<b>Sandy Hook</b>

Tuna were jigged, chunked and trolled on the <b>Hyper Striper</b> from the Highlands, Capt. Pete said in an e-mail. The Delaconte charter aboard this week pumped in a great catch of bluefin tuna to 120 pounds.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

Bigger bluefin tuna moved into midshore waters, and fishing for them was good, said Capt. Fred from <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> from Point Pleasant Beach. A day trip onboard had planned to troll farther offshore at Hudson Canyon Sunday. But too much life popped up short of the canyon, so the trip started chunking and jigging. The anglers locked up. Two bluefin tuna began to be battled, and the anglers took turns fighting them. After 1 ½ hours, a 58-incher was bagged, and a 57-incher was released. The anglers “finished the day (landing mahi mahi) with sore arms,” the report said.  Open-boat, midshore, mixed-bag trips are sailing for the bluefins, mahi mahi, sharks, cod and pollock, all in one outing. Open, mixed-bag trips to the offshore canyons are sailing for yellowfin tuna, mahi, sharks, billfish and tilefish, in one outing. Call for info about the unique mixed-bag trips. Andrea’s Toy might be the only who does this type of fishing, and specializes in mixed-bag trips for greater fun, more chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner.

Bluefin tuna fishing became more difficult on the inshore ocean than before, because scallop boats stopped fishing, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle. Previously anglers whaled lots of bluefins that the scallop boats attracted. Bluefin fishing was by no means finished, and the fish typically stick around a long time yet. But the catches will take more work now. Not many boaters sailed farther offshore to Hudson Canyon, but those who did, caught. Yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, sizeable mahi mahi, and good catches of white marlin were trolled at the Hudson.

<b>Little Egg Inlet</b>

A shark trip Saturday released one mako with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b> from Tuckerton, Capt. T.J. said. A charter on the boat Friday tried for bluefin tuna on the inshore ocean, with no luck. So, fishing was slow on the trips. He heard about yellowfin tuna caught offshore, but the fish-holding waters “pushed off now,” he said.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Yellowfin tuna and white marlin were leadered at Wilmington and Spencer canyons, said Joe from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

Dusky sharks, 25 of the fish to 60 or 70 pounds, were bailed and released Saturday on one of the inshore sharking trips aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>, from Sea Isle City. The fishing was epic, and included double-headers, and 15 of the fish were fly-rodded, and the other 10 were spin-rodded. Forty of the sharks probably could’ve been landed, but the action was too much, so one rod was fished most of the trip. Good problem to have. The fly-rodded fish grabbed an orange chum fly that Joe ties, and seemed to prefer the fly in the color. The fishing is a rare opportunity to pull on big fish, bigger than most anglers ever landed, close to shore, within 10 miles. Everyone who’s tried the angling aboard has thought it’s unbelievable, Joe said. In offshore waters, tuna bit, and the fishing somewhat slowed, and trips had to be more selective about location, but catches were made. Marlin fishing went well on the offshore grounds, and Jersey Cape is fishing offshore.

A few bluefin tuna were heard about that were landed at the Hot Dog and the Hambone, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City. Farther from shore, canyon tuna fishing seemed slower than before. But anglers kept saying billfishing was good at the canyons. Inshore sharking on the ocean was phenomenal for browns, duskies, blacktips and occasional hammerheads. A couple of rumors circulated about fish like bonito on the ocean close to shore, but nothing substantial was heard. Quite a few mahi mahi were boated at 28-Mile Wreck and the Cigar.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Four yellowfin tuna were trolled on a day trip to the canyons with <b>Relentless Sport Fishing</b> from Cape May, Capt. Dave Bart said.

Tom Johannsen on a charter aboard landed a 45-pound sailfish, the first-ever on the boat, at Wilmington Canyon, on a tuna trip, Capt. Bob from the <b>Down Deep</b> from Cape May said. Inshore trolling was great on the vessel. Lots of small bluefish bit, and so did lots of bonito. Jim Gillespie on one of the inshore trolling trips landed a 45-pound cobia. That was also the first-ever cobia on the vessel.

At least 60 bonito were bombed on one of the inshore trolling trips Tuesday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May, Capt. George said. Three and four were fought at a time, and George heard about other boats trolling bonito lately, but not nearly as many. Probably 40 small bluefish, a mainstay on the trips, were trolled on the charter. Fish like mahi mahi and Spanish mackerel can also be mixed in on the outings. On Wednesday aboard, probably 15 bonito and a load of the blues, more than on the previous trip, were trolled on a charter. The trip also reeled in lots of triggerfish. The charter had stopped at a spot to catch and release brown sharks, and landed a couple. But triggers swarmed all over, so the anglers took advantage. The Heavy Hitter is also sailing on the shark trips close to shore, like at 5-Fathom Bank, an opportunity to fight big fish without sailing far. A tuna charter is supposed sail offshore Saturday on the boat. Yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna and mahi mahi were caught offshore.

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