “my star fluker of 2009,” Ron said, limited out once again, also winning the pool for the third time this season. How many anglers limited out three times this year? Ron asked. Friday night’s bluefishing trip made one stop, and all gaffer-sized blues were hammered. The bite was finally on, “after one hell of a July blight!” Ron said. No other reports were posted on the site in recent days, but if Ron e-mails more, like he sometimes does, updates will be posted here. The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Trips are running for bluefish 7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Fridays and 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

<b>Highlands</b>

Mike Boyle’s trip with <b>Jersey Devil Charters</b> trolled the ocean way inshore of the bluefin tuna grounds, both because seas were snotty and to see whether pelagics swam the waters, Capt. Brian said. But the fishing was somewhat uneventful, except skipjacks were landed. The trolling began at the BA buoy, worked its way up the Mudhole and hit the Monster Ledge and the Slough. A bluefin tuna trip was postponed Sunday because of weather and because the waters became crowded on weekends. Jersey Devil already creamed the bluefins around the Glory Hole and Chicken Canyon this season, one of the best seasons for the fishing in some time, and is focusing on the tuna for now. A mess of the fish were jigged between the Glory and the Chicken on the last trip to the grounds. Brian started offering open-boat trips for bluefins, because anglers kept calling to go, so he can put them together for a full trip. Call to reserve.

<b>Neptune</b>

Two-hundred-fifty boats crowded the canyon when Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> ran his first open-boat, overnight trip to the waters this season, but the trip caught anyway, he said. Five small yellowfin tuna were bagged and a dozen shorts were released on both the daytime troll and the nighttime chunk, and a 200-pound golden hammerhead shark was released at night. Ralph knew about two larger, 50-pound yellowfins taken on another boat at night and a single 50-pounder boated on another vessel in the dark. Those catches seemed encouraging for the night bite that was beginning. Bigeye tuna were slammed all the way offshore, but too many boats fished for them, and Ralph avoided the area. Space is full the rest of the month for open-boat canyon fishing, but spots are available in September and October, and see the vessel’s Web site for the schedule. Ralph’s other boat sailed for a fairly decent catch of fluke to 5 pounds during the weekend.  Individual-reservation fluke and sea bass trips are leaving port every Wednesday until fluke season closes in about three weeks. Last Lady is also fishing the offshore wrecks for cod, big ling and other fish, and the cod catch on the last trip was the best in many years, covered in the last report. Inshore wreck-fishing trips were also excellent with Last Lady for big sea bass, ling, tog and some cod about an hour from shore, about as far as inshore trips can sail. Trips are also bluefishing, and catches were picking back up after the spawn, and are chasing bluefin tuna that are tearing up the inshore ocean.

<b>Belmar</b>

“What a great week of fishing!” an e-mail from the <b>Golden Eagle</b> said. Both daytime and nighttime trips slammed bluefish, mostly on jigs but sometimes on bait during the daytime. Bait was fished at night as always, and the nighttime fishing was furious for 12- to 14-pounders. Saturday’s fishing was somewhat slower than the rest of the week, and tons of the fish were found but were reluctant to bite. The fishing was picky during the daytime trip and was good on the nighttime trip but slower than during the past nights.  The Golden Eagle is fishing for blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily. Canyon tuna trips will begin September 1, and see the boat’s Web site for info.

The <b>Nan Sea J</b> mostly sailed for blues at the Shrewsbury Rocks and the Mud Buoy, and catches were feast or famine, Capt. Tom said. On some days charters battled them non-stop, and on other days the fish gave up a slow pick. But when they ate, the fish caught were big, weighing up to 15 pounds. Anglers aboard mostly fished bait in a chum slick, but they also jigged a few blues. The Nan Sea J is also fishing for fluke and sea bass, and might run for bluefin tuna that swarmed the inshore ocean. Open-boat trips for the bluefins might sail, and call Tom if interested. Overnight, canyon trips for tuna will launch in September. Shark fishing currently could be possible on the boat, if anglers want to go.

Craig Shaw and buddy with <b>Last One Charters</b> on Saturday afternoon first fished at the Shrewsbury Rock, Capt. Rob said. A bunch of keeper sea bass and some porgies were angled up, and short sea bass were tossed back. A 28-inch, keeper striped bass and a couple of blues were also bunker chunked. Then the trip moved to the Mud Buoy, but nothing was happening, so the vessel returned to the Shrewsbury Rocks. A pile of blues was found schooling on the surface, and the anglers socked them on jigs before sailing home. Rob noted that the stripers in the ocean this summer were smaller than last year. Keepers could be found, but none was as large as some of the fish last year.

<b>Brielle</b>

Fluking produced plenty at places like Sea Girt Reef, Axel Carlson Reef and off Elberon in the past days, though the fishing was slow in terrible conditions Sunday, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. The weather was rough, including rainstorms, that day, and presumably he meant that hampered ideal drifting. Quality fluke were picked up from the Manasquan River, and snapper blues began appearing in the waters. Hickory shad ran the river, and Spanish mackerel popped up at Manasquan Inlet early last week. Catches of bonito were heard about from Barnegat Ridge and the Mudhole. Lots of bluefin tuna were lambasted 40 miles from shore Adam Glantzman jigged four bluefins to 100 pounds on ProFishCo Power Jigs. Hudson Canyon boaters pummeled fish through the week. A major bigeye tuna bite was going down, and yellowfin tuna from throwbacks to 50- or 60-pounders were nailed. Quite a few blue marlin were a beaten. Sea bassing became tougher to cull keepers, and many small lumpheads were around, but the fishing was still good. Dave wasn’t asked about ling catches, but previously he said lots of ling were landed. Bluefish were rounded up at the Shrewsbury Rocks, the last Dave heard. But few customers messed with blues lately, going after other fishing instead.

Anglers on two trips on the <b>Katie H</b> took a heading for the bluefin tuna grounds around the Atlantic Princess wreck on Friday and Saturday, Capt. Mike said. Friday’s trip clubbed a great catch, a bunch of the tuna, keeping a limit of two: one in the less than 47-inch slot limit, and another in the 47-inch or larger size. “One under, one over,” Mike said, and a bunch were caught and released. All the fish were chunked, except one that was trolled. After trolling a few hours with one caught, the trip decided to fish chunks of butterfish and jig while chunking, and then the anglers hooked up. The charter seemed to have a great time, especially because the bluefins were their first-ever tuna, also because they’d been trying to fish for tuna on the boat for two or three years, but kept getting weathered out and such. Saturday’s trip was a whole different story from the success of Friday, and tons of boats filled the waters, probably because of forecasts for clear weather. One bluefin tuna was hooked on a jig but got off on the Katie H. Lots of tuna were marked, but they wouldn’t come up and feed, for some reason. Mike heard about a few of the bluefins trolled that day, but that was about it. He also heard about fishing farther offshore at Hudson Canyon in the past days, and described the fishing in six words: “bigeyes, bigeyes, bigeyes,” he said, and “chaos, chaos, chaos.” The waters exploded with bigeye tuna and some yellowfin tuna and blue marlin, but the area was crammed with probably 200 boats like a parking lot, often trolling outrigger to outrigger. He heard about boats running over other vessel’s lines, fish getting cut off  and people arguing. He knew about one boat with five or six bigeyes hooked at once that were all cut off when a boat ran over the lines. He knows an angler who had a blue marlin hooked that was dancing and jumping, until another boat ran over the line, cutting off the fish. Fishing at both the canyons and the bluefin tuna grounds might be best during weekdays if anglers can go then. The Katie H’s first overnight tuna trip to the canyons is slated for August 22 to 23. Trips, especially on weekends, were beginning to fill, because the fishing was heating up, and fuel prices were low. Some Fridays were left, and weekdays remained.

On the <b>Big Kid</b> anglers trolled a limit of bluefin tuna on the inshore grounds Friday, and another trip on Saturday ran back to the waters and trolled more, Capt. Ken said. On Sunday members of the Seaside Heights Striper Club took a sea bass and fluke trip, rustling up sea bass to 2 pounds and fluke to 4 pounds. Charters this week will fish the canyons for tuna on an overnight trip Tuesday to Wednesday, will run for bluefin tuna Friday and will fluke fish Saturday. Another canyon trip will fish overnight Sunday to Monday. So all the fishing that the Big Kid is doing—trips for bluefins, fluke/sea bass and canyon tuna—will be under way through the week.

With <b>Fish Monger Charters</b> ocean fluke fishing was on a roll for three days from Thursday to Saturday, and the first two trips limited out, and the third nearly limited, Capt. Jerry said in an e-mail. On the last trip on Saturday Capt Wayne was at the helm, keeping the Monger “mojo” going, Jerry said, with the best fluke trip of the year so far. The six anglers on the charter boxed 34 keeper fluke, including five that weighed 5 to 7 pounds, and a couple of sea bass. “Headed right past the local grounds … to the more productive sticky stuff …” he said. The trip drifted over different rock piles, getting shots of keepers between shorts. At one point, every rod went off, and four fluke 4 to 7 pounds were landed. On Friday an open-boat trip sailed with five anglers, limiting out on 30 fluke, tossing back shorts, and creeling 14 sea bass. None of the fluke was big, measuring 18 to 23 inches, but they were plentiful. The trip, with Jerry at the helm, was originally going to fish the sticky stuff in deeper waters like the trip described above, but winds and currents made the area unfishable. So Jerry motored closer to the coast to fish some of his favorite inshore rock piles. The catch ended up being one of the better ones Jerry saw in shallower waters this year.  On an open trip Thursday with Jerry in charge, the five anglers aboard limited out on fluke and bagged 14 sea bass. They reeled up the fluke at different patches until each spot dried up, then moved to the next. The drift was too fast at first but calmed down later, and the group had to work hard through the trip, but put the catch together by the end.  Charters are fluke fishing, and space is available on open-boat trips for the flatties later this week. Don’t miss out, and the season will be finished before you know it, he said. Also coming up, Fish Monger will run charters and open trips for bonito and false albacore on the ocean, tackle-busting angling. Last year’s trips whaled the fish, and anglers already booked space for this year.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

A mixed-bag, open-boat trip to the blue waters plundered a bluefin tuna, big pollock, ling and tilefish with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> on Saturday, the report on the boat’s Web site said. Leaving port at 4 a.m., the trip ran to the bluefin grounds on the inshore ocean, meeting a load of boats as expected. Nothing much was marked, except bait, and nothing bit, so the trip moved to structure, and the boat was anchored. Ling began to be reeled up, then wham! A bluefin tuna slammed a jig that one of the anglers worked, and was caught. No more tuna showed up, so the boat was moved farther offshore to a wreck. As soon as the vessel was anchored, wham! The same angler jigged another bluefin, but the fish spit the hook. Next the same angler hooked another sizeable fish, but the fish fought differently. He reeled in a big pollock, and the pollock were all over one section of the wreck, and seven big ones to 35-plus pounds were boated. Afterward the anglers looked for tilefish farther offshore. A couple of small ones came up from 420 feet, so the boat was moved to 550 feet. More small tiles were cranked in, until the anglers totaled ten small tiles, and headed home with a good mix of fish. Everyone went home with lots of goodies, the report said. An inshore sea bass trip sailed last Monday, lifting aboard sea bass, fluke and ling at the rocky bottom, until the anglers became seasick one by one in a southerly swell. So they moved to Manasquan River, hooking 15 short fluke before calling it a trip early. Andrea’s Toy is fishing for fluke and sea bass close to shore and running for everything from bluefin tuna, cod and pollock on the inshore ocean to yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, billfish and tilefish offshore. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of catching and more variety for dinner. Charters are fishing the blue waters, and so are open-boat trips. See  <a href="http://www.andreastoycharters.com" target="_blank">the boat’s home page</a> for info about mixed-bag, open-boat canyon trips.

Sixteen keeper fluke were ploughed on the ocean among about 75 shorts hooked with a group of four anglers with <b>Reel Class Charters</b> on Friday, the report on the boat’s Web site said. A few sea bass and ling were also boxed, and the fluke and other fish bit on a pick, but a solid one, from 7 a.m. until the end of the trip at 3 p.m. The original plan had been to work north through the day, but the trip never had to leave the first spot. The drift was fast, but the drift sock slowed the boat to 1.2 knots, and the anglers were into fish with 8 to 10 ounces of weight. They fished with fresh spearing or frozen sand eels with squid strips on green Mai Tai fluke rigs. On Saturday a family charter also fluke fished on the ocean, putting six keepers to 22 inches in the box, among 60 shorts released. A bunch of sea bass and a ling were also reeled up. The day was tough because of east winds, and there was lots of action with short fluke, but not a lot of keepers. When the trip first broke the inlet, brisk, 15-knot, north/northeast winds met the boat, making seas bumpy, close and 3 to 4 feet. The plan was to fish from Belmar to Normandy Beach, and the first stop fished where the previous day’s trip loaded up. But the waters this time held a pick of shorts, a few sizeable sea bass and the ling. A handful of quality keepers to 22 inches were found father north, and then the trip ran to south of Manasquan Inlet, and shorts, a few sea bass and trash fish showed up. Places that gave up fluke through the previous week finally seemed to dry up, and the captain planned to head in a different direction on an open-boat Fluke Till You Puke Marathon trip today. Both charters and the open trips are fluking, and sea bass can be mixed in when rough bottom is fished, and check the boat’s Web site for availability on the open trips.

<b>Seaside</b>

Small blues chomped mullet baits in the surf, usually in the mornings, but they swam in and out through the day Sunday, said the report on <b>Grumpy’s Tackle</b>. Fluke were beached from the suds, and toss Gulps to them. A few short striped bass were landed at night along the beaches, and photos were seen of impressive brown sharks fought in the surf at night. Fish chunks or strips of bunker or mackerel on wire leaders for the monsters. <a href="http://www.grumpystackle.com/fishingreports/" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for updates.   

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Triggerfish, blues, blackfish, fluke and large, hand-sized porgies made up most of the catch for <b>Reel Fantasea Charters</b>, Capt. Steve said in an e-mail. Weakfish were missing in action in Barnegat Bay. “Are we on yet another downward cycle for our beloved sea trout?” he asked. “Only time will tell.” The Hilly Berlin party of five scored steady action on 1- to 3-pound blues on artificials. After getting their fill, they bottom-fished for brisk action on a quality mix of triggerfish, jumbo porgies, blackfish and huge bergals. They were actually supposed to fish the previous day and got weathered out, but were able to sail the next morning, because of a last-minute cancellation. Bill Stussi’s crew managed to pick 1- to 4-pound blues but had to work, because the bite and the conditions weren’t in their favor. An open-boat trip, mentioned in the last report, filled up on September 10, but two spots remain on an open trip Monday, September 24, also mentioned last time. The trips sail for the “fish du jour,” whatever’s biting best. Steve will add another open trip in September because interest was high. The month is one of the most beautiful along the coast.

<b>Barnegat</b>

Five keeper fluke, including a couple of 5- to 6-pounders, and small blues were boxed in the ocean off Island Beach State Park on a trip Saturday with <b>Perfect Drift Sport Fishing</b>, Capt. John said. Short fluke were also released, of course. Fluking was good, and the area’s bottom was loaded with the fish, and anglers could target them just about anywhere there. Find a few, and keep drifting over the spot. Only three weekends remained for fluke season, and Perfect Drift specializes in the trips, and the fishing will continue until the end. Fluking in the ocean will actually improve beyond the end, but the season closes. Barnegat Bay was full of fluke, mostly small. Fishing for bonito and Spanish mackerel was going heavy at Barnegat Ridge, and Perfect Drift also sails for them.

“We hit them hard at Barnegat Ridge!” said Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b> in an e-mail. A mess of bonito and large Spanish mackerel were clocked on the high-speed troll. Feathers, cedar plugs and daisy chains got the fish to attack, all on the surface. Multiple hook-ups, two and three rods nailed at a time, were the rule. Trips also put out spinning tackle to keep it sporty. Both fish are some of the best loin you can eat. Open-boat trips are running for the fish 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and the weather is supposed to be calm. Call for other dates. A trip can also run either for them or weakfish Wednesday morning, before a weakfish charter that’s already booked. “Better strike while the iron is hot,” Dave said.

<b>Tuckerton</b>

Catches of flounder, no large numbers but quality fish, all 22- and 23-inchers, were smoked on two trips Saturday and Sunday with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. The trip was productive, and the fish were plundered in 60 feet in the ocean “here and there, no particular spot,” he said. A few sea bass were mixed in. One of Legal Limit’s boats also fished at Carteret Canyon on Sunday, and the anglers racked up a couple of yellowfin tuna and a good catch of mahi mahi.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Croakers, striped bass, flounder and snapper blues were banked in the surf, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Kingfishing was off and on in the suds, and so was triggerfishing. Tog, although only one could be kept, were actually more abundant than any of the fish. Lots of bait, including tons of spearing, flooded the waters. For the croakers, fish cut bait, head-on, eating shrimp, clam and bloodworms. For the stripers, good-sized ones, dunk clam or herring at places including the jetties at the Flagship and Vermont Avenue and off Captain Stearns. Work minnows, spearing and/or squid for the flounder. For the tog, healthy-sized ones, green crabs will work, and look for them along the jetty rocks. Triggerfish also hug the rocks and will chew small pieces of clam, head-on shrimp or crab that fit in their small mouths. Noel wasn’t asked what to fish for the kings, but bloodworms are a usual bait. One Stop stocks all the baits mentioned and more. 

<b>Margate</b>

<b>O-Beth Sportfishing</b> fished offshore for tuna and inshore for flounder and sea bass, Capt. Eric said. Yellowfin tuna swam from 30 fathoms to the canyons, and bluefin tuna held along 30 fathoms. Reports about wahoo catches began to come from the waters, and marlin were abundant. Spots are open for offshore charters, and dates remain for flounder fishing, and the flattie season closes in a few weeks. O-Beth is fishing for the flatties and sea bass on the ocean.

<b>Longport</b>

On the <b>Stray Cat</b> charters switched to triggerfishing for the moment, because triggers jammed the waters around high structure at Ocean City Reef, and flounder fishing became difficult in rains, too much winds or too little winds, Capt. Mike said. Keeping a little chum, like squid chum, in the waters was the trick for the triggers. Previously trips had been whacking flounder and sea bass at wrecks 12 miles from shore, and that action could rebound when the difficult weather improves. An open-boat bottom-fishing trip was sold out today that was supposed to hunt big sea bass at the 30-mile wrecks, and another is sold out Friday. More will be scheduled. Decent tuna fishing for bluefins 40 pounds and larger materialized just inshore of 30 fathoms, and large mahi mahi were hooked in the same waters, and Stray Cat is up for charters for both. Mahi this year hit on chains fished 50 feet down at 3 ½ to 4 knots. But that’s funny, because they seemed to prefer something different each year. Last year they preferred baits like sardines and spots fished off the bottom at the Cigar or the Lobster Claw. During the previous year they favored fast-trolled Green Machines around structure.

<b>Somers Point</b>

Flounder catches were off the charts! said a fax from Rob and Joan from <b>Dolfin Dock</b>. Robert Maurer from Egg Harbor Township grabbed a 6-3/4-pound flounder from Great Egg Harbor Inlet while fishing a pink Gulp. Guy Martin from Somers Point put the brakes on a 5-pounder at Rainbow Channel on a white bucktail, “the old classic,” the fax said. Chris Goldstein and T.J. Wolf from Egg Harbor Township netted a 6-pounder and a 4-1/2-pounder, respectively, on the ocean at Ocean City Reef. The 6-pounder was Chris’s first-ever flounder. What a start! the fax said. “Sharks, sharks, everywhere a shark,” it said: Mike Remuidas from Somers Point muscled in a 4-foot 60-pound bull shark at Dog Beach along the Ocean City and Longport causeway. In offshore waters, Johnny Williams Jr. from Somers Point and crew boated an 80-pound bluefin tuna at the Lobster Claw, and Mary Bowden from Egg Harbor Township gaffed a 12-pound 38-inch mahi mahi at Spencer Canyon.

Jeff Gwin dialed up two hefty, keeper flounder to a 25-inch 6.42-pounder on the bay at Margate on Pro Cut squid on a bucktail, said T.C. from <b>Brennan Marine</b> in a fax.  Arnold Giobanelli fished Ocean City Reef, mugging a 9.84-pound 28-1/2-inch flounder while fishing with Gulps and minnows. The Cummings crew on the Bonnie Lee whaled the fish of the week: a 191-pound 73-inch bluefin tuna trolled near 28-Mile Wreck. Rich Seretowski and gang on his Sugar Magnolia fished the Cigar, pelting an 86-pound bluefin on a butterfly jig, and the fish was full of ling. At the Lobster Claw Ron Kovler and crew on his Next Case jigged a 91-pound bluefin, and Ken Wallace and company on his Full Course hooked a 30-pound bluefin and four mah mahi to 12 pounds. Also at the Claw, Jim Davis on his Reel Danger bagged a 145-pound 60-inch bluefin. Farther north, Tom Little and anglers on his Mischievous trolled a 70-pound bluefin on a Green Machine spreader bar.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Bob Roda’s party clobbered six keeper fluke to 5 pounds and probably released a dozen throwbacks on a half-day trip on the ocean Saturday afternoon, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. Sea bass, sharks and other fish also hit, awesome fishing. Keeper flounder seemed to migrate to the waters, and the angling was even better than in spring, a treat in August, and anglers should consider going now. While flounder fishing on the ocean Joe’s charters fish top-and-bottom rigs with a minnow on the top hook and a strip bait like squid or fresh bluefish or sea robin on the bottom. The fresher, the better, and the freshness is important for bigger flatties. In the morning Dale Boyer, wife Babs and their son Austin tangled with a mixed bag of a dozen short flounder released and a variety of blues, sharks and other fish at Townsends Inlet Reef. Seas and winds were calm on this morning trip, and not a lot of ground could be covered on the drift. But winds came up in the afternoon, when the keepers were bagged, allowing more waters to be covered, and that seemed to make a difference. Reef fishing has been some of the more fun angling lately, lots of action, rods bent, especially good for families, but also for anglers. Anglers won’t fill a cooler, but they’ll hook lots of fish and a variety. On Thursday Mark Milligan and crew fished at Wildwood Reef, landing a 21-inch, keeper flounder, probably 15 throwbacks and an assortment of sharks and other fish. No blues showed up that day, but blues usually do. The James LoPresti group took a trip for bluefin tuna at the Lobster Claw on Thursday, but seas were much worse than forecast, making the angling difficult, and no bluefins showed up. Canyon fishing for yellowfin tuna farther offshore produced at times and was slower at others, depending on the trip. White marlin were around, and mahi mahi fishing was great at the canyons. Now was the time to go after the mahi on the troll or on cast bait, lures or flies. Offshore charters are available that troll for tuna during the mornings and cast bait, lures or flies to mahi at the lobster pots during the afternoons.  Weekly, open-boat trips are sailing for tuna, usually on Wednesdays, but sometimes on other days, depending on the weather and when anglers can go. They target either bluefins or yellowfins, whatever’s best, or fish for both, and are a learning experience. Back on the bay, tides this week were off for popper fishing for striped bass with lures or flies, but will come around next week. High tides at dawn and dusk are the time to go, and popper fishing is a specialty on the boat. But tides were right for nighttime striper fishing, like under the lights at the bridges and docks, with soft-plastic lures and flies. High tides in the middle of the night are best for that angling, and Jersey Cape also runs those trips. Clamming for stripers on the bay usually offers a shot a big one, and Joe sometimes mixes in that fishing on trips. Stay tuned for details about traveling charters that Joe will offer on weekends in Montauk for the blitz of stripers and blues from mid September to late October and to Marthas Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts for fly-rodding for stripers on Columbus Day weekend. Or call him for info.

<b>Avalon</b>

On an offshore trip with <b>Over Under Adventures</b> on Thursday, two 65-inch bluefin tuna were hooked at first, one on a jig that got off after 10 minutes, and another on a chunk that was fought two hours, swimming to the boat twice, before it pulled the hook, an e-mail from Over Under said. “It happens!” the e-mail aid. “The charter was happy to see and fight it.” Then the charter tried trolling for bluefins, hooked two mahi mahi to 20 pounds and saw that the bluefin bite was apparently finished. So the boat ran to look for yellowfin tuna 16 miles away. Several yellowfins including a 50-pounder were landed, and so was a white marlin, and a couple of other whites came into the spread without biting. A big blue marlin blew up in the spread but missed the hook. A bunch of yellowfins short-struck the spread, and the trip left the fish biting. If the charter could’ve fished longer, they would’ve crushed the fish, the report said. Over Under competed in the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland, during the previous weekend.  The crew had planned to fish for bluefin tuna, because they had been dialed in on them at the Lobster Claw. But two bigeyes hit the scale on the first day of the event, and Over Under decided to go after them. The crew searched for bigeyes at Wilmington Canyon in 300 fathoms. One bigeye bit but never came tight. Waters were 78 degrees and pretty, held lots of bait and whales but no real temperature break. On the next trip the boat fished for bluefins without a touch while trolling at Lemke’s Canyon and the Lobster Claw. On the final day that Over Under competed, the trip chunked for bluefins at the Claw without a touch. The trip could only arrive at 8:30 a.m., and anglers were seen hooked up when the boat first reached the grounds, and the fish seemed to feed from 5 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. A 1,069-pound blue marlin was entered in the tournament, reportedly the first-ever grander boated off Ocean City.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Excellent flounder fishing got pounded at Cape May Reef, Wildwood Reef, Reef 11 and the Old Grounds, and finding a patch of keepers was key, said Cathy from <b>Sterling Harbor Bait & Tackle</b> in an e-mail. Bill Selfridge from Gloucester weighed in a 5-pound 15-ouncer from Reef 11, and Michael Sullivan from Philly checked in a 9-pound 15-ounce whopper from the Old Grounds. Lots of snapper blues swarmed off Cape May Point and at the Cape May Rips. Small sea bass, spots and croakers nipped in the back bay, so the “back bay bonanza” began, Cathy said. Small flounder and occasional keepers swam the bay. Top-water plugging for striped bass “is in gear,” she said, along the bay’s sod banks and around the bridges and dock lights. Large bluefin tuna 130 to 150 pounds roamed the Lobster Claw. Capt. Scott Pierce from the Duct Work from Cape May ran a trip that shellacked a 160-pound bluefin, a 17-poound mahi mahi and a small yellowfin tuna. A bunch of mahi and occasional, small yellowfins were hooked at the Elephant Trunk on trolled, small lures or feathers. Mahi, white marlin, blue marlin and some yellowfins were decked at Wilmington Canyon. Crabby Jack gave crabbing three claws.

<b>Cape May</b>

A couple of flounder trips banged out healthy catches, lots of shorts, lots of action, but also keepers, at the Old Grounds on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> , Capt George said. John Stonick’s charter took one of the trips, and Roy Flynn’s charter took the other, and both landed keepers to 4 pounds. A couple of trips also trolled the inshore ocean, tangling with plenty of blues with Spanish mackerel and bonito mixed in. Not a ton of Spanish and bonito were around, but they were there. An occasional king mackerel might show up. Susan Ebbert’s charter was one of the trips, trolling loads of blues and some Spanish mackerel and bonito. Kevin Daley’s charter was the other, also loading up on blues and tackling some Spanish mackerel, no bonito. Another charter with Stever Scherf’s group fished along 30 fathoms, trolling yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi and skipjacks, also fighting a white marlin a moment before the hook pulled. Lots of whites were around this year, and many swam close to shore. George heard about a couple of wahoos landed in the area, after wahoos previously had seemed absent or late. Some of the popular inshore spots for tuna were covered in heavy boat traffic during the weekend, and George avoided them. The Heavy Hitter is running trips for inshore trolling for blues, Spanish mackerel, bonito and other fish, tuna fishing and flounder angling. Only have three or four anglers for a trip instead of six to create a full charter? Call George, because he can probably put you together with other anglers on a make-up trip during mid week.

Inshore trolling waffled phenomenal catches of 3- to 5-pound blues and some Spanish mackerel and bonito at lots of the lumps 12 to 18 miles from shore, said Capt. Ray from <b>Jaftica Sportfishing</b>. Charters on the boat over the weekend did that fishing, and another flounder fished at the deep-water reefs. The flounder angling held up well. Plenty of shorts covered the bottom, but keepers 20-some inches were hit. A tuna charter was weathered out, but small yellowfin tuna, large bluefin tuna, big mahi mahi and a few wahoos swam around the 30-fathom line. Tuna catches somewhat seemed to slow down during the weekend, maybe because of the full moon, but were hopping previously and should rebound this week.

Boaters looking for flounder cleaned up on keepers, excellent catches, including doormats over 10 pounds, at the Old Grounds, said Matt from <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b> in a fax. The fish were spread out a little more than before, getting nabbed around the DA and DB buoys and at the middle of the grounds. Flounder that were pulled from the Old Grounds included Dennis Molette’s 10.45-pounder and Michael Sullivan’s 9.96-pounder. A solid population of the fluke, mostly throwbacks but also some big ones, hovered around Cape May Reef. “Here’s a good one,” Matt said. Stephen Singer on the My Peg II was fishing at Cape May Reef when a large fish was seen hanging around the boat. A herring bait was tossed in the waters on a heavier rod, and after a good tussle, a 46-1/2-pound great barracuda was landed. The fish, hooked on 20-pound line, is a pending state record, Matt said. Small bluefish, some bonito and occasional Spanish mackerel were trolled at 5-Fathom Bank. No news was heard about tuna close to shore at the East Lump and Sea Isle Ridge. But that didn’t mean none of the fish was there. It just meant no reports rolled in. Bluefin tuna, mostly 100- to 150-pounders, were fought farther from shore at the Lobster Claw. Yellowfin tuna were belted at the Claw, the 30-Fathom Tuna Lump and along the 40-fathom line inshore of Spencer and Wilmington canyons. Most of the fish at the lumps were chunked, and the ones along the 40 line were trolled.

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