<b>Sewaren</b>

Water close-in was dirty because of rain, said Tim from <b>Dockside Bait & Tackle</b>. Fluke anglers there caught throwbacks and junkfish. Water farther away from land fished better for the summer flounder. Deeper water fished best for keepers. But when water was clear, keeper flounder were boated including near the Ammo Pier and the Verrazano Bridge, Ambrose Channel and Shrewsbury Rocks. Tim heard about no other catches including porgies. But porgies were probably around. He heard about no crabbing recently. Bait stocked includes killies, fresh bunker and all the frozen including all the different squids. Frozen also includes spearing, smelts, sand eels and salted clams. For freshwater, nightcrawlers and trout worms are carried. 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>

The six anglers limited out on fluke to 10 pounds yesterday on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, Capt. Frank wrote in an email. Very good fishing, he said, and many of the keepers weighed 4 to 6 pounds. Fluking’s really heating up, including for sizable, he said, and the fish are feeding aggressively. Trips are fishing the ocean rough bottom. That includes charters and open-boat trips, and a few spaces are left for open trips 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Come join us, he said.

Porgy fishing was good with the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>, Capt. Mario said. Good catches of sea bass were mixed in, and open-boat trips are sailing for porgies at 6 a.m. daily. On Down Deep’s other boat, fluke fishing on the ocean was now good. Sizable fluke to 7 pounds came in, and sea bass were mixed in. Open trips are fluking at 6 a.m. daily on that vessel. Charters are available for up to 15 passengers, and both boats feature full galleys and plenty of room for comfort.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Catches of fluke were about the same as they’ve been, serving up good action with throwbacks and a few keepers, said Capt. Tom from the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>. He couldn’t know whether the fishing will change, but it was about the same everywhere the boat fished, from Raritan Bay to the channels in the ocean just off the bay to the ocean down the beach. Yesterday morning’s trip fished near the channels, catching throwbacks and a few keepers. The afternoon’s trip fished down the beach, landing a few more keepers than in the morning. Again, the angling was the same everywhere. It’s good fishing, and if you get lucky, you hook legal-sized. Come on down, he said, the boat’s going fishing. Trips are sailing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

Fluking was much better Tuesday on the <b>Fishermen</b> after rougher weather previously, a report said on the party boat’s website. Very nice bite on some beauties, it said, and a 6.8-pounder was the first fluke decked that day. The trip’s catch also included a 6.2-, a 5- and a 4-plus-pounder. Some of the anglers bagged two good-sized fluke apiece, and sea bass, including some good-sized, were also reeled in. Wednesday’s trip slugged away at a few sizable fluke including the 6.2-pound pool-winner, shorts and sea bass. Several anglers bagged two fluke apiece and some sea bass, and the fishing began tough in rough seas. The trip got out of there and fished rocky bottom the rest of the day, in much calmer seas and lighter current. A beautiful breeze blew then, and the day turned out not bad, considering the way it began. Trips are fluking 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. However, a charter is booked Friday, so no open-boat trip will fish that day.

False albacore shot into the surf at Long Branch this week, said Ron from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. He’s a surf angler, and the albies are the year’s first reported from the surf on this website. The albies swam in, swam out and swam back in. They also showed up later in the day. They weren’t big, but a couple of anglers got into them. A 6-3/4-pound fluke was weighed at the store today that was boated a quarter-mile off Sandy Hook Point. A neighbor whacked two 6-pound fluke and a 4-pounder at Flynn’s Knoll. He also released throwbacks and boated a handful of porgies. “He made his rounds,” Ron said. Porgies gathered along Keansburg Pier. Ron knew about someone who bucketed 25. Ron saw a report online from someone from Toms River who eased in a 9-pound king mackerel and some mahi mahi close to shore. The trip had been headed to the canyons offshore but turned back because of weather. A crabber drop-lined a half-bushel of keepers in 2 hours from the river near the hospital. Ron recently fished Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts, catching three striped bass, not big, and losing some big, including one he couldn’t stop. Anglers around him walloped some 20- and 30-pounders. Baits stocked include fresh adult bunker, fresh peanut bunker and fresh, local spearing. Killies currently stocked were large. Ron saw peanuts schooling everywhere in the surf this morning. He stopped at different places.  He lately saw mullet, a bunch, at different waters and spearing, plenty, in the river.

Party boats from the marina, some at least, seemed to tie into fluke well today, said Johnny O. from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b>. The shop is located at Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina. Two of the store’s rental boats, each with two anglers, fluked, and each limited out, actually. Porgy fishing was steady. Fishing for snapper blues was good for kids. No larger blues seemed to swim locally, but some seemed to be farther south. He wasn’t asked the size, but they were probably not big but larger than snappers. Throwback striped bass were played under bridges on Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers at night on Fin-S Fish on small jigheads or maybe small plugs. The stripers foraged on spearing. Spearing for bait were becoming scarce from suppliers. Crabbing seemed a little slower than before, maybe because of freshwater from rain. 

<b>Long Branch</b>

Surf fishing for fluke became slower, though reports were better yesterday afternoon, said Mike from <b>TAK Waterman Surf n Fish</b>. Anglers reported lots of bait in the water that  afternoon. But the fluking was generally slower than before from the beach. Mike on a trip the previous morning hooked one sea robin. He fished a somewhat different location than previously, though. He looked forward to doing the fluking again last evening, he said before the trip. Spanish mackerel and bonito plowed into the surf recently. Small metal jigs caught them, and dusk seemed a time, but blitzes erupted throughout the day. Small striped bass 18 to 20 inches could be tugged from the surf. Kettle Creek rubber shads on a jighead hit them. Mike fished for bluefin tuna at mid-range last week with a friend, and they caught some, on popper plugs. The water was blue, and sand eels and skipjacks were seen. TAK Waterman is a shop for fishing, especially surf fishing, surfing and paddle-boarding. The store produces the TAK Waterman line of clothing for those water sports and beach-going. The name comes from Lake Takanasee.

<b>Neptune</b>

No wind blew, so the boat failed to drift, but some fluke to 7 pounds were still managed Tuesday on the ocean with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, Capt. Ralph wrote in an email. That was the weekly individual-reservation trip for fluke and sea bass, and the anglers, a full boat, nearly limited out on sea bass. Some of the sea bass weighed 3 or 4 pounds. Kids under 12 sail free on those Tuesday trips, limited to one per adult host. Two spaces are available for an individual-reservation trip Sunday for porgies and sea bass.  <b>***Update, Friday, 8/17:***</b> A charter yesterday limited out on big sea bass and booted aboard plenty of ling, Ralph wrote in an email.

<b>Belmar</b>

Fishing for fluke on the ocean was good on most days aboard, said Capt. Pete from <b>Parker Pete’s fishing Charters</b>. After good fishing for them, including a 9-pounder, during the weekend on the boat, rough weather made the angling no good Monday. Tuesday’s fluking was a pick after Monday’s rain, and the fishing began to be better Wednesday. 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.

Excellent bluefishing for 1- to 3-pounders was smashed today on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Bonito 2 to 3 pounds and small false albacore were also subdued. At the end of the trip, anglers tangled with all the chub mackerel they could want and some sea bass and fluke. Yesterday’s trip’s catches began with a super shot of 1- to 2-pound blues. Anglers could catch quite a few. Then the trip pushed farther from shore, picking chub mackerel and sea bass. Some of the sea bass were big. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Buy tickets online and save 10 percent.

Another excellent day of bluefishing was beaten on the <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b> today, an email said from the party boat. There was white water, and the fish worked on top but were also read from top to bottom. At mid-day, the trip motored farther from shore and concentrated on sea bass and fluke. “We had great action,” it said, with sea bass with fluke mixed in. Was a great day, the email said. On last evening’s trip, many anglers limited out on sea bass. Some good-sized fluke were bagged, when a shot of them bit. Trips are fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily.

<b>Brielle</b>

Good fluke fishing again this morning on the <b>Jamaica II</b> on the ocean, the party boat’s Facebook page said. Quite a few anglers limited out. This afternoon’s trip fished slower, but a few sizable fluke were clobbered. A 7-pound 9-ouncer won that trip’s pool. Trips are fishing for fluke and sea bass 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays.

Fluke in the ocean were mostly bagged at reefs and rocks in 60 to 70 feet of water, the deep, said Bob from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Catches were pretty good, and Manasquan River’s fluking was fairly dead in dirty water from rain. Throwbacks were caught, but not much of any fish was hooked from the river, because the water looked like chocolate milk. Abundant Spanish mackerel sometimes pushed into the surf and schooled the ocean close to shore. The mackerel popped into the beach at Deal the other day. Beachgoers were told to vacate the surf at Sea Girt because of so many of the mackerel. Party boats that used to bluefish on the ocean mostly fished for abundant chub mackerel and bottom-fish including sea bass and ling. They sometimes ran into small bluefish, but nothing reliable. Bluefin tuna fishing was good 40 or 50 miles out. They were mostly trolled, jigged or popper-plugged. Yellowfin tuna became scarce inshore to offshore, and fishing for them seemed hit or miss.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

On the <b>Gambler</b>, fluke fishing on the ocean was good these last few days, a report said on the party boat’s website. Lots of action and a good percentage of keepers. The fish weighed up to 5 pounds, and a few sea bass and lots of chub mackerel also bit. On Thursday night’s wreck-fishing trip, anglers picked away at ling, mixed sizes including a few big. Baseball bats, the report said. A few sea bass were sacked, and a cod won the pool. Anglers who wanted to jig squid caught squid well. For the squid, fish a squid jig on a spinning rod with 10-pound line. The jigs are sold aboard, if you don’t want to bring your own. Tonight’s wreck trip will probably fish deeper, because ling usually migrate deeper this time of year, seeking cooler water. Friday and Saturday nights’ trips hooked mostly big chub mackerel and some ling. Anglers who dropped deep caught the ling. Was good action on all these trips, and the crew is looking for more of the same. 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. Thursdays. Nighttime trips are also sailing every Friday and Saturday during those hours. Check with the boat to find out what those trips will sail for. A Shark in the Dark Trips will fish Sunday night. Reservations are required for the sharking, and can be made on <a href="http://www.gamblerfishing.net/tripinformation.php" target="_blank">Gambler’s website</a> or by calling the boat.

Weather was great on the ocean today and yesterday, and some quality fluke were iced from the water on yesterday’s two trips on the <b>Norma-K III</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Fluke 6 to 7 pounds won the pools, and today fished a little slower for fluke aboard. The boat didn’t drift well for the fishing on this morning’s trip, and some anglers didn’t fare well at the angling. The pool-winning fluke weighed just under 7 pounds, though. Trips are fishing rough bottom, so bring extra tackle, because tackle will be lost because of snagging. Plenty of sinkers and plain rigs are carried aboard. Trips are fishing for fluke 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. Moonlight and fireworks cruises are sailing at 8 p.m. Thursdays, returning when the fireworks end.

<b>Toms River</b>

Near the BB and BI markers gave up okay fluke fishing on Barnegat Bay, said Mario from <b>Hook House Bait & Tackle</b>. Blowfish reportedly began to show up in the bay. The ocean’s fluking sounded slow. But the surf’s fluking was good. “You’re hitting the holes,” he said. In the surf, lots were throwbacks, but keepers were around. In the past few days, cocktail blues rumbled into the surf, and a few throwbacks striped bass were banked. Eeling for stripers was good at Point Pleasant Canal at night. The Toms River held lots of snapper blues. Crabbing was steady in the river. Hook House, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

The surf produced 1- to 3-pound bluefish and a few keeper fluke, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. The blues chomped cut mullet or small chunks of bunker. They also swiped small metal and small popper lures. The fluke were caught best on bucktails with Gulps. But if anglers wanted to fish bait, a combo of a killie with squid on the hook could clock them on rigs. Snapper blues schooled along the dock. Unusually, a 31-inch, keeper striped bass was pulled in from the dock Tuesday morning on crabbing bait that the fish swallowed that was on a crabbing handline. Just before, a crabber landed a 24-inch, throwback striper in a crab trap. Soon after all of this that morning, a school of stripers was seen off the dock, well within casting range, chasing some kind of small baitfish. Blowfish were heard about that were plucked from Barnegat Bay near the BB buoy. Salted clams and clam chum logs are stocked that can be used for blowfishing. 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>

Catches of fluke picked up at the Tires, said Mike from <b>Grizz’s Bait & Tackle<b>. That’s on the ocean off Barnegat Inlet, and customers often fished there. Some limited out, so decent-sized fluke seemed there. Ocean fluking was improving in general and could be quite good for trips. Fluke were still bagged from Barnegat Bay including near the research buoy and often near Barnegat Inlet. The fish seemed to favor cooler water near the inlet. Blowfish were hooked from the bay hit and miss. But reports came in about them. Snapper bluefishing was excellent, like along docks, at Berkeley Island Park and lagoons. Fish spearing under a bobber, and that angling is great for kids. Not a lot of trips fished for tuna offshore last weekend because of weather. Customers boated mahi mahi as close to shore as 8 miles out to 18 miles. All baits are stocked, including the full selection for offshore.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Anglers fluked and sea bassed yesterday on the ocean on the <b>Super Chic</b>, Capt. Ted said. The fishing’s okay, and keeper fluke “come and go,” he said. But enough of them and throwback fluke and keeper sea bass were hooked to keep anglers interested. The trip fished a little closer to shore than usual, in 45 to 50 feet of water, because weather was somewhat breezy. Another one of these trips is slated for Saturday, and tuna fishing is booked for Sunday.

Good-sized fluke and sea bass were pounded Sunday on the <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b> on the ocean, the party boat’s Facebook page said. Great fishing. No news was posted for Monday. On Tuesday’s trip, wind blew against tide, hampering the boat’s drift, making fishing tough. On Wednesday’s trip, the fishing was a little better. More sea bass than fluke were pulled in that day, and a beautiful sea bass won the pool. Trips are fishing for fluke and sea bass 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Sunset cruises are running every evening. Watch the Atlantic City air show Wednesday aboard from the ocean on a cruise.

Barnegat Bay still harbored fluke, but most fluke that were bagged came from the ocean, said Max from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>. In the bay, fluke were boated at usual places like the junction buoy. Blowfish arrived in the bay. They could probably be found off Oyster Creek, a usual place. No catches like weakfish and kingfish seemed to be made from the bay. Kingfish were nabbed in the surf. Tons of snapper blues schooled places like along docks. Max sailed on a trip and caught bonito at Barnegat Ridge. Crabbing was pretty good, on and off. Clamming was good. Killies and fresh bunker are stocked. Live grass shrimp can be ordered. 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>Absecon</b>

A variety of fish could be what to target, said Curt from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>. Anglers could home in on one species like summer flounder. But shooting for a variety could put together a good catch, and the fish available were often tasty. Boaters fishing ocean reefs and wrecks could get after flounder but also sea bass. The flounder fishing was fairly good in 50- to 70-foot depths but also out to 90 feet, and most of the keeper sea bass seemed along the 90-foot wrecks. Those trips could also look for triggerfish along floating structure like buoys. Mahi mahi bit in the inshore ocean, off and on. That seemed to depend on water temperature and clarity that wind direction affected. Cobia were sighted, and a few caught were known about, like from along buoys or lobster-pot flags that cobia hold along in the ocean. A few keeper flounder remained in inlets and deep spots along the Intracoastal Waterway. At the inlets, where current runs strong, fish slack tides. Those inland trips could also hunt blackfish and triggerfish that hugged bridges, jetties and sod banks. The mouth of Mullica River held a mix of fish including a few kingfish and occasional weakfish. Quite a number of white perch schooled the mouth and adjacent creeks. Plenty of throwback striped bass were in the area. A keeper turned up occasionally, but most were throwbacks. Keeper stripers were rare to hook during daytime, and nighttime or early mornings fished best for them, like along jetties inland. Live bait or lures were fished for them. Ventnor was a place for the stripers, because of lots of docks, bridges and lights that attracted them.  In bays and back-waters, peanut bunker schooled everywhere. Some spots were around, and some were hooked off the shop’s dock. Live spots are stocked from Maryland. No live peanut bunker are carried, but the shop could net peanuts if customers ordered them. Pretty much all usual baits are stocked. Curt didn’t hear much about mullet, but knew a few were around. Crabbing was good, and shedder crabs for bait and soft-shell crabs for eating are in. 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>

Surf anglers banked kingfish, brown sharks and small bluefish, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Fish bloodworms for the kings, and Fishbites artificial worms didn’t catch them. He wasn’t asked the reason, but that’s usually because the water’s too chilly. The browns are required to be released, and Andy prefers mackerel heads to catch them. But mackerel bodies can work. If you can beach kingfish and use those heads, that works well. Brigantine approved the annual Riptide Fall Striper Derby for this year. The tournament will be held Sept. 9 to Dec. 23, and will include a boat division, not just a surf division. The annual Brigantine Elks striper tournament for surf anglers and boaters, benefitting a veterans’ fund, will be held Nov. 16-18. Stop at the shop and check out the new Penn Conflict II Long Caster Reel. The reel will be available at stores in 1 ½ months, but one is at the store that you can see.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Kingfish bit like crazy in the surf, including from the T-jetty, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. The T is located at the end of Absecon Inlet, and bloodworms hooked the kings. A load of snapper blues and summer flounder chewed from the surf to up the inlet to the back bay near the inlet. Customers fish all of these places on foot, and fish the surf near the inlet. Lots of flounder, he said. Flounder central. To catch them, fish Hoochie Mama, Game Changer or Fluke Candy rigs the store stocks. Use minnows, squid, filleted mackerel or spearing for bait. Triggerfish and blackfish snapped along jetties. The inlet is lined with jetties. Everything was in, Noel said about fish. All baits, a large supply, are stocked. They include a dozen bloodworms for $10.75 for regular-size and $18 for jumbos, and minnows for $8 a pint. A bait vending machine dispenses frozen bait round the clock.

<b>Margate</b>
 
Lots of summer flounder, lots of throwbacks, were swung from the back bay on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. But the fishing did pick up somewhat. Not a lot were keepers, but a few were. The water was clearing, after dirty water from storms. Low tides happened in mornings in past days, and those tides were a bit dirty. The water cleared on high tides later in the day. Small bluefish three-quarters of a pound to a pound were angled aboard the other day. Birds worked bait that the blues also fed on, and if trips see the blues, they’ll stop on them. Plenty of baby sea bass swam the water, stealing bait, that do this time of summer. John for this report wasn’t asked whether sea robins and sharks hit, but in previous reports he said they did. Tons of baitfish schooled currently. Peanut bunker filled the water at the dock in mornings, and big schools of them were seen during fishing. John might castnet some to keep aboard to fish live for flounder. Minnows and mackerel are provided aboard, and anglers can bring their own Gulps to also fish for flounder, and should. 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>

Trips trolled bluefish, bonito and mahi mahi in 80 feet of water on the ocean on the <b>Stray Cat</b>, Capt. Mike said. The fishing’s been great for some time, and coming up, more of that angling will sail. The water looked clear and gorgeous, like far offshore. Down 30 or 40 feet could be seen, and flying fish were everywhere. Cedar plugs, Clark spoons and feathers were trolled.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Lots of throwback summer flounder, not many keepers, swam the back bay, said Thomas from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Any keepers usually came from near inlets. Flounder fishing at ocean reefs picked up a little. Spanish mackerel began to be heard about from lumps like Sea Isle Lump. Few were around previously, so anglers were glad about them. Back in the bay, striped bass bit along bridges at night on soft-plastic lures. Kingfishing was fairly good in the surf. Not many brown sharks, required to be released, were heard about from the surf. Thomas only knew about one small. Flounder could be found in the surf along jetties. Not a lot was reported about tuna fishing, and some anglers were headed for the fishing today. Catches of yellowfin tuna had been talked about from 30 fathoms. Crabbing was pretty good, had slowed a bit, and seemed to be picking back up.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b>, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>, had just returned from running an inshore trip for mahi mahi when he gave this report this afternoon, he said. The fishing went well, bagging about four, releasing one or two and losing one or so. A king mackerel and an amberjack were also landed, and another king bit and got off. The king that was landed wasn’t large but was caught on monofilament, not wire. The fish happened to be hooked right for that, and wire is normally used when targeting the toothy fish. All of these fish provided lots of action for the trip. Joe wasn’t asked how the trip’s fish were caught, but his charters fish for inshore mahi on the troll and with bait and cast bucktails and flies. That can depend on conditions. This has been a decent year for mahi fishing close to shore, and take advantage. Wind and other conditions need to combine to create clear water for them to be there. The ocean also needs to be the warm. It’ll cool, and get after the mahi while possible. Another trip will probably fish for the mahi Friday aboard. Coming soon, annual traveling charters to Montauk will fish the migrations of striped bass, bluefish and false albacore from September to mid-October. See the <a href="http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page3.html" target="_blank">traveling charters webpage</a> on Jersey Cape’s website. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

Some of the most exciting fishing was in the surf, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Kingfishing there wasn’t spectacular but pretty good, and spots, pompano and butterfish bit in the surf. If anglers or kids would enjoy those small fish, the action could be good. Fisbites artificial worms caught best, but some anglers dunked bloodworms or bits of clams. Shark fishing was phenomenal in the surf for multiple species. Photos were seen of 30- to 150-pounders. Many shark species in the surf are required to be released. The ocean’s summer flounder fishing wasn’t great but was pretty good. Some beautiful sea bass, big, swam ocean reefs for mid-summer. Plenty of triggerfish gathered along buoys or floating structure like that. Cobia also hugged structure like that. Most cobia known about were caught by accident, but be prepared for them. Most boaters probably zipped past the buoys and scared away the cobia. You can look for them. Cobia also swim up to the boat during flounder fishing on the ocean. The back bay’s fishing was slowing. But striped bass were played in the bay, like in evenings. Some tuna caught were reported from places like 19-Fathom Lump and Massey’s Canyon. A mix of yellowfins, small, and bluefins seemed there. Farther off at the canyons, larger yellowfins and occasional bigeye tuna bit. Crabbing was amazing.

<b>Wildwood</b>

A buddy boated 25 summer flounder including three keepers near the George Reading Bridge on a trip a couple of days ago, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. That’s near the shop, and Mike was surprised the fish were at that particular spot. Flounder swam the back bay, and many were throwbacks. Many were 15 inches. But apparently some keepers were around. Another friend fished for flounder at Cape May Reef on the ocean. A lot of throwbacks and one or two keepers will be reeled in there. The buddy’s trip also bagged two good-sized sea bass 15 inches. Sea bass were there. Back in the bay, snapper blues, small ones, were showing up. They’re fun to catch, including for kids, and spearing fished 3 feet under a bobber will grab them. Mike heard about one striped bass, a 29-inch keeper that an angler bagged at Hereford Inlet while fishing for flounder. He was fishing clams, though. That’s unusual flounder bait but typical striper bait. The angler heard bluefish sometimes schooled the inlet, and hoped for some, but never ran into them on the outing. A friend fished Massey’s Canyon and trolled an 80-pound bluefin tuna. He gave Mike some, and it was delicious. Crabbing was about the same as before on the bay, and that’s a good thing. One trip trapped three to four dozen including 18 keepers. The crabber was happy and was going to cook crabs and spaghetti. 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. Minnows were currently $7 a pint. Crabs for eating were in supply that the store sells live, cooked or chilled. The price depends on the market price and was currently $35 for a dozen No. 1s, the largest size, and $20 for No. 2s. They were decent looking. To cook them, the price was $5 additional per dozen. Shrimp and clams, littlenecks, were also in for eating. The clams, a 15 or 16 count, were $4.95 raw and $7.95 steamed. The shrimp, a 27 to 30 count, were $14.95 cooked. Customers enjoy the food at tented picnic tables on the water at the store, or enjoy them at their own location. Bottles of wine from Natali Vineyards in Cape May Court House are sold at the store.

<b>Cape May</b>

<b>Fishin’ Fever Sportfishing</b> mostly fished for summer flounder lately on the ocean, Capt. Tom said. Ten to 15 keepers per trip were shoveled aboard, among plenty of throwbacks. Lots of action. Flounder 5 and 6 pounds and a few keeper sea bass were mixed in. Coming up, more flounder trips will sail, and so will trips for tuna, marlin and tilefish. Daytime swordfishing will run in September. That angling fishes in 200 to 300 fathoms of water along bottom. Those trips fish for tilefish a few hours first, then target swords. Swordfishing during daytime has become common farther south, like in Florida, and Tom is pioneering the fishing locally. Locally, the angling is common at night. Daytime trips fish deeper for the light-sensitive swords.

Bluefish, chub mackerel and a couple of bonito were trolled at 5-Fathom Bank yesterday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. More of that angling will sail today and tomorrow, and Clark spoons catch the fish best. The spoons look like sand eels that the fish are feeding on. Dates are available for charters, and give a call if interested.

Trips for summer flounder sailed every day on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b> on the ocean, Capt. Paul said. The fishing was no good Wednesday because conditions failed to drift the boat, never good for the angling. On Tuesday’s trip, a couple of anglers limited out, and some flounder were bagged around the boat, a decent day. Some anglers limited out on Sunday, and most trips were bagging enough flounder to get by. But that didn’t happen Wednesday. Trips are fishing for flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Summer flounder were picked at ocean reefs and in the back bay, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. A flounder tournament was taking place at one of the marinas in town, so many anglers were flounder fishing. On Delaware Bay, near the 19 buoy was supposed to be a place to bag flounder. But anglers who fished there said they only hooked throwbacks. Near the 9 and 10 buoys and near Fortescue seemed better for keepers on the bay. Good kingfishing was had in the surf. Small croakers showed up in the surf, and small bluefish sometimes turned up in the water. When the croakers appeared, shark fishing seemed to pick up in the surf. Brown sharks were abundant. Sometimes dusky and even blacktip sharks bit. Like 1 ½ hours before dark and into dark gave up the sharks. The other night, anglers would land one and release it, cast again, and hook another. Many sharks that swim the surf are required to be let go. Triggerfish and blackfish hugged jetties. Sheepshead, another fish that hugs structure, always appear in summer, but were especially abundant this year. They swam along structure like bridges and even inshore wrecks. Green crabs are bait for them, but no green crabs are stocked. But shedder crabs were supposed to arrive today and could be used. Tuna fishing was good two Sundays ago, and tuna seemed only picked since.

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