<b>Sandy Hook</b>

Catches of striped bass improved on trips, and up to 20-pounders were boated, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. Anglers aboard eeled and trolled the fish. Bluefin tuna fishing turned back on, after a lull, and they were close to shore, a 30-mile run. Derek sailed for them Sunday, a slow day for the fishing, but the trip went 1 for 5 on the tuna to 50 pounds. So he’s offering bluefin trips again, and this could be the last call, so act quickly. Bottom fishing was good for sea bass, porgies and blackfish, and lots of blues tore around, and trips were heading out for both types of fishing.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

On the <b>Katie H</b> a charter took advantage of a window of weather on Sunday for a day trip to Hudson Canyon, after the originally planned overnight trip was nixed on Saturday because of forecasts, Capt. Mike said. The trip steamed to the canyon, but waters ended up 65 degrees or cool and not good-looking. So they threw in the towel on tuna fishing, going tilefishing instead. Seventeen tiles to 22 pounds were shellacked, one of the better tile trips Mike’s seen. Then they pushed inshore to try for bluefin tuna, but the fleet caught few bluefins that day. Though the trip turned out different than anticipated, it worked out in the end, and the anglers were happy, Mike said. They went home with lots of meat. More canyon trips are slated, and bluefin tuna fishing is an option. The bluefins turned back on lately, even if Sunday was slow. Striped bass fishing and tog fishing are coming up on charters later this fall.

The ocean was chock full of weakfish close to shore from Manasquan to Seaside, said Chuck from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. He bailed a bunch in 1 ½ hours Sunday, and the trout, from small to 23 inches, will hit nearly anything dropped to them, including jigs. A mess of false albacore showed up close to shore Saturday, and not many bonito swam among them. Striped bass got scarce for boaters in the ocean since bunker disappeared a week ago. But stripers were sometimes clammed around Flynn’s Knoll farther north off Sandy Hook. Large blues also disappeared from the local ocean with the bunker, but the baitfish should return, drawing in fish again. Local surf fishers also found a lack of bass, but sharpies farther north at Deal and Long Branch beached some early last week. Even bluefish except tiny ones were missing from the local suds since the bunker left. A mess of sea bass but not many keepers filled the ocean in state waters or within 3 miles from the coast, where fishing for them is open. Bluefin tuna anglers scored fairly well through Saturday, but the fishing was slow Sunday, and  a big fleet fished the waters, mostly at the Oil Wreck and the Arundo Wreck. When fleets build up, the opportunity to catch seems to drop off, because of all the bait in the waters. Canyon tuna fishing sounded slow, and anglers were heard from who headed to Carteret and Lindenkohl canyons with no luck. Fishing on Manasquan River appeared quiet, but lots of tog were yanked in from the Point Pleasant Canal. Practically all who tried could catch as many of the blackfish as they wanted, including 14- to 16-inch keepers.

A combo bluefin tuna/bottom-fish trip steamed Sunday with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>, first landing two 46-inch and 40-inch bluefins on sardines, Capt. Fred said. Although two of the fish were plowed, the tuna fishing was slow for most that day, and few were caught. Bluefin fishing’s been good on some days and slow on others. Then the trip moved inshore for sea bassing that’s been incredible. Trips will keep sailing for both fish and will also hunt tuna and big game at the canyons if a weather window opens up. Striped bass charters will begin in two weeks at the earliest. 

By far the best tuna catch of the year was plundered on the <b>Sea Devil</b> on an overnight trip Friday to Saturday at Hudson Canyon in 600 feet in 68-degree waters, the report on the boat’s Web site said. A mad blitz of yellowfin tuna took off non-stop for 2 hours at 5 a.m., and all the anglers hooked up, some of them landing multiple fish, and some losing the tuna, but all going home with yellowfin to eat. Jigs caught most, but some were hooked on bait. Leif Pettersen, 13, landed five yellowfins, his first-ever tuna, keeping no more than his limit of three. Some patrons limited out, and quite a number decked multiple catches of the fish. False albacore were occasionally fought. The first tuna were scored at 3 a.m., when two were hooked, one that was landed and another that got off. Then nothing happened until the fishing exploded for the couple of hours. A trip to Carteret Canyon on the previous Sunday in 600 feet was slow. Space is available on canyon trips into November, and check the schedule on the boat’s Web site for dates and availability.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

The weather was “killing us,” an e-mail from <b>Over Under Adventures</b> said, but offshore trips sailed when the weather allowed. Trips had been fishing warm, 71-degree waters moving south from Lindenkohl Canyon to Wilmington Canyon, not red-hot fishing, but managing to land three to eight yellowfin tuna per outing. Then the waters slid farther offshore to 500 fathoms near the Wilmington, and a trip fished at the East Bite in 67-degree waters for a few yellowfins caught. But the good news was that another eddy was filtering into Toms Canyon that could be fished. Better yet, a major eddy formed at Block Canyon farther north, and those waters are expected to move down to the canyons off New Jersey in the coming weeks, keeping catches going into November or December. The weather was forcing trips to sail during short windows of calm, and Over Under would love to put open-boat trips together on a day’s notice.  <a href="mailto:info@overunderadventures.com" target="_blank">E-mail Over Under Adventures</a> to get on the list.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Anglers left for the canyons Saturday with <b>Jaftica Sportfishing</b>, despite rough seas, Capt. Ray said. They overnighted toward the Wilmington, and fishing was somewhat tough in the seas, but two longfin tuna 50 to 60 pounds were decked, and so were mahi mahi that came through. A swordfish probably pushing 200 pounds was fought 1 ½ hours until the line wrapped in the sea anchor, and the bruiser broke off. A shot at trolling in the morning was unproductive, except for lots of skipjacks that knocked down baits. A white marlin came crashing through the spread but never got hooked. Fish still seemed around at the canyons, and good waters seemed to be pushing down, so the boat will probably fish the canyons another week if the weather gives an opportunity. The season’s first striped bass trip is slated to fish in two weekends. Striper charters probably will mostly bunker chunk on Delaware Bay until the first or second week of November.  Then they’ll probably target the Cape May Rips more, swimming live bait or working bucktails. At that point stripers might also be able to be chased along the beach front through late in the season. 

On the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> a canyon tuna trip set out Saturday evening but turned back to port because seas were rough, Capt. George said. He heard about catches and will keep tuna fishing a moment, but fitting a trip between windy weather’s been tough. Striped bass charters will begin soon, and the first is slated for October 24. The trips will bunker chunk on Delaware Bay and later will liveline eels at the Cape May Rips. The rips fishing usually begins later, and fishing for the linesiders in the ocean sometimes happens late in the season on clams or on the jig or the troll.

An overnight canyon trip was cancelled Saturday because of weather, said Capt. Bob from the <b>Down Deep</b>. A friend attempted to sail to the waters but returned to port. When boaters could get out, they bagged tuna at the grounds. Another tuna trip and two trips that will probably fish for croakers and blues are on the books to sail on the Down Deep this week. The vessel’s first striped bass charter of the season is scheduled for October 24. Dates are available for charters.

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