<b>Staten Island</b>

Trips concentrated on fluke fishing, because very good catches were smacked, said Capt. Anthony from <b>Barbara Anne Fishing Charters</b>. Anglers aboard dredged the channels and rocks with bait and bucktails for strikes. If sea bass catches build, trips will also fish for them. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Call Anthony anyway, because he can usually fit individuals or small groups on a charter or open-boat trip.

<b>Keyport</b>

Fluke, including keepers, began to snap on two trips last Thursday and Friday, said Capt. Joe from <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>.  On the first trip winds, unforecasted, began to blow strongly, shutting down the bite. But three keeper fluke and three throwbacks were landed until then at Reach Channel. On the second trip, unforecasted winds blew from the start, causing the anglers to come in early. They bagged one keeper fluke and let go shorts until then. So conditions were a problem on the trips, but fluke began to be bagged anyway. Three spaces are available on a special open-boat trip for fluke on Monday, the Fourth of July, running seven hours, starting at 7 a.m., for the price of six. The special trips, offering seven hours for the price of six, are also sailing Friday through Sunday, leaving the same time, and space is available. Otherwise open trips are sailing 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with a minimum of four anglers, when no charter is booked. Call to climb aboard.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

A few striped bass remained, and fishing for them at night was becoming better than during the day, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Bluefish were around that could be jigged. Fluke fishing was good. For bottom-fishers, sea bassing was improving, and ling fishing became much better, was really productive some days, and cod still stuck around. Crabbing was getting better, and will keep doing that, as the crabs grow through the season. Catches of the blueclaws should be good as today’s new moon passes. New and full moons can trigger crabs to shed, and they refuse to eat when shedding. But not all those moons trigger sheds, and not all crabs shed at once. “The weekend looks good,” Jimmy said. The weather looks good, “the people look good,” he said. “Don’t  know about catching,” he laughed. “We just sell tackle.”

Some very good fluke fishing was bailed on the ocean at the beginning of the week on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron said. The fish weighed up to 7 pounds, and several were 3 to 5 pounds. Flukng was slower on Wednesday’s trip, and the fish were small, despite great conditions, or winds and tides that created a great drift. “Go figure,” Ron said. But today’s trip’s fluke fishing bounced back. The high hook put five in the cooler, and a 5-pound fluke was the pool-winner. The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. However, Sunday’s evening trip will be a fireworks cruise off Red Bank.

Lots of action with fluke, and some keepers already, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> over the phone at 9:30 on this morning’s trip. The fishing was about the same most of the week, giving up fair action on shorts and a few keepers nearly every place the boat fished. But Wednesday was an off day, turning out fewer fluke than usual, especially on the morning trip. The afternoon trip’s catches were somewhat better, including turning out more keepers than the morning’s. But fluking on this morning’s trip so far was lots better than on Wednesday’s trips, and conditions were good, or winds and tides created a good drift. Tom hoped the catches held up all day. But every day is different. Fishing with plain spearing, provided on the boat, worked well. Some anglers who worked Spro jigs or bucktails “had their moments,” Tom said. He reminds anglers they don’t need a saltwater angler registration to fish on party boats and charter boats, because the boats are registered. Customers sometimes asked him. 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, 7/1:***</b> Lots of fluke ended up biting throughout Thursday’s trips, and more were keepers than in the past days, Tom said. The afternoon trip’s catches were about the same as the morning’s, except a few more keepers were netted than in the morning. One angler bagged four keepers in the afternoon, and her husband had two. A couple of other anglers rustled up two or three on the trip. Of course, some hooked no keepers. Pool-winning fluke on both trips probably weighed around 5 pounds. A couple of 3- and 4-pounders were landed. “A real nice day,” Tom said.

<b>Highlands</b>

Nine striped bass to 25 pounds were put up on Bob Lett’s party’s trip this morning on the <b>Hyper Striper</b>, Capt. Pete said in an e-mail. Apparently he e-mailed from aboard the trip: “(Now we) are on the keeper flukes ….” he said. David Koptra’s charter on Tuesday, after bagging two stripers in the morning, plowed 19 keeper fluke to 6 pounds. On Monday the Roselle Fishing Club’s trip eased in four stripers plus sea bass and ling. On Sunday morning the Lou Figuerello party limited out on stripers to 24 pounds and scored keeper fluke, and in the afternoon the Jeff Sheats trip beat eight stripers.

Fishing for fluke tied into good catches from Raritan Bay to the ocean, said Capt. Dave from <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b>. Striped bass fishing was practically finished locally for the season, though striper catches were somewhat better farther south on the ocean. Charters and open-boat trips are fluke fishing.

A few striped bass were boated here and there, and the fishing mostly dried up for the season, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. Fluke fishing was good aboard, and trips bucktailed them to 6 pounds at the rough bottom in deeper waters. Bottom fishing aboard mopped up sea bass and ling. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trip will sail for fluke Sunday, bucktailing along the rocky bottom. Call to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips. Bluefin tuna were pumped in from the Chicken Canyon to the Atlantic Princess wreck. Most were trolled, but a few were baited or jigged behind the schallop boats. Fisher Price might fish for bluefins if the tuna move a little closer to shore like they should this season.

Striped bass were still landed sometimes, and customers who fished for them preferred the shop’s live bunker, requested few fresh clams anymore, said Wayne from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>. Robert Garrity Ewing, on Anthony Pennimede’s Day-Go, socked three stripers 31, 30 and 28 pounds. Robert Lewis and crew on Robert’s boat Mahi Mahi boxed 11 keeper fluke to 5 ½ pounds at the TC buoy today on livelined freshwater herring. Jay and Tracy Amoroso on their Partee with John King motored back to the dock today with five keeper fluke to 6 pounds from the ocean off the Sandy Hook nude beach. Lots of fluke swam everywhere, and lots were shorts, but some sizeable keepers were seen already, somewhat surprising this early in the season. Bluefish schooled at all different places. Boaters from the dock planned to fish for bluefin tuna Friday at the Chicken Canyon. Bluefins were heard about that were caught at the Chicken, the Atlantic Princess wreck and the Oil Wreck. The Hyper Striper, sailing from the marina, was supposed to sail for tuna farther offshore at the canyons Tuesday, but winds weathered out the trip.  Live bunker and a few fresh clams are stocked. More clams are available if anglers order ahead. All the frozen baits are stocked including squid, sand eels, spearing and Peruvian smelts. All the offshore baits like herring and sardines are carried.

<b>Neptune</b>

With <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> fluking was very good on a trip Tuesday, but very slow on a trip Wednesday, for some reason, Capt. Ralph said. Still, two 6-pounders were wrenched in Wednesday, and all the anglers managed at least a keeper, if Ralph knew correctly. Two spots opened up on an individual-reservation trip for cod offshore July 11. Individual-reservation trips for fluke and sea bass are sailing every Wednesday, and kids under 12 sail free, limited to two per adult host.

<b>Belmar</b>

A bluefishing trip mugged a fair catch, a steady pick, of 6- to 10-pounders at the Mudhole Monday on the <b>Nan Sea J</b> on bait and jigs, Capt. Tom said. Two fluke trips sailed aboard Tuesday and Wednesday on the ocean. Lots of fluke swam the waters, and no really big keepers were axed, but ones to 4 pounds were coolered. Open-boat shark trips, sailing annually every Wednesday when sharks are in, like now, are full at the moment. But space could become available if anglers cancel. The trips might mix in bluefin tuna fishing. Tom had been going to add open trips for sharks on certain Tuesdays, but all his Tuesdays became full with charters.

Fluke fishing was heating up well on the ocean, and trips are sailing for them with <b>Fish Stix Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Kris said. The trips are Bring Your Own Bucktail, and everything else, like bait and rigs, is provided. If striped bass are still around on the ocean, trips are available for them. Space is available on open-boat trips daily through Tuesday.

<b>Barbara Anne Charters</b> zeroed in on fluke trips, because the fishing was very good, Capt. Anthony said. Anglers on the outings mostly worked the ocean rocks for the flatfish. If sea bass catches jump up, trips will also steam for them. 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.

Fluking was great, very steady, said Capt. Chris from the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>. Tons of shorts were around, “but it is, what it is,” he said, and catches were good onboard, on the ocean. At least one or two anglers per trip limited out. Anglers aboard mostly buctktailed the fluke along the rocks. Many of the fish were hooked on Gulps. The Big Mohawk is fluke fishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Boaters on the ocean still ran into good fishing for large striped bass, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>. Striper fishing slowed in the surf, but boaters weighed in bass like a 35-pounder today and a 40-pounder Wednesday. A 50.3-pounder was checked in last week from a boat. Though striper fishing from the surf slowed, smaller stripers, to 12 pounds, were beached. Sharpies fished for them in the early mornings and evenings or during low light. Bluefishing served up dynamite catches for boaters on the ocean. Fluke fishing went well on the ocean, churning up lots of shorts, but also keepers. A 10-pound fluke was weighed in from the ocean today, and quite a few 6-pound fluke were checked in from the ocean lately. Lots of short fluke skittered around Shark River, but so did plenty of keepers. Sometimes 6-pounders came from the river. Snapper blues began to appear in the river, but were small. They’ll grow, though. The shop’s rental boats are at the ready for fishing on the river.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Everywhere fluke trips fished, shorts and keepers seemed to bite, said Capt. Bob from the party boat <b>Gambler</b>. The fishing, on the ocean, wasn’t as good as last week, but anglers still picked away. Sea bass also started to show up in catches. Anglers fluked with mostly a combo of spearing and squid on rigs. On the vessel’s nighttime wreck-fishing trips, catches held up fairly well. Big ling and some cod were clocked, and lots of squid were jigged on some nights, for anglers who tried for them. The Gambler is fluke fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. Bluefishing trips will kick off this week, sailing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Wreck-fishing trips, previously sailing Sunday and Monday nights, this week will begin running 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursdays and Sundays. <b>***Update, Friday, 7/1:***</b> Though fluke fishing aboard had become somewhat slower, the fishing bounced back Thursday on the boat, and was good, Capt. Bob said in a phone call at the end of the day’s last fluke trip. A quality catch of fluke, including some that topped 5 pounds, was collected on the morning trip. Anthony Liscio plowed an 8-pound 3-ouncer on the trip. On the afternoon trip, Don Zock bagged six keepers to at least 5 pounds. One of the boat’s nighttime wreck fishing trips was expected to sail Thursday evening, after Bob’s phone call.

Ling, sea bass and cod were shoveled aboard on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b> on the ocean, Capt. Butch said. Ling made up most of the catch, and trips first would fish for sea bass, and a dozen or two were bucketed per trip. Then trips would go ling fishing. Sea bassing seemed not to be taking hold. Though the bottom was probably warming, the numbers of sea bass caught weren’t what they should be at this time of year. But the sea bass that were landed were sizeable, and few were throwbacks. Waters were chilly, though, because cod kept being caught, in shallow waters no less. Ling fishing was decent, and on some days anglers bagged 10 or 15, and on others 20 or 25. Winter flounder, out of season unfortunately, bit on the trips. Catches were good on the boat’s nighttime bluefish trips. Anglers fought aboard 6- to 12-pounders, good-sized.  The Dauntless is bottom fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily and bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

Anglers fishing along Manasquan Inlet tugged in fluke, mostly shorts, but a few keepers, said Gary at <b>Gates Bait & Tackle</b>. A 4-1/2-pound 23-inch fluke was creamed from the inlet wall today. Sea robins were mixed in, and blues pushed through the inlet on occasion, but that was entirely spotty. Hickory shad gave up feisty fights in the evenings. Practically all baits, including killies, are stocked. The shop will be open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. through this Fourth of July weekend. The Gates Motel, located on the grounds, popular with anglers, is within walking distance of the inlet, the charter and party boat fleet and the surf. Heads up: <b>***THIS TACKLE SHOP IS FOR SALE!***</b>

Carl LaManna, owner of <b>Canyon River Club Marina</b>, and crew bagged three 40-pound yellowfin tuna, releasing a 65-pound white marlin, at Lindenkohl Canyon Monday on his C-Annamal, he said. The fish were trolled on ballyhoos on Ilanders, and on the way home, the trip looked for bluefin tuna at the Atlantic Princess wreck, but only bluefish bit. The trip was the first of the season to the canyons on the vessel. Though the fishing was slow all in all, the trip was a great start. Bill, Steve, Mark Hutchinson and Louie DeRosa joined Carl on the outing. Boats from the marina did lots of bottom fishing for sea bass on the ocean with good results. Vessels that ran included Jersey Hooker Charters, Mushin and Bounty Hunter. Canyon River Club Marina, located conveniently on Manasquan River, with no bridges before the inlet, features all the amenities, including a locker with electric for a freezer for every boat, and discounted diesel delivered to the vessels. Carl’s new restaurant, 709 Point Beach, in Point Pleasant Beach, was going “absolutely spectacular,” he said. “Beyond my wildest dreams,” he said. People lined up 2 and 3 hours on Friday and Saturday nights to get in. Reservations are accepted for six or more. Call: 732-295-0709. Visit the   <a href=" http://www.709pointbeach.com/" target="_blank">709 Point Beach Web site</a>. See the <a href=" http://www.709pointbeach.com/images/menus/CORRECT%20LUNCH.pdf" target="_blank">lunch menu</a>  and the <a href="http://www.709pointbeach.com/images/menus/CORRECT%20DINNER.pdf" target="_blank">dinner menu</a> (both pdf’s), unlike any you’ve ever seen. The food in particular seems to be inspiring raves in online reviews. The jumbo lump crab cake sliders and the dried aged steak sandwich are some of the choices that are off the charts, Carl said. A phenomenal menu will be featured for the Fourth of July weekend, he said. One woman from New York City, who dines in the city five nights a week, pulled him aside, he said. Carl asked her if everything was all right. She told him the restaurant would stand up to any along Park Avenue. 

<b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> is running one or two midshore, open-boat, mixed-bag trips per week that hunt bluefin tuna, sharks, cod and pollock, all in one outing, and the bluefin fishing’s been super, Capt. Fred said. The last one of the trips sailed Monday, covered in the last report, and was tremendous. The anglers went 5 for 7 on bluefins, bagged a mako shark and punched some cod. That was the second one of the trips of the season, and the first was just as good, if not better. The unique trips run every year, and Andrea’s Toy each year eventually also runs offshore, open, mixed-bag trips for yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, sharks, swordfish and tilefish, all in one outing, an overnight trip. But bluefin fishing’s been so good, that Andrea’s Toy is sticking with midshore, day trips for now. Customers are loving it, Fred said. So keep an eye on reports, and see how the angling’s going, and call to jump aboard. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up, and more variety for dinner. The boat will eventually also offer inshore charters for sea bass, but sea bass fishing was sporadic at best, some days good, others not. Fluke fishing inshore wasn’t yet something the crew was intent on doing.
 
<b>Bricktown</b>

Fluke were hooked on northern Barnegat Bay off Dale’s Point and at the mouth of the Point Pleasant Canal, said Capt. Rich from <b>Jersey Hooker Outfitters Bait & Tackle</b>, located in Bricktown, and <b>Jersey Hooker Charters</b>, sailing from Point Pleasant Beach’s Canyon River Club Marina. Keeper-sized, out-of-season blackfish chomped in the canal, and one per angler will be able to be kept starting July 16. Manasquan River was paved with fluke, and both yellow and rootbeer-colored 4-inch Berkley Gulp swimming mullets bailed them. On the ocean fluke were crushed off Long Branch, Elberon and Deal, and Spro bucktails were the ticket. Slide the new Berkley Gulp 6-inch swimming mullet on the Spro. Ask Rich about the Gamakatsu hook to use to rig them. Sea bass fishing began to pick up on the ocean reefs. Jersey Hooker Charters ran two of the boat’s Vacation Special Trips, 4-hour sea bass outings for $500, on Wednesday and Thursday. The trips landed a total of 100 sea bass, including 35 to 50 keepers, from just-legal-sized to 3 ½ pounds.  Farther from shore, plenty of blue sharks and some makos swam the Glory Hole. Bluefin tuna schooled at the Chicken Canyon, the Atlantic Princess wreck, the Virginia wreck and the Triple Wrecks. The tuna were trolled and jigged. Lots of yellowfin tuna were boated farther from shore at Lindenkohl Canyon. Mahi mahi and white marlin were also landed. Surf fishing was slow. Tons of crabs were nabbed from Beaver Dam Creek, the Metedeconk River and off Dale’s Point.

<b>Toms River</b>

Barnegat Bay boaters bonked fluke at the BB and BI markers, and the fishing at the BB was “pretty darn good,” said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Good fluke catches were also taken on the bay at Double Creek and Oyster Creek channels, and Double was a little better. At Berkeley Island Park on the bay, a few fluke, small blues and weakfish were collected. At Barnegat Inlet bluefish and an occasional striped bass bit. In the ocean okay fluke catches were made at the Tires, and the better angling for them seemed to happen off northern Island Beach State Park and off Seaside Park at the Top of the Mast restaurant. Striped bass fishing on the ocean mostly petered out. But a small shot of stripers showed up in the ocean off Ortley Beach and Lavallette on Tuesday. One striper was weighed in this week: Jason Johnson’s 31-pound 4-ouncer that he banked in the surf at Island Beach on bunker. Good fluke fishing from the surf was heard about. One angler on Tuesday landed 12 fluke from the beach in two hours. All were throwbacks maybe 11 to 14 inches, but the angler, fishing a green Gulp on a 1-ounce, white bucktail, had a ball.  A couple of customers boated Barnegat Ridge on the ocean, picking a few bluefish and sharks, seeing splashes that might’ve been bonito or false albacore. Fish like that should be showing up, and waters were warm enough. In the Toms River at Island Heights snapper blues, tons of spearing, more than last year, apparently a good spawn on spearing this year, a few spots, big eels, and lots of crabs – crabbing was good there – ran around. A couple of kids tangled with the snappers, 3- or 3-1/2-inchers. Throw lures like small Kastmasters. Fish like snappers, small ones, and spots were common along places like the bridges. Crabbing was hopping at Good Luck Point. One crabber nailed five dozen keeper blueclaws on three bunker on handlines on a small pontoon boat off Good Luck Point.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Snapper blues, lots of them, began appearing around the docks, said Tom from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Crabbing was fairly good, lots were caught, off the docks and boats. Fluke fishing sounded tough to bag a keeper. Two boaters fished for fluke on the ocean off Island Beach State Park, and one landed 14, including one keeper, and the other reeled in 10, including two keepers. Someone said fluking was good farther north on Shark River, but that was unconfirmed. Wreck fishing was super on the ocean. One wreck trip bagged 50 sea bass, a bunch of ling and some cod. The bunker supplier took a trip to the Fingers for bluefin tuna, fishing behind a scallop boat. He got scallop guts for bait from the boat, and the trip whaled 20 or 25 bluefins, keeping a limit, releasing the rest, great fishing. Killies, fresh clams, fresh bunker, 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 are available.

<b>Seaside Park</b>

The three anglers aboard today’s ocean wreck-fishing trip bagged 50 sea bass to 2 ½ pounds, 33 ling and four cod, releasing 16 throwback cod, “a real good day,” said Capt. Rob “Birch” Birchmeier from <b>Fishguts Inshore Charters</b> “Best ling bite that I’ve had down this way,” he said. Seas began somewhat snotty but calmed, and the trip ended up with a healthy cooler of catches. On Tuesday three anglers, Mark, John and Scott, from The Dock Outfitters, climbed aboard for a wreck trip. The group had hammered striped bass through spring, and now wanted to bottom fish, Birch said. Seas were calm, but a strong north current made the anglers work a bit to catch. “Quality fish was the rule again,” Birch said, and most of the keeper sea bass were well over 13 ½ inches, and a few were 3 pounds. Big ling and some cod gave up a great showing, spicing up the catch. “I am not sure where this big push of ling is coming from, but we will enjoy it while we can,” Birch said. Almost all the ling were 1 ½ to 3 pounds, and four of the cod were keepers to 24 inches. The final keeper count was 50  sea bass, 20 ling and four cod. Out-of-season tog and a throwback pollock were released. Three anglers on a wreck trip Monday “loaded the box with awesome quality,” Birch said. “We enjoyed great conditions with the best spread of fish so far this season.” The catch left him smiling. The anglers limited out on sea bass to 3 pounds, also bagging 17 fat ling and a cod. Two blackfish and the boat’s first porgy of the year, a fish that’s also out of season, were tossed back. “Yep, this is about as good as it gets on the inshore grounds during the summer,” Birch said. “Matter of fact, this is about as good as it gets on any grounds any time of year,” he said. Fishguts specializes in catching good numbers of quality sea bass close to shore in summer. Charters and a full slate of open-boat trips are also light-tackle angling for fluke on Barnegat Bay, or doing a combo of both.

<b>Forked River</b>

Striped bass fishing mostly dropped off in the ocean, but fluke fishing was improving all around, said Grizz from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Fluke were flung aboard on the ocean at the Tire Reef, 3 ½ miles off Barnegat Inlet, and off the bathing beach in 35 to 55 feet at Island Beach State Park. In Barnegat Bay fluke were picked up from Oyster Creek and Double Creek channels. Nothing was heard about bluefish or weakfish. An occasional bluefin tuna was reported caught at Barnegat Ridge. One angler who looked for them found none but caught a bonito. Crabbing became good, and the blueclaws were big.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Picky bluefishing, with two good shots at the catches, was cracked today aboard the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> on the ocean, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. But the anglers ended up with a good catch, averaging two to five of the 8- to 10-pounders apiece. A 14-pound slammer was the pool-winner, and bait and jigs both caught. Bluefishing was picky on Wednesday’s trip, “(and) we ended up with a small catch of 6- to 15-pound blues,” the report said. Fishing for blues began slowly on Tuesday’s trip, but steadily improved, becoming steady. Anglers averaged two to ten of the 6- to 12-pounders apiece, and a 15-pound blue took the pool. Monday’s trip was the first with slower bluefishing after a good weekend on the catches on the boat. The fish were marked that day, but didn’t eat much. But 6- to 12-pound blues were landed, mostly on bait. A 12-pound cod, a rare treat on trips, was also jigged aboard that day. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing at 8 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A fireworks cruise will sail 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the Fourth of July, Monday. Call for reservations: 609-494-2094.

Lots of fluke flooded Double Creek and Oyster Creek channels and other channels on Barnegat Bay, and fishing for them was great Wednesday, said Vince Sr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boats</b>. Most were crunched on minnows that day, but spearing worked best earlier in the week. Catching a keeper was challenging, but the ratio was better this year than last. One in four was probably a keeper this year, and one in seven probably was last year. Chris Taylor checked in a 10-1/2-pound 30-inch fluke. Lots of trash fish like sea robins and skates bit, so anglers were always catching something. Plenty of blues swarmed along the inlet, and striped bass hugged the inlet rocks. The blues swiped anything shiny like metal jigs, and the bass were mostly taken on livelined spots from boats. No weakfish were seen at the shop yet this season, but a few were heard about from Meyer’s Hole.  A few crabs were plucked, especially in the overnight traps like at the lagoons. A stretch of warmer weather was needed to pick up crabbing, and the catches began to kick in during this time last year. In the ocean lots of bunker schooled, but few stripers chased them anymore. Nothing was heard about fish like bonito at Barnegat Ridge yet. Some good catches of bluefin and yellowfin tuna were made. Bluefins bit at the Chicken Canyon, and yellowfin did farther offshore. Tiller motor boats, center consoles and pontoon boats are ready to rent for fishing and crabbing. Single and tandem kayaks are available for rent at the shop or your location. Bobbie’s, the closest marina to the inlet, also features a tackle shop. The store is well known for local-caught live and fresh bait. Live spots are always on hand, and minnows, live clams, fresh bunker and the full supply of baits, including spearing and squid, is carried. Quarts of live grass shrimp are available, and call ahead to order them at least a day ahead, and the earlier the better.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

On the <b>June Bug</b> an angler went 1 for 3 on 80-pound yellowfin tuna Sunday at Lindenkohl Canyon, Capt. Lindsay said. The angler lost two of the fish, all three of them trolled on ballyhoos, at the boat. The fish were located in the deep, and waters were very clear, with visibility down to 50 or 70 feet, and were 74 degrees, with no temperature breaks. Another one of the offshore trips is set for this weekend. Charters will also fish inshore for sea bass and fluke, but the bottom was currently cold. The crew saw no bonito or pelagics like that yet inshore like at the ridges. Waters there were also cool.

<b>Tuckerton</b>

Summer flounder, a decent catch, including sizeable ones to 5 pounds, were iced on the ocean in 70 feet on a trip during the weekend with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. Lots of shorts were around, and the percentage of keepers wasn’t big. Two trips sea bassed on the ocean during the weekend, pounding out good catches. Lots of ling also nipped. Two spaces are available on an open-boat bottom-fishing trip Monday. See the <a href=" http://www.legallimitcharters.com/open-boat.php" target="_blank">open-boat page</a> on Legal Limit’s Web site. A shark trip is tentatively slated for Friday, and water temps suitable for sharks remain in the ocean, if anyone wants to go. Decent fishing for yellowfin tuna at Lindenkohl Canyon on Sunday was heard about, though the fish-holding waters already moved off, and anglers couldn’t know where the fish might show next, or how the fishing will be. One trip totaled 10 yellowfins to 75 pounds, and another came in with six to 85 pounds.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Great Bay was flooded with summer flounder, not many keepers, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The angling was fun, and a customer who fished for them Wednesday was all smiles, after landing lots, including one keeper, at Grassy Channel. Grassy, along the Intracoastal Waterway and at the clam stakes were all on for the fishing. Flounder fishing was yet to begin at the ocean reefs. A few tried for them, but little was heard about success. Not only were keepers yet to appear there, but not many flounder gathered at the reefs. Sea bass seemed to become more active at the ocean reefs and wrecks, after the fishing was slower during the spawn before. More boaters began sea bassing, because of better catches. Back along the bay, a handful of weakfish began to be caught at the mouths of the Mullica River and Oyster, Motts and Big creeks. Many were 9 inches, but some were 3 pounds or 20 inches. Remember the limit is one weakfish 13 inches or larger. Shark fishing was under way at Grassy Channel. “Real good,” Scott said. Big sandsharks are landed, and so are large brown sharks, fish that must be released by law. The fishing is lots of fun, and is usually done from dusk into the night. Anglers chum and fish with baits like chunks of mackerel with light tackle for sport. The shop sells a shark rig and a chum ball perfect for the fishing. Nothing was heard about bluefish. Fishing on the bay for kingfish, blowfish, baby sea bass and porgies usually begins the second week of August. Nobody mentioned perch fishing on the brackish rivers.  Fresh, shucked clams and minnows are stocked. No live grass shrimp or bloodworms are carried, and nobody asked for them.

<b>Absecon</b>

Definitely the best summer flounder fishing was happening that Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b> saw on the back bay in more than 40 years of “semi-serious fishing,” he said. Anglers caught up to limits of flounder, and all brought home flounder to keep, and the fish were sizeable. The angling was in good shape. More and more was heard about flounder fishing starting to produce at the ocean reefs. An occasional flurry of weakfish catches was reported from Great Bay, and though the limit is one weakfish, a weakfishery will probably develop this season there. A few 1- to 2-pound bluefish appeared in the back bay at the top of the tides. A few, very few, striped bass swam with them. If anglers see birds working bait on the waters, they shouldn’t assume only blues were on the bait. Occasional stripers were underneath. Not much was heard about white perch in the brackish rivers. But Curt from the shop, a perch angler, kept hauling in a bunch. The perch were around, if anglers knew where to find them. Kingfishing was good in the surf, and lots of bloodworms were bought for the angling. The weekend’s supposed to be warm and sunny, great for sitting on the beach and kingfishing. Crabbing was decent, not too great, but expected to get better. Catches could even pick up this weekend, after this week’s new moon. New and full moons can slow crabbing, triggering the blueclaws to shed, when they stop eating. But crabs get munching soon after the moons.

<b>Brigantine</b>

The surf gave up kingfish, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Fishing for them slowed a couple of days, but began to pick up a little. Bloodworms were the bait, and waters had begun to warm, so that FishBites artificial worms could work. Then west winds cooled the surf again. Triggerfish were sometimes yanked up from along the inlet jetty. Fish with small pieces of clam, like on a tautog rig, at high tides. Bloodworms, fresh, shucked clams, minnows and all the frozen baits are stocked.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

In the surf kingfish, sea perch, herring, summer flounder and occasional striped bass were banked, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Fishing was definitely on, he said. The anglers dunked bloodworms, fresh clams, minnows and fresh herring for bait. Bloodworms will take the kings and perch, and Sabiki jigs will hook the herring. Minnows will fool the flounder, and fresh herring or clams will grab the stripers. Tog remained along the jetties, and one will be able to be kept per angler starting July 16. In the back bay flounder and porgies swam. Porgy season will open Friday, and many were throwbacks, but some were keepers. All the baits mentioned and more, the entire supply, are stocked.

<b>Margate</b>

Tons of summer flounder crammed the back bay, were all over, said Capt. John from the party boat <b>Keeper</b>. Many of the fish were throwbacks, but the angling kept getting better. A new shot of the fish seemed to move in. No bluefish were seen, but blues should pop up soon. When baitfish become abundant this summer, blues should move in on them. Minnows and mackerel, supplied on the boat, worked well on the flounder. Gulps that anglers brought caught them especially well. In other news, boaters at the marina docked lots of tuna. The offshore fishing seemed good. The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder twice daily 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The fare is only $24 per adult for the 4-hour trips.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Back bay anglers boated summer flounder, and the ratio of keepers was better than last year, said John from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Probably 1 in 8 was a keeper this year, compared with 1 in 30 last year. The fish were migrating toward the ocean, so the waters in the bay toward the inlets were best. Search 14- to 20-foot depths for them, fishing with usual baits like minnows, mackerel, squid or Gulps like 3- or 4-inch swimming mullets or shrimp. The  mullets worked especially well. The ocean probably held flounder at places like the O.C. Reef, but nothing was heard about the ocean flounder, because anglers fished for them on the bay while they could. Kingfishing was good in the surf on bloodworms or FishBites artificial worms. A few blues schooled A.C. Ridge, and most sea bass seemed to disappear from the reefs. One customer early in the week fished a reef in the deep or 60 to 100 feet, managing two cod but no sea bass. Nothing was heard about shark fishing anymore this season. Yellowfin tuna were caught at Spencer and Baltimore canyons. White marlin were mixed in at the canyons, and canyon fishing was good so far this year.  Canyon boaters came across a large weed bed at the Wilmington at some point this week, tackling lots of mahi mahi along the edge. Crabbing was okay, not the greatest, seemed to start slower than last year. But the population of keepers was increasing. 

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

At <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> Mike Cunningham, the owner, would consider summer flounder fishing excellent on the back bay, he said. All who tried caught them, and most bagged a couple of keepers. Minnows worked for bait, but Gulps really connected. Customers bought all different Gulps for the fishing, so the Gulp that was best was difficult to say. But the new Ghost Shrimp Gulps kept getting bought. Popper-lure fishing for striped bass was great on the bay, and tides were perfect in the past days: high tides in the evenings. High tide was coming today at 8:15 p.m., so the ideal tides will soon be finished until the next time they come around. The stripers are popper-plugged at other times, but high in the evenings is prime. Mike this week sent anglers out for the popper fishing who never caught a striper that way before, and they scored in the ideal conditions. Kingfishing was decent in the surf, mostly on bloodworms, more than on FishBites artificial worms. Anglers beached flounder from the surf on Gulp swimming mullets on about ½-ounce Kalin jigheads. Black and rootbeer mullets were popular, and anglers fished them like they fished for striped bass in the surf, making a dozen casts on one side of a jetty, and another dozen on the other side. On the ocean inshore wrecks sometimes produced good flounder catches. The fishing was hit or miss, giving up the fish one day, not the next. Sea bass were sometimes slugged at the wrecks. Sea bassing could be good at wrecks farther offshore, and ling fishing seemed excellent there. Cod fishing seemed to be slowing down for the season at the offshore wrecks. Some were boated, but not many.  Mako shark fishing mostly seemed to end for the season in waters that became too warm. But anglers landed brown sharks, releasing them by law, closer to shore, 3 to 10 miles off. Places like Avalon Shoal and Peacock Shoal attracted them. Bluefin tuna were fought at the 750 Square and Masseys Canyon. Bluefins and yellowfin tuna were busted at the Lobster Claw. Solid fishing for yellowfin tuna and other big game like white and blue marlin was snatched from the canyons farther from shore, along the Continental Shelf. The fish were trolled, and lots of ballyhoos, skirts and spreader bars were sold for the trolling. But a few anglers were heard about who began to chunk for the fish, or fish for them with bait, at night. That fishing takes off later in the season, and not much luck was scored yet on tuna at night, but quite a few swordfish slammed the baits.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Some good days of sea bass fishing were copped on trips, and on the next day, not so good  sea bassing was socked, said Capt. Gary from the party boat <b>Adventurer</b>. The fishing was up and down, and on some days anglers totaled four or five keepers apiece, and on other days, hardly any keepers were seen. A few summer flounder were angled up on trips, but flounder fishing was yet to take hold on the grounds fished, the ocean. Eventually, when the flounder fishing amps up this season, the boat will switch exclusively to flounder fishing. Nighttime trips every Saturday will begin this week. The trips, departing during daytime in the evenings, will probably first fish for flounder, then move to the reef for bluefish or whatever fish turn up at night. When the bluefish population grows in the ocean in summer, the trips will focus on blues, like every year. The Adventurer’s open-boat, daytime trips are sailing daily, unless a charter is booked, and the vessel’s open nighttime trips are running every Saturday, unless a charter is booked. Call to confirm.

In the back bay summer flounder were toggled in, and a few good-sized keepers were brought in during the week, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. Many of the bay’s flounder were throwbacks, like everywhere. A couple of striped bass were docked, “but don’t expect to see them,” Mike said. Stripers were usually a chance catch while anglers honed in on flounder, though a few locals knew how to target stripers. A few blues swam the bay, and weakfish were scarce in the bay, if any were around. Crabbing was improving, appeared to be coming along like it should this season, and Mike expects a good season on them. Canal Side rents canopy boats and kayaks for fishing, crabbing and sightseeing. Baits stocked include minnows, and the price was currently great: $5 per pint including tax, compared with $8 before tax at many stores. Frozen squid strips, whole squid, spearing, mackerel fillets, mullet, clam strips and packaged clams are on hand. Live crabs for eating became available for the season, and No. 2’s are currently stocked for $12 per dozen.

<b>Cape May</b>

Anglers aboard for summer flounder scored some slow days and some decent ones on catches, not consistent fishing yet, said Capt. Paul from the <b>Porgy IV</b>. “It’s still June, isn’t it?” he smiled. Not everyone bagged keepers, and shorts were landed every day, but on a couple of trips, very poor numbers of keepers bit. Trips fished on the ocean recently, but the boat has the option to flounder fish on Delaware Bay. That’s handy, especially when weather’s too rough on the ocean. No huge flounder showed up, but Dot Hearon, Goshen, won the pool Wednesday with a 6-pounder, a sizeable flatfish, one of three of the fluke she bagged. George Wilson, South Jersey, decked four keepers on one of the trips, seeming tickled. Sea bass were too scarce in catches to say sea bass were around. But a few popped up on a couple of days. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder on a full-day trip at 8 a.m. daily.

Fishing remained good, and plenty of different catches were to be had, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Summer flounder fishing was productive, even on the back bay. When anglers wanted flounder on Delaware Bay, Nick sent them to deeper waters like around Brandywine or the 9 and 10 buoys. Croakers were boated at the Cape May Rips and the jetties along the nearby surf. Fish with clams or bloodworms. Lots of weakfish started to get beached from the surf at Cape May Point and the Cape May ocean front. Nothing was heard about bluefish, but sharks were around, so blues probably swam where sharks did. One boater landed a couple of tuna then set up for sharks, hooking a mako within 20 minutes. Maybe fish like bonito or false albacore began to appear on the inshore ocean. Plenty of yellowfin tuna were trolled at the canyons farther offshore. Minnows, clams, bloodworms, all the different squids and frozen baits, and offshore baits like butterfish and ballyhoos, are stocked.

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