Well, things are stable in the angling department this week, with post holiday participation down a little, but fish still being caught all over.
Outside at the Spencer and Wilmington canyons tuna fishing continues to progress as the summer moves on, and the mud hole and places alike are seeing some decent shark fishing. A couple sharking boats out there are catching 2 or 3 per trip, with the higher poundage coming in at 300 lbs. or over. The sea bass are littering the bottom right now, and the head boats are reporting limits of the feisty little humpbacks, as well as some decent fluking, even though few anglers are catching limits.
In the bay the fluke are all over Oyster and Double creek channels, and the area around the sailboat has been producing some keepers. The shop has killies, squid and spots for all your flatty needs, as well as Spro buck tails and those deadly Gulp baits. The keeper ratio is slowly rising, but the ocean temps are taking their time rising. This will keep the striper fishing going well into July. The bunkers are still carpeting the area, and I had some nice peanut bunker on Sunday to fish with. Out of ten fish I kept 2 off the south jetty. I also saw a couple nice keepers caught and lost a nice heavy fluke at the rocks.
On the beach, the fluke are just as thick, and seem to be heavier in number on the sands this season. The keeper ratio out on the beach is about 5 to 1, and there are still blues and bass coming in and out with the tides. Most of the surf dogs down here have been M.I.A. this week, but I'm sure they'll be back by the weekend. Ol' moonphase, Robbie Vallone, and the Wongster aren't anywhere to be found, they're probably all sitting inside hiding from the sun, if they're anything like I am. Anyway, I'll be out in full force on the jetty again this weekend trying to land my first 5 or over flatty, as this is the opportune time to do it. Those fresh baits can't be beat, so think fresh with that fluke strategy. By the way, where's Waldo?
Also, keep in mind that the blackfish season comes back in on the 15th, but I'll have to consult my "blackfish bible" to find out the limits and when they change once again. Good luck and great fishing.

Barnegat Light Bait and Tackle
Barnegat Light, New Jersey
www.barnegatlightbaitandtackle.com
609-494-4566