<b>Staten Island</b>

Phenomenal catches of striped bass could be found in northern waters, somewhat to the east, on trips from Staten Island, said Capt. Anthony from <b>Barbara Anne Fishing Charters</b>, though the fishing became inconsistent to the south from Belmar, where his other boat is docked. He’ll start to phase out striper trips on both boats for the season, pushing into fluke fishing. A good showing of fluke was already around, promising a healthy season on the fish, probably. Trips for fluke from Staten Island will fish at places including along Ambrose Channel and at the rocks and rough bottom. Bottom fishing for sea bass was slow, but when the catches pick up, Barbara Anne will sail for them. Don’t have enough anglers for a full charter? Call Barbara Anne anyway, because Anthony can usually fit individuals or small groups on a charter or open-boat trip.

<b>Keyport</b>

Fluke fishing improved every day, and the crew at the shop was weighing in the flatties “on the better side of 5 pounds,” a fax from <b>Crabby’s Bait & Tackle</b> said. Mary Joyce checked in a 5.8-pound 25-inch fluke she boated near the 19 can at Reach Channel on a squid and spearing combo. Hot spots for fluke also included the Keyport Flats and near the Navy Pier. Striped bass were trolled near buoys 19 and 20 at the Reach and near Sandy Hook on bunker spoons, shad umbrella rigs and Stretch 25 lures. Kevin Marley trolled a 26-pound striper off Sandy Hook on a bunker spoon. Stripers were also grabbed on fresh bunker chunks in Raritan Bay. John Krzeminski hauled in a 65-pound drum that inhaled bunker near the 11A buoy. Beach anglers also reeled in stripers, small ones, but some keepers, from South Amboy to Sandy Hook. Crabbing was picking up, and the shop’s free crabbing contest will begin Thursday, awarding prizes for the three biggest during the season. Anglers can call Crabby’s for up-to-date reports.

Six keeper fluke to 21 inches, and good action with shorts, was rounded up Saturday on Raritan Bay near Reach Channel with the Contemporary Glass Company’s trip with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Mike Sr. and Jr., John, Raymond, James and Derek, a U.S. Marines Afghanistan War veteran, were the anglers. They fished with squid and spearing, and a ton of boats filled the waters. On Thursday, on Chalin Malbari’s trip, sailing 4 to 9 p.m., three keeper fluke to 19 inches, a bunch of shorts, and some blues to 10 pounds were landed.  Chalin’s dad Bob and friends Steve, Luke, Dave and John were also aboard, and they also fished with squid and spearing. Two spaces are available on an open-boat trip for fluke 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. An open trip for fluke was fishing today. 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. Call to climb aboard.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fluke catches began well on Sunday morning’s trip at Reach Channel, until conditions, or the way that winds and tides pushed the drift, became somewhat crummy, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. The afternoon trip began fishing on the bay, and the fluking was fair. The boat was moved deeper, and a few more keepers, mostly shorts, as usual, bit. Conditions weren’t great, and the whole day wasn’t ideal for conditions. One better-sized fluke, a 6-1/2-pounder, was taken on the morning trip. The sizes of the fish, maybe up to 3 ½ pounds, in the afternoon was no great shakes. The action was great lately, but the fishing was a matter of finding the keepers. 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, Monday, 6/20:***</b> Fluke fishing was fair on keepers on a couple of drifts at the beginning of this morning’s trip, Tom said. Then the angling began to slow, so the trip was moved around, and a few more of the fish were picked. One angler bagged three keepers on the trip, and some grabbed two, and some one, and others none, but all caught shorts at least. On the afternoon trip, a breeze came up, so the boat fished near the Navy Pier. A couple of anglers bagged two keepers, and some one, and shorts served up lots of action. One angler landed 23 fluke, including one keeper. Some landed 10 or 12 and no keepers. But all caught at least shorts. One fish on the afternoon trip was sizeable: a 6-pound 9-ounce fluke. <b>***Update, Wednesday, 6/22:***</b> Fluking wasn’t as good as Tom would like on Tuesday’s trips, definitely a slower day, he said. But a few better-sized fluke – three that topped 5 pounds apiece, and a 7-pound pool-winner – were boated on the morning trip. Action was a little better on the afternoon trip. Still, fewer keepers chomped than Tom would like, and the number was lower than on previous days, but a few were bagged around the boat.

A charter, instead of the usual open-boat trip, fished for fluke Friday on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron said in a report on the vessel’s Web site. The high-hook bagged six, though Capt. Ron Sr. landed eight, the first limit of fluke on the boat this season. He gave his usual fishing lesson, mixing it up between bucktailing and bait fishing. The pool-winning angler scored a 5-pound fluke, and the trip slugged and picked away all day at shorts and keepers. Only 10 anglers showed up, because of forecasts for rains in the morning. “Too bad, because the day turned out perfect,” Ron said. No report was posted for a charter that was supposed to fish Saturday, so maybe that trip didn’t get out. Open-boat trips for fluke resumed Sunday, and the trip that day was able to fish the same drift over and over that produced quality fluke. “It’s not too often when you can fish one area for most of the day, especially on a holiday, with a boat load of customers,” Ron said. Some sizeable keepers were landed, and the trip moved to the ocean for one last shot at fluke at the end of the trip, and the fishing was very good through the end. Today’s fluking on the boat wasn’t as hot as on Sunday, but some hefty keepers were caught. George Albin Jr. won the pool with a 6.8-pounder, and also bagged a 5.2-pounder. Another angler crushed a 5-3/4-pounder and a 4-1/2-pounder, and another crunched a 5-pounder. “Nice day on the water,” Ron said. The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. However, a charter will run during the trip this Sunday. In addition to the morning trips, afternoon, open-boat trips for fluke will begin this weekend, sailing 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Capt. Bob Sidorski, who’s been in the business 40 years, and worked with Ron many years.

<b>Highlands</b>

Fine summer striped bass fishing, said Capt. Pete from the <b>Hyper Striper</b> in an e-mail. Scott Gallion’s party on the boat this past week hammered big stripers to 32 pounds, easily limiting out, releasing a bunch more, fighting a bunch of big blues, too. On Saturday morning’s trip, George Luchiano’s party had to work a bit, but put eight stripers to 28 pounds in the box, and fought big blues. On Saturday afternoon’s trip, Mike Wagner’s crew totaled eight stripers to 26 pounds, and big blues. On Sunday fishing was super for Joe Zadeb’s trip. The charter limited out on stripers to 26 pounds on livelined bunker, and jigged a load of jumbo blues.

Thirteen keeper fluke, among 60 fluke total, were landed on a trip Saturday with <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b>, Capt. Dave said. The fish bit practically non-stop, and the trip started fishing on Raritan Bay, making its way to the ocean. On one of the drifts the fish bit constantly for two miles on the ocean along Sandy Hook Channel, so Dave stuck with it. That was a perfect drift, and the keepers on the trip were 18 to 22 inches, none huge. The anglers fished with a variety of spearing, squid, sea robin and mackerel. Open-boat trips sail daily when no charter is booked. Striped bass fishing sounded tougher and tougher, but stripers were still around, and trips will go after them when anglers want.

Striped bass fishing became tough onboard the past couple of days, and lots of bluefish bit, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> But a trip Sunday managed to catch more stripers, and no blues turned up. Trips were fishing for stripers with live and chunked bunker. Derek was running a fluke trip when he gave this report at 6:30 p.m. Sunday over the phone, and probably 16 keepers to 5 pounds were decked so far, a terrific catch. But trips will keep fishing for stripers, and will target fluke, mixing up the two different trips. A couple of open-boat trips will probably sail this week, and call to confirm the dates or to be kept informed about future dates.

<b>Neptune</b>

With <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> anglers won first place in the thresher shark division in the weekend’s Brett T. Bailey Mako Rodeo, Capt. Ralph said. They battled to the boat a 575-pound thresher to win. “Makos and threshers are here <i>now</i>,” Ralph said. Last Lady is booked for all the shark tournaments, and only a few dates are left for shark charters. A striped bass charter with Dennis Norton’s group limited out on the fish to 44 pounds Sunday, and Last Lady scored some great striper fishing in the past week. Fluke fishing was excellent Saturday and Sunday on the ocean on Ralph’s other boat, and fluking aboard’s been the best in four years, giving up lots of keepers to 6 pounds. A sea bass trip was supposed to sail today, and sea bassing’s been very good with Last Lady. Space is available on individual-reservation trips for fluke and sea bass that are sailing every Wednesday. Children under 12 on the trips sail free, limited to two kids per adult host.  An individual-reservation trip for cod and pollock is full June 30, but more of the trips will be scheduled in July, because the fishing was good. Room is available on an individual-rez trip for nighttime stripers, leaving at 12 midnight Wednesday, July 13. Space is available on individual-reservation trips for sea bass Saturday, July 16, and Sunday, July 31.  <b>***Update, Tuesday, 6/21:***</b> Anglers aboard the sea bass trip Monday had a “pick of quality fish,” Ralph said in an e-mail, and most ended up with a good catch of big sea bass and ling. The trip “made drops all over the place,” Ralph said, “but really never got them started good.” Small cod 18 to 21 inches hovered all over the deeper drops, “good for next year,” he said. Also, two spots are available Sunday on a trip to compete in the Mako Mania tournament and the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Mako Fever tournament, sharing expenses with the charter. If interested, call or e-mail Ralph for more info.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b> won first place in the weekend’s Brett T. Bailey Mako Rodeo with a 198-pound mako! Capt. Jared said. Fin-Ominal also won the tournament several years ago. Sixty or seventy boats competed this year, Jared thought, and his trip left port at 7 p.m. Friday, headed to the Monster Ledge, and caught a couple of dozen bluefish for bait. The trip moved offshore another 5 miles, and began sharking. About 15 blue sharks were fought and released in five or six hours, and with the blue dogs overtaking the trip, the crew decided to move. The boat was moved 10 miles southeast, and the trip began sharking again. A 275-pound mako, bigger than the winner, was hooked. But the fish kept jumping, and shaking its head, and broke off. An 80-pound mako was next caught and released. Then the 198-pounder was landed, and the crew decided to head to port, because the fish was potentially a winner. The boat arrived at the dock with 45 minutes left in the tournament. The catch bounced a 180-pound mako out of first place, and Fin-Ominal won. The boat is available for charter to compete in the Mako Mania tournament and the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Mako Fever tournament this Saturday and Sunday. The tournaments take place at the same time, so the anglers can enter both. Friday is booked with a charter to fish Mako Fever. That tournament runs three days starting Friday, and Mako Mania runs two days that Saturday and Sunday. A trip aboard this Sunday landed about 15 keeper fluke on the ocean. The charter was originally supposed to sail for bluefish, and attempted bluefishing, but that wasn’t happening. So the trip fished for fluke, coming up with a good catch of keepers. Fin-Ominal is also fishing for striped bass and sea bass.

Catches of striped bass were inconsistent, but a good showing of fluke was around, and the fluke season looked promising, said Capt. Anthony from <b>Barbara Anne Fishing Charters</b>. Trips will begin to phase out striper fishing, pushing into fluke. Striper fishing was better on Anthony’s other boat, sailing from Staten Island, and see the report above. Bottom fishing for sea bass from Belmar was slow, but Barbara Anne will sail for the lumpheads when the fishing picks up. Even if anglers don’t have enough people for a full charter, they can call Anthony to fish, because he can usually fit individuals or small groups on a charter or open-boat trip.

Fishing for striped bass was hot and cold, and a trip Friday plowed a good catch to 43 pounds on the <b>Nan Sea J</b>, Capt. Tom said. Another trip that was fishing aboard Sunday evening, when he gave this report over the phone on the outing, had landed a couple of stripers so far, not super, but Tom hoped more would be boxed before the end of the charter. No bluefish were caught on the vessel’s  striper trips lately. But if anglers wanted blues, the fish were around. Fluke fishing was fair on a trip Friday on the boat, but a 7-1/2-pounder was iced. Sea bassing was yet to take off this season. “You get a couple,” Tom said. Two spaces are available this week on the weekly, open-boat shark trip that sails every Wednesday. That’s a rare opportunity to fish for sharks without chartering the whole boat. Call to jump aboard.

<b>Brielle</b>

Striped bass fishing was “eh,” said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>, or was inconsistent. The fishing for customers, on the ocean, wasn’t so good Saturday, was kind of slow Friday, and was okay Thursday. Plenty of bait filled the waters, though, and the anglers mostly headed south for the catches. Thresher sharks showed up in the bunker schools, and striper anglers sometimes hooked them by mistake from boats. In the surf, bluefish that popped in and out were heard about, and sharpies who fished the jetties picked stripers, probably resident, non-migrating fish, in the mornings and evenings on plugs. Fishing at Manasquan Inlet was a little slow, but fluke, blues and hickory shad bit in Manasquan River. Fluking on the ocean was alright, mostly off northern Monmouth County, like from Deal to the north, in around 50 feet. Sea bass fishing on the ocean gave up lots of shorts but began to pick up pretty well. Bottom-fishers also caught a few ling, and still landed cod. Mako shark fishing was very good, and Dave watched boaters returning with the sharks at Hoffman’s Marina Saturday. Bluefin tuna fishing was off the charts, and was best at the Chicken Canyon and the Atlantic Princess wreck. The fish were tolled on a variety of ballyhoos, spreader bars and daisy chains. A customer Saturday whaled 31 bluefins, keeping a 50-pounder, releasing the rest. The fish generally weighed from that size down to 25 or 30 pounds. Farther from shore, yellowfin tuna fishing was best from the Toms Canyon to the south, like at the Toms, Carteret and Spencer canyons, and the yellowfins were good-sized. A customer boated one that weighed more than 100 pounds, and went 2 for 4 on white marlin.

From an edited e-mail from Capt. Jerry from <b>Fish Monger Charters</b> on Sunday: “Had Charlie and the Eagles Fishing Club aboard today. The guys usually do the sea bassing, but they wanted to try and get in on the trophy liveline (striper) trip this year. Broke the inlet, and the bunker were back on the beach, and getting worked. The drop n snag fishing was new to the guys, so it took a little getting used to, but after a few drifts, we joined the insane fleet on the beach. To be honest it was like warfare. Fish were spraying, but boats were throwing bunker snags, and being tangled with other boats isn't so much fun. Did one drift, caught one, lost one, and got the heck out of there. Headed south, and found a load of bunker getting worked, with a more reasonable fleet working it right. Had a lot of bites, run-offs, etc. Boxed five more, and lost (or) broke off too many. Bite slowed up. Was bummed out, thought maybe we missed our good crack at them. Got a call from Rayman Bnr (thanks again bro), who said they had some fish farther south earlier. We weren't doing much, so we went to take a look. Got down there into loads of bunker, picked a couple more, then looked to the south, n all hell broke loose! Fish spraying all over us, and only one boat. Three to five on at a time. Got three great cracks at them, and the guys were whooped. Big fish was 41 lbs, and all the guys got their personal bests! Boxed the rest of a limit, and some bonus fish, then played a little c&r. Made a stop on some bottom on the way back. Sea bassing was still slow, lots of little guys, but the guys put 14 sea bass in the box, before the wind picked up, and we headed for the dock! So the guys got to experience a great day of livelining some trophy stripers! Another one to remember! By day’s end the guys caught over 20 stripers to 41 lbs, including everyone’s pb. Kept a limit and four bonus fish, caught and released some more! The guys also boxed 14 sea bass! Thanks again guys! (Next report): Had Carl F and the crew aboard for a day on the water. After catching the bass good on our last trip, we were hoping for the same results. Loads of bait, but bites for us were hard to come by. Same to everyone we talked to. Managed two bites, landing one striper. Headed off to the sea bass grounds, and picked n plucked a ton of shorts, with some keepers mixed in. Bounced around for the rest of the day, working hard to put a cooler together. By day’s end the guys managed one bass and 53 keeper sea bass, along with five ling. They didn't come easy, but the guys fished hard to put a catch together. As always Carl n crew were a blast! Thanks again! (Next report): Had Don, Ralphy, Pat Sr, Pat Jr and Had. Since the bass have pulled a no show the last few days, and the sea bass has still been picky, we decided to run our first Fluke Marathon Trip. Got to the grounds n started to bounce our bucktails, and the keepers started flying, and didn't stop all day! Three, four, five a drift! All keeps, were nice size, plus plenty of short action! Some of the best early season fluking I have ever seen. Kept pulling them, until the cooler was full! Only lull was on the tide, and then they chewed even harder when it switched! Limits for all! Even Wayne and myself got involved, bucktailing a limit each! We pounded away, until we had a boat limit! Was headed home, loaded with fluke, looked up, and seen some splashing! It was the big stripers blowin up on bunker right in front of us. Too good to b true. Couldn’t pass it up! Broke out the snag rods, and had fish on immediately. Two to four on at a time! The guys had over 20 bites, and boxed up their five-man limit to 36 lbs! So by day’s end we boxed up a boat limit of 56 keeper fluke to 6 1/2 lbs! Also livelined their limit of stripers to 36 lbs! A day of fishing you could only dream to be on the water for! EPIC DAY if ya ask me! Happy Fathers’ Day to all! Thanks again guys!”

<b>Seaside Park</b>

An open-boat trip was set to fish Thursday with <b>Fishguts Inshore Charters</b>, Capt. Rob “Birch” Birchmeier said in a report on the vessel’s Web site. With lots of big striped bass filling the ocean lately, Fishguts recently was able to give anglers on ocean trips the choice of fishing for stripers down the beaches or sea bass at the wrecks. On some days a trip could do both. The plan on Thursday’s trip was to fish early, returning early, before winds were forecasted to blow. Seas were calm when the trip hit the waters in the early morning, and bait was plentiful along the ocean front, where stripers swam. A 37-pound striper, the angler’s personal best, was soon whacked. Two more big stripers were boated, and the anglers pushed off to a wreck for sea bass, staying within 3 miles from shore, where striper fishing is open, so stripers are allowed onboard. Sea bass fishing currently seemed to be really turning on, even if trips aboard were yet to sail beyond 3 miles for the big catches, because trips took advantage of stripers. A dozen keeper sea bass were bagged, among good action with shorts, when Birch got a call about striper fishing going off. “The guys asked what am I waiting for, and off we go,” Birch said. When the trip arrived, the bite had slowed. But soon striper fishing kicked in, and the three anglers limited out on big stripers, including a personal best for another one of them. “It’s a real special day when a captain has a chance to show experienced fishermen a day of fishing that blows them away,” Birch said. “When guys are peeking in the cooler every five minutes, you know you got it right.” Fishguts will probably target stripers a few more days, and a couple of open-boat spots are available on trips Wednesday and Thursday that will look for stripers along the beach front. Call or e-mail for details. On Saturday a trip with a father and his children, one of Birch’s favorite types of trips, fished Barnegat Bay for fluke. The plan was to keep the rods bending, enjoying the kids’ experience. Fluke bit right away, and the high hook on the trip, the son, angled up 21 fluke and two big sea robins. The daughter on the trip, the other child, landed 10 fluke. None of the fluke on the trip was a keeper, but the trip was great. “These are the types of trips that leave lasting memories for all,” Birch said. “I really think I enjoy these trips more than the families (do).” The only disappointment was that bluefish failed to show up, and the usual mid-trip break for ice cream was missed, because the ice cream freezer was broken. Check out shots of the trips, including of the big stripers, on the Fishguts photo pages on the boat’s Web site. Also see the Fishguts menu of unique trips, both charters and open-boat, on the site. Fishguts specializes in good catches of quality sea bass and light-tackle fishing, like fluking on the bay, on charters and open trips.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

On the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> anglers on Sunday “were on the blues again!” a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Limits all around the stern, a steady pick on each side. The fish averaged 6 to 12 pounds, and the pool-winning blue weighed about 15 pounds. Some of the anglers took advantage of the discount coupon the boat offered on the trip for Father’s Day, “and keep your eyes out for July’s special coming soon,” the report said. Saturday’s trip was another day of awesome bluefishing, and the angling was also great on the previous daytime trips during the week. On Friday’s nighttime trip, 7- to 14-pound blues, “all you could want,” the report said, were drilled. The fishing was also good on Saturday’s nighttime trip, “but we had some issues with a few blue sharks,” the report said. The anglers boxed as many as 10 blues, “but many had at least a few,” the report said. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing 8 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 6/21:***</b> From an edited e-mail today from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “After a slow morning of ‘bunker dunking’ Sunday, I shot out offshore in the mild easterly wind for my first trip to Barnegat  Ridge this season. After letting out the eighth rod in the spread, the flatline clip snapped, and we had our first bonita, a respectable 4-pounder. Ten minutes later, we boated another, and then we had to go looking. We ran into a steady row of ‘tuna chicks’ picking at the surface, and the machine was reading heavy gobs all over the water column. We dropped down silver PBJ diamond jigs, and Bob Diener of Nanuet, NY, was rewarded with a 20-pound bluefin tuna (a photo will be posted in this site’s photo pages). A few more drifts, and we had to get  back for my Fathers-Day-promised sharp return. Monday morning only yielded a 38-pounder for Matt Huminski (a photo of the fish will also be posted), though the bite I witnessed was better than that, with constant hookups all around me, in 45 feet of water off Seaside Park. We all took it in stride, and chalked it up to ‘some days you get the bear, and some days the bear gets you.’ We stopped at the inlet jetty on the way in, adding a 12-pound bass on a leftover fresh bunker from our snagging. I headed back out Monday afternoon with Gene Linder, and we found some small but tight bunker pods in the same area, and the action was insane. All the fish were 30-pound-plus. I had a 40, and Gene had a 42. If the boat doesn't sell out to three people, you can expect to see me fishing next to you. As soon as we snagged a bunker it was eaten. Some of these afternoon bites have been incredible. Felt like I saved face by returning to the same pods that had defeated me earlier in the day. Here’s a <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y4MevGGsPk" target="_blank">YouTube clip of one of Gene’s 30-pounders</a> last night. I will be running open-boat trips 1PM to 7 PM Fri, 4:30AM to 12:30PM and 1PM to 7PM Sat, 4:30AM to 12:30PM and 1PM to 7PM Sun, and 5AM to 1PM and 2PM to 8PM Monday. The 6-hour PM trips will be looking for bunker and stripers. The 8-hour AM trips will start looking for bass, and depending on our success and the sea condition, we could also run offshore to Barnegat Ridge looking for bonita, albacore and tuna. Either trip sails with a maximum of three people. All fish caught are shared by the passengers. We provide everything, just bring whatever you want to eat and drink for the time we are out. If you have a favorite rod, bring it.”

<b>Tuckerton</b>

A trip bluefished Sunday, trolling a good catch of 12- to 15-pounders on the ocean 32 miles from Little Egg Inlet, said Capt. T.J. from <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>. A shark charter is on the books for Tuesday, and Legal Limit is also fishing for sea bass and summer flounder.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

A good number of summer flounder were caught in the bay, said a report on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site. Some of the better fishing for keepers came from Grassy Channel, but the waters around the clam stakes put up more action. Shorts as always were more abundant, and two keepers was average. High hooks plucked 20 flounder. Not much was heard about bluefish that had schooled the bay, but that could change. Warm waters apparently pushed striped bass north in the ocean, and nothing was heard about catches south of Barnegat Inlet.

<b>Margate</b>

Anglers aboard pumped in some quality summer flounder to 22 inches, some sea bass and some ling on the ocean Friday with <b>O-Beth Sportfishing Charters</b>, Capt. Eric said. A shark trip Saturday wrestled in a mako shark and a blue shark. Tuna fishing was very good for boats, and O-Beth is up for tuna charters. Trips are fishing for a little of everything currently.  

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Back-bay popper fishing for striped bass, both with lures and flies, was good on the right tides, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. High tides in the evenings and mornings produced, and his trips worked Rapala Skitter Pop lures and Crease flies, a modified version Joe ties to throw more waters. The trips stalk the fish on the shallows on Joe’s flats boat, while he push-poles the vessel. The bay’s summer flounder fishing gave up lots of bites, mostly from throwbacks, but a few keepers. The fishing’s been improving, and will eventually taper off, as many of the flatfish move to the ocean during the height of summer. The angling was still peaking in the bay. Yellowfin tuna schooled the offshore canyons, and Joe earlier this year predicted that the early season for tuna could be good, like recent years, and that turned out true. The fishing was probably even better than expected, and Joe encourages anglers to jump aboard for a tuna trip now, while the fish are here. The fish could be around later, but that’s no guarantee. Joe in the coming weeks will begin annual trips that fight and release brown and dusky sharks on the ocean close to shore. The trips are an opportunity to fight big fish, both with spinning and fly rods, without steaming offshore.  Keep up on Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Villas</b>

Weakfish were beached from the surf at Cape May Point on bloodworms or FishBites artificial worms, said Mike from <b>Budd’s Bait & Tackle</b>, located in the Villas, and the <b>Ho-D-Doe</b>, from <b>Budd’s Tackle Charter Service</b>, sailing from Cape May, in a blog on the shop’s Web site. Los of croakers were reported banked at the point Sunday on strips of clam. Summer flounder were reeled from along the jetties at the point on Gulp swimming mullets in green or pink.

<b>Cape May</b>

Summer flounder fishing was picking up at the Old Grounds on the ocean, and sea bass bit there, said Capt. Bob from the <b>Down Deep</b>. A trip Saturday boated bluefish to 11 pounds on the ocean, while competing in the Ladies Invitational Bluefish Tournament. Tuna fishing was very good, and the Gargle charter nailed a super catch of yellowfin tuna Wednesday onboard. White marlin swam the same waters offshore. Inshore trolling for small blues should pick up soon, and other fish that can be mixed in, like Spanish mackerel and bonito, usually arrive soon afterward. The Down Deep is available for all this fishing.

Sea bass fishing on a trip with Ed and crew aboard Saturday scored a pick of the fish on the ocean, but the angling was slow, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. He couldn’t know the reason, like maybe the fish were spawning. But the trip fished four wrecks, and the catch, a few sea bass and ling, was disappointing. Fishing was good the previous time the boat sailed for sea bass. If anglers want tuna, they should jump aboard now, because yellowfin tuna catches were very good. One buddy’s trip bailed 15 yellowfins, and the friend said his buddy on another trip could’ve sunk the boat with yellowfins. The yellowfins were in the deep toward the Continental Edge, and a few bluefin tuna, not a lot, swam closer to shore. One captain, Mike, who sometimes mates on the Heavy Hitter, won the weekend’s Jim’s Bait & Tackle’s shark tournament with a 537-pound thresher shark. No qualifying makos were entered. Summer flounder, lots of shorts, a few keepers, were boated on Delaware Bay and at the Old Grounds in the ocean. Small bluefish should arrive soon that are caught on inshore trolling trips. Other fish like mahi mahi usually arrive soon afterward that can be mixed in. The blues showed up in the first days of July last year. Anglers who competed in the weekend’s Ladies Invitational Bluefish Tournament, fishing for bigger blues on the ocean, on the radio often sounded like they struggled. But some of the blues were caught. One angler from the marina who competed stumbled on the blues, landing them, and even picked up a small bluefin tuna. The Heavy  Hitter is sailing for all these fish, and call if interested.

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