<b>Sewaren</b>

Customers still reported bagging fluke every day, said Rich from <b>Dockside Bait & Tackle</b>. Catches were less plentiful than previously, and bigger fluke were more common in Ambrose Channel now. But fluke still came from Raritan Bay, including at Old Orchard. The summer flounder were also boated off Coney Island. Weakfish usually appear this time of year, and none was reported yet. They were scarce the past couple of years. Crabbing was good. Dockside, located on Smith Creek, a tributary of the Arthur Kill, north of Outerbridge Crossing, is accessible from land and from the water at the fuel dock. All baits are stocked.

<b>Keyport</b>

Twelve keeper fluke and maybe 35 throwbacks were landed yesterday on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, decent fishing, not awesome, Capt. Frank said. Fluking today was struggling, poor, so far aboard, he said at 10 a.m. on the trip in a phone call. Basically he spoke with everybody out to Long Island, he said, and all seemed to struggle. Whether that was because of the new moon or something was unknown. But that’s fishing. Charters are sailing, and the next open-boat trips with space available will sail Tuesday through Friday.

Some days fished better than others for fluke with the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>, or when conditions were good, the angling was better, Capt. Mario said. High hooks landed seven keepers, keeping no more than a limit of five, and the fish weighed up to 7 pounds this week. Open-boat trips are fluking daily on the Down Deep Bull, one of the company’s two boats, both 40 feet. Open bottom-fishing trips will begin to sail daily for porgies, sea bass and triggerfish on the Down Deep, the other vessel. Charters are available for either type of fishing. Book now for choice dates for fall striped bass fishing that should be great. Trips are also being booked for sea bass fishing for when the bag limit is increased to 15 beginning October 22. Join the <a href=" http://downdeepsportfishing.com/short-notice-list/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s website to be kept informed about special open trips like marathons, trips that fish more hours than usual.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Fluke fishing slowed a little, and many throwbacks were hooked, but fluke were still bagged, said Jay from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. They were boated including northeast of the Chicken Stakes, south of Ambrose Channel. Porgies were in, for ocean boaters. Porgies were also plucked from the Keansburg Pier. Some croakers and kingfish were mixed in. Snapper blues schooled the harbor, and larger blues were scarce. Crabbing was excellent, and good catches were trapped at the Oceanic Bridge on Navesink River. All baits are stocked.

Catching keeper fluke was pretty slow, and quite a few throwbacks were reeled aboard the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. Trips fished all over the bay and at some of the channels, and some trips fished better than others, depending on how conditions drifted the boat. All patrons seemed to have a good time, and trips couldn’t promise as many keepers as wanted – definitely not enough were around, he said – but trips could provide the enjoyable time. This morning’s trip caught a handful of keepers and picked away at throwbacks, and current began to be lost to drift the boat at 10 a.m., he said then in a phone call aboard. A tremendous number of throwbacks bit on Monday afternoon’s trip. That was one of the better days for the angling. The Atlantic Star is fluke fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

A 9.6-pound fluke took the lead today in the season-long fluke pool on the <b>Fishermen</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. That was an ounce heavier than the previous leader, and Bill Yurkovitch nailed the fish and also a 7-1/2-pounder and a 4-pounder on the trip. Bigger fluke were socked aboard this year, but the anglers weren’t in the pool. On the trip today, big fluke were smashed, and a number of anglers whacked 5- to 7-pounders, while the bite was on. One angler limited out, and plenty of throwbacks bit. No report was posted for yesterday, Wednesday. Tuesday’s trip waxed good fluking, not the hot action of Monday, the report said, but a good, steady pick of throwbacks and keepers. A couple of anglers limited out, and a 5-1/2-pounder won the pool Tuesday. Monday was a banner day of fluking aboard. Some anglers limited out, and several landed more than a limit, keeping no more than their quotas. The high hook totaled eight. Big fluke were busted on the outing. A 6.7-pounder won the pool, and a couple of other 6-pounders were pasted.  A 29-inch striped bass was bagged, a surprise. The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, for striped bass 6:30 to 11 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and for fluke, blues, porgies and whatever can be bagged 6:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. However, charters are booked in the mornings this Friday through Sunday, so no open-boat trips will fish then.

Fluking was steady, tying into lots of throwbacks, but picking keepers, said Chris from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b>. A few sizable were weighed-in, mostly from private boats. The fish included a 9.13-pounder, an 8-pounder and a 7-pounder. A 9.9-pounder was checked-in from a party boat. Waters fished for fluke included Flynn’s Knoll and the channels. The shop’s rental boaters scored well on fluke. One with two anglers landed 25 throwbacks, no keepers. Another with one angler docked five keepers and released 15 shorts. Fishing could even be okay from the bulkhead. One angler banked a bunch of snapper blues and two fluke from there. Snappers grew somewhat larger than before. Porgy fishing was good on night trips on one of the party boats. Many private boats sailed for good catches of porgies. Good catches of sea bass were made. One boat reportedly trolled more than 10 tuna near the Bacardi wreck. The anglers said the fish were fat and full of sand eels. Baits stocked include killies, sandworms that could be fished for porgies, fresh peanut bunker, and all frozen baits like the different squids, including tube, pre-cut and scented. All offshore baits are stocked like flats of butterfish and sardines. The shop, new this year, is located at Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, near the party boats, charter boats and private boats. It’s the sister store to Fisherman’s Den in Belmar.

<b>Highlands</b>

Anglers bottom-fished Monday with <b>Lady M Charters</b>, scoring up-and-down catches, Lady M’s Facebook page said. For 2 hours, porgies and some sea bass and triggerfish gave up non-stop action. The porgies were small, and the anglers only kept the larger and some sea bass and triggers to eat, but the fishing was drop-and-reel. Readings were unbelievable. Space is available for an open-boat bottom-fishing trip to the Mudhole on August 13. An open trip will fluke Saturday, and one space was available, the Facebook page said Monday.

Running from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Jay, John, Ryan and Eddie on the Par Tee bagged two fluke 23 inches and 19 ½ inches at Ambrose Channel on killies Sunday, Marion wrote in an email. Angelo, Jack and Brett limited out on fluke to 5 pounds at Ambrose on killies the same day.  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 all for offshore.

<b>Neptune</b>

The weekly fluke trip Tuesday and a cod trip Wednesday were weathered out with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph said. On a charter Monday, cod including the biggest one of the year were slapped aboard, covered in an update to the last report here. The weekly, individual-reservation fluke trip next week will sail Wednesday instead of the usual Tuesday. Kids under 12 sail free on those outings, limited to one per adult host. Limited space is available for individual-reservation trips for cod August 17 and 30, and another was recently added for September 14.  <b>***Update, Friday, 8/5:***</b> Both individual-reservation cod trips in August sold out, and space remain for the September 14 one, Ralph wrote in an email. An individual-reservation trip for inshore wreck-fishing was just added for August 28. An individual-reservation trip for sea bass is full October 25, and space is available for another on October 27. The bag limit will be raised to 15 sea bass beginning October 22, from the current limit of two. Room is available for an individual-rez trip for blackfish November 16. The bag limit will be increased to six of the tautog beginning that day, from the current limit of one. Charters are available daily.

<b>Belmar</b>

On the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b>, fluke fishing on the ocean was great Sunday, Capt. Chris said. Monday’s trip headed out but turned back to port because of wind and seas. On Tuesday’s trip, the fishing was no good in seas that the strong northeast wind had built. But on Wednesday’s trip, the fishing improved. He hoped the angling kept picking back up on today’s trip. Things were looking better, he said, and the fluking’s been good aboard. Jigs with Gulps were the tackle to fish, no doubt, he said. But a few were bagged on bait Wednesday, apparently because of stirred up water. The Big Mohawk is fishing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Fishing for fluke on the ocean was docked in the weather the last few days with <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Pete said. Party boats caught the fish, he knew, but conditions were tough. Wind and seas began to calm yesterday, he thought. Trips aboard include On the Water Seminars that teach bucktailing for big fluke. A few spaces are available for one of those Monday. Another is slated for August 15, and more of the trips will be added. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Parker Pete’s anyway about individual spaces available on charters. Sign up for the email blast on <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s website</a> to be kept informed about the spaces. Some are available currently. The spaces and available dates for other trips are also posted on a calendar on the site.

The next fishing, for fluke and sea bass on the ocean, was supposed to sail today and this weekend on the <b>Katie H</b>, Capt. Mike said. The fishing’s been good. The number of keeper fluke biting picked up, plenty of sea bass were sacked, and some ling were decked. A trip scored well Sunday, before the week’s wind. Mike’s been waiting to tuna fish, because no good reports were heard, except from inshore at Massey’s Canyon, too far south. Trips are booked to tuna fish at the offshore canyons later this month. The boat will be run south if necessary.

A couple of moves had to be made, but today’s trip locked up great mackerel fishing on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>, an email from the party boat said. A few sea bass were boxed, and fishing was similar in previous days aboard. Sometimes pollock were also caught, and sometimes moves had to be made, and sometimes wind and seas were sloppy. But good mackerel fishing ended up being found on the outings. 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. daily.

Weather kept fishing docked Monday on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. The ocean was nasty Tuesday, in wind stronger than forecast, but the trip that day picked at mackerel. They’d bite, disappear and bite again. On Wednesday, customers lit into plenty of mackerel, all they could want. They swung in a few 1- to 2-pound blues, a dozen keeper pollock to 20 pounds and several throwback pollock, too. Today’s trip pummeled great mackerel fishing and a few blues. 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 daily, reservations required. Heads up: six tuna trips and two 31-hour tuna and mahi mahi trips are slated beginning September 11. Reservations should be made, and spaces are filling. Only four spots remain for one of the tuna/mahi trips September 21. Each of the offshore trips are limited to 25 passengers.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

Strong easterly wind and strong currents were unfavorable, and fluke fishing was up and down on the <b>Gambler</b> on the ocean the past few days, an email from the party boat said. The angling was somewhat better Wednesday, giving up some good-sized fluke to 6 ½ pounds and a few sizable sea bass. Thursday night’s wreck-fishing trip fished well, bucketing some larger ling. On Friday night’s bluefishing trip, angling was tough. But small blues a half-pound to a pound were taken on Saturday night’s bluefishing trip. All anglers left with a good-catch of the good-eating-sized fish. Fluke trips are fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily. Trips from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. are fishing wrecks every Thursday and are bluefishing every Friday and Saturday.

The ocean calmed considerably Wednesday compared with Tuesday, Capt. Matt from the <b>Norma-K III</b> wrote in a report on the party boat’s website. He posted no report for Tuesday at press time, and maybe no trips sailed in the day’s weather on the boat. In the better conditions Wednesday, fluking was okay in the morning aboard, pasting keepers and throwbacks. He hoped more would bite afterward as the swell calmed. Because of the improved seas Wednesday, that night’s bluefishing trip was expected to run, he wrote before the outing. The previous night’s bluefishing, on Tuesday, was scrubbed because of seas. Monday night’s trip fished well for 1- to 2-pound blues. 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 is bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

Good porgy fishing was axed a couple of days early this week on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. Trips focused on porgies since last week, and on some days, some anglers limited out on 50. Porgy fishing was tougher yesterday, and most customers bagged 20 to 30. So the trip pushed deeper, and a few sea bass, blackfish, winter flounder, fluke, one cod and maybe 12 or 15 ling were pitched aboard. One of the fluke weighed 5 pounds and would’ve won the pool, but a 6- to 7-pound cod was then caught and won. Few ling, fish that swim deeper, were around anymore this season, and after only 12 or 15 came in yesterday, Butch expected not to fish the deep again soon. Trips mostly fished shallow in 30- to 60-foot depths. The water on the fishing grounds was probably 70 or 72 degrees on the surface. The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. every Friday and Saturday. Butch wasn’t asked what the night trips caught this past weekend. The trips the previous weekend landed a few ling, flounder, sea bass, small blues and a couple of cod, he said in a report last week here.

<b>Toms River</b>

From the surf, 3-pound blues were sometimes banked on mullet rigs, said Virginia from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Sometimes anglers tossed metal to the blues, when birds were seen working the water. Otherwise they fished the mullet rigs and waited for the fish. Most reports about the surf rolled in from Island Beach State Park and Seaside Park, and kingfish were also bloodwormed from the water or hooked on small bits of squid. Fluke fishing could be pretty good in the surf on a jig with a teaser. The jigs were from the smallest to 3 ounces, and the hooks on the rig were often baited with Gulps. Pink Shine and Nuclear Chicken were effective colors. The summer flounder could also bite metal like a Jetty Ghost or other sand eel imitation, fished slowly along bottom. Sea robins chomped in the surf, especially on spearing. Sharks were fought at night from the surf on bunker chunks. For boaters, ocean fluke fishing was fairly good. So was fluking on Manasquan River, like from the Dog Beach to the Lobster Shanty or the Railroad Bridge. Off Clark’s Landing produced, too. Some keepers swam nearby northern Barnegat Bay off Dale’s Point. Farther south, fluke gathered at Barnegat Inlet and in Barnegat Bay nearby. Some could be found at the BI and BB markers. In that area, fluke, good catches, were found in the ocean at the Tires and north of the inlet in 40 feet. Porgies schooled the ocean, substantially farther north. She fished on a trip that locked into loads off Highlands. Then the trip fished off Long Branch at mussel beds, looking for triggerfish, but porgies also bit there. Farther from shore, bottom-fishing wasn’t so great, like for ling. So anglers targeted porgies. If anglers targeted sea bass, that angling was good. Bluefishing was slow on party boats during daytime. Those vessels often switched to chub mackerel that were plentiful. Kids could enjoy fishing for them and also the porgies, because both were abundant. Crabbing was great, the best in probably 5 years. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Weather today was some you just couldn’t miss in the surf, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. Small to keeper-sized fluke and small to medium blues popped in and out of the surf.  Pesky rays were around, so spike the rod with the drag loose enough. Crabbing was good, and customers crab from the dock and the store’s rental boats on Barnegat Bay. Snapper blues seemed the only fish in the bay locally. 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.

<b>Forked River</b>

Fishing for Barnegat Bay’s fluke remained about the same as before, said Brian from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. Weather including rain might’ve slowed catches somewhat. Anglers fishing the bay and also the ocean for fluke said so. But that might’ve been temporary, and Double Creek Channel was one place fluke were boated on the bay. An angler who fished there hit the fish on the first hour of incoming tide. Clean ocean water seemed the reason, and the first hour seemed the time to catch fluke throughout the bay locally. Near the research buoy gave up a few of the fish.  On the ocean, places for fluke included south of the bathing beach at Island Beach State Park and the south end of Axel Carlson Reef. Nothing was heard from Barnegat Ridge in the ocean lately. Last week, Brian heard about mahi mahi and skipjacks located there. A few crabs were trapped in back waters. The supplier was supposedly trying for fresh spearing yesterday and today that the shop stocks when available. None was available yet this season, except briefly. Brian couldn’t know whether the spearing would be carried this weekend. But frozen local spearing, great bait, are carried, and so are frozen Canadian spearing. All frozen baits are stocked, and so are Gulp artificial baits. Offshore baits are in supply like flats of sardines, butterfish, ballyhoos and mackerel.  

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Sloppy conditions “made it rough for both fish and fishermen” Wednesday on the <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, the party boat’s Facebook page said. A few sea bass were caught, and wind blew a bit too strongly on Tuesday’s trip. Some keeper fluke and action with shorts was still managed. A few mackerel were caught, and so was a mahi mahi that won the pool. On previous days, rain and thunderstorms didn’t help fishing. Today looked calm, though. The fishing, on the ocean, usually improves in August. So the crew waited for weather to settle, hoping for the angling to pick up. The Miss Barnegat Light is fishing for fluke and sea bass at 8 a.m. daily.

Barnegat Inlet and Barnegat Bay around the Dike served up fluke, pretty good catches, said Rob from <b>Van’s Boat Rentals</b>. Good catches of the fish were lifted from the ocean. An errant striped bass and sometimes blues were hooked. The better population of blues held 40 or 50 miles from shore, he was told. Fairly good crabbing was trapped. Van’s rents boats from 9 h.p. to 50 h.p. for fishing, crabbing and pleasure. Kayaks are rented, and facilities include a bait and tackle shop and a marina with slips, gas and full boat servicing.

Barnegat Bay’s fluking was really good, actually, said Chris from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. Most were tugged from High Bar Harbor, but the cut into the inlet was another place that produced. Lots of small sea bass, sea robins and skates swam the bay. Small snapper blues were around a little. No weakfish and blowfish were heard about from the bay. News was scarce from the ocean in rough seas, but ocean fluking was pretty good before, mostly to the north. Nobody mentioned tuna. Nothing was reported about bonito, really. Crabbing was slow but improving. Clamming’s usually good locally. 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 currently include minnows, and live grass shrimp are available to order.

<b>Barnegat</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 8/5:***</b> From an edited email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “Open-Boat Barnegat Ridge Sunday … Maybe,” he wrote. “Finally, a break in all this wind. The forecast for Sunday is for light NW wind and no storm activity, which should make it possible for us to get out to Barnegat Ridge, or maybe even a little farther, in search of bonita, albacore and any other blue-water fish. We are a 21-foot center console, so there’s always the possibility that I won’t like what I see at the inlet and turn around. I only go offshore in perfect or near-perfect sea conditions. I'm only looking for people willing to fish the bay as Plan B, if I don't feel the ocean is right for us. Our Plan B is usually pretty interesting, though.  I always have a box of live grass shrimp on order, as an insurance policy, in case we can't get out. I want to get out to the blue water as much as anyone. Especially after all of this east wind we've been experiencing. It pushes in the bluest, cleanest water and the species that go with it. Sunday 6 a.m. to 12 noon (probably later). Three people max. All fish are shared. The boat is also available for charter Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Don't ever think it's too late to call on any of these trips. Sometimes we have room right up until ‘go time.’”

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Weather cooled, and a few more weakfish seemed caught from the bay than before, said Chris from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Flurries of summer flounder catches were boated from the bay locally. A 4-1/2-pounder and a 2-pounder were weighed-in from Little Egg Inlet from a trip. Outgoing tides fished better for flounder locally, and anglers sometimes said they hooked a bunch on outgoing and none once the tide changed. Tuckerton Bay gave up good flounder catches at moments. Good catches were reported Saturday. Farther south, good flounder fishing was plundered from Absecon Inlet off Harrah’s. At the sod banks near the shop, a few blackfish, triggerfish and sheepshead began to be cranked in. The blackfish measured up to 13 inches, smaller than the 15-inch minimum legal size. Snapper blues grew big enough to sometimes be hooked at lagoons. Peanut bunker and mullet could be castnetted for bait in back waters. Lots of white perch schooled Mullica River. No live grass shrimp, a favorite bait for them, are stocked, because they’d die in the heat. But bloodworms, another favorite for perch, will arrive Friday. Baits stocked include minnows and fresh, shucked clams.  On the ocean, flounder fishing was hit and miss, definitely. One day would fish well, then two days wouldn’t. Wind was terrible for the ocean fishing in past days. Catches like sea bass and blackfish could be had from the ocean, something to catch there. Good tuna catches were chunked at Massey’s Canyon a few days ago sometimes, before the wind and seas prevented the trips. Most were yellowfins that seemed to bite early in morning or late in day, not at mid-day. Some tried for bigeye tuna farther offshore at canyons, trolling them.

<b>Absecon</b>

Pretty much flounder were the news, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Plenty of summer flounder, good-sized, filled inlets and the back bay. Most gathered around inlets, but keepers still swam throughout the bay. Most were 18 to 20 inches, but 5- to 7-pounders were seen every day at the store. Many sizable were around. Limits caught were common, actually, like for two or three anglers on a boat who were experienced. A family wouldn’t limit but would bag plenty to eat if they gave the effort. The ocean was rough in past days, so not much effort was given to flounder fishing there. The ocean bottom had been cold, hindering flounder fishing there, but if lighter wind blows a couple of days, the angling should pick up, Dave hopes. The fish swam all the local reefs in the ocean, and fishing for them was no all-out blitz, but the fish seemed there. Divers were heard about who speared their fair share. The bottom temperature might’ve made the fish reluctant to bite. But the weekend’s weather looks beautiful, and the ocean might be a place to fish for flounder then, if the bottom warms, Dave had a feeling. Back in the bay, weakfish were definitely showing, and striped bass fishing was pretty good at night. Lots of baitfish schooled the bay including peanut bunker and spearing. The water was alive, so flounder won’t depart soon, Dave thinks. A few mullet swam the bay, not enough for him to net to keep stocked live. Peanut bunker were stocked live off and on, and check with the shop to confirm. The supply of shedder crabs was iffy, and suppliers provided a few that customers bought soon after the crabs arrived. Very few soft-shell crabs were on hand for eating, and check with the store to confirm whether they’re in. The shop raises the crabs, and the supply should pick back up before long.   

<b>Brigantine</b>

Kingfish swarmed all over the surf, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Brown sharks, required to be released, and big rays were fought from the water. Wind blew in past days, and only the sharks and rays were really caught. But the kings have been in for some time. Fish bloodworms for them, and kingfish or mackerel heads for the sharks. Summer flounder were consistently yanked from Absecon Inlet off Harrah’s. The fishing was “nothing to write home about,” and anglers worked for the flatfish, but caught. All baits including bloodworms are stocked, as always.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Kingfish, snapper blues, larger blues, summer flounder, sea perch, porgies, triggerfish and blackfish were eased from Absecon Inlet from the T-jetty to the Flagship and the sea wall, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Customers fish the jetty-lined inlet on foot, and they dunked bloodworms, minnows, green crabs and spearing for bait. Bloodworms are on special for two dozen for $20. The spearing caught the blues, and the blues swam together in mixed sizes from 6 and 8 inches to a foot. A 7.1-pound flounder was in the lead in the month-long flounder tournament through August 15 from One Stop and Ducktown Tavern. All proceeds will be donated to the Valerie Fund, and first place will be a large flatscreen TV and a $150 Fluke Candy Tackle Box. Second will be a rod-and-reel combo. All entrants will receive a Fluke Candy Rig. Check this out: the store recently installed a bait machine outside that from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. is currently selling bloodworms, nightcrawlers, green nightcrawlers, green crabs, clams, spearing, scented squid, whole squid, tube squid, three-packs of mullet, filleted mullet, herring and more. Plus, more baits will be added. The special on bloodworms, mentioned above, is only available inside the shop, when the store is open.

<b>Egg Harbor Township</b>

No summer flounder were heard about from the bay, said Collin from <b>24-7 Bait & Tackle</b>. Wind blew too strongly for boating the ocean for flounder. Nobody boated for tuna in the swell either. Lots of kingfish nibbled in the surf, and brown sharks, required to be released, roamed the surf. Crabbing was awesome on Patcong Creek, and Collin trapped 65 in 2 hours. The store’s rental boats are docked on the creek, running past the store, and are used for crabbing and fishing. Patcong is one of the best places for crabbing. Minnows are half-price throughout the fishing season: $3 for a half-pint, $6 for a pint and $12 for a quart.  Fresh bunker are carried, and no shedders are in, but shedders are stocked when available. All offshore baits are on hand. <b>The company also owns 24-7 Bait & Tackle in Marmora</b>.

<b>Margate</b>

Strong northeast wind was tough, but summer flounder were still tapped from the back bay on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. The number of keepers was fewer than before, but lots of the fish remained in the water. He wouldn’t say the fishing was good in the wind, but the angling would become good again once the wind changed, he hoped.  Lots of small sea bass nibbled. So did lots of sea robins and a few sharks. Minnows and mackerel, provided aboard, hooked the flounder. Some anglers fished Gulps they brought, but the sea bass bit off the ends, so anglers went through lots of the artificial bait. Peanut bunker began to be kept in the livewell for anglers to fish for the flounder at times. Some began to grow large enough, so John castnetted them the past few days. Peanuts can be good to liveline for flounder, including larger flounder. 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>Ocean City</b>

Surf-fishing was no good for the moment in the strong northeast wind, said Justin from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Previously, lots of kingfish bit in the surf on bloodworms or Fishbites artificial worms, though the kings were smaller than before. Still, they were around in numbers. The kings seemed to hold in tight schools. Reports were often heard that said none bit off one street, and the angler moved a couple of streets away and slammed them. Anglers who said none was around needed to move, probably.  A ton of brown sharks, required to be released, stalked the surf, biting bunker, mackerel or any “bloody meat.” Lots of big butterfly rays and cownosed, rays swam the surf. A decent number of spike weakfish in the surf sometimes grabbed the worms fished for kings. Some anglers fished shedder crabs or squid for the weaks and caught. Weakfish, not a lot, but some better-sized, were mixed in when anglers fished for striped bass on the back bay at night. A few stripers, none keepers, really, were hung from the bay in the dark, mostly on soft-plastic lures. A few anglers fished hard lures to connect. The bay’s flounder fishing was hit and miss, and somewhat more of them hit than before, but fewer were sizable than previously. Water clarity was an issue. If anglers could find clear water in the deep, where the flounder gathered, they could find flounder. Weather took a toll on the angling lately, including a 13-degree drop in water temperature maybe two weekends ago. The bay was loaded with small sea bass. The ocean’s flounder fishing, at wrecks and reefs, was so hit and miss that Justin couldn’t say any of the angling was good. A trip would bag four or five, return the next day to the same location, and find none. Tuna were last reported caught at Massey’s Canyon. But probably nobody tuna fished in the past days’ winds and seas.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

<b>***Update, Friday, 8/5:***</b> Better and better summer flounder fishing was reported from the ocean, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. The back bay harbored a fair number of small flounder. Striped bass were popper-plugged from the bay last week, when high tides coincided with dusk, ideal conditions. The tides happen every two weeks. Surf casters beached good kingfishing during daytime and sharks at night. Mahi mahi were trolled at buoys maybe 10 miles from shore. Farther out, lots of white marlin, not lots of tuna, were pumped in. A local longliner trekked 180 miles offshore, a long way, to fish for lots of tuna and swordfish on the eastern, far side of the Gulf Stream. The trip fished three days on the inshore side, but nothing was doing. Crabbing was excellent.  

<b>Avalon</b>

Wind blew strongly, but a trip fished for summer flounder yesterday with <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b>, landing 15, Capt. Jim said. He wasn’t asked how many were keepers or whether any were, but said the angling was okay, and the anglers had a good time. Other boaters were heard about who hooked none in the weather. The trip fished the back bay, and the ocean was too rough to sail in the wind. The trip sailed to the inlet to take a look, knowing seas would be too much on the ocean. All the fish seemed to hold from Avalon to near the inlet on the trip. The trip also looked near Stone Harbor, but none bit there. Even on the bay, the engines had to be run to slow the boat’s drift in the wind during the angling. Drifts were too short to use a drift sock to slow the vessel. The trip fished rigs with spinners and Gulps.

<b>Wildwood</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing slowed somewhat, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>, and the water temperature rose, he thought. But some were caught, and this was usual for the time of year. Some of the fish seem to move to the cooler ocean once summer warms the bay enough. Good flounder fishing was known about from Wildwood Reef in the ocean. Many of the bay’s flounder were throwbacks. Gulps caught well on the bay, and minnows caught strongly in the ocean. Many ocean anglers fished the live bait. Weakfishing became slower than before in the bay. Mike knows a couple of dedicated, good anglers who fish for the weaks at 5 a.m. for a couple of hours before work, and they noticed fewer of the fish biting. A few striped bass were angled from the bay in the dark, second-hand reports said. Striped bass could be seen abundant in the canal at night at a green light someone’s got in the water. They always seem mesmerized by the light, but almost never bite. A buddy nailed one on a Clouser fly on a fly rod. Lots of kingfish were beached from the surf the past two weeks on Fishbites artificial worms. Crabbing was pretty good for customers, and should continue to become better. That usually happens throughout summer. Somewhat fewer were trapped in the 90-degree weather recently.  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 supplier trapped them well from Delaware Bay. Shedding was finished for the moment, and the crabs began to be meatier than when the shed first ended. They fill-out as time passes after shedding. The price changes according to market price, and No. 2s were currently on special for $35 for two dozen live or cooked. No. 2s were $20 per dozen live, and No. 1s were $32 per dozen live. The price is slightly more for pre-cooked and slightly more than that for cooked-to-order. The pre-cooked are refrigerated, and Mike prefers crabs cold. The pre-cooked and cooked-to-order are delicious – customers are complimenting them. Shrimp, clams and oysters are also sold for eating. Customers enjoy all the food at picnic tables with tents on the water at the store. Or they take out the food and enjoy.

<b>Cape May</b>

During wind that prevented tuna fishing in past days, summertime’s catch-and-release shark trips fished Delaware Bay, closer to port, with <b>Caveman Sportfishing</b>, Capt. John said. The angling was tremendous, tackling the fish to 300 pounds. So that’s been pretty interesting, he said. Tuna fishing is supposed to resume Friday aboard, and John knew nobody who fished for them since Monday. Through Monday, yellowfin tuna were fought at the Hambone, 8 miles south of Massey’s Canyon, where the fish were caught previously.

Just windy, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. Not much was heard about fishing in the strong northeast in past days, and bottom-fishing is slated for the weekend on the boat. The anglers booked for this Sunday wanted to fish for summer flounder. George last fished for tuna Thursday on a friend’s boat, inshore. The trip landed one and lost another, and plenty of tuna were reeled in that day among the fleet.

A few summer flounder were bagged on a few days on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> on the ocean, Capt. Paul said. On Sunday’s trip, a couple of anglers limited out, and previously, limits hadn’t been boated in a while. Mike Jung from Cape May Court House limited out on the fluke to 5 ½ pounds on the trip. Dave Thompson from Green Creek also limited on the outing. On Monday, Bob Key from Lancaster bagged four flounder to an 8-1/4-pounder, the biggest aboard this year so far. On another day aboard, Peter Shorf from Rockledge, Pa., bagged two flounder to a 6-pounder, winning the pool with the fish. But on Wednesday’s trip, strong northeast wind had built up a swell, and flounder fishing caught “next to nothing,” Paul said. Three days of decent action with flounder, and some good-sized caught, were copped. Then Wednesday’s fishing was slow. Paul hoped that was because of the swell. Otherwise, the fish might’ve moved, and would need to be hunted and found. The fishing remained hit and miss, Paul would say. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.  

In the surf, croakers and kingfish were dragged-in at Cape May Point and Poverty Beach, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Spike weakfish bit in the surf all around. Sounded like some summer flounder were banked from the surf, mostly at the Concrete Ship and Higbee’s Beach. A mix of some of these species could be boated at Cape May Channel off Cape May Point. Sharking was good in the surf at night. For boaters, summer flounder gave up lots of action, even if keepers were difficult to come by. Good numbers chewed in the back bay. Ocean reefs produced better-sized. Boaters headed to the reefs farther away. On Delaware Bay, flounder were beaten toward Fortescue. Weakfish schooled the bay at Brandywine. Tuna fishing seemed to begin to slow, but the Hot Dog and Hambone gave up the hot bite. The tuna seemed mostly yellowfins, after bluefins were predominant earlier this season. Crabbing was excellent.

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