<b>Perth Amboy</b>
Fishing was weathered out on a trip for fluke Tuesday on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank wrote in an e-mail. Strong south winds and an ocean swell just turns off fluking. By the middle of the month, trips will start to fluke Ambrose Channel. Large schools of bunker filled Raritan Bay, but no fish seemed on them. 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>Keyport</b>
Many, many throwback fluke and a half-dozen keepers were tied into off Sandy Hook on Walter Nieradka’s trip Saturday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Killies with squid were fished, and three spaces are available for a fluke trip 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, the Fourth of July. Spaces are available on another one of the trips Sunday during the same time. Open-boat trips are available 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. daily when no charter is booked. Telephone to jump aboard.
<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>
A couple of decent fluke trips were had at some areas on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b> in past days, Capt. Tom said. But the fishing, all on the bay, was about the same as recently. A fair number of throwbacks bit, and keepers were sometimes sacked, and a few were good-sized, but none was particularly large. Still, trips were fortunate fluke swam the bay. The ocean swell in strong, southerly winds seemed to wash out fishing for fluke there. Not every port or boat had the option to escape that. Plus, some fisheries, like for bluefish, seemed slow. So though fluking wasn’t as good as Tom would like aboard, some were caught, and all the boat’s trips sailed in the last days, until too few anglers showed up Tuesday afternoon. The trip then didn’t sail, and apparently weather forecasts finally influenced anglers not to arrive. But, again, the bay wasn’t really affected by the weather or wind direction. Sometimes trips fished Flynn’s Knoll at the mouth of the bay, and seas were fine. If waters a little east or offshore of there were fished, rollers, some of them “chromers,” Tom said, began. But trips stayed inshore of there. The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.
Fluke were boated, and surf anglers sometimes beached striped bass at night on worms or plugs, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Stripers were slugged from the river at night. Bluefish, mixed sizes, were sometimes around. Ocean bottom-fishing was good for ling at the Mudhole, and turned up sea bass closer to shore. Crabbing started to become good. All baits including killies are stocked.
Was no way fluke fishing could be described aboard so far this season, Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> wrote in a report Friday on the vessel’s Web site. He could word reports so the fishing looked like it was on. But it wasn’t. Some customers did catch every day, but a select few limited out or nearly limited, after working hard the whole outing. Trips fished the bay, down the ocean beach, the flats, the mussel beds, the rocks and offshore. You name it, Ron said. But that was only to come back with the same few fish everybody did. Some better-sized fluke were bagged around that time, and 4- or 5-pounders were usually pool-winners. Throwbacks gave up action, and bait caught better than jigs. But anglers who prefer jigs weren’t going to fish bait. The bigger fluke nailed jigs. Quality, not quantity, was the result from jigging. A trip would find fluke at several areas, and a trip the next day would fish there, in the same conditions, and fluke wouldn’t bite. Still, a long season lay ahead, and Ron awakes each morning with the same kick-butt attitude, he said. So when the fish begin to bite, be ready, because trips are taking no prisoners! he said. On night trips, when Ron posted the report, striped bass fishing held up. He was sure the fishing would hold up, because so many bunker schooled. Fishing for porgies could be added on night trips starting this past Monday, opening day of porgy season. They’re great eating, give up great action and are a lot of fun. The Fisherman is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. 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.
<b>Highlands</b>
Fishing was on break a couple of days aboard because of weather, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. But before then, angling on deck picked away at fluke, including a couple of larger ones to 7 pounds, at rough bottom in deep waters on bucktails. Charters will keep fishing for them, and no dates are available for open-boat trips for fluke in the next week or so. But open trips will sail for them when possible, and anglers can telephone to climb aboard or to be kept informed about dates. Striped bass fishing is finished until fall on the boat. Trips for bluefin tuna should begin in the next couple of weeks. A few had been boated on a couple of days about 65 or 70 miles from shore, around Chicken Canyon and sometimes Hudson Canyon, until water quality declined. Waters became a bad color. So Fisher Price will wait for conditions to improve.
Steaming from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Steve, Dan and Dave on the Good Action bagged three fluke at Flynn’s Knoll on spearing, Gulp and squid, Marion wrote in an e-mail. Greg Hanna and buddy Mike last week pounded 15 bluefish, two keeper fluke and a good-sized weakfish at Fynn’s. Live bunker and fresh clams are no longer stocked this season. Demand drops after striped bass fishing eases off. Baits carried include killies and frozen quarts and pints of salted clams, spearing, Peruvian smelts, the different types of squid, and scented shedder crab. Offshore baits like flats of ballyhoos for tuna and chum for sharks are sold.
<b>Neptune</b>
Four trips fished the past three days with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an e-mail Monday. Good catches of ling, cod, large sea bass and a few fluke were plumbed from the ocean. Out-of-season blackfish were released. One of the outings was an individual-reservation trip that slammed sea bass and ling. Individual-reservation trips for fluke and sea bass are sailing every Tuesday, and kids under 12 sail free, limited to two per adult host. An individual-reservation wreck-fishing trip is set for July 21. Only three spaces remain for an individual-reservation trip for cod, pollock and hake on July 24. Morning and afternoon charters are available daily.
<b>Belmar</b>
On the <b>Big Mohawk</b>, fluke fishing was very good on the ocean through early in the week, Capt. Chris said. But now the angling suffered from southerly winds. Fifteen or 20 anglers per trip limited out last week, and Gulps caught the flatfish best. A few sea bass were in the mix. The weather is supposed to break in the next week or so, but anglers will see what happens. Evening striped bass trips are finished for the season aboard. The Big Mohawk is sailing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
On the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, today’s trip searched for striped bass and bluefish, an e-mail from the vessel said. None was found, though acres and acres of bunker, forage that could attract them, schooled. So the trip bottom-fished on anchor, rounding up a mix of fluke and sea bass. The Miss Belmar Princess is sailing for striped bass and blues 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily.
A trip for fluke and sea bass on Monday was rescheduled on the <b>Katie H</b>, Capt. Mike said. Weather forecasts were questionable, and seas were somewhat rough, and Shark River Inlet was a terror. More of the fishing will probably sail this weekend aboard. Sharks remained in the ocean, and charters for them are an option. A couple of trips from other boats from the docks wrestled thresher sharks recently. The season’s first bluefin tuna trip is slated to sail at the end of the month on the Katie H. Mike heard about no bluefins boated yet, but saw the tuna break water on a couple of shark trips recently. The Katie H is an offshore specialist, though trips also fish inshore fully. Overnight trips for yellowfin tuna, farther offshore at the canyons, begin later this summer, when the fish push into the area, and start biting at night. The Katie H features all the amenities and speed.
Some good days on fluke were pummeled aboard from the ocean from Thursday into the weekend with <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Pete said. The fishing often dodged weather, then the ocean held a big swell afterward, and fluking became picky at best. Fishing for striped bass, large ones, turned on during a couple of days toward the end of the week, but was sporadic. Trips can also fish for sea bass on the ocean. Rumors said bluefish schooled offshore, and Pete hoped they’d push closer in because of the current weather. Shark fishing remained good on the ocean, when trips last had the weather to sail for them. Many blue sharks stalked, and water temperatures were good for mako sharks, and boaters from the docks landed thresher sharks. Bluefin tuna were caught, but a good ways offshore. They’ll begin to move closer, and Pete hopes fishing for them picks up. Trips are available for all these catches, and Parker Pete’s sails for any species on tap. Charters are fishing, and <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/fishing-reports" target="_blank">subscribe to Parker Pete’s e-mailed newsletter</a> to be kept informed about individual-spaces available on charters and for the latest fishing reports. Click on that link to Parker Pete’s fishing reports online, and newsletter sign up can be found on the right side of the page. Or go to the site’s Contact page, and e-mail, asking to subscribe.
<b>***Update, Saturday, 7/6:***</b> Fishing for fluke and sea bass was best, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. Charles Dana, Freehold, landed four keeper fluke to 6 pounds on Shark River on one of the shop’s rentals boats. Also on the river, Cody Smewtkowski, Wrightstown, mugged a 5-pound 12-ounce fluke. Culli Pringle, Belmar, boated a 2-pound 3-ounce sea bass on the ocean on a trip from Belmar Marina with dad. Bluefish remained scarce for ocean boaters, and surf fishing for striped bass remained viable. “But you must beat the heat of the day,” Bob said. Plugs, flies, clams and chunks of bunker all caught the stripers. <b>***Update, Sunday, 7/7:***</b> Ocean fluke fishing was as hot as the weather Saturday, Bob wrote in an e-mail. Catches included limits of the fish to 4 and 5 pounds on boats from Belmar, and 6-inch Gulps on jigs were the tackle to fish, anglers said.
<b>Brielle</b>
Some mid-week dates are available charters for any species in season, Capt. Ken from the <b>Big Kid</b> wrote in an e-mail.
<b>***Update, Thursday, 7/4:***</b> Fishing turned around during the past two days, especially on Wednesday, after tougher angling previously, in winds and seas, Capt. Ryan from the party boat <b>Jamaica II</b> wrote in an e-mail. Catches especially picked up on Wednesday afternoon’s trip. Erik Stengler won the pool with a 9-pound 2-ounce fluke on the trip, but wasn’t in the monthly pool. “Chimney” Pete LaCour landed more than his limit of fluke to 5 pounds on the outing, keeping no more than his quota. The trip’s anglers with limits of fluke also included Pete Talevi, Young Park, Bob Plasket and Carl Weems. Most of their fish weighed 3 to 5 pounds, and Young Park’s weighed up to a 6-1/2-pound fluke. Throwbacks were in the mix, but not many. Ryan hoped this was the start of better fluking. 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. <b>***Update, Saturday, 7/6:***</b> A good spread of fluke was caught around the boat on Friday morning, Ryan wrote in an e-mail. A few anglers limited out, and the vessel fished in 60 feet of waters, 5 miles from shore. Bucktails scored best, especially ½-ounce bucktails in “glow” color, tipped with squid or spearing, when rigged as a teaser on a high-low rig with a 4-ounce weight. Waters were 49 degrees on bottom. “Oh man,” Ryan said, “if they’re biting like this, wait till it hits 60 degrees.” Clyde Rangg from Westminster, Britain, limited out on fluke to 5 pounds. Alex Pilewwski, Trenton, limited on the fish to 6 pounds, and Ed Stacy, Barnegat, limited on the summer flounder to 5 pounds. The Bullock family boxed a cooler full of fluke and three good-sized whiting.
<b>***Update, Friday, 7/5:***</b> A couple of drifts for bluefish were tried on Thursday’s trip on the party boat <b>Big Jamaica</b>, an e-mail from the vessel said. But only one small blue was hooked, so the trip switched to bottom-fishing. That angling was very good, serving up plenty of ling and sea bass and a few whiting, small cod and small pollock. Michael Hines, Staten Island, won the pool with a 4-pound ling. Weather looks good for the next days, and trips will keep looking for blues, but if none show up, the boat will fish for ling, sea bass, fluke or whatever bites best. The Big Jamaica is fishing on two trips daily at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. <b>***Update, Saturday, 7/6:***</b> A good catch of ling, and some sea bass mixed in, were plundered aboard Friday, an e-mail from the boat said. A 4-pound ling was the pool-winner, and the crew is keeping a lookout for bluefish, but until healthy numbers show up, trips will chase sea bass, ling and fluke. Customers have all been leaving with good catches, and if anglers want to enjoy a day on the waters, this is a good time to go. Weather looks great for the next days.
<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>
A couple of trips were cancelled because of weather with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Alan, the boat’s owner, wrote in an e-mail. But a trip ran Sunday for sea bass with three generations of a family. A big heave on the ocean and strong currents were tough for fishing. But the anglers stuck with the angling to box good-sized sea bass, ling and eels. The crew hopes to resume fishing soon, both inshore, like this, and offshore. Offshore trips recently plowed sharks, covered in previous reports, and will fish for tuna soon. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.
Seas were big, but one of the mixed-bag, mid-shore trips sailed Wednesday with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>, a report on Andrea’s Toy’s Web site said. First, the trip trolled for bluefin tuna, scoring knock-downs, but no hook-ups, and the seas made trolling difficult. Lots of life was seen, including birds working the waters, whales, turtles and marked baitfish. The anglers switched to fishing a wreck on anchor, bagging cod and big, baseball-bat ling. Then the trip drifted for tuna or sharks. Chunks of hooked baits and jigs were fished, and brown sharks were caught and released, but the abundance of sharks and bluefish made getting the hooks to tuna impossible. On the way home, the trip fished a wreck closer to shore, pumping in sea bass and ling. The annual mixed-bag trips, both charters and open-boat, sail for fish that can include sharks, bluefin tuna, cod, pollock, sea bass and ling, all in one outing. Later this season, the trips will push all the way offshore, fishing overnight, for a mix that can include yellowfin tuna, sharks, swordfish, mahi mahi, tilefish and more. Telephone if interested, and Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner.
Waters were chilly, because of south winds, but Capt. Butch from the party boat <b>Dauntless</b> liked that, because colder waters were good for the vessel’s ling fishing, he said. More ling than sea bass were decked aboard the past couple of days, and catches were good. Anglers averaged 15 to 30 fish apiece. A ground swell seemed to affect fishing for sea bass in shallower waters, though a few sea bass were hooked. But ling fishing was better then, because the deeper waters targeted for them escaped effects of the swell better. Previously, sometimes more ling were caught, and other times more sea bass were. Trips fished in 60 to 120 feet, and water temperatures fluctuated between 52 and 56 degrees. On a couple of mornings, waters 48 degrees were seen, because of the southerly. Trips sailed every day, or weather and the swell failed to prevent that. The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. On nighttime trips, sailing 7:30 to 1 o’clock Wednesdays through Saturdays, bluefishing was terrible, and the night fishing schedule will be changed. Those trips will now fish for ling and sea bass from Wednesdays through Fridays and for blues on Saturdays. Previously, all the night trips fished for blues, but blues were almost nonexistent for the entire fleet. But the hope is that will change.
<b>Toms River</b>
Small croakers and spots were clammed from bulkheads on Toms River, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Crabbing picked up, becoming like it should be on the river and at other places, like on Barnegat Bay along Route 37 Bridge and, farther south, Good Luck Point. Blowfishing remained very good on the bay, a little west of the BB marker. A few fluke were bagged around the BB and BI. Small bluefish were trolled or caught on cast lures from the bay. Sea bass were boated at the Tire Reef on the ocean, but little was heard from the ocean, because of winds and seas. South winds are always worst for Barnegat Bay, too. In the surf, fluke, fairly good catches, were banked on bucktails or fluke rigs. Not many striped bass and blues came from the surf, or fishing for them was mostly slow. But when they were beached, the stripers were mostly 26 to 30 inches, and the blues were 2 to 3 pounds. Fresh bunker grabbed them more than clams did.
<b>Seaside Heights</b>
The dock was 100 percent opened today at <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>, John said. That was eight months after Hurricane Sandy destroyed it. Surf fishing served up a slow pick of striped bass at Island Beach State Park. Nothing was heard about bluefish from the surf in a couple of days. But the good news was that sizeable fluke were sometimes beached from the park. A 21-incher was checked in Tuesday form the park that smacked a bucktail with Gulp on low tide. Crabbing was definitely picking up, and rental boaters returned with 1 ½ to 2 dozen keepers, after working for them a little. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, sandworms and all frozen baits are stocked. Killies were scarce and weren’t carried. The Dock Outfitters features bait and tackle, docks to fish and crab from and boat and jet ski rentals.
<b>Forked River</b>
Barnegat Bay was crammed with blowfish, including around the 40, 42, BI and BB, said Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Basically they hovered at any of the spots fluke swam, in the middle of the bay, she said. Fluking was good at the BI and BB, the research buoy between them, Double Creek Channel and High Bar Harbor. A few hugged the Tire Reef in the ocean, and the reef gave up good sea bass catches. Kingfish and a few weakfish swam the bay. Nothing was heard about bluefish, and their absence was surprising this season. The party boat Miss Barnegat Light, a bluefish boat, switched to fishing for fluke and sea bass. Shark fishers on the ocean couldn’t find blues for bait on the way offshore, like they usually can. Sharks were cranked from the ocean, when boaters could sail the waters in seas and winds. Crabbing was slow for recreationals, and commercial pots trapped them better. Killies, big ones that Grizz nets, are stocked, and all frozen baits are carried. Sandworms arrived for the holiday weekend.
<b>Barnegat Light</b>
Fishing was weathered out since the weekend on the <b>Super Chic</b>, Capt. Ted said. But previously trips bottom-fished on the ocean, scooping up sea bass and ling, fair to good catches. The only bluefish landed aboard lately were 1- to 3-pounders from Barnegat Inlet on a few trips, when the tide was right. Then the tide changed, no longer coinciding with trips. But bluefishing on the ocean was slow. A few fluke began to bite in the ocean before southerly winds and the swell that began Saturday. Ted hopes that angling keeps improving, because it showed potential, maybe. Two spaces are available for a tilefish trip offshore that will depart 10 p.m. Saturday. Telephone to reserve. The 56-foot boat can accommodate up to 25 anglers on inshore trips and 10 on overnight, offshore trips. The vessel sleeps 10 passengers.
The party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> began fishing for fluke and sea bass on the ocean last week, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. The boat usually sails for bluefish on the ocean, but blues were past due to arrive, so trips switched to the bottom-fishing. Plenty of keeper sea bass were swung aboard Tuesday’s trip, and no keeper fluke were, but many throwback fluke were let go. A few sea bass and one fluke were bagged on Monday’s trip, and all anglers left with fish. The Miss Barnegat Light is sailing for fluke and sea bass 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.
Lot of weather, Vince Jr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b> agreed, when asked. But fluke were lifted from Barnegat Bay along the Dike near the shop. They were also boated from High Bar Harbor and Double Creek Channel, he heard. Loads of blowfish hovered in the bay, and few fished for weakfish in the bay. But weakfish were heard about from the waters. Striped bass fishing was dropping off for the season. But stripers were socked along Barnegat Inlet’s south jetty on livelined spots. The spots, killies and all the frozen baits are stocked. The shop rents boats for fishing, crabbing and clamming and kayaks. Bobbie’s includes a bait and tackle store and a fuel dock, and is known for a large bait selection. Live grass shrimp usually begin to be carried later this month.
<b>Surf City</b>
More and more was mentioned about kingfish flung from the surf in recent days, said Brendan from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. One of the crew from the shop hit the surf an hour, returning with seven kings from small to really good-sized, landed on pieces of bloodworms. Fishbites artificial worms could also be fished for them. Occasional keeper fluke were bagged from the surf, and Brendan prefers to fish for them with a bucktail with a teaser with 4-inch Gulps or strips of squid for bait. A few striped bass and bluefish were dragged from the surf in the last days. Brendan prefers fresh clams for the bass, but fresh bunker gives a chance to catch both stripers and blues. Brendan has caught blues on clams, and they can bite nearly anything. But bunker usually works better than clams on them, and mullet on a mullet rig could also be dunked for blues. From the bay, blowfish were boated. Customers steadily bought supplies for crabbing. When they crabbed from bulkheads, high tides were best, though all tides could produce. Minnows are stocked, after the minnow tank was recently repaired after the hurricane in autumn. Two-hundred pounds of fresh bunker is supposed to arrive today. Fresh clams and all frozen bait is in supply. The store’s annual <b><i>Free Surf Fishing Seminars</i></b> are under way. Held 6- to 7 p.m. every Sunday, rain or shine, in the parking lot until Labor Day, the classes cover the fishing that’s happening now, and bring a beach chair. Visit <a href="http://www.surfcitybaitandtackle.com/" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s Web site</a>. Keep in touch on <a href=" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Surf-City-Bait-and-Tackle/207533229268619
" target="_blank">Surf City Bait & Tackle’s Facebook page</a>.
<b>Mystic Island</b>
Though rains kept coming and going, summer flounder were picked away from Great Bay, said Maureen from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Lots more were throwbacks than keepers, but there was “activity,” she said, and that was good. Croakers schooled off Graveling Point, and a few flounder hugged bottom there, too. When boaters could sail the ocean, sea bass fishing was decent. This was a good year for crabbing, probably because of a mild winter, with no real freeze that killed some of the blueclaws, and because fewer crabbed, because of the hurricane. All baits are stocked, Maureen thought. That usually includes fresh, shucked clams, minnows, grass shrimp and bloodworms.
<b>Absecon</b>
Not a lot could be reported, except wind blowing, and rains that kept falling, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. But the weather dropped water temperatures, and striped bass fishing took off, along sod banks closer to Absecon Inlet. Mankiller Bay was a good bet, and livelined spots were best bait, by far. Stripers seem to appear from nowhere when waters dip to 65 degrees. Many of the bass were keepers, though not many big ones were known about. Summer flounder fishing was affected by fluctuating water temperatures and southerly winds that muddied waters on the back bay. The flatfish were caught far back in the bay, wherever winds and tides created the right conditions. Weakfish swam everywhere in the bay, and the mouth of Mullica River harbored most. Panfishing was great on the bay, giving up action for kids or anglers, if anglers wanted that, like between landing other fish. Spots, including eating-sized, not just bait-sized, were in, and fairly sizeable croakers swam. The fish roamed farther back in the bay than Dave ever saw. Up the rivers, white perch fishing was “normal,” Dave said, neither good nor slow. Crabbing wasn’t bad, wasn’t great. Plenty of minnows are stocked, and the supply improved, so the price was dropped to $10 a pint, and that could be guaranteed through the weekend, because the supplier promised the baitfish would be available. Live spots and shedder crabs are on hand.
<b>Brigantine</b>
From the surf, kingfish, spots and brown sharks were banked, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. The back bay’s summer flounder fishing became slow, for unknown reasons. The fishing had been good on incoming tides, until the past couple of days. Bloodworms, Fishbites artificial worms, plenty of minnows and all frozen baits are carried.
<b>Atlantic City</b>
<b>***Update, Thursday, 7/4:***</b> Anglers on foot cashed in on summer flounder, kingfish – lots, and good-sized – croakers and a couple of triggerfish, not many, at Absecon Inlet, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. That’s nearby and lined with lots of fish-attracting jetties. For the flounder, minnows and squid were fished. For the kings and croakers, bloodworms, clams or head-on shrimp were soaked. For the triggers, the tropical species, a sign that warm-water fish were moving in, clams or any crustacean were tossed. One kid and his dad stopped by with probably eight or nine keeper flounder between them, including a 20-incher weighed in. Catch the sale on bucktails, at almost wholesale prices. They’re going for: 1/8 ounce, $1.79; ¼ ounce, $1.85; 3/8 ounce, $1.89; ½ ounce, $1.95; 5/8 ounce, $2; ¾ ounce, $2.09; 1 ounce, $2.20; 1 ½ ounces, $2.29; 2 ounces, $2.99; and 3 ounces, $3.49. Colors are all-white, green-and-white, chartreuse-and-white, yellow-and-white, pink-and-white, red-and-white and purple-and-white. Baits stocked include minnows, fresh clams in the shell or shucked, fresh bunker, bloodworms and frozen sand eels, herring, peanut bunker, head-on shrimp, spearing, a large variety of squids and more. One Stop’s second store, located at Gardner’s Basin at 800 North New Hampshire Avenue, is also open. The original, remaining open, is at 416 Atlantic Avenue.
<b>Margate</b>
The back bay was filthy, because of weather, making summer flounder fishing tougher there on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. Keepers were usually reeled aboard trips, but the angling wasn’t good, and not even a ton of throwbacks bit. When waters were clearer, toward the top of tides, lots of flounder were hooked. Many of the fish remained in the bay, and weather looks better for the coming week, and tides are supposed to be good for the fishing on trips this weekend. So the fishing should be better, after the difficult conditions. A few bluefish were mixed in, and tons of spots filled the bay. No weakfish were landed, though weaks were caught earlier this year. Minnows and mackerel are supplied for bait. Minnows had been scarce, but the supply improved aboard. Mackerel caught a little better in dirty waters. Gulps catch flounder well, for those who bring their own supply of the artificial baits. Keeper is fishing for summer flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. daily. Prices are great, because the pontoon boat is economical on fuel, and the fishing on the bay is close to port. Trips are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for kids.
<b>Ocean City</b>
Summer flounder fishing was good on the back bay, and many sizeable ones held in the bay this time of year, said Jake from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Fluctuating water temperatures kept the fish from migrating to the ocean yet. Weakfish swam the bay, and striped bass could be hooked from the bay in evenings on soft-plastic lures or popper plugs or at night on soft-plastics. Not many bluefish were heard about. The ocean was rough for boating, so nothing was reported about sea bass. When boaters could reach offshore, they trolled yellowfin tuna, mostly at Wilmington Canyon. Good catches of them were made two weekends ago. Bluefin tuna catches had started to be heard about from places like the Hot Dog and the Ham Bone, closer to shore. Sharks including big threshers were battled from the ocean before the weather. Brown sharks started to be abundant. In the back waters, like along 34th Street Bridge, crabbing was good during sunny, warm weather, not rainy weather. Some of the blueclaws were fairly good-sized. Minnows, fresh clams and frozen baits are stocked.
<b>Sea Isle City</b>
That was a tough few days of weather, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. But inshore shark fishing’s been good aboard. The angling, usually within 10 miles from shore, is a chance to fight big fish to 100 pounds, mostly brown and dusky sharks, required to be released, and blacktips on spinning or fly rods, without the long trek offshore. The fishing’s similar to offshore sharking. A chum slick is set up, and baits like mackerel fillets are used on spinning tackle. On fly gear, chum flies are cast on flexible wire leaders, and the importance of presentation is surprising. A delicate fly spooks the big monsters if the presentation doesn’t look like a piece of chum dropping naturally in the waters. Charters are also picking away at summer flounder on the back bay, and high tides at dusk will be ideal in the coming week for striped bass fishing on the bay with popper plugs and flies. The fishing, drawing explosive surface attacks, is one of the specialties aboard in summer. Jersey Cape is also fishing for tuna and marlin offshore. Nothing could be heard from the waters in seas that kept the fishing docked in recent days. But Jersey Cape already trolled yellowfin tuna at Baltimore Canyon this season, and the year’s first white and blue marlin were heard about. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.
Reports, scarce in the weather, did come in about fishing picking up for striped bass and weakfish on the back bay at night, compared with a week ago, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Fly-rodding caught them well, but spinning rods hooked them, mostly on Fin-S Fish and Bass Assassins. Muddy waters from rains had affected the bay’s summer flounder fishing. But Tuesday afternoon was the first without rains, and a few flounder catches began to be heard about. Flounder were still beached from shore at Townsend’s Inlet. In the ocean surf, kingfish chewed, and croakers were mixed in. Nothing was heard about bluefish. Some anglers managed to sail on a trip on the ocean, not far from shore, for sea bass, despite seas, catching a good number of keepers, worthwhile to fish for them, they said. But seas were too rough for shark and tuna fishing farther from the coast. Nobody was known about who ventured to 30 miles out. Minnows are stocked, and shedder crabs are carried off and on, whenever available. A supplier was looking for them today, so Mike expected to carry them soon. The shop’s crew was busy filling shelves with supplies after the store recently was expanded considerably. Check it out.
<b>Wildwood</b>
No boats ran from the docks at <b>No Bones Bait & Tackle</b> in winds and rains, Fred said. So nothing was reported about fishing, though summer flounder catches had picked up in the back bay previously. Weakfish had also been caught there, and more weaks had been drilled from Hereford Inlet. The shop’s rental boats are available to fish and crab on the back bay. Baits stocked can include minnows, and they were scarce previously, but Fred wasn’t asked if that was still the case, and anglers can telephone to ask. Baits carried include frozen peeler crabs in brine, good for weakfishing, spearing, mullet, herring, mackerel, different amounts of frozen clams and all the usual.
A break in winds is needed, but if winds give, the back bay’s fishing should be fine, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. Previously summer flounder and weakfish were docked from the bay. Crabbing could be better from the waters, but the blueclaws were trapped. Mike wasn’t asked whether minnows are stocked, but they were carried the last time he was asked, for last week’s report. Baits include scented and unscented squid strips, scented pink and green strips, trolling squid, tube squid, pints and quarts of salted clams, non-salted clams in both 1 pound and 9 ounces, whole mackerel, filleted mackerel, mullet, spearing and herring. No. 2 crabs for eating are for sale for $12 per dozen live or $16 per dozen cooked. The blueclaws are cooked to order, as fresh as can be.
<b>Cape May</b>
Sea bass fishing on the ocean was weathered out Monday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. When trips last sailed for the bottom-fishing, catches of sea bass and ling were good. Outings had to run 20 to 30 miles from shore for the fish, but that, and tuna fishing farther away, was the best angling lately. Nobody might’ve fished for tuna since Thursday, George thought, because of seas. But yellowfin tuna catches seemed decent between Wilmington and Baltimore canyons. Tilefishing was good offshore, if anglers knew where to go. George has got a couple of good spots. A few summer flounder began to be caught from the ocean before the weather. Telephone if interested in any of this fishing.
No trips sailed during the past couple of days, because rains in mornings kept anglers from showing up, said Capt. Paul from the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>. Customers dealt with conditions like flooding at home. Before then, strong southerly winds and an ocean swell either kept anglers from showing up or kept summer flounder from biting much that trips aboard targeted. Last Wednesday was about the last time conditions, and the fishing, were better. But Paul hoped to get trips rolling again today, and the Porgy IV is sailing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.
Weakfishing, in the back bay, along the surf jetties, and at Cape May Canal, was alright, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Weaks should school Delaware Bay at places like the stakes near Bug Light. Croakers were probably the largest there than anywhere, and the hardheads swam nearly everyplace, including the back bay and the canal. Summer flounder skittered around in good numbers mostly in the back bay and at Cape May Reef in the ocean, when trips could fish the ocean, before rough seas and winds. Nothing was heard about flounder from Delaware Bay. Cape May Channel harbored a mix of kingfish, flounder, weakfish and croakers, like usual in summer. Bluefish are usually in the mix, but weren’t this year. Seas were rough for hearing about fishing the ocean farther out for sea bass, sharks and tuna. Old reports about yellowfin tuna boated from Baltimore Canyon were the most recent. Minnows, shedder crabs, bloodworms and all frozen baits are carried.