<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

Yellowfin tuna 40 to 60 pounds were trolled on a Hudson Canyon trip Monday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> from Belmar, but the trip had to sail far, to the 100 Square, to catch them, Capt. Ralph said. But the catch was good, and trips on other boats landed the fish at night, but only at the 100 Square. Closer to shore, bluefin tuna fishing’s been good. A one-day trip for tuna to the canyons, trolling or chunking, whatever it takes, is set for 12 midnight Monday, August 20.

A ground swell lingered in morning on Wednesday even on an inshore trip aboard, because of north winds the previous night, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> from Belmar. Conditions improved as the day went on. But the other captain who runs the boat found bluefin tuna 20 miles from shore, close to the coast, that day on another vessel. Parker Pete’s sails for bluefins.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

Hudson and Toms canyons are back, baby! an e-mail from <b>Canyon Runner Sport Fishing</b>, Point Pleasant Beach, said. On the only satellite shot available, good waters were seen moving in to the general vicinity of the Hudson. Canyon Runner’s two boats headed there on trips Sunday to Monday. Lines were in the waters by 1 p.m., and a good pick of healthy-sized yellowfin tuna was trolled through the afternoon. A few tuna were landed at night. Back on the troll in the morning, a good pick of the fish resumed. Was nice that the fish bit throughout the day, instead of during short shots that had be waited for. One of the boats ended up going 14 for 25, and the other went 11 for 25. A white marlin was also released. The reason so many tuna got off couldn’t’ be explained. Just one of those times with “short” bites, when hooks pulled. The action came in 600 feet, and trolled ballyhoos “were the ticket,” the e-mail said, and Canyon Runner squid spreader bars “(were) a close second.” Forecasts looked like the weather would keep trips docked afterward a while this week. Dates are filled for charters until the last week of August, and September is very full. A few spaces are available on open-boat trips August 2 to 3, 7 to 8, 15 to 16 and 17 to 18.

A trip for bluefin tuna left the dock before lunch Sunday for the mid-shore ocean, “to wait for the seas to subside a bit,” a report on Point Pleasant Beach’s <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>’s Web site said. On the first stop, life including flying fish filled waters, but only bluefish bit. At the second spot, 10 miles farther from shore, even more life swam, including turtles and whales. One knock down, a bonito, was scored. Fifteen miles farther out, tons of bait filled waters. “Two swings and misses,” the report said. “Nothing.” Ten miles farther, the ocean was a desert. No life. “Clock was ticking, and (the) sun was going down,” the report said. The trip headed back inshore, and trolled again. Bluefin tuna clobbered four rods. One of the tuna was landed, and three got off. “Great evening with some great (families),” the report said. Andrea’s Toy’s been concentrating on open-boat, mixed-bag trips mid-shore for bluefins and catches like pollock. But yellowfin tuna showed up at the canyons within range, and the boat is slated to head there this weekend. Open-boat, mixed-bag trips will concentrate on canyon fishing as that action picks up this season. The trips run for yellowfins and catches like mahi mahi, sharks, swordfish and tilefish, all in one outing.  See <a href="http://www.andreastoycharters.com" target="_blank">Andrea’s Toy’s home page</a> for a write-up about the unique, mixed-bag, big-game fishing. Or call for info.

The nor’easter toward the end of the week kept fishing docked, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle. But bluefin tuna gave up good fishing last week, and the main population seemed to hold around the Resor wreck then. Most anglers trolled them, but some jigged them. Yellowfin tuna were apparently boated just west of Toms Canyon before the storm. The fish were trolled during daytime, and nothing was heard about catching them at night.

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

The first tuna trip of the season, a one-day troll, was cancelled last Friday on the <b>Super Chic</b> from Barnegat Light, because of weather, Capt. Ted said. Yellowfin tuna began to be trolled at the canyons within range, and bluefin tuna fishing was decent within range. Most tuna trips aboard are usually slated starting around Labor Day, when tuna have usually begun biting overnight. But fishing for tuna during daytime is available now. The 56-foot boat can accommodate up to 10 passengers on overnight, offshore trips, and sleeps 10 passengers. Up to 25 can sail on inshore trips.  

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Lots of yellowfin tuna were bailed at the Hot Dog on the chunk, said Phil from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City. One of the staff from the shop kept jigging the fish shallow or down 50 or 60 feet, where balls of bait were marked.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Yellowfin tuna to 60 pounds were jigged and chunked in 30 fathoms Tuesday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May, with John Grimmie’s charter, Capt. George said. A decent catch was landed, and some of the fish pulled the hook or broke the line and got off. The angling was game on as soon as the anchor was set. Winds kicked in, and seas built to 5 and 6 feet, as soon as the trip reached a certain distance from shore, despite forecasts for calmer conditions. That lasted until the conditions calmed as soon as the boat was returned to the same area on the way home. On a trip in 30 fathoms aboard Monday, one tuna bit, pulled the hook and got off. Plenty were hooked 1 ½ miles away, and were also landed where the Heavy Hitter fished, shortly before the boat arrived. Matter of right time, right place. The fishing’s been good.

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