<b>Keyport</b>

The boat set sail for fluke for the first time this season with Sam Dayeh’s group Sunday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Frank, Adam, Jimmy, Pete and another Sam were also aboard. On the way to waters off Sandy Hook for the fishing, blues were seen on the bay near the Keansburg Pier, so the anglers stopped to try for them, reeling in six. Fresh bunker caught them, and the fish refused metal. Then the trip continued to the Hook, and four sizeable, keeper fluke to 20 inches were iced, and plenty of shorts gave up action and were released. So the first fluke trip was successful, and the blues were a bonus. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing for striped bass, fluke, blues or a combo. 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>

Striped bass fishing was tough onboard the past several days, to say the least, said Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> in a report on the vessel’s Web site. “Been hanging in there waiting for another shot of fish to come up the beach,” he said. He’ll wait till Wednesday or Thursday, then switch to fluke fishing by Friday. “Get the bucktails ready!” he said. “It will be game on fluking from Friday on!” Check out a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxbJt9Ozdr8&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">video of Tuesday’s trip</a> of the some of the biggest bass of the season on the boat, including the 44-pounder, a fish of a lifetime, that 9-year-old Bobby Root, Scotch Plains, heaved in, covered in a previous report here. The Fishermen is sailing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily for striper bass through Wednesday or Thursday and for fluke by Friday. <b>***Update, Wednesday, 6/8:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Ron: “Not too much to report on our end. Just a couple fish each day with some more blues starting to show in the bay. Covering way too many miles looking for a bite that just hasn't happened the past several trips. Thursday 6/9/11 will be the last Spring Bass trip. FLUKE FISHING from Friday on. Will announce the (season-long striper pool) winner after tomorrow’s trip.”

On the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> fluke trips fished down the ocean beaches Thursday and Friday, because of strong northwest winds, Capt. Tom said. Thursday morning’s trip began to fish on Raritan Bay, but seas became rollie, so the boat was headed down the beach. On both days down the beach, fluke, mostly shorts, a few keepers, were caught, but fluking was better on the bay. Skates were sometimes a problem on the ocean, and sea robins sometimes bit. Few sea robins swam the bay yet, surprisingly. So skates and sea robins were no problem on the bay, and keeper fluke were more numerous in the bay. On Saturday the boat was able to fish the bay again. On the bay, when conditions or winds and tides created good drifts, the fluking was better, giving up mostly shorts and sometimes keepers. When conditions were lost, the fish were picked. But the bay fishing wasn’t bad, and even on tough days, fluke were caught. If the bay’s fluking stays like it is now, Tom would be happy. The boat also fished the bay throughout Sunday, and Sunday afternoon’s trip was probably the best of the weekend. On the bay, one angler would get lucky and bag five keeper fluke, and some four, and others three or two, and some would grab no keepers. But all would at least hook shorts. Some anglers on Sunday morning’s trip caught 20 fluke including one keeper. The ratio was better in the afternoon. What makes the difference can be difficult to tell. There was no set pattern that made predicting the better trips possible. Pool-winning fluke weighed about 4 ½ pounds in the past days. Sometimes Spro jigs caught better. Sometimes Gulps made a difference, and whether the color of the Gulp mattered was difficult to say. White might’ve seemed better one time. Sometimes anglers brought their own killies, and that worked better on some drifts. Sometimes the spearing provided on the boat worked better. Anglers had to be ready to change. Sometimes anglers brought fancier rigs from a store, but a plain rig worked better, if they tied one on. But again, the bay’s fishing wasn’t bad, and if the catches at least stayed like this, Tom would be happy. In other news, some anglers asked whether they had to sign up for the saltwater angler registry to fish aboard the boat. No registration is needed on a party or charter boat, because the boat is registered. Tom encourages anglers that they might want to register anyway, because they might want to fish on the beach or a private boat. Registration is free. Maybe the registration could result in good for fishing, if the government conducts more accurate surveys because of them. Being honest about a survey, if an angler is called for one, is important. Maybe if an angler reports catching 30 fluke and a couple of keepers, the government will see that the fishery is building, and that all those fish weren’t kept. 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. Also: 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 says. <b>***Update, Tuesday, 6/7:***</b> Fluking dealt out decent catches on Monday morning’s trip, and one angler totaled six keepers, and others 2 or 3, or 1 or 2, and some none, Tom said. The afternoon’s trip’s fishing wasn’t as good, and there was no drift. But overall the fishing remained decent, and plenty of shorts gave up action, and every day was different. When conditions were right, fishing was better. On a final note, anglers shouldn’t worry about heat advisories, because so long as a breeze is forecast, the weather on the waters is good, and maybe that will help the drift. <b>***Update, Wednesday, 6/8:***</b> The fluking held up throughout Tuesday’s trips, and the conditions were good through the day, Tom said. The morning trip’s fishing was better than the afternoon’s, but the sizes of the fluke were a little larger in the afternoon. Nice fishing, he said about both trips. Tom hopes the good conditions continue, and the fluking keeps up like it’s been.

<b>Highlands</b>

Anglers with <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b> limited out on striped bass by 10 a.m. on a trip Sunday, Capt. Dave said. They fished with clams at the clam beds off Sandy Hook Lighthouse, and decided to head in early, with their limits filled. Birds sometimes worked the waters, but no fish like blues seemed to chase the bait the birds fed on. The trip trolled through the birds at one point, but no fish attacked the lures. Raritan Bay Charters will keep striper fishing, and is also fluke fishing. Open-boat trips are sailing when no charter is booked.

Very good striped bass fishing was pounded in the past week with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, while trips livelined bunker down the ocean beaches, Capt. Derek said. The fishing definitely picked up, and if anglers want a trophy, now’s the time. Space is available in the next two weeks. The biggest stripers of the season are nailed onboard from now to the end of the month. Trips are livelining bunker, or, if not, are bunker chunking. Trips this past week onboard either limited out or came close to limiting, and four of the fish topped 40 pounds, and the stripers averaged 20 to 30 pounds. No bluefish showed up. The next open-boat trips for stripers will sail Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. Call to go or to be kept informed about future open dates.

Another fine week of striped bass fishing, Capt. Pete from the <b>Hyper Striper</b> said in an e-mail. Rich Senowski’s party last Monday limited out o stripers to 23 pounds and bagged some sizeable fluke. On Tuesday David Donnely’s party scored slow striper fishing, boating four keepers, and Jeff Schwietzer’s party on Wednesday came in with 15 stripers 23 to 35 pounds that were trolled on spoons. Paul Reilly’s crew on a trip Thursday morning waxed non-stop action on big stripers 20 to 34 pounds on livelined bunker, an easy limit, lots of releases. On a trip Thursday afternoon Bob Wessley’s charter also hit big bass, putting seven of the fish to 32 pounds in the cooler, while livelining. Striper trips during the week also included the crews with: John Rotendelli, seven keepers to 30 pounds, a bunch missed, livelining; Tommy Cronin, four stripers 25 to 35 pounds, missing a few, livelining; Mike Tartaglia, quick limit to 23 pounds, clamming, Sunday morning; and Bill Gieb, limit to 23 pounds, excellent fishing, Sunday afternoon. A bottom-fishing trip also ran. Gene Alexander’s party hit a good pull of sizeable ling and some keeper cod. Lots of fillets on the boat’s bottom trips! Pete said.

<b>Neptune</b>

A striped bass trip Thursday ended up releasing stripers, after limiting out on them, very good fishing, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>. Striper fishing was a slow pick on a trip during the day Friday, and three quality-sized ones were bagged, and a bunch of stripers were missed. But trips knocked the pants off stripers again both Friday and Saturday evenings. Another trip Sunday tagged and released stripers after limiting after 2 or 3 hours. Trips also fluke fished, and one of the outings Saturday during the day, before the evening striper trip, scored a fair number of fluke for the time of year. The catch included a 6-pounder and a 5-pounder, and there was lots of action. Fluke weren’t as big on a trip for them Sunday, and the keepers were just over legal size, and there was lots of action. Individual-reservation trips for sea bass ran on Ralph’s other boat Saturday and Sunday. The fishing was very slow on Saturday, but cod, sea bass and ling were landed, and each angler at least took home fish. On the sea bass trip Sunday, the anglers worked all day, ending up with sea bass and a few ling. Mako shark fishing was now fantastic, and a 256-pounder was docked at Cape May, and Ralph believed a 250-pounder was brought to his marina, and a buddy landed four or five makos on a trip Saturday. If anglers want makos, the season will be early this year. Book now, and a few days are open for sharking during weekdays, and that’s it, with Last Lady. Last Lady is booked for trips to fish all the shark tournaments. Openings remain for an individual-reservation trip for sea bass Monday, June 20. An individual-rez trip for cod looks full on Thursday, June 30. A couple of more of the cod trips will be added in July, and the dates will be announced. Ralph looks forward to fluke fishing turning on as the days go on, and is excited about individual-reservation trips for fluke and sea bass that will begin to sail every Wednesday on June 15.  On the Wednesday trips, kids under 12 will sail free, limited to two kids per host adult.

<b>Belmar</b>

Trips on the <b>Nan Sea J</b> striped bass fished through the weekend, Capt. Tom said. One trip limited out on the fish to 37 pounds, and the other two trips caught, but not close to the way the trip that limited did. Small blues were sometimes hooked on the striper trips. But one of those two trips fluke fished, after striper fishing was slow, and about a dozen keeper fluke were drilled in two hours, and shorts were tossed back. Word had been heard about productive fluking, so the results were good to see, and that was the first fluking of the season on the vessel. The year’s first shark trip will motor out this week, and that will be one of the Nan Sea J’s annual open-boat trips for sharks that sail every Wednesday during shark season. Two spots are left this week for the rare opportunity to fight sharks without chartering the whole boat. An angler at the dock returned with a 225- or 250-pound mako, so Tom is excited to begin the fishing, and sharking is his favorite angling. Charters for sharks are also on tap, and so are charters for sea bass. So the boat is chartering for stripers, fluke, sea bass and sharks, and open-boat trips for sharks will run each Wednesday.

A charter limited out on striped bass to 37 pounds by 8 a.m. Friday with <b>Fish Stix Sportfishing</b> on the ocean, a report on the boat’s Web site said. Bunker were tough to net for bait, so the menhaden were snagged and dropped, or snagged with a snagging hook and immediately dropped back in the waters on the hooks and livelined. Dozens of run-offs and crashes on top smacked the bait. On Thursday a throw of the net loaded the livewell with bunker, and the charter headed north on the ocean. One striper was bagged, and six run-offs ran with the bait. The trip moved south and to deep waters, “and it was game on!” The anglers limited out on striped bass to 33 pounds. Fish Stix also caught stripers on trips since then, Capt. Kris said in a phone call. But reports for the trips were yet to be posted on the site at press time, and should be covered in the next report here.

A light crowd plundered great fishing for striped bass and blues today on the ocean on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. The anglers limited out on stripers to 35 pounds then ran across good-sized blues. Sizeable blues were bombed on Sunday’s trip, and blues turned up much better fishing than before on Saturday night’s trip. Still, Friday night’s bluefishing was decent on the vessel, even if the boat had to travel far offshore, and was improved compared with the previous weekend. Bluefishing was picky during Friday’s daytime trip. On Thursday’s daytime trip, mostly stripers, including big ones, were landed. Three weighed more than 30 pounds, and others weighed in the 20s. The Golden Eagle is sailing daily for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and blues 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

<b>Brielle</b>

The Glen Roberts charter limited out on striped bass to 30 pounds Sunday on the ocean to the south on livelined bunker on the <b>Big Kid</b>, Capt. Ken said. The group decided to keep only six stripers, enough for the table, letting the rest go. On Saturday the Seaside Heights Fishing Club charter bagged six stripers and eight fluke on the ocean. Again, the bass were beaten on live bunker. Striper charters include 9 to 5 p.m.’ers. Some mid-week charters are available at a $25 discount. Act fast: Tuna and shark charters are starting to book up.

Striped bass fishing was off the charts, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Boaters whaled the fish on the ocean to the north and south, usually on bunker snagged and livelined for bait, and not many bluefish were in the mix. The bass were often crushed off Manasquan and Shark River inlets. In the surf, especially in northern Monmouth County, stripers were pencil-poppered like crazy. Seemed like they showed up twice a day, in the mornings and afternoons, and the fish were big, 30-pounds plus. Dave saw photos. Fluke fishing was very good on the ocean, and Sea Girt Reef produced. Fluke anglers on Manasquan River scratched out catches. But a variety of fish including them and small stripers were angled on the river. Dave was unsure whether bluefish remained in the river that had been popping up near the Point Pleasant Canal. Back on the ocean, sea bass fishing started to improve, and ling fishing was on the upswing. Cod continued to be caught, and Dave joined a Point Pleasant Beach party boat trip that walloped lots of cod. Offshore boaters creamed bluefin tuna to 150 pounds, good catches, at Hudson Canyon Saturday from the tip to along the west wall. Yellowfin tuna were mixed in, but bluefins made up most of the catches. Nothing was heard about other canyons. Shark fishing was good at the Resor wreck Saturday. All of this sounded like fishing was good nearly everywhere, like a commercial for the area’s fishing, but it really was. Was a good stretch of days. A few thresher sharks, not many, one here or there, swam among the bunker schools close to shore. The Reel Seat’s hours were extended till 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, and 6 p.m. Saturdays. On Sundays the shop will close at 2 p.m. like before. 

From an edited e-mail from Capt. Jerry from <b>Fish Monger Charters</b>: “Been busy running day and night, and fishing doesn’t get any better. Best bass fishing I’ve ever seen on fish 25 to 45 lbs. Sea bass also started to pile up in da coolers. Recap and lots of it! Had Brian Taylor crew aboard along with Joe Jigs, Had and Ralphy. Plan was to make bait and play around in bunker for a few early bass, and go sea bassin, then look for the bass on the way in, as they been coming up. Made bait right outside. Skipped a mile to another pod, and they were getting crashed! Had six bites on the first drift, landing three. Next drift added two more. Bite slowed up as a fleet developed, but we just kept working bunker with no boats, and we would get bites n hook ups. By 10 a.m. we had over 20 bites and 10 bass to 40 lbs. It slowed up, so we headed to the sea bass grounds. Got set up, and had some nice-size sea bass come up, but the bite was slow. The water temp dropped a lot, and they were def sluggish, but we picked at em. Put 40 in the box, and the wind started howling. Was getting rough, even though we were just 2 miles off. Decided to go back tight to the beach and look for them bass again. We were the only boat around, and when we got on scene, it was mayhem: Surf casters hooked up, and fish crashing everywhere! First three drifts, our baits were covered up! Multiple big fish on, and Jack got a real beauty: 51 in 45 lber! Joe Jigs had the double limit +  hotline open. Action slowed up when the mass of boats showed up, but we still picked a couple here n there, before headin in! Whales also put on a Sea World show today. Pretty cool sight! Brian had been blown out his last couple of trips, so they were due for a good one, and def got it today! By day’s end the guys had 45 + bites, boxing a six-man limit of stripers to 45 lbs plus four bonus fish. Other notable fish weighed 40, 37, and two at 36 lbs. Released a bunch more nice stripers The guys also boxed up 41 sea bass to 3 lbs! Awesome day! One for the guys to remember! Thanks again fellas! (Next report): Had Peter Sivo and crew aboard for their annual striper trips. The guys stay over and fish two days in a row, and the first one was a good one! Charlie was sorely missed this year, as he was at home with his wife Jackie (all the best). Stayed away from the fleet n went back to the same area we been catching the last few days. Got on scene, and a few small pods of bunker were broken up … and getting blasted by bass. All ya had to do was snag a bunker and HOLD ON! Fish finder (said) it all … the stripers (were) stacked up! Had three and four on quite a few times! Was a bit of a pain, because u would drift out of them fast. It was run n gun type fishing … move back in for another crack at them. No long drifts today. The guys made quick work of a limit and did some c&r for the rest of the day! Peter was on fire ... he was high hook, and had at least eight or nine landed, besides a bunch that came unbuttoned! By day’s end the guys boxed up a limit and threw a bunch back for another day. Back at it with the guys (on the next trip), hopefully with the same results! Thanks again. (Next report): Best bass fishing I ever seen! Had bass blowing up and spraying in every direction! Wildest sight ever! Fish stayed on top for two hours! All you could want! Had the Peter Sivo charter back for day two. Thought the first day was a great one, but this one topped them all. Started off with little happening. But it was only a matter of time until all hell broke loose! Was on our way to check out another area, and it erupted. White water everywhere! Bass blowing up on top, and bunker flying straight out of the water! They stayed on top … blasting our baits and putting on quite the show. Everyone was in awe at the amount of bass on top. Truly a sight to remember! We caught n released fish all afternoon, with multiple hook ups and mayhem the whole time! A day a fisherman dreams about! The guys had two days of the best bass fishing you could ask for! Pleasure as always guys! Thanks again. Had Mark and the boys for a day of sea bassin. Made bait outside for later. Bunker was thick, but nothing happening yet. Off to the sea bass grounds. Got set up, and had great life, best we seen so far. Lots of shorts, but plenty of nice-sized keepers mixed in the whole time. Also had some small cod and big blackfish that went back to spice it up. Picked just over 40 fish on our two drops. Was setting up on the third when Capt Ralphy and Capt Marty gave a call (thanks again), saying the bass were on top, blowing up and spraying bunker, and they were all by themselves, with only a couple other boats there. Off we went! Got on scene, and it was mayhem: bunker flying out the water, and all our bait got crashed. Had three to four on at a time, and the guys limited, + four bonus fish, almost instantly! More boats came, so it slowed up a bit. Was on our way in and looked up, and there they were again. We were the only boat on em for three passes. Complete mayhem … released another 15 or so, before heading in. Too many bites and lost fish to count! By day’s end the guys boxed up (lots of) keeper sea bass, then beat on some liveline-bunker bass, landing around 30, keeping a six-man limit + four bonus fish to 37 lbs! What a day! Another one to remember! Thanks again guys!”

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Striped bass fishing hit the wall, and John Kuhles charter Sunday afternoon landed more than 30 on the ocean with <b>Reel Class Charters</b>, Capt. Allen said. The biggest weighed more than 40 pounds, and Allen estimated that it weighed 45. Lots of 25- to 30-pounders were walloped. The fish were caught on plugs, livelined bunker, chunked bunker, everything. The bass blew up generally from Lavallette to Belmar. The striper fishing was probably the best Allen ever saw. A trip Saturday for stripers, fluke and sea bass was slow on the ocean. Striper fishing was terrible, and some sea bass and fluke were reeled in. The striper fishing completely turned around the next day.

On a charter Friday for striped bass, bunker were caught for bait, and the trip ran north on the ocean, a report on <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>’ Web site said. Three stripers were decked off Spring Lake to start the day. Then one of the anglers decided to have lunch, found a banana in his lunch box, and “threw that piece of crap overboard,” the report said. Ha. Fishing turned tough afterward, of course. However, “decided to make it a long day,” the report said, and the trip searched south, then north, and the mother lode of stripers was found! The anglers landed 10 stripers to 35 pounds. Bunker got blasted out of the waters, and all the anglers were hooked up on the last drift.  On a charter Thursday two of the four anglers reeled in their first-ever stripers on the first drift. Then the group picked stripers the rest of the day, totaling 10 of the fish to 35 pounds. Andrea’s Toy will keep striper fishing, and sea bass fishing can be mixed in, for a combo trip, if anglers like. Shark and bluefin tuna fishing are coming up next.

Ocean fluke fishing remained good, said Capt. Bob from the party boat <b>Gambler</b>. Afternoon trips especially served up good action. But lots of fluke, a fair number of keepers and some big ones were coming in. An 8-pounder was shellacked on both the morning and afternoon trips Saturday. On Sunday morning’s trip father and son Rocko Galano and Jonathan from Bricktown totaled six keepers to 7 pounds. Not many sea bass showed up on trips. 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 through June. Wreck-fishing trips for cod and ling are sailing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sundays and Mondays.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

Capt. Mark from <b>High Hook Sport Fishing</b> ran a trip Sunday morning on the ocean with his son and a couple of friends, he said. Weather forecasts that called for calm seas turned out wrong, and conditions were rough, and his son became seasick. So Mark ran the boat back in to drop off his son, then headed the trip back out. The boat was motored south again, because a buddy said stripers were on the bite. The trip limited out in 35 minutes on livelined bunker. Plenty of bunker were castnetted for bait at the beginning of the trip, were no problem to gather. Mark had originally planned to sail for sea bass and fluke, but 3- to 5-foot seas were too much, and 8 ounces of weight would’ve failed to hold in 35 feet. All the boats that morning caught stripers quickly, and returned quickly. West winds are forecast throughout this week that will be great for fishing if forecasts hold true, and High Hook plans to fish, talking advantage. Charters and open-boat trips are sailing for stripers or on sea bass/fluke combos. Whether you’re an angler or a group, call to go, and a trip should be able to be arranged.

<b>Bricktown</b>

A 53-pound striped bass, a new record on the boat, was crushed on a trip Friday, said Capt. Rich from <b>Jersey Hooker Charters</b>, sailing from Point Pleasant Beach’s Canyon River Club, and <b>Jersey Hooker Outfitters Bait & Tackle</b>, located in Bricktown. That broke the previous record of 41 pounds that Rich’s Uncle Mike held. But a 42-pounder was also slammed on Friday’s trip! The Mike Wonskis bachelor party charter jumped aboard that day, and the fishing took a while to get going, But the catches began when Dr. A.J. Morgan reeled in the 53-pounder that the boat’s mate Nick Hooking hooked! Capt. Rich was surprised to see the fish when the striper hit the deck, because the linesider was every bit of 50 inches. The bass was the biggest fish Nick ever saw, and he comes from a serious fishing family. A couple of more stripers were picked at the spot, and Rich got a call about stripers blowing up on bunker everywhere 3 miles south. The boat was steamed there, running into the most epic striper fishing Rich ever saw. The anglers boxed up another seven stripers, lost a bunch and played catch and release. As the trip was getting ready to leave, a dead-sticked rod with a live bunker started to scream. The 42-pound striper was pulled in and released. Striper fishing lately was good, but on some days the fishing was really good only an hour. In other news, canyon tuna fishing took off, and Jersey Hooker is running 18-hour canyon trolls on either charters or open-boat trips. The outings will hit the wrecks on the way in for bottom fishing.

<b>Seaside Park</b>

With <b>Fishguts Inshore Charters</b> the season’s first Barnegat Bay/ocean combo trip sailed Saturday, and the outing was also the year’s first father/son trip, Capt. Rob “Birch” Birchmeier said in a report on the boat’s Web site. “Both are some of the favorite trips to run that we offer,” he said. The father and son seemed never really to catch many fish the few times they fished. All that changed this day, Birch said. They went home with jumbo bags of tasty fillets. The trip began in the morning, tackling small blues on the bay. “Not a wide open bite, but a nice pick of fish,” Birch said. After a half-dozen were boxed, the trip was off to the ocean for sea bass fishing. The fishing was a pleasant surprise. A good bite began, and plenty of keepers were pulled from the wreck. The anglers didn’t take long to get the hang of the fishing, and they were swinging in sizeable sea bass. They enjoyed fast action with keeper and short sea bass and a few short cod. With a good number of quality sea bass in the cooler, the trip set sights on fluke fishing on the bay. But one cast of a popper lure on the bay’s shallow flats changed the plans a moment. A 2- to 3-pound blue crashed every cast, keeping the trip busy. The anglers left them biting, and tried for fluke. Six very small fluke and one that was close to keeper size were hooked and let go. “With smiles on our faces and some lasting memories, we called it a day,” Birch said. The trip totaled 28 keeper sea bass to a 3.1-pound jumbo and 12 healthy sized blues in the box. Check out the <a href="http://fishgutscharters.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1" target="_blank">Fishguts Web site</a> about the unique fishing on the boat, from charters that focus on good numbers of quality sea bass to light-tackle bay charters, combo bay/ocean charters, open-boat trips and more.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 6/7:***</b> From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “We are experiencing the best season for big striped bass, ever. The fish are mostly in the 30-pound class, with only a few 20-class, and quite a few 40-pounders. The action is all along Island Beach State Park to Manasquan Inlet. Probably north of there, as well, but I haven’t run past there. Ten to 25 feet of water has been best. There’s an early-morning, late-morning, mid-day and late-afternoon bite. That’s unheard of during this early-season bunker fishery. The early and late bites have always been the norm, but these mid-day blitzes are amazing. All the action we had lately was on live bait that we’re snagging. We’re livelining, snagging and dropping, and fishing fresh dead baits on the bottom with an egg sinker, and they’re all working. Most days you can see and hear the bunker getting “whooshed” across the surface by big stripers. It’s a noise that will haunt you while you try to sleep. The Hi Flier will be running open-boat trips for these fish. Two trips on Friday, June 10, 5 AM to 11 AM, and then again 1 PM to 7 PM.  On Sunday, June 12, we will be running an 8-hour open-boat, 5 AM to 1 PM.  On Monday, June 13, open-boat 6-hour trip 1 PM to 7 PM.  All trips limited to 3 people. All the fish are shared among the group. I will usually sail with only one, but then I’m fishing with you! Call for reservations. Here's a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSjuK_D8VLg" target="_blank">clip of Bob Ferry's 25-pounder coming to gaff this past weekend </a>.

<b>Tuckerton</b>

Bottom fishing shoveled up good catches of sea bass, ling mixed in and cod here and there with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b> on the ocean, Capt. T.J. said. Mako shark fishing was going well, from what he heard, and shark trips will launch for the season Saturday and this coming Monday onboard. Yellowfin tuna were fought offshore, and Legal Limit might sail for the fish Friday, if T.J. can get a crew together, and if the tuna are still there.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Boaters fishing for striped bass found plenty of bunker schools to work today on the ocean, said the report on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site. Stripers chased a few of the pods, and the bass off Long Beach Island weighed 35 to 45 pounds. “Wowzerz!” the report said. Snagging the bunker and livelining them for bait worked as well as trolling did. One angler weighed in a 44.3-pounder and a 36.5-pounder. A 4.4-pound summer flounder was checked in today that was boated on Great Bay near the 139 marker. Boaters worked the bay hard Sunday “for a little bit of fluke activity,” the report said, and not so many keepers. One set of brothers bagged six sizeable ones Friday, and word said they caught them at the clam stakes. “(But) we are pretty confident they pulled our leg, and had a honey hole in Grassy or at the channels at Brigantine,” the report said. One brother said bucktails were key. Bluefish occasionally popped up in the bay, and look for birds working the waters.

<b>Margate</b>

Good wreck fishing was socked on the ocean on trips this past week with <b>O-Beth Sportfishing Charters</b>, Capt. Eric said. Some healthy-sized sea bass to 4 pounds were clocked, and cod, ling and some sizeable summer flounder were clubbed. The season’s first shark trip ran Sunday onboard, and two makos and two blue sharks were wrestled in. One mako 65 inches, about 120 pounds, was kept, and the 65-degree waters sometimes held bait and bluefish. Another shark trip is set to sail Tuesday. Sharks are here, and this is the time to go for them, and O-Beth specializes in sharks. Tuna turned on farther offshore toward the canyons in warm waters, and O-Beth is definitely up for the fishing.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Marshall Berkins and wife Heather popper-plugged four striped bass, missing five or six, and some blues on the back bay on a trip Sunday morning, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. So that was a great catch, and the anglers tossed Rapala Skitterpop lures. Popper fishing with lures and flies, drawing explosive, surface, visual attacks, is a specialty for Jersey Cape, and the fishing this season was good, on the right tides, or high tides in the mornings and evenings. The bay was 60 to 65 degrees, cooler than previously. Northwest winds dropped the temps from a high of 85. Stripers could also be clammed on trips on the bay, and Jersey Cape is also fishing for summer flounder on the bay. Flounder fishing was good, getting better and better, turning out more keepers than before. But some of the most exciting news was that offshore fishing for tuna turned red hot. Double digits of 60-pound yellowfin tuna were clobbered. Don’t wait! Joe said. Now is the time to go. If anglers were waiting for better tuna fishing, there is no better. Joe is available for the trips. Keep up on Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Villas</b>

Croakers and weakfish were reported beached at Cape May Point during the weekend, 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 Services</b>, sailing from Cape May, in an e-mail. One angler on the beach at North Wildwood reported banking bluefish on mackerel and kingfish on shedder crab. Summer flounder were lifted from the back bay on squid and minnows, and Gulps worked well. Flounder action was steady at Miah Maul on Delaware Bay, and a slow pick of drum was boated on the bay. Mako and blue sharks were tackled on the ocean, and bluefin tuna were busted at the Lobster Claw. Some yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi were in the mix.

<b>Cape May</b>

Three drum were heaved aboard so far on Delaware Bay, said Capt Bob from the <b>Down Deep</b>, when he gave this report over the phone on a charter Sunday evening. The trip, with the Edgewater Park group, was halfway finished, and Bob hoped more would be caught. A few trips fished for drum on the bay in the past week. The Andy Puskas trip boxed drum to 60 pounds. Young angler Dalton Bozer on a trip landed a sizeable drum all by himself, and the feat was covered in a story in the Atlantic City Press. The fish weighed 67 pounds, 24 hours after the catch, so had to weigh more than 70 pounds when first caught. Another trip was supposed to drum fish today, and a couple more of the trips are lined up for later this week. Drum charters will sail as long as the fish keep biting. Dates are available for charters for them and sea bass, summer flounder and tuna. Not a lot was heard about sea bass since the season for the fish opened two Saturdays ago, but  Bob heard about some hefty sea bass caught. Flounder seemed mostly still in the back bays, yet to snap as heavily as they will in Delaware Bay and the ocean, where the Down Deep fishes for them. Tuna fishing turned on pretty well at Wilmington Canyon, and the Down Deep is up for steaming for them. Summer trips are also being booked.

Four drum 30 to 60 pounds were in the box, Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> said, at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, when he gave this report over the phone on the trip on Delaware Bay. Time remained for the trip to fish, and drum fishing was lousy on a trip Thursday on the bay. A charter had wanted to drum fish Saturday, but George told them the fishing was so-so, after the trip Thursday, giving them the option to sail for sea bass instead. They weren’t interested, and decided to nix the trip. But fishing for sea bass and cod was good lately, and charters are sailing for them. Charters are also running for summer flounder and sharks. Shark anglers landed makos and blue sharks. One of the mates from the Heavy Hitter fished on another vessel on a trip that gaffed bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi at the canyons. If anglers want to sail the canyons, the Heavy Hitter will go, if the fish are still there. Dates are available for all these charters, and call if interested.

<b>Legal Limit Charters</b> wrapped up drum fishing for the season with a trip Saturday on Delaware Bay, Capt. T.J. said. Drum, no big numbers, but fish to 80 pounds, continued to be caught on the bay. The trip Saturday caught three drum 80, 77 and 75 pounds. The boat will now be moved to Tuckerton, where T.J.’s other boat was docked already, to fish through summer like every year. From Tuckerton, Legal Limit bottom fished for sea bass, ling and cod, and will begin to shark fish this weekend, and see the report above.

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