Note: Offshore news remained almost nonexistent because of the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee.

<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

Reports were heard about a bunch of anglers returning to offshore fishing last week from Wednesday to Thursday after Hurricane Irene, said Capt. Jared from <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b> from Belmar. Not much was heard about results, but waters were supposedly not so clean after the weather. Takes a long time for waters everywhere to clear after a storm like that. Fin-Ominal fished offshore at the canyons two Saturdays ago, before the storm, locating an okay catch of 30- to 40-pound yellowfin tuna, about eight, if Jared remembered. Tons of mahi mahi were drilled, so many that the anglers had to stop catching them.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

A mixed-bag trip fished the canyons with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> from Point Pleasant Beach, a report on the boat’s Web site said last week on Thursday. The trip, an annual charter for the anglers, happened to take place during the Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club Offshore Open, so the anglers entered the tournament. When the crew saw the water temps on the satellite charts, they knew the trip was in for a long run, at least to the 500-fathom line. The charter began fishing at Hudson Canyon, finding cold, green waters. The trip made its way to Toms Canyon, and the crew found the water they wanted. The anglers first played with mahi mahi to fill the box and look for a big one for the tournament. Then they trolled “in earnest,” the report said, and a hook was pulled on a good-sized tuna. The trip set up to fish at night, and fishing was slow. Lots of squid schooled, but only blue sharks showed up, until a flurry of tuna at first light. A tuna was jigged, and another pulled the hook. Then a big, 8-foot blue shark moved in, and the tuna were gone. The trip went on the troll, but scored no knock downs through the morning. The anglers decided to deep-drop for tilefish to add variety to the cooler, and a half-dozen tiles to a 20-pounder were pumped in. That was the first time the anglers had tilefished. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. Both open-boat trips and charters are mixed-bag fishing offshore, unique, annual trips.

The Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club Offshore Open was held through Sunday since two Saturdays before, and lots of fish seemed to be entered in the event, said John from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle. Yellowfin tuna were brought in, and reportedly a 287-pound bigeye tuna was nailed on the Pepper, and a 700-pound blue marlin was axed on the Jenny Lee. Lots of white marlin were landed during the event, and even wahoos gave up good catches. Lots of life reportedly filled the waters, and the catches mostly seemed to come from Hudson Canyon. Trips caught during nighttime and daytime. John saw a report posted online, including photos, about a trip that whaled a tremendous catch at night. The report said tuna were chunked, jigged and even popper-plugged on the trip at night. Offshore waters cooled from the hurricane, and temperature breaks sometimes formed as a result of the storm, and some warm eddies moved in.

<b>Little Egg Inlet</b>

A few yellowfin tuna were heard about that were boated Friday to Saturday, said Capt. T.J. from <b>Legal Limit Charters</b> from Tuckerton. He didn’t know details like location or whether the fish were trolled during the day or chunked at night.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Fishing was mostly weathered out, but tuna were caught at Wilmington and Baltimore canyons when boats were last able to sail, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Good catches of tuna were heard about toward the end of the week from along the 40-fathom line between Poorman’s and Spencer canyons, said Capt. Bob from the <b>Down Deep</b> from Cape May.

A good tuna bite happened between the storms, and the season’s first overnight tuna trip aboard is slated for this weekend, if the weather allows the charter to sail, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May.

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