<b>Sewaren</b>

Fluke were pumped in at the Triangle and the Keyport Flats on Raritan Bay, Princes Bay, off Coney Island and at Ambrose Channel, said Tim from <b>Dockside Bait & Tackle</b>. Lot of throwbacks, a few keepers. Late-season striped bass were clutched from Ambrose Channel at deep water. Any crabs trapped? A kid who works at the shop was nabbing undersized or babies. Killies, fresh bunker and all frozen baits are stocked. Dockside, located on Smith Creek, a tributary of the Arthur Kill, is accessible from land and water at the fuel dock. The fuel dock is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

<b>Keyport</b>

A short, 4-hour fluke charter Wednesday began fishing where a trip caught Tuesday with <b>Manicsportfishing</b>, the boat’s Facebook page said.  The summer flounder cooperated on both trips. The four anglers on Tuesday’s trip bagged 13.

The six anglers decked 17 keeper fluke to 5 pounds, one less than a limit, and released 3 ½ times as many throwbacks Wednesday on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank wrote in an email. Excellent angling, he said. A double-digit fluke vaulted out of the net and broke the line. “I’m going to have nightmares for (some time),” he wrote. Keeper fluke were quality currently, and the action was great. Weather looks terrific for Friday through the weekend. Charters are fishing, and spaces are available for open-boat trips 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Fluke fishing was good on Raritan Bay with the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b> on trips, Capt. Mario said. The catch was good yesterday and included a 6-pounder. Trips are fluking at 6 a.m. daily and 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Down Deep’s other boat on Friday will begin fishing for porgies on open trips at 6 a.m. daily. He expects the porgy fishing to be good. Charters are available for up to 15 passengers. Both boats have large cockpits and full galleys. Sign up for the Short Notice List on <a href="http://downdeepsportfishing.com" target="_blank">Down Deep’s website</a> to be kept informed about special trips.

<b>Leonardo</b>

<b>Sour Kraut Sportfishing</b> last fished on Monday evening, trolling striped bass on the ocean on bunker spoons, Capt. Joe said. That was covered in the last report here, and the fishing was slow, but all the bass were overs, good-sized to 46 pounds. Joe chose not to fish in rough weather since. He’s supposed to fish offshore this weekend with a friend for big game.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Party boats picked fluke a little better, it seemed, said Johnny O. from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b>. None of the shop’s rental boats fluked in past days. Weather was often rough. But previously, they picked the fish, probably one in 10 a keeper. A few late-season striped bass seemed to show up, but no details were heard. No bluefish were heard about. A thresher shark tournament is slated locally for Friday and Saturday. Weigh-in is at the marina, and customers were gearing up for the angling. The store is located at Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, down the dock from party, charter and private boats. A couple of people said crabs began to be trapped. All baits are stocked including killies. Two sea bass per angler will be able to be kept beginning Sunday, and fresh clams will be on hand for bait for them.

Ron from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b> scored better on fluke from shore than on a boat, he said. He’s a surf angler, and banked a 22-inch keeper, a 20-incher, a bunch of throwbacks and some sea robins in an hour at Port Monmouth from shore on a bucktail with Gulp. On a boat he managed five throwbacks in 3 hours on a trip that fished “all the hot spots.” Big, 4-foot sand sharks bit. Plenty of bunker were seen cruising, but no striped bass or bluefish were on them. Crabbing was slow, and a couple of customers were trying. The full supply of baits is stocked, including giant killies, fresh bunker, fresh clams and eels. The latest Diawa Lexa baitcaster reel with the ergonomic grip is stocked.  So is the Diawa BG  spinner.

Conditions were fairly poor for fluke fishing Monday on the <b>Fishermen</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. The angling slugged away but wasn’t hot. A couple of anglers limited out on three apiece, and some bagged two. On Tuesday’s trip, wind against tide prevented the boat from drifting. The captain had to work the throttles to power-drift, and that produced some beauties. The captain’s dad whacked a 7-pounder and a 5-pounder. Another angler won the pool with a 6-pounder. Three other anglers sacked fluke 4 to 5 ½ pounds. Several customers limited, but that wasn’t easy. Bait caught best, but a couple of anglers who jigged caught well. On Wednesday’s trip, the morning fished well for throwbacks and keepers. Toward noontime, south wind came up and shut down most of the bite. A few fluke were caught here and there then. Trips are fishing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Tickets are available to watch the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks aboard.

The twice-daily fluke trips fished every day on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. The trips fished different parts of Raritan and Sandy Hook bays, and some better-sized were hammered Tuesday aboard, including a 7-1/2-pounder and a 7-pounder. All customers at least pulled in throwbacks on trips, and some keepers were belted aboard. Tom would like to see more keepers, of course. Gulps with spearing or killies on rigs probably caught better than bucktails did. Spearing are provided, and nobody who bucktailed really caught well. Most fluke hooked on bucktails were bucktails used as sinkers, not bucktails that were jigged. Trips are sailing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

<b>Highlands</b>

Making the trip from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, George Markou on the Pub 199 weighed-in an 8-pound 26-inch fluke he boated near buoy 8, Marion wrote in an email. Jay and Tracy Amarosa on the Par Tee boxed two keeper fluke at buoy 8 on killies. Jay on another trip on the boat bagged a 22-incher near buoy 14 on a killie. Stephen Manobianco fished Shrewsbury River to grab a 21-inch fluke. 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.

<b>Neptune</b>

The year’s first individual-reservation trip for fluke, trips that fish every Tuesday each summer, sailed this week with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an email. The angling was slow, “but we had a really nice day on the water,” he wrote. Those trips can also fish for sea bass beginning next week, because sea bass season will open Sunday with a two-fish bag limit. Kids under 12 sail free on those outings, limited to two per adult host. An individual-reservation trip will sail for cod at 2 a.m. July 11. Spaces are available.

<b>Belmar</b>

Big striped bass to 45 pounds continued to be smashed in evenings on the ocean with <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Pete said.  A 52-pounder was taken Sunday evening aboard, covered in the last report here. This is the final push of these large, migrating stripers, he’s sure. Another trip will get after them this evening. A few of the bass were biting earlier in evenings, but the bite was exploding right before dark. Lines could hardly be kept in the water. The boat also fluke fished on the ocean, and conditions weren’t the best for that in past days. Southeast wind that cooled the water didn’t help. That angling is improving and will continue to get better. Fluke trips will also mix in sea bass fishing once sea bass season opens Sunday with a bag limit of two fish per angler. Annual Bucktailing Seminars will fish aboard this season, probably during mid-week. The trips teach bucktailing for big fluke in a non-threatening environment. Newbies learn the skill, and experienced anglers hone the fishing. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Book an individual spot with a charter who wants more anglers. 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.

Fishing aboard was tough recently in rough weather on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> on the ocean, an email said from the party boat. Jumbo bluefish to 18 pounds were whipped previously aboard. Angling should pick back up in better weather now. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Reserve tickets for a cruise to watch the Macy’s fireworks on the Fourth of July.

A trip covered lots of ground yesterday, but conditions were rough, and fish wouldn’t cooperate, a report said on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>’s website. Bluefish and porgies were angled on the trips most recently. An afternoon trip yesterday socked a good catch of ling. Ocean pout were mixed in, and out-of-season sea bass bit. Two sea bass will be able to be bagged per person beginning Sunday. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Reserve online and save 10 percent. Fishing and sunset cruises are sailing 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations are being accepted first come, first served for a cruise on Fourth of July to watch fireworks.

<b>Brielle</b>

The ocean’s fluke fishing picked up a little, said Big Al from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. But for most anglers, the catches were slow. The angling was mediocre at Axel and Sea Girt reefs in the ocean. A handful of throwbacks and a 20-inch keeper were picked here and there. Manasquan River shoveled up halfway decent fluking. A 9-pounder was hammered from the river the other day. No stretch of the river seemed to fish best, but incoming water did. Loads of cocktail blues swarmed the river from the Railroad Bridge to the Dog Beach. At night, striped bass foraged on sand eels in the river, mostly in open water. Daiwa SP Minnows in bunker color, Fin-S Fish and popper lures caught. Striper fishing was decent in Point Pleasant Canal at night. Not much was heard about bottom-fishing on the ocean. A few boats motored offshore for tuna between weather and caught well at southern canyons. Yellowfin tuna were caught, and not so many bigeye tuna were heard about recently. Bluefin tuna both small and larger seemed around. Al was unsure whether any bit inshore.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

The boat, fishing for big game from Cape May like it does each year this month through July, was docked because of weather, Capt. Alan from <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> wrote in an email. But boats that sailed this week commonly pummeled double-digits of yellowfin tuna. Mushin is expected to fish for yellowfins, bigeye tuna and tilefish the next few days. Open-boat trips and charters are sailing.

Fluke fishing on the ocean was picky aboard the past few days, a report said Tuesday on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>’s website. The water was warming, so the fishing should improve. Some areas held life, and some didn’t. Tuesday morning’s trip picked a few decent-sized at rocky bottom. The afternoon’s trip caught mostly in the sand. Every trip was different. The boat is fluking 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily. Bluefish trips are running 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Room remains for a cruise on Fourth of July to watch fireworks off Long Branch. Moonlight and fireworks cruises are also sailing at 8 p.m. every Thursday.

Ling, winter flounder and a few cod were pitched aboard the party boat <b>Dauntless</b> from the ocean, Capt. Butch said. The fishing was fair, and anglers averaged 10 to 25 fish apiece on most days. On some days, some anglers totaled 30 apiece, because of the ling. Not many of the cod were keepers, and many were tiny. Two sea bass per angler will be able to be kept beginning Sunday, and some good-sized were released. Butch hopes to target porgies soon, and some were schooling closer. Trips fished in 100- to 180-foot depths. Not many fish seemed to hold deeper. The 180-foot depths were deep enough, anyway, Butch said! The water was 67 to 69 degrees, and will probably be chillier now, because of south wind this week. South wind cools the ocean close to shore because of upwelling. Trips are bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Northeast wind churned up the ocean’s bottom and slowed fluking somewhat on the <b>Gambler</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Wreck-fishing improved on nighttime trips. First, the fluking. The boat was busy with fluking, and the catches should only improve as the water clears. Forecasts looked like the weather was changing now. Rigs and bucktail jigs both caught, and a 7.9-pound fluke was in the lead for the monthly pool. That fish was bucktailed. The wreck-fishing picked up beginning Thursday night aboard. Mostly ling, from small to big, baseball-bat 4-pounders, bit. Other catches from that angling can include squid, cod, pollock and winter flounder. Trips are fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily. Wreck-fishing trips are sailing 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Thursday through Saturday. Shark in the Dark Trips will begin this weekend that fish every Sunday from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in July. Reservations are required for the sharking, and some space remains for this weekend.

<b>Toms River</b>

A 9-pound 12-ounce fluke was weighed at <b>Hook House Bait & Tackle</b> that was kayaked on Manasquan River two days ago, Mario said. The river’s fluking was pretty good, and many customers fished for them on kayaks or boats. Barnegat Bay held lots of short fluke and a few keepers between the BB and BI markers. Some bluefish still bit in the Toms River on both sides at night on bunker chunks. A few short stripers swam the river, and a customer tackled a few of the shorts and a couple of blues from the river last night. Sharks and rays were fought from the surf at night. Be aware which species of sharks must be released. Fluke were beached during daytime. Crabbing was picking up. Hook House, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Surf anglers sometimes dragged in blues and fluke, not many, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. Cut bunker lured the blues, and bucktails with Gulps hit the fluke. Crabbers picked away at keepers, not a ton, but crabs to eat nonetheless from the dock on Barnegat Bay. Those who crabbed from boats on the bay could try more spots with less effort than shore crabbers. Killies are stocked after they were scarce previously. The shop’s got a supplier now who will keep them supplied when the baitfish are scarce. 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, and boat and jet-ski rentals.

<b>Forked River</b>

Weather was rough for fluke fishing on Barnegat Bay from Thursday through Saturday and on some days since, said Mike from <b>Grizz’s Bait & Tackle</b>. But when customers reported the fishing, the reports were decent. The fish were boated in 5 or 6 feet of water or usual places like near the BI and BB markers and the research buoy and at High Bar Harbor. Bluefish 2 to 3 pounds sometimes showed up when the anglers fluke fished. Weather mostly prevented offshore fishing. The shop now stocks all baits for tuna and shark fishing offshore. Customers shark fished Sunday, but no good catches were reported. Killies and all frozen baits, the full supply, are stocked, including for fluke.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Barnegat Bay’s fluke fishing was good, said Vince Sr. from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. Trips returned with a couple of keepers. Weather was shaky recently, but the angling was good when fishable. Where? He could usually see the fish caught right off the shop. Fluke also began to be hooked on the ocean, like at the Tires. Sea bass fishing was good on the ocean until sea bass season was closed. Sea bass season will be reopened beginning Sunday with a two-fish bag limit. Weakfish were sometimes nabbed from the bay. Two different anglers boated one apiece right off the store. A couple of customers clammed on the bay, and the clamming was good, and usually is. They raked the clams they wanted. Crabs were trapped in overnight pots. A few daytrips crabbed, but the season was early for that, and the water was a little cold. Crabbing picks up later here on the barrier island than along the mainland, because of cold, ocean water from Barnegat Inlet. Minnows are stocked and had been scarce. Fresh bunker and clams are carried, like for surf anglers. Sea bass anglers will want the clams. All frozen baits are on hand. “We have everything,” Vince said. 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.

<b>Barnegat</b>

An edited email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “Just got back from Key West. Had my two boys, Nick, 19, and Max, 17, down there to catch their first permit. Found the best captain down there … . So impressed by this guy. Laid back, focused and persistent. The key to catching permit down there is to have crabs for bait. The whole island was sold out, but he had a call out to a shop that was going to call us if any came in. We were already on the fishing grounds when the call came in, and he had us reel in and motor back to get live crabs. Not too many guides would burn the fuel or put in the time to do this. It paid off as we caught four nice permit in the 2 hours after we returned to the grounds. We also had two big snook, a 17-pounder and an 18-pounder, that Max and I took on live pinfish in the early morning out on a wreck in the Atlantic. I didn't even know you could catch them there – I thought they were a backwater or near shoreline fish. We had some big mangrove snappers, yellowtails, barracudas, a black grouper, a bunch of Spanish mackerel and one good-sized king mackerel for the two days we spent (with the captain). <a href=" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW4UyLwExXk  " target="_blank">Here’s Nick with his first permit</a> and <a href= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNrHwSdVOkY " target="_blank"> Max with his</a>. <b>***Back to N.J. fishing now.***</b>  I have inshore charters booked for Friday through Sunday. We’ll target the blues and short stripers in the inlet and fluke in the bay, and I picked up some live shedder crabs to see what I could get going in the back bay. Hoping to find some weakfish or kingfish. We’re available for open-boat or charter Monday and Wednesday.  If the weather is perfect, we’ll look to run offshore to the tuna grounds on either or both days. Could be yellowfin or bluefin … or both!  Looking for light and variable winds and no threat of storms. That's the only forecast I go on. We have a Garmin Sirius/XM satellite weather station on board to monitor any storm activity as well. (There’s one rate) if we run to the 50- to 60-mile grounds (and a slightly higher rate) if we run all the way to the canyons. The shorter run is usually a 4 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the longer run would be 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. Something you should know, and I repeat this a lot, because I don't want anybody to be disappointed: If you want a better chance at sailing for tuna, you should book a bigger boat that will sail in sea conditions that we will not. Three- to 4-foot seas is not much in those bigger sportfishermen, but I’m looking for flat-calm or 1 to 2s at most to go that distance in a 25-foot boat. Mind you, it's a very capable World Cat catamaran with brand new motors, a six-man survival raft and an EPIRB, but those are just for peace of mind, not something we ever want to use. If you're good with that, C'mon, C'mon!” <b>***Update, Sunday, 7/1:***</b> An email from Dave: “We are headed to the canyons to catch tuna. The bite is red hot and we have good intel on where to go. The boat is fueled, iced, and turn key ready to leave at 2AM tonight (Sunday), or technically tomorrow (Monday) morning. We have three guys signed up already and we take a maximum of four … all fish are shared. Return around 4 or 5 PM on Monday. We have everything. Just bring whatever you want to eat and drink for the time we are out (14 to 15 hours). Wednesday's canyon trip is sold out but we will be announcing more as we see nice weather windows coming up. As a result, these will be announced on short notice. We are still sailing every day for inshore fishing which has been made up mostly of casting lures at 3 to 5 pound bluefish in the inlet. We will also be running trips to Barnegat Ridge for bonita, albacore and who knows what else if that blue water pushes in a little closer. Live grass shrimp is now available to us, so we will be mixing that in for bay and jetty fishing. It's also time to start inshore sharking. Just three to four miles off the beach we chum for small sharks on light tackle. Most are 2 to 4 foot browns, spinners, and Atlantic sharpnose sharks.”

<b>Absecon</b>

Whenever wind let up, summer flounder fishing was pretty good on the back bay, said Capt. Dave from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. He’s running charters for them, and beating up the fish a little, even in the wind. One of the charters yesterday hooked a good percentage of keepers among throwbacks, good action. The fish were yet to be as many throwbacks as usually fill the bay later in the season. Wind kept reports from rolling in about flounder fishing on the ocean. Flounder made up most fishing for local anglers. A few weakfish floated around, and the mouth of Mullica River seemed to harbor most. Small stripers swam the river. Plenty of white perch did. The supply of minnows, favorite flounder bait, is in good shape and will continue to be for Fourth of July week. The baitfish seemed more available after they were scarcer previously. Soft-shell crabs for eating were still stocked. They weren’t big, but Dave was still getting some. Shedder crabs were available for bait. The shop raises the soft-shells, and keep up with the supply on <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/SoftshellCrabs/" target="_blank">Absecon Bay Sportsman’s soft-shell crabs Facebook Page</a>.

<b>Brigantine</b>

The surf’s kingfishing was pretty good, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Striped bass were eased from the surf now and then, nothing great. Brown sharks, required to be released, haunted the surf. Boating for summer flounder was strong on the back bay. All trips usually caught keepers. Bloodworms, minnows and all frozen baits are stocked. Fresh clams will arrive Friday, and Andy was unsure whether fresh bunker will be stocked.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Quite a few summer flounder were brought to the shop today, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. They included a 4.7-pound 23-incher, a 3.4-pound 22-incher and a 2.2-pound 18-1/2-incher. Customers are picking off flounder from the surf beside Absecon Inlet to inside the inlet to the back bay behind it. Many flounder that bite will be throwbacks, like everywhere. Fish minnows with squid for flounder on a rig like the Hoochie Minnow, the Fluke Candy or the Game Changer that are stocked. Click the link to watch a video about the Hoochie with a Fluke Candy.  Most fish caught locally were flounder. But a few kingfish swiped bloodworms in the surf, and a few weakfish hit in the back bay. Big sharks were wrestled from the bay at night from the channel off the Golden Nugget and Harrah’s. Release species of sharks that are required to be. Customers do all of this fishing on foot. Minnows and all baits, a large supply, are stocked. A bait vending machine dispenses frozen bait round the clock. That includes whole squid, scented squid strips, spearing, whole mackerel, filleted mackerel, mullet, shrimp and more. A little of everything. Stay informed by watching the video fishing report every morning on <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/OneStopBaitAC/" target="_blank">One Stop’s Facebook page</a>.

<b>Margate</b>

Tides were higher and lower than usual including because of wind on the back bay during summer flounder trips on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. Weather was rough, and the wind dirtied the water. Fewer keepers were hooked than before. Trips had been beating up keepers until Monday. When wind blows from south again a couple of days, and the water clears, the number of keepers will jump back up, he thinks. The fishing did nail a 6-pounder yesterday, and did catch flounder. The fishing was still good, he said. Flounder on trips bit everything: minnows and mackerel provided aboard, and Gulps that anglers brought. Anglers should bring Gulps. Gulps on bucktails caught more than rigs did, and caught bigger flounder. Other catches like sharks, sea robins and short fluke are always mixed in. Tons of 10-, 12- or 14-inch, throwback flounder bit.  Trips are fishing for flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. daily. The rate is only $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for kids, because the fishing is near port, and the pontoon boat is economical on fuel. Plus, rental rods are free.

<b>Longport</b>

The <b>Stray Cat</b> is concentrating on summer flounder and tuna on the ocean, Capt. Mike said. Flounder fishing was weathered out yesterday aboard, and a bunch of tuna trips are coming up. The ocean is gorgeous, a blue/black color, as soon as the boat reaches 15 to 20 miles off. That kind of water holds tuna. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing for flounder and tuna. Four spaces remain for an open tuna trip 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 15 to the offshore canyons.

<b>Ocean City</b>

The back bay’s summer flounder fishing was good, actually, said Bill from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. The fish swam a little deeper in 12 to 15 feet of water, seeking lower temperatures in the warming bay. A few more catches began to be reported during incoming tides than outgoing, because of cooler water from the ocean on incoming. Bluefish, various sizes, roamed the bay. Running into them was unpredictable, but they were mixing in on flounder trips. A few flounder began to be angled from ocean reefs. Two sea bass will be able to be kept per angler beginning Sunday, and they’ll probably be found at the reefs. At night, fishing for striped bass was good along bridges and sod banks. A few were even keepers. Soft-plastic lures caught, but a few boaters also eeled the bass on the drift. In the surf, kingfishing was okay. Dunk bloodworms for them, and FishBites artificial worms began to clock some. The water was becoming warm enough. Bluefish, various sizes, sometimes appeared in the surf, like in the bay. When offshore boaters last had the weather to sail, they reported catching yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna in the Lindenkohl and Spencer canyons area, all on the troll. Bill heard about bigeye tuna caught briefly but not in a couple of weeks at canyons. Minnows, bloodworms, shedder crabs and eels are stocked.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Kingfish began to be seen from the surf, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Dunk FishBites artificial worms or soak bloodworms for them. A couple of striped bass were still banked from the surf. Use clams on them, and brown and dusky sharks stalked the surf at night. Mackerel was best bait on them, and release those species of sharks, required by law. Striped bass fishing was awesome on the back bay at dusk on top-water lures. High tides that time of day were ideal, and take place every other week. Summer flounder were boated on the bay, but more swam ocean reefs. They migrated there. Tuna fishing still sounded good, and catches seemed to bounce around to different canyons like Lindenkohl and Spencer. But if trips found the tuna, they tied into them well. Crabbing was good. Clamming was excellent, too. Minnows and the full supply of baits is stocked. 

Lots of summer flounder filled the back bay, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Fishing for them was very good, giving up much action, and a few keepers seemed to be tugged in on every trip. Fishing for striped bass with popper-lures and popper-flies was good on high tides at dusk that happen every two weeks. He was about to fish for them when he gave this report last evening. Inshore shark fishing aboard, usually within 10 miles from the coast, was good. Those are catch-and-release trips that are a chance to see big fish without the long sail offshore. Joe was busy running trips in past days. An angler and daughter landed a bunch of throwback flounder from the bay Sunday aboard. Joe did no fishing Monday. On Tuesday, he, his wife and dad reeled in 25 flounder including three keepers to 4 pounds on a short trip on the bay. On Wednesday, a family aboard landed more than 30 flounder including one keeper in a short, 4-hour trip. Looking ahead, the ocean clarity looked great for mahi mahi fishing close to shore that Joe begins soon. That could change, but he’s optimistic. Easterly wind often blew, pushing cleaner water to the area. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b> was cooking crabs when he gave this report today, he said. Crabs for eating arrived for the season that are sold each year at the shop. This was the third delivery, and they weren’t big, but were meaty. They’re sold live, cooked to order or pre-cooked and refrigerated. Crab lump meat, not backfin, was also available in 1-pound containers. Shrimp and clams were also available. Crabbing was good on the back bay for the store’s rental-boaters. Trips averaged about a dozen keepers. Summer flounder fishing was good on the boats. Mike joined Fred Uhlman, who hosts a TV fishing show, to film flounder fishing on the bay on a trip Monday evening. They fished minnows on a bobber, something new that Fred was trying. It worked great, and hooked seven flounder, including one keeper, on seven minnows fished. The trip fished in 14 feet of water, hanging the minnows a foot off bottom from the bobbers. Once the trip got on the trough that held the fish the bite was on. 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, including minnows, is stocked. So is fishing and crabbing tackle and gear. Customers enjoy the food mentioned above at tented picnic tables on the water at the store, or enjoy them at their own location. Wine from Natali Vineyards in Cape May Court House is sold at the store eventually. None was on hand yet, but Mike could stock the wine any time. The state last fishing season approved the store to carry the wine.

<b>Cape May</b>

Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> fished for tuna with a friend on a friend’s boat Tuesday at the offshore canyons, he said. One yellowfin tuna was landed, and one was lost. Three mahi mahi – a 25- to 30-pounder and two 10- to 12-pounders – were also taken. All the fish were trolled, and the water was 74 to 75 degrees with great-looking clarity. Two tuna trips are slated for Friday and Saturday on the Heavy Hitter. George heard nothing about summer flounder fishing, he said when asked, except that the party boat Porgy IV from Cape May fished for them on the ocean. He knew about no other boats that did, and weather was often rough. Maybe that kept trips docked.

Forecasts for rough weather kept summer flounder trips from sailing Friday, Saturday and Wednesday on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, Capt. Paul said. A trip Thursday scooped up some of the fish in the morning, and not many in the afternoon, because wind and drizzle came up. Fred Nelson from Philadelphia and Jason Thomas from Delaware County limited out that day, and Fred won the pool. On Sunday’s trip, some anglers caught the fish well, and some didn’t. Ryan McDonald from Blackwood and Darrell Thomas from Philly limited on the trip. Ryan won the pool, and Darrell fished with a rental rod. On Monday’s trip, wind blew pretty strongly, and not many flounder were hooked. That trip fished at the Old Grounds, on the ocean off Delaware. The trips fish on the ocean. Tuesday’s trip pasted some flounder, including a limit to a 5-1/2-pounder for Bob Brett from Cape May Court House, and a limit for Les Lawler from Morton, Pa. So flounder fishing wasn’t bad lately, and some trips got lucky, Paul said, and some didn’t. That was inconsistent. It’s only June, too, he said. Trips are fishing for flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Summer flounder will probably begin to migrate to the ocean from back bays after another week, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Fishing for them should remain decent this coming week, and some were already picked up from ocean reefs. Good flounder catches were made on Delaware Bay. The good reports came from farther up the bay, like from Miah Maul to Cross Ledge along the shipping channel. The fish probably also bit closer to shore. Striped bass hit in back bays in evenings on soft-plastic lures or rubber shads on jigheads. In the surf, sometimes kingfish were banked. So were small bluefish. Flounder and weakfish sometimes pounced in the surf, like along jetties. Big sharks like sandbars and sand tigers chewed in the surf in evenings. Those two species are required to be released. Weather often prevented offshore fishing. Weather’s looking good for that this weekend, though. Reports should roll in. Offshore canyons had fished hot for yellowfin tuna. Bluefin tuna had been fought from closer to shore. Trolling caught both, but sometimes the bluefins fed on sand eels along the surface. They could probably be top-water plugged or jigged at moments. 

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