Welcome to the first Offsore Report of 2010!

<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

The year’s first weekly, open-boat shark trip set a course for 50 miles to the south on Wednesday on the <b>Nan Sea J</b> from Belmar, Capt. Tom said. One of the fish bit, and the 250-pound blue shark was landed. A few bluefish were hooked. Waters were 65 degrees, a fine temperature for sharking, and were clean and beautiful, and so was the weather. Tom heard about people seeing bluefin tuna on the inshore grounds but about none reeled in so far. The open shark trips will continue every Wednesday, a rare opportunity to fight them without chartering the whole boat. Shark charters are available, and sharking is Tom’s favorite fishing.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

A charter with Greg Papa’s group took a heading for sharks on Wednesday with Capt. Wally Harmstead at the helm on the <b>Big Kid</b> from Brielle, Capt. Ken said. The trip traveled south to reach warm waters. A bunch of blue sharks were fought to boat-side and released. Then a 175-pound mako punched a bait, was cranked in and was bagged. Ken heard about no bluefin tuna caught locally or nobody fishing for them, and none of the tuna was seen on the trip. But boaters will begin to sail for bluefins. Offshore tournaments available for charter include: the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers High Rollers Tournament, a winner-take-all event, on July 10, the Mid Atlantic Tuna Tournament on July 15 to 17, the Tuna Stakes Invitational on August 21 to 29, and the Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club Tournament on August 28 to September 5, open to the public for the first time. Tournaments already booked include Mako Mania, the Brett T. Bailey Memorial Mako Tournament, the Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational and the Mid Atlantic $500,000.

Capt. Rich from the tackle shop <b>Jersey Hooker Outfitters</b>, located in Brick, and <b>Jersey Hooker Charters</b>, sailing from Point Pleasant, knew a few anglers who shark fished, he said. But they got skunked. He knew lobster boaters who started seeing sharks along the 30- to 50-fathom lines. Rumors circulated about football bluefin tuna seen at Barnegat Ridge. Nothing was confirmed, but it wasn’t impossible for them to be there this time of year.

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

Josh from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b> heard no news about bonito or bluefin tuna at Barnegat Ridge so far, he said. But one customer showed off an 8- or 9-pound bonito that must’ve come from the ridge or someplace similar.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

A 60-pound bluefin tuna was plowed 15 miles from shore on the troll on a trip Sunday with <b>O-Beth Sportfishing Charters</b> from Margate, Capt. Eric said. That is the first tuna reported caught off New Jersey on this site this season. Bluefins busted the water surface, and life including whales was seen. O-Beth will start chartering for bluefins now. The tuna hit a rod meant for bluefish, took an hour to fight on the light tackle, and several 10-pound blues were also hooked. The boat trolled Stretch 25 and 30 lures in the 64- to 65-degree waters. The year’s first shark trip – one of the crew’s specialties – was slated for later in the week with O-Beth.  Waters were warm enough, and bluefish, a favorite shark forage, were around. In addition to charters, O-Beth is offering open-boat shark trips this season, and call for the schedule. Jump aboard for the rare chance at sharks without needing to charter the whole boat.

Bluefin tuna 60 to 80 pounds started to run on the inshore ocean, said Dan from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City. Anglers fished for them at places including 28-Mile Wreck and the Cigar. A friend trolled one of the tuna on a Stretch 30 plug while trying for bluefish. Sharks seemed more abundant to the south off Cape May so far.

<b>Cape May</b>

Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May heard a few confirmed reports about bluefin tuna boated on the inshore ocean, he said. Lots of people will shark fish this weekend, because the South Jersey Shark Tournament will kick off the shark tournament season. Shark anglers often start to see the bluefins, and more news should then be heard about the fish. The boat will run specials on bluefin tuna charters.

At <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b> in Cape May, Nick said he read in the paper that bluefin tuna roamed off Atlantic City. Then a buddy from a clam boat said the fish were all over the grounds. Shark fishing will take off this weekend because of the South Jersey Shark Tournament.

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