Offshore fishing finally got back out on a trip Saturday to Sunday with
Jaftica Sportfishing from Cape May after rough weather kept the vessel docked, Capt. Ray said. The overnighter fished between Wilmington and Baltimore canyons beyond 100 fathoms, chunking three yellowfin tuna at night. Big mahi mahi, including two 40-pound whoppers, and the rest of them 10-pounders, were trolled the next morning, and lots of the dolphin swam around. A couple of wahoos bit off lines, and two other large fish, maybe tuna, got off on the troll. Waters were 70 to 71 degrees, and better, warmer waters were farther offshore. Another overnighter was slated for today.
The John Anninos crew went 1 for 2 on yellowfin tuna, loaded up on 24 good-sized mahi mahi to a little over 20 pounds, tossed back a small swordfish and broke off a big blue shark on an overnight trip in 500 fathoms on the
Heavy Hitter from Cape May on Saturday to Sunday, Capt. George said. The shark bit a tuna rig at night, and something grabbed a bait 200 feet down that was fished on an 80 reel in the dark but threw the hook by the time the anglers got to the rod. The sword of course was also decked at night, and the tuna hit on the troll first thing in the morning. A dozen of the mahi were fought while the anglers cast to a lobster pot buoy. A couple of other lobster buoys were fished but gave up no bites, and the other mahis were trolled. The trip also trolled Baltimore canyon, and three white marlin crashed the spread but never came tight. Some wahoos were around, and George knew about one boat that caught two or three. He also knew about a boat that landed three tuna, but everybody else he knew reeled in small swordfish. Waters were 71 ½ degrees. The Heavy Hitter will fish offshore a moment longer, if anyone wants a last minute trip.
Yellowfin tuna began to get clubbed at Washington and Norfolk canyons, said Matt from Jim’s Bait & Tackle from Cape May in a fax. Lindenkohl Canyon put out a few hefty longfin tuna and some wahoos and marlin. All the canyons seemed to hold abundant mahi mahi.
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