<b>Staten Island</b>

Striped bass started to show up around Sandy Hook Point, said Capt. Darrin from <b>Kayla Rose Charters</b>. Weakfishing was improving, and a weakfish charter is slated for the weekend. Porgy fishing was okay in both the bay and ocean. Kayla Rose will keep fluke fishing, and New York’s season is open all year. A tuna trip will point the bow offshore Monday, and open-boat tuna trips are leaving port every day when the weather allows and when no charter is booked. Call Darrin to get on the list of interested anglers.

Great Kills Harbor was loaded with peanut bunker, and blues and fluke were chasing them, said Sal from <b>Michael’s Bait & Tackle</b>. A customer took two kids fishing their first-ever time, and the kids landed 29 fluke, and the keepers weighed 3 ¾ pounds to 5 pounds. So fluking was very good. Blues were also all over, and birds worked over the top of them, and sometimes schools of bonito and false albacore were mixed in at Breezy Point, Sandy Hook Point and Ambrose Channel. Just chase the birds. Weakfish to 8 pounds were taken from Chapel Hill Channel, and porgies hovered over the bottom structure and pieces. Plenty of sea bass also hugged the structure. Staten Island surf anglers sometimes beached small striped bass 22 to 27 inches and a few keepers. Three or four keepers were weighed in, none of them very big. Tuna were on a tear in Hudson Canyon at the Letters and along the West Wall, and trolling picked them up, and so did chunking, and when conditions were good, so was the fishing. Crabbing was phenomenal. “I’ve yet to see a year like this,” Sal said about the blueclaws.

<b>Laurence Harbor</b>

<b>Evening Tide Charters</b> fluke fished Tuesday in the bay at the same spot that a trip bailed big flatties Sunday, and this trip hit the doormats once again, Capt. Kyle said. Big, thick, strong flatties, including a couple of 5 and 6 pounders, pounced on live peanut bunker in the back of the bay near Staten Island. They aggressively grabbed the baits almost like a bluefish. Kyle hoped the fish will stick around, although it’s unfortunate the season is closing in less than two weeks. He was surprised to find the fish there on the previous trip, because he thought the storm would’ve muddied the water and caused the fish to bite best toward mid bay and closer to the ocean. But they bit in the back, and the clarity of the 76.5-degree water was good on the Tuesday trip. Plenty of peanuts were filling the water to castnet for bait. Weakfish still never really turned on in the bay, but if they do, Evening Tide will certainly fish for them. Kyle loves targeting the weaks with light tackle and livelined peanut bunker. In the meantime, dates are still available for fluke charters while the season lasts, so jump aboard before time runs out. Open-boat trips are also sailing on Saturdays and Sundays.

<b>Keyport</b>

Charters on the <b>Lucky Carm</b> continued bailing fluke at the same spot anglers onboard were tearing them up over the weekend, Capt. Carmine said. The spot was only minutes from the dock in the bay, and Carmine found the fish by chance, and it kept producing. Bob Palmer’s group o Monday nailed the flatties on peanut bunker, and daughter Alexis, 9, tackled a 7-pounder that the crew weighed at Crabby’s Bait and Tackle. A couple of the anglers onboard almost limited out, and Bob’s wife Sharon was high hook. Dr. Stan Balewitz and friend Bob Krupinski were on deck yesterday and pinned down fluke at the same place on peanuts, and Stan caught a 5.2-pounder that was the biggest. Two 7-pound and 11-pound blues were also fought to the boat, and some large blues have been coming around. So trips were still catching quantities of fluke, and openings are still available for charters before fluke season closes after September 10. This Saturday is also open because of a cancellation, and Monday is also available. After fluke season ends, bottom fishing trips will target sea bass, porgies, blackfish and ling, and bluefishing trips can fish for the speedsters either in the bay or at the Mud Buoy in the ocean. Special, 4-hour, evening charters are always available 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and call Carmine for info. Morning charters are also available, and charter times are flexible.

Raritan Bay’s fishing was heating up since water temps dropped after last week’s rains and cooler weather, said Frank from <b>Crabby’s Bait & Tackle</b> in a fax. Fluke fishing improved and was strong along Reach Channel, near the TC buoy and past Sandy Hook. Anthony Nasrimente pulled in a respectable 5.51-pound fluke at the 1 can off Keyport, and Dennis Sampson took down an 8-pound fluke at Sandy Hook Channel. Both fish bit peanut bunker, the hot bait lately for all types of fish. Stripers were making an appearance when the sun went down, and Aaron Camper grabbed a 24-pounder at the Keyport bulkhead. Amanda Suralik bottom fished and put together an impressive limit of sea bass to 5 pounds and six ling to 18 inches. Crabbing was improving in the bay, and construction on the Keyport bulkhead left crabbers with a comfortable and productive spot to pick up blueclaws and fish. Crabby’s will hold a one-day crabbing contest 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, September 22, at Keyport Pier, and entry is free, and great prizes and giveaways will be featured.

A trip will fish for fluke tomorrow with <b>Papa’s Angels Charters</b>, Capt. Joe said. Space is available on open-boat trips this Saturday and Sunday, and open trips are also sailing 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. every day when no charter is booked, and so is an open trip 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday. Call to reserve the open trips, and they’re fishing for fluke, but they can also target blues and/or weakfish if those species pop up.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Some areas of the rivers still held quite a few fluke, said Jimmy from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The flatties also bit along Reach Channel, and weakies were reeled in from the back of the bay. Plenty of small blues were around that could be jigged, and bluefishing was very good at the Mud Buoy. Porgies were hitting, and sea bass got pulled up, and a friend scored very well on ling yesterday at the Mudhole.

Fluke fishing was much better Monday on the <b>Fishermen</b>, Capt. Ron said in the report on the boat’s web site. On Sunday after the storm way too many shorts had bitten. Too many shorts still hit Monday, but the fishing looked like it would continue improving, and the high hook bagged seven keepers, though many anglers caught none for the box, and a 7-1/2-pounder was the pool winner. A fast tide forced a battle with the current, and 10 ounces of weight was needed to hold bottom. On Tuesday the fishing wasn’t bad either, and plenty of shorts were reeled in, and keepers were mixed in. The boat fished the channels, and at least 10 ounces was needed again, and anglers should bring the right equipment—heavier rods and weights—during such days, if they want to fish their own tackle. Otherwise they end up not being able to feel the bottom and set the hook. Gene Komorrows limited out and won the pool with a 6-3/4-pound flatty. The boat also fished the channels yesterday, and anglers picked at fluke. Lots of shorts only a half-inch or inch-and-a-half were released like the previous days, but bigger ones were mixed in. A 7.1-pounder was the pool winner, and loads of baitfish have been around, and Ron hoped weakfish weren’t far behind. The boat will keep fishing for fluke until the season ends after September 10, and afterward trips will target weakfish, if the weaks arrive. The Fishermen is fishing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, usually in the ocean. Afternoon bluefishing trips are running 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.

Quite a few fluke were biting on the <b>Atlantic Star</b>’s trips Monday through this morning, and some were keepers, but unfortunately many were a quarter-inch to an inch short, Capt. Tom said. When he gave this report after the first 1 ½ hours or so of this morning’s trip, a flatty that was probably 6 pounds was already bagged, and some anglers caught one keeper, and others landed none. On Tuesday the boat fished the channel, and the ratio of shorts to keepers was a little improved, and there was a steady pick, and plenty were undersized. On Monday morning’s trip Larry Clark walloped a 10-pound doormat. Some anglers would get lucky this week and catch five or six fish and one keeper, and others would be less lucky and score nine or 10 and no keepers. Sometimes it would depend on skill, but sometimes not. The boat will keep fishing for fluke until the season ends after September 10, and then trips will probably sail for weakfish. No weakfish were hooked on the boat in the past days, and Tom heard about none landed. If Tom remembered correctly, not many weakfish bit last year until just after Labor Day. The Atlantic Star is sailing for fluke on two trips daily from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

<b>Highlands</b>

A trip with <b>Fisher Price Charters</b> ran to the Mud Dump and limited out on bluefish to 10 and 12 pounds on Tuesday, Capt. Derek said. The anglers were drifting peanut bunker while chumming with peanuts. A charter yesterday fluke fished at Ambrose Channel and reeled in lots of the fish only a quarter-inch or an inch short but managed a couple of keepers. Derek hadn’t looked for weakfish lately, and last year the trout really didn’t start turning on until the first week of September, but they might be around already, and it’s just that everybody was focused on fluke before the season was about to end.

<b>Sea Bright</b>

Capt. Jake from <b>Jersey Shore Fishing Charters</b> was sailing home yesterday from a trip that bagged 2- to 5-pound sea bass at the Shrewsbury Rocks, so he couldn’t say much. But a charter also fished there Monday and bagged a dozen keeper sea bass, two keeper fluke and some bluefish, he added.

Lots of small blues were fought off Sandy Hook with <b>Two Rivers Charters</b>, and the fish were coming up all the time, eating peanut bunker and bay anchovies and such, Capt. Fletcher Chayes said. Fluke to 6 pounds were also boated in the ocean in 60 feet at deep structure on strip baits. Fletcher was sure that fluke could also be found at the channels, but on the grounds farther from shore it’s also fun for anglers to hook sea bass that are mixed in. A few small weakfish bit in the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers on sandworms and jigs, and the water was relatively clear but a funny looking green color. A few striped bass were also showing up off the tip of the hook and off Breezy Point, and that’s usual for this time of year. Peanut bunker were the popular bait, but some anglers dunked sandworms. A friend trolled for bluefin tuna at the Glory Hole yesterday and found none, so he switched to ling fishing and loaded up on a ton along the edge of the hole.

<b>Long Branch</b>

Snapper blues and weakfish could be hooked in the river, and lots of bigger crabs skittered around those waters, said John from <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Surf fishers found a fluke or a blue once in a while. John surf fished at Sandy Hook four hours this morning but “couldn’t catch a cold,” he joked. He mainly fishes for stripers, but not even any blues showed up.

<b>Neptune</b>

Fluking wasn’t that great on an individual-reservation trip yesterday with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> in the ocean, because there was no drift, but when there’s a drift, the flatties are caught, Capt. Ralph said. He thinks plenty will be around through the end of the season. Two more individual-reservation trips for fluke will sail before the season closes—one this Wednesday, and one the final day of fluke season, Monday, September 10—and openings are available. Afterward the weekly individual-reservation trips on Wednesdays will fish for sea bass, and sea bassing’s been good.  Bluefishing trips last Saturday on both of Ralph’s boats could’ve stopped fishing two hours into the outings, because the catches were so good. The place where Last Lady is bluefishing has been holding slammers to 20 pounds. Striped bass were very occasionally coming up on the bluefish trips by this point in the season. A shark trip will leave the dock this weekend, and a shark trip last Saturday battled a 125-pound mako to the gaff. Last Lady’s canyon tuna fishing season is underway, and only four or five spaces remain for its open-boat tuna trips, and canyon fishing’s been very good.

<b>Belmar</b>

On the <b>Nan Sea J</b> fluke fishing was only fair on a charter Monday in 50 to 60 feet in the ocean, but probably eight or 10 keepers to 4 pounds were boated, and sea bass probably 2 pounds were also taken, Capt. Tom said. Probably 30 or 40 shorts bit. Charters will keep fluke fishing till the season ends in less than two weeks, and bluefish charters are also sailing. The boat’s first tuna charters of the season will begin soon.

Fishing for fluke in the ocean was okay this week after last week’s storm, and it was decent, and some good-sized ones were boated, but it was somewhat less consistent than before the weather, said Capt. Chris from the <b>Big Mohawk</b>. A 9-1/2-pounder was nailed yesterday, and customers through the week were sometimes catching 7- and 8-pounders, and pool winners usually scored 8- to 10-pounders. The flatties seemed to shift a little deeper, and not as many sea bass as before were mixed in during the past couple of days, but the lumpheads were still around. The boat is sailing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day, but Chris suggests arriving early, because he sometimes leaves the dock early, because he tries to get in as much time as possible. For example, the trip departed 6:15 a.m. yesterday. After fluke season closes in less than two weeks, the trips will bottom fish for sea bass, porgies, blackfish, triggerfish and whatever bites along the bottom structure.

Shark River anglers reeled in fluke again after last week’s storm, and rental boaters from <b>Fisherman’s Den</b> probably came back with a couple of keepers per trip, Johnny “O” said. Not a ton of the fish filled the river, but there were enough shorts to give up action. Ocean fluking on the party boats seemed to start to get better by yesterday, and patrons were still pulling sea bass over the rails, and the fluke were apparently moving off, but plenty were around. Bluefishing was fine on the boats both day and night. No surf reports were heard, but a few croakers started appearing along the beach front. 

<b>Brielle</b>

<b>Reel-Ality Sportfishing Charters</b> trolled the Glory Hole yesterday and hooked skipjacks and a mahi mahi, Capt. Larry said. No bluefin tuna showed up, but a boater who fished 10 miles away was chunking and landed two small bluefins. Larry heard about nobody else catching or seeing bluefins during the day, and anglers only reported finding skipjacks. The water was 71.5 degrees and pretty clean and clear and started getting murky toward shore. Quite a few boaters returning from Hudson Canyon were heard on the radio saying tuna fishing there was slow. Trips on the Reel-Ality this weekend are slated to fish for fluke and probably bluefin tuna, searching around the Glory Hole or Monster Ledge for the speedsters.

On the <b>Katie H</b> an overnight trip to Toms Canyon from Sunday to Monday produced 11 yellowfin tuna from 60 to 80 pounds on the chunk and two white marlin on the troll, Capt. Mike said. No tuna bit on the troll, and the fish on the chunk were pretty much picked through the night, but tuna came up and boiled behind the boat at first light. Anglers had to drop down to small, 40- and 60-pound fluorocarbon leaders, so some tuna were broken off. On Saturday a charter fluke fished at the Axel Carlson Reef, and the fishing wasn’t that great, because of the storm, Mike guessed. But five keepers and a bunch of sea bass were landed that made the charter happy, he said. Another overnighter was sailing last night until today, and another leaves the dock Saturday.

Some decent days of bottom fishing and a few slow ones took place on the <b>Paramount</b> through the past week, an e-mail from the boat said. The strong, northeast winds and rough seas kept the boat tied to the dock last week from Monday through Wednesday, but a trip sailed Thursday, despite a lingering big swell and tough conditions. Patrons got into decent catches Saturday, boating a mix of sea bass and ling. Dale Issacs that day lifted aboard 13 sea bass and 10 ling, a nice mixed bag to take home, and Andrew Calist won the trip’s pool with a 5-pound ling. On Sunday Mike Cosack won the pool with a triggerfish, and on Monday Josh Gilbert took the honors with a 7-pound cod. Tuesday’s Deep Water Mudhole Ling Special put patrons into 12 to 34 ling per angler. On Wednesday’s Deep Water Special Jack Decker bailed 28 ling. With fluke season closing in less than two weeks, the boat’s inshore trips’ catches of a mix of porgies and sea bass and its Deep Water trips’ catches of some steady ling fishing are perfect timing, and porgies are starting to make an appearance. Here’s a rundown of the boat’s schedule: Monday Marathon trips take place 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., fishing for sea bass and occasional blackfish and ling. These trips are designed to give anglers a little more fishing time and to allow the crew to cover more ground, fishing all areas within reach, from the inshore reefs and rocks to the Mudhole wrecks, and everything between. The boat’s Deep Water Mudhole Ling Specials run 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday, targeting ling, cod, pollock and occasional blackfish. From Thursday through Sunday the boat sails 6:30 a.m. to 3: 30 p.m., targeting big sea bass and porgies as well as occasional ling and blackfish. For info call the boat or visit wreckmasters.com.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

Ocean fluke fishing certainly improved dramatically this week since the slow down a moment after last week’s storm, said Capt. Allen from <b>Reel Class Charters</b>. A charter with four anglers Monday started fishing at a reef in north/northeast winds that made seas somewhat bumpy. They boxed a couple of keepers and some sea bass at the north end, moved a little north and scored about the same, and then Allen got a call about fish biting at a lump to the northeast. The boat ran there, and a couple of more keepers were landed, and the charter ended the day with a mix of 10 keeper sea bass and fluke. On Tuesday three anglers on a fluke charter started fishing rough bottom 2 to 4 miles from the coast between Bay Head and Chadwick Beach. The fishing was pretty good, and was much better than Monday, and light winds blew, and there was a good drift. A dozen keeper fluke to 4 pounds and a few sea bass were bagged, and sand eels, spearing and squid were the baits, and any green teaser seemed to grab attention. On Wednesday a Fluke Till You Puke Marathon trip sailed with four anglers, and they started fishing at about the same place between Bay Head and Chadwick Beach in 70 feet. A 9-pound whopper was about the third fish landed, and afterward four or five keepers and some sea bass were pulled aboard. Next they moved to the Axel Carlson Reef and caught some more fish until the bite slowed. Then they headed back to the original spot, and there was no drift, but they power drifted and landed a couple of more. Then they fished off the Mantoloking pipe, and first there was a slow pick but some keepers. Then the drift started pushing the boat on an east/west path straight off the pipe, and eight keepers in a row were drilled, like drop and reel fishing, and they were all good-sized. The gang ended up with 17 keeper fluke, including the 9-pounder, a 6-pounder and a few 4-pounders and probably half a dozen keeper sea bass. Reel Class will keep fluke fishing a moment until switching to other fish such as sea bass, bonito, false albacore and weakfish until targeting the fall striper and bluefish run.

<b>Bricktown</b>

Surf fishers surprisingly ran across striped bass over the weekend, because the storm cooled the water, said Bob from <b>Jersey Coast Bait-N-Tackle</b>. Fresh clams and fresh bunker were the baits, and here’s a welcome sign of the coming season: Fresh clams will start to be stocked again on a 24-hour honor system tomorrow, because Labor Day gets anglers thinking about dunking clams for stripers again. Ocean boaters were picking up decent fluke catches, and weakfish bit in the waters around northern Barnegat Bay, including off the docks near the shop. Early mornings and evenings were best, and sandworms and pink Fin-S-Fish fooled them. Snapper blues schooled heavily along the bay and back waters.

Ray from <b>Pell’s Fish & Sport</b> fished Manasquan River with friends yesterday, and they landed more than 40 fluke, but they were all shorts, he said. Gulps and jigs were the tackle, and most of the fish were 15 ½ inches to just under the 17-inch legal size, and other anglers seemed to fare about the same. Bluefish were also breaking everywhere, and Ray and crew had a blast catching the 1- to 1-1/2-pounders on popper lures and light tackle. Ocean fluking seemed to pick up a little, but Ray targeted the fish Monday, and it was one of his worst fluke trips of the season. He and his son released maybe 15 shorts, and Ray blamed the fishing on the effects of last week’s storm, lingering northeast winds through the weekend and Monday and the full moon. The bottom was probably churned up, because flecks of debris were stuck to the bucktails. Nobody reported any weakfish biting in the northern Barnegat Bay area near the shop, and crabbers were complaining about small crabs and not good crabbing. The Metedeconk River got very warm and in the mid 80s at one point this summer, and maybe that pushed out the blueclaws.

<b>Toms River</b>

Weakfish smacked Fin-S Fish and Rat-L-Traps along the south side of the Toms River in the early mornings, said Dennis from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b>. Weaks were also hooked in Barnegat Bay at the 40 buoy and off Berkeley Island Park on sandworms, and sometimes anglers tossed ¼-ounce or 3/8-ounce bucktails with squid strips. Most fluke landed in the back waters came from Barnegat Inlet, where killies with squid did the trick. Fluke in the ocean were hugging bottom in the deeper, 60- to 65-foot water, and they fed better on peanut bunker with squid or sand eels with squid. Surf fishing was on the slow side, and maybe croakers or an oddball fluke or small striper were beached. Most surf fishers were dunking clams for croakers or were working a bucktail with squid for fluke. Boaters could also find croakers near the beaches, but fewer of the hardheads were around than this time last year, though the fishing should improve. Not much bluefish action was happening, except snappers swimming all over the bay. Crabbing was pretty good at Island Heights, and some bigger blueclaws seemed to be caught since the full moon, and smaller ones might’ve been shedding.

<b>Seaside</b>

Surf casters fishing for croakers were hooking striped bass instead, said the fishing report on <b>Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle</b>’s web site. Fluke and blues were also lifted from the wash, and pockets of bunker appeared at times. One customer said he plugged a mess of small stripers and weakfish last night in the suds, and a boater looking for fluke said he had to fish at the range buoy 5 miles from shore the past couple of days. The surf was 1 to 3 feet, 74 degrees and clean. <a href=" http://www.bettyandnicks.com/fish.shtml" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for the latest.

<b>Waretown</b>

Barnegat Bay weakfishers had luck at Meyer’s Hole, the 40 buoy, the BB and Tice’s Shoal, said Dick from <b>L&H Woods & Water</b>. Fresh and frozen grass shrimp and sandworms will get the bites, and all are stocked. Pink Fin-S Fish will also work. Fluke were also boated in the bay, and crabbing in the back waters was okay, but people complained about small ones. Bigger ones should show up soon, because the blueclaws probably started shedding and growing with this week’s full moon. Big bluefish could be battled at Barnegat Ridge, and nobody reported catching bonito or false albacore there. A heck of a tuna bite seemed to going on at Toms Canyon.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Kingfishing were showing up hot and heavy in the surf, said Rusty at <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>. Blues and small stripers also hit the surf sometimes, and Barnegat Bay fishers nabbed plenty of weakfish and some fluke. Live grass shrimp are available at the shop for weakfish bait. Rusty heard about lots of bluefish fought at Barnegat Ridge but heard no news about bonito or false albacore there. Nothing was heard about ocean fluking either.

<b>Brighton Beach</b>

Striped bass, no great numbers, got beached from the surf, and reports rolled in about kingfish starting to take baits in the wash, said Christian from <b>Oceanside Bait & Tackle</b>. A few fluke, including a 23-incher that was checked in, were also dragged from the suds. Fluke fishing seemed to drop off in the bay but gave up catches in the ocean in 55 to 60 feet. Weakfish bent poles at Grassy Channel, along the Causeway Bridge and farther north at Meyer’s Hole. No news rolled in about Barnegat Ridge, but Christian assumed bonito still held there. Fresh clams, fresh bunker, bloodworms, sandworms, minnows, live eels, live spots, fresh peanut bunker when available, frozen peanuts otherwise, and frozen mullet are stocked, and so is a full supply of artificial baits. Oceanside opened this spring and is located at 8201 Long Beach Boulevard on the southern end of Long Beach Island. The store’s owners are the same ones from Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle.

<b>Beach Haven</b>

On the <b>June Bug</b> anglers took a day trolling trip to Toms Canyon last Friday, tagged and released two white marlin and scored a bunch of yellowfin tuna, longfin tuna and mahi mahi, Capt. Lindsay said. At the end of the day a 600-pound blue marlin almost spooled a 50 reel in 30 seconds, made quick maneuvers and cut off the line on a prop. That took place in all of 45 seconds, but it was pretty neat, and it was good day, a nice trip. The action started almost at dawn, and the boat returned to port by 6 p.m. Kevin Kennedy, Lindsay’s nephew who worked on the boat when he was younger but now lives in Alameda, Calif., was onboard, and so were Ross Felton and Jim and John Hancock. On Sunday and Monday charters ran to Barnegat Ridge South. On the first of those trips MJM Industries from Trenton trolled enough blues and albies to sink the boat, and the fish were tugging lines all day, a good time. On the second trip Mark Kaminski, daughter Taylor, 10, and son Kyle, 7, fished the ridge in rougher seas, but the kids were troopers, Lindsay said, and cranked in blues, false albacore and bonito all day. They released the blues and kept the bonito to eat, and some of the albies were kept for strip baits. The June Bug will keep running these types of trips, and offshore fishing at the canyons has been fine, whenever the weather has allowed boats to sail. Temp charts looked like the canyons held a number of 3- and 4-degree breaks, and many boaters headed to the canyons yesterday to beat the weather.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Boaters who broke Little Egg Inlet early yesterday morning found working birds with ¾-pound blues underneath that hit any trolled, small, silver spoons, said Scott from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. A smattering of croakers, small blues and short weakfish also bit in 30 feet off the Red Tower on squid strips on top-and-bottom rigs, and some anglers probably used Gulps. A few flounder were boated at Little Egg Reef, but five keepers per angler would make a good day, and triggerfish, only a few decent-sized croakers and mostly small sea bass also came up. In the bay the small fish—kingfish, blowfish, porgies and small sea bass—that usually start grabbing baits by the second week of April were yet to turn on. A handful of kingfish were bagged, but they were scarce, and 6-inch sea bass but none even close to keepers nibbled, and blowfish were nonexistent. Sandsharks and sea robins were on hand. One angler said weakfish could be found at the mouth of the Mullica River, but one day they were there, and another day they were gone, and there was no rhyme or reason, and the angler had gone from annoyed to amused. Crabbing was only fair, and lots of the blueclaws were small, and the typically slow period of the full moon just ended, and September, when crabbing is supposed to be good, is here.

<b>Absecon</b>

Scott Newell, who checked in a 15-1/4-pound flounder the other week, did it again when he stopped by with a 14.3-pounder on Monday, said Ray from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. He caught the fish in the ocean, and ocean flounder fishing wasn’t bad, and it seemed to improve a little, but at this time of year, some people catch fish, and some don’t. Flounder fishing in the bay was the same deal: Those who knew what they were doing landed the flatties. Weakfishing in the bay was the same situation. Some anglers landed a bunch, and some found none. Capt. Dave, the shop’s owner, was catching weaks every time he took a trip, but he fishes a lot. Most of the weakfish were grabbed on Gulps, but the old favorite shedder crabs will work. White perch fishing was pretty good up the Mullica River, and those fish also took shedders. The mullet run in the back bay seemed to be getting into high gear, and not tons schooled, but there were plenty. Other bait like peanut bunker were also in the back waters, and all the bait fish could get the small, resident stripers going in the bay at night. Anglers such as Sean Fox were still catching small stripers in the bay at night, and he was plugging the fish. Other anglers reported catching and releasing 20 or 30 per night. The stripers could be found along the sod banks and the drop-offs. Surf fishers at Brigantine were picking up stripers or blues on occasion, and they were often fishing afternoons into evenings, and many were buying frozen mullet or cut baits. Big sharks including browns and sand tigers were roaming the surf and getting hooked at times, though sand tigers are illegal to fish for. A decent population of croakers was now swimming the ocean in 50 feet.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Although last week was mostly a washout from the weather, things were happening again, said Jack from <b>Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle</b>. Croakers were all over, along the beach front and even at the inlets. Weakfish were sometimes hooked at some of the creeks, and try fishing for them with peanut bunker or snapper blues, and the weaks were feeding on baitfish that were everywhere. Striped bass, including a few decent-sized ones and keepers, could be caught in the back bay at night on plugs. In the ocean flounder fishing was alright, and bonito, bluefin tuna, dolphin and wahoo tore it up at the AC Ridge. The <b>Carly A</b>, the shop’s charter boat, was fishing for yellowfin tuna and marlin when Jack gave this report today, and offshore fishing was picking up again, and chunking for tuna at night had been great. The boat will turnaround and push back offshore on a trip tomorrow and again Tuesday.

<b>Margate</b>

<b>O-Beth Sportfishing Charters</b> returned today from an overnight trip to Lindenkohl Canyon, Capt. Eric said. Two 50-pound yellowfin tuna, a 40-pound longfin and a 100-pound mako shark were nailed on the chunk. The fish bit throughout the night in the 75-degree water with occasional squid sliding past. No temp breaks were seen on the outing, and nothing hit on the troll. O-Beth’s canyon overnight season is underway, and some dates remain available. Bluefin tuna could still be battled on the inshore grounds, though that fishing was slower than before. But bluefin fishing was great this year, a good run. Charters will also fluke fish until the season closes soon.

A plethora of sea bass, flounder, triggerfish, croakers, small blues and spike weakfish  were coming up on the 65-foot <b>Jessie O’</b> in the ocean, Capt. Jay said. A trip yesterday with anglers from Tom and Jerry’s Bar from Philly and from WIP radio put together a catch that included eight keeper flounder to 4 pounds 3 ounces and 10 throwbacks. Tuesday morning’s trip fished Great Egg Reef and reeled in several keeper sea bass, throwbacks, a 3-1/2-pound flounder that won the pool for Barbara Cavallaro, throwback flounder, croakers and spike weakfish. In the afternoon anglers on the boat fished along the beach front and near the bell buoy and fought blues and spike weaks. Open-boat trips are sailing this Friday through Monday, and call to reserve. Jay’s other boat, the 45-foot <b>Fish N’ Fun</b>, was fishing the back bay for flounder, sea bass and blues on two 4-hour trips daily. Party cruises are also sailing on the Jessie O’, and a DJ and catering are available. Two party cruises had a slamming time over the weekend. <b>***UPDATE***:</b> The Jessie O’ fished AC Reef today and came back with probably 12 keeper fluke, probably none smaller than 3 pounds, and a 6-plus-pounder was the pool winner. Lots of short flounder were released, and nine keeper sea bass were bagged, and a mess of short sea bass bit, and bonito were also fought.

<b>Longport</b>

Bottom fishing was absolutely outstanding yesterday and horrible the day before, and both trips fished the same spot, but winds and currents were difficult during the slow fishing, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b>. Anglers on the trip yesterday pulled up lots of good-sized sea bass 2 to 3 pounds and eight keeper fluke among 30 or so. On the day before a small pick of sea bass was landed, and no fluke or croakers showed up. After fluke season ends in less than two weeks, Stray Cat will offer all-day wreck-fishing charters every day, instead of the current 5-hour runs. Open-boat wreck trips for sea bass and porgies will probably begin in mid October. Blackfishing will become a focus November 15, when the bag limit increases to eight of the tog from the current limit of one. Stray Cat whacked blackfish last year for a long time, bailing the slipperies at the South Jersey reefs and wrecks that get less pressure than up north, and Mike’s hoping for a repeat. Open-boat blackfishing will often take place, and spaces are already filling for those trips and for tog charters. Only a few weekend dates are left for blackfish charters. Tuna charters are also available, and all open-boat tuna trips are sold out. However, Mike’s willing to run an open-boat tuna trip on Columbus Day, October 8, if enough anglers express interest. It would be an overnight chunking trip that would probably leave the dock around 2 p.m. An overnighter is slated for this Saturday and Sunday, and the tuna fishing was very good for yellowfins and bigeyes this week toward Spencer and Lindenkohl canyons. A spattering of longfin tuna seemed to hit a little inshore of there. A tuna bite was also going on in the deep at 1,800 fathoms. 

<b>Ocean City</b>

Flounder covered the reefs, and both flounder and a few sea bass hugged Ocean City Reef, said Dan from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Croakers were getting boated in 40 feet near the shore, and brown sharks haunted the surf off 31st Street in Ocean City. Small blues ran around the bay, and flounder could be found in the bay, but most were shorts, and something like 1 in 50 was a keeper. Dan heard about occasional weakfish catches behind Strathmere and at the Beesley’s Point Bridge, but shedder crabs were a must. The shop was out of shedders at the moment. Dan took an overnight trip to Lindenkohl Canyon from Tuesday to Wednesday and caught three tuna to 100 pounds and three mahi mahi to 25 pounds. The first tuna bit at 8:30 p.m., and the second was fought at 2 a.m., and the third was landed at 4:30 a.m. in the 75-degree water. He left at 6:30 a.m. and did no trolling, but he heard about others there who trolled a bigeye tuna and a 500-pound blue marlin that was released. Tuna fishing the past couple of days slowed down because of the full moon, but previously was very good at the northern canyons or the Toms, Lindenkohl and Carteret, and the fish somewhat bit at the Spencer.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

A bottom-fishing trip off Cape May Point produced an incredible mixed bag of croakers, flounder, sea bass, kingfish, small weakfish, small blues, sand sharks, skates and cow nosed rays, almost every type of fish available, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and < b>Gibson’s Tackle</b>. Croakers made up most of the catch, and some were decent-sized. One of the flounder was a keeper, and Joe was particularly surprised to see the kingfish, and four or five were landed. So it was a great trip and was taken as part of a program for the Special Olympics that the Cape May Marlin and Tuna Club held. Richard was the guest and was also high hook, and his brother Larry was aboard. Rich Linus, Michael Linus and his son Mike were also on deck. Bob Reed and father-in-law Al took a trip Tuesday with Joe and ran into a blitz of bluefish in the bay, fighting the 2-pounders, decent-sized ones for the bay, on Skit-R Pop lures. Then they fished the flats on high tide and nailed four striped bass to 26 inches on poppers. Popper fishing for bass and blues, one of Joe’s specialties, was still happening, and now’s the time to do it, while the water’s warm enough to keep the fish active to pounce on the surface lures. A cool down of the water and full moon tides that helped flush water in and out of the bay helped with the fishing lately. The bay was 74 degrees and a fairly uniform temp where Joe was fishing. On Monday he ran offshore on a day trip to Spencer Canyon with Frank Steedley and Matt Bever, and they trolled three longfin tuna, and they also trolled a double header of 30-pound wahoos toward the 40-fathom fingers, on mono, no less. Some dolphin were also landed in the 76 degree water that was beautiful and blue and sometimes held weeds. No real temperature breaks were around, and there was maybe a degree difference here and there. The anglers did no chunking. Closer to shore, Sea Isle Ridge held a few bluefin tuna and some bonito and false albacore.

<b>Cape May</b>

Flounder fishing at the Old Grounds was on fire the past couple of days, and two different groups said they picked up 28 or 30 fish from 22 to 28 inches, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Sea bass fishing should improve there soon. Flounder could still sometimes be found in Delaware Bay at the 9 and 10 buoys and Brandywine, and croakers were landed at Capt May Point and Higbee’s Beach. A few reports started to be heard about weakfish that bit at the jetty off Alexander Avenue at first light on pink Fin-S Fish. The back bay’s fishing was slim pickings, but sometimes anglers who worked the drift well could nab a flounder.

Capt. Gary from the <b>Sea Fox</b> was at the inshore lumps Monday, and bluefin tuna fishing was slowing down a bit, but they were still biting on the troll, and so were wahoo, he said. The water was 73 degrees, and winds were northeast, so seas weren’t so gorgeous but were okay. He was sailing on a bottom-fishing trip today, and he saw nice catches of sea bass and flounder that came from the Old Grounds yesterday.

The season’s first canyon overnighter on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> was set to leave port tomorrow, Capt. George said. Tuna at the canyons seemed to be at the northern canyons, and a charter captain who fished Wilmington Canyon, one of the southern ones, from Sunday to Monday only picked up five tuna. This time last year tuna fishing was good at Baltimore Canyon, another one of the southern canyons, along the 40- and 50-fathom lines. Fishing for big bluefin tuna behind the scallops boats had been good, but now the scallop season is closing. George heard from a couple of private boaters who fished the Tea Cup and the Elephant Trunk and said those areas were like a ghost town and held no bluefin tuna and bait that they had until now.

Back to Top