<b>Perth Amboy</b>

Scott Paciello headed a group from ESPN who tugged in fluke Tuesday on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank wrote in an e-mail. “Good quality fish to 8 pounds,” he wrote. The e-mail included a photo of Scott holding two 7- and 8-pounders. Bucktails and fluke rigs caught equally, and Gulp in Nuclear Chicken was the bait to dunk. On a trip Wednesday, hardly any current flowed along the ocean beach, and fluking just wasn’t good. Currents ran at the channels, but the fishing still wasn’t good. So the anglers switched to porgies, good-sized, and croakers, soon filling a 5-gallon bucket. “The boys went home happy,” Frank said. Another fluke trip is set for Sunday, and charters and open-boat trips are sailing, and telephone about the open trips. Vitamin Sea also fishes from Staten Island. "Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Keyport</b>

Just a few keeper fluke, but two of them 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 pounds, were snatched up at Ambrose Channel in difficult fishing conditions Tuesday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Wind blew against tide most of the trip. “Quite uncomfortable,” he said. The anglers, Mike Nekulak and group, kept fishing, dealing well, considering. Space is available on open-boat trips for fluke daily through Labor Day when no charter is booked. Telephone to jump aboard.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Pretty nasty morning on today’s fluke trip, Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Outgoing tide butted against easterly wind, kicking up seas. Few places could be fished without making customers seasick. So the trip took a ride to reach better conditions. Ron still had to work the throttles to keep the boat straight, but anglers slugged away at some very good-sized keepers. Vinny “Vintastic” kicked off the sizeable catches with a 5-pound fluke, then landed a couple of more keepers. Several larger fluke were tackled, and the pool-winner topped 6 pounds. On incoming tide, the ocean calmed, turning on fluking, but lots more throwbacks chewed than keepers. “Lots of action, and lots of splashin’!” Ron said. Weather looks good for the weekend.  The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Trips are sailing for a mix of fish, like porgies, croakers, fluke, blues and striped bass, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays.

Fluke fishing “is good again,” said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Catches slowed previously, and he wasn’t asked the reason, but probably last week’s full moon. Lots of bottom-fish like croakers and spots bit in the bay and rivers. Big bluefish were chummed now at the Mudhole, after the slammers were scarce before. Trips sometimes ran into them along the surface, where they could be jigged, like on the way home. Plenty of ling blanketed the Hole. One local charter boat kept sailing for them. All baits are stocked, including spearing and killies. 

On the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, fluke trips fished all different places, Capt. Tom said, including the mussel bottom between the channels, Sandy Hook Channel and down the ocean beach. The fishing wasn’t great, but all spots produced. Some days were better than others, and catches depended on conditions. All trips sailed, and some days were windy, or other conditions popped up at times, like Tom thought the boat would drift better than it did Wednesday. The boat on a trip would fish at Sandy Hook Channel, and some throwbacks and keepers would bite. Or the vessel would fish the mussel bottom, and angling would be similar. The boat fished there Monday, and not a lot of fluke hit, but some good-sized ones did. Tuesday morning’s trip sailed down the beach, and fluking wasn’t great, but one angler limited out. Sea robins were somewhat annoying along the beach, but some fluke were there. The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

<b>Highlands</b>

After fluke fishing somewhat slowed last week, because of the full moon, it started to bounce back this week, said Capt. Derek from <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>. That was because of the waning moon, and some better-sized fluke were slapped aboard this week. The fish 5- to 7-pounds bit more consistently, and a 10.1-pounder was slammed Wednesday aboard. Trips are bucktailing rough bottom in deep water for them. Charters are fishing, and open-boat trips for fluke are set for Saturday and next week on Tuesday through Friday. Telephone to climb aboard or to be kept informed about future open trips. Fisher Price has also sailed for bluefin tuna and sharks recently, and either of those trips are available for charter. Bluefin catches slowed in past days, Derek heard, but that can change.

Sailing from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Jake Lawrence limited out on fluke at Sandy Hook Channel, Marion wrote in an e-mail. He fished Gulps, spearing and squid, and not much else was heard about fish bagged. Twin Lights, conveniently located on Shrewsbury River, with no bridges before Raritan Bay and the ocean, features boat slips, rack storage, a fuel dock, ship’s store supplies, and a complete bait and tackle shop. Baits carried can 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 are sold.

<b>Neptune</b>

The weekly individual-reservation trip for fluke on Tuesday began fishing in brisk winds on the ocean with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an e-mail. Only one keeper was managed along the beach, so the trip pushed farther from shore. Winds somewhat calmed, but anglers had to deal with strong southerly current. Still, some great-sized fluke were decked. George Barsa won the pool with an 8.3-pounder. Bill Pissarra and other anglers almost limited out. Ralph’s granddaughter Corrine and her dad joined the trip, landing two keepers and some throwbacks. The trips are sailing every Tuesday, and kids under 12 sail free, limited to two per adult host. The final one of the trips, on September 24, the final day of fluke season, will run 10 hours, instead of the usual 8, and everybody, including kids, will have to pay on that outing. 

<b>Belmar</b>

Fluke fishing was pretty good on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, Capt. Chris said. On a couple of days, the fishing was “kind of funny,” he said, because the boat wouldn’t drift. But in general the angling was pretty decent. A 9-pounder was the pool-winner on Wednesday, and the boat fishes rough bottom in the ocean for fluke. Anglers usually jig the fish, and the Big Mohawk is sailing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Some shots at 10- to 19-pound bluefish were tied into this morning on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b> on the ocean, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Seas were “a little bouncy,” it said, but winds backed off in the afternoon. Then very good shots at the big blues – “monsters,” the report said – were sometimes smashed. The fishing was good on the trip, and was very good on Wednesday’s. On that day, 3- to 5-pound blues were crunched in the morning. When the angling slowed, the trip took a ride, and 12- to 18-pounders were found for an hour. The fishing was mayhem, and several of the trip’s anglers ended up limiting out. Bluefishing in past days was similar aboard, and on nighttime trips was excellent for 3- to 6-pounders. The Golden Eagle is bluefishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily.

On the ocean, fluke fishing was picky Tuesday and Wednesday with <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Pete said. Strong winds against tide hampered the boat’s drift Tuesday, making the angling tough. Just the opposite, no winds and no currents, were difficult Wednesday, preventing much drift. But the anglers picked away throughout the day, and some limited out, and some didn’t. Fluke are migrating, are on the move, so trips are looking around to find the large ones. Lots of sizeable, out-of-season sea bass were let go, and fishing for them should be good when sea bass season is opened September 27, Pete thinks. Parker Pete’s sails for any species available. 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.

“So we see the end in sight,” Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. “Summer’s over, and the beach is turned over to the locals,” he said. He hopes autumn won’t end up like last year, or that the next hurricane, like Sandy last fall, is years away. Fishing in past days was about the same as before. The ocean gave up very good fluke catches, and Shark River’s fluking was so-so, turning up “shorts and more shorts,” he said. Bluefishing was good on the ocean for a mix of medium and large ones.  Snapper blues “continue to excite the children (in Shark River), as do the large number of sea robins in the area,” he said. Surf fishing for striped bass became a little slower in past days, because of flat seas. But surf angling should heat up with autumn’s welcomed coming. “Have a great (Labor Day) holiday,” Bob said.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Porgies began to be targeted on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. “It’s porgy time,” he said. The fishing went fairly well, and trips began chasing them Saturday, if Butch remembered. Trips sailed north for them, fishing off Sea Bright to Sandy Hook. Some anglers totaled 20 to 40, and sometimes anglers limited out on 50. The fish were good-sized, up to 2 ½ or 3 pounds, and a few triggerfish, fluke and blackfish were mixed in. On nighttime bottom-fishing trips, ling fishing was a little slow, but most anglers picked up 10 to 20. On Saturday night’s bluefish trip, catches weren’t so great. But that can change. The Dauntless is fishing for porgies 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Trips are bottom-fishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and bluefishing on Saturday nights during the same hours. After this Labor Day weekend, the night trips will probably run Fridays and Saturdays another week or so.

For trips on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, fluke fishing, on the ocean, was a little on the slow side, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. But this morning’s catch was okay, and a few better-sized ones were taken, and an 8-pounder was the pool-winner. He didn’t call the angling good, and this afternoon’s catch was slower. But he hopes the fish start chewing better. Nighttime bluefishing was decent aboard the ocean. Tuesday night’s trip, the most recent mentioned on the site, banged away at 3-pound blues, after the boat was moved a couple of times. Most anglers totaled five to ten of them, and some limited out. Everyone left with a good bag of “meat.” 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.

Mixed-bag, mid-shore trips, both charters and open-boat, found lots of bluefin tuna, mahi mahi and cod, said Capt. Fred from <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>. But a trip was headed all the way offshore to the canyons today. However, one of the open mid-shore trips steamed this week, a report on Andrea’s Toy’s Web site said on Tuesday. When the trip arrived at the bluefin grounds, it looked around, and heard the fishing was a pick. Still, good marks were run across, and the anglers began jigging. One of the tuna was hooked right away, and the 46-incher was decked. The trip looked around again, finding more marks, and hooked another. The angler, a newbie on the outings, a young man aboard with his dad, also new, made short work of the tuna, his first-ever. The fish was landed, tagged and released. The trip’s other two anglers were regulars on the boat. Then the group decided to fish for mahi mahi. One was boated, and the anglers decided to bottom-fish. That was “slow,” the report said, and only ling, no other fish like cod, were cranked in. The trip motored inshore, and worked a pod of bunker to try for sharks. But a bonito, the season’s first aboard, and bluefish ended up being jigged there instead. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. The trips will also fish all the way offshore when that angling takes off. Telephone if interested in any of the fishing.

<b>Toms River</b>

The Toms River harbored spots, snapper blues, croakers and crabs at Island Heights, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Barnegat Bay’s blowfishing slowed quite a bit, but they were still boated on anchor while anglers chummed. A few keeper fluke, lots of shorts, remained at Double Creek Channel in the bay. Fluke were clubbed from the ocean in 50 feet. Catches were good at Barnegat Ridge North. In the surf, bluefish 2 to 3 pounds were sometimes waxed, and puffers were sometimes plucked. No kingfish were heard about from the surf. Sharks, skates and sea robins nibbled in the waters.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Surf casters banked fluke on bucktails with teasers, said Mario from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>, and they beached small bluefish. Any kingfish in the surf? he was asked. Some, not many, he said. In Barnegat Bay, lots of snapper blues schooled around the dock. The shop’s rental boaters who crabbed scored okay on the blueclaws. Baits stocked include fresh bunker and fresh clams. The Dock Outfitters, located on the bay, features an extensive supply of bait and tackle, a dock to fish and crab from, boat rentals for fishing and crabbing, and jet ski rentals.

<b>Forked River</b>

Barnegat Bay still shoveled up summer flounder, on incoming and outgoing tides, on bucktails or Spros, said Jana from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. From the ocean, some good fluke reports were heard from the Tires, Garden State Reef North and Harvey Cedars Lump. Blowfishing remained good in the bay in shallows 5 and 6 feet near the 42 and the research buoy. The catches were talked about from both north and south of the research buoy, from the mainland side. Anglers anchored, chummed with clam and fished with small pieces of clam or squid. Fish caught mixed-in with the blows included kingfish, spots and weakfish. Some boaters anchored mainly for the kings, because lots were around. One said he’d rather go for the kings than the blowfish. Oyster Creek was loaded with croakers. Weakfish catches were mentioned from there sometimes. Snapper blues schooled lagoons. Big blues were bombed from the ocean to the north, toward Belmar. Triggerfish hugged Barnegat Inlet’s jetties. Crabbing was good, always becoming better this time of year. One customer bought bunker oil to chum for crabs, saying he caught more than everybody around him like that. Killies, fresh spearing, the complete supply of frozen baits, and chum is stocked.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

A handful of keeper fluke were eased aboard today’s trip, a report on the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>’s Web site said. Slow day, it said. “Difficult to get the drift going.” Plenty of shorts gave up action. But Tuesday’s fluking was best of the year on the boat. Forty were bagged. “Awesome!” it said. Wednesday’s catch was good, but not like Tuesday’s, and Wednesday’s drift was less favorable. The Miss Barnegat Light is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.

The <b>Super Chic</b> last fished Sunday, for fluke, and was supposed to run again today and Friday for fluke, Capt. Ted said. Fluking was good aboard Thursday and Friday, and was a little tough Saturday, but the fish bit. On Sunday, conditions were great for fluking, but the fish didn’t chomp well. The trips fished the ocean from 50 to 70 feet, and 55 to 65 feet probably fluked best. Trips are also bluefishing, and that angling seemed good to the north. Space is available on an open-boat tilefish trip overnight Friday to Saturday, October 18 to 19. The season’s first tuna trip was currently slated to fish overnight on September 15. Yellowfin tuna usually begin to be caught at night by then, and nothing was heard about catches in the dark yet. Good catches of bigeye tuna were trolled during daytime at canyons. The 56-foot boat can accommodate up to 25 anglers on inshore trips and 10 on overnight, offshore trips. The vessel sleeps 10 passengers.

From <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>, fluke, mostly throwbacks, but a fair share of keepers, were hooked, mostly around Barnegat Inlet, Vince Jr. said. Rental-boaters angled them mostly toward the Dike. Good fluking reportedly came from the ocean at Garden State Reef North and the Tires. Blackfish were heard about from along the inlet’s rocks. Blowfish hovered Barnegat Bay near the BI marker. Crabbing wasn’t great along the bay near the shop, but clamming was very good in the waters. Clammers raked as many as they wanted. Bobbie’s includes a bait and tackle store, a fuel dock, boat rentals for fishing and crabbing on the bay, and kayak rentals, and is known for a large bait selection. Baits stocked include live spots and killies. 

<b>Surf City</b>

Plenty of spots crammed the surf, said Sue from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. Kingfish, small blues and fluke were dragged from the waters here and there. Sharks were wrestled from the surf at dusk and during night, sometimes during day. No striped bass were reported from the surf. Along Barnegat Inlet’s jetty, blackfish and triggerfish were hooked. A cobia was landed at the condo docks. Fresh bunker and bloodworms are stocked. Frozen baits are carried including spearing, sand eels, smelts, mullet and mackerel. The store’s annual <b><i>Free Surf Fishing Seminars</i></b> were wrapped up last weekend that are held every Sunday in the height of summer, and will take place again next summer. 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>

Kingfish might’ve been showing up, because a customer clammed large ones at the clam stakes near the Fish Factory on the bay while chumming with clams, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Croakers surely schooled off Graveling Point, at the confluence of the bay and Mullica River, like before. Nobody mentioned them, but croakers to three quarters of a pound, not big, schooled nearly everywhere in back waters. Summer flounder carpeted all ocean reefs, and Little Egg Reef and Garden State Reef South were popular for customers. But a charter captain caught them well at Atlantic City Reef, so the fishing was good there, too. Lots of flounder 2 to 7 pounds were weighed in. Scott wasn’t aware that many limits were had, but plenty of good catches were claimed. Snapper blues swam lagoons. So did spots, not large numbers, but anglers picked them to keep in live wells for striped bass fishing this fall. Nobody reported weakfish. Nobody tried for blackfish that should snap along the bay’s banks. This was the time of year, and one of the tautog is the bag limit. An angler could grab green crabs for bait, catch five blackfish in a trip for fun, and have one for dinner. Anglers should learn to catch multiple species in a trip. Nobody mentioned white perch, but perching must be phenomenal this time of season in brackish rivers like the Mullica. Crabbing dropped off since last week’s full moon, becoming the poorest this season, but should bounce back after a while. No strong winds are forecast for the weekend, good news for fishing. Minnows, fresh, shucked clams, bloodworms and green crabs are stocked. Spearing ran out and are scarce from suppliers. Scott could net spearing, he was sure.  

<b>Absecon</b>

Fishing was about the same, and weather was fairly stable, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Plus, bait kept showing up in the back bay. A good number of summer flounder, not great, held in the bay. Anyone who worked for them, bagged some. Good-sized flounder swam Absecon Inlet and holes behind the inlet. Or the fishing was pretty good at 20-foot holes and throughout the inlet. Anglers on foot even winged big ones from the wall or rocks along the inlet. The fish were also hung from the beach along the Brigantine side. If anglers fish from foot, this was a time to hit flounder. Ocean flounder fishing was great, though few boaters seemed to head there for unknown reasons, like maybe the price of fuel to make the 10-mile trip to the reefs. Those who sailed there said catches were great, and maybe four other boats would be seen on the horizon. Anglers might want to take advantage of that, and the weekend’s weather probably looks boatable, and fishing there is a terrific idea. The fish are biting big baits like Gulps. Back in the bay, panfish remained plentiful. Big spots and some nice croakers swam. A bunch of small sea bass schooled the waters, and were usually just short of keeper-sized, but occasional keepers might be hooked, like at structure like a jetty. A few weakfish were around in the bay, and the population never really picked up. But a customer ran into a school of spike weaks in the ocean near shore. Nobody really tried for blackfish, like along bridges, since one could be kept per angler per day starting in mid-July. White perch fishing was on the upswing in brackish rivers like the Mullica, like it should be in late summer, going into fall. Small striped bass, occasional keepers, swam the Mullica, and all the bait seemed to get them excited. They busted on the bait along the surface, under birds working the bait. Anglers might want to be on the lookout for that, like in mornings. Crabbing was on the seasonal upswing, too, and crabs were expensive this year, and people might want to catch their own. Baits stocked include live spots and mullet. Shedder crabs are in good supply, and soft-shell crabs for eating are in. The shop raises the crabs, and they’ll probably be available into September.  

<b>Brigantine</b>

Anglers in the surf beaned spots and fought sharks, though fewer sharks than before, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. The annual Riptide Striper Derby will begin on September 13. When entrants purchase a Brigantine beach-buggy permit, the tournament will allow them to drive onto the beach along the entire island, instead of only at the cove, south jetty and north end. Prizes will be $500, $300 and $150 for first, second and third prizes, respectively. Plus, a monthly $100 prize and a weekly $25 prize will be awarded. Watch <a href=" http://riptidebaitandtackle.com/articles.php?category_id=6" target="_blank">Riptide’s Web site</a> for details that will be posted.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Anglers on foot nabbed kingfish from Absecon Inlet, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish hit very close to shore in shallows on bloodworms. If the anglers cast the worms farther, they pasted croakers and spots. Summer flounder were slugged from the inlet on minnows. One angler hauled in a 12-pounder from the Melrose Avenue jetty last Thursday from the inlet, covered in the last report. The next day, he heaved in a 9-pounder from the same place, both times in shallows at dead low tide. Skinny waters were productive recently. Photos of both fish were included on One Stop’s Facebook page. Striped bass were occasionally axed from the inlet at night. The inlet, located near the store, is lined with fish-attracting jetties. Fresh mullet is stocked. Baits also include minnows, green crabs, fresh clams, bloodworms and frozen sand eels, herring, head-on shrimp, spearing, a large variety of squids and more. An outside vending machine was installed, so anglers can buy bait during after-hours. The baits are frozen clams, squid, head-on shrimp and filleted mackerel. Catch the sale on Bomber lures for $8.99 for the jointed Long A and 5.99 for the smaller, non-jointed. Quantum 7-foot rod-and-reel outfits with line are on sale for $60 for two. Topless, good-quality crab traps are on special for $20 for two or $12.99 for one, and can be stacked. Pyramid-shaped crab traps are two for $15. Bucktails are on sale for these prices, almost wholesale: 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.  One Stop’s second store, located at Gardner’s Basin at 800 North New Hampshire Avenue, is also open.

<b>Margate</b>

On the back bay, summer flounder fishing slowed a little on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, but a few keepers were bagged on each trip, Capt. John said. The keepers were good-sized, and flounder hooked were usually either small or sizeable. Four- and 5-pounders came in, and a 6-pounder was iced last week. Keepers were rarely shorter than 18 inches. Tons of baby sea bass nipped, and other fish like sea robins bit. Minnows and mackerel, supplied aboard, caught the flounder. Gulps that anglers brought landed them well. The 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>

Back-bay fishing rounded up small summer flounder, occasional keepers, decent fishing, said Jake from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Floundering was good on the ocean, including very good at Great Egg Reef. It was good at Atlantic City Reef, he knew. Lots of sheepshead grazed along ocean wrecks. Along the coast, a few bluefish seemed to start arriving, like a few 20-inchers an angler beat from a pier today. Mostly spots were lifted from the surf. Sometimes kingfish were, and brown sharks, required to be released, were clutched from the shore, mostly at night, on chunks of mackerel or bunker. Croakers were heard about from the surf. In the bay, striped bass were played at night, like at bridges on popper plugs or soft-plastic lures. A few weakfish were zonked at bridges at night on any pink lures like Zoom soft-plastics. Jake fished on an offshore trip to Wilmington Canyon on Wednesday that trolled two small yellowfin tuna, some skipjacks and, at 6 p.m., a bigeye tuna, all along the west wall. Yellowfins 20 to 30 pounds, some longfin tuna, and bigeye tuna swam the canyon. Lots of sharks like small makos and some hammerheads ran the canyon. Waters, blue on the trip, held a bunch of life, including dolphins.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

From the ocean, summer flounder to 22 inches were slid-in Wednesday with Dustin Laricks aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Lots of action, lots of throwbacks mixed in, Joe said, and the angling’s been great. Julio and Sergio Rojas shark fished on deck Tuesday, fighting and releasing 70 duskies. That was one of the inshore shark trips on the ocean, usually within 10 miles from shore, a chance to land big fish without the long trek offshore. The fishing usually lasts until Labor Day, but was still phenomenal. This trip spin-rodded them on bait, but Jersey Cape also fly fishes for them. Dusky and brown sharks, both required to be released, and blacktips have been the most common catches. Weather or seas were somewhat rough to reach farther offshore recently, but yellowfin tuna swam Lindenkohl Canyon. A few white marlin were around offshore.  Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

Some of the ocean’s summer flounder moved, and instead of finding them right on reefs, boaters had to look around the area, said Tim from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. But flounder still held in the back bay, and fishing for them was fairly good at Corson’s and Townsend’s inlets, a little better at Corson’s. A few striped bass, not a lot, were hooked in the bay at night. Crabbing was good.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Summer flounder hugged the back bay, but conditions were poor for the fishing, like winds today and rains all day Wednesday, said Fred from <b>No Bones Bait & Tackle</b>. The fishing probably remained the same as before, but little was reported in the conditions, and fish like spots, croakers, baby sea bass and small sand sharks drove anglers crazy. Previously, when more was heard, experienced anglers hooked keepers. The floundering took experience or work. But nothing was heard from experienced anglers or anyone recently, really. Tourists make up most business in summer. A buddy fishing Hereford Inlet came up with no kingfish like he did before. Even crabbing slowed. Striped bass fishing will be next on the bay for customers this fall. They chum and fish with clam bellies, as they’re called. Those are large, shucked surf clams with all the “goo,” or everything that was inside the shell. The shop keeps the bellies in full supply when the fishing’s on. Currently, baits stocked include live spots and minnows and the full frozen selection of baits. No Bones rents boats to fish and crab the bay.    

Nothing changed with fishing, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rental</b>. In past reports, he said a few summer flounder were bagged from the back bay, and weather seemed to create any differences in the angling. Snapper blues and throwback striped bass were around in the waters, and the bay’s crabbing could be better. Canal Side rents boats for fishing and crabbing on the bay. <b>***<i>GET $5 OFF A RENTAL</i>***</b> by mentioning Fishing Reports Now when renting. Baits stocked include minnows, 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, herring, frozen shrimp and a good selection of Gulp artificial baits. Crabs for eating, when available, are sold at market prices, currently $26 per dozen for No. 1’s and $14 per dozen for No. 2’s. The crabs can be steamed to order, fresh as can be, and prices are currently $30 for No. 1’s and $18 for No. 2’s. The crabs might not be carried much longer, because commercial crabbers weren’t trapping them well. They might pull the pots for the season before long, Mike thinks.

<b>Cape May</b>

Summer flounder were caught on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, and some days were better than others, and sometimes some places fished better than others, Capt. Paul said. Lots of throwbacks bit on Wednesday’s trip, and 38 keepers were scattered around the boat. Some anglers bagged three, and the high-hook grabbed four, and some landed no keepers. A 7-pound flounder was the pool-winner, and the boat didn’t really drift that day. On Friday’s trip, fishing at the Old Grounds, three anglers limited out: Matt Lamelza from Ocean City, John Cosenza from Philly and Jon Dougherty from Chester, N.J. On Saturday’s trip, at Cape May Reef, weather was a little windy, “but it was a nice day,” Paul said. Haig Panossian from Newtown Square, Pa., won the pool with a 6-1/2-pound flounder, one of four he bagged. Beautiful, out-of-season sea bass were hooked and released on the trip, and sea bass season will be opened on September 27. All trips fished the ocean, and the Porgy IV is sailing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Fishing for summer flounder was good on the ocean on the <b>Down Deep</b>, Capt. Mario said. Plenty of sharks like browns, required to be let go, were caught and released on Delaware Bay aboard. Any tuna around? Mario was asked. Some yellowfins swam the offshore canyons, he said. Trips also sail for them. Charters are fishing, and sign up for the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s Web site to be kept informed about open-boat trips.

The Parkers sailed for summer flounder at the Old Grounds on the ocean Monday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. They put together a good catch of the fish to about 4 pounds or 22 inches. A 100-pound thresher shark was hooked on a flounder rig, jumped a couple of times, then bit off the line. Ocean flounder fishing wasn’t bad at places like the Old Grounds and Reef 11. Decent catches were heard about from Cape May Reef on some days, too. When trips got the right conditions, they could boat a catch on the ocean. A trip Wednesday on the Heavy Hitter hosted mentally handicapped anglers, like each year during the annual event on Cape May boats. The trip trolled small bluefish off Cape May Point then fished a wreck. Triggerfish and out-of-season sea bass, released, were hooked at the wreck, and the anglers had a good time, George said. A 4-hour charter today is supposed to run for blues. Small blues lately also schooled at 5-Fathom Bank in the ocean. Farther from shore, bigeye tuna were on a bite at Wilmington Canyon. A trip had to be one that got into them, then the anglers had to be able to land the big fish. One of the party-boat-sized charter boats was heard about that caught a couple of yellowfin tuna, broke off a bigeye and reeled in a swordfish at the Wilmington in past days. The Heavy Hitter is sailing for all these fish, and telephone if interested.

Surf anglers did a job on croakers, spots and kingfish, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. They wrangled up bluefish at Cape May Point, and boaters knocked around the blues off the point and off inlets and around buoys, looking for birds working bait to find them. Summer flounder came from the surf at the point and near the concrete ship. Boaters still found flounder in the back bay or along the Intracoastal Waterway. Weakfish were landed from the bay and Intracoastal, and Nick’s girlfriend lost a 5-pounder at Cape May Canal at the bridge on fresh cut spot. Excellent flounder catches were boated from the ocean reefs, including the ones closer to shore or Townsend Inlet, Wildwood and Cape May reefs. Some big flounder lived at the reefs, and big bucktails with large Gulps or large strips of bait seemed the ticket on them. Sea robins swam all around the grounds, so Nick recommended yellow and white bucktails for the flounder. Little was heard about tuna, but bigeye tuna should swim Wilmington Canyon. Minnows, fresh clams, bloodworms and practically all frozen baits are stocked, except spearing, but Nick is trying to stock spearing. Apparently spearing became scarce because they were in demand for flounder.

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