<b>Sandy Hook</b>

Bluefin tuna from schoolies to 80-pounders and a few that topped 200 were cracked at places like the Atlantic Princess wreck and farther offshore, said Capt. Brian from <b>Jersey Devil Charters</b> from Highlands. The fishing went well and will probably become even better, and getting the weather to sail was the biggest factor. Both charters and open-boat trips are going after them, and call if interested in the open trips, because the more who are interested, the easier to schedule. The weather can play a role in the scheduling. Jersey Devil is concentrating on bluefins and on canyon fishing farther offshore. At the canyons yellowfin tuna fishing was “halfway decent,” Brian said, and mahi mahi, lots of white marlin and some blue marlin swam the waters. Trips can fish the canyons on a day trolling trip, leaving early in the morning, returning in the evening.

Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> from Highlands, will start prepping the boat for bluefin tuna fishing, and will probably begin sailing for the tuna toward the end of next week or at least the week after, he said. The fishing sounded like it was beginning to take off. Both charters and open-boat trips will troll, chunk and jig for the fish.  Derek heard about catches like a buddy who went 2 for 7 on the bluefins, and another who went 3 for 3, and someone else who went 8 for 10. He also heard about another trip that supposedly landed 30 or 40, but that wasn’t confirmed. He supposed someone could get lucky and run into that many of the tuna. In any case, bluefin tuna fishing sounded like it was amping up.

Some of the boaters from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> in Highlands fished the inshore ocean, Wayne said. Greg Schnell landed a small bluefin tuna and a large, 20-pound mahi mahi between the Chicken Canyon and the Glory Hole. John Tucci fished the same area, coming up with a small mahi bagged and a small bluefin released. One of the charter boats fished the ocean short of Hudson Canyon, limiting out on two bluefins, hooking other football-sized bluefins, also bagging a yellowfin tuna. The full supply of offshore baits is stocked, like flats of sardines and herring and chum. Interestingly, butterfish, a staple for chunking for tuna at night, was unavailable, because of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Most butterfish at shops come from the Gulf.

<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

Boats that made it out to Hudson Canyon in the past days between rough seas pummeled yellowfin tuna, plenty of them, to 80 pounds, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> from Neptune. Excellent catches of bluefin tuna were waxed closer to shore.  A phenomenal catch of pollock to 30 pounds and cod to 20 pounds was dusted on an offshore wreck-fishing trip Tuesday with Last Lady. Ralph suggests anglers call him to find out about the fishing. Three more of the individual-reservation trips will be scheduled for August. For tuna, instead of running the usual open-boat trips, Last Lady is collecting a list of who wants to go, and the dates are set up based on the list. The 18- to 24-hour trips will troll or chunk or whatever’s necessary on the date. So call or e-mail if interested. Charters are also fishing.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

Unlimited action with bluefin tuna to 80 pounds was hammered 30 miles from shore Tuesday on trolled ballyhoos on blue-and-white Ilanders on the <b>Big Kid</b> from Brielle, Capt. Ken Gallop, the owner,  said. Capt. Wally Harmstead was at the helm. A trip Thursday to Friday socked 12 yellowfin tuna to 80 pounds and six mahi mahi to 22 pounds, releasing a 700-pound blue marlin, at the canyons on the boat. Six of the tuna were trolled during the daytime, and six were chunked at night. Another one of the overnight trips was weathered out Saturday to Sunday. Anglers on the boat are competing in the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club White Marlin Invitational through Saturday. Offshore tournaments available for charters include the Tuna Stakes Invitational on August 21 to 29 and the Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club Tournament on August 28 to September 5.

An overnight charter sailed for bluefin tuna on the inshore ocean and yellowfin tuna at Hudson Canyon on Tuesday with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> from Point Pleasant, the report on the boat’s Web site said. The anglers mixed in mahi mahi fishing. They were going to attempt to tag and release some of the bluefins for the Atlantic Tuna Project. First they stopped at the “inshore hot spot,” the report said, landing five bluefins in two passes on the troll through schools of rays. They kept an “under,” as anglers call them: One of the two bluefins allowed to be kept per trip, this one in the small slot size. Next they tried light-tackle mahi mahi fishing, landing a dozen to a 31-pounder. Then they steamed farther offshore to the Hudson. Yellowfin tuna were found right away, and four 50-pounders were trolled, before the boat was set up for chunking at night. Fishing was slow at night, but a yellowfin and some mahi were chunked. The trip had planned to troll for tuna again in the morning, but one of the anglers wasn’t feeling well. So they began sailing home, but stopped to play with more mahi on the way, catching a half-dozen on light tackle. The anglers had never caught tuna and mahi before, and they did well with the tuna, landing every one hooked. The total was 5 for 5 on bluefins and 5 for 5 on yellowfins. Mid-shore trips, both charters and open-boat, are sailing for a mixed bag of bluefins, mahi and pollock. Offshore trips, both charters and open, are fishing for a mix of yellowfin tuna, mahi, swordfish and tilefish. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. See the write-up toward the bottom of <a href="http://www.andreastoycharters.com" target="_blank">Andrea’s Toy’s home page</a> to check out annual, open-boat, mixed-bag trips that are running offshore.

With <b>Jersey Hooker Charters</b>, from Point Pleasant, a trip to the canyons sailed Saturday in “not very favorable sea conditions,” Capt. Rich said. Eighty-degree, fish-holding waters, an area that the satellite charts showed when the trip was set to sail, had moved when the boat reached the area. So the crew had to search for the waters, fishing from the 100 Square at Hudson Canyon to Jones Canyon. One yellowfin tuna and four mahi mahi were trolled. At <b>Jersey Hooker Outfitters</b>, Rich’s tackle shop in Bricktown, a report rolled in from Capt. Brian Sweeny from the Hard Ways about a trip on the vessel last Friday. The trip went 10 for 10 on yellowfins at the 100 Square in 82-degree waters. The fish boxes were full, so the trip motored home.

Anglers on the <b>Canyon Runner</b> from Point Pleasant steamed offshore at 5 a.m. Monday, first fishing at the bluefin tuna grounds inshore, quickly picking a 35-pounder, the report on Canyon Runner’s Web site said. But the crew saw not enough interesting to stay, so the trip kept pushing offshore to the west wall of Hudson Canyon. Trolling there produced a slow pick of yellowfin tuna, but good action developed with the fish before dark. Seven yellowfins were totaled for the day. A few were picked through the night on the chunk, and a few were trolled in the morning. The trip landed a total of 13 yellowfins, keeping nine, tagging and releasing four. On a trip Wednesday the crew decided they didn’t like what they saw at the Hudson on Monday, so they sailed a little farther south, fishing along the 100-fathom line. Lots more bait appeared, but no tuna bit until seven yellowfins, 50- to 60-pounders, attacked the trolling spread at once, before dark, and were landed.  The boat turned around and made another pass, and one more was decked. At night the anglers picked away at yellowfins, gaffing five, losing several. Up on the troll in the morning, no yellowfins showed up, but a white marlin and a blue marlin, a 375- to 400-pounder, were released. Both fish initially swiped at baits and missed, but one of the captains dropped back the lines, hooking both.  The trip then sailed inshore to look for bluefins. The fish were found! Sixteen bluefins, including a limit of a 56-incher and a 40-incher, were clobbered in an hour. The rest were tagged and released, and that made a total of 29 tuna landed on the trip.  The blue marlin on the trip was the fifth landed with Canyon Runner this season, not bad for three weeks of offshore fishing from New Jersey, the report said. Two of the blues weighed 700 and 600 pounds, and three were hooked on new Canyon Runner lures the crew was field testing and will introduce this winter. They seemed to be working fine, the report said.

Good catches of bluefin tuna were made at usual spots like the Atlantic Princess wreck, the Chicken Canyon and the Texas Tower, said John from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle. The bluefins ranged from 20 or 30 pounds to 200 pounds, and some anglers landed small ones, and others drilled big ones, and that seemed luck of the draw, according to reports heard. Canyon tuna fishing seemed good for some, not so good for others.  One charter boat chunked and butterfly-jigged 11 yellowfin tuna at night, trolling one fish during the day: a 400-pound blue marlin on a rainbow spreader bar.

<b>Little Egg Inlet</b>

<b>Legal Limit Charters</b> from Tuckerton sailed for tuna all week, Capt. T.J. said. Three trips fished Monday through Wednesday, trolling good-sized yellowfin tuna on each, and large mahi mahi. The fish were hooked in 40 to 50 fathoms from 50 to 60 miles from shore. Plus a 77-inch 300-pound bluefin tuna, a beautiful fish, the angler’s first-ever tuna, was caught and released after a 2-hour fight. Two of the yellowfins weighed 75 pounds apiece, and one of the mahi weighed 20 pounds. The mahi on the trips averaged 10 to 15 pounds. No schools of tuna were around, and one of the yellowfins would be picked up, and another would show up an hour later, and so on. Early mornings were best. Seas were rough and 5 to 6 feet all day Monday, and only three other boats were seen on the waters. Seas were flat as a lake Tuesday, and 50 boats worked the waters. Seas were fishable on Wednesday, starting at 2 feet in the morning, building to 3 to 5 feet for a while then 4 to 5 feet the rest of the day. Zero boats, not one other vessel, was seen on the grounds that day.

An offshore trip was weathered out Sunday on the <b>June Bug</b> from Beach Haven, Capt. Lindsay said. Offshore fishing for tuna and big game was great last Thursday and Friday, and practically everybody caught. But the anglers he knew stayed docked since then, because of rough seas from winds. He’s competing in the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club’s White Marlin Invitational through Saturday.

<b>Absecon Inlet</b>

On the <b>Carly A</b> from Atlantic City, 12 yellowfin tuna, a longfin tuna and a bigeye tuna were boated on an overnight trip to Hudson Canyon last week from Thursday to Friday, said Curt from <b>Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle</b> from the town. The boat’s owner also owns the shop. Most of the trip’s fish were hooked at night. But offshore fishing seemed to slow down afterward in rough seas through Monday. He knew about a trip that landed no tuna that day and found the fishing slow. But catches seemed to pick back up as the week went on. Yellowfins were also caught at the southern canyons lately, and Curt believes the fish are spread out among all the waters, though certain areas hold more of the fish than others at different times. Forty- to 50-fathoms at Lindenkohl Canyon was a go-to destination for three or four weeks recently. Few anglers focused on bluefin tuna on the inshore ocean, but the fish were probably there, and the anglers probably passed the bluefin grounds on the way to fish for yellowfins. Curt knows someone who caught bluefins and yellowfins at the Lobster Claw on Tuesday.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

The <b>Stray Cat</b> from Longport’s been on a roll at trolling the inshore ocean 10 miles from shore, and the species of catches was the only thing that changed a bit. Lots of small bluefish and some little tunny made up the catches in the past days, Capt. Mike said. In the previous days the blues, Spanish mackerel and mahi mahi made up the catches. Prior to then, little tunny were back on the bite, and chub mackerel chomped, along with the blues. Half-day charters took advantage of the fast action, and the fishing was good. Trolled cedar plugs worked best, and red and white produced, and so did natural. A blue-fleck cedar plug had been working well, until a mystery bite crashed the lure, breaking it off. Two spaces are left on one of the season’s open-boat, overnight tuna trips that will leave at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 28. Mike recently scheduled the trips, and the two others are already sold out on August 21 and 29. All the trips will also stop for sea bass in the mornings. These will be the only of these trips this year, unless the weather is clear in September. Then one more might be added. Rods will be available at no charge, and bait will be provided, and ice will be supplied for the tuna.

A few boaters made the trip offshore during the week’s frequent rough seas on the grounds, said John from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City. Fairly good fishing for yellowfin tuna and a few white marlin was axed at Wilmington Canyon in 50 fathoms. One customer said yellowfins were also located at 50 fathoms between Lindenkohl and Spencer canyons. Closer to shore, bluefish, a few Spanish mackerel, sometimes mahi mahi and occasional bluefin tuna were wrenched in at the A.C. Ridge and Sea Isle Ridge.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

A trip was sailing offshore today, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b> from Sea Isle City. Another fished with him last Friday at Wilmington Canyon with Jay VonCzoernig and friends, going 2 for 4 on white marlin released, bagging two 15-pound mahi mahi. Some anglers fished offshore since then between rough seas, and fishing was good for yellowfin tuna at the 40-Fathom Fingers, and Joe heard about the fish caught at Baltimore Canyon. Lots of white marlin were around this year, and some blue marlin were, and plenty of mahi mahi swam.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Plenty of blues and occasional bonito, false albacore and mahi mahi could be trolled 8 to 10 miles from shore, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. Yellowfin tuna fishing held up well toward the canyons when trips had the weather to go. Winds blew on most days lately, and George knew about offshore anglers who attempted to sail Monday, but many turned around and came back because of rough seas. Saturday is available for a charter for either of these types of fishing because of a cancellation. Sunday was already open and is available. Many of George’s charters wanted to fish during weekdays.

<b>Delaware Bay</b>

The season’s first open-boat, overnight tuna trip was weathered out on the <b>Bodacious</b> from Port Norris, an e-mail from the boat said. The next is slated for August 11 to 12. The year’s first open, three-day tuna trip, called The Tuna Extravaganza, is sold out on the vessel, but the next one is on the books for September 9 to 11.

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