After a bit of a slow start to the fishing scene in Beach Haven, the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are finding fish both in close to the beach and offshore.

Captain John Koegler of the boat “Pop’s Pride” reports that inside the northern canyons, some 40-miles offshore, there is some of the best bluefin tuna fishing the past decade. Although the boat limit is one bluefin per boat, Captain John points out it only takes one fish over 60-pounds to provide enough meat for all on board. In addition he has heard of mahi-mahi being reported around fish pot markers and trash just 10-miles from shore. Boats sharking the 20-fathom line have plagued with monster bluefish over 36-inches long. These blues have fed on squid and sand eels, and as a result taste better than those which have been feeding on chum.

Captain Bob Gerkens on the “Hot Tuna” found some of that hot bluefin tuna bite recently. Starting at the Lempke where he found only bluefish, he searched until noon where he got into the bluefin. Within the next 3.5 hours his anglers had nonstop action catching over 30 bluefin tuna and 30 monster bluefish. They caught fish both on the troll and jig. The largest tuna hooked up, estimated at 60-pounds, was attacked by sharks before they could get it to the boat. Assisting Captain Bob was expert mate Dante Soriente.

Captain Tim Knorr of the “F/V William Knorr” took the Evan Krause party out to the Barnegat Light Reef recently on an 8-hour trip. The trip was interrupted when they had to return to the dock to drop a couple of sick anglers off. Captain Tim ran back quickly for a successful trip. Despite the down time and a slow drift the 4 remaining anglers managed to put a decent catch of keeper fluke in the box. The Fish were caught on Squid, Spearing and Sea Robin Strips. There were many short fluke caught but not a single black sea bass. They saw large schools of bunker around them all day on the water.

Captain George Finck of “Sparetime Charters” has been fishing at the Garden State South Reefsite. He took Ed and Kevin Malavarca and Tom Grebenstein out on abeautiful day weather wise with a calm ocean. With a water temperature of 69-degrees the men had a good trip with a lot of fish caught. A total of 38 fish were caught with 10 nice black sea bass taken home for dinner.