Welcome to the year's first Offshore Report!

<b>Sandy Hook</b>

 Local boaters began sharking, said Tom from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b> in Atlantic Highlands. But he heard about no makos caught yet.

<a href=" http://www.bionicbait.com" target="_blank">Bionic Bait</a> for offshore fishing will be stocked beginning Wednesday at <b>Twin Lights Marina</b> in Highlands for sharks, tuna, swordfish and other big game, Marion said.

<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

The <b>Katie H</b> from Belmar will probably begin tuna fishing in July, Capt. Mike said. If anglers are fortunate, a bluefin tuna fishery will develop inshore this year. When that happens, that’s usually in July and August.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

At <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle, John heard nothing about shark and tuna fishing, he said Wednesday. But customers were headed for the fishing that day and in the next days, so news about the angling would roll in soon.

The <b>Tin Knocker</b> from Point Pleasant will probably begin shark fishing next week, Capt. John said. He’ll probably compete in a shark tournament or two. Trips will begin tuna fishing aboard immediately afterward. John knew that bluefin tuna were hooked but not whether the fishing was good.

The boat was moved to Cape May last weekend to fish for tuna, sharks and tilefish through July, like it is every year, Capt. Alan from <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> from Point Pleasant Beach wrote in an email. The timing was perfect, because tuna and sharks arrived. On the trip to move the boat, sharking was done at night a short time, and a mako was hooked and jumped off. The trip got on the tuna grounds by morning, and began trolling. A decent pick of 45- to 50-pound bluefins built until the fish boiled on top. The trip quickly limited out then released more. Then the trip tilefished, catching bluelines and goldens, drop-and-reel. Some of the bluelines weighed 18 pounds. Spaces are still available for charters and open-boat trips.  

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

Another shark trip, this one on Tuesday, fished on the <b>Tuna-Tic</b> from Forked River, and went well, Capt. Mike said. A thresher shark was bagged, and blue sharks were released. Trips are fishing for them inshore, and if anglers want to take advantage while threshers are close to the coast, a charter is only $1,200. That price isn’t listed on Tuna-Tic’s website, because the fish only stick close-in a short time, maybe another week or so. Right now is a shot at them without having to sail far and spend as much money as usual for sharking. The year’s first trip for tuna offshore was supposed to depart yesterday aboard, and probably return early Saturday. Mostly bluefin tuna are in, but a couple of yellowfin tuna are. Tilefishing seems okay, according to anglers Mike spoke with. The boat also shark fished on two previous trips this past week that were the year’s first aboard. The first trip landed three blue sharks. The second, on Saturday, tackled this thresher shark. The ocean was 60 to 61 degrees during those trips. The water’s not really warming. The temperature even dropped 5 degrees two weekends ago.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

Bluefin tuna showed up 50 miles from the dock, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Stray Cat</b> from Longport. The fishing for them, all on the troll, was going off. All kinds of bait attracted the tuna. Tuna crashed the bait, and birds worked the bait. Telephone Mike if interested in fishing for the bluefins. An open-boat trip will sail for tuna Sunday, June 24, limited to six passengers.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

Bluefin tuna fishing sounded good during the weekend at spots like 19-Fathom Lump and the Elephant Trunk, said Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City. Quite a few trips limited out on two unders and an over, and the fish were pretty much trolled. Small feathers and small lures seemed best. A few mako sharks were fought in that area.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

Tuna, mostly bluefins but a few yellowfins and bigeyes, are biting, said Capt. Tom from <b>Fishin’ Fever Sportfishing</b> from Cape May. The bluefins are holding along the 30-fathom line and also the 100-fathom line. The yellowfins and bigeyes are in the deep. The bluefins, a variety of sizes from 30 to 55 inches, are pushing sand eels. Many of the bluefins are breaking the water surface, and some pods are almost the size of a football field. The tuna are all being trolled. Shark charters are coming up aboard, and sharking is good. The sharks include makos and threshers, and Tom knew about a couple of makos caught that pushed 300 pounds, and threshers that were heavier. Charters and open-boat trips sail aboard.

Bluefin tuna roamed the 30-fathom line, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May. If anglers want tuna, fish for them while the fish are here. Anglers had to find a pile of the tuna that felt like biting. Not all the bluefins did. If fishing stuck with them, a boat could keep trolling and hook none. A boat had to move and find the right tuna instead. George knew anglers who caught the bluefins Saturday, before rough weather. Some boaters shark fished Saturday, he knew. Jim’s Bait & Tackle in Cape May’s shark tournament was held last weekend. George was yet to know results. He thought a mako was entered, but that was unconfirmed. No makos were entered the past couple of years. Cape May’s South Jersey Shark Tournament will be held this weekend. 

Shark fishing sounded good along the 30-fathom line, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b> in Cape May. Some makos were subdued. Catches of bluefin tuna and fish like false albacore turned on at places like 19-Fathom Lump and the Tea Cup, all on the troll.

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