Thu., March 28, 2024
Moon Phase:
Waning Gibbous
More Info
Inshore Charters
Offshore Charters
Party Boats
Saltwater
Tackle Shops &
Marinas
Saltwater
Boat Rentals
Freshwater
Guides
Freshwater
Tackle Shops
Brrr ...
It's Cold:
Upstate N.Y.
Ice Fishing
Upstate N.Y.
Winter Steelhead &
Trout Fishing
Long Island, N.Y.
Winter
Cod &
Wreck Fishing

New Jersey Inshore Saltwater Fishing Report 7-7-16


<b>Sewaren</b>

Fluke were pounded from Raritan Bay and Raritan River, and the reason was unknown, but the angling especially slammed them this year, said Rich from <b>Dockside Bait & Tackle</b>. On the bay, the catches were especially reported from Old Orchard, but also from the Triangle. Fluke 5 to 8 pounds were squashed, and striped bass were no longer caught this season, really. Water was too warm. Bluefishing was okay on the bay on bunker chunks. Anglers fought blues from the Woodbridge Pier. Dockside, located on Smith Creek, a tributary of the Arthur Kill, north of Outerbridge Crossing, is accessible from the water at the fuel dock and from land. The full supply of bait is stocked, including killies, the different types of squid, spearing and Peruvian smelts.

<b>Keyport</b>

Very good week of ling fishing aboard, said Capt. Mario from the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>. Ling to 4 pounds were crushed, and cod and big winter flounder were mixed in. Open-boat trips are fishing for them at 6 a.m. daily, reservations required. On fluke trips, on the ocean, the angling was good, when conditions were, or when the boat failed to drift, fluking was tough. Open trips are fluking at 6 a.m. daily, reservations required, and charters are available for either of this fishing. Down Deep runs two 40-foot boats, and join the <a href=" http://downdeepsportfishing.com/short-notice-list/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on its website to be kept informed about special open trips. See available dates for trips on the site’s calendar.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

A couple of days of wind and rain lulled Raritan Bay’s fluke fishing, but currently the angling was good, seeming to pick back up, said Chris from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b>. Trips on the store’s rental boats usually returned with a couple of keepers, at least, throwing back 15 to 20 shorts apiece, fishing right off the harbor. Trips on party boats from the docks latched into fluke to 5 to 8 pounds on the bay. Private boats returned with many keepers. A few large fluke were weighed-in, including a 9-pounder and an 8-pound 13-ouncer. On the ocean, bluefin tuna fishing began to kick off, reasonably close to shore. Boaters still shark fished on the ocean, including fighting some big threshers. The full selection of baits is stocked, including killies, all the different types of squid, fresh peanut bunker and frozen peanuts. The store, located at Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, with the fleet of party boats, charter boats and private boats, is new this year and is the sister shop to Fisherman’s Den in Belmar. 

Fishing for fluke began well this morning at Reach Channel on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. Then a ship sailed through, killing the angling, and the trip was moved elsewhere on the bay. That place was producing, too, he said when he gave this report at 10 a.m. on the trip in a phone call. Ships can stir up bottom or disturb fluke, and that takes a while to settle. Fluking in past days aboard, all on the bay, wasn’t bad, all in all. The better the conditions, the better the angling. Lots of throwbacks bit, including lots that were ½-inch to 1-inch undersized. But a few keepers were bagged each trip. The angling was tough on yesterday morning’s trip, because conditions failed to drift the boat. The vessel drifted well on the afternoon’s. Weather was comfortable on the water despite heat on land. The Atlantic Star is fluke fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

Lots of fluke were still boated, said Jay from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish came from places including Sandy Hook Channel and Reach Channel, but practically everywhere. Sometimes serious striped bass anglers still trolled the bass at Reach Channel. Porgies, lots, big, “9-inch bangers,” he said, littered Shrewsbury River off the Seastreak ferry terminal at Highlands. Peanut bunker swarmed back waters. In the surf, a few small fluke had been biting at Gunnison Beach, but access was closed because of nesting piping plovers. All baits are stocked.

Plenty of throwback action and some great-sized, keeper fluke were found nearly everyplace fished yesterday on the <b>Fishermen</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. The trip fished several areas, and a 7-pound fluke won the pool. A few anglers landed four keepers apiece, and some landed three. “Plenty of action for those who hung in there,” it said. The trip the day before, on Tuesday, tried a new area, picking some sizable fluke, including the 8-pound 4-ounce pool-winner. A 7-pounder was also drilled, and high hooks bagged four fluke apiece. Throwbacks put out plenty of action, once the boat’s drift became right. The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and for striped bass 6:30 to 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 3:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays. However, a charter is booked Saturday morning, so no open-boat trip will sail then.

<b>Highlands</b>

Making the trip from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Greg Hanna on the Annie H boated four fluke to 20 inches near the Ammo Pier yesterday, Marion wrote in an email. Russ Chelak and Paul Gil from California limited out on striped bass between the channels in 3 hours Sunday. Ed and Tony on the Hammerhead last week limited out on fluke on Shrewsbury River. Twin Lights, located on Shrewsbury River near Raritan Bay and the ocean, with no bridges before them, includes a marina with boat slips, dry storage, a fuel dock, and a combined bait and tackle shop and ship’s store. The fuel dock is available 24 hours a day with a credit card. Baits stocked include those for offshore.

<b>Neptune</b>

A good bunch of sizable fluke were found the last few hours of a trip Tuesday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an email. Big sea bass were also pulled in there, and forecasts for rough weather were wrong, and the day was beautiful. That was the weekly individual-reservation trip for fluke, sailing every Tuesday. Kids under 12 sail free on those outings, limited to one per adult host. A few spaces remain for individual-reservation trips for cod Wednesday and on July 27 and August 3, 17 and 31. An individual-rez trip has been added for July 24 that will fish inshore wrecks for ling, cod, sea bass and winter flounder. Ralph suggests that anglers book sea bass trips as soon as possible for when the bag limit becomes 15 beginning October 22.  An individual-reservation trip for sea bass is set for October 25. Tuna and shark charters are sailing. So are charters for all species available.

<b>Belmar</b>

The <b>Katie H</b> fished lots, Capt. Mike said. Since two sea bass per angler could be kept beginning Friday, trips limited out on them. Sea bass season was closed previously. After sea bassing, the trips moved and piled up ling, a bunch, and also fluke fished. Not a lot of keeper fluke bit among throwbacks, but the angling seemed improving. Ling really saved the day on the trips. The sea bassing was unbelievable, and an incredible population was marked. Fishing for bluefin tuna began to take off 40 to 60 miles from shore. The first trip for them currently was booked for 1 ½ weeks from now. That’s a combo trip for bluefins and sharks, but if the tuna fishing is good, the trips stick with them. What size were the bluefins? Photos of the fish that a friend caught looked like the tuna weighed 60 or 80 pounds, decent-sized. The only yellowfin tuna catches heard about from the canyons farther from shore were at southern canyons. But bluefins were also heard about from Hudson Canyon locally. Sailing there for bluefins was no use, because anglers could fish for those swimming closer to shore.

A 10-pound 2-ounce fluke was weighed from Shark River yesterday at <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>, Bob wrote in an email. Eight-year-old Joseph Tevesky from Hamilton livelined the fish on a peanut bunker in the north channel on the Flukengrooven. Some decent fluke, Bob said, were seen from the river, and some really good-sized came from Belmar’s party boats on the ocean. Bill Renner from Belmar checked-in a 15-pound 8-ounce striped bass, though striper fishing was slow. Bob eeled three stripers to 17 pounds in Manasquan. Good shark and tuna fishing was boated. A 290-pound thresher shark was landed yesterday on a charter.

Great bluefishing was crushed early and later on yesterday’s trip on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report on the party boat’s website said. The angling was a pick at mid-day, and the trip’s blues, 2- to 4-pounders, were nailed on Run Off crocodiles and hammered jigs. Weather looks great Friday through Sunday. The Golden Eagle is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Afternoon fishing and sunset cruise trips are sailing 4:30 to 8:30 Fridays through Saturdays, reservations required.

Super bluefishing! an email from the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> said about yesterday aboard. Blues 2 to 5 pounds gave up excellent catches as soon as the trip began fishing. The angling lulled for an hour at mid-day, but became excellent again at the end of the trip. Super fishing at times, it said, and the angling was also good on the trip the previous day, Tuesday. The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.  Family fishing and sunset cruises are sailing 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday through Sunday.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

The boat arrived at a Cape May slip Friday to fish from the port throughout this month for tuna and marlin, Capt. Alan from <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> wrote in an email. A trip the previous day fished a southern canyon offshore. Fish-holding water had moved away somewhat, “but we managed some yellowfin, mahi, and white marlin bites …,” he wrote. Countless sharks bit at night. A trip Saturday to Sunday fished a canyon farther south. Tons of life filled the water, and conditions looked prime for bigeye tuna. During the day, a few yellowfin tuna were picked, and some white marlin bit. At sunset, a bigeye was hooked, quickly dumped almost all the line off the reel spool, then pulled the hook. The next morning, more yellowfins and some mahi mahi were caught. In past days, dock neighbors lit into impressive bluefin tuna catches from closer to port. That provides a whole other fishery, in addition to canyon angling. Two spots just became available for a trip Saturday to Sunday, because the anglers had to reschedule. Telephone the boat to jump aboard. Mushin means a relaxed state of readiness.

Fluke fishing became a little slower in past days, but throwbacks and some decent-sized keepers were reeled up on most trips, Capt. Matt from the <b>Norma-K III</b> wrote on the party boat’s website. Sizable sea bass were also winged, and that helped. An 8-pound fluke won the pool on yesterday morning’s trip. Nighttime bluefishing trips pasted great action, and lots of mackerel hit on the previous night’s trip. A few bonito were fought on the trips, and Matt hopes big bluefish show up soon.  The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily, and for blues 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily. 

On the <b>Gambler</b>, fluke fishing was good overall, and a good number of sea bass were bagged in the mix, an email from the party boat said. A good percentage of fluke were keepers to 6 pounds, and the sea bass weighed up to 3. The angling was tough on yesterday morning’s trip, because the boat failed to drift. But the fishing was good on the afternoon’s, because wind blew a little more, drifting the boat. Fluke trips are fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily. Trips are wreck-fishing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. every Thursday for ling, cod and winter flounder, and are bluefishing during the same hours every Friday and Saturday. A shark trip ran last Sunday night and another will fish this Sunday. On last Sunday’s, one good run-off was had.

Bottom-fishing didn’t whale catches, but grabbed a good variety, and the angling was okay on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. Porgy season opened beginning Friday, and a few porgies, not a lot, were sprinkled with sea bass caught a couple of days. Two sea bass per angler could be kept beginning Friday, after sea bass season was closed previously. Some anglers limited out on sea bass and also two winter flounder. Ling were cranked in, and sometimes so were cod. Most cod were just-keeper-sized, and a few were sizable. High hooks totaled 10 to 20 ling apiece, and anglers averaged 10 to 25 or 30 fish apiece, a variety of the species, depending on the angler. Trips fished for sea bass and porgies in 40 to 80 feet of water and for the other catches in 120 to 180 feet. The water surface was 64 to 66 degrees, but the bottom was chilly. Fish caught in the deep were pretty cold to touch.  The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Night trips are bottom-fishing or bluefishing, whatever’s best, 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. every Friday and Saturday. None of the night trips sailed this past weekend, because demand is low on Fourth of July weekend.

<b>Toms River</b>

Good fluke fishing was boated at Sea Girt and Axel Carlson reefs on the ocean, said Virginia from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Sea bass season opened Friday, with a bag limit of two, and plenty were hooked at reefs and wrecks. Porgy season opened the same day, with a bag limit of 50, but nothing was reported about them. Barnegat Inlet near Barnegat Lighthouse apparently held a deep hole from dredging where fluke bit. A 9-pounder was pummeled there from shore. Boaters or kayakers could score there, she guessed. Manasquan River’s fluking was pretty productive on small bucktails three-quarters of an ounce to 2 ounces at most. Some anglers fished Gulps on them, and some fished Ottertails. Some added squid or spearing to them. A few blowfish hovered Barnegat Bay at the BI and BB markers. They’ll bite bits of clam in a chum slick. In the surf, sometimes fluke were banked at Island Beach State Park in the 16-inch minimum size limit there, compared with 18 inches in most of the rest of the state.  The park could be crowded, because the southern end, beginning at Area 23, was closed to beach buggies because of nesting piping plovers. Just a few cocktail blues were found in the surf at different places. Surf casters also fished for a few brown sharks and sand tiger sharks that were released at night. See <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/hookhouse/" target="_blank">Murphy’s Facebook page</a> for photos. Browns and sand tigers must be released by law. Crabbing was phenomenal. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

A mess of blowfish were cleaned up from the dock, said Ray from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Throwback summer flounder were released from the dock, and snapper blues were yet to appear there this season. Not much was heard from the ocean, except thresher sharks were boated there, and brown sharks, required to be released, were beached from the surf. No fluke or bluefish were heard about from the surf. Steady crab catches got waxed from the dock and the rental boats. The Dock Outfitters, located on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a bait and tackle shop, a café, a dock for fishing and crabbing, boat rentals and jet-ski rentals. Baits stocked currently include killies and fresh peanut bunker. Some peanuts schooled along the dock every morning.

<b>Forked River</b>

Barnegat Bay’s fluke bit from the 40 marker to the research buoy, the same place as before, said Brian from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Anglers needed to jig for them, and fluke came from the ocean at the Tires and off the Seaside Pipe. Sea bass were picked at the Tires, and one angler’s trip at the Tires landed five fluke and three or four sea bass. Not many blowfish were hooked from the bay. One customer was headed to the Fingers on the ocean, saying he heard a couple of good reports about tuna there.  Crabbing was good, and bait stocked includes killies and frozen local spearing, Canadian spearing, sand eels and smelts. Fresh spearing begin to be stocked somewhat later this season. A bunch of ballyhoos are stocked for tuna.

A trip is supposed to fish for fluke and sea bass at ocean reefs Saturday with <b>Tuna-Tic Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Mike said. But the crew is really gearing up to fish for tuna that usually begin to bite at the offshore canyons beginning late this month. Two-and three-day canyon trips sail, and tuna trips include some open-boat. Currently, most tuna at canyons swam waters farther south, and canyon tuna fishing wasn’t really good locally yet.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

A few keeper fluke and sea bass were swung in so far on today’s trip, the party boat <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>’s Facebook page said at 9:30 a.m. The boat failed to drift much on yesterday’s trip, slowing the angling. But a few keepers were bagged. Bucktails fished best the last few days, and trips are fishing for fluke and sea bass at 8 a.m. daily.

Water became cold, 59 degrees at Barnegat Inlet and in the mid-60s in Barnegat Bay, making the bay’s fluke fishing slow, said Rob from <b>Van’s Boat Rentals</b>. The reason the water chilled, like south wind that can cool the ocean near shore because of upwelling, was unknown. Winds seemed variable. Previously, the fluking was good. Crabbing locally usually picks up in late July, later than at some places in the state, because of cool ocean water from the inlet. No catches of crabs were known about from the area recently. Cooling water can put the kibosh on that. Van’s rents boats from 9 h.p. to 50 h.p. for fishing, crabbing and pleasure. Kayaks are rented, and facilities include a tackle shop and a marina with slips, gas and full boat servicing. Killies and all baits are stocked.

Fluke angling was pretty good on Barnegat Bay behind the Dike, at High Bar Harbor, at Double Creek Channel and right off the gas docks, said Alex from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. The ocean was a little cold for fluking, but some began to be pumped in at ocean reefs and wrecks. A 7-pounder was seen from the ocean last week. No blowfish were seen from the bay. Sometimes 2- or 3-pound blues appeared in the bay. Snapper blues began to show up. Bobbie’s features a complete bait and tackle shop, a fuel dock and boat and kayak rentals. The boats are used for fishing, crabbing, clamming and pleasure. The store is known for bait supply, including live bait in season. Baits stocked currently include killies, fresh bunker and all the frozen.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 7/8:***</b> From an edited email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “This weekend we’ll start running to Barnegat Ridge for bonita and albacore. There’s a chance we could encounter bluefin tuna, because very clean water is inshore already, and while I try not to report on other boats’ efforts, it seems the rumor mill is churning with tuna there. Running open-boat to Barnegat Ridge 6 a.m. to 12 noon Sunday and Monday. Three people max. All fish are shared. We’ll also start chumming with live grass shrimp this weekend in the bay and on the inlet jetty. The bait just became available to us, so I can't wait to start targeting the mixed bag with light tackle.”

<b>Beach Haven</b>

Fishing was weathered out Tuesday on the <b>June Bug</b>, Capt. Lindsay said. The next trips are supposed to fish inshore Friday and Saturday. No offshore fishing for tuna locally was heard about yet, really.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

The bay’s summer flounder fishing was slow, said Brandon from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>, or one day some good catches would be made, and the fishing would be terrible on another. But flounder fishing was mostly turning on at ocean reefs. Mostly throwback flounder and big sea bass bit there. An angler would bag one or two sea bass in a trip. Back in the bay, a million baby sea bass swam. No blowfish were known about from the bay. Bluefish to 3 pounds, max, popped up in the bay very periodically. A few spike weakfish 10 to 14 inches were reported from the bay, but not in schools, and instead one caught here or there, while anglers tried for other catches, like blowfish while chumming. Many sharks – browns and occasional sand tigers – swam the bay. Both are required to be released, and they also swam ocean reefs. Many anglers fished the reefs just for browns, duskies or thresher sharks. Threshers can be kept. Crabbing was phenomenal, and if people really wanted to catch something, that could be a choice. Baits stocked include minnows and fresh, shucked clams. No grass shrimp were currently on hand, and they can become difficult to keep alive in the heat. But the store is expected to try carrying them.

<b>Absecon</b>

At <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>, Capt. Dave wouldn’t say summer flounder fishing was “erupting,” he said, but it was building every day, definitely. The angling picked up steadily in the back bay, and good reports were now heard about ocean fishing for flounder, too. Not a lot of boaters fished the ocean, in weather that was sometimes rough for that. But now that forecasts look calm and hot, more will likely sail for them, and more will be known about the angling. The ocean fishing is a good option if anglers want to escape the inland heat, too. In the back bay, flounder held up and down the Intracoastal Waterway, and Dave can’t see them departing there soon. Lots of peanut bunker, good-sized, schooled the water. If anglers are looking for big flounder, they might at least drag one livelined, big peanut while drifting the usual minnow and Gulp baits, and see if they can hook a big doormat. Live peanuts are stocked, and so are lots of castnets to catch your own. Dave loaded up on nets, thinking this is going to be a year for anglers to stock up on live baits. Weakfishing became better and better in the bay, and reports about them were heard from Tuckerton to the south, from the mouths of rivers and from the Intracoastal Waterway. Quite a few small weaks bit while boaters fished for kingfish tight to shore. Surf fishing for kings was the best heard about in years. When wind and seas were calm, boaters also took advantage of the kings, fishing tight to the beach. Sharks were showing up for surf anglers, inshore boaters on the ocean and also in the bay. The sharks can offer something big for anglers to fight, like for anglers on the bay with small boats. Set up a chum slick and fish with mackerel or maybe even an eel. Many of the sharks must be released by law. Crabbing really picked up, another option. In addition to the peanuts, baits stocked include plenty of minnows. Shedder crabs, not a lot, but enough, are carried. A few soft-shell crabs for eating are stocked. A decent supply of soft-shells is on hand for the weekend, but telephone ahead to confirm. The shop raises the crabs.

<b>Brigantine</b>

A load of kingfish swam the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. A couple of 6- and 7-foot-wide butterfly rays were landed and released from the surf. Sharks hunted the surf, and if anglers want to fight a big fish, toss a kingfish head or frozen mackerel into the surf for the rays or sharks. Unusually for summer, a 37-inch striped bass was beached from the surf today. An angler and buddy saw the line begin to move perpendicular to the surf, and neither wanted to check the rod, thinking a skate or something was hooked. They wound up with the striper. The store is loaded with 25 flats of bloodworms. The Riptide Summer Fishing Tournament is underway for kingfish, blues and summer flounder until flounder season closes. Entry is $10 per species, and all the cash is awarded. Anglers can enter one, two or all three categories. The Sal’s Pizza Works Riptide Striper Derby was up to $100 and will be awarded to the next entrant who checks-in a striper 43 inches or larger from Brigantine’s surf. Entry is $5, and the bounty will grow, because all the cash is awarded.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Kingfish and summer flounder were tabbed from the T-jetty to the sea wall, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Anglers on foot reeled them in, the kings on bloods, the flounder on minnows. The T is at the ocean end of Absecon Inlet, and the sea wall is on the bay end. Sheepshead, okay-sized, swam along the inlets rocks, biting shrimp or clams. Lots of baitfish filled the water, including spearing, baby mullet and very small peanut bunker. All baits mentioned and more, the complete supply, are stocked. Bloodworms are on special for two dozen for $20.

<b>Egg Harbor Township</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing began to be slower, turning out throwbacks but fewer keepers than before, because the fish began to migrate to ocean reefs, said Chris from <b>24-7 Bait & Tackle</b>. Crabbing was great, at least on Patcong Creek. The shop’s rental boats, docked on the creek, running past the shop, are available for the crabbing. Patcong is one of the best crabbing places, and the boats are also used for fishing from the creek to Great Egg Harbor River to the bay. Anglers who fish for striped bass at night along the bay catch the fish all season. The same anglers, fishing with soft-plastic lures, weigh-in the bass. Bluefin tuna and small yellowfin tuna were fought both inshore and farther offshore at canyons. Minnows are a whopping half-price throughout the fishing season: $3 for a half-pint, $6 for a pint and $12 for a quart. Baits stocked also include fresh bunker, and shedder crabs will arrive Friday for the weekend.  <b>The company also owns 24-7 Bait & Tackle in Marmora</b>.

<b>Margate</b>

Back-bay summer flounder fishing wasn’t bad on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. Keepers were lifted aboard every day, a few more each day, and the number was reaching last year’s. The number of throwbacks wasn’t quite as many as last year, but was getting close. The keepers were all good-sized. Tons of throwbacks were just undersized, and maybe they’ll be keepers by the end of summer. Mornings served up a few more flounder than afternoons in past days. But that was because of low tides in afternoons, and tide times would change as the week went on. A few sharks and lots of small sea robins bit. A few baby sea bass began to show up, like they do in summer. Action was good, keeping anglers catching. Minnows, mackerel and Gulps hit the flounder. Minnows and mackerel are provided, and anglers bring their own Gulps, and should. The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. daily. The trips are only $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for kids, because fishing is near port, and the pontoon boat is economical on fuel. Rental rods are free.

<b>Longport</b>

The <b>Stray Cat</b> was on an inshore shark trip last evening, when Capt. Mike gave this report in a phone call aboard, he said. The fishing on the trips, new this summer on the boat, from 5 to 10 p.m., has been good. Sharks like browns, hammerheads and threshers are chasing bunker schools. Some sharks like browns are prohibited and must be released. The boat is mostly sailing for summer flounder and sea bass on the ocean. The flounder fishing’s been “pretty dang good,” he said! A few sea bass, not a lot, have been in the mix. Anglers picked away at them. The ocean on the flounder grounds was 75 degrees and this year has been a tropical-looking turquoise, great-looking, off Ocean City. The next open-boat trips for flounder will fish Monday and Wednesday. Charters are fishing the rest of the days. Mike had been going to begin tuna fishing, he said in the last report here. A trip on a boat from Atlantic City limited out on bluefin tuna locally two weeks ago. But tuna fishing seemed slow locally afterward. Fishing for yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna was sketchy at canyons like Poorman’s, Spencer, Wilmington and Washington. But Stay Cat is ready to run for tuna, when the fishing kicks in.

<b>Ocean City</b>

For back-bay anglers, summer flounder fishing was slow, and lots of the fish were throwbacks, and few were keepers, said Pat from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. But lots of flounder were weighed from Ocean City and Great Egg reefs in the ocean. Sea bass were occasionally mixed in, and few anglers targeted sea bass, because of the two-fish bag limit. Kingfishing was especially steady in the surf. Bloodworms or Fishbites artificial worms were dunked for them on rigs like a kingfish rig or a spot rig, rigs with small hooks. Schoolie striped bass actually came from the surf, maybe because the water cooled to 64 or 65 degrees. The cool ocean was weird for boaters in the heat wave. A few sharks were fought from the surf, but the water failed to be consistently warm to hold them. Schoolie stripers pretty much can always be found in the bay at night under lights this season. Many anglers fish for them with soft-plastic baits like Fin-S Fish that can hardly go wrong.  Many anglers talked about bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna found inshore. The Hot Dog and farther north were the places heard about. Crabbing was solid, and many crabbers trapped a dozen keepers in a trip.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

A family inshore-sharked Wednesday aboard, tackling and releasing two dusky sharks, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. He ran one of the trips with friends Monday that landed and released six, mostly duskies. Duskies are required to be let go, and the shark trips, usually within 10 miles from shore, always catch-and-release, are a chance to fight big fish without the long sail offshore. These two trips fished with bait on conventional tackle, but Joe also fly-fishes for them. On Tuesday, a trip fished for summer flounder on the back bay. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

Kingfishing in the surf was the best angling, really, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The angling was great during the weekend. He sent kids there to catch, and anglers who fished for the kings, good-sized, 10 or 12 inches, had a great time. Was good to see surf fishing finally light up. Cownosed rays and, at night, brown sharks and duskie sharks, both required to be released, also bit in the surf. Some good life came from the surf. Summer flounder fishing was tough, including in the bay. But on most days, decent catches of the flatfish were heard about from Townsend’s Inlet Reef or Wildwood Reef in the ocean. The angling was lots of work, lots of hours. A few striped bass were played on the back bay at night under lights on soft-plastic lures, especially Bass Assassins. Good tuna reports rolled in. Bluefin tuna gave up good fishing at Massey’s Canyon. Some yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi came from canyons farther offshore. Crabbing was excellent. Crabbers needed to “work around” pregnant females. Mike was telling boaters who crabbed that if they nabbed four or five keepers, and then crabbing slowed, they should move, pick up another four or five, and then move, and so on. One crabber trapped 40 keepers doing that.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Mixed-bag, summertime fishing, said Capt. Jim from <b>Fins & Grins Sport Fishing</b>. Lots of good action, he said, and plenty of kingfish, some keeper weakfish and small blues could be found at places like off Cape May Point and at sloughs off Wildwood. Summer flounder bit at reefs, but trips needed to sail to the Old Grounds or Reef 11 for the better population of them. That angling takes some angler skill to fish the deep with bucktails. Tuna fishing was pretty good 40 miles down the beach. Fins fishes every day, and reservations aren’t required but suggested. Telephone for availability.

Near <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>, summer flounder catches were pretty steady on the back bay, not giving up a whole lot, but there was action, “so that’s nice,” Mike said. The fishing was fairly steady at the end of the stakes at the 444 and 445 buoys when westerly wind didn’t blow too strongly. That wind across the channel can make the angling difficult. Weekend boat traffic can also make the fishing difficult. A customer inexperienced rental-boated 1 ½ to 2 dozen keeper crabs and three fluke, including a keeper. So that was good. Crabbing improved. Flounder fishing reportedly turned on at Cape May Reef on the ocean, though maybe 12 or 15 throwbacks and two or three keepers would be hooked. Boaters on the ocean passed over similar catches that could be made on the bay. But some anglers like to head to the ocean, no matter. A buddy landed a good-sized mako shark a couple of weeks ago while chumming with bluefish. Mike guessed that was at an offshore canyon. Canal Side rents boats for fishing, crabbing and pleasure and kayaks. <b>***<i>Get a $5 discount</i>***</b> on a rental boat if you mention Fishing Reports Now. A large supply of bait and tackle is carried. Crabs for eating are sold, and the price changes according to market price. Three types are available: live, previously cooked-and-refrigerated or cooked-to-order. Current prices include $27 per dozen for live No. 1s, $20 per dozen for live No. 2’s and $6 for each additional dozen cooked-to-order. Cooked shrimp and clams are also sold for eating, and customers enjoy all the seafood at picnic tables with tents on the water, or enjoy the food at their own location.

<b>Cape May</b>

A tuna trip was supposed to fish inshore today on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. Trips are also trolling bluefish and fishing for fluke on the ocean. Nothing was heard about that in past days, because the fleet all seemed to run for tuna, excited that the fish were in.

Bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna bit along the 20-fathom line, 35 miles south of Cape May, said Capt. John from <b>Caveman Sportfishing</b>. That was mostly in mornings on jigs and chunks, though they were also trolled. But light leader needed to be fished, and the tuna, 50 to 70 pounds, occasionally 80 or 90, often broke off. A trip went 1 for 5 on them yesterday aboard, and another trip was supposed to depart for the tuna 1:30 a.m. today on board. A bunch of small yellowfin tuna and a bigeye tuna were known to be landed at Wilmington Canyon Tuesday evening. Caveman is also running inshore shark trips, often with families, within 3 or 4 miles from shore or a half-hour off the beach. The sharks, mostly browns and duskies, sometimes other species, are released, and some, including browns and duskies, are required to be.

A couple of limits of summer flounder were bagged last Thursday on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, and the trips picked the fish since, Capt. Paul said. No limits were taken afterward, and during yesterday’s trip, conditions failed to drift the boat. One angler bagged three, a couple bagged two apiece and many landed no keepers on the outing. But a few sizable were hung since Thursday. Ken Minett from Mays Landing whacked a 7-pounder, one of three keepers for him on one of the trips. Young Lee from New York City cracked a 7-pounder Sunday. Al Bonk from Erial socked a 6.89-pounder. Fewer keepers were taken since Thursday, but some sizable were, and Paul hopes the angling, all on the ocean, picks back up soon. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Boaters at the Old Grounds on the ocean put together summer flounder catches, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. They also caught the flatfish at Cape May Reef and Reef 11, but the Old Grounds was the place to be. The Old Grounds fishing usually becomes good late this month, but was already productive the last two weeks. Two anglers said they fished for flounder on the ocean on the party boat Porgy IV from Cape May yesterday, but the fishing was slow, because the boat failed to drift, because of no wind. But another trip with four anglers fished the area on a smaller, private boat, reportedly catching eight keepers, because the boat was able to be power-drifted. On the back bay, boaters scratched away at flounder, and fewer fished the bay than usual. Boaters tried for flounder on Delaware Bay, but landed more kingfish than flounder. Kingfish schooled the bay and the surf. All who mentioned fishing for flounder on Delaware Bay said they bagged none. One who fished for them from Miah Maul to the 19 buoy on a trip said only two big kingfish were picked up. The trip also fished closer to shore somewhere, when wind began to blow, but no flounder were found there either. Flounder fishing in the surf will mostly bank throwbacks. Joe fishes for them with a rig with a white Andros bucktail on bottom with a trailer above, baiting the bucktail, unusually, with a Fishbites artificial worm in chartreuse. Sometimes he’s used a red one, but chartreuse is best. On the trailer, he fishes a 3-inch Gulp swimming mullet. He couldn’t say how many times he sent anglers to fish the surf with the rig, he said, and they scored. He tells anglers to use a slow, steady retrieve right to their feet, because often a flounder will bite near the feet. Joe also fishes the rig in the back bay. Brown sharks, required to be released, should be swimming the surf. Spike weakfish had been heard about from the surf, but not first-hand recently. However, a customer said someone found the weaks near Cape May Inlet the other day, and the customer was headed there to fish for them. Another customer, an inexperienced angler, reported seeing lots of fish jumping at a bridge that sounded like snapper blues. Maybe snappers were in. Tuna fishing sounded good, though location was unknown. A customer was going to fish for tuna tonight, and had fished for them earlier in the week, decking some yellowfin tuna and a bigeye tuna at Wilmington Canyon. Another said a buddy loaded up on bluefin tuna only 45 miles south of Cape May on an overnight trip that returned today. Joe guessed that was at the Elephant Trunk or the Hot Dog or a place like that. Joe for about eight years straight used to troll for tuna on July 4 with a friend near 28-Mile Wreck along the 20-fathom line, reliably catching football bluefins and sometimes yellowfins. The bluefins were there, and the reason was unknown, like maybe they migrated then. Mako sharks were still sometimes beaten along the 20 line currently. 

Back to Top