<b>Keyport</b>

Anglers aboard began fluke fishing for the first time this season Sunday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, reeling in four sizeable, keeper fluke to 20 inches and plenty of shorts off Sandy Hook, covered in the last report. On the way out, the trip ran into cocktail blues near the Keansburg Pier, fighting some aboard as a bonus. That was the last trip out, and space is available on open-boat trips 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Papa’s Angels is fishing for fluke, striped bass, blues or a combo, and open trips run twice daily at those times when no charter is booked. Call to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fishing for fluke was better toward the end of Wednesday morning’s trip on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. The angling had been slower, and there was no drift, but some of the flatties had been caught. But most of the fluke on the trip, none too big, fish to 4 pounds, were angled up in the last hour. But the afternoon’s trip gave up good fishing for fluke on a good drift when winds came up. Most of the fish were shorts, like usual, but quite a few more keepers bit than on the morning’s trip. One angler landed five keepers, and his wife picked up one. Some decked two or three keepers or one, and some reeled in none. But everyone at least landed shorts. An angler won the pool with a 5-pounder, and the afternoon was enjoyable, Tom said. When the drift is better, the fluking is better, covering more ground. Tom was asked whether any bucktails, bait or rigs worked better. One angler on the morning trip scored a couple of keepers on a bucktail, but whether that meant bucktailing was better was difficult to say. On the afternoon trip, with the better fishing, most of the anglers, if not all, fished with bait. Some brought their own killies, but whether killies or the boat-provided spearing worked better was hard to say. Maybe some anglers felt the bites better. Still, Tom believes catching keepers was luck instead of skill. Would seem so, because everyone aboard was catching fluke. The spearing worked well. A plain rig, instead of a rig with dressings like skirts or props, with single or double spearing on the hook worked well. The lighter weight seemed to promote movement and more bites. Despite heat advisories, the weather was beautiful on the waters during the afternoon, in the breeze. Without the breeze, the afternoon would’ve been hot. The morning was warm on the waters in no winds. 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. Heads up: Searching for a Father’s Day present for dad or dad-in-law?  A gift certificate to the Atlantic Star can be terrific. Better than a shirt or tie! Tom says. <b>***Update, Sunday, 6/12:***</b> Fluking gave up lots of action on Saturday morning’s trip, but the keeper ratio was lower than had been, Tom said. Some anglers managed two keepers or one, but more anglers definitely scored no keepers than came up with keepers. On the afternoon trip, with a light crowd because of rough weather, the fishing turned around, for whatever reasons. Conditions were the same as during the morning, but a couple of anglers landed five keepers, and some reeled up two or three, and a few angled none.

Wasn’t much to report about striped bass fishing during the past days on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron said in an e-mail. Just a few stripers were angled each day, and the number of blues somewhat increased in the bay. “Covering way too many miles looking for a bite …” Ron said. So today will be the last day of striper fishing on the boat for the season, and the winner of the vessel’s season-long striper pool will be announced after the outing. Daily fluke trips will launch Friday, and Ron sounded like he looked forward to that. Starting Friday, the Fishermen will sail for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. <b>***Update, Thursday, 6/9:***</b> No trip sailed today, Ron said in an e-mail. “I guess between the hot weather predicted, and cold reports from the past week, the customers are going to wait for fluke fishing,” he said. Tommy Krako, Atlantic Highlands, won the season-long striper pool with a 31-pounder, caught last week on Tuesday on bunker. Ron congratulates him. Bobby Root, Scotch Plains, caught the biggest bass of the season aboard, a great 44-pounder, on the same day. When the fishing was on, it was great, “with not much to talk about in between this season,” Ron said. “Only had a couple days where the jig fishing helped out.” Striper trips will resume in fall. “For now, it’s fluke fishing every day 7:30 a.m.,” Ron said.

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/10:***</b> Large striped bass inhaled livelined bunker down the ocean beaches, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Sometimes the fish were beached from the surf on bunker but also plugs. Fluke fishing was good the last few days. Anglers who talked about the catches included a couple this morning who totaled 12 or 14 keepers on a trip, saying the fishing produced in the past days. Blues were around, and lots had stacked up at Flynn’s Knoll a moment in the past couple of days. Ling were boated at the Mudhole, and sea bass began to get bagged at the rocks and rough bottom. Cod were still caught, though dog sharks were a problem in the deep where cod swam. Trips could fish at night, like at the Farms, for cod, avoiding dogs. Crabbing seemed somewhat slower than last year at this time, but that probably just meant crabs were small. They’ll grow.

<b>Highlands</b>

Striped bass fishing was up and down in the past few days, but all the stripers around were sizeable, said Capt. Pete from the <b>Hyper Striper</b>. Not every trip limited out, but some did, and big blues became in the mix. Tommy Cronin onboard wrenched in a 34-pound striper. The Dewitt Electric charter on Wednesday evening waxed stripers to 35 pounds, keeping six, releasing more, while fishing with livelined bunker. Tom Guaze’s charter ran into a treat: big drum. After catching three stripers to 28 pounds while livelining, the trip found “a pod of drum sunning,” Pete said. The fish were difficult to get to bite small bunker chunks, but the trip stuck with the attempt, and eight of the boomers were whaled in two hours, and two stripers were mixed in. All the drum bottomed-out the 60-pound scale, and were estimated to be 75 pounds and larger. All big! 

A very good catch of striped bass was pummeled Wednesday with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, Capt. Derek said. No trip fished aboard Tuesday, but striper fishing was good in general on the boat. The fish to 40 pounds were hooked on livelined bunker “anywhere pretty much down the (ocean) beach,” he said. The next open-boat trip for stripers is full Saturday, but anglers can call Derek for the upcoming open schedule. Dates are still available for striper charters this month, and now was the time to go for trophy stripers on live bunker.

Striped bass kept getting caught, and some of the bigger bass were boated at the Shrewsbury Rocks on livelined bunker, but stripers also came from other areas, including Flynn’s Knoll and Romer Shoal off Sandy Hook Point, said Wayne from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>. The Hi-Mar Club’s Annual Charity Striper Tournament, benefiting Jason’s Dreams for Kids, will take place at Twin Lights on Saturday and Sunday, and the captain’s meeting is on Friday. Decent fluke catches were made, and a couple of 7- and 8-pounders were heard about. Patrick James weighed in an 8-pound 2-pounce fluke, probably rustled up from the ocean off the Sandy Hook nude beach. Fluking was good in Raritan Bay, but boaters from the marina kept sailing to the ocean for the flatfish for the cooler breeze in the heat spell. Bluefish swam everywhere. Crabbing seemed to put up small crabs this early in the season. One of the avid crabbers from the marina kept trapping small ones. A ton of live bunker is stocked, including because of the tournament. Fresh clams, killies and all the frozen baits are carried.

<b>Belmar</b>

A trip with <b>Fish Stix Sportfishing</b> was searching for striped bass on the ocean Wednesday evening when Capt. Kris gave this report over the phone on the outing. Trips knocked the heck out of numerous stripers to the 40-pound range until Wednesday on livelined bunker and pencil-popper lures. But the fishing became tough Wednesday. But lulls can happen, and did previously this season, and Fish Stix will keep striper fishing.

No striped bass were found today on a trip on the ocean, but a bunch of blues, small ones, were jigged, decent fishing, said Capt. Tom from the <b>Nan Sea J</b>. Another trip was searching for stripers on the ocean at 4 p.m. today when he gave this report over the phone on the boat. Charters are also sailing for fluke, sea bass and sharks, and fluking was off to a good start, and Tom was impressed. An open-boat trip for sharks, one of the weekly open trips for sharks that sail every Wednesday, is set to kick off the boat’s sharking for the season next week, and three spaces are available. The trips are a rare opportunity to shark fish without chartering the whole boat, and sharking is Tom’s favorite fishing.

Fishing was tougher on a trip for striped bass on the ocean last Thursday, said Capt. Jared from <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b>.  Three bluefish were landed, so the trip stayed late, and three or four stripers were managed. But stripers were slammed on a trip Saturday on the ocean on livelined bunker. The anglers kept eight stripers, releasing about 30. Bunker were easily caught for bait when the trip began, and swam everywhere. No stripers chased those menhaden, so the trip was motored to the north, and tons of stripers flooded the waters. Five or six striped bass, a few small bluefish, about a dozen keeper sea bass, and a couple of throwback fluke were landed Sunday on a trip with an executive and kids. On a half-day trip Monday, 35 or 40 keeper sea bass were boated at a wreck 5 or 6 miles from shore. The anglers tried striper fishing a short time afterward, but none popped up during the hour. Jared will try to fish for sharks on a fun trip Friday, and charters are booked on the boat Saturday and Sunday. Sharks were on the hunt, though the season was early, and a charter that a buddy ran landed six makos. A charter is booked Friday, June 24, for the Mako Fever tournament with Fin-Ominal. But space is available Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26, for charters for the Mako Fever and Mako Mania tournaments that will coincide. Jump aboard for a chance to win both. Fin-Ominal took first place in the Mako Rodeo several years ago with a 225-pounder.

Fluke fishing was excellent on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b> on the ocean, Capt. Chris said. “Very, very good,” and the fish weighed up to 8 ½ and 9 pounds. The boat’s been fishing for striped bass on Friday nights, and striper fishing was strong until slowing down Wednesday. But Chris will try to keep running the bass trips as long as the fish stick around. The Big Mohawk is fishing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and for striped bass 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays.

More than 14 striped bass topping 40 pounds apiece were hammered on Monday’s trip on  the ocean on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, and a 51-pounder was the pool-winner, and all the anglers limited out, Capt. Alan said. No stripers were found on Tuesday’s trip, and a dozen keepers were decked on Wednesday’s trip. Striper fishing will come to an end on the vessel in a week or so. Then bluefish will make up all catches on the trips. So go fishing for stripers on trips now, before it’s too late. The vessel’s past three nighttime bluefishing trips plowed great catches, and close to shore, a half-hour sail. The night trips just started to get out daily, had enough anglers. On Alan’s other vessel, the party boat <b>Tropical Adventure</b>, not all the twice daily fluke trips sailed, but more of them began to run. Lots of throwback fluke bit on the ocean trips, but some quality keepers started to appear. Thirty-some keepers were iced on one of the afternoon trips the other day. A few sea bass, not a lot, began to turn up in the catches. The Miss Belmar Princess is sailing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Bluefish trips are running 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily on the boat. The Tropical Adventure is fishing for fluke twice daily 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>***Update, Thursday, 6/9:***</b> An update to the below <b>Fish Monger</b> report: “All boxed up since 6:15, got five on right now! It’s getting silly!” Jerry said in a Facebook posting at 6:30 p.m. today.

Fishing for striped bass seemed to slow down on the ocean in the past day or two for <b>Fish Monger Charters</b>, according to Capt. Jerry’s Facebook postings. “Torture!” he wrote in a posting this morning. “The bite or the heat? omg,” another captain commented. “Both,” Jerry answered. But the fishing was an entirely different story previously. From an edited, e-mailed report, apparently about Monday’s fishing, from Jerry: “World class blitzes, with bass on top ripping thru bunker for mile! (sic) Truly a sight to see! All big fish from 30-40 lbs! Had Anchor Joe and the Monday crew aboard for their annual Liveline Trophy Striper Trip. Broke the inlet, and bunker was right outside. While making bait, Anchor Joe’s rod bent over, and to the net came our first of many nice stripers! Fished in the bunker while making bait, going 3 for 6. Took a jog to the south, and there was a small bunker pod getting worked. (Caught) three fish from there. A little farther, and then all hell broke loose! Fish crashin’, splashin’ and jumpin’ all over our bunkers. Today was again a day one would feel lucky to witness! All our baits were getting eaten, and multiple hook ups were the rule! We just kept blasting away at them! Guys actually had five on at once, and managed to land all five! Played c&r, and kept the ones that were hooked deep. I believe Doc was high hook with 10. Bite finally slowed as the fleet grew, but we already got the best of it! Also Seen BNR Boys Ray n Sean getting towed around in their kayaks by big bass! Got some good pics for ya fellas! By day’s end the guys landed 37 Stripers to 38 lbs! Keeping a legal limit  +  two bonus fish. It was a great birthday trip for Andy! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Guys were a blast as usual. Loads of laughs, great fishing, and good eats! … Another one to remember! Thanks again guys! (Next report): Had Eric in Pursuit, Tony Loves His Labs, Chuck, George, Ted and Wilson aboard for an afternoon bass trip. Plan was to look around some, where we crushed them on the a.m. trip, but it was not to be! Broke the inlet, and right outside were fish putting on a show, boiling on top, and ripping thru huge bunker schools! Every boat around was hooked up, and as soon as we stopped, we got our shot! Had five on pretty quick ... run offs, explosions, etc ... mayhem!  Wild sight again, truly just amazing to witness. The guys made quick work of a limit, and were in release mode for the rest of the day! Slugged away at them, with multiple fish the whole time! Had to break out the Monger silly hats! Bite finally slowed, when the boats just became absolutely ridiculous, but again we got the best of it! The guys landed over 40 stripers! Keeping a legal limit and releasin the rest. Been incredible fishing for the last week! Thanks again fellas!”

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Striped bass fishing slowed the last couple of days, but when that happens, trips can mix in bottom fishing for sea bass and cod, Capt. Fred from <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> said. Charters will keep striper fishing, and Andrea’s Toy’s unique, annual, inshore-mixed-bag trips for pelagics, hunting bluefin tuna, sharks, cod and pollock in one outing, will kick off during the weekend of June 18. Fred wasn’t asked whether both open-boat trips and charters will be offered for the fishing, but they usually are. Unlike other boats, Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up, and more variety for dinner. When striper fishing drops off, trips close to shore will sail for fluke and sea bass. On Monday a striper charter was mayhem. Within 2 minutes of arriving at the fishing grounds, the anglers were hooked up with four or five bass. They ended up landing 30 on livelined bunker, keeping their limit, releasing the rest. On Tuesday the boat’s first bottom-fishing trip of the season sailed, and the angling was slow, but a dozen keeper sea bass and some cod were plucked, and out-of-season tog were released. On Wednesday a charter tried striper fishing, but the fishing had turned tough. The trip sailed as far south as Island Beach State Park, and as far north as Spring Lake, going 1 for 3 on stripers, catching a few blues.

Ocean fluke fishing served up catches pretty steadily on the party boat <b>Norma K III</b>, Capt. Matt said. Lots of shorts chomped every day, and a few keepers came up on every drift. Some bigger fluke bit last week, but more keepers showed up this week. Fluke 3 to 5 pounds were pool-winning fish. White and green bucktails or jigs, like Spros, worked best. But anglers caught on spearing and squid on rigs. On nighttime bluefishing trips, excellent catches were drilled. Blues 5 to 10 pounds were hooked on butterfish or bunker. But a few customers even caught on jigs the other night. The Norma K III is fluke fishing twice daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is bluefishing daily 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

On the party boat <b>Gambler</b>, fluke fishing on the ocean gave up very good action, lots of throwbacks, but a fair number of keepers, Capt. Bob said. Anglers probably landed 10 or 15 throwbacks for every keeper. But keepers were caught. Donna Brown, Scranton, pulled in three keepers, to 4 pounds, Bob thought, on Wednesday morning’s trip. Two different father and son teams totaled six keepers each. Pool-winning fluke usually weighed 4 to 5 pounds. Not many sea bass showed up yet, but lots of fish did, including sundials, sandsharks, sometimes dog sharks, and, when the drift was slow, a few skates. Lots of action, and that could be good for taking kids 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. Bluefish trips will begin to sail during the same hours and days on Saturday, July 1. Wreck-fishing trips for cod and ling are sailing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sundays and Mondays.

Anglers aboard bucketed a few sea bass, and sea bassing was mostly yet to start, but trips were able to nab a few, and fall back on ling and cod, so patrons could put a catch together, said Capt. Butch from the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>. An angler could box 15 fish between the three species. Ling fishing wasn’t good, but produced some, and some cod remained in the waters. Trips could try for cod to about 120 feet, and dog sharks were too pesky beyond there. The water surface at the fishing grounds was 57 to 60 degrees, sometimes 62. But the bottom was cold, and sea bassing will only get active when the bottom temps rise. Butch spoke to divers who said they came up blue from the cold in 70 feet. The bottom there was in the mid to high 30s. The Dauntless is sailing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Carl LaManna, owner of <b>Canyon River Club Marina</b>, ran a trip for striped bass on his C-Annamal from 5 to 8 a.m. Wednesday on the ocean, he said. One 35-pound striped bass was caught on a livelined bunker. On the trip, he took staff from his new restaurant, 709 Point Beach in Point Pleasant Beach, that opened on Memorial Day weekend. The opening was overwhelming so far, and there was a two-hour wait for dinner Saturday. Check out spectacular lunches, including a raw bar. Oyster and clam specials are available every day, like 50-cent clams at the raw bar. Happy Hour is 4 to 6 p.m. every day. Trying to escape the heat? Enjoy the 32-degree, chilled beer taps. Back at the marina, striped bass fishing might’ve slowed on the ocean a moment, but one of the charter boats from the docks sailed for the fish every day, usually crushing them. Another one of the boats steamed for stripers and fluke. Jersey Hooker Charters, docked at the marina, clobbered a 53-pound striped bass, a boat record, a 42-pounder and a slough of big bass Friday on the ocean. Fishing on the vessel was slow on a trip Wednesday on the ocean, and one 30-pound striper and a few blues were managed, and sea bass fishing was tough. See the report below. 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 slip, and discounted diesel delivered to the vessels.  Like the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/709-Point-Beach/163256227044063" target="_blank">709 Point Beach Facebook page</a> to keep up with the restaurant.

<b>Bricktown</b>

Fishing for striped bass was slow on a trip Wednesday on the ocean, 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. Only one 30-pound striper and a couple of blues were eased in, and the trip went bottom fishing, but that was also slow. Only one keeper sea bass jumped on a hook in lots of drops. Ocean temperatures fluctuated five degrees day to day, an unusual difference. Fluke fishing dished up results that were up and down, and the best fluking heard about came for kayakers on Manasquan River off the riverfront park. Gulp rootbeer-colored 4-inch mullets worked dynamite on the fluke. Racer blues swam the river near the Point Pleasant Canal. Crabs were picked at Windward Beach, and good catches were claimed by boaters at Beaver Dam Creek. Surf fishing knuckled up resident striped bass on clams at the favorite holes like at Mantoloking and Bay Head. They kept being picked.  Shark catches were heard about from 30 to 50 fathoms, and yellowfin tuna catches were reported from anywhere from Hudson Canyon to Wilmington Canyon. The tuna were smaller, 30 pounds to 50 pounds max, but plentiful. Don’t miss the shop’s <b><i>***Shark Special.***</i></b>: Get three 5-gallon buckets of bunker chum, one flat of frozen mackerel and six blocks of ice for only $109.99. Order and pay before June 15, and the price is $99.99. The shop offers deliveries for shark tournaments, and orders more than $500 get free delivery the night before, from South Amboy to Long Beach Island. Tournament deliveries must be placed one week prior to the tournament. The shop is offering fresh whole mackerel and bluefish by the pound at market price for sharking.

<b>Toms River</b>

Catches of striped bass had kept getting lambasted on the ocean until a couple of days ago, said Lou from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Then the bass and bunker they chased disappeared. A couple of thresher sharks were seen in the bunker schools. Short fluke and a few keepers scurried along the bottom on the ocean off Barnegat Inlet and Barnegat Bay at the BI and BB markers and Oyster Creek Channel and Double Creek Channel. The bay’s population of small blues somewhat dropped off. Nothing was heard about weakfish, and crabbing improved a bit.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Lots of fluke were crunched at Manasquan Inlet Wednesday, said Scott from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. A bunch were boated on the ocean off the Seaside Heights Casino Pier. Not many fluke came from Barnegat Bay near the shop so far this season. Cocktail blues schooled along the shop’s docks and nearby. Striped bass fishing slowed down in the past days, but a mess of stripers were ransacked from the surf Monday night at the Casino Pier on swimming plugs. Crabbing was slow, yet to take off this season. . Fresh clams, fresh bunker, eels and the complete line of baits is stocked. Killies will probably be carried starting this weekend. Catch Wacky Wednesdays, featuring clams for $2.75 per dozen. The Dock’s rental boats and jet skis became available for the season this past Memorial Day weekend.

<b>Seaside Park</b>

The ocean wrecks gave up fair numbers of good-sized sea bass, but anglers had to put in the time, and outstanding catches are expected when water temps rise a few degrees, and more bait moves in, Capt. Rob “Birch” Birchmeier from <b>Fishguts Inshore Charters</b> said in a report on the boat’s Web site. Barnegat Bay’s bluefish seemed to swim everywhere one day and become difficult to find the next. The bay’s fluke fishing was very slow, but should pick up shortly. On Sunday Joe from Mai Tai Tackle and his young daughter jumped aboard for a short bay trip for blues. The fishing was slow, but the anglers managed a few in the hour. On Monday two regular customers hit the wrecks. Plenty of short sea bass served up good action, but the anglers had to earn keepers. But the keepers were a solid 2 pounds on average, “real nice,” Rob said. Thirty-two of the legal-sized fish – a respectable catch, with many reports about slow sea bassing – and a fat ling were iced. Three short cod and a few out-of-season blackfish were let go. Plus the anglers scored a bonus. Rich got a call from Fish Monger Charters about wide-open striped bass fishing nearby. The anglers limited out on stripers 24 to 35 pounds on a short stop, making “a good day a great day,” Rob said. On Tuesday a father and son team looked for blues to light-tackle on the bay on a trip. The fishing was spotty, but they boxed a dozen blues to 20 inches, releasing eight more, seeing twice as many strikes. As soon as a pile of the blues would be found, and some would be caught, the fishing would slow. “As soon as we thought it would be a slam fest,” Rob said, “we would lose them … but the anglers made it a great morning.” Wreck fishing on a trip Wednesday was painfully slow, Rob said in a phone call afterward. So the trip gave up on the fishing, and located a school of blues 10 to 15 pounds on the ocean, and the anglers pancaked them, all they wanted. A few dates are available for trips June 19 to 25. Space is available on 9-plus-hour open-boat wreck trips June 20 and 27. Just about everything is provided, including ice for the cooler for the drive home. Fishguts specializes in fishing for good numbers of quality sea bass, and also light-tackle bay trips for blues and fluke, at this time of year. 

<b>Forked River</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/10:***</b> Striped bass were trolled in the ocean in 40 to 55 feet at places like off the Coast Guard Station and the Island Beach State Park bathing beach, said Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>.  Bunker spoons, Stretch 30 plugs and umbrella rigs caught. The bass were jigged with Ava’s or diamond jigs in 30 or 35 feet. Of course, the stripers were hooked on livelined bunker snagged for bait. Thresher sharks had begun to be reported chasing bunker close to the beaches last week, but not so much this week. Lots of short fluke gathered in Barnegat Bay, including at the BI, BB and 40, Double Creek Channel, and High Bar Harbor. Anglers really had to fish to grab keepers. Bluefish schooled the bay, jumping on trolled Ponytails, cast metal or nearly anything. Nothing was heard about weakfish recently, but a 5-pounder was weighed in last week. Jana and Dane from the shop tried fishing for blowfish on the bay on a couple of trips, but none of the puffers showed up, though a few did earlier in the season. Crabs were caught in commercial pots in the middle of the bay, but not much yet in the shallows along the docks and in the lagoons. Jana’s grandfather picked up about a dozen keepers each time he checked his commercial pot in the middle of the bay. But she tried crabbing at Berkeley Island Park, catching none.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Super bluefishing was crushed on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> on the ocean Wednesday, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. The trip quit a bit early, because the anglers caught so many of the 8- to 12-pounders. “Plenty, plenty, plenty” of fish, the same size, bit on Monday’s and Tuesday’s trips. “Limits still being had around the boat,” the report said. Most of the blues were caught on bait, but some were jigged. “Free ice for your fresh-caught fish onboard,” the report said. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing 8 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays.

<b>Barnegat</b>

The following report was posted here Tuesday, but is being re-posted for readers who didn’t see. From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b> on Tuesday: “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>Surf City</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/10:***</b> A few striped bass, some as large as 30 and 40 pounds, were beached from the surf, said Bob from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Fresh bunker attracted hits, and fresh bunker and fresh clams are stocked. Fluke were angled in the surf, and nothing was heard about bluefish in the waters. In Barnegat Bay, fluking was about the same as usual. The fishing wasn’t red hot, but the flatties were caught, and lots were shorts.

<b>Tuckerton</b>

Quite a few sea bass and a bunch of ling were plundered on bottom-fishing trips on the ocean with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. All trips sailed for that fishing through the past week, but Legal Limit is also summer flounder fishing, and the season’s first shark trips are slated for the weekend on the boat, if the weather holds up. Forecasts were questionable.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Boaters knocked down big striped bass on the ocean, but the fishing was a hunt, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The stripers were never in the same place from trip to trip, and boaters traveled to search for them, putting in the miles. A 38.1-pounder was the biggest weighed in Wednesday. Lou Berardi and Bob Conrad from the Reel Crazy checked in the fish, one of four, the smallest weighing 26.1 pounds, they boated off Long Beach Island on bunker they snagged and livelined. They put in the time and effort, and the day was ideal for the fishing. Winds were light, so bunker could be seen in the waters, and spotting the bunker is key. Snagging hooks, to snag the bunker to liveline for bait, were a hot selling item. Anglers snag a bunker and drop the baitfish right back down on the hook to catch the stripers. Summer flounder fishing on Great Bay was a little better than last year. Anglers this year would catch 1 to 4 keepers among 8 to 10 flounder hooked. The ratio of keepers was better than last year, but many anglers were yet to bag their first keeper of the season. A 6.4-pound 25-inch flounder was the biggest weighed in Wednesday, and was taken off the Coast Guard Station. But the bay at the stakes on the Mystic Island side of the Fish Factory produced the most flounder. An occasional school of bluefish appeared in the bay, and the sizes of the fish varied from ½ pound to 6 pounds, and that was unusual. Usually the blues are a consistent size. The season was early by a couple of weeks for brown sharks to appear in Great Bay, but sandsharks could be caught. Brown sharks, fish that must be released by law, move into the bay in summer, and anglers fight them at night, like dusk till 10:30 p.m., for a chance to pull in a big fish without steaming offshore. The shop carries a bay shark rig for the fishing, and knows details about the catching. Nothing was heard about weakfish, and nobody mentioned white perch fishing. Wreck fishing was slow, because sea bass were spawning. Out-of-season tog bit well at the wrecks, and were released. Crabbing was coming around, was on the upswing, worth doing. Fresh, shucked clams, minnows, bloodworms and live grass shrimp are stocked.

<b>Absecon</b>

Striped bass anglers kept talking about catching on the ocean off Long Beach Island, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Lots of stripers were weighed in from there in the last two days. So Dave made a run to the waters at 4:30 a.m. today, finding none of the bass, seeing none hooked. But he’s sure the stripers are around, and when they aren’t feeding, they aren’t feeding, and this morning was the wrong time by chance. Closer to the shop, good catches of striped bass were socked along the sod banks and the Brigantine Bridge at the tops of the tides. Live spots were the bait during daytime, and eels were the choice at night. Summer flounder fishing in the bay was excellent on the whole, Dave said he’d have to say. A few limits were actually creamed this weekend. Nothing much was heard about small bluefish that can swim the bay this time of year. Fishing for bigger blues turned on during the weekend on the ocean south of A.C. Ridge. Anglers in a bluefish tournament flocked there. Dave was busy raising soft shell crabs the shop grows this month, and the crabs just finished the first shed. The supply of soft shells for eating is toward the end for now, and a few shedder crabs for bait are on hand. Live spots and fresh bunker are stocked, though many anglers will snag their own bunker for striper bait. The minnows currently stocked aren’t big, but minnows are carried.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Big striped bass were weighed in that were boated on the ocean off Long Beach Island, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. A bunch of the fish to 45 and 47 pounds were checked in, and anglers simply motored to waters off the island, snagging bunker to liveline for bait for the bass. Schools of bunker swam the ocean off the local area, but no stripers chased them. Anglers waited to see if the bass would show up. Plenty of kingfish were banked from the surf on bloodworms, and waters were cold to use FishBites artificial worms. Find the pocket of kings, and keep casting to the hole. The ratio of keeper summer flounder was better than last year in the back bay. Anglers will go through 20 or 25 shorts, bagging two or three keepers. Catch the annual Team America Tackle sale at the shop Saturday. The sale is buy one, get one free, and a rep from the company stops by, doling out the freebies at a table out front. The entire line of the tackle is stocked at the shop, including all kinds of rigs, bucktails and terminal tackle. The sale moved tons of merchandise last year, and this is the time to load up on tackle for the season. The shop will participate in the annual Hooked on Fishing Tournament for kids August 20. Events will include a free rod and reel combo for the first 100 kids like each year.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 6/10:***</b> Kingfish, summer flounder, blues and occasional striped bass were banked from the surf, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Waters were definitely fishy, and angling went well. Kingfish were the main catch, and anglers fished for them with bloodworms. Minnows, spearing and squid copped the flounder, and cut baits caught the blues. Lots of bait filled the waters. Spearing were abundant, and waves of bunker and herring mixed together rolled through. Anglers snagged the bunker or jigged the herring with Sabiki rigs, and both baits worked well to coax a striped bass catch. Fresh bunker and fresh clams also landed stripers. All the baits mentioned and more are fully stocked.

<b>Margate</b>

<b>O-Beth Sportfishing Charters</b> totaled six mako sharks landed in the year’s first two trips for sharks in the past week, so sharking was off to a good start, Capt. Eric said. The first trip was covered in the previous report, and the second steamed Tuesday, going 2 for 4 on makos, catching one blue shark. The biggest mako was probably 120 pounds, and the anglers chose to release all the fish. Waters were 67 degrees and blue, holding bait and bluefish. Sharks gave up a steady pick throughout the outing, and a few bites were missed. Bluefish were the bait, and the trip fished in 20 fathoms. But sharks stretched anywhere from 20 to 30 fathoms, even 40 fathoms. They were everywhere now. The previous trip fished in 30 fathoms. Reports were heard about great tuna fishing for yellowfins and bluefins. Offshore fishing was off to a terrific beginning, and O-Beth is also open for tuna fishing. Charters are also bottom fishing for sea bass, and will begin to fish for summer flounder when the flatties move to the ocean from the bays. 

Catches came in during each of the twice-daily summer flounder trips on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, and the fishing improved every day, Capt. John said. The angling was about the same as last year, and keepers weren’t bailed, and lots of shorts chewed. But some sizeable flounder 3 to 5 pounds were whacked. A few blues were hooked on the boat during the week. All the anglers left happy from the trips, John said. Mackerel and Gulps hung most of the flounder, and minnows were difficult to obtain, but minnows worked when the baitfish could be provided onboard. The weather was gorgeous. The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder twice daily 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Summer flounder fishing definitely picked up on the back bay during the weekend, said Ryan from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. He fished for them, saw for himself, and lots more of the flatties, many shorts, and a few more keepers than before showed up. The bay’s striped bass fishing wasn’t great but produced, if anglers wanted to popper-plug for them during evenings or throw plastics like shads around the bridges at night. A few 1- to 3-pound blues ran the bay, giving up a couple by chance while anglers tried for other fish, or sometimes busting the surface in small blitzes with a few birds working the bait. Bunker pods sometimes turned up close to shore on the ocean, and boaters sometimes snagged them, dropping the baitfish back in the waters to liveline, catching sizeable stripers on the menhaden on occasion. Sometimes surf anglers beat stripers, getting lucky. Kingfishing was okay in the surf, and good-sized ones were in the mix. Anglers dunked bloodworms for them, but the surf reached 70 degrees, Ryan believed, so should be warm enough for FishBites artificial worms to work. Ocean wreck fishing began to amp up, with sea bass starting to bite, and a few cod still around, and flounder beginning to move to the pieces from the bays. Offshore fishing was excellent. Mako shark fishing gave up great catches in waters past 28-Mile Wreck, and lots of big thresher sharks were around. Bluefin tuna were battled at places like the Elephant Trunk on trolled ballyhoos. Yellowfin tuna were caught at spots including Wilmington, Lindenkohl and Hudson canyons. Billfish were abundant at the canyons, and one customer landed three white marlin.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Popper fishing for striped bass was good on the bay, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. His trips fish for them with Rapala Skitterpop lures and modified Crease flies he ties that throw more waters. Joe push-poles his flats boat in the shallows during the outings, ideally on high tides in the evenings or mornings, when the fish bite the most. A few blues jumped on the poppers. The bay’s summer flounder fishing was good on trips, and steadily improving. Yellowfin tuna fishing was great at Wilmington and Spencer canyons, and Joe is eager to sail for the fish, and offers the trips. Joe every year in reports encourages anglers to take advantage of tuna in the early season, because the fishing’s been best then in recent years. This year’s early season tuna angling has turned out even better than expected. The fishing could be good later this year, the traditional time to go, but is on now. Go now if you want tuna. Keep up on Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

Wreck fishing on the ocean shoveled up ace catches, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. One trip with four anglers filled a cooler with cod, and slugged a  couple of dozen jumbo sea bass and a bunch of big ling. Bluefish to 8 and 10 pounds were beaten probably 15 to 30 miles from shore. Trips were heard about that trolled them 30 miles off on Stretch 25 lures, sometimes on Ponytails. But the fish should also swim closer. Moving inshore, not a lot happened in the surf, but occasional kingfish were beached. Bloodworms are a common bait for kings, but weren’t the best quality this season. So anglers often used FishBites artificial worms. On the back bay, summer flounder fishing definitely picked up in the past 1 ½ weeks, was pretty good. Minnows, bucktails and Gulps worked well. Striped bass fishing on the bay was good, and moved into summertime mode. Stripers were popper plugged along the sod banks at dusk, and they were really slammed at night on small lures or plastics like Fin-S Fish or Bass Assassins, especially at the top of the tides and beginning of outgoing. Not many blues were around in the bay, but a few were hooked. Crabbing was okay, and a commercial crabber said the catches picked up quite a bit, and recreational crabbers scored somewhat better than before. Crabbing was probably about to break wide open. Back offshore, mako shark catches were heard about, and one trip fought four makos to 125 pounds. Everyone shark fished at the Cigar for pretty good catches. Some crack catches of tuna were heard about. One trip smacked 15 tuna to 60 pounds on deck, and another punched nine. Many of the tuna that boaters caught were trolled on ballyhoos on Ilanders. When anglers found the warm waters, they hammered tuna. Ballyhoos will begin to be stocked this week, and the supply of flats of baits for offshore will be amped up. All the baits available for flounder, stripers and everything biting is on hand. Take advantage: The shop will participate in the weekend’s annual Fish Alley Festival, and hold a free raffle for a Shimano Sojourn rod and Sedona reel combo. The raffle will begin Friday evening, and the combo will be raffled Saturday night. Just stop by and sign up.

<b>Villas</b>

Beach anglers banked croakers, kingfish and weakfish at Cape May Point, fishing with bloodworms, shedder crabs or clam strips for all three, said Mike from <b>Budd’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Kingfish were heard about that were beached from there to North Wildwood, the farthest north the shop typically hears about. Summer flounder fishing seemed hit or miss. A load of flounder carpeted the bottom around Miah Maul in Delaware Bay. Flounder there gave up steady action all day, and trips returned with two or three keepers. Flounder, again lots of shorts, filled the back bay. Flounder and sea bass were pulled from Cape May Reef and Wildwood Reef. Very few drum bit in Delaware Bay. Anglers kept calling about drum fishing on the <b>Ho-D-Doe</b>, from <b>Budd’s Tackle Charter Service</b>, sailing from Cape May. “But drum fishing is slow,” Mike said. The vessel had been targeting drum, and trips next will concentrate on bottom fishing for flounder, sea bass and croakers. A fun trip with friends or family sailed for sharks Wednesday on the vessel, and results were yet to be reported. A few makos and blue sharks were reported caught from Cape May so far. Bluefin tuna were fought at the Lobster Claw, and yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi were caught at Wilmington Canyon. The shop’s blueclaw crabs for eating will be stocked for the weekend, but crabbing was slow, so call to reserve. Steamer clams for eating will be on hand.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Decent sea bass fishing was shellacked on the party boat <b>Adventurer</b> on the ocean, Capt. Gary said. Lots of sizeable, out-of-season tog were let go. Trips will keep sea bass fishing until summer flounder start to bite more. When the ocean on the fishing grounds reaches 69 degrees, usually by mid June, trips usually begin trying a few drifts for flounder. When the drifts turn up enough, trips begin fishing for the flatties. Nighttime bluefish trips on Saturdays will probably begin on June 18. Small blues swam the back waters, but few were seen yet in the ocean close to shore where trips fish. The Adventurer is sailing 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, but call to confirm this time of year.

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing somewhat picked up, and more throwbacks than before swam the waters, and while six flounder were landed per trip earlier in the season, 20 per trip including a couple of keepers were tugged in now, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. Throwbacks were considerably more numerous than keepers, but the number of keepers increased. Mike on a trip Saturday reeled in three keepers and a bunch of shorts. He also released a 25-inch striped bass that grabbed his bucktail meant for flounder. Minnows worked well for the bay’s flounder, and so did bucktails, and Gulps scored okay. A few bluefish, nothing crazy like in some years, were boated on the bay. Nothing was heard about weakfish. A couple of stingrays, not skates, were landed. Mike picked up one, and a buddy hooked another. Crabbing was a little slow, but some began to be trapped for the first time this season. Stripers sometimes continued to be beached from the surf, like at 8th Street. Canal Side rents canopy boats and kayaks for fishing, crabbing and sightseeing. Baits stocked include minnows and frozen squid strips, whole squid, spearing, mackerel fillets, mullet, clam strips and packaged clams. Live crabs for eating will probably begin to be carried in a week for the season.

<b>Cape May</b>

Keeper sea bass were difficult to find, and trips will keep wreck fishing for them through Sunday on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, but will switch to fluke fishing daily starting Monday, Capt. Paul said. Plenty of anglers joined the trips, and lots of throwback sea bass gave up action. But this spring wasn’t good for catching keeper sea bass. Some springs are like that, and the waters weren’t cold, but some phenomenon like the weather kept the fish from moving in. Mother Nature can throw a curve ball, Paul said. Sea bass could pile onto the wrecks in fall, but the season for the fish will be closed in fall this year. Even wrecks that Paul knew, but others didn’t know about, held few sea bass. The wrecks that were known were cleaned out. Catching a few fluke or summer flounder is easier than catching a few sea bass, if the sea bassing is slow. Then trips have to try one wreck, pick up and move to the next, and so on. The switch will happen a little earlier than expected this year, but the boat always switches to flounder after sea bassing, sometimes by early June. The Porgy IV is sailing for a full day at 8 a.m. daily.

Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> last fished for drum on Delaware Bay on Sunday on trip that boxed four, he said. Trips on the boat will next fish for sea bass and cod at the wrecks, summer flounder, sharks and tuna. Sea bass and cod fishing was good, and nothing was heard about flounder. Mako sharks were caught, and tuna fishing went well. One of the mates on the boat fished for tuna on another vessel Sunday, nailing good fishing for yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna and mahi mahi. Dates are available for all this fishing, and call if interested.

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