<b>Sandy Hook</b>

<b>Jersey Devil Charters</b> from the Highlands was about to start canyon fishing, Capt. Brian said, and it was time, because check out these catches. His friends on the Shark Byte fished Hudson Canyon last Friday to Saturday, trolling three yellowfin tuna probably 40 to 60 pounds, two white marlin and a wahoo. Friends on the Prime Coat also hit the Hudson Friday to Saturday, fought a swordfish a half-hour or 45 minutes at night before it broke off, trolled four yellowfin tuna the next day, raised a blue marlin and then tilefished in the deep and scored plenty. Buddies on another boat fished Toms Canyon over the weekend, went 9 for 9 on yellowfins and loaded up on big, 20- to 40-pound tiles. Brian was fishing the Monster Shark Tournament in Martha’s Vineyard today.

<b>Shark River Inlet</b>

A mako shark, 68 inches, probably 130 pounds, was bagged on the <b>Nan Sea J</b> from Belmar on Wednesday 30 miles offshore, and dusky sharks were also fought to the boat, Capt. Tom said. Waters were warm, 74 degrees and held all kinds of life, including whales, dolphins, turtles and bait, more life than Tom saw in a while.  So the boat will probably keep chartering for sharks, an opportunity to battle the monsters one last time this season. A shark charter is slated for later this month.

Schoolie bluefin tuna started to be trolled inshore, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b> from Neptune in an e-mail. Waters warmed, and fewer mako sharks swam close to shore, but brown sharks, duskies, threshers and hammerheads were around. Fall, inshore mako fishing should start toward the end of September. Two spots remain for an open-boat canyon trip July 29 to 30.

<b>Manasquan Inlet</b>

Seven bluefin tuna to 40 pounds were trolled at the Chicken Canyon on Saturday on a trip that Andrew Warshawer took, said Dave from <b>The Reel Seat</b> in Brielle.  The fish slammed Reel Seat squid spreaders and small bullet knobs. Jerry Meila Sr. and Jr. on the Hard Eight trolled four yellowfin tuna at Hudson Canyon. Two attacked Reel Seat glow-in-the-dark squid spreaders before light, and one grabbed a Reel Seat green machine spreader, and the other hit a ballyhoo. A couple of anglers shark fished and found catches, including small makos.

Anglers with <b>Andrea’s Toy Charters</b> from Point Pleasant headed out on the boat’s first mixed-bag, offshore trip of the season last Friday, the report on Andrea’s Toy’s web site said. Tuna, mahi mahi and tilefish were the goal. The group broke the inlet in the afternoon and started trolling Hudson Canyon in the evening. Two yellowfin tuna were hooked, and a 60-pounder was landed, among a bunch of breaking tuna. Tuna busted the waters again before dark, and one was landed. At night the anglers set up for sharking and swordfishing, and one runoff on the shark rod was missed. In the morning the boat trolled for tuna again, and only mahi mahi bit. Then the anglers worked the lobster pots for more mahi that swam the eastern side of the canyon. Next was time to tilefish, and a half-dozen tiles were reeled aboard, and all the goals were met! Andrea’s Toy will focus on mixed-bag, canyon trips the rest of summer, including on open-boat trips. Mixed-bag fishing offers fun, better chances of hooking up and more variety for dinner.

The party boat <b>Voyager</b> from Point Pleasant was weathered out from tilefish trips, normally open-boat outings, two weekends in a row, but a charter finally sailed to the canyons Sunday night, an e-mail from the boat said. Forecasts called for diminishing 10- to 15-knot winds but were wrong.  Winds blew at least 20 knots, fast drifting conditions for tiles, but the charter fortunately first wanted to troll for tuna in the morning, do-able in the winds. A small yellowfin tuna was boated within 20 minutes, and a triple-header of yellowfins was belted 15 minutes later. Then a few more of the fish were picked during the next few hours, and there were a few knockdowns. Ray Hickey reeled in a 50-pounder that was biggest. By mid morning winds still honked, but hardcore anglers were aboard, so the crew decided to try drifting for tiles. The charter used 4 to 5 pounds of weight, and although fish bit, hooking them was difficult. Some of the baits came up in half. The crew went back on the troll, in hopes that winds would ease later, but no more tuna bit. Winds dropped by noon, and the anglers could fish with 3-pound weights, and the bite wasn’t great, but tiles started to get picked. Some big ones were hauled in, including a 42-pound 7-ounce pool winner that Fred Eder tackled and a 33-pound 5-ouncer that Mark Kaminski claimed. About 40 tilefish came over the rails in the poor conditions. Open-boat tilefish trips are sailing 11 p.m. every Sunday, and spots remain in August. Visit the boat’s web site for availability, reservations and info. The vessel’s open-boat tuna trips will begin later this season, and a few will be 40-hour tuna/tilefish combos, leaving at 10 p.m., first trolling for tuna in the morning, tilefishing during the day and chunking for tuna all night. Warm waters already spread through the canyons, and with the way the charter fleet was already on the tuna, the season should be good. Reservations are already filling, but a few spots are left, and see the schedule and info on the boat’s web site.

<b>Barnegat Inlet</b>

A three-day, open-boat tuna trip returned from the canyons yesterday evening on the <b>Tuna-Tic</b> from Waretown, Capt. Mike said. The original plan was to sail to the Carteret, but major-name boats reported landing tuna at the Toms, so the Tuna-Tic was turned around and headed there. The yellowfins that anglers lately had been reporting as 20 and 30 pounders were probably more like 30-inch 12- or 15-pounders, because the boat proceeded to troll small ones and skipjacks and let them go. The other captains never said the yellowfins they were catching at the Toms were small. At night the anglers tried drifting the deep for swords or other fish, because longliners reported hauling in a few swords. But none showed up. Eventually the boat headed back to the Carteret, and that probably should’ve been done originally, because two white marlin were boated, and a couple were on but were lost, and other fish were hooked, until it was time to go home. A bunch of mahi mahi, including a few big ones around 30 pounds, were also part of the catch on the trip. Probably 50 of the small tuna could’ve been trolled, but the crew was looking for keepers. Five decent-sized tuna attacked the spread but were lost, and the anglers would’ve had to have reacted quicker. The temp break at the Toms that held fish was already moving northeast and was now out of range, only within reach of places like Montauk and Block Canyon, and longliners already moved. Mike wouldn’t go back to that area anyway because of the small fish. The canyon season is still early. Another three-day, open trip will break the inlet tomorrow, and the vessel runs a number of the trips during the season, and availability is fairly full. Offshore charters and a limited number of overnight, open canyon trips are also on the slate.

<b>Seafood Fishing Charters</b> sailed to waters a little south of Hudson Canyon on Saturday, leaving port at 1:30 a.m., Capt. John said. The boat trolled at a 74- to 77-degree temperature break, but fishing was slow. Some boaters got bites early. Seafood was back out at the canyons today, and an open-boat, day-trolling trip will fish offshore tomorrow. Space remains on a two-day, open trip that will compete in the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club Tournament.  Entrants are allowed to fish two days from July 30 to August 2. Last year’s purse was $365,000, and 20 percent of any winnings go to the crew on the trip, but the rest goes to the anglers.

Tuna were boated at places such as the Resor wreck, the Star and the Fingers, said Josh from <b>Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle</b>. Some customers planned to head to Barnegat Ridge to look for bluefin tuna.

<b>Little Egg Inlet</b>

Canyon boats returned from the Hudson and Toms during the weekend with little more than mahi mahi, said Capt. Lindsay from the <b>June Bug</b> from Beach Haven. The best waters now might be closer to shore in 20 to 30 fathoms instead of the 70 or 80 fathoms that most anglers ran to. The June Bug is sailing for tuna.

On the <b>Legal Limit</b> from Tuckerton a charter trolled 11 yellowfin tuna to 65 pounds last Friday at Toms Canyon in 79- to 80 degree waters, Capt. T.J. said. Probably 30 more hits and knockdowns took place, and the bites came throughout the day.

<b>Absecon Inlet</b>

Seven yellowfin tuna, including five keepers 35 to 45 pounds and two shorts, were landed among 18 bites on a charter at Toms Canyon last Friday on the <b>Fishin’ Fever</b> from Brigantine, Capt. Tom said. A white marlin was also raised, and the fish bit in 76-degree, somewhat green waters along a temp break. A shared charter Saturday went right back to the same spot. But boat traffic was heavy, so the anglers moved off, fished by themselves and landed 12 yellowfins, including nine keepers 35 to 65 pounds, mostly 40 to 50 pounds, and three shorts. The fish on both trips were trolled on spreader bars, green machines and ballyhoos. Charters are also fishing for bluefin tuna in inshore waters and are about to start trolling inshore for mahi mahi, false albacore and bonito.

The <b>Carly A</b> from Atlantic was sailing for bluefin tuna today, said Dominic from Offshore Enterprises Bait & Tackle, owned by the same owner of the boat. Bluefins kept going off at places like 19-Fathom Lump and the Hambone but also started pushing north. A friend went 5 for 7 on bluefins yesterday at a spot that Dominic kept under wraps, because nobody else was fishing there. Chunking worked for the bluefins, and so did trolling, but if anglers caught nothing on the troll, they needed to switch to 30-pound fluorocarbon leaders fished way back.

<b>Great Egg Harbor Inlet</b>

A 90-pound bluefin tuna was battled to the boat on an inshore trolling charter with <b>Fine Line Fishing Charters</b> from Margate on Saturday, Capt. Dave said. The fish was trolled 15 miles off Atlantic City at the Hambone, not to be confused with the Hambone off Ocean City, Maryland. The fish pounced on a Stretch 30 plug and was patiently wrestled to boatside on a Penn 3/0 reel with matching rod and 30-pound test. The trip was looking for bluefish! But lures for tuna and other pelagics are always included in the spread. A dozen 2- to 4-pound blues were also trolled on Clark spoons with 2-ounce weights. Dave usually trolls a Stretch 30, a Stretch 18, a bird and Clark spoons on the grounds. Waters were 65 to 66 degrees in the morning and warmed to 69 by the end of the trip. Fine Line offers inshore trolling through summer.

Toms Canyon had been giving up tuna and blue and white marlin in 77- to 80-degree waters, all on the troll, and none on the chunk, said Dan from <b>Fin-Atics</b> from Ocean City. Wilmington Canyon pretty much held only whites. Fifty to 100 fathoms on Saturday was full of all kinds of life including whites and fish like bonito. Bluefin tuna came from waters from 19-Fathom Lump to Massey’s Canyon and spots between, mostly on the chunk, but sometimes on the troll, and jigging really smacked them.

<b>Townsend’s Inlet</b>

A trip pointed the bow offshore Monday, fished the Tea Cup, Arlene wreck and 40 to 50 fathoms at Baltimore Canyon and scored three yellowfin tuna to 50 pounds and a mahi mahi, and lost a small blue marlin, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Gibson’s Tackle</b> in Sea Isle City. Water temps were pretty much 77 degrees everywhere, with no real breaks to hold fish. One of the tuna was landed early, and the other two were landed  later, around the same time. Spreader bars and skirted ballyhoos got the bites. Phil Dunn was on deck for an inshore shark trip Sunday, wrestling up five brown and dusky sharks to 30 pounds at Sea Isle Ridge on light tackle. A dozen 3-pound bluefish were hooked and used for bait, and fresh bunker that Joe snagged and brought on the trip were also used.

The boats from <b>Over Under Adventures</b> trolled bluefin tuna at 30-fathom spots like 19-Fathom Lump, the Hambone, the Hot Dog and Massey’s Canyon, both from Avalon and from Ocean City, Md., and plenty of the tuna were around, an e-mail from the company said. The fish kept migrating north and inshore, and should soon begin to show up at 20-fathom spots like the Cigar. Twelve-hour trips were the best bet from Jersey so far, but 10-hour trips began to get into fish.

<b>Cape May</b>

Cindee and Jamie Dove bagged a 125-pound bluefin tuna and a 15-pound mahi mahi on the <b>Down Deep</b> from Cape May on Saturday, Capt. Bob said. The McCartney charter last week limited out on bluefins to 85 pounds. The bluefin grounds were 78 degrees on Saturday, so wahoos, more mahis and white marlin should start to show.

Capt. Rob from <b>First Cast Sport Fishing</b> from Cape May competed in the Viking/Ocean Showdown on Norm Morrison’s Erica Sue during the weekend, he said.  The boat took second place with an 87-pound bluefin. Rob was also a guest on the Heavy Hitter on Sunday, and plenty of bluefins were chunked. One boat also trolled among the chunkers in the area and hooked a bunch.

Ryan Moore, Rich Savaige and Dan Smith took the trip to the inshore grounds for bluefin tuna on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> from Cape May on Sunday, Capt. George said. Probably 10 or 11 bit, and some were landed, some got off and some broke off, a bite about every half-hour. All the fish were about 55 inches or 80 pounds, so one was kept that made the 47-inch slot limit, and none of the fish was small enough for the smaller slot limit. All the bluefins attacked in a chunk slick, mostly on bait, but some on jigs, although the jigged fish broke off. Another boater trolled among the other vessels on the chunk and beat a bunch of the bluefins. The charter first fished at one spot where nothing bit. Then a friend called George over to a spot where the friend’s charter was catching a slough, and let George slip into the spot as the friend left. But then no bluefins turned up, and George moved to another lump, and the fishing turned on. George competed in the Viking/Ocean Showdown over the weekend on Norm Morrison’s Erica Sue, and the boat won second place with an 87-pound bluefin. George mated on a trip on another boat Tuesday that reeled in eight bluefin tuna and a 15-pound mahi mahi. One bluefin was kept, and all were about 55 inches or 80 to 90 pounds and were chunked. Three bit right after sunup, and then none showed up until 11 a.m., when the anglers got into a steady pick. So bluefin fishing was holding up and was now the best fishing from Cape May from the bays to the canyons.

Bluefin fishing at the lumps and structure including 19-Fathom Lump, the Hambone and Massey’s Canyon put out good catches, especially when boat traffic was lightest, said Matt from <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b> in a fax. Trolling, chunking and jigging all produced, depending on where the fish were located in the water column. Decent-sized mahi mahi bit in the same waters. Farther offshore, no big, fish-holding temperature breaks formed closer than Hudson Canyon through last week. Everybody was by-passing closer waters that attracted marlin to get to tuna at the Hudson. But white marlin roamed the Tom’s Canyon at that time, and quite a few anglers found blue marlin feeding on skipjacks on the 40-fathom line at Poorman’s and Baltimore canyons. Some 50- and 60-pound yellowfins also bit at Baltimore Canyon over the weekend.

Back to Top