<b>Sandy Hook</b>

A customer competed in a shark tournament Saturday, fished at the Chicken Canyon and battled a 130-pound mako, lost a 200-pounder and released seven blue sharks, said Capt. Akira from <b>True World Tackle</b> and <b>True World Tackle Charters</b> from Bayonne.

<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

On the <b>Nan Sea J</b> from Belmar anglers joined an open-boat shark trip Wednesday, made the trip to the Glory Hole and battled blue sharks to 200 pounds, Capt. Tom said. A couple of mystery sharks were hooked but got off without breaching, and the water was 67 to 68 degrees, green and not so nice-looking, and a couple of bluefish bit.  These open-boat sharking trips are sailing every Wednesday. Don’t delay to reserve, because plenty of people are calling about the trips, and they only sail through July. It’s an awesome opportunity to do battle for those without enough anglers to make up a full charter, and the boat is one of the few that offers open shark trips. Sharking is Tom’s favorite fishing.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

The Robert Crokus charter set sail on a tuna/shark combo trip Wednesday on the <b>Andrea’s Toy</b>, Capt. Fred said. The boat, from Point Pleasant, trolled for bluefin tuna from the Oil Wreck to the Monster Ledge with no takers, and then the anglers set up for sharking. They wrestled to the boat two blue sharks to 11 feet at the Monster Ledge in 68-degree, clean, green water with lots of life. Small makos swam around but refused to bite, and unlimited blues filled the slick. The Germinario group headed out on a mixed-bag, shark/tuna trip last Friday and tackled a 130-pound mako, 10 blue sharks to 200 pounds and bluefin tuna to 33 inches that were jigged. The report on the boat’s web site said the fish were hooked after a couple of moves 60 miles from port in 66-degree, green water, and blue sharks swam up to the boat and were hand-fed bunker. The site also said the anglers tried working the scallop boats for tuna, and big ones but no takers were underneath. These mid-shore shark/bluefin combos are available both on charters and open-boat trips. When the water hits 70 degrees the trips will also fight mahi mahi on light tackle. In addition, mixed-bag charters and open trips will probably start running to Hudson Canyon next week if warm water reaches the 1,000-fathom curve, doing a combo of tuna trolling and light-tackle mahi fishing during the day and sharking, swordfishing and tilefishing overnight. Andrea’s Toy specializes in mixed-bag trips. These trips sail on a 31-foot Contender that cruises 45 m.p.h., making it to the fishing grounds in half the time of a party boat.

Shark fishing was great at the Glory Hole on the <b>Katie H</b> from Point Pleasant on Saturday while competing in Mako Mania, Capt. Mike said. No prizes were won, but a big, 176-pound mako was boated, and two 125-pounders were released on the boat. A blue shark was also released, so that was a good trip. The water was 65 degrees or a little cool, and a huge, 250- or 300-pound mako swam into the slick but refused a pitched bait, a mackerel. Shark fishing seemed good, and plenty of makos seemed to be around. Not much was happening at the canyons, and the water was cold. Mike heard about a few bluefin tuna boated, but not enough to start chasing them on charters.

On the <b>Benchmark</b> from Point Pleasant, Frank Lacoe’s group competed in the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Shark Tournament on Sunday and fought two blue sharks before the drift was lost in the early afternoon, the report on the boat’s web site said. That trip broke the boat’s streak of coming back with makos on the past four shark trips. But on Saturday the Brinkman charter competed in Mako Mania and nailed a 198-pound mako, a fish that would normally be a contender, but a large number of makos 200 pounds and greater were coming in this year.

<b>The Troll Charters</b> from Point Pleasant competed in Mako Mania on Saturday and battled a small mako, three blue sharks and a huge thresher at the Resor Wreck, Capt. Jack said. “But the thresher won,” he said. Seas were rough and 6 to 8 feet.

Andrew Martin’s charter competed in Mako Mania on the <b>Defiant</b> from Point Pleasant, and Capt. John, one of the boat’s owners, wasn’t on the trips, and all he heard was that the anglers hooked small sharks. Some big ones supposedly came into the slick but refused to bite, and John thought the boat probably fished 45 miles offshore. Tuna fishing is already a possibility on the boat, and a friend of John’s nailed 17 yellowfin tuna at the Hudson Canyon last week.

Offshore anglers were fighting plenty of sharks including makos and blues at spots like the Fingers, the Star and the Resor Wreck, said Greg from <b>Brielle Bait & Tackle</b>. Shark fishers reported seeing 20- to 40-pound bluefin tuna 30 miles from land, and Greg heard about nobody actually hooking any, but they weren’t trying, and they said they saw the tuna.

Plenty of sharks were finally caught in the ocean last weekend, and the increase was probably only because more boaters started sharking, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b> from Brielle. Lots of blue sharks turned up, and so did a few threshers, and the mako population seemed decent. Customers were sometimes trying to begin tuna fishing, but windy weather kicked up rough seas and made them reluctant. A few headed out over the weekend, but Dave had heard nothing back from them when he gave this report.

The Alino brothers from Brick tackled a 175-pound mako shark, and four customers on the Mark IV subdued an even bigger monster, a 221-pound mako, Tommy Kilgannon from <b>Pell’s Fish & Sport</b> from Brick said in a fax.

Two trips on the <b>Cindy Sea</b> from Point Pleasant competed in shark tournaments, Capt. Dave said. On Saturday six blue sharks were landed 52 miles offshore, and last Friday a blue dog was fought 42 miles from shore. Seas were very rough both days but on Saturday lay down within 30 miles from land. Tuna were found in warm water far south, but boaters were sometimes also heading out for the fish and finding none, and only the successful reports tended to be heard.

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

On the <b>Hi Flier</b> from Waretown, Saturday was a day of shark fishing, Capt. Dave DeGennaro said in an e-mail. He and a group of friends threw the lines off the boat at 6 a.m., then spent an hour catching 2-pound bluefish for shark bait in Barnegat Bay on popping plugs. The blues were iced up, and the crew set a course for the Star about 30 miles southeast of Barnegat Inlet. Seven miles out, Dave throttled down and decided the 3- to 4-foot seas were too rough. The 21-foot catamaran powerboat is more than capable of handling the seas, but he was concerned about conditions worsening 30 miles from land. So he sailed back west and shot to Island Beach State Park to try trolling bunker spoons for stripers and blues. Plenty of boats were there, but no rods were bending. After an hour, he noticed the winds had dropped out, so he throttled back up for the east, this time with flat seas paving the way. Five minutes after the chum basket was deployed, he was setting up on a 75-pound mako shark that threw the hook after a few jumps. A little while later one of the group subdued a 100-pound blue shark that was released. Gator blues were caught and filleted for hook baits, and then Joe Parente and Dom DeFillipe tag teamed an hour and a half fight on a 300-pound, 12-foot thresher shark. The monster was cut loose, and the boat headed for the barn.

A 550-pound thresher shark was caught at the Fingers Saturday, and Mark Fanelli fought two makos to the boat the same day, and Josh from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b> assumed he probably fished the Fingers, Josh said.

<b>Little Egg Inlet</b>

<b>Legal Limit Charters</b> fished for sharks and had good mako fishing on trips along the 30-fathom line, Capt. T.J. said. Probably six makos were fought to the boat that weighed up to a 158-pounder nailed Saturday, and a couple of other 100-class shortfins were subdued. Blue sharks were also released, and no thresher sharks, brown sharks or other species of sharks bit. A couple of more shark charters were fishing this week, and tuna fishing should begin July 10 if the weather is clear.

<b>Absecon Inlet</b>

Anglers on the <b>Carly A</b> from Atlantic City shark fished Friday and walloped a huge, 351-pound mako, said Jack from Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle in AC. The shop’s owner also owns the boat. The anglers fished around the 750 Square and also released a 170-pounder and a 150-pounder. The crew held a cookout Saturday and served up the big mako. “It was delicious,” Jack said. Sharking’s been phenomenal, and the Carly A will probably start tuna fishing this weekend, if the weather holds. Offshore baits including flats of butterfish and mackerel, and bunker chum and mackerel chum, are stocked. Medium and horse ballyhoos, both rigged and unrigged, are in the freezer, and so are trolling squid.  The baits like the ballyhoos and butters are in great shape, and Jack’s seen none better, he said.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Reports were heard about tuna caught on the 30-fathom line, and an open-boat tuna trip is sold out Sunday on the <b>Stray Cat</b> from Longport, Capt. Mike said. But open tuna trips will sail again July 8 and 22, and two openings apiece are available for those trips. They run from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are limited to six passengers each and will be trolling. A 24-hour, open-boat, big-game trip will troll for tuna, marlin and wahoo during the day and will deep-drop for swordfish and tilefish at night, and call for info. Tuna charters are also available.

Jim from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City fished on a trip at the Cigar on Tuesday that caught 25- to 30-pound bluefin tuna on rainbow and green spreader bars in 69- to 70-degree water, and the bite was finished by 10 a.m., so apparently mornings were key, he said. Local shark fishing was on the downswing now, because waters were warming. Jim heard about lots of blue sharks that hit, but makos were beginning to depart for cooler water, although a few makos were bagged.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City headed offshore 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, he said. And he found great tuna fishing near the Olinda wreck north of Poorman’s Canyon along the 100-fathom curve. Two 70-pound yellowfin tuna were bagged, and about five smaller ones were released, and two 10- to 15-pound mahi mahi were landed, all on the troll. The tuna swam 68-degree water, and the mahi plied 71-degree water, and a nice temperature break was there, and the water was blue and beautiful for this time of year. The action was solid while Joe fished six hours starting 7 a.m., but the fish only bit in that area. Seas were 2 to 4 feet.

<b>Over Under Adventures</b>’ boat Low Profile is making its way to Avalon to fish for big game offshore during the rest of summer and fall after fishing from the Bahamas since winter. But Over Under’s boats in Ocean City, Md., fished for tuna on 10 trips during the past week, Over Under’s web site report said. The fishing was “on” early last week and somewhat fizzled toward the end of the week, and the boats mostly fished from Baltimore Canyon to Poorman’s Canyon, finding the best catches in 70 fathoms. The best trip caught 10 tuna, and the worst  “got the tuna skunk,” the report said. Most trips averaged four to seven speedsters, and about half the fish weighed 25 to 35 pounds, and half weighed 50 to 70. Over Under’s boat Pretty Work set out to hunt bigeye tuna Wednesday south of Poorman’s toward Washington Canyon, but the captain must’ve seen something he liked on the way, because he stopped short at 50 fathoms, and soon the action was on. Fifteen tuna to 72 pounds were boated by 10 a.m. in 68-degree water on ballyhoos on Sea Witches. There were several multiple hook-ups, including a 6 for 8 slam. The Pretty Work and another boat from Over Under’s fleet were supposed to be right back out yesterday. Check out Over Under’s schedule of <a href="http://overundercharters.com/?page=opendates" target="_blank"> open-boat trips</a>, and more dates will be added as groups call and ask about splitting costs with other anglers. 

<b>Hereford Inlet</b>

Plenty of sharks were fought, and Jim Gardler boated a 138-pound mako on the Reel Work with Capt. George Clark, said Cathy from <b>Sterling Harbor Bait & Tackle</b> from Wildwood in an e-mail. Frank Hennigan from the Avalanche weighed in a 223-pound mako. Offshore fishing for other big game kicked in last week with excellent catches of tuna, mahi mahi and marlin at the Baltimore and Poorman’s canyons. Bluefin tuna were also trolled around the Cigar on cedar plugs, feathers and small jets.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Waters off South Jersey were starting to become too warm for mako sharks, said Capt. Stan from the <b>Canyon Clipper</b> from Cape May. Makos were of course following cooler water farther north off Jersey, but a few makos could still be caught, and hammerheads and duskies and such species could be fought. But don’t forget that the warmer water will bring in tuna, and bluefin tuna were sometimes boated in the inshore ocean, like at the Ham Bone, and yellowfins were grabbed at the canyons. So it’s definitely time to climb aboard for tuna.

A couple of anglers from the marina were picking at tuna near Poorman’s Canyon over the weekend, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May, and reports at that time sounded like tuna were found around Washington Canyon. Everybody who was tuna fishing was sailing far to the south.  One boat from the marina that ran offshore came back with five or six tuna flags flying, and another returned from with no flags on the outriggers. Charters on the Heavy Hitter are available for tuna fishing.

Tuna fishing exploded at the canyons last week, and a 15-degree temperature break started at Baltimore Canyon and pushed south, and by Saturday the 78-degree water reached the 500-fathom line between Poorman’s and Washington canyons, said Matt from <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Cape May in a fax. Many boaters then bailed double-digit catches of yellowfin tuna from 30 to 50 pounds. Shark fishing was also hot along the 20- and 30-fathom wrecks and lumps and also at 19-Fathom Lump and Massey’s Canyon. Some nice makos and threshers were battled, and Janice Peterson boated her first-ever mako, a 163-pounder, at the 19 Lump, and Herb Kensit fished the same place and weighed in a 208-pound mako.

Plenty of mako sharks and a few thresher sharks were subdued, and a boat from the marina caught makos on back to back trips over the weekend, said Capt. Fred from <b>Harbor View Marina</b> in Cape May in a fax. Waters between Poorman’s and Baltimore canyons were giving up yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi.

<b>Delaware Bay</b>

Bank. Dan Fabri on Sunday trolled yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi at Poorman’s Canyon, said Tim from <b>Captain Tate’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Dennisville. Then he came inshore and shark fished at the Hambone. He hooked three makos and lost one good-sized one, fought a big tiger shark to the boat and surprisingly landed a 60-pound bluefin tuna that bit a mackerel bait on the bottom.

Back to Top