<b>Sandy Hook</b>

Bluefin tuna fishing pounded plenty of the fish southeast of the Virginia wreck before this week’s rough seas, said Capt. Brian from <b>Jersey Devil Charters</b> from Highlands. The fish were trolled, jigged and baited, were caught every way, and trips waited for conditions to calm to get back after them. Charters with Jersey Devil are fishing for the bluefins, and so are open-boat trips. Call if interested in the open trips, because the more who are interested, the easier to schedule. Brian sometimes heard about alright catches of yellowfin tuna at the canyons farther from shore.

The only window of calm weather came on Thursday, said Wayne from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> in Highlands. The weather was supposed to turn rough again today and Saturday. None of the boaters from the docks took the trip on Thursday, though they cancelled the trips earlier this week, first because of seas from Hurricane Igor, later because of winds. So no offshore news was available during the week. Services at Twin Lights include a tackle shop with a complete supply of offshore baits.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

A charter on the <b>Canyon Runner</b> from Point Pleasant fished on a canyon overnighter Saturday to Sunday, the report on the boat’s Web site said. The anglers departed early to fish for bluefin tuna closer to shore, just east of the Virginia wreck, on the way out. Arriving at the bluefin grounds at 6 a.m., they went 5 for 8 on the tuna in 3 hours. Then they motored to the tip of Hudson Canyon, putting out the trolling spread. Tuna fishing was uneventful on the troll, but nine sizeable mahi mahi to 30 pounds were trolled. “It was the night bite that has us very excited,” the report said. Reports from the party boats said some of the trips scored more than 20 bites on Friday night, and one totaled two dozen yellowfin tuna. The action continued on this trip. The fishing began slowly but steadily picked up, and 16 big yellowfins were hooked, and 10 were landed, and two longfin tuna were also bagged. Up on the troll in the morning, the charter nailed a blue marlin, brought to boat side and released after a 1-1/2-hour battle. That was Canyon Runner’s eighth blue this season. The anglers reeled in three tilefish to finish the trip. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing offshore.

A few who sailed for bluefin tuna caught the fish last week before forecasts for rough seas, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle. Canyon fishing farther offshore for yellowfin tuna began somewhat to improve on trips before the weather.

At <b>Canyon River Club Marina</b> in Point Pleasant none of the boats steamed offshore in the weather this week, Carl said. His last trip before the weather hauled in a 160-pound swordfish, a 45-pound longfin tuna, a 45-pound wahoo and 18 mahi mahi at a temperature break between South Toms and Carteret canyons. The sword, swiping a bait at 2 a.m., was landed after a 4-hour fight. Tom Fahey from Dallas and Lou DeRosa and Chat Bennet from Toms River were aboard. Slips are available, and the marina features all the amenities, and is located only a half-mile from Manasquan Inlet.

A trip for bluefish and false albacore landed 20 albies, if not a few more, lost just as many and battled a bunch of blues on Saturday with <b>Reel Class Charters</b> from Point Pleasant, Capt. Allen said in the report on the boat’s Web site. At one point one or two albies were hooked the rest of the trip, and a good flurry of action kicked in toward the end, and the anglers were practically “hand feeding” the fish with hooked spearing and Tsunami soft-plastic lures on the light spinning rods. Seas were sloppy when the trip arrived on the ocean, with a swell with a 4-foot chop on top. But the trip was able to anchor and chum with spearing. A first stop brought up big, gator bluefish that the anglers picked away at. But one fish was hooked that seemed bigger than an albie or a skipjack, circling the angler around the boat, nearly spooling the reel twice, before throwing the hook. Color was seen, and Allen’s only guess was that the fish was a small bluefin tuna. A second stop produced the action with albies that was just described. A trip Sunday also sailed for bluefish and “speedsters” like albies to the same place. Only a long-period swell was met on the trip, and the anglers mostly fought a load of gator blues. Some wild periods went down, when every rod was hooked up. No signs of albies showed up, but one albie was wrestled and almost reeled to the boat before it spit the hook. “Overall, it was another terrific day,” Allen said. One of the anglers fished with a trout rod for a blast with the blues. Another landed 30 blues on a noodle rod. The other three anglers “put their share in the boat,” Allen said. A dozen blues were kept, and the rest were let go. Charters are sailing, and check <a href="http://www.reelclassfishing.com/rates/open-boat-info" target="_blank">Reel Class’s open-boat schedule</a> online.

<b>Absecon Inlet</b>

Few boaters reached the offshore grounds in the weather, said Curt from <b>Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle</b> from Atlantic City and the <b>Carly A</b>, the shop’s offshore charter boat. But the few who did picked at tuna, didn’t shellack the fish, but caught.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

At <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City, Ed heard about nobody fishing offshore this week because of the weather, he said. Thursday was beautiful, so maybe they sailed that day, but results were yet to come in.

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