<b>Perth Amboy</b>

Fluke fishing seemed to slow down, but Capt. Frank from the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> heard that striped bass fishing picked up, he wrote in an e-mail. A trip will sail for stripers and bluefish Tuesday, and a few spaces remain. Telephone to jump aboard or to fish for them another time. The Vitamin Sea also fishes from Staten Island. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Keyport</b>

With <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Shamio Tikhov’s group fought small bluefish on the ocean off Sandy Hook on Saturday, Capt. Joe said. A mess of the fish schooled, and lots of boats filled waters, apparently fishing for fluke, before fluke season will be closed Wednesday. The group with Papa’s fluke fished there, but none turned up. So the anglers fought the blues on fluke rigs. Sea bass season will be opened Friday, and trips aboard will fish Sandy Hook Reef for them and other bottom-fish starting then. Striped bass trips are being booked for later this fall, and if water temperatures drop, they might start to bite early, Joe thinks.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

A couple of bluefish charters sailed last week aboard, plowing plenty of big ones to 18 pounds, Capt. Ron from the party boat <b>Fishermen</b> wrote in a report on the boat’s Web site. The vessel’s open-boat, daytime trips will keep fishing for fluke through Tuesday, the final day of fluke season. Afterward, the day trips will go on break, starting back up in two Saturdays, October 5, sailing for striped bass and blues. But open nighttime trips are already sailing for stripers daily, and two nights were good for the fishing last week aboard. The stripers to 18 pounds were bagged, and fishing with eels was the way to catch them. The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily through Tuesday, the final day of fluke season. Afterward, the trips will fish for striped bass and bluefish starting in two Saturdays, October 5. Trips are sailing for striped bass 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays.

Fluke fishing was poor in past days on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. He looks forward to bottom-fishing starting Wednesday, when fluke season is closed. The fluking, at Flynn’s Knoll, the edge of the channel and down the ocean beach, scooped up a couple of fish here, a couple there, and once in a while a keeper. The Atlantic Star is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily through Tuesday, the final day of fluke season. Afterward, the trips will bottom-fish, targeting porgies a couple of days, until sea bass season is opened Friday. Then the trips will target sea bass and porgies. <b>***Update, Wednesday, 9/25:***</b> Porgy fishing was “real nice” on this morning’s trip, the first trip for them, Tom said in a phone call aboard the outing. “Everybody had fish to take home,” he said.

<b>Neptune</b>

Big bluefish were chummed 12 miles from shore Saturday on a charter with anglers from the American Legion with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an e-mail. Striped bass are starting to show up, and when fishing for them becomes better, Ralph will begin scheduling individual-reservation trips for them. If stripers remain after November 16, he’ll run combo blackfish and striper trips. That’s the day the blackfish bag limit will be increased to six from the current limit of one. The weekly individual-reservation trip for fluke is full Tuesday, the final day of fluke season. The next two individual-reservation trips, one for inshore wreck-fishing on Sunday and another for cod on October 7, are full. More of the inshore wreck trips are slated for October 13 and November 11, and another one of the cod trips is set for November 4.
An individual-reservation trip for blackfish will sail November 16. Charters are available. <b>***Update, Monday, 9/23:***</b> Two spaces became available for the fluke trip Tuesday, the final day of fluke season, because of cancellations, and contact Ralph to climb aboard, he wrote in an e-mail. Weather’s supposed to be very good.

<b>Belmar</b>

Weather sometimes prevented fluke fishing aboard, and today’s forecasts didn’t look good, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>. But on the couple of days when trips were able to fluke in the past week on the boat, the angling, on the ocean, was a pick. The fish were migrating offshore, and finding them was challenging. Plenty of sea bass bit when trips fluked, and Pete looks forward to the opening of sea bass season Friday. Bottom-fishing trips then should crank in sea bass, porgies, triggerfish and blackfish from the ocean. Those trips and fall striped bass and blackfish charters are being booked. Pete hopes to sail to the offshore canyons when weather allows. Longfin tuna, bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, swordfish and mako sharks are being boated there. 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.

Fluke season “came in like a lion and went out like a lamb,” Bob from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> wrote in an e-mail. The season for fluke will be closed Wednesday, and was opened May 18, and was great at first. Limits of fluke were common. But in past days, the angling was slow, and not many keepers were found. Still, this fluke season was probably better than average, Bob thinks. Striped bass fishing began to pick up. Mostly throwbacks but some keepers were banked “up and down the surf,” he said. When bait appeared, stripers showed up, and most of the bass were landed on surface lures or jerk-bait types of lures that swam just under the surface. Anglers also clammed them, and fly-rodders caught a fair share. Bob hit the surf Saturday, only hooking one small striper, but was glad to see lots of anglers on the beach. “Grab your rod and join the fun,” he said. He hopes for good fall fishing.

<b>Brielle</b>

Fluke season was winding down, set to be closed Wednesday, and most of the fish migrated offshore, said Eric from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. But boaters picked away at them on the ocean, and made off with a few in Manasquan River and the surf. Sea bass season will be opened Friday, and plenty were caught and released while boaters fluke fished at ocean reefs and wrecks. Tons of small striped bass flooded the river from Route 70 Bridge to Manasquan Inlet. Eric hooked them on small rubber shads, but Fin-S Fish and hard lures also caught them. The bass could be popper-plugged in evenings. Southerly winds slowed surf fishing a couple of days, but winds switched to northwest by Sunday, and the angling was expected to pick back up. Previously, stripers, fairly good catches, were picked in early mornings and late in the day. The fish were mostly throwbacks, but a few were keepers. Bluefish 4 and 5 pounds sometimes tumbled into the surf. On boats, bluefishing was great for large ones on the ocean, and sometimes a striper started to be jigged on the trips. Lots of bonito swarmed places like the Mudhole, Manasquan Ridge and Barnegat Ridge. Nobody really fished for bluefin tuna on the inshore ocean anymore, but one boater who trolled Manasquan Ridge said a reel was smoked by a large fish that was lost. Maybe that was a bluefin. Farther from shore, canyon tuna fishing sounded slow Saturday but better earlier last week. Then plenty of longfin tuna and a few bigeye tuna were trolled, and most trips fished Hudson Canyon. At night, swordfishing was good, and a few yellowfin tuna began to be decked.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

A day-troll trip ran for tuna at the canyons Friday with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Alan, the boat’s owner, wrote in an e-mail. The trip pushed off from port at midnight, reached the Continental Edge at 4:45 a.m., and began trolling. A 185-pound bigeye tuna crashed an Ilander with a ballyhoo and was landed after a 45-minute fight.  During the fight, other boaters talked about catching longfin tuna, yellowfin tuna and bigeyes on a bite farther offshore. So Mushin began heading there, and beautiful, warm, blue water was found, and bait schooled, and acres of porpoises swam. But no tuna bit for any boats anymore. Mushin started trolling much of the canyon the rest of the day. A small mahi mahi hit, but was bitten in half. The trip then tried deep-dropping for tilefish, but full-moon tides ran too strongly. The trip got back up on the troll, fishing off by itself. A 155-pound bigeye attacked toward the end of the outing, and was landed in 20 minutes. The trip’s two tuna were the anglers’ biggest ever. Lots of tuna are swimming the canyons, “and there are great signs for a super fall run,” Alan said. Before the trip, Mushin mostly fished for bluefish and fluke inshore the last few weeks. Fluke season will be closed Wednesday, but sea bass season will be opened Friday. Offshore and inshore charters are being booked. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness. The crew pride themselves on sharing the concept on outdoor adventures.

Both the morning and afternoon trips picked away at fluke Sunday on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>, Capt. Matt wrote in a report on the vessel’s Web site. “It was no ball of fire,” he said, but was improved compared with previous days, when the fishing was “on the slow side,” he said. An 8-pound fluke was the pool-winner on Sunday morning’s trip, and a 4-pounder was on the afternoon’s. On nighttime trips, bluefishing was good. On Saturday night, seas were rough, but the trip still picked away at 5- to 15-pound blues, not as well as on previous nights, but okay. The Norma-K III will fish for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. through Tuesday, the final day of fluke season. Afterward, trips will bottom-fish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily for ling and cod through Thursday and for sea bass starting Friday, opening day of sea bass season. Trips are fishing for bluefish 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily through the weekend. Afterward, the bluefish trips will sail Fridays and Saturdays.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

From the surf, “some nice fluke” were beached Sunday, Mario from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b> wrote in a report on the shop’s Web site. John from the store, in another report on the site, wrote about small bluefish, chasing mullet, being the most abundant catches from the shore lately. Striped bass, mostly throwbacks, were dragged from the surf on small swimming plugs, teasers and clams. From Barnegat Bay, snapper blues and a few kingfish were reeled from the dock. Crabbing was tough in the bay near the store, but some catches were reported from around Ortley Beach and Lavallette. Catch the sale on surf rods, featuring great prices on top-quality poles. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, sandworms and frozen baits are stocked.  The Dock Outfitters, located on the bay, features an extensive supply of bait and tackle, a dock to fish and crab from and boat rentals for fishing and crabbing.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

On the <b>Super Chic</b>, a ground swell slowed fluke fishing Friday on the ocean, but the catch was okay, Capt. Ted said. Lots of small fluke bit, and bluefishing was good on a trip for the slammers Saturday on the ocean. The gators to 10 and 13 pounds were wrestled to the north, closer to port than previously, not too long of a ride. Sea bass season will be opened Friday, and a trip is slated to fish for them Sunday on the ocean. A tuna trip is scheduled to fish offshore overnight Saturday to Sunday. If the trip gets the weather to sail, that will be the season’s first tuna trip aboard. A couple of others were already weathered out. Mostly longfin tuna were trolled offshore, and a handful of tuna began to be boated at night. A few catches of four, five or six yellowfin tuna were high hooks at night that were heard about. The 56-foot boat can accommodate up to 25 anglers on inshore trips and 10 on overnight, offshore trips. The vessel sleeps 10 passengers.

Reports about bluefish, bonito and false albacore caught rolled in, and the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> will begin fishing for them every Saturday and Sunday starting this weekend, a report on the vessel’s Web site said. Fluke trips were wrapped up for the season aboard this weekend. Some of the flatfish, not enough, the report said, were bagged on the trips. Starting this weekend, the Miss Barnegat Light will sail for bluefish, bonito and false albacore 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

One of the boats from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>, was trailered to Montauk, New York, to begin annual traveling charters there, Capt. Joe Hughes said. The trips fish the migration of large striped bass, big bluefish and false albacore from the historic port. The fishing seemed to be just beginning, and John Martin joined Joe to fish the waters this weekend. Blues 4 to 8 pounds, more than could be counted, were battled on spinning rods with jigs and fly rods Saturday and Sunday. The fish blitzed, and birds worked the waters. A throwback striped bass was released, and another striper got off. False albacore were seen a couple of times, but the fishing never got a shot at them. The angling should keep picking up, and the trips usually fish through late October. Telephone to fish the legendary run. Afterward, Jersey Cape will fish the migration of stripers and blues on the ocean from Sea Isle City, and book those trips now. Currently from Sea Isle, Joe is fishing for smaller stripers on the back bay with popper-plugs and –flies. Tides aren’t ideal this week, but Joe will probably fish for them anyway. High tides at dusk are ideal, and happen every two weeks, about. Take an After Work Special Trip, fishing 4 p.m. to dark on weekdays, a great time for fishing. Book space for annual traveling charters to the Florida Keys this winter, fishing from Christmas to Easter, mostly on weekends. A large variety of fish can be caught, from speckled sea trout and redfish to tarpon and sailfish.  Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s blog</a>.

<b>Avalon</b>

Weather was often windy, gusting to 30 knots, and fishing was docked in past days with <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b>, Capt. Jim said. Sea bass season will be opened Friday, and he’s up for fishing for them on the ocean. Trips had been summer flounder fishing on the ocean, but flounder season will be closed Wednesday. Jim has been gearing up for striped bass fishing later this fall. Trips will sail for big, migrating stripers on Delaware By. Currently, small stripers could be played along bridges at night on the back bay. Jim likes to fly-rod them on patterns like Clouser Minnows or large streamers. Lots of peanut bunker schooled the waters, attracting the stripers. But yellow lights replaced many of the white lights that were previously installed on bridges, because that saved expense. Yellow lights seem to attract the baitfish less, but Jim knows places where white lights are still installed. Fins and Feathers offers a variety of outdoor adventures, including fishing on the ocean and Delaware Bay, and hunting for ducks and geese. Anglers can even enjoy a combo of striper fishing and duck hunting on Delaware Bay over a series of days in fall. Fins and Feathers also offers salmon and steelhead fishing on upstate New York’s Salmon River from Jim’s lodge, and fly-fishing for trout on Pennsylvania’s streams like the Yellow Breeches. The salmon fishing is under way, and anglers are arriving at the lodge later this week.

<b>Cape May</b>

Bluefishing was very good off Cape May Point and on the ocean, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep</b>. Sea bass season will be opened Friday, and charters and open-boat trips are being booked for them. 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 the open trips. Striped bass and blackfish trips are being booked for later this fall.

An overnight tuna trip was supposed to fish this weekend on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, but Capt. George told the anglers no tuna really bit at night within range, he said. He discouraged them from going, so the trip was cancelled, and weather was rough anyway. The anglers wanted to fish at night, but George is willing to sail for tuna on a day trolling trip, because tuna within range were trolled. The tuna caught at night came from Washington Canyon. George mated on a friend’s boat Saturday that fished for summer flounder at the Old Grounds on the ocean. The angling was slow for the fleet, and sounded slow on Sunday, too. Maybe the fish were migrating offshore, and flounder season will be closed Wednesday. Bluefish could be trolled off Cape May Point, and fewer seemed to swim 5-Fathom Bank than before. Big blues usually show up at places like 5-Fathom Bank within a couple of weeks or around mid-October, when migrating stripers usually begin to appear. Telephone if interested in a striper trip this fall. Dates are available, and anglers are already calling. Sea bass season will be opened Friday, and trips can sail for them.

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