Bluefish have become fussy in NJ/NY Bight, but chumming usually adds plenty of good eating fish in the form of chub mackerel. The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant had a very good day with the chubs today as anglers caught all they wanted. Sea bass were added, as there’s now a one sea bass limit for N,J. anglers.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar has been picking away at chubs, blues and sea bass plus some ling — and yesterday spotted some non-biting bonito as well as seeing hammerhead sharks in the 80-100-pound class.
Fluking wasn’t up to yesterday’s standard for the Big Mohawk from Belmar as a wind against current situation resulted in a poor drift/ However, there were some limits and fluke up to 5 pounds.
Tomorrow’s forecast is for northeast winds, but at only 5 knots before going to south in the afternoon.
Fluke fishing was good today on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, but apt. Ron Santee emphasized that anglers have to work hard in deeper waters to come up with a limit. The highlight today was the new monthly pool leader as Lou Lauria boated a 5-pound, 11-ouncer.
Vinny D’Anton didn’t have any good news from the Monmouth County surf as no bass were caught. Fluke did return to the surf yesterday, but all were shorts today. There was some upwelling, but it didn’t seem to be too cold for good action.
The forecast is for southwest winds about 10 knots with showers and thunderstorms a possibility in the morning and likely in the afternoon.
The Jamaica from Brielle has added a tilefish trrp leaving at 10 p.m. July 18. Their last trip was hurt by a fast drift, but some fares still limited on golden tiles and added a few bluelines. Call 732 528-5014.
Ocean fluke fishing has been generally good in NY/NJ Bight, and the Big Mohawk from Belmar described today’s action as “awesome” after the wind didn’t come up to ruin their drift. There were many limits, and several fluke in the 6-pound class competed for the pool.
There have been good surf fluke reports from Grumpy’s Tackle and Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park as anglers have been scoring with Gulp.
Grumpy’s sent this shot of Donovan McCormack with a 24-inch, 5.05-pounder.
Hans Kaspersetz said offshore tuna fishing with Dru and Mack was up to par on the Blue Runner from Point Pleasant.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar found chumming for blues and chub mackerel to be slower today, but managed to pick away at the chubs primarily on bait.
Monday’s forecast is for south winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20. Showers and thunderstorms are possible in the morning and likely in the afternoon.
New Jersey has officially changed their striped bass regs to allow keepers at only 28-31 inches as of July 2 in accordance with the ASMFC Emergency Action. This doesn’t affect the Striped Bass Bonus Program provision of one bass between 24 and less than 28 inches for those with a permit.
July is usually the prime time for inshore bluefin tuna trolling, and that sport appears to be shaping up.
The Viking Fleet from Montauk reported getting into bluefins this week on the way out for a canyon tuna trip. NYC skipper John McMurry has also been getting into them off Long Island.
Though bluefish have been fussy at times, chub mackerel have arrived to produce fast action in chum slicks. In addition to the daytime bite, the Jamaica from Brielle had a hot Friday night trip which they’ll try to repeat at 7:30 tonight.
Vinny D’Anton said stripers started hitting sand fleas again yesterday morning at Monmouth County beaches, and a couple were of legal size, However, the normally abundant fluke were replaced by an invasion of windowpanes.
Fluke fishing has been generally good. and N.J. anglers can now keep a single sea bass of at least 12 1/2 inches as a by-catch from July 1 to Aug. 31. The Big Mohawk from Belmar reported a very good day after a slow start to fluking. There were many limits with a pool fish at about 6 pounds.
The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands reported Friday was their best fluke trip so far as they were fishing rough bottoms. A 4-pound, 15-ounce fluke was just short of a season best, and a 5-pound sea bass had to be released.
Jim Hutchinson Sr. reports for the Beach Haven Charter Boat Association as follows:
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It’s the Fourth of July weekend, and things are hopping for the various crews of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association. The fluke action is strong right now in the bay and inshore ocean waters. In addition to the fishing action, the BHCFA and its Junior Mates Program recently made another deployment of fishing structure, this time a tugboat on the Barnegat Light Reef.
The Junior Mates held its first training session last week, attended by 25 youngsters eager to learn all they can about fishing. As a matter of fact, five first year junior mates accompanied Captain John Lewis on the “Insatiable” to watch the sinking of the tugboat designed to create new fish habitat.
Former junior mate Max Goldman, who now has his Captain credentials, has been seeing time working on the “Starfish,” the “Miss Beach Haven,” and as captain on a tiki boat. Captain Max reports the boats have a mix of fluke and black sea bass, with rods bending with a combination of both short and keeper-sized fish. The headboat “Miss Beach Haven” is offering various trips including a popular sunset fluke inlet trip.
Captain Gary Dugan has been seeing the same level of action on the “Irish Jig” with large amounts of fish coming over the rails. Keeper fish are tough at times to find, but there is plenty of action and fish dinners in the box every trip.
Captain Brett Taylor reports good action on his trips in the Barnegat Light area with “Real Reaction Sport Fishing.” He frequently runs two trips a day and is experiencing many limit trips. His anglers have been catching fluke to 23.5-inches.
Captain Connor Smilon of “FishHawk Charters” has been finding a nice rate of keeper fluke and on one of his trips managed to pick up a surprise weakfish while aiming for fluke.
Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org
Dave Lilly decided to try one of his far offshore spots off northern N,J, today, and found found great fishing though you’d never know it by looking in his fish box. Jumbo sea bass were so abundant that two anglers released 25 of the out-of-season fish — and it was pretty much the same with fluke as they were all over 20 inches — leaving the two anglers with just two fluke after the expensive trip offshore.
Saturday’s forecast is for southeast winds at just 5-10 knots plus patchy fog.
The Big Mohawk at Belmar had limits all around the boat on Thursday.
Small bluefish got off to a good start in NY/NJ Bight, but the original hot jigging bite has backed off at times. Fortunately, chub mackerel have moved in to fill bags with good eating fish — and you can keep all you want!
Both the Jamaica from Brielle and the Miss Belmar Princess reported loads of chubs the last couple of days to go along with up to a few limits of mostly 2-pound blues — with pool fish up to 6 pounds. This is a chumming fishery, and even beginners can do well with light spinning tackle. Miss Belmar also reported a blacktip shark today, as the pool went to a pollock. Some out-of-season sea bass and blackfish are also being caught.
The Big Mohawk from Belmar reported slower fluke fishing Wednesday, though some limits were taken.
Friday’s forecast is for south winds at just 5-10 knots.
Vinny D’Anton said Monmouth County surf waters warmed up again, and everyone fishing for fluke had lots of action – with even one keeper beached. A good-sized striper hooked on sand fleas broke off.
When I started shark fishing off the south shore of Long Island many decades ago, threshers were unheard of even though we knew that they were supposed to be available in NY/NJ Bight. However we also didn’t have schools of bunkers inshore at that time — and that seems to have made all the difference.
Capt. John Contello reports: “Big Whips recently!! **tomorrow is full** Friday is available for Thresher Charter. Only a few days left before we switch over to Tuna on the Just Sayin CC. DM or Text 732-670-1919 for Thresher/Tuna availability #JustSayinSportfishing#JustSayinTackle
A small craft advisory is up, but by morning the forecast is a mere 5 knots northwest before shifting to southwest in the afternoon.
Vinny D’Anton reports Monmouth County surfcasting has been tough the last few days with only an occasional striper on sand fleas. Cold water may have caused that problem. Fluke are still biting in the surf, but most are shorts.
Jigging for small blues in NY/NJ Bight continues to be a best bet. The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported their anglers had to work harder for a limit yesterday, but everyone limited and was into release mode today. Those fish range up to 6 pounds, and are being jigged.
A small craft advisory is up through Wednesday afternoon, though the morning forecast is only for southwest winds at 5-10 knots. Showers and thunderstorms are possible.
This 707-pound thresher on Tina Ann may be a New York record.
Millions of dollars have been paid out to winners in the recent Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, but the Sensation is suing the tournament over their disqualification due to shark bites on the largest marlin which they boated.. As an angler who has engaged in several Marathon battles lasting up to almost two days, I can understand the frustration with that result after a six-hour battle which they seem to have won fair and square. However, the disqualification of mutilated fish provision has been in IGFA and tournament rules for decades — and the tournament didn’t seem to have any choice in its decision.
TV personality George Poveromo has a contest going for a free trip on his boat.
Deadline for entries in the Florida Keys “Fish with George” contest is this coming Friday (June 30) at midnight. A winner will be announced soon after.
George reports “For a chance to win a trip to the Florida Keys and be my guest angler on a World of Saltwater Fishing TV episode, submit a video of 60-seconds or less on why
you’re the best person for the gig.
Entries will be judged on criteria including fishing enthusiasm, personality and creativity.
The lucky winner will spend four nights at Islamorada’s Pines and Palms Resort, receive outdoor apparel from Columbia Sportswear, Fin-Nor sunglasses and also a travel allotment for airfare and rental car expenses.”
Fluke fishing was surprisingly good over the weekend off northern New Jersey. At Belmar, the Big Mohawk reported many limits that included some 5-7 pounders as they drifted Sunday in calm conditions. The Ocean Explorer had a similar report, and noted they were in deep waters that they normally fish in August.
A small craft advisory is up at 6 p.m. through Tuesday afternoon. However, the morning forecast is for only south winds at 10-15 knots plus possible showers– followed by afternoon thunderstorms.
The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant had a good start to Sunday’s bluefish jigging with mostly 2-6-pounders. The high hook caught 10.
Paul Haertel said his offshore wreck trip was slow as the crew only managed 10 keepers, though Frank Zappella came up with a boat record 41.4-pounder.
Though I always used to see small hammerheads every summer while sharking from Montauk to the Jersey coast when I was chartering for sharks decades ago, large hammerheads were rare. However, the following report from the Cape May Whale Watch indicates that something has changed
: “We observed over 150 Hammerhead sharks on our 24hr pelagic! This is the highest number of hammerheads we have ever found on a trip! Some were traveling alone while others were traveling in smaller groups of 2-3 and larger groups of 7-9. Sizes ranged from 8-12ft at least! They were EVERYWHERE! “
Today’s fluke report on fluke from Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands wasn’t that good, but still a big improvement as the high hook caught five and a 5 3/4-pounder took the pool. The Big Mohawk from Belmar was very pleased with a 21-man boat limit of fluke on Saturday, when the pool fluke was about 5 pounds.
If you’re looking for a doormat, there’s no better spot than Nantucket Shoals. Bernard Mazzocchi IV sent this shot there of fluke up to 11.7 pounds
The Jamaica from Brielle had good bluefishing on its Friday night trip.
The Jamaica from Brielle reported lots of small blues were caught during their Friday night trip.
Monday’s forecast is for south winds at just 5-10 knots before increasing to 10-15 plus gusts to 20 in the afternoon. Patchy fog and showers are possible in the morning.
Tight Lines 