<b>Keyport</b>

Currents ripped on a fluke trip Thursday, because of the full moon, Capt. Joe from <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b> thought, he said. So the anglers, the Tim Collins group, managed only a couple of keepers to 19 inches. But they had fun fighting cocktail blues that swarmed Sandy Hook Channel. Currents weren’t much slower there. Open-boat, deep-water trips for fluke are available 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily this week through the weekend when no charter is booked. Call to reserve. Fluke season, closing on September 29, will only last a few more weeks.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fluke fishing was slow aboard, and some trips turned up more action with throwbacks than others, but sometimes even the shorts didn’t bite well, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. Every trip was different, and the boat fished the channels, off Sandy Hook Point, and at Flynn’s Knoll and Romer Shoal, depending on conditions. None of the trips fished the bay, because every time someone tried fluking there, slow fishing was reported. On Sunday morning’s trip, lots of shorts and a few keepers jumped on hooks. On the afternoon’s trip, fluke began to be caught, then the fishing fell apart. One woman nailed three keepers on the trip, but that was an exception. No big fluke were nabbed on trips, and one that was boxed Saturday might’ve weighed 5 pounds. Tom hopes the catches improve, though. The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke twice daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m.

On the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> Capt. Ron tried to head farther from shore on Monday’s fluke trip, he said in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Incoming tide for a couple of hours potentially made seas fishable in east winds. “(But after) the pulpit went under for the second time, we went to Plan B!” he said. So the trip fished elsewhere, and catches weren’t good in winds and fast current, but three anglers landed four keepers apiece. “Big” Bob Giertsen won the pool with a 5-1/4-pound fluke on the final drift. Today’s and Wednesday’s trips might stay docked, because of the storm. On Sunday the ocean held a terrible roll, and winds must’ve blown strongly the previous night. But a couple of anglers limited out on fluke on the day’s trip, and some cracked three or four keepers, “and so on,” Ron said. Plus, an 8-pound fluke won the pool, and a couple of other big ones were lost near the net. Only a few anglers showed up for Saturday’s trip, because of the holiday weekend, but the fluking was good, and a 7-1/2-pounder won the pool. Friday’s fluking was great aboard. Many anglers limited out, and Frank Davenport won the pool with an 8-1/2-pounder, and also walloped an 8-pound fluke. He limited out and landed more keepers, keeping no more than his quota. Fluke gave up action all day. Thursday’s trip’s fluke fishing was the best in some time, and weather was finally awesome. Ron decided not to fish local, and “headed right to the rocks,” he said. Several anglers limited out, and a 7-pound fluke won the pool, and the fish bit all day. One drift produced 10 fluke that each topped 3 pounds. Beautiful sea bass 3 and 4 pounds, and a whole bunch of keepers, were mixed in. The Fisherman is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. However, the boat is chartered this Saturday, so no open-boat trip will sail then.

<b>Highlands</b>

The four anglers aboard pasted 13 keeper fluke to 5 ½ pounds Saturday with <b>Raritan Bay Charters</b> at the channels and rough bottom, Capt. Dave said. Bucktails and live bait caught equally well, and probably 50 throwbacks were let go. A trip Sunday with five anglers at the rough bottom iced a dozen keeper fluke, including a 6-1/2-pounder, two 5-pounders and a 4-pounder, and a half-dozen keeper sea bass. Open-boat trips are fishing when no charter is booked.

Very, very good fluke fishing, limits every day, were pounded through the weekend with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, Capt. Derek said. The fish weighed up to 7 and 8 pounds and were beaten along deep-water rough bottom on bucktails or big strip baits. Charters are fishing, and the next open-boat trips for fluke will probably sail Friday to Sunday, depending on weather. Call to confirm, climb aboard or be kept informed about the future open schedule. Forecasts looked like the weather would keep the boat tied up the next couple of days. Look for open trips to begin fishing for striped bass at night in the next couple of weeks, probably starting with worms and eels for bait. Fall striper, blackfish and bottom-fish trips are being booked.

<b>Belmar</b>

Some big fish were axed, said Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> in an e-mail. Jim Cawthern, Howell, checked in an 82-pound cobia that swiped a live squid. A 13-pound 8-ounce fluke was hauled in from a Belmar party boat. Gene Kolifrath, Morrisville, iced a 9-pound 4-ounce fluke, and Tom Riggs, Neptune, limited out on fluke to a 6-pound 8-ouncer. Rich Sullivan, Neptune, bombed a 4-pound sea bass. Sea bass season closed today and will reopen September 23.

With <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> fluke fishing was excellent, Capt. Pete said. The catches were good on trips Thursday and Friday, and a trip Sunday limited out. No trip sailed Saturday. The trips caught the flatfish along both open bottom and structure in the ocean, and sea bass were sometimes mixed in. Bluefishing remained good on the ocean, and lots of false albacore were around. Nothing was heard about porgies lately, but Pete would like to get after the scup soon. The boat probably wasn’t going to fish again until Wednesday, because of the storm Monday and today.   Parker Pete’s sails for all species available, and charters and open-boat trips are fishing. For availability on open trips, see <a href="http://parkerpetefishing.com/belmar-fishing-trips/open-boat-trips" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s open-boat page</a> online, and sign up for the e-mailed newsletter on the site. Dates are announced in both places.

Anglers steamed to the reef Saturday on the <b>Katie H</b>, rustling up 15 keeper fluke to 4 pounds, Capt. Mike said. Lots of throwbacks bit, and bucktails caught almost all the keepers. Spearing and squid grabbed only a few. Yellowfin tuna fishing reportedly took off at Hudson Canyon, after the fishing was slow previously. Mike had rescheduled tuna trips before, because of slow catches. A trip is slated to run to the canyon Saturday. In other news, a friend nailed a 42-pound wahoo at Manasquan Ridge, unusually close to shore.

Bluefishing was tremendous, said Capt. Jared from <b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b>. If charters, especially large groups, want blues, go now. The 50-foot boat can accommodate large to small groups, up to 15 on fishing trips, and 23 on cruises. Trips had to run a little distance for the blues or 15 miles off to the Mudhole. But the fish were there for about a month, and now was the time to jump on them. A bluefishing trip plowed an excellent catch Thursday. The slammers probably averaged 12 pounds, and not many were smaller. Some weighed in the high teens, and few weighed as little as 8 pounds. A trip Saturday whaled the blues, false albacore and even a 70-pound yellowfin tuna that swam the bluefish grounds. One of the reels got spooled, showing that tuna were there. A 30-class rod was set out with a chunk bait, and countless blues bit off the bait. Then the tuna hit and was landed.  Lots of albies were around. A mahi mahi was landed aboard only 1 ½ miles from shore at Shrewsbury Rocks the other day. On another trip, on Friday morning, a great catch of fluke was scored at the rocks. In the afternoon, a cocktail cruise sailed the ocean and caught a few fish. On two trips Sunday, fluke fishing was very good at Sea Girt Reef. Not many sea bass bit, and mainly sizeable fluke 2 pounds and larger did. Cruises available include practically any type of trip someone could imagine, sailing from the ocean to the rivers to the Manhattan skyline.

<b>Brielle</b>

No matter rough seas, fluke fishing was super, the flatfish really bit, on the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b> on the ocean, Capt. Ryan said in an e-mail. Pete Talevi’s group of four anglers limited out on fluke and threw back more keepers, landing more than 100 legal-sized ones between them, including plenty of 3- and 4-ounders, and threw back tons of shorts. A light crowd jumped aboard on Labor Day, but the fluking was great. Anglers and their catches that day included: Ed Rendell, Philly, limit of fluke to 5 pounds; Connor Weems, Washington, limit to 5 pounds; Craig Watson, Atlantic Highlands, limit to 4 ½ pounds. and Greg Kolbenschlag, Camden, limit to  4 pounds.

Fishing for fluke was good on the ocean, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>, and Axel Carlson Reef and the lumps just east of Sea Girt Reef were productive. Manasquan River gave up a mix of throwback and keeper fluke, and a flurry of keepers bit early Saturday morning in the river. Small Gulps on ¾-ounce ball jigs drew hits in the river. The shop’s fluke tournament for Manasquan and Shark rivers was wrapped up on Monday, Labor Day, and began on Memorial Day weekend. At last report, before the contest ended, Al Wynne was in the lead for the Manasquan with a 5.75-pounder, and Joe Teresky was in first for the Shark with a 7.2-pounder. Half the proceeds for the tournament were donated to Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund, and the other half were given to Shark River Surf Anglers Kids Trout Tournament, and the shop made no money on the event. A handful of blues bit in the river, and small, scattered striped bass chomped in the river. DOA jerk shads abd Berkley Havoc Grass Pigs clocked the bass. Ling fishing was good, holding up, on the ocean. Sea bass season closed today, but will open back up on September 23. When the season was open, sea bass were stacked up at some of the ocean wrecks, but were tough to get to bite, seemed picky. Tons of fish like false  albacore, skipjacks and chicken mahi mahi swam the mid-shore ocean and some inshore spots like along the Mudhole or at Barnegat Ridge. Bluefin tuna were almost nonexistent off the local coast. But canyon fishing lit up for yellowfin tuna chunked at night, mostly at Hudson Canyon, in past days, finally came on. Good fishing for bigeye tuna was heard about from the same area, and boats returned with two or three apiece. A few reports mentioned blue marlin catches, and fair numbers of white marlin were reported caught. Catch the shop’s pre-season sale on surf-fishing plugs. Wahoo Baitfish Bucktails and Stingo jigs are on sale at 30 percent off to celebrate the store’s 30 years in business.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

A “recon” trip set out to search for tuna at the Mudhole, a report on <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>’s Web site said on Friday. The baitwell was loaded with peanut bunker for the outing, and the trip sailed to lumps and wrecks. “But no life, no birds, barely any marks, and no mammals,” the report said.  So the trip on the way home fished a wreck, tugging in good-sized ling, and cast to lobster pot buoys with spinning rods, reeling in a half-dozen mahi. Annual open-boat, mixed-bag trips are fishing farther offshore at the canyons for tuna and catches like mahi, swordfish, sharks and tilefish, all in one outing. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, more chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. Call for info.

A load of bluefish, huge ones, were chummed at Shark River Reef on Thursday with a group from the Island Beach State Park Nature Center with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Ray said. Lots of false albacore and skipjacks were mixed in, and the fishing was very good. The blues probably averaged 10 or 12 pounds, and a couple pushed 18 pounds. The albies were mixed sizes from small to large, and some bit wire leaders meant for blues, though albies are usually leader shy. Trips targeting speedsters like the albies with light tackle are available. Weather looks rough for part of this week, but Ray hopes to sail to the canyons for tuna at least a couple of times a week starting next week. The fishing seems ready to break open. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures. <b>***Update, Tuesday, 9/4:***</b> Canyon tuna fishing was spectacular, according to first-hand reports, Alan, the boat’s owner, said in an e-mail. Trips filled fish boxes with sizeable, 50- to 70-pound yellowfin tuna chunked at night, and multiple bigeye tuna were trolled during day. After the fishing was slow in August, the fishing this month seemed to be turning on. Dates remain for daytime or overnight trips to the canyons this month and in October. Also, dates are still being filled for false albacore and bonito trips. Call Capt. Ray to schedule: 732-691-0949.

“Fall chunking at its finest the last two nights,” an e-mail from <b>Canyon Runner Sport Fishing</b> said today about yellowfin tuna fishing at night. An open-boat, overnight trip trolled a bigeye tuna on Saturday and boated seven yellowfin tuna, mostly on the chunk that night, on Canyon Runner’s 48-foot Viking. On the company’s 60-foot Ritchie Howell, a two-night trip that began Saturday whaled more than 20 yellowfins the first night. On Sunday morning the trip trolled a bigeye tuna, then hunted marlin, landing a 250-pound blue. Trolling for tuna was shut off then, but with all the tuna already in the box, the charter went tilefishing, pumping in a few. Meanwhile, the Viking was sailed home Sunday, and was turned right back around, heading out with a charter that arrived at Hudson Canyon at 6 p.m. Yellowfins were picked, then a bigeye was drilled at 9 p.m. in the dark. The trip proceeded to land 16 yellowfins, some kept, others released. On Monday the trip trolled another bigeye, and that made 22 bigeyes caught with Canyon Runner this season. Back on the Ritchie Howell, on Sunday night, eight yellowfins and a 150-pound swordfish were caught. The trip decided to return home, docking a total of 30 yellowfins, the bigeye, the blue marlin and the sword. “Wow, what a weekend,” the e-mail said. Not many dates remain for trips, and book them now. Forecasts look like Canyon Runner will fish offshore again starting Thursday. “Let’s hope no wind and just swells, and the fishing stays just like it is,” the e-mail said.

Strong, easterly wind hampered fluke fishing Monday on the ocean on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. But previously the fishing was “pretty darn good,” it said. Throwbacks had to be picked through, but plenty of keepers were mixed in, and pool-winning fluke weighed 5 to 7 pounds every outing. Monday’s wind rocked, rolled and drifted the boat quickly. On nighttime trips, bluefishing was super Friday and Saturday. Lots and lots of blues 6 to 12 pounds were crushed, and false albacore were in the mix. The storm kept Sunday night’s trip from sailing.  The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily and for blues 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Bluefishing socked good catches Sunday on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. The fish were a little finicky, but skilled anglers could deck 10 or more of the 8- to 15-pounders. The fishing was great on Friday and Saturday’s trips. Couldn’t be better, like on almost every trip in some time. The Miss Barnegat Light is bluefishing 8 a.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through this Sunday. Afterward trips will bluefish on weekends.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

Two trips fished Wilmington Canyon on the <b>June Bug</b> on Wednesday and Saturday, Capt. Lindsay said. The first trip tagged and released two white marlin, missed others and bagged a 70-pound yellowfin tuna in sporty seas. The anglers wanted to hook their own whites, and really worked at it. Lindsay couldn’t say how many others were missed.  The water temp was 77 degrees and didn’t vary much. The second trip tagged and released one white, jumped off another, missed more and landed a mahi mahi. Seas were lots calmer, and the waters were 75 to 76 degrees, holding no real temperature breaks or color changes. Lots of skipjacks tore up the ballyhoo baits on both trips. There was action. The marlin “were whites being whites,” Lindsay said. The billfish would attack one bait then another, and before the second rod could be grabbed, the fish would swipe a third bait. Lots of whites were around on both trips. 

<b>Brigantine</b>

<a href="http://riptidebaitandtackle.com/articles.php?category_id=6" target="_blank">Click here</a> for a report from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Not much changed with fishing, and catches from the bay were hopping, a report on <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site said. Previously the shop reported that weakfish, porgies, sea bass, kingfish and spots – you name it – filled Great Bay. Boaters could pluck all those fish while chumming at the clam states off the Mystic Island side of the fish factory. Not many blowfish swam the area, but many did farther north. Weakfish and croakers traditionally schooled the ocean in 18 to 25 feet from Little Egg Inlet to Wreck Inlet this time of year, if anglers wanted to give that a try. The store also previously reported that summer flounder fishing was good in the ocean in 60 feet or deeper. The fish were spot-specific, so boaters who took short drifts over the same place caught best.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Thirty weakfish to 20 inches, croakers, kingfish and blues were jigged from the ocean Sunday with Mike Spaeder and son aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Probably 20 weaks were jigged from the ocean Saturday with Chase Kneeland and daughter aboard. On Friday Patty Gaudet and sons Ryan and Brady jigged a bunch of blues and amberjacks from the ocean. Also on the ocean, summer flounder fishing’s been okay, and lots of triggerfish have swarmed, at the reefs. On Thursday a trip targeted white marlin with Jay and Luc Vonczoernig, trolling two at Wilmington Canyon, on naked ballyhoos. Waters were 77.7 degrees, holding no real temperature breaks, only small ones. A blue marlin and some mahi mahi were heard about that were caught on other vessels in the area that day. In past days, yellowfin tuna fishing reportedly turned on at Hudson Canyon at night. On Thursday evening aboard, J.R. Smith popper-plugged striped bass on the back bay. The popper fishing, with lures or flies, should explode as water temps drop. High tides in evenings, ideal for the fishing, happened last week, coming around every two weeks. High tides at night this week will be good for striped bass fishing with soft-plastic lures or Clouser Minnow flies aboard. Later this month, annual weekend trips will sail from Montauk, New York, for the legendary run of striped bass, blues and false albacore. The fishing’s been epic for Jersey Cape in recent years. Reserve dates for annual weekend trips to Florida in winter. The trips can fish for a large variety of catches including redfish, speckled sea trout and tarpon in the back country to king mackerel, blackfin tuna and sailfish out front. See info about both trips on Jersey Cape’s <a href="http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page4.html" target="_blank">Traveling Fisherman Charters</a> Web page. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

Summer flounder fishing remained good, and plenty of bluefish could be trolled, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep</b>. Sea bass season closed today but will reopen on September 23. Not many tuna were around, but charters are being booked for fall tuna fishing. So are fall striped bass trips, and grab dates before they fill. Blackfish trips from Delaware will begin in mid December. Delaware allows more of the tog to be kept, and fishing for the slipperies can be better there in somewhat warmer waters and less-pressured fishing grounds.

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