It is certainly summertime fishing, complete with a variety of fish, warm weather and a tropical storm churning well out in the ocean. And the ocean water temperatures seem to be warming up a little.

Don't think that the flounder being caught are all shorts under the 18-inch minimum. Several reports indicate that there seem to be a few more keepers in the mix of mostly undersize fish.

A report from Capt. Mike's Marina in Tuckerton pointed to the clam stakes and Intracoastal 126 in the Great Bay area as two good spots for flounder. Capt. Mike's weighed in two 9-pounders and two 6-pounders recently.

Captain Paul Thompson took the Porgy IV to the Old Grounds and picked up a 10.5-pound flounder, according to Charley Langan at South Jersey Marina in Cape May.

Matt Slobodjian at Jim's Bait and Tackle in Cape May reported flounder in Bayshore Channel near Crow Shoal.

Now is the time for flounder fans, family and friends, according to Robin Scott at Ray Scott's Dock in Margate. She said not a single one of her rental boats has been skunked since flounder season opened May 24. That's doesn't mean they've had keepers, but the rods have been bent with flounder.

Bill Mendenhall of Downingtown, Pa., made it three straight outstanding outings from Scott's. Mendenhall and crew racked up 162 flounder a couple of weeks back, followed that up with 122 and then on Monday the score was more than 150 with one keeper. He was fishing with two others on the boat in the Margate back bays.

Many boat captains turned the corner and headed offshore last weekend in calm ocean conditions. Tom's Canyon joined other big-game fishing areas such as Massey Canyon, 19-Fathom Lump, the Hambone and Poor Man's in producing tuna, mahi and marlin.

Slobodjian said blue marlin have been chasing skipjacks inside Poor Man's, so the captains don't have to journey to the offshore canyons for big-game action. He reported that trolling, jigging and chunking works.

Small crafts were up Monday, however.

Dave Beccaria, captain of Fine Line Charters out of Captain Andy's Marina, used Stretch 30s to catch a 90-pound, 8-ounce bluefin tuna for John Fannon of Wilmington, Del., on Saturday.

Bill Bittmann on the Top Shelf charterboat caught a mahi and an 85-pound bluefin tuna at Massey on Saturday, Langan reported.

There is still time to get in the Mid-Atlantic Tuna Tournament out of Cape May. The captain's meeting is 4-6 p.m. Wednesday at the Canyon Club, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday are available fishing days. Call 609-884-2400.

Surf fishing took a hit because of the big surf from tropical storm Bertha, but back-bay fishing striped bass continues.

Craig Tragbar picked off a 31-pound, 13-ounce striper on Saturday at one of the Great Egg Harbor Inlet bridges with live bunker, according to Captain Andy's.

Mike Shepherd is the former sports editor of The Press. His Shep on Fishing column and Shep's Hot Spot appear Tuesday and Saturday in the sports section and on Thursday in At the Shore. Call 609-350-0388 or e-mail: sheponfishing@yahoo.com