Note: This report was posted on a Tuesday instead of the usual Monday because of the holiday.

<b>Staten Island</b>

Lots of fluke were swung aboard with <b>Barbara Anne Fishing Charters</b>, so trips will keep concentrating on them, Capt. Anthony said. The summer flounder were shoveled up from along the channels and rocks. 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 fishing piled up 11 keepers to 20 inches from Reach Channel with Andy Hunton’s trip Saturday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. So that was a good catch, and plenty of shorts gave up action, and the anglers fished with Gulp New Penny Shrimp on bucktails and spearing on rigs. Amanda, Kevin, Bob, Andrew and Jack were also aboard. Space is available today through the weekend on open-boat trips for fluke daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call to reserve.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

A 10-1/2-pound fluke, the first big fluke of the season aboard, was pummeled on Monday morning’s trip on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. John Pavelchak, Garfield, caught the fish on a 3/8-once Spro jig. The fluke was thin, and that was too bad, because it probably would’ve weighed 12 pounds if thicker. Fluke fishing was okay on the past days’ trips, and, like usual, when conditions were good, or when winds and tides created the right drift, the fish, shorts and a few keepers, bit well. The drift was slow on the trip this morning when Tom gave this report a 9 o’clock on the phone, but anglers picked fluke on the boat. 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, Wednesday, 7/6:***</b> Fluking ended up slow on Tuesday morning’s trip, and conditions were tough, and there was no drift. Some fluke were caught, and lots were shorts, and not as many were keepers as Tom would like. But conditions were good, creating a good drift, on the afternoon trip, and the fishing turned around. Quite a few more fluke were boated. Some anglers bagged two or three keepers, and some landed no keepers, of course, but action was definitely better. The drift lasted all afternoon, and fluke were picked the whole trip. “Back to the same story,” Tom said, “if conditions are right, that definitely helps.”

The fluke trip Monday started with no drift, giving up only a pick of the fish, but once the drift picked up on outgoing tide, the fluking turned on, said Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> in a report on the vessel’s Web site. And fishing was like that the previous several days on the vessel. On Monday’s trip, the hot hand, Milton, in two hours landed seven sizeable keepers, a load of shorts and the 6-pound pool-winning fluke. John Frohle bagged five sizeable fluke and countless throwbacks. “Shrimpman, Ralph and the rest of the crews took advantage of the bite,” Ron said. 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, the morning trips are chartered this Saturday and Sunday.

<b>Highlands</b>

Fishing mostly at Terminal and Reach channels, 16 keeper fluke, and probably 45 or 50 throwbacks, were pulled aboard a trip Sunday with <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b>, Capt. Dave said. Gulps, spearing and squid were fished, and Gulps clocked quite a few of the keepers. Two bluefish were also landed, and a couple of lines got bitten off by blues. The anglers decided to return a bit early when winds kicked up. Charters and open-boat trips are sailing. 

An 11-pound fluke was crushed on Wednesday’s trip on the ocean with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, Capt. Derek said. The trip scored 27 keeper fluke, including the 11-pounder, and two limits. Four of the fluke topped 5 pounds. Trips aboard in the past week bucktailed fluke along the ocean rough bottom. Anglers averaged three to five keepers apiece, and some limits were commonly made. Dates are available for charters for fluke, sea bass and ling this month and in August. The next open-boat trips will be two that will run next week. Call to climb aboard or to be kept informed about the future open schedule.

<b>Belmar</b>

An angler and his son jumped aboard Friday for fluke fishing on the ocean with <b>Fish Stix Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Kris said in an e-mail. The fluking was lock and load on 17- to 17-3/4-inch shorts, just under the 18-inch size limit, and six good-sized keepers were landed. Some really big ones got off. Lots of fluke were there lately, and they were big. “Just gotta get em in the boat!” Kris wrote. Fluking now is hot. Another party climbed aboard Saturday to bucktail fluke on the ocean. There was no drift, tough for the fishing, but eight sizeable keepers were bagged. Lots of shorts were tossed back.  Plenty of open-boat dates are available, and charters are available seven days a week, targeting fluke and/or sea bass.

Ocean fluke fishing was very good, “so we’re sticking with it,” said Capt. Anthony from <b>Barbara Anne Fishing Charters</b>. Anglers on the boat mostly worked the ocean rocks to catch 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.

On the <b>Nan Sea J</b> anglers mostly fluke fished on the ocean, and catches were good, Capt. Tom said. Fluke to 6 pounds were boxed, and one trip sailed for sea bass, and the fishing was “pretty fair,” Tom said. A good number of sea bass were socked, and a bunch of ling were landed. A couple of keeper cod were swung in, and the cod showed up shallow, in 50 to 60 feet. One or two spaces opened up for the weekly, open-boat shark trips onboard that had been full. Tom previously said spaces could open up on the trips if anglers sometimes cancel, and one or two did recently. That could happen again, so don’t hesitate to call the boat if interested, in case more spaces open. The trips will probably mix in fishing for bluefin tuna at times. The trips are a rare opportunity to fish for either species without chartering the whole boat.

<b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b> mostly sailed for fluke and sea bass lately, but a trip fished for bluefin tuna, and a trip for sharks and bluefins was headed out Monday, after Capt. Jared gave this report in a phone call Sunday evening. On the last trip for fluke and sea bass, on Friday, the fishing was good a while in the morning. Each angler drilled four or five keeper fluke apiece, a great catch, throwing back shorts, and the group landed a load of keeper sea bass, tossing back an equal number of shorts. Another trip also bottom fished Saturday. Jared was asked whether sharks were still around, after he said the trip for sharks and bluefin tuna was going to sail Monday. Sharks will stick around all season, he said. Many anglers each year stop fishing for them after the shark tournaments, when the angling is popular. Sharks won’t swim everyplace afterward, but Jared knows where to find them throughout summer. Fin-Ominal won this year’s Brett T. Bailey Mako Rodeo, covered in a previous report, and also won the event several years ago. A trip aboard for bluefin tuna was awesome last week on Monday. One bluefin was kept, and about 20 were landed and released, all on jigs on light spinning rods. The weight of the tuna probably ranged from 50 to 200 pounds.  

<b>Brielle</b>

A day-trolling trip to Carteret Canyon bagged three yellowfin tuna to 40 pounds on the <b>Big Kid</b> Friday with anglers from Woodbridge Movers, Capt. Ken said. Plus the trip went 5 for 9 on white marlin released, and trolled a 200-pound mako shark. One of the whites weighed 80 pounds, a fish that Danielle on the trip fought. Marjorie on the trip subdued the mako. That was the first trip to sail after maintenance on the vessel during the previous days, and the boat is back in action. Offshore trips are fishing, and so are trips for bluefin tuna fishing that was good closer to shore. Charters are also running for sea bass fishing that was unbelievable and fluke fishing that was great.

Striped bass fishing on the ocean was hit or miss, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. “Like one day ‘yes,’ one day ‘no,’” he said. The fishing seemed to turn on in the late afternoons or evenings, and catches were heard about from off about Spring Lake to Long Branch. Nothing was heard about catches to the south on the ocean, but that could’ve been because customers tended to run north. Fluke fishing was good on the ocean from off about Long Branch to Sea Bright, and fishing for the summer flounder began to pick up at Sea Girt Reef and Axel Carlson Reef. Fluke fishing was good on Manasquan River, and fluke weighed in from the river included a 5.4-pounder and a 4.85-pounder. Hickory shad swam the river. Sea bass fishing began to improve on the ocean, and ling fishing was on the upswing on the ocean, too. A load of cod still schooled the ocean. Not many anglers seemed interested in shark fishing anymore this season. But a few shark anglers fished inshore, like on the offshore side of Sea Girt Reef, for threshers and even a few makos. Bluefin tuna were beaten at the Chicken Canyon, the Atlantic Princess wreck, the Triple Wrecks and the whole area. Most who fished for them looked for scallop boats to fish behind. The anglers either got scallop guts for bait from the boats, brought their own fresh clams to fish with, or jigged for the tuna. Trolling for the bluefins would be alright if bluefish wouldn’t jump on the spread. Yellowfin tuna traveled the canyons farther from shore. Some were small, even throwbacks, but some were large. Bigeye tuna were busted at the offshore canyons, and good fishing for white marlin was under way in the waters.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Fluke fishing was very good on the ocean with <b>Reel Class Charters</b>, Capt. Allen said. A trip Thursday creamed 33 keepers to an 8-1/2-pounder, and a trip Friday waxed 31 keepers to a 7-1/2-pounder. Each trip landed 150 to 200 fluke, counting throwbacks. Lots of fluke were around, and a few sea bass, not many, were mixed in the catches. The trips fished from Long Branch to Monmouth Beach in 30 to 60 feet with bucktails and bait. A shark trip was weathered out Sunday, and a cod trip is set for Thursday. Another fluke trip is scheduled for Friday, and a bluefish trip is on the books for Saturday. Reel Class will also sail for inshore tuna this season. Charters are sailing, and so are open-boat trips, including annual, open-boat Fluke Till You Puke Marathons. Check out info and dates for the open trips on <a href=" http://www.reelclassfishing.com/rates/open-boat-info" target="_blank">Reel Class’s open-boat page</a> online.

The first canyon trip of the season sailed with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>, a report on the boat’s Web site said on Saturday. Bill Pisarra booked the boat for himself, and the plan was to mix up the catch with as many species as possible. The trip began trolling at Hudson Canyon at first light, and small yellowfin tuna covered up the spread twice. The fishing went 7 for 10, including 2 keepers. The trip then tilefished, hauling in a half dozen to 10 pounds in two drifts. The boat was put back on the troll, and three mahi mahi were landed. The trip began sailing inshore to stop at the bluefin tuna grounds and a wreck for bottom fishing. When the boat arrived at the Chicken Canyon for bluefins, other vessels reported a tough bite. But Andrea’s Toy found the same scallop boat a trip onboard had fished at the day before. Fishing was slow, and lots of bluefish swarmed, but a bluefin was jigged. On the way home, ling and cod were pulled from a wreck. Six edible species were totaled for the day. On the day before, the year’s third open-boat, mixed-bag inshore trip sailed with Andrea’s Toy, and was successful, like the rest. The trips target fish like bluefins, sharks, cod and pollock , all in one outing. On this trip, whales and birds working the waters were found short of the intended destination, and the anglers tried jigging for bluefins, with no luck. The trip started trolling, and a bluefin, the anglers first-ever, was caught. The fish was an under, so the trip continued offshore, to try to bag an over. Andrea’s Toy began working the scallop boats, connecting with a spunky 42-inch bluefin that was released. Another scallop boat was found, and Andrea’s Toy was the first to fish behind the vessel, and the anglers went 5 for 8 on bluefins landed, and a 47-incher, an over, was kept. Friends were called in, and the waters became crowded, so the trip decided to go sharking offshore of the fleet. One run-off took off, but got off. The crew began chunking hard, and bluefins came under the boat. Two 45-inch bluefins were tagged, with Save a Bluefin Tags, and were released. Because tuna fishing had been great, the trip decided to fish for mahi mahi, finding a board floating, with mahi and triggerfish loaded underneath. Unfortunately only the triggers bit. Andrea’s Toy is concentrating on these unique canyon and inshore trips on charters and open-boat trips, and specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up, and more variety for dinner. If interested, call for info.

<b>Seaside Park</b>

Wreck-fishing for sea bass was good on the ocean with <b>Fishguts Inshore Charters</b>, Capt. Rob “Birch” Birchmeier said in a report on the boat’s Web site. Good numbers of ling and a few keeper cod were surprise bonuses on the trips. Anglers still had to “make the most out of their bites,” he said, to fill the cooler with sea bass, even if more than a few trips limited out on sea bass. “We are looking forward to the next big push of fish into the inshore grounds,” Birch said, and bait that draws them in started to arrive. The fishing often depended on good conditions, or the right winds, seas and currents, “that can allow us to move to the areas that are having the best bite,” Birch said. That changed day to day, and a spot where the fish bit two days ago might produce a few fish next time. On Thursday three anglers joined one of the wreck trips. The trip began with sloppy seas, and the anglers picked away at cod, ling and sea bass. Conditions improved, and the anglers “were able to haul a nice box by trip’s end,” Birch said. They totaled 50 keeper sea bass, 33 fat ling and four keeper cod. Plenty of big ling to 3 pounds showed up. On Friday three other anglers, who had enjoyed a catch of big striped bass to 36 pounds aboard three weeks ago, climbed on deck for wreck fishing. Conditions were poor, and the anglers had to work to catch in some winds and strong currents. But they grinded out 33 sea bass, 23 ling, four keeper cod and a 7-pound fluke, a big one, in the cooler. A jumbo 4 pound 20-inch out-of-season winter flounder was released. A 26-inch remora was also landed. An all-star cast of three experienced anglers fished on a wreck trip aboard Saturday. Conditions were nearly perfect, “and the fish were hungry,” Birch said. Small but keeper sea bass, and a few cod, turned out good action at first. But once currents sped up, big sea bass, mostly 1 ¾ pounds to 3 pounds, showed up. The three anglers limited out on large sea bass, boxing 10 ling, not a big showing of ling this time, three keeper cod and a keeper fluke to boot. Fishguts specializes in catching good numbers of quality sea bass close to shore in summer, but also in light-tackle angling for blues and fluke on Barnegat Bay. Or a combo of the ocean and bay fishing in one outing. Both charters and open-boat trips sail.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

“Fish! Fish! Fish! And lots of them,” a report said about bluefishing today on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> on the vessel’s Web site. “Still great fishing,” it said. Anglers limited out around the boat. On Monday’s trip, “it was like fishing in an aquarium,” the report said. “Awesome fishing.” Blues boiled around the boat. “This just doesn’t get any better,” it said. Limits were had around the boat again. Bluefishing was also super on both Saturday’s daytime trip and nighttime trip. The fish then weighed 5 to 14 pounds, and no sizes were mentioned for the other trips. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing at 8 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

For summer flounder anglers on the bay, “(it was) the usual lots of fish, lots of throwbacks,” a report said on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site. Usual spots like the clam stakes gave them up. But four flounder 19 to 22 inches were weighed in from the Brick Pile on the Tuckerton side of the bay, and a 23-1/2-incher was checked in from Big Sheepshead Creek. Flounder fishing began to improve on the ocean from 55 to 60 feet off Long Beach Island to Little Egg Reef. Sea bass fishing was picking up and was good at the reef. Not much was heard about bluefish, except one report about blues schooling off LBI in 20 to 30 feet. Fishing for sandsharks and brown sharks, catch-and-release angling, was phenomenal at Grassy Channel on the bay at night. Nothing but good news was heard, and lots of chum was sold.

<b>Margate</b>

Eleven yellowfin tuna were walloped at Spencer Canyon Saturday with <b>O-Beth Sporfishing Charters</b>, Capt. Eric said. What’s more, two white marlin and probably a 300-pound blue marlin were released! Good trip. All were trolled on ballyhoos, and the 75-degree waters, with no temperature breaks, were a beautiful blue. Bait, whales and porpoises, lots of life, was all around. O-Beth is finished shark fishing for the season, and will concentrate on tuna and bottom fishing for sea bass and summer flounder. A bottom-fishing trip fished at the ocean wrecks Friday aboard, toggling in good-sized sea bass and keeper flounder.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

One of the inshore sharking trips aboard sailed Sunday, catching and releasing 20 of the fish to 70 pounds, mostly duskies and one brown, phenomenal, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Action was fast and furious, including doubles and triples, for the anglers, John Martin, sons Will and Jake, and Dick Lackman. They fished with mackerel on spinning rods, and the trip was actually the first inshore sharking of the season onboard. Joe knew the fish were already out there. The trips, fishing less than 10 miles from shore, with both spinning rods and fly rods, in July and August, are an opportunity to pull on a big fish without the long trip offshore. On Saturday Brian Pyun and friends Paul and Stacy aboard had a great day on the back bay, Joe said. They landed 30 summer flounder and some sea bass and blues. None of the flounder were keepers, but there was action all day. On Friday evening Frank Gurling and buddies Pat and Dave had a blast on the bay, Joe said, catching a bunch of flounder, steady action, throughout the tide. Earlier on Friday, an offshore trip aboard at Lindenkohl Canyon bagged five yellowfin tuna, released additional yellowfins and jumped a white marlin. Anglers on the trip included John Martin, Jay Vonczoernig and others. Waters were 72 degrees and pretty much the same temp throughout the area, and canyons to the south held warmer waters, but the trip looked for coolers waters to target tuna. Offshore fishing remained good, and anglers should jump aboard while the bites are on. On Thursday Daryl Coonert and buddy John landed five striped bass on popper lures on the back bay in the evening on high tide, ideal conditions. On Wednesday evening Ed Suter and son Scott fly-rodded three stripers on the bay on Crease fly poppers on high tide. Popper fishing for stripers on the bay, a specialty for Jersey Cape, was super during the ideal conditions. The tides weren’t great this week, but will be ideal again next week.  Keep up on Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Inshore trolling began, was good, said Capt. Bob from <b>Down Deep</b>. That’s what Cape May boaters call the fishing for small blues and other fish that can be mixed in on the ocean on the troll, not far from shore. Plenty of the blues, some bonito and even some mahi mahi were trolled on the vessel. Offshore fishing for yellowfin tuna and other big game was also good. Dave Berger’s trip aboard gaffed yellowfins to 65 pounds and three mahi mahi, including a big one 32 ½ pounds 56 inches, and released three white marlin. Summer flounder were around, but anglers had to work through throwbacks. Sea bass were also around, but anglers had to pick through shorts. If anglers wanted to catch, inshore trolling was really best. Or offshore fishing was also going well. Dates remain for inshore trolling or offshore fishing.

With <b>Relentless Sport Fishing</b> six yellowfin tuna and two big blue sharks were landed Thursday, and four yellowfins and a sizeable mako shark were nailed Friday, Capt. Dave Bart said. The trips, fishing in clear, warm waters between Baltimore and Wilmington canyons, shark fished overnight. Then they trolled for the tuna, 35- to 40-pounders, in the mornings. Lots of marlin that were caught were heard about. Offshore fishing’s been good, and Relentless is also sailing for sea bass and summer flounder.

A trip on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> fished inshore for sharks Sunday, catching and releasing numerous big brown sharks, Capt. George said. Joe Loscalzo, Antoine, Natalie, John and Marion were aboard the outing. Small blues arrived that inshore trolling trips catch on the ocean, and mahi mahi were occasionally mixed in. A trip last week caught the blues and sea bass. A few summer flounder could be bagged on the ocean and Delaware Bay, culling through lots of throwbacks. Good fishing for them was heard about for a day now and then, but four or five slow days might also be heard about. Good fishing for yellowfin tuna offshore was apparently happening. Bluefin tuna could be boated closer to shore, and call George for info about a Bluefin Tuna Special offered on the boat. Dates are available for the inshore trolling, the Bluefin Special, bottom fishing, and offshore fishing for yellowfins, and call if interested.

Back to Top