<b>Keyport</b>

Trips were docked the past few days, said Capt. Joe from <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, but the most recent couple of trips angled catches including a 34-inch 15-pound striped bass, bluefish that were larger than cocktails, and a 22-inch fluke from Raritan Bay, covered in the previous report. Anglers aboard had been concentrating on stripers, but fluke fishing will now be added. Trips are fishing for stripers, blues, fluke or a combo. Spaces on open-boat trips are available through Saturday. Open trips are sailing daily 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a minimum of four anglers, when no charter is booked.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

After fluke fishing was tough on Monday afternoon’s trip, covered in the last report, some of the flatfish were wrangled aboard Tuesday morning’s trip, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. Then good fishing for fluke turned on during the afternoon’s trip in a good drift. On Wednesday morning’s trip there was no drift where the boat first fished, so the vessel was moved off Sandy Hook Point, and a breeze began, and the trip moved back in the bay. One angler bagged five fluke on the outing, and another bagged four, and some bagged none, but everyone at least landed shorts on trips. On Wednesday afternoon’s trip the angler who won the pool totaled four keepers. But some anglers fishing nearby onboard had no keepers. A grandfather, father and son on one trip each bagged two, but some around them only pulled in shorts. The fishing could be like that, but the fluking overall was pretty good when conditions were right, or winds and tides combined to create a good drift. Some trips were also poor. Still, Tom hopes the good start to the fluke season holds up. Anglers were happy to see a few sizeable fluke mixed in, and pretty consistent action. More shorts than keepers bit, and many fluke were 17 or 17 ½ inches, or an inch or half-inch undersized. Small fluke, like 11- or 12-inchers, were also around, and that’s great, “means the fish are coming in,” Tom said. Pool-winning fluke were no exceptional sizes, running 4 or 5 pounds. But with the large size limit, if an angler caught two 18- or 19-inchers, those are big fluke, producing a healthy batch of fillets. Trips were fortunate to be able to fish Raritan Bay, and the ocean sometimes sounded rough in south winds. But 15- or 20-knot southwest winds are perfect for fishing the bay. Tom has said in the past that the bay offers lots of options for fishing in different wind directions. Tom said in recent reports that the fluke were spread throughout all the usual places in the bay.  The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. <b>***Update, Friday, 6/3:***</b> Unsure about what to get dad or dad-in-law for Fathers’ Day?  A gift certificate to the Atlantic Star makes a great present. Better than a shirt or tie! Tom said.

On the striped bass trip today on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, strong northwest winds came up, so the drift became too fast, Capt. Ron said in an e-mail. The trip searched for the bass, including clamming at the clam boats, and bunker chunking. The boat was sailed way out east, “only to find the fish in the no-fish zone!” Ron said. Stripers swam beyond 3 miles from shore, where fishing for them is closed. “Total B.S. how a couple drifts could have made everyone’s day,” he said, “… (but) this is America, and we must follow the rules, and we do, no matter who goes out of business: Mad.” The previous trip slammed big stripers, covered in the last report. “Not giving up yet,” Ron said after today’s trip. “Still many (stripers) to catch, and we will catch them!” The Fishermen is fishing for striped bass 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. However, the boat is chartered this Saturday morning.

Striped bass were sometimes pulled from Raritan Bay on bunker, and were clammed at the clam beds, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Good catches of stripers were boated on the ocean. Joe Binegra from Sea Bright decked two stripers 25.58 pounds and 17.25 pounds at the Shrewsbury Rocks on the ocean. Blues were around for boaters to land, and surf casters banked stripers, blues and sometimes fluke. Fluke fishing was pretty good for boaters, and Chris Colfer from Marlboro eased aboard a 9-pound fluke near Bug Light that bit a killie and squid combo. South winds like this week’s always put a damper on bottom fishing, but bottom anglers iced plenty of sea bass, ling and cod when conditions were favorable. All the baits are fully stocked.

<b>Highlands</b>

Striped bass fishing was phenomenal down the ocean beach this week, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. Morning and afternoon trips livelined bunker to crush the bass, mostly 25- to 30-pounders, up to a 39-pounder.  No bluefish showed up, and dog sharks had been a nuisance on one trip, covered in the last report, but were gone afterward. Because of the way the fishing was going, Derek expects striper catches to last into July. If anglers are looking for a trophy striper, they’re out there. Some dates remain for charters in June, and the next open-boat trip will sail for stripers Saturday afternoon. Call to climb aboard or to be kept informed about the future open schedule.

A limit of striped bass for the boat was clammed Memorial Day on the <b>Hyper Striper</b>, Capt. Pete said. The catch was the same on Rich Schenowski’s charter Tuesday – a limit of stripers clammed for the group – and they also bagged fluke. David Donnelly’s trip Wednesday morning was slower, and four keeper stripers and some blues were netted. Then striper fishing turned great for bigger fish! Jeff Schwietzer’s party on Wednesday afternoon hammered large stripers to 35 pounds on trolled spoons. The Maersk shipping group on this morning’s trip pummeled unbelievable striper fishing, on livelined bunker. Two to four stripers at once, fish to 38 pounds, were on most of the time, and a bunch were released. “Super fishing,” Pete said in an e-mail, while the trip was headed back in.

<b>Raritan Bay Charters</b> will probably fish Saturday, sailing for striped bass, Capt. Dave said. A trip for the linesiders was slow Monday, but the previous trip two Saturdays ago limited out on stripers in two hours, playing catch and release with more afterward. Then the anglers fluke fished, and fluking was slow, but improved now, reportedly. Both charters and open-boat trips are sailing for stripers, fluke or a combo of both. Stripers are targeted from Raritan Bay to the ocean with clams or bunker or on the troll. Fluke are hunted from the bay to the ocean off Sandy Hook to Scotland and the Shrewsbury Rocks.

Striped bass could be located around Raritan Bay, but anglers got word that big stripers swam the ocean at the Shrewsbury Rocks, so everyone headed there, said Wayne from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>. Still, stripers were located off the tip of Sandy Hook at Flynn’s Knoll and Romer Shoal. But at the Shrewsbury Rocks, Scott Beim, the marina’s owner, livelined a bunker to nail a 39-pound striper on his Cara Marie. His cousin Dave Reiche on the trip socked a 28-pound striper on a live bunker. Scott Pelkola on his Kiss the Fish landed a 22-pound striper and two 20-pounders at the Rocks on live and chunked bunker. Anthony Pennimede on his Contender drilled a couple of 30-pound stripers at the Rocks during an evening trip early this week. Kevin Halek ran a trip off Deal on the ocean that pelted stripers including a 37-pounder and a 35-pounder. Bunker schooled up and down the coast. Fluke anglers picked at the flatfish, bagging keepers that were just legal sized, none big. Tracy Amoroso checked in a keeper fluke boated off the tip of the Hook on the Par-Tee. The Hi-Mar Club’s Annual Charity Striper Tournament, benefiting Jason’s Dreams for Kids, will be held at Twin Lights on Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12. Entrants are invited to donate the catches to the Monmouth County Food Bank. Live bunker, bushels of clams, killies and all the baits, including spearing, sand eels, Peruvian smelts and Gulps, are stocked.

<b>Neptune</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/3:***</b> Fishing limited out on striped bass to 35 pounds, releasing more afterward, Thursday evening with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said. A trip this morning had two in the boat by 9 o’clock, when he gave this report over the phone on the outing, and striper fishing was good lately. Trips will fish for sea bass this weekend. Space is available on an individual-reservation sea bass trip Monday, June 20. Four spots are open on an individual-rez cod trip Thursday, June 30, that will fish 35 to 75 miles offshore. Individual-reservation trips for fluke and sea bass will begin to fish every Wednesday on June 15, and kids under 12 will sail free, limited to two kids per host adult. Last Lady is booked for all the shark tournaments: the South Jersey Shark Tournament, the Brett T. Bailey Shark Tournament, the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Tournament and Mako Mania. Only three or four spaces remain for shark charters, so book them while possible.

<b>Belmar</b>

Trips for fluke were off to a pretty good start on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b> on the ocean, Capt. Chris said. Lots of shorts hit, but some fluke with size were waffled. A few sizeable sea bass were mixed in. Trips are also striped bass fishing on the ocean every Friday afternoon to evening. Chris was on a striper trip when he gave this report over the phone Wednesday evening, and some of the linesiders were already in the boat. The Big Mohawk is fishing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and for striped bass 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Friday.

Striped bass fishing wasn’t really good during the weekend, and “blues were playing hard to get as well,” a report on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>’s Web site said. That was apparently on the vessel’s daytime trips, and waters were cold. Bluefishing on night trips was picky then, but when they did bite, they were large, 8 to 10 pounds, swimming to the southeast. Bigger bodies of blues seemed to be moving in. “It will get better and better from here,” the report said.  But big striped bass attacked livelined bunker on Tuesday’s trip. The 30-pounders rolled and jumped and were heaved aboard. Lots of activity. The Golden Eagle is fishing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and for blues 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

A crew from the TV show Delaware Valley Outdoors jumped aboard with <b>Fish Stix Sportfishing</b> Tuesday to film footage for a striped bass DVD, a report on the boat’s Web site said. The trip broke the inlet at 2:30 p.m., snagged a few bunker for bait, castnetted a bunch, sailed 500 yards to the north, and striped bass 30 pounds went nuts. “Game on!” the report said. The anglers limited out in an hour, landing numerous big stripers. The filming crew taped stripers, including busting the surface, that were livelined and trolled. On Friday a charter had to be on their toes to hook stripers on live bunker, and many of the fish smacked the baits, including crashing every bunker dropped in the waters at one point, and many stripers were lost, but a 34-pounder was bagged.  On a trip last week on Wednesday, the two anglers limited out on stripers by 11 a.m., releasing more afterward. Stripers blew up on top, and bunker jumped clean out of the waters. On a trip that Tuesday a 33-pound striper and a 26-pounder were bagged. Anglers on a trip that Monday went 4 for 20 on stripers that were all around 25 pounds to the south on the ocean. Stripes charters are booked through the weekend, but Monday is available for a charter.

On the party boats lots of striped bass were slugged, and surf anglers dragged in lots of the bass, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. Anglers on the boats mostly snagged bunker and livelined them for bait, and surf casters also swam the snagged bunker, but also pencil-poppered the fish. Clams also worked when the surf anglers fished with bait, but drew smaller bass to 30 or 33 inches than bunker did. Some of the party boats put customers on fluke and sea bass. Fluke fishing was good on Shark River, giving up lots of shorts, but also keepers. Trips on the shop’s rental boats often produced three keepers and lots of shorts per outing on the river.

<b>Brielle</b>

On the <b>Big Kid</b> Mike Gallo’s party limited out on striped bass to 45 pounds by 12 noon Tuesday, Capt. Ken said. On Monday John Ferrugiaro’s charter limited out on stripers and landed a blue and some fluke. Brian Pierson’s trip Saturday boated fluke to 5 pounds, and Jayson Heitz’s trip Friday boxed two stripers and some fluke. The PSE&G crew that Thursday decked seven striped bass on one of the 5 to 9 p.m. charters. Striper charters are available those times. The charters that landed fluke caught them on the ocean, and, of course, they lifted stripers from the ocean. A special is available offering a $25 discount on mid-week charters. The Sunday of Mako Mania, June 26, is open for charter, and tournaments, including big-game ones like that, are available for charter.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

On some days striped bass fishing was all-out on the ocean, and limits were pounded in like an hour, but even on the slow days, a decent number of bites swiped, said Capt. Fred from <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>. The fishing was very good, and trips can now mix up the day with striper fishing and sea bass fishing, since sea bass season opened Saturday, but no charters fished for sea bass yet, and all were happy to stick with stripers. On Wednesday all the anglers on a charter had never before caught a striper, and getting them all to land their first was a challenge, while stripers were finicky during the middle of the day, a report on the boat’s Web site said. But mission accomplished: Each angler landed a first-ever striper, fish to 30 pounds. Trips from Monday through previous days were covered in the last report. Andrea’s Toy will soon begin to fish for sharks and bluefin tuna.

Sea bass began to be targeted on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b> on the ocean, since sea bass season opened Saturday, and the fishing was off to a slow start, probably because waters were somewhat cold, Capt. Butch said. But some good-sized sea bass were swung aboard, and trips mixed in fishing for ling and cod too put a catch together. Fishing for ling and cod wasn’t good either, but with the three species, anglers could grab fish to take home. Patrons bagged 5 to 15 fish apiece, a mix of the three. The ocean surface was 55 to 60 degrees on the fishing grounds, and the waters were colder within a few feet down. The Dauntless is sailing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Fishing for fluke was good Wednesday at the beginning of the trip on the party boat <b>Gambler</b> on the ocean, Capt. Bob said. Some keepers to 4 pounds, shorts and a few sea bass were rustled aboard, and 55- to 60-foot depths were best. A quick drift slowed the fishing at the end of the day, “but plenty of fluke were coming up,” Bob said. Bill Byrne bagged two fluke 2 and 4 pounds on a squid and spearing combo. The vessel’s nighttime trips for cod this week turned up slow catches because dogfish moved in. The Gambler is fishing for fluke twice daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Striped bass trips are running 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Wreck-fishing trips for cod and ling are sailing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sundays and Mondays.

Carl LaManna, owner of <b>Canyon River Club Marina</b>, ran a striped bass trip 5 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Wednesday on his C-Annamal, and a 30-pounder was clubbed on a livelined bunker, he said. His son-in-law Nick McCann, Lou DeRosa and Andrew Mazza were also aboard. Andrew is sous chef at Carl’s new restaurant, 709 Point Beach, that opened on Memorial Day weekend. The opening was slamming, Carl said, and customers gave great reviews in places like Yelp, talking about things like five stars, raving about the food, yet affordable. Like the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/709-Point-Beach/163256227044063" target="_blank">709 Point Beach Facebook page</a> to follow the restaurant. The restaurant is open 12 noon to 12 midnight Sundays through Thursdays and 12 noon to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Carl had been busy with the opening, so the fishing trip was his first in a week. But he’ll get back out, including potentially offshore. A warm eddie was heard about at Lindenkohl  Canyon, and if fish-holding waters like that are around, the C-Annamal will steam to the canyons in the coming week for tuna and big game. Boaters at the marina fished for stripers. One of the charters sailed for the fish daily on the ocean, scoring well. Canyon River Club Marina, located conveniently on Manasquan River, features all the amenities, like a locker with electric for a freezer for every slip, and discounted diesel delivered to the vessels. A few slips are available for the season for 22- to 60-foot boats.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

With <b>High Hook Sport Fishing</b> Wednesday’s two striped bass trips went very well, Capt. Mark said. A castnet was thrown, catching bunker for bait close to shore, and the trips put the charters on great fish in 60 feet in the ocean. All the bass were 30 to 35 pounds. Striper fishing’s been going well on the vessel, and no bottom-fishing trips sailed since a sea bass trip during the weekend that bailed plenty, covered in the last report. Charters and open-boat trips are sailing. Give a call whether a charter or a single angler, and High Hook can work out a trip.

<b>Bricktown</b>

Boaters cracked striped bass on the ocean from Lavallette to Mantoloking on bunker snagged for bait and livelined or on the troll, said Capt. Rich from <b>Jersey Hooker Outfitters Bait & Tackle</b>. Trolled Skips Custom Lures Bunker Spoons worked especially well. Cold waters made sea bass fishing a little slow, so anglers headed to the southern wrecks for better catches, and when they fished deeper waters, they reeled in more cod. Most anglers looking for fluke fished on Manasquan River, and lots of small fluke, sometimes a keeper, skittered around. Racer blues, with short stripers sometimes mixed in, showed up daily in the river toward the Point Pleasant Canal. Surf anglers picked resident stripers from Manasquan to Island Beach State Park on clams. A blitz of migrating stripers hit the surf once in a while. Crabbing was fairly steady. The shop is now open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Catch the shop’s <b><i>***Shark Special***</i></b> Get three 5-gallon buckets of bunker chum, one flat of frozen mackerel and six blocks of ice for only $109.99. Order and pay before June 15, and the price is $99.99. The shop offers deliveries for shark tournaments, and orders more than $500 get free delivery the night before, from South Amboy to Long Beach Island. Tournament deliveries must be placed one week prior to the tournament. The shop is offering fresh whole mackerel and bluefish by the pound at market price for sharking. Rich’s <b>Jersey Hooker Charters</b>, sailing from Point Pleasant Beach’s Canyon River Club Marina, will now begin Vacation Specials, featuring four-hour trips for $500. The trips can fish for stripers while the bass are in, and afterward will mostly bottom fish. <b>***Update, Friday, 6/3:***</b> Gift Certificate Fathers’ Day Special, until Sunday, June19:  Buy a $25 gift certificate, and Jersey Hooker will add $5! Cannot be combined with other sales or specials.

<b>Toms River</b>

Lots of bunker schooled just off Barnegat Inlet in the past couple of days, and strong winds probably made fishing there difficult today, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. But Lou who works at the shop boated a 45-pound striper there this week, and his buddies all bagged a bass on the trip, and all caught on bunker snagged for bait and livelined. Striper fishing was very good on the ocean on snagged bunker or on the troll. Surf anglers picked stripers and sometimes ran into blues, and east winds could be used to push bait and fish into the surf. Fluke fishing picked up fairly well on Barnegat Bay at Oyster Creek Channel and the BI and BB markers, and decent catches of keepers began to be made. A few anglers eeled for stripers at night at the channels toward the inlet, but most striper anglers fished the ocean. Blues schooled abundant on the bay from Good Luck Point to the inlet, and Dennis trolled the 2- or 2-½-pounders on Ponytails on trips. A customer said a friend this morning picked up a few blues and a few blowfish at Berkeley Island Park on the bay. Crabbing was good at the park. On the Toms River small stripers were plugged on the west end, like at Huddy Park. Waters were warm on the river, and the surface was 70 degrees, and people swam the river. The bottom was in the 60s. A few bunker swam the river, and eels were in the river. Crabbing was good on the Toms.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/3:***</b> Not much happened with striped bass fishing along the coast a moment until Thursday, said Scott from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Then kayakers near the shore fought big striped bass to 40 pounds off Ortley Beach and Lavallette on bunker snagged and livelined for bait. Stripers and a few fluke were beached from the surf that day at the Seaside Heights Casino Pier. Lots of bunker schooled the ocean. Tons of cocktail blues schooled Barnegat Bay near the shop. Fluke mostly gathered in the bay toward Barnegat Inlet. Crabbing was slow near the store, and the season was early. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, killies, eels and the complete line of baits is stocked. Catch Wacky Wednesdays, featuring clams for $2.75 per dozen. The Dock’s rental boats and jet skis became available for the season this past Memorial Day weekend.

<b>Seaside Park</b>

The fishing season kicked off with a trip Tuesday with <b>Fishguts Inshore Charters</b>, Capt. Rob “Birch” Birchmeier said in a report on the boat’s Web site. Fishguts specializes in fishing during the warm months, or June to September, especially for good numbers of quality sea bass at the inshore wrecks. Blackfish at the wrecks and fluke and blues on Barnegat Bay are some of the other specialties. The trip Tuesday, with three anglers, headed to the wrecks on the ocean, and reports said sea bass fishing was slow in cold waters, so expectations weren’t high. A slow week or so in June isn’t unusual. The anglers fished hard, picking away at a mix of keeper and short sea bass and cod. The bite slowed to a crawl at 12 noon, so the trip decided to call it a day, and came in early. The anglers bagged 24 sea bass and two cod, and released a few dozen short sea bass, three short cod and two dozen out-of-season blackfish to 4 pounds. The fishing should only become better, as the fish and bait move inshore. The year’s first light-tackle, 4-hour bluefish trip fished Barnegat Bay Wednesday. The two anglers aboard beat a load of blues on surface plugs in waters less than 3 feet deep. “Top-water action at its best,” Birch said, and the blues exploded on the plugs. The anglers had bought a new smoker, and they kept their limits of blues to break in the smoker, and released more blues “until their arms wore out,” Birch said.  The 4-hour trips are available in mornings and afternoons. One angler joined the same type of bluefish trip today on the bay, heading to the same spot blues were fought aboard Tuesday. But the blues failed to turn on. “A slow pick turned to no pick,” Birch said. The trip checked a few other areas, but nothing was doing. Conditions weren’t bad, and plenty of blues still swam the bay, “just could not connect with them today,” Birch said. Nine blues were totaled, and about two dozen blues short-struck. “Slow fishing but a nice morning with a fine fisherman,” Birch said. The blues usually stay in the area until the last week of June, so the fishing should last a few weeks. Charters are sailing, and so are 4-hour open-boat trips for blues, 6-hour open trips on the bay and 9-hour ones at the ocean wrecks. Join the open-boat e-mailing list to be notified about dates for the trips by writing Birch through the <a href="http://www.fishgutscharters.com/" target="_blank">Fishguts Web site.</a>.

<b>Forked River</b>

South winds dropped water temps, sort of shutting down fluke fishing on Barnegat Bay during the weekend, but talk on the radio sounded like the fishing became a little better since then, said Grizz from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Winds now blew from the northwest, too. A 6-1/4-pound fluke was weighed in that was the first from the ocean at the shop this year. The fish was boated in 40 feet off the Coast Guard Station. Striped bass fishing on the ocean served up decent catches, enough to keep anglers interested, and the fish were all big. Thresher sharks began to mingle with bunker schools in the ocean. Grizz heard about two threshers landed and two lost. A 275-pounder was foul hooked on a trolled bunker spoon. The angler fought the fish to the boat, couldn’t get the monster in the vessel, tied the fish alongside, and brought it in. Just a few weakfish were picked in the bay, and nothing was heard about blowfish from the bay.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Bluefishing was great on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> on the ocean, Capt. Jimmy said. Six- to 12-pounders, almost all anglers could want, were jigged and baited, and trips began sailing every day, after previously sailing on weekends, and did make it out each day this week. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing 8 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays.

<b>Surf City</b>

South winds dropped water temps, slowing fishing in the surf, and big dog sharks to 4 feet and some skates bit, said Joe from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. But surf anglers still had a chance at catching a striped bass for dinner, and early mornings seemed best. Strong winds blew today, but northwest, so the land protected the surf from the wind direction, and winds are forecast to blow 15 to 25 from the northwest Friday. A 17-pound striper and a 16-pounder were weighed in from the beach today. Around 15 pounds was a typical size, but a 35-pounder was checked in from the wash Monday. Bunker caught the bigger bass from the surf, and clams nabbed the smaller ones to 28 or 30 inches. That’s not to say clams couldn’t axe bigger ones. Small, 1- to 2-pound blues sometimes ran the surf, but no blues really arrived yet along the shore. No brown sharks and sand tiger sharks were heard about from the surf yet this season. The sharks must be released, but anglers fish for them. Lots of bunker schooled, but out of casting range for surf anglers. Boaters ran across lots of bunker but said no stripers chased them.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

It’s June, after all: The <b>June Bug</b> will be sailed back to Beach Haven this weekend, Capt. Lindsay said. The boat like every year will be returned from its winter home at Oregon Inlet, North Carolina. Fishing on the vessel from New Jersey will kick off next week, and trips will sail both inshore and offshore. On inshore waters, charters will chase sea bass, summer flounder, striped bass and blues. On the offshore grounds, trips will steam for tuna and marlin, and this is a great time of year for the fishing. From Oregon Inlet, fishing was phenomenal both offshore and inshore. Anglers on one vessel last weekend fought four white marlin and two blue marlin. Small yellowfin tuna and some bigeye tuna were on the bite. Mahi mahi, big ones, including 40- and 45-pounders, were bailed. An “epidemic,” Lindsay said, of cobia swam around, and a 75-pounder was seen at the docks. Oregon Inlet was finally made navigable, after being shoaled up. Big bluefin tuna departed waters off Oregon Inlet a couple of weeks ago, and were now spread offshore up to Baltimore Canyon, “but in the deep,” Lindsay said.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Small summer flounder, mostly throwbacks, swam the bay, and ¾-pound bluefish showed up in the bay intermittently, inconsistently, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Boaters on the ocean ran north toward Barnegat Inlet to land striped bass, if they were willing to hunt the fish. Five or six customers made the trip Wednesday, and one who bagged a big striper was heard about. Sea bass fishing was slow because the fish were spawning. Back in the bay or the back waters, nothing was heard about weakfish. No customers mentioned fishing for white perch on the rivers. Crabs had started to be caught, but crabbing seemed to slow down for the moment. Fresh, shucked clams, bloodworms, minnows and live grass shrimp are stocked.

<b>Absecon</b>

Back-bay fishing tied into good catches of summer flounder, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Quite a few weakfish 16 to 20 inches gathered at the mouth of the Mullica River, because shedding crabs attracted them, and some good-sized flounder were mixed in. One weakfish is the bag limit, but the trout could be caught. Striped bass were picked around the Brigantine Beach on live spots during daytime and live eels at night. Live bunker could be used at the bridge if anglers could snag bunker for bait. Southeast winds this week affected fishing, causing upwellings that cooled waters. But now winds blew a gale from the northwest, and Dave hoped the westerlies pushed migrating stripers in for anglers. Southeast winds riled up the surf, putting down striper catches. But maybe the westerlies will be good for the angling. “So we’ll see,” Dave said. He was busy raising soft-shell crabs around the clock, and the crabs are available for eating at the shop. Shedder crabs, live spots, fresh clams, fresh bunker and minnows are stocked.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Kingfish showed up in the surf starting Saturday, and one angler waxed 13, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Bloodworms will buy bites, or even small pieces of clam will. One angler beached two 25-pound drum and lost a big striper in the surf. In the surf, fish with clams for a shot at stripers and drum or bunker for stripers. . Boaters knocked down big stripers on the ocean when bunker schooled. No bunker schooled in the past couple of days, but one trip on a boat earlier in the week slammed three stripers 47, 41 and 40 pounds. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, bloodworms, eels, frozen mackerel and Gulps are stocked.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Surf anglers beached kingfish, summer flounder and blues, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Lots of kings, good-sized ones, swam the suds, nipping bloodworms. The flounder pounced on minnows, and the blues smacked mullet. Occasional striped bass came from the surf. Noel walked to the rocks this morning, seeing a surf angler who walloped a 50-pound striped bass from the surf. Noel tried to convince the angler to weigh the fish at the shop, but the angler filleted the bass instead, saying he’d catch another! Out-of-season tog snapped along the jetties. Minnows, fresh clams, fresh bunker and all the baits are stocked.

<b>Margate</b>

Summer flounder were tugged aboard from the back bay every trip, and most trips sailed, had the weather to go, said Capt. John from the party boat <b>Keeper</b>. The fishing picked up a little, and plenty were undersized, and bigger ones might come in during the next weeks, John guessed. Some of the flounder aboard this week were sizeable, three, four or five of them topping 4 pounds. Many of the flatfish were hooked on rigs with a bucktail and a teaser. Gulp and mackerel worked best since flounder season opened, and minnows were unavailable in the past days. Previously the waters were cool for minnows to catch much anyway. No bluefish were landed, and bluefish schools, none big, were seen on occasion, when a few birds worked the waters over top.  The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder twice daily 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

<b>Ocean City</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder began to be found in deeper waters, said Ryan from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Some better-sized ones to 7 pounds were plucked from the channel edges in 7 to 14 feet. Lots of shorts were around, but at least flounder were in. Snapper blues chased spearing schools in the bay, and striped bass from 20 inches to 20 pounds, some nice ones, were hooked along the sod banks and bridges in the mornings and evenings on clams or lures like Fin-S Fish. Sizeable stripers were sometimes heaved from the surf on clams, and drum grabbed the clams at times. Boaters could anchor in the inlets to land stripers and sometimes a drum while fishing with clams or bunker and chumming. Bunker schooled off Ocean City and Atlantic City, but not many stripers chased them. The reefs were loaded with sea bass, cod, ling, thresher, brown and dusky sharks and bait in 70 to 100 feet. Ryan fished there, seeing all kinds of life like dolphins, bait that was maybe tinker mackerel and sharks, reeling up the sea bass and other fish. The waters were alive. Bluefish swam the ocean ridges and lumps 14 to 20 miles from shore. Ryan heard about one confirmed mako shark caught, and hearsay about a few others boated. The shop is filled with shark fishing tackle and all the baits, and anglers were eager to begin sharking. Tuna and white marlin started to be caught at the canyons.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/3:***</b> Those in the know kept the fishing hush, but striped bass catches at night under the lights on the back bay became the top angling, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Lures like Bass Assassins or Fin-S Fish bombed the fish, and Mike’s Mom cranked in a Yozuri lure to hook a 31- or 32-incher from under the lights. Some better-sized bass swam the waters. Stripers were surface-plugged, mostly with poppers, at twilight on the bay. Bluefishing slowed on the bay compared with the last weeks, but some were around. Many throwback summer flounder carpeted the bay, but a few keepers swam among them. Surf fishing for striped bass somewhat slowed compared with earlier, but still was good. Fish for them with clams, and kingfishing in the surf became better and better each week. Bloodworms had been the only bait to dunk for kings, but FishBites artificial worms began to work as waters warmed. Phenomenal fishing got pounded at places like the Deep Water Reef and wrecks in the deep. A trip with four anglers that a friend took for the wreck fishing bailed cod, including big ones to 20 pounds, until they could fit no more fish in the cooler. They also reeled up tons of ling and only kept the jumbo sea bass, and Mike heard about other trips like that. Farther from shore, yellowfin tuna and white marlin started to swim thick, and the location of the fish-holding warm waters changed constantly, but if anglers could find the waters, the angling sounded awesome. Closer to shore, no shark reports rolled in, but customers bought shark supplies like chum, so the reports should begin as soon as they fish. Pretty much all the baits are stocked. Fresh bunker ran out Thursday, but more of the baitfish are expected today. Fresh clams and minnows are on hand.

Plenty of summer flounder filled the back bay, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>.  He’s been running trips for them. Tides were off in the next days, but popper lures and flies punched great catches of striped bass on the bay during ideal tides, or high tides in the evenings and mornings. Blues also jumped on the poppers, and the popper fishing is a specialty for Joe this time of year. He poles his flats boat in the shallows on the trips, like fishing in the tropics. Stripers could be clammed on the bay, and the fish became more “picky,” Joe said, about where they hung. Though all this fishing was happening, offshore angling was “where it’s at,” Joe said. Yellowfin tuna fishing was hot between Wilmington and Spencer canyons, though the location will surely change. Joe knew about as many as twelve of the tuna boated on a trip. The fish are trolled this time of the season, and a good number of white marlin swam offshore, and Joe even heard about a sailfish caught. Not everyone fishes offshore this early in the year, but May and June offered the best fishing in recent years. Some anglers wait for the traditional time later in the year, but anglers should react now. People say they want to wait until the fishing’s good. “Well, it’s good,” Joe said. Offshore fishing might produce later in the season, but anglers need to go when the fish are there, and they’re there. Joe offers the trips. Closer to shore, he knew about a few mako sharks caught, and heard about makos seen while anglers wreck fished, and  thresher sharks sighted. This is the time for sharking.  Keep up on Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Villas</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/3:***</b> Surf fishing for striped bass slowed in the warmth, but croakers and kingfish were beached at Cape May Point, and kings were banked at North Wildwood, said Mike from <b>Budd’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Fish bloodworms for the kings and pieces of clam for the croakers. Bluefish swam the back bay, chomping mackerel or mullet. Summer flounder fishing was a pick on the back bay. “It’s fishing,” Mike said. One angler tackled seven keeper flounder on the back bay, but a husband and wife reeled in 25 that were all shorts on a trip. A couple of customers, fishing at Miah Maul on Delaware Bay, bagged four keeper flounder one day, two the next and plenty of shorts both days. Sea bass and flounder were pumped in from Cape May and Wildwood reefs. Again, the ratio of short flounder was high. A few drum were picked on the New Jersey side of the bay. One father and son checked in a 73.1-pound drum and a 44-pounder from the Pintop. On the <b>Ho-D-Doe</b>, the charter boat from <b>Budd’s Tackle Charter Services</b>, four spaces are available for an open-boat drum trip Thursday. Open trips often run on Tuesdays on the vessel. After drum fishing, the boat will sail for flounder and sea bass. Live crabs for eating are on hand, and steamer clams for eating are arriving today. Both are carried daily when available.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Anglers aboard the party boat <b>Adventurer</b> copped pretty decent catches of sea bass when trips began to target the fish Saturday and Sunday, Capt. Gary said. That was the opening weekend of sea bass season, and “some beautiful tog,” Gary said, were thrown back. Tog are out of season. So the fishing was all right, he said. . Trips are sailing for sea bass 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, but call to confirm this time of year.

Summer flounder, lots, flooded the back bay, and like 20 percent were keepers, said Ryan from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. He fished an hour before work Tuesday, landing two keepers and 17 shorts. Some anglers seemed to believe bucktails were the way to fish for the flatties. But Ryan preferred minnows or spearing on a plain hook on a 36-inch leader on a fish-finder rig. Blues sporadically popped up in the bay, and no weakfish were heard about from the waters. Crabs were trapped on the bay, but the season for them just started, and many were undersized, and many were females that crabbers like to toss back. Surf angling for stripers was surprisingly good, and a few kingfish seemed to start to be beached. Ryan cleaned a 36-inch striper and a 35-incher that a customer angled from the surf today. A report was heard about an angler who banked a few kingfish from the shore today. Ryan is supposed to sail for sharks on the ocean later today, but winds might cancel the trip. A friend was lambasting sharks, including a 157-pound mako. Canal Side rents canopy boats and kayaks for fishing, crabbing and sightseeing. Baits stocked include minnows and frozen squid strips, whole squid, spearing, mackerel fillets, mullet, clam strips and packaged clams. Live crabs for eating are sold when enough blueclaws become available during the season.

<b>Cape May</b>

The party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> began running for sea bass on the ocean Saturday, opening day of sea bass season, Capt. Paul said. Not a lot of keepers bit, and the high hook in the last days bagged 10 or 12. But the fish gave up action, and anglers had a chance to bring home fish for dinner and hook a bunch of bites. An occasional cod bit, and if trips pushed farther offshore, all cod, no sea bass, would bite. Some anglers scored better than others. Trips will keep fishing for sea bass, until switching to summer flounder, when the fluke begin to chomp in better numbers. The Porgy IV is sailing for a full day at 8 a.m. daily.

A trip on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> was supposed to sail for drum on Delaware Bay today, though strong winds began to blow that weren’t in the forecast earlier in the day, Capt. George said. Though 11 drum were whacked on a trip Sunday, and other boats came in with catches like seven or five, the fishing wasn’t great afterward, and one drum was managed on a trip Monday. But trips will keep sailing for drum, and are running for sea bass, summer flounder and sharks, and call if interested. A charter on the vessel Saturday, opening day of sea bass season, racked up a good catch of the lumpheads, covered in the last report. Captains on the radio sounded like they rounded up lots of flounder including a couple of keepers from Delaware Bay. Shark anglers began to pick makos. Good tuna reports were heard about bluefins at Poorman’s Canyon and yellowfins at Spencer and Wilmington canyons.

Surf fishing for striped bass tapered off in the warm weather, but kingfish and croakers started to be yanked from the beach, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. The kings and croakers were sometimes located at Cape May Point, but the kings swam from there to Sea Isle City and Strathmere or so. Bloodworms scored the kings, and bloods or bits of clam clocked the croakers. One angler banked a couple of blues from the surf at the 2nd Avenue jetty in the evening on bunker. A brown shark was heard about that was landed from the suds. Browns must be released. Nick heard about a 17-foot thresher shark that was landed on Delaware Bay in depths like 15 feet close to shore. A couple of mako sharks were heard about that were caught, but with the shark tournaments coming up, anglers who sailed for the beasts probably often kept quiet. A few drum were hauled from Delaware Bay from places like Tussy’s Slough and Brandywine. A few boats came in with as many as five or six, mostly fish 40 to 65 pounds. Speaking about the surf again, nothing was heard about weakfish. But now that anglers fished from shore with bloodworms for kings and croakers, word about weakfish might roll in. Summer flounder fishing was good on the back bay, and began to pick up in Delaware Bay. Nick was telling anglers to check out the Cape May Rips and the ocean tight to shore for flounder, because the waters were 72 degrees. A good report came in about a wreck fishing trip that angled up more than 100 ling between the anglers, 50-some cod and a few sea bass. Bloodworms and fresh clams are stocked, and fresh bunker might be carried, and minnows will be on hand for the weekend.

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