New Jersey Fishing Reports

NOTE: This may be the final offshore report of the year, because most charter boats have stopped sailing offshore for the year. But if reports roll in during the next week, the report will continue until the fishing grinds to a halt.

Sandy Hook

The offshore season is starting to wind down, but open-boat trips are still sailing with Andrea’s Toy Charters whenever the weather allows, but nobody was heading offshore lately because of big seas, Capt. Freddy Gamboa said. He heard rumors about 30- to 100-pound bluefin tuna schooling at the Mudhole, and bluefins are also at the canyons, and his trips will now chunk for bluefins, longfins and bigeyes. Those tuna tolerate colder water, and all were holding along the East Elbow of Hudson Canyon, and yellowfin tuna are gone from the canyon, because they followed the warmer water elsewhere. Freddy’s trips are no longer sailing overnight and are instead running from dawn until evening. Tuna fishing is now best on the daytime chunk anyway, and the night bite is finished for the year, and windows of good weather are short at this time of year, and day trips are safer. Tilefishing is also an option on the trips, and Andrea’s Toy specializes in catching mixed bags of fish. However, Freddy usually fishes for tiles on the west side of Hudson Canyon, so tilefishing is less of an option at the moment, while the tuna are on the east side. But that could change any time.

Mike from Emjay Bait & Tackle in Rahway heard about one of the few trips that sailed offshore this week. He said that Joe, who helps out at the store, fished on the party boat Sea Devil from Point Pleasant at the southern canyons and nailed a 140-pound yellowfin tuna. Reportedly there were 12 anglers onboard, and they caught 18 tuna, not a huge number, but they were mostly big yellowfins, like Joe’s, and some 50-pound longfins, a good size for longfins, and it was a daytime bite.

Almost nobody was able to tuna fish because of rough seas offshore, but previously small bluefin tuna were at the Bacardi wreck, said Dino from Michael’s Bait & Tackle on Staten Island. Saturday to Sunday looked like the next open window of weather for fishing at the canyons or spots closer to shore like the Bacardi.

Shark River Inlet

An open-boat trip with Last Lady Fishing Charters ran to the Mudhole on Tuesday to fish for bluefin tuna, Capt. Ralph said. But no bluefins bit, and only bluefish were hooked. Ralph’s friend was supposed to target the bluefins in the next days, and if he catches any, Ralph will consider sailing for bluefins again. Last Lady’s canyon trips are finished for the season.

Manasquan Inlet

No reports were heard about offshore fishing last week because of strong winds, said Dave from The Reel Seat in Brielle.

Offshore charters on the Katie H were cancelled because of the strong winds, and the past month’s weather’s been terrible, Capt. Mike said. When boats could sail offshore for tuna, the bite seemed to be during the day now, typical for this time of year.
Another offshore tuna charter was scheduled to sail today to tomorrow, and the weather was supposed to be cold, but seas were forecast to be 2 to 4 feet. However, Mike heard nothing about offshore fishing in the past days, and the water at Hudson Canyon was cold and 61 degrees, and most offshore boats seemed to throw in the towel. The party boat Sea Devil from Point Pleasant was the only boat that Mike heard about that fished offshore, and he was trying to find out how that trip went. If his charter over the weekend doesn’t sail offshore, it will probably fish inshore for bottom fish. But if tuna are still biting, the Katie H will continue to run to the canyons for some time.

After this last stretch of weather again forced tuna charters to be cancelled, the crew of the Defiant decided the rest of the season was pretty much weathered out, and they’re heading back to their winter home in Florida this week, Capt. John said. Jersey’s charter boats seemed to be done with offshore fishing and switching to stripers. The party boat Sea Devil from Point Pleasant supposedly sailed for tuna on Halloween, and that was the only boat that John heard fished offshore, and he heard that patrons reportedly picked at yellowfin tuna on the trip. In Florida the Defiant fishes from the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, targeting species including sailfish, wahoo, swordfish, sharks, groupers and snappers. The boat’s Florida rates are already posted on its <a href="http://www.defiantsportfishing.com" target="_blank"> web site</a><a href="" target="_blank"></a>.
The crew can arrange air travel and lodging or can make recommendations, and the marina’s only a half-hour from Miami and an hour from Fort Lauderdale.

The party Jamaica did no tuna fishing in a week but was leaving for the canyons on trips this week, and the fishing previously was good, said Greg from Brielle Bait & Tackle.

The Jamaica is still sailing to the canyons for tuna through November, and the next openings are available this Sunday, leaving the dock at 8 p.m., an e-mail from the boat said. Special 14-hour wreck trips will start sailing early Sunday morning, and another one of the trips takes place Tuesday, Election Day, and trips to the 50- to 80-mile wrecks will begin Thanksgiving weekend.

Barnegat Inlet

Nobody seemed to be getting offshore because of rough seas at the canyons, said Josh from Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle.

Beach Haven Inlet

The June Bug’s offshore trips are finished for the season, Capt. Lindsay said. The boat will start fishing again in Jersey next spring. Usually the boat begins its season fishing in North Carolina and afterward runs from Jersey.

Great Egg Harbor Inlet

Offshore fishing ground to a halt last week because of the bad seas, said a fax from T.C. from Brennan Marine in Somers Point.

Nothing was heard about offshore fishing in a couple of weeks, and Ed from Fin-Atics in Ocean City thought the water probably cooled, he said.

Cape May Inlet

Tuna still swam the Baltimore and Poorman’s canyons, but the weather gave offshore boaters very few chances to sail, said a fax from Capt. Fred from Harbor View Marina in Cape May.