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New Jersey Offshore Fishing Report 7-13-18

<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

Wind and a swell lingered Sunday after the strong northeast blow the previous day, but a trip Sunday on the <b>Katie H</b> from Belmar decided to try for tuna mid-range, Capt. Mike said. The boat might’ve been the only out there, and the trip pushed as far off as 60 miles. But nothing bit. The trip gave it heck, and put in a long effort. Bluefin tuna and some yellowfin tuna supposedly swam the area, reports said before the trip. But if Mike knew then what he knew afterward, he would’ve pushed all the way offshore, probably to Spencer or Carteret canyons. Tuna seemed to hold there. He prefers fishing all the way off anyway, because there’s more to do in addition to the tuna fishing, like fishing for mahi mahi. The swell was big during the trip, but the Katie H takes a head sea well, and wind was still stiff.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

Strong northeast wind forced offshore fishing to be canceled last weekend with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b> from Point Pleasant Beach, Capt. Alan wrote in an email. But previously, the angling was good for tuna and tilefish. More and more marlin and mahi mahi showed up, too. Open-boat trips and charters are fishing. Mushin is sailing from Cape May on these trips, like it does every June and July, taking advantage of the angling in the southern canyons offshore.

Capt. John from the <b>Tin Knocker</b> from Point Pleasant hoped to fish for tuna this weekend, but the hurricane that was passing off the coast this week might make seas too rough, he said. Tuna fishing’s good.

Strong wind that blew up seas made getting offshore tough for tuna fishing, said Alex from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle. Then the storm passing offshore built up seas. Yellowfin tuna, a bunch of small, sometimes a bigger like 50 pounds if a trip was lucky, were heard about from Hudson Canyon. Bigeye tuna, not many, were run into on occasion there. 

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

Tuna fishing was weathered out last weekend with <b>Tuna-Tic Sportfishing</b> from Forked River, Capt. Mike said. So he pulled the boat and did some painting, including painting the bottom. The vessel was going to be ready to fish later this week, and he hopes for the weather to resume the angling.

Fishing for tuna was scrubbed because of weather last weekend on the <b>Super Chic</b> from Barnegat Light, Capt. Ted said. Reserve spaces for open-boat trips for tuna offshore July 20 to 21 and inshore July 22.

News was quiet about offshore fishing for tuna or other big game because of seas and weather, said Mike from <b>Grizz’s Bait & Tackle</b> in Forked River. The store now carries all offshore baits.

An edited email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b> from Barnegat on Sunday: “Not sure if there is anything happening at Barnegat Ridge, but it's time to go find out. I passed through there the other day on the way home from an offshore trip, and the water was 78 degrees, blue-ish green, and there were slicks and flying fish. We only had 30 minutes to try, because my group needed to be back at the dock. We didn't catch anything, but it sure looked good. Now with a few days of NE we just had, it can only have gotten better. Bonito and albacore are always the target, but sometimes we find school bluefin tuna there, as well.” Open-boat trips and charters are sailing. For open trips, reservations are required, and all fish are shared.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

No news rolled in about offshore fishing this week because of seas or weather, said Thomas from <b>Fin-Atics</b> in Ocean City.

Inshore trips recently did lots of trolling on the <b>Stray Cat</b> from Longport, catching tailor bluefish, bonito, little tunny and mahi mahi, Capt. Mike said. Spanish mackerel and king mackerel were yet to arrive, he noted.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> from Sea Isle City, affiliated with <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>, said recently the ocean was probably warm enough to hold mahi mahi close to shore. So he and his wife took at a shot at them Tuesday evening, and nailed two and missed two on the troll. Mahi are in, and fun trips aboard get after the gourmet fish this season close to the coast. The trips troll, cast jigs, swim live bait or fly-rod for them. That can depend on conditions. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

Nobody reported fishing offshore for tuna since the last report, Mike from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City thought, he said, because of a swell.

<b>Cape May Inlet</b>

A trip Tuesday trolled 15 yellowfin tuna to 60 pounds and some mahi mahi at the canyons with <b>Fishin’ Fever Sportfishing</b> from Cape May, Capt. Tom said. A blue marlin was seen swimming into the spread in the morning. The water was 70 to 75 degrees, a blended blue and green and held whales and porpoises. Fishing for tuna and tilefish is good. If anglers want to fish for sharks at night at the canyons on the tuna trips, lots of makos are around.

The next fishing is supposed to run for tuna this weekend on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May, Capt. George said. He hopes to get the weather, and forecasts were questionable. Tuna are biting all the way offshore at the canyons, whether the Washington, Baltimore or Poormans, and you better choose the right place, he said. He knew about no tuna closer to shore, like at Massey’s Canyon or the Hot Dog. Trips aboard are also trolling for bluefish inshore. Other catches like Spanish mackerel could be mixed in. Those trips could also fish for sea bass and triggerfish. Telephone if interested in any of this angling. Strong northeast wind canceled fishing last weekend aboard. A tuna trip was scheduled for Saturday, and one of the inshore trolling trips was slated for Sunday.

Little news rolled in from offshore, probably because of weather or seas, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b> in Cape May. One angler reported mackerel schooling as far as could be seen while he fished an offshore canyon. The trip landed three small mako sharks on the livelined mackerel, and on the way home trolled a tuna.

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