Tight Lines

Giant tuna fishermen may be wondering just what NOAA Fisheries is trying to accomplish after this week’s announcements.

As noted here, they increased the commercial General category daily limit from one large medium or giant (over 73 inches) to three, and then sent a warning for those fishermen. due to market conditions, to make sure they have a buyer who will take their fish prior to going fishing.

NOAA Fisheries also closed the New England region recreational trophy over 73-inch season from June 5 to Dec. 31 as the tiny quota has already been exceeded.

Here’s the photo of the largest striper reported to this blog so far this season– a 63.09-pounder by formula hooked on a live bunker from Capt. Vinny Vetere’s Katfish out of Great Kills, Staten Island by his mate, Brian before a successful release. Vetere said this year’s striper fishing has been the best ever, and is continuing at that pace.

Jim Hutchinson Sr. reports “

Memorial Day weekend has passed in Beach Haven, and summer is right around the corner. If recent fishing trips by the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are any indication, 2023 looks be a good fishing year.

Right now, black sea bass are around the inshore artificial reefs, the summer flounder are all over the bays and inlets, small schools of bluefish are racing around, and there are still good numbers of striped bass to be found.

Captain Connor Smilon of “Fish Hawk Charters” reports good action in Great Bay with multiple keepers per trip and “plenty of throwbacks.” He has also run into small blitzes of 2-3-pound bluefish early in the morning on the way to the fluking grounds.

Captain Max Goldman reports good action on black sea bass on the “Star fish” on the inshore artificial reefs. The top day thus far had a total of 18 keeper fish. The action is hot and furious with numerous undersized fish also hitting the baits.

Captain Steve Palmer reports the initial trips on the headboat “Miss Beach Haven” have been successful ones. A wedding group of the Karr groom and groomsmen had a blast with steady fishing on sea bass, making to port in time for the rehearsal. Another recent trip with Captain Bob Yates and mate Max was a success with both sea bass and fluke providing dinners for many happy anglers. Steve advises the boat will be running a variety of trips this summer.

Captain Brett Taylor of “Real Reaction Sportfishing” had regular client Bob Dodds, his cousin Joe, and Boston Bob on a 4-hour charter. They had decent tide, terrible slime, and stiff winds for a good portion of the trip. Despite the elements, Captain Brett says they ended with 4 decent sized fluke to just over 5 pounds, and 3 others they wanted back.

Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org

Pennsylvania angler Seth Wakefield reports “I’ve been very fortunate to have some very good friends who have I’ve been able to learn from each year. Chuck Tyman Manny is one of them. Every trip out I learn more and more. The brothers and I had an incredible trip the other day out on the Tyman! Doubles, triples, quadruples on eels and plugs. Eels off the back of the boat and plugging off the front. Always a blast with lots of laughs! Ended up the day with 34 big fish up to 50lbs. Another super memorable day.”

+7

Hans Kaspersetz said his first trip offshore with Blue Runner out of Pt. Pleasant was a good one!

A small craft advisory is up through Sunday afternoon. The morning forecast is for north winds at 15-20 knots before dropping to 10-15 in the afternoon.

During my early days fishing for sharks over half a century ago there were no thresher sharks being caught in NY/NJ Bight, though I knew they were considered a possibility in the area. However, there were also few bunkers at that time. Fisheries management which has led to great numbers of bunkers inshore changed everything, as anglers now often hook up with a shark we weren’t sure existed even when we don’t want them while seeking stripers in bunker schools or even drifting for fluke.

The first report I got this spring was from Capt. Lou Grazioso who did the butchering job yesterday on a 425-pounder caught by Chris Schmidt from his 27-foot World Cat after hooking it on a live bunker. With only two girls aboard, that thresher couldn’t be boated and had to be towed all the way to Hoffman’s in Point Pleasant.

Some more offshore news came in today from Capt. Rick Woerner, who reported a quick trip to Wilmington Canyon produced yellowfin tuna

All striped bass and sea bass reports remain very positive, though the Jamaica from Brielle cautions that the sea bass season ends after June 19.

Vinny D.Anton got into a couple 28-inch stripers this morning in the Monmouth County surf while baiting with sand fleas.

There’s a small craft warning up for Saturday morning to night. The forecast is for northeast winds at 20-25 knots before dropping to 15-20 in the afternoon.

The Staten Island Tuna Club is sponsoring a seminar on tuna fishing with Canyon Runner skipper Deane Lambros on June 9 in Proving Ground Waterfront Rest. at 56 Shrewsbury Ave., in Highlands, N.J. with a buffet dinner and many raffle prizes. Call Chip at 201 390-6544 for the $49 tickets.

Chuck Many’s brother and son in on the Tyman striper action

Joe Balzamo said it was all stripers over 40 inches today off Brooklyn.

Jim Hutchinson Sr. had his grandsons in Barnegat Bay today –Trent caught a fine fluke while Troy added a big blueclaw that hung on too long.

BOATS NEEDED! With the addition of new sponsors and larger roles of longtime sponsors we’re in need of boats for The 2023 Manhattan Cup at Liberty Landing Marina June 9th. We’re hosting the most warriors we ever have. 45 brave men and women that put everything on the line for our freedom. We’re able to host these veterans because of the loyalty and support of our sponsors that join us for the event. If you are able to take 4 people out fishing for blues and bass and can supply the tackle please think about joining us and being part of a special day with the best and the bravest people around! Each captain and mate receive a gift bag and join in on the festivities before and after fishing. Please share this post. DM for more details. #fishing#charity#captain#veterans#nyfishing#passion

The forecast is for southwest winds at just 5-10 knots with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Vinny D’Anton and Frank Manzi fished the Monmouth County surf with sand fleas and had a pick of shorts in the 23-inch class. Frank had first checked Manasquan River, where there had been lots of blues yesterday, but only found a lot of anglers catching a few small blues.

Kil Song has been traveling from Panama to Texas to N.J. to R.I. where he jigged squid at night last week — and loaded up on big sea bass at Cape Cod yesterday aboard the Patriot from Falmouth.

Just as I was about to write a blog about the relative abundance of 50-pound stripers being reported in NY/NJ Bight this year without one just a bit bigger to break the 60-pound mark, Capt. Vinny Vetere did it again on his Katfish from Great Kills by putting his mate Brian into one well above monster status with fork length of 58 inches plus a girth of 29.5 inches. The formula of girth squared times fork length divided by 800 comes to 63.093125 pounds — and is the only accepted was to estimate weight now that all large stripers have to be released.

Vinnie has produced 60s before, and knows what they look like as well as needing the fork length rather than tail length for the formula which was developed long ago when fish were measured that way. He said Brian fished a live bunker on a spinning rod.

The last virtual public hearing on the ASMFC emergency rule limiting the maximum striped bass maximum size to 31 inches is being held from 6-8 p.m. today. You can check out the comments in the listen-only mode at 914 514-3221. Use access code 424-938-669.

Vinny D’Anton had some action in the Monmouth County surf with stripers on sand fleas, but they were smaller bass from 22 to 28 inches. He also got word of good bite of mixed-size bluefish in Manasquan River.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a slow start with sea bass, but that improved in the afternoon as some limits were bagged.

The morning forecast is for northwest winds at 5-10 knots plus patchy fog before going south in the afternoon.

Capt. Dave DeGennaro has been finding mixed-size blues in Barnegat Inlet and Bay by trolling small pugs to locate them before going to casting. He has openings on Hi Flier from Barnegat from Friday through Sunday. Call 732 330-5674.

NOAA FISHERIES has announced a change in General Category bluefin tuna daily landings as of June 1 from one large bluefin (73 inches up) to three. That runs through Aug. 31, and applies also to charter and party boats when fishing for the market with their permits.

A small craft warning is up through 6 p.m. , but the morning forecast is down to northeast at 5-10 knots before going east in the afternoon. Patchy fog is likely in the morning.

If anyone is having a hard time catching striped bass in NY/NJ Bight waters, they aren’t admitting to it. Some have to “weed” through bass too large to boat in order to keep what they want — though that’s a problem that I wouldn’t have objected to not that many years ago.

In describing Dave Lilly’s great wire line trolling catch yesterday , I didn’t mention that in addition to using Tony Maja bunker spoons, they also tried Tony’s mojo rigs and wore themselves out on five doubleheaders

Here’s a shot of one of the big bass caught by Chris Buchta and his crew a couple of days ago,

Vinny D’Anton continues to catch stripers on sand fleas in his local surf by releasing a 31-incher today. The northeast swell has created whitewater conditions which are favorable for that fishing.

A small craft warning is up tonight for northeast winds gusting to 30 knots. That goes south in the morning at 15-20 knots

Dave Lilly called me at 9 this morning to tell me he was finished fishing with Brian Farmer on Ric Martel’s boat as they trolled Tony Maja bunker spoons in the Raritan Bay area all by themselves for two over 50 pounds to 54 inches plus another dozen over 40 pounds, and 10 more over 30 pounds.

Chuck Many reported the beat went on Friday aboard his Tyman from Highlands for Bob Nikki Bowden Alex Katyan and Dylan Parker. .

Chris Buchta had a day for the ages for his crew with personal records that included a 50 plus a 52 for the skipper.

Chris Buchta’s fishfinder

Monda

y’s forecast starts well with north winds at 5-10 knots before going east at 15-20 with gusts to 25 late.

Vinny D’Anton reports a pick of legal stripers on sand fleas in the Monmouth County surf.

Outstanding fishing for both striped bass and sea bass continues in NY/NJ Bight.

The Jamaica from Brielle notes that the Memorial Day weekend isn’t always as crowded as you might expect. They expect to have fof walk-on space for sea bass in the morning. That boat has also added two 1.5-day tilefish trips at 10 p.m. June 19 and 26. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations.

Hans Kaspersetz with a jumbo sea bass on Water Proof

Sunday’s forecast is for southeast winds at a mere 5 knots, The wind goes south in the afternoon.

Every time it appears that striped bass fishing in NY/NJ Bight can’t be any better, there’s yet another report from Chuck Many on his Tyman from Highlands like the following:

“

Monday was good with 60 jumbos, but Tuesday and a quick trip Wednesday morning topped it, with over 100 Jumbos boated. Smallest was right around 30 pounds, Largest was Rich Miller first 50 at between 51 & 52 pounds!! Great times with Rich, Dean Cox, & Brian Cox!!!

+NJ Hybrid striped bass record broken:

• The N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife reports that Jim Piascik caught the new state record Hybrid Striped Bass in Monksville Reservoir on May 24, 2023.  The fish weighed 17 pounds, 12 ounces, replacing John Vayda’s 16-pound, 10-ounce record from 2022.  The old record only stood for 227 days.   Jim was fishing for Walleye when the fish hit just after midnight.  After previously landing a 25-inch Walleye, he was prepared with a large net, and managed to get this giant in the boat alone and in the dark.Congratulations Jim!  What a catch!

• The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands reported steady sea bass fishing all day with a variety of sizes up to the 3-pound pool winner as many limits were taken.
• The forecast is for north winds at 5-10 knots before going southeast in the afternoon
• Vinny D’Anton fished sand fleas in the Monmouth County surf this morning for stripers of 32 and 29 inches, but was surprised to not see other anglers fishing.
• , 

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Chuck Many hosted fishing friends from South Carolina this week on his Tyman for great striper fishing that included not only great numbers of big bass, but also one over 50 pounds.

All of the striper reports I got today were very positive, including the following about yesterday’s trip from Andreas Toy out of Perth Amboy:

“Had George out today and made a long run to some of the best fishing I’ve ever seen. The first two hours it was almost every cast all alone and nearly every fish was over 40 inches. Spooks, metal lips, live bunker it didn’t matter they were hungry. One group of fish hit a spook so hard it hit the transom, fell back in the water and then they hit it before it hit the water. Every live bait on the surface got blown up on within 30 seconds and didn’t stand a chance. No time for pictures as the action was so hot and bass were blowing up around the boat for hours. It is simply impossible for fishing to be any better than this.”

Want to take a long shot at a giant bluefin tuna? Capt. Dave De Gennaro is ready to take a charter or individual reservations on his Hi Flier from Barnegat Light for 45-mile run to the north on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. when there’s an opportunity to troll for a giant if the seas are calm. DeGennaro mated three seasons for the greatest giant tuna skipper of all — the late Capt. Bob Pisano. Call 732 330-5674 for details. If the weather isn’t right, he’ll switch over to local stripers and blues.

Sea bass fishing is also standing up well. The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported slower fishing this morning when the weather was poor, but they ended up with many limits as conditions improved. Bait seemed to have the edge today. The Big Mohawk from Belmar has been enjoying similar action, but is chartered tomorrow.

The forecast is for north winds at just 5-10 knots before going southeast in the afternoon.

I finally got the results from Sunday’s Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament at IBSP, though I haven’t been able to transfer them. Despite light rain early, the fishing turned out to be pretty good, with over 160 fish measured as bluefish showed up. The Governor’s Cup winner was David Koenigstein of Toms River with a 37 2/8-inch striper and won two rod and reel ombos. His name will be engraved on the Cup. He edged by Kyle Keefer of Montague with a 35 4/8-inch bass. Parker Sowul of Manasquan won the teen bluefish award with a 33-incher, and Kathy Gresko of Robbinsville had a 19 2/8-inch fluke.