<b>Staten Island</b>

Fishing became slower, not good, on a trip Saturday, Capt. Joe from <b>Outcast Charters</b> said. The charter began as a fluke trip, and currents ran strongly, so holding bottom was difficult with the baits. After doing that a while, the trip was moved, trying to escape currents. But currents ran just as fast, if not faster. A couple of keeper fluke were scratched out during the day, but the trip switched to sea bass fishing. That angling’s usually been great aboard this season, but not this time. Probably 40-some keeper sea bass, including good-sized, were slugged. The anglers picked away,  but the catch couldn’t compare to usual aboard lately. The trip fished from Sewaren, and Outcast sails from the New Jersey port, in addition to Staten Island, including so anglers can follow New Jersey regulations, like for sea bass.

<b>Perth Amboy</b>

Keeper fluke to 4 pounds and throwbacks made up the weekend’s catch, Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> wrote in an e-mail. The fishing was “sort of a grind,” he said, and Ambrose Channel didn’t fish so well, but that will improve through the next weeks. The edges of the channels produced fluke best right now, and shallow waters were loaded with small dog sharks. Bait and bucktails caught fluke equally. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing, and telephone about the open trips. The Vitamin Sea also fishes from Staten Island. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

The party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> fished for fluke every day, Capt. Tom said. The angling was about the same as recently, and the trips fished off Sandy Hook Point, at Flynn’s Knoll and along Swash and Sandy Hook channels, depending on conditions. Sometimes strong currents prevented fishing the channels, because anglers couldn’t hold bottom. No trips fished Ambrose Channel in recent days, because of conditions, but trips did previously. Raritan Bay’s fluke fishing wasn’t good in past days, though Tom hopes that changes. Fluke were found at every place fished aboard, and throwbacks probably gave up more action recently than before. Anglers had fun. Sometimes keepers turned up, and 4-pounders were the largest. Thursday morning’s trip was probably best in the last days. The afternoon’s trip wasn’t that good. On Sunday, the same number of keepers probably bit on both the morning’s and the afternoon’s trips. But more throwbacks bit on the morning’s. Tom suggests bringing two rods, including a heavier one for heavier weights needed at the channels. Bait caught better than Spros or bucktails in past days. Neither spearing supplied on the boat nor killies anglers brought seemed to catch better than the other in recent days. Gulps were effective, and anglers fished them in chartreuse, combined with a spearing or a killie. If anglers like fishing with killies, pick them up at a tackle shop on the way to a trip. The harbor’s tackle shop is closed. The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

Conditions for fluke fishing were tough on Friday’s trip, but the day was salvaged, Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. A couple of anglers each bagged four of the fish, just one short of a limit. Vinnie “Vintastic” won the pool with a 6-pounder, the fourth time he won on five consecutive trips. He lost a bigger one at the last moment that probably would’ve weighed 8 pounds on the trip. The boat was chartered Saturday morning, and no report was posted for that day through today, at press time. This week “is our busy week with charters,” Ron said. The boat this week is chartered in mornings Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday. Otherwise, open-boat trips are sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Open trips are fishing for striped bass 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays. Those trips are still scheduled, no matter the charters.

<b>Highlands</b>

Fluke fishing was good on the <b>Hyper Striper</b> during the weekend for Bob Centamore’s party, Capt. Pete wrote in an e-mail aboard this morning. On Saturday and Sunday, they totaled 38 keepers to 6 ½ pounds. A trip today, with J.R. Bristow’s crew, limited out on striped bass early on livelined bunker, and was now fluke fishing, to finish up, when Pete wrote the e-mail.

<b>Fisher Price Charters</b> fluke fished, and some days were better than others, depending on conditions, Capt. Derek said. The angling was conditions dependent, he further explained. The trips bucktailed along rough bottom in deep waters, and bucktails definitely were an advantage over bait. Trips aboard Saturday and Sunday competed in a fluke tournament, winning third prize with an 8-1/2-pounder. Charters are fishing, and no space is available for open-boat trips this week. But open trips for fluke might next sail next week, and anglers can telephone to confirm or to be kept informed about future open trips. Bluefin tuna trips could begin on the boat soon, mostly on charters, but probably on open trips, too. Contacting Derek is the best way to keep informed. Bluefins had begun to push inshore earlier this season, until waters became dirty or unattractive to the fish. Derek hopes the waters clear soon. He traveled to New Hampshire this past week to fish for white hake. About 35 of the fish 25 to 35 pounds were pumped in from 620 feet, maybe 35 miles from shore. Took work to reel them in from that deep, and toward the end of the day, the boat sailed to Jeffrey’s Ledge, limiting out on cod, and nailing pollock to 25 pounds, in an hour. Was good fishing.

<b>Neptune</b>

Cod fishing couldn’t be better, Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> wrote in an e-mail. Inshore wreck-fishing was very good, and fluke fishing was good on some days and getting better daily. Bluefishing was “mad dog,” he said. Big blues were drilled on bait, and charters for them and all species in season are available in mornings and afternoons and at night. An individual-reservation trip for cod, pollock and hake is full July 24, but space is available on another on August 12. Room is available on individual-reservation, inshore wreck-fishing trips July 21 and August 4. Individual-rez trips for fluke and sea bass are sailing every Tuesday, and kids under 12 sail free, limited to two per adult host.

<b>Belmar</b>

Sea bass, a good catch, were pasted from the ocean Saturday on the <b>Katie H</b>, Capt. Mike said. The fish included 2- and 3-pounders, and the trip didn’t need to sail far to catch. Throwback fluke were let go, and waters were 70 degrees, though Mike heard that the ocean was cooler farther south. Fluke charters are also available, and the season’s first inshore tuna trip, for bluefins, is set for July 29. News about bluefins was quiet recently, and a couple of boats from the docks sailed for them during the weekend, but were yet to return by the time Mike left for the day. Plenty of space is available for charters, including on ¾-day trips at a lower rate, if anglers want to save.

<b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b> fluke fished on the ocean, and the fishing was decent, though wasn’t good Sunday, Capt. Pete said. The reasons couldn’t be known, and weren’t because of conditions. None of the fleet seemed to fare well on the fish that day. Otherwise, when conditions were right, or when winds and currents drifted the boat well, fluking was decent. On some days, bait caught best, and on others, bucktails did. Good catches of sea bass could be made on the ocean, and Parker Pete’s sails for all species available. Boats sailing for bluefish ran into the slammers on some days, not on others, after the fishing was slow previously. Night trips started to catch them, too. Bluefin tuna began to be found again at Chicken Canyon, and the angling sounded hit or miss. Pete hopes to sail for them later in the week, depending on conditions. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Pete anyway, or <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">subscribe to Parker Pete’s e-mailed newsletter</a>, to be kept informed about individual-spaces available on charters. Look for the place to sign up on the right side of the page on the boat’s Web site.

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 7/16:***</b> Beat the heat – join the Belmar party boat fleet, Bob from <b>Fishermen’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. Fishing on the boats was great, and Bob saw several limits of fluke from the vessels. Big bluefish were also bombed on the boats. “For those wanting to stay closer to home,” he said, “the (store’s) rental boats are seeing plenty of action (on Shark River).” Kids enjoyed playing snapper blues from the river’s bulkheads and at Shark River Inlet. One 15-inch blackfish or larger will be able to be bagged per angler starting Wednesday, so that will give anglers more to fish for at the inlet and at Point Pleasant Canal. Good crabbing was heard about from Ocean County. 

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 7/16:***</b> On the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b> today, bluefish were picked at first, but the fishing kept building and building, until the slammers, 10- to 14-pounders,  bit as fast as anglers could put lines in waters, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. That happened through the last hour, and everyone caught as many blues as they wanted, and many limited out.  The fishing was very, very good both then and on Monday night. Bluefishing was a little slow on Monday’s daytime trip. But now is the time to catch big blues, the report said, and weather looks great for the next several days. The Golden Eagle is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily.

 

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 7/16:***</b> Bluefishing keeps improving on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an e-mail from the boat said. The fishing was tough Saturday and Sunday mornings, but picked up on Saturday and Sunday nights. The angling also picked up on Monday morning. The boat’s trip then fished to the east, along the edge of the Mudhole.  Customers picked away at 8- to 15-pounders, sometimes fighting two to three at once. Sunday night’s trip fished in the same area, and catches took a moment to start, but built, until two to four blues were fought at once at times. The high hook landed 19, keeping no more than a limit, and the angling ended up great. Boats in the fleet were spread 3 to 4 miles apart, and loads of blues schooled the area. Saturday night’s trip fished to the southeast, and was a big success. At first, one to three blues were hooked at a time. Then two to four were hooked at all times, and sometimes more were fought at once. A few anglers limited out. On the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, fluke fishing was slow during the weekend, and a few keepers were had, but lots of good-sized sea bass and whiting were tugged in. Monday’s fluking sounded better. “We had a great day with a great group of patrons,” the e-mail said. “Some drifts were mediocre, and (on) some we had action.” A few keepers and some throwbacks were reeled in, and a 3-1/2-pound fluke was the pool-winner. The Miss Belmar Princess is sailing for blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily. The Royal Miss Belmar is fishing for fluke and sea bass 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

<b>Brielle</b>

Bluefish 8 to 12 pounds, a very good catch, were cracked Saturday night on the party boat <b>Big Jamaica</b>, an e-mail from the boat said Sunday. The fish, caught on bait, as opposed to jigs, were grabbed at the same place as they were on daytime trips, to the southeast, the e-mail said. “Blues are in!” it said. On Saturday night’s trip, Jerry Rodriquez won the pool with a 12-pound blue, one of eleven blues he boated. Nasir Mirza also whacked 11, and Glenn Rowe socked eight. Frank Garcia landed seven, and Dan Sharp, Chris Sharp and Miles Barba combined for 26. The Big Jamaica is fishing on two trips daily at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

On the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b>, fluke fishing was good last week, and some big ones were in the mix, but the weekend’s fluking was disappointing, Capt. Ryan wrote in an e-mail. Fluke bit everywhere the weekend’s trips fished, and some places gave up shots of sea bass, but the angling was kind of dull, he said. Pool-winners included Kim Young, Bordentown, with a 6-pound fluke Saturday and Warren Kinison, Trenton, with a 5-1/2-pounder Sunday. “Was a beautiful weekend on the water,” Ryan said, “once the swells died out.” Hope for the fishing to rev back up this week, he said.  The Jamaica II is fishing for fluke and sea bass twice daily at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and on an all-day trip at 7:30 a.m. Mondays.

Manasquan River served up lots of fluke, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. The ocean’s fluking was so-so, and the fish were there, but weren’t so aggressive in cold waters because of south winds. Anglers hoped winds started changing direction more often. Hickory shad and small striped bass swam the river. Back on the ocean, plenty of ling were scooped aboard. For sea bass on the ocean, if boaters could fish a spot that wasn’t picked over, they could catch. Bluefishing on the ocean started catching, at least, after slow angling. But trips sailed 30 miles to reach them. A few resident, non-migrating striped bass were managed at Shrewsbury Rocks in the ocean. A few boaters still shark fished, sometimes catching a mako, “depending on how far they went,” Dave said. Thresher sharks were landed, and hammerhead sharks started to show up. Bluefin tuna were boated early last week, but 60 miles offshore. Yellowfin tuna, a few bigeye tuna and some mahi mahi were cranked from the 100 Square at Hudson Canyon. But the best tuna fishing remained farther south.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

With <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, trips fished ocean wrecks, both nearby and at the Mudhole, and rock piles, clubbing a variety of fish, Alan, the boat’s owner, wrote in an e-mail. “Variety was the name of the game,” he said. Anglers aboard picked at sea bass and ling to 4 pounds and cod to 12 pounds. Out-of-season blackfish to 6 pounds were released. On one trip, a half-dozen sizeable, out-of-season winter flounder, larger than 3 pounds apiece, were let go. Tuna and big-game fishing is beginning to pick up farther from shore, at the canyons, and Mushin will do more of that fishing in coming weeks. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

An angler was back this year for his “fill the freezer trip,” a report on <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>’ Web site said Saturday. He first reeled in a half-dozen cod at an ocean wreck. Then the trip tried for bluefin tuna. The 72-degree waters were clean but green, and when no tuna showed up after a couple of hours, the trip fished another couple of wrecks. Sea bass and ling, a decent pick, were boxed to finish the day. Andrea’s Toy is also fishing on mixed-bag trips – open-boat and charters – from mid-shore to offshore. The outings have been covered in previous reports here, and currently the catches can include bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, sharks, mahi mahi, tilefish, cod, pollock and more, all in one outing. Telephone for more info. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner.

<b>***Update, Tuesday, 7/16:***</b> Both fluke trips aboard Saturday whaled a good number of keepers, Capt. Matt from the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b> wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Was a great day, he said, and Sunday’s fluking aboard was a little slower. Both trips picked at the fish that day. Monday’s fluke fishing was slower on the vessel, because dirty waters moved in. But plenty of fluke are around. “You just got to catch the right day,” Matt said. Gulps in green, pink and white were top baits, and Matt recommends buying them to bring on trips. On nighttime trips, blues are here! Matt said. Conditions didn’t help fishing for them on Saturday and Sunday nights on board, and 6- to 12-pounders were picked. But Monday night’s bluefishing was “lights out.” Eight- to 14-pounders were Mohawked. Awesome, Matt said. He hopes the fish stick around. The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke on two trips daily 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. and for bluefish 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

The surf tossed up good kingfishing Sunday, Mario from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b> wrote in a report on the shop’s Web site. A kingfish rig with clam, Fishbites artificial worms or bloodworms will nab them. Kings were “the way to go” in the surf lately, but fluke could be beached, if anglers worked for them. Fish a bucktail with a teaser. In Barnegat Bay, crabbing trapped good catches consistently. Rental boaters totaled three to four dozen keepers or more, and customers crabbing from the dock left with two to three dozen. The Dock Outfitters features the full supply of bait and tackle, a dock to fish and crab from and boat and jet ski rentals.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Ocean temperatures rose to almost 72 degrees, and fishing seemed to improve for fluke and sea bass Saturday and Sunday aboard, because of that, a report on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>’s Web site said. A handful of keeper fluke were eased in Sunday, and throwbacks were released. Sea bass also made up the catch. The Miss Barnegat Light is sailing for fluke and sea bass 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

The ocean was 55.9 degrees at Atlantic City on Friday, Chris from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s wrote in a report on the store’s Web site. That was the most recent day a report was posted, and few summer flounder were lifted from the ocean when waters were that cold. Great Bay from the 126 to 139 buoys, along the Intracoastal Waterway, was a good place to look for flounder, because of warmer waters. Bars behind the Fish Factory and some of the deeper areas behind Holgate were, too. The fish lingered in the bay toward Little Egg Inlet, instead of far back in the bay. That was because of cleaner, faster-moving waters. Incoming tides, with cleaner waters, were best to fish. Baits with strong scent were a must, like mackerel, Gulps and other scented artificials. But if anglers were going to fish the ocean for flounder, AC Reef and the offshore side of Little Egg Reef were some of the better bets. Flounder had been picked at the Rutgers buoys. Livelined spots were a great bait for flounder, and could be caught off Graveling Point in the bay.

<b>Brigantine</b>

The surf was full of kingfish and spots, a report on <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>’s Web site said. Though Fishbites artificial worms hooked them, bloodworms caught four times as many. Maybe bluefish will pop into the surf, with water temperatures rising. One angler showed off a summer flounder bagged from the surf at Brigantine’s south-end jetty. Great reports were heard about the back bay’s flounder fishing.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

On one of the inshore sharking trips aboard, Chuck Stewart’s family on Sunday caught and released eight browns and duskies to 40 pounds on mackerel fillets on spinning rods, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The trips are a chance to fight big fish, up to 100 pounds, close to shore, usually within 10 miles, on spinning or fly rods. Browns and duskies must be released, and other sharks can also show up. Earlier that day, Mike Grundy, son Mike and dad Mike fished the back bay for summer flounder aboard, bagging one keeper, releasing a bunch of throwbacks. Bruce Robertson’s family on Saturday on the bay bagged five flounder, averaging 3 pounds, releasing a bunch of throwbacks. The fishing was excellent, during light, easterly winds, on one of the few days when winds blew from that direction recently. “What a difference wind direction makes,” Joe said. “Don’t let anyone tell you different.” On both flounder trips, a combo of a Gulp and a minnow on each hook caught best. The charters fished with a rig with a bucktail on bottom and a plain hook on a trailer above. Fishing was weathered out Thursday and Friday with Jersey Cape.  Tuna fishing, for a mix of bluefins and yellowfins, was hot at the Hot Dog on the chunk and the troll. The best way to catch them depended on the day. Joe is also fishing for them. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Avalon</b>

Two boys, their dad, a girl and her dad jumped aboard during the weekend, Capt. Jim from <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b> said. To put the kids on action, the trip fished Delaware Bay. The anglers had a blast catching croakers, kingfish and small summer flounder on squid. Then Jim took them to fight and release 3- and 4-foot sharks on the bay. Cut up croakers and other fish that were hooked previously on the trip were fished for the sharks, probably browns, required to be let go. The sharks swarmed all over, like Jim knew they would. The kids loved the fishing, with light tackle, saying it was better than on TV. Lot of fun, Jim said. The trip fished from 14-Foot Light and Miah Maull to Fortescue, and the croakers, kings and flounder pretty much swam all over the area. Most flounder seemed gathered toward Fortescue, and the fleet, including party boats, fished there. Fins and Feathers is also fishing for flounder on the ocean from Avalon at places like Cape May Reef. Jim heard little about the fishing in past days, and a previous trip found slow fishing there, covered in a previous report. But the fishing could be picking up, and this is the time of year. The government recently extended flounder season by eight days to September 24, and flounder fishing on the ocean usually keeps becoming better throughout summer and into fall, so that was welcomed news. Jim will also charter for bluefin tuna and mahi mahi at places like East Lump this summer, and reports about both caught a little farther south could bode well. The fish could swim north toward Avalon soon, and Jim’s keeping a lookout. Fins and Feathers offers a variety of outdoor adventures, including fishing on Delaware Bay and on the ocean. The boat is docked at Avalon, fishing the ocean from there. To fish Delaware Bay, the vessel is trailered to wherever’s nearest to the best fishing, like Cape May or Reed’s Beach. Jim also guides duck and goose hunting on Delaware Bay when the seasons are opened, and anglers can even enjoy a combo of striped bass fishing and waterfowl hunting on the bay over a series of days. Fins and Feathers also guides salmon and steelhead fishing on upstate New York’s Salmon River from Jim’s lodge, and guides fly-fishing for trout on Pennsylvania’s streams like the Yellow Breeches.

<b>Cape May</b>

Tuna charters limited out on bluefins and also cashed in on yellowfin tuna Saturday and Sunday at the southern lumps on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. Tuna are in, and sail for them while they are. The angling was good two days in a row. The fish could stick around, but could also depart. Take advantage of special rates on these trips, while the tuna are swimming inshore. Later, they’ll probably only be available farther offshore, at the canyons along the Continental Shelf. The fish were trolled, and Bill Szwajkoski’s charter, with Nick, Scott, John, Ryan and Tim, took the trip Saturday. They limited out on their over and under bluefins, iced a 50-pound yellowfin and also trolled a 10-pound mahi mahi. Tom Ebbecke from Newfield’s Accresce Nursery’s charter took Sunday’s trip, with two Bills, Ryan, Jay and Dustin. They limited out on over and under bluefins and axed a 40-pound yellowfin. One fish was also missed that hit on the troll on the outing. Saturday’s trip limited by 10 a.m., and Sunday’s limited by 9:30 a.m., and both trips afterward trolled about an hour on the way home, in case wahoos or mahi bit. Wahoo lures were included in the trolling spread then, and previously, when tuna fishing, the trips dragged typical lures like Ilanders. The tuna began biting a little after 7 a.m. on both charters. Then the trips were in the fish. But tuna were caught throughout the day on other boats, George believed. Lots of bait filled waters. The ocean on the tuna grounds was 76 to 77 degrees, and was 65 degrees along shore. In other news, George was supposed to mate on a summer flounder trip on a friend’s boat on the ocean today. Flounder are biting in the ocean at places like the Old Grounds and Reef 11, if anglers know what they’re doing. Like always, when conditions drift the boat well, the fish are usually caught, and otherwise, not. Sea bass trips on the ocean picked at catches. The Heavy Hitter is sailing for all these fish, and telephone if interested.

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