<b>Perth Amboy</b>

After vacationing on a cruise a moment, Capt. Frank ran for fluke Tuesday on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, he wrote in an e-mail. The angling, at Ambrose Channel, was good, barreling up 14 keepers to 4 ½ pounds. Almost three times as many throwbacks were released, and whole squid caught best. Sea bass and porgies were also hooked, and fluke bit at most places fished. Charters and open-boat trips are sailing, and telephone about the open trips. The Vitamin Sea also fishes from Staten Island. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Keyport</b>

Mike Valentino’s trip with his son and two other anglers bagged five keeper fluke and a sea bass, releasing lots of throwback fluke, on the ocean Monday with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Open-boat trips for fluke are available Friday through Sunday when no charter is booked and enough anglers want to go. Telephone if interested.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

A 9-pound fluke was crushed on Tuesday’s trip on the party boat <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. Al Fritchy won the daily pool with the fish, but wasn’t in the season-long pool. Vinny “Vintastic” remained in the lead for the season pool with a 7.4-pound fluke. Fluke dished up action the whole trip that day. A whole bunch of shorts bit, but several anglers limited out, including Tom Krako and Capt. Ron Sr. One new customer fished on the trip who lost his boat in Hurricane Sandy. He’d been reading Ron’s reports for years, “(and) was putting on a clinic,” Ron said, catching throwbacks and keepers. When the tide changed, “his flame burned out!” Ron said. Go figure, he said.  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, blues, stripers and fluke, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays.

Boaters fished a little deeper for fluke than before, and caught well, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Farther from shore, ling fishing was pretty good. Sea bass had been socked from the ocean, but the season for them will be closed starting Friday. The blackfish limit is one, but blackfish certainly bit. Blackfish are always around, and anglers bagged their one, like on trips for other bottom fish. Thresher sharks were fought from the ocean. Bluefish were around, and in the surf, fluke, croakers and kingfish were dragged in. Striped bass were plugged from the beach at Deal and Elberon in mornings and evenings. Plenty of croakers and spots and some kingfish swam the rivers. The fish also held along the bay. Weakfish swam, but in the one-weakfish bag limit, nobody really targeted them. Crabbing was good. All baits are stocked.

Fishing for fluke became a little slower after the weekend on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. The angling had been picking up somewhat. Southerly winds started blowing afterward, but seas weren’t rough on trips. The vessel had areas to fish when winds or seas needed to be escaped. Trips fished different areas, and Tuesday morning’s fished near Ambrose Channel, but not in the deep. Some keepers showed up, and action with throwbacks was good, but the ratio wasn’t as good as expected there. The afternoon’s trip fished down the ocean beach, because anglers would’ve failed to hold bottom toward Ambrose. The drift was fast along the beach, but anglers adjusted, and waters were shallow, and that helped. Lots of throwbacks bit, and some keepers were managed. Both of Wednesday’s trips fished toward the range towers, and fluke were lifted in, but the angling wasn’t as good as before these past few days. So the angling was no great shakes after the weekend, but fluke were taken, and conditions were important for the angling, like the ability to hold bottom. If anglers work together, that helps, like using heavier weights when the drift is fast, so less line is let out, avoiding tangles. Was amazing how well the fishing could work out when anglers worked together. 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>

For <b>Fisher Price Charters</b>, fluke fishing was very good, limiting out or nearly limiting, the last couple of days, Capt. Derek said. Trips bucktailed rough bottom in deep waters. Charters are fishing, and Derek should know by Sunday when the next open-boat trips will sail for fluke. Trips aboard have been also fishing for thresher sharks swarming close to shore. The last outing for them, on Sunday, went 3 for 7 on the sharks to 100 pounds, covered in the last report. The angling slowed a little since, but a friend landed a 220-pounder, and good-sized ones were still around. The next bluefin tuna fishing aboard is supposed to sail next week on the inshore ocean. Derek knew a couple of anglers who fished for them in past days, picking away on jigs and the troll. Some smaller bluefins pushed closer to shore recently. Charters are sailing for the tuna, but open-boat trips might run for them. Anglers can telephone to be kept informed.

Heading out from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, John Cuozzo and the McHughs on the Elsea Nora bucktailed five keeper fluke at Ambrose and Sandy Hook channels, Marion wrote in an e-mail. Greg Hanna fished Ambrose near the 9 buoy, tackling an 8.3-pound 28-inch fluke on a Spro with a green Gulp. Steve and Dan on the Good Action ran to Shrewsbury Rocks, bucketing fluke and sea bass on spearing and squid. Vic and Jin on the Life’s Good at Shrewsbury Rocks limited out on fluke to 22 inches on Gulps, killies and squid. Greg Schnell and son Ian put up two keeper fluke and some sea bass to 3 pounds on the ocean 5 miles off Highlands Bridge on Gulps, killies and squid. Angelo and Karen Kelly Giustino and Joey and Phyllis Magliocco boated five keeper fluke around Sandy Hook on Gulps, killies and smelts. 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 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>

<b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> basically fished every day, often on two trips a day, Capt. Ralph said. Trips often fluke fished on the ocean, and catches were fair to good. The catch was fantastic on Tuesday’s weekly individual-reservation trip for fluke. The trips usually sail each Tuesday, but will run on Wednesday on August 21, because a charter is booked that Tuesday. Kids under 12 sail free on the individual-rez fluke trips, limited to two per adult host. Anglers should book ahead if they want to fish aboard, because spaces are filling on both individual-reservation trips and charters. Four or five dates are left for charters this month. An individual-reservation trip for cod is full on Monday, but room remains for another on September 9. <b>***Update, Thursday, 8/8:***</b> Individual-reservation trips, Ralph wrote in an e-mail, will also include those for: inshore tuna, trolling, jigging or bait-fishing, whatever it takes, on August 26; and chumming for bluefish, August 29, and the bottom can also be fished for triggerfish and porgies. A few fluke marathons will sail on individual-reservation trips during the final week of fluke season that will be closed on September 25. Further ahead, spaces are already filling for an individual-reservation trip for blackfish that will sail on November 16, the day the bag limit will be increased to six from the current limit of one.

<b>Belmar</b>

Bluefish, small, but excellent catches, were bombed from the ocean on the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, Karin said. Anglers could catch all they wanted. A couple of bonito were in the mix the other day, and an 18-pound cobia was the pool-winner on one trip. On the party boat <b>Royal Miss Belmar</b>, fishing for fluke and sea bass was fairly consistent and good on the ocean. Sea bass season will be closed starting Friday. The Miss Belmar Princess is sailing for bluefish 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 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

Another outstanding day of bluefishing, a report said about today on the ocean on the party boat <b>Golden Eagle</b>, on the vessel’s Web site. “All the fish you wanted,” it said. “Limits around the boat,” and the angling was like that in past days. Bonito spiced up the catch today, and nighttime bluefishing was good on the boat the past several days. 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.

Good numbers of fluke hit, both in Shark River and the ocean, Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. Sizes ranged from 2 to 8 pounds, or small to large. Jay Shegea, Langhorne, Pa., limited out on fluke to 5 pounds 8 ounces on a kayak on the ocean off Deal. Reports came in about large porgies plucked from Shark River Inlet. For the bluefishing fleet, fish were small but abundant on the ocean. From the surf, small striped bass, blues, fluke and sea robins were reported beached. The stripers smacked plugs and teasers, but even sea robins did. “Yes, loads of large robins, hitting artificials,” Bob said.

With <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, fluking was the best yet this season on Tuesday on the ocean, Capt. Pete said. The anglers whaled double the boat’s limit, keeping only their quota, releasing the rest. The trip fished in 70 to 80 feet, deeper than before, and conditions were perfect, including very clean waters. Was one of those times with right conditions. And good fluking was definitely around now. This is the time to load the freezer with fluke. Farther from shore, bluefin tuna anglers caught some, and landed mahi mahi at the lobster pot buoys. Waters were dirty farther offshore at Hudson Canyon, but yellowfin tuna were still boated there. The fishing sounded like it started to improve. Trips sail 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.

<b>Fin-Ominal Sportfishing</b> sailed the ocean all weekend through Monday, sometimes on two trips a day, Capt. Jared said.  Double trips were going to run today, too. Fishing was about the same as lately, and anglers aboard mostly bottom-fished for fluke and sea bass, but also bluefished. Fluke fishing was good, and lots of sizeable ones were squashed. Plenty of sea bass were banged out, but sea bass season will be closed on Friday. Tons of bluefish were marauded. They were small, a couple of pounds. “But it’s still a bluefish,” Jared said. Tuna trips will run this season, and catches of tuna, both bluefins closer to shore and yellowfins farther off, were made, not bailing them, but getting some. Cruises also sailed during this stretch, like one from Pennzoil that was going to enjoy the waters this evening. The 50-foot boat can host small to large groups, up to 23 passengers on cruises, and up to 12 or 13 on fishing trips, for fishing comfort. Corporate charters can sail, and charge the trip to the business card. Pleasure cruises can include trips along Shark and Manasquan rivers, the ocean coast, the Manhattan skyline or whatever customers can imagine. Cruises can enjoy fireworks from the ocean off Point Pleasant Beach every Thursday in summer.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Four anglers steamed on one of the open-boat, mixed-bag trips for big game to the mid-shore ocean Monday with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b>, a report on Andrea’s Toy’s Web site said. When the trip reached the bluefin tuna grounds, the life the captain wanted to see was there. The anglers went 3 for 4 on the tuna to 50 pounds, a slow pick, but catches, through the morning. The trip tried chunking and jigging for the tuna, and some 10-pound mahi mahi were decked. The trip was ended with fishing at wrecks, cranking in a few big, baseball bat ling and cod to 20 pounds. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag fishing for greater fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner. On the current mixed-bag trips, both charters and open-boat, catches can include bluefin tuna, mahi mahi, cod, pollock and ling, all in one outing. Later in the season, the trips will push farther offshore, where catches can include yellowfin tuna, swordfish, mahi, tilefish and more, sailing overnight. Telephone if interested.

Bottom-fishing was alright on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. Catches of ling were fairly steady, and a few cod and fluke were hung. Sea bass season will be closed Friday, and sea bass catches were slowing down aboard. Some were sacked on a couple of days. Trips fished in 60 to 150 feet, and water temperatures fluctuated. Seventy-two degrees was the highest, and the next day could be 66. A few porgies landed were heard about from Reach Channel in Raritan Bay. If porgies stack up substantially around Sandy Hook Channel, trips will run north there to fish for them. On nighttime trips, bottom-fishing was steady, not great, but most anglers totaled 10 to 20 fish apiece, mostly ling. Sometimes a few sea bass and fluke even bit in the dark. But again, sea bass season will be closed Friday. A few fluke bit at night last year, too. On night trips that bluefished, catches were improving, and some were angled, but the fishing couldn’t be called good. A few blues ½ pound to 1 ½ pounds were landed on Saturday night’s trip. The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and is bluefishing on Saturday nights during the same hours. If bluefishing improves, another one of those night trips might fish for them, instead of bottom-fishing. But currently, the angling seemed like the schedule would stay the same.

<b>Toms River</b>

A few fluke were boated at Double Creek Channel in Barnegat Bay, said Jeff from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Most were throwbacks, and blowfish were boxed at the BI and BB markers in the bay, even if fishing for them was slower than before. A few fluke were mixed in there. No weakfish were heard about from the bay. In the surf, fluke and small bluefish were beached. Sometimes croakers and blowfish were banked, and cownosed rays, skates and sea robins bit along the shore. No striped bass were heard about from the surf. In the Toms River, snapper blues, croakers, a few spots and lots of crabs were nabbed.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Surf casters banked 1- to 2-pound blues on small metal, cut bunker and sometimes even on mullet on mullet rigs, said John from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Keeper fluke were sometimes dragged from the surf on bucktails tipped with Gulp. But tipped with squid strips could work fine. Croaker fishing slowed in the surf. At night, sharks were fought from shore at Island Beach State Park on cut bunker. Big rays roamed the surf daytime and nighttime, disturbing bathers and stuff. In Barnegat Bay, crabbing dropped off considerably, and lots of small crabs skittered around. But if crabbers weeded through them, they put catches of keepers together. Snapper blues swam the bay that were larger than before. Spots schooled the bay, and farther south in the bay, blowfish hovered around the BI and BB markers. Just about all baits are stocked, including fresh bunker, fresh clams and nearly all frozen baits, including sand eels, herring and the variety of squid, including tube squid and pre-cut, scented squid. Killies and frozen mullet are some of the only baits not carried, because the hurricane knocked out the livewell and the freezer with the mullet. The Dock Outfitters features an extensive supply of bait and tackle, a dock to fish and crab from on Barnegat Bay, boat rentals for fishing and crabbing on the bay, and jet ski rentals for the bay.

<b>Forked River</b>

Barnegat Bay’s fluke moved closer to Barnegat Inlet, said Kyle from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Fishing for them was good at Double Creek Channel or from the 31 can to Barnegat Lighthouse. In the ocean, 48 feet off Island Beach State Park’s bathing beach was a place to catch them. Big fluke to 6 and 10 pounds were heard about from the ocean off the Seaside pipe and from Harvey Cedars Lump. The bay’s fishing for blowfish was slower than before, but the puffers were still boated on anchor while anglers chummed with clam and fished with clam or squid. Depths 4 or 5 feet around the BI and BB markers held them. Crabbing improved, maybe because of fewer blowfish that eat them. Weakfish were heard about from the bay. Some were around, but angling for them didn’t sound great. Snapper blues swam lagoons. Killies are stocked, and fresh spearing were able to be carried the past couple of weeks. Clam chum, clams and squid are on hand for blowfish. All frozen baits are in supply. 

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

On the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, fluke fishing somewhat slowed the past couple of days on the ocean, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. A few keepers and some good-sized throwbacks were brought in each day. The Miss Barnegat Light is fishing for fluke and sea bass 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily.

Most fluke gathered near <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>, Vince Jr. said. The shop is located near Barnegat Inlet, and the fish were boated at Double Creek Channel and near the Dike in Barnegat Bay, and sometimes in the inlet itself. Probably 1 or 2 in 10 was a keeper. Lots of action, Vince would say. Ocean fluke fishing seemed a little slow, giving up throwbacks, but should pick up. But lots of boaters sailed for them at places like Garden State Reef North. Back in the bay, snapper blues, spearing and lots of life filled waters. A few weakfish, not many, were docked, mostly from Meyer’s Hole, but sometimes from across the bay, near Waretown, on the mainland side. Some boaters chummed for them with live grass shrimp. Blowfishing was okay on that western side of the bay, at the same places as all season. Large bluefish were sometimes tackled along the inlet jetties. Blackfish and triggerfish were reeled from along the jetties. Crabbing was good, finally turning on, for customers. The crabbing picks up later than at some places, because waters are cooler near the shop, because the ocean is nearby. Rental boaters sometimes trapped a dozen keepers. Some customers clammed, and clamming is always good in the bay. The store 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. Baits stocked include live spots, killies and green crabs. Live grass shrimp are available, and should be ordered ahead of time.

<b>Barnegat</b>

From an edited e-mail from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “It's been an interesting few days of fishing. I ran to Barnegat Ridge on Saturday, and it was not good. Everything looked good: bluish-green water, 70 degrees, porpoises, good readings. But a bajillion 1-pound bluefish. I was up to 7.5 knots, and they were still chomping on my newly-rigged tuna lures. Arrgghh! I never mind bluefish, when I’m inshore, but they’re no consolation when we’re looking for tuna, bonita, albacore, mahi. Even skipjacks are more welcome. It's not about edibility. It's a presence of mind. Any of the blue-water fish make it a successful effort. I’m by no means giving up on it. The game changes all the time out there. A week is an eternity. In the bay, we’re having okay days and excellent days. On some days, we have to really work at putting a catch together. Other days offer a mad-dog bite. Twelve- to 20-inch weakfish, 10- to 20-inch fluke, jumbo-sized blowfish, a few 12- to 15-inch kingfish, big spots and a few big croakers every day. Not always all of those species, but most. Chumming with live grass shrimp is producing the best for us. Meyer's Hole and the west side of Barnegat Bay are both producing. Between the blowfish, the weakies, and a few keeper fluke, we’re putting together a Ziplock to send you home with, as well as lots of action on 6-pound tackle, with a bunch of different species. Here's some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx6Oqfdg0FI
" target="_blank">video of a few weakies we had</a> on Sunday’s grass-shrimp trip. Out at the inlet jetty, we’re using the same live grass shrimp technique to catch 20- to 26-inch stripers (I had a 27-incher on Wednesday) and 36- to 40-inch houndfish (a really big needlefish). Check out my son <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roquYeeL9aA
" target="_blank">Max doing battle with a houndfish</a> from Wednesday's trip to the jetty. This trip has to be scheduled as per the tide. There's only one 2-hour window each day to hit it right. A blast with the 10-pound rods. No sinkers – just free-lining a hook with shrimp. We usually bag a few tog (blackfish) doing this, but so far it's been all stripers and houndfish. Here are some open-boat trips coming up: 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, Live Grass Shrimp Weakfish and Mixed Bag Fishing, we’ll try it all; and 6 to 11 a.m. Saturday, same trip, only it has the potential to shrimp the jetty and the bay, if everyone wants, as the tide we need happens during our trip. Three people max on the open boats. All fish are shared. Any of the open-boat dates are always available for charter.”

<b>Surf City</b>

The surf’s kingfishing seemed to slow a bit, said Brendan from <b>Surf City Bait & Tackle</b>. A few fluke, including a few keepers, were punched from the surf, and occasional blowfish were heard about from the waters. Skates, small sharks and sea robins loitered the surf, of course. Many customers bought bait and tackle to fish for larger sharks from the beach at night, but results weren’t heard. No striped bass were heard about from the surf since waters warmed this season. In the bay, snapper blues and blowfish swam, as far as Brendan knew. Lots of small crabs crawled around the bay on the island side. Larger crabs lived on the mainland side and far north on the bay around Mantoloking Bridge. For bait, fresh clams ran out, and only a few fresh bunker remained, but both are carried when available. Minnows will be on hand when delivered, and bloodworms just arrived. When anglers wanted to fish with clams this time of season, Brendan recommended frozen, salted anyway, because they stayed on hooks better. When anglers wanted to fish for whatever would hit in the surf, he recommended bunker, because nearly every fish will eat the menhaden.   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 summer flounder were migrating to the ocean, if anglers wanted to fish for them in the bay, the fluke swam around Little Egg Inlet, said Chris from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>.  They even held in the ocean just off Holgate in 30 to 40 feet. He fished the ocean Tuesday farther off, at Little Egg Reef and Garden State Reef South. But angling was slow, because the boat failed to drift in no winds. But flounder fishing was good at reefs previously, when boaters copped a drift. Chris’s trip hooked lots of sea robins at the reefs, and a 6-pound sheepshead at Little Egg Reef. Sea bass fishing had been decent at ocean structure like reefs, but sea bass season will be closed starting Friday. Some good-sized blackfish were reported boated from 80 and 90 feet in the ocean. Ling and whiting also came from there. Croakers, kingfish, blowfish and spots swam plentiful in the bay. The number of blowfish and spots could still peak this season, wasn’t as large as could be. But angling for all those small fish was still happening. So was weakfishing at Graveling Point at night and early in mornings. An angler showed a photo of a 5-pound weak bagged there from land, and he was catching them from shore, but at night. He fished strips of spots he caught. Snapper bluefish schooled the bay and back waters like lagoons. The bay’s shark fishing kind of slowed, and this was the time of year when it does. Mullica River’s fishing was good for white perch and schoolie striped bass 12 to 18 inches. The bass were caught and released for fun. Crabbing was okay, definitely had good days and bad. The catches seemed slower than a couple of weeks ago, and many of the larger crabs seemed caught already. Still, the crabbing was pretty good, was worthwhile, and probably a quarter of the people crabbed that usually do, because people were busy rebuilding from the hurricane. That seemed to improve crabbing this year. Minnows, fresh, shucked clams, bloodworms and green crabs are stocked.

<b>Absecon</b>

All waters – the back bay, Absecon Inlet and the ocean – seemed to hold summer flounder, said Curt from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Fishing for them was good, and some keepers were around. Capt. Dave, the shop’s owner, ran a trip Wednesday that bagged some, and a 4-pound weakfish and a 4-pound bluefish. Some weakfish held a little north of the shop. Curt guessed a few bluefish were around. Lots of panfish or kingfish, croakers and spots filled the bay. Anglers could fish with bloodworms on small hooks and catch all they wanted. The panfish also swam the creeks and the surf. They were everywhere. Live peanut bunker started to be stocked. Plenty of the baitfish schooled, and mullet were more scattered, and weren’t stocked yet. Live spots, eels, clams and shedder crabs are carried. Soft-shell crabs for eating are in supply, but customers should telephone ahead to confirm. The shop raises the blueclaws. The bay’s striped bass fishing tapered off somewhat. They were hooked at night at bulkheads and docks on artificials. But not much was heard about stripers landed during daytime. Not a lot of keeper blackfish were seen, but anglers bagged the tautog, like at the bridges. They were around. Triggerfish seemed the more popular catch at places like that. Chumming helps in fishing for them. No sheepshead were known to be reeled from places like that, but they should be around, and should be heard about any time. Reports were mixed about white perch fishing in brackish rivers and creeks. Curt, a perch angler, did no fishing for them in a moment, but some friends talked about not scoring so well on perch, and other friends reported fantastic catches. Crabbing was pretty good. The sizes might’ve become a little smaller, but catches stayed consistent.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Surf catches remained about the same as before, said Bill from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Previously, the shop reported that spots and kingfish were swung from the waters. But brown sharks, required to be released, seemed bigger and more abundant than usual in the surf now. Many were caught on spots that anglers landed then sent back out for bait. But anglers might take mackerel for bait to get started on sharking, until spots can be reeled in. Big cownosed rays took off with baits in the surf, stripping reels when they couldn’t be stopped. For boaters, summer flounder fishing might’ve improved in the back bay somewhat. Clearer waters lately seemed to trigger that.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Sizeable summer flounder were clubbed from Absecon Inlet, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Customers fish the inlet, lined with jetties, on foot, and they also drilled lots of croakers and spots like crazy there. A kid about 6 years old stopped in with a 20-inch weakfish from the inlet. Lots of bait jammed the waters, including finger mullet, peanut bunker, spearing and a few minnows. “Fishing’s definitely on,” Noel said. The inlet was fished with bloodworms, clams and minnows. Nearly all baits are stocked, except fresh bunker. The government just cracked down on commercial bunker fishing, and only boats with proof of fishing for them for so many years will be allowed to keep sailing for them. That cuts out small, local suppliers, and is probably going to drive the price up considerably.  Baits stocked include minnows, green crabs, fresh clams, bloodworms and frozen sand eels, herring, peanut bunker, head-on shrimp, spearing, a large variety of squids and more. An outside vending machine was just installed, so anglers can buy bait during after-hours. A part needed to be obtained so the machine could carry more than frozen baits. But currently its baits include frozen clams, Pro Cut squid, head-on shrimp and filleted mackerel. However, the part is proving difficult to find, so it looks like the machine is going to be replaced with a different one to expand the bait supply. Catch the shop’s 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.  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>

On back-bay trips on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, summer flounder fishing wasn’t bad, Capt. John said. Keepers were had on every outing, and the angling wasn’t as good as during a moment previously this season, but he was happy with it. Considering the time of year, the flounder population was excellent. During some years, the fish can start to be scarcer. Minnows and mackerel, supplied aboard, caught them. Gulps that anglers brought worked great. A bluefish was hooked once in a while. Baby sea bass bit, and sea robins, skates and sharks grabbed baits.   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>

Inlets and near inlets, in the back bay, still gave up summer flounder, many small, but some keepers, said Ed from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. But many of the larger flounder seemed to move off to some of the ocean reefs and wrecks, including Great Egg and Ocean City reefs. A few small bluefish appeared around the bay. Spots and lots of small fish like sea robins, small sharks and baby sea bass filled the bay. Lots of activity, Ed said. The surf was crammed with lots of spots and some kingfish. A few small blues began to pop up in the surf all the sudden. A healthy population of brown sharks, required to be released, haunted the surf, hooked during daytime and nighttime. Experienced anglers fished for them at night, but no small population was hooked during daytime, including incidentally, when people fished for other catches. Not much was heard about tuna fishing. The angling didn’t seem particularly great within range, or was slow, according to people, and not many sailed for them, maybe because of that. Minnows, bloodworms, green crabs and frozen baits, the full supply, are stocked. Many bloodworms were sold for the spots and kings. Lots of frozen mackerel started to be sold for the sharking. Speaking of green crabs, nobody was really heard about who blackfished in the one-blackfish bag limit. But surely the tautog were around.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing stayed pretty consistent, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish gathered toward inlets, and fishing the ocean reefs for flounder really started to pick up. The bay’s striped bass fishing began to improve. They were hooked in evenings on poppers or at night at dock and bridge lights. Lots of croakers and some spots and kingfish swam the bay. Kids had a blast with them, like from docks. The surf was loaded with spots, and croakers, kingfish and weakfish were mixed in. Blackfish were around. Cocktail bluefish schooled just beyond the surf. Unfortunately, they didn’t push into the beach, but boaters had fun with them, like on trolled spoons. No news really came in about tuna from offshore. Minnows, bloodworms and all frozen baits are stocked.

Three anglers on Monday sailed on one of the inshore shark trips aboard, nailing and releasing nine of the fish to 100 pounds, two on flies, and the rest on spinning rods, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The fishing, usually within 10 miles from the coast, has been phenomenal, when the weather’s been favorable. This trip’s sharks were duskies, required to be released, and the trips are catch and release anyway. Browns, also required to be released, duskies and blacktips were common sharks lately, and the angling is a chance to wrestle big fish without the long trip offshore. Summer flounder fishing’s also been good aboard the back bay, near inlets this time of season, and some of the fish now swam the ocean reefs, migrating there from the bay. A trip Tuesday with a family bagged three keeper flounder and released probably 30 throwbacks on the bay. Another with a family on Wednesday landed two keepers, about 30 throwbacks, a weakfish and a croaker on the bay. Flounder trips these days caught best on a single-hooked rig with a combo of a minnow and a Gulp on the hook. Jersey Cape is also sailing for tuna, and yellowfin tuna fishing was good at Lindenkohl Canyon. Joe would imagine bluefin tuna could still be angled farther inshore at places like Massey’s Canyon, where they were last known to be caught. But the Lindenkohl’s fishing was good, he reiterated. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Weather, like rains, and like winds that blew today, weren’t conducive to the back bay’s summer flounder fishing, said Fred from <b>No Bones Bait & Tackle</b>. Friday is supposed to be a wash-out from rains. Catches seemed slower, and only a couple of keepers were heard about in past days. But tourists on the shop’s rental boats gave most reports this time of year. A buddy fished Hereford Inlet from the rocks, landing no weakfish in 1 ½ weeks, and very few kingfish. Rental boats are available to fish and crab on the bay. Minnows and all baits are stocked.

<b>***Update, Friday, 8/9:***</b> A good run of flounder catches turned on along the back bay for customers last week, and seemed to slow this week, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. The fishing seems to change, depending on weather, and customers had racked up healthy-sized keepers sometimes. Then lots of small flounder seemed around. Spots swam the waters, and snapper blues, small, began to appear in the canal. A couple of anglers toggled in striped bass from the canal. Not many weakfish were seen anymore. Crabbing seemed to improve. Canal Side rents boats for fishing and crabbing on the bay. 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 are sold at market prices, currently $24 per dozen for No. 1’s and $12 per dozen for No. 2’s. The crabs can be steamed to order, fresh as can be, and prices are currently $28 for No. 1’s and $16 for No. 2’s.

<b>Cape May</b>

Summer flounder trips fished the ocean the past five or six days on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, Capt. Paul said. That was after the vessel was docked for maintenance, and catches were decent on some days, and slow on some. On Saturday’s trip, the boat didn’t drift at all, and that’s not good for flounder fishing, but one customer limited out on the flatfish that day. Craig Constantino from Voorhees and Al Bednarik from Philadelphia came one flounder short of a limit apiece sometime in past days. Weather was rough on Wednesday’s trip, with pouring rains and winds blowing 20 knots. Holding bottom was difficult for anglers, and catches were slow. A few sea bass had started to be hooked the last couple of days, but sea bass season will be closed Friday. The Porgy IV is sailing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Good surf casting for spots, kingfish, croakers, weakfish and summer flounder was latched into, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Bloodworms and Fishbites artificial worms nipped the spots, kings and croakers, and Gulps beat many of the flounder. Nick wasn’t asked what was fished for the weaks, but he’s usually said bloods on float rigs. Brown, dusky and sandtiger sharks, all required to be released, excellent catches, were clobbered from the surf at night. Livelined croakers were great bait for them. But other baits like frozen mackerel could be soaked. Mackerel stays on the hook better than bunker. No recent reports rolled in about redfish from the surf. Nick in last week’s report talked about a handful caught known about. But he just got some MirrOlures to imitate mullet and will try for the reds with them. The drum prefer mullet that began to swim around. For boaters, flounder fishing was still good along the back bay’s Intracoastal Waterway locally. Weakfishing was picking up in Cape May Canal for boaters. On the ocean, flounder fishing was pretty good at Cape May Reef. If boaters were able to sail farther away, Reef 11 and the Old Grounds produced flounder best out there. Not much was heard about Delaware Bay, except about sharks caught and released. But flounder probably came from Delaware Bay, maybe around the 9 and 10 buoys. But Nick sends people to deep waters in the bay for flounder for low water temperatures at bottom that the flatfish could prefer this time of year. Nick sailed for tuna on the inshore ocean on a trip that only scored a few knockdowns and large bluefish. Sounded like tuna mostly swam farther away at offshore canyons like the Baltimore. Good-sized minnows, regular-sized and jumbo bloodworms, and fresh clams are stocked.

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