Tight Lines

An opening for a shot at the great fishing at Pesca Panama is usually hard to come by, but Mike Augat sent the following availabilities for everything from black marlin to roosterfish as follows:

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REMAINING PESCA PANAMA BOATS FOR NOVEMBER 2022- JUNE 2023 AS OF SEPTEMBER 6:

Nov 6-11    5 boats

Nov 13-18    3

Dec 11-16    1

Dec 18-23    5

Jan 1-6    2

Jan 8-13    1

Jan 29- Feb 3    2

Feb 5-10    5

March 5-10    3

June 4-9    5

Contact Mike Augat by calling 716 868-4432 or e-mail mike@mikeaugat.com.

You may even be able to catch the cubera snapper I’m holding at the head of the blog as I released that near-world record 73.58-pounder (by formula) during my last trip there.

Vinny D’Anton reports peanut bunkers remain abundant in the Monmouth County surf even though he’s been picking school stripers best on a 7-inch Redfin swimmer that doesn’t resemble the bait. Last week he even hooked a 34-inch striper which is a very unusual catch in the N.J. summer surf. Sea Girt pro Frank Conway has been enjoying similar success with the 5 1/2-inch Redfin.

A small craft advisory is up through Friday night, though the weekend looks good. Friday’s forecast is for northeast winds at 10-15 knots with 4-6-foot seas. Due to the weather, the Golden Eagle from Belmar won’t be sailing for bluefish tomorrow, and the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands won’t resume fluking until Saturday.

The Mimi VI from Point Pleasant will be open for fluke trips Sunday plus 9/19 and 9/21. Call 732 370-8019.

This swordfish was caught during the Golden Eagle’s tuna Tuesday trip.

Bigeye tuna had been the stars of this year’s tournament season until most bigeye specialists couldn’t find them during the big money MidAtlantic. That situation changed completely at the Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club Offshore Open which concluded over the weekend.

Pepper ended up finding the largest bigeye for a clear win at 265.3 pounds, but there were many other outstanding entries as The Experience had a 220.9-pounder — followed by Let It Bleed at 208.6 pounds and Miss Magic with a 203.6 pounder. Blue Runner has been trolling some of the largest bigeyes all season, but needed a few more pounds on their 191.1-pounder.

Fins N Sins had a 133.7-pound swordfish while Impulse led in dolphin at 22.9 pounds — and Papa Bear was first in wahoo with a 56.3-pounder. Leprechaun led many albacore entries with a 63.6-pound longfin. Polarizer won the featured white marlin release award with just six as that species remained scarce. Blue marlin releases were posted by Low Bid, Cast Strength and Tastego.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar returned from the Monday night tuna trip with “quite a few” dolphin and a swordfish. Tuna were breaking, but wouldn’t hit. The next tuna trip sails at 11 p.m. Monday by reservation. Thursday’s bluefish trip is cancelled due to the weather.

Small craft warnings are up through Thursday evening, The forecast is for northeast winds at 15-20 with gusts to 30 knots plus showers.

While our goliath grouper plans worked out during our last trip to fish at Marco Island, Florida with Dave Rizzo, Crazy Alberto Knie and I received no such respect over the weekend.

Goliaths live in rough bottoms, and catching them is an all-or-nothing battle before the mandatory release. I might have had a small one on at the bridge while casting a small strip of fish on light spinning tackle from Dave’s center console to the bridge for a live bait, but never had a chance with that fish which quickly broke me off.

We stuck it out despite record 96-degree air temperatures until a likely goliath got under a dock before Alberto could get to the rod. Shortly after that there was another shot as the fish put a big bend in Alberto’s heavy rod and even pulled the anchor before getting off. The hook pulled even though the white grunt bait was intact.

When we tried again Labor Day morning, I got one light bump on a live grunt, but nothing else until I checked to find the bait that had been hooked in the mouth was gone. That goliath must have been working with a hook remover!

Dave had the only luck as he blind casted a slim metal jig intended for ladyfish and instead hooked a 3-4-pound pompano — a most unusual lure for that delicious species. Dave’s luch ran out when he ran into a bay with a few tarpon rolling — though they ignored the live sea catfish we were offering. At least there was some breeze and we got in before the usual afternoon thunder storms. Best of all, we enjoyed the great meals provided by master chef Alberto!

Small craft advisories are going up tonight in NY/NJ Bight, and are in effect until late Wednesday night. Northeast winds at 15-20 knots with gusts to 30 plus showers are forecasted.

Dave was the lucky angler as he caught a large (3-4-pound) pompano while blind casting a small slim metal lure — a most unlikely way to catch that species. Dave found scattered tarpon rolling in a bay where we fished live sea catfish that were totally ignored. The lack of respect was humbling, but at least there was some breeze and we got in before the usual afternoon thunder storms.

Small craft warnings are going up in NY/NJ Bight from late tonight through late Wednesday night. Northeast winds will be 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30 and showers.

My trip to with Crazy Alberto Knie to Marco Island lasted longer than expected, and this time the goliath groupers had the upper hand. More about that tomorrow.

Capt. Ron Santee reported some of the best fluking of the season on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands the last few days. He rated Saturday as a “10” as three six-pounders were boated, and many fares limited. A 5-pounder took Sunday’s pool as the volume also held up. A 7 1/4-pounder won Sunday’s pool, but the shift to southeast winds at 10-15 knots plus possible showers may be a problem tomorrow. Call to confirm if he’ll be fishing.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had another hot day of bluefish and chub mackerel fishing today. Most action was on bait, but some choppers hit poppers and jigs. There were some better-sized 7-8-pound blues the previous day. That boat is on a tuna trip tonight, and won’t be sailing for blues again until Wednesday.

After losing the internet at my home in Ft. Myers last week, I had to wait for a technician this morning. He replaced the modem and left — but then I was off again. Unable to get that guy back again, I was then surprised to get back on again. Since I’m headed out to fish tonight with Crazy Alberto Knie, I’ll just start to catch up.

Good news today from the Golden Eagle out of Belmar was a bite of chub mackerel before bluefish came on strong and most anglers added their 5-chopper limits.

Capt. Rob Santee started September in fine fashion when John Brock boated a 9 3/4-pound near-doormat on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. The only negative was that he was a day late for the August super pool. Another angler caught 44 fluke which included what would have been a double limit.

The Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club’s Offshore Open started off with a strong showing of bigeyes. I’ll try to get those results in the next blog.

Capt. Dave DeGennaro is running open for tuna on Labor Day with his Hi Flier from Barnegat, Call 732 330-5674 for the $450 spots.

There are times when old sayings are actually spot on. As noted in yesterday’s blog, the west wind forecast boded well for fluke anglers — and the following from Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands tells the story:

“Amazing what a West Wind & perfect drift will do for the Bite!

Non-stop action all day with multiple limits & Double limits around the boat. Bait worked the best.

Porgy, Sea Bass, Mac’s, Trigger fish & Bluefish in the mix also.

Jesse took with pool with a 6 pound 7 ounce beauty…Some nice pics once again.

Weather looks great for the next several day. Sailing 7:30am Open Boat, No Reservations just come on down. “

The Thursday forecast continues favorable with west winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar saw lots of tuna during the weekly Inshore Exotics trip, but the breaking fish hadn’t read the proverb and weren’t hitting the usual offerings. Poppers tempted some of the 60-80-pound yellowfins — and they also had some dolphin.

The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant reported great action on their last dolphin trip with limits up to 18 pounds which included many of 6-12 pounds.

Capt. Ralph Leyrer of Last Lady from Belmar was catching his usual variety bottom fish consisting of ling, sea bass, fluke and triggerfish when a smooth puffer joined the party before being released. That largest of the puffer family used to be called rabbitfish in N.J., and is actually an oceanic species which only moves inshore occasionally. There was an unusual run of them off the northern N.J. Shore a few years ago, but this was my first report of smooth puffers there this year. In a previous blog I reported a run of them in Rhode Island which had the Health Dept. issuing warnings since the internal organs are as deadly as cyanide. These are blowfish that are often 5-10 pounds and fight.

Vinny D’Anton has been picking small stripers and blues from the Monmouth County surf every morning. “Walk the dog” surface lures have been most effective.

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The fluke were small, but still a thrill for Jersey Devil Fish Camp kids sailing on the Little Hawk and watching surfacing whales

I fished for tuna in the Atlantic for decades from Maryland to east of Block Island without ever losing one to a shark attack until a school bluefin run off northern New Jersey a few years ago. when it was almost impossible to get a school bluefin to the boat without a shark attack,. Yet, when a yellowfin run developed at the Triple Wrecks a few weeks later there was no problem just a bit further offshore. Unfortunately, that’s not the case this summer as I’m getting reports of sharks forcing yellowfin anglers to change locations rather than trying to fight off sharks.

The latest report came from Capt. Derek Bielitz on Fisher Price IV from Highlands, which was the boat I experienced the bluefin slaughter on while joining Chuck Many’s charter. Fortunately, there are summer offshore alternatives such as light tackle casting to school dolphin at lobster pot buoys, and deep drops for tilefish.

Surprisingly. I haven’t heard of shark attacks on even large little tunny such as this one held by Capt. John McMurray. Maybe the sharks have heard they’re not good eating!

At Atlantic Highlands, Capt. Ron Santee had a good start fluking with his Fishermen as Mrs. Kim took the pool with a fluke just short of 5 pounds. However, a south wind came up and the bite declined. With a west wind at 10-15 knots, that shouldn’t be a problem tomorrow.

The Prowler 5 got good drifts on sticky bottoms during Saturday’s trip as a Pa, angler boated one of those rare doormats at 11.99 pounds. They also had a 9.8-pounder, a 7 and two 6-pound fluke.

Today was a beautiful one for fishing in NY/NJ Bight, and both bluefish and fluke were cooperating for party boat anglers. Light winds continue tomorrow.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported it was mostly blues from 3-6 pounds along with chub mackerel and some two-fish sea bass limits plus a special treat when a 20-pound cobia was boated. The boat is on a tuna trip tomorrow and won’t be back to blues until Wednesday.

Capt. Ron Santee liked that weather for fluke fishing on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands.

There was a good pick in calm waters as both a fluke and a sea bass of 4 pounds were boated.

Bob Matthews reports from Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina as follows:

“We are seeing a gradual change in the fishing, there are large quantities of bait moving and game fish hunting them down. The Fluke are on the move and we are seeing larger fish on the boats on thenear shore reefs.The fluke are appearing in better numbers and sizes in the surf as they make a move out of the rivers.The stripers are more abundent and feeding on the peanut bunker,spearing andmullet.The Bluefish are providing action along with the chub mackerel on the party boats.There are a good number of Spanish Mackerel and Mahi Mahi caught whilefishing for the Tuna. The Cobia and Wahoo are also on the menu for our offshore hunters. Last but not least is the variety of sharks in our waters this year.”

Paul Haertel of the JCAA found Friday evening off Barnegat to be a good time to catch fluke up to a 7.7-pounder.

Capt. Ron Santee described yesterday’s surprising trip on his Fishermen out of Atlantig Highlands as follows:

“Quality Fluke once again as Mark & Brother John Hrubic landed 4 Beauties. John’s first fish went 6 pounds 10 ounces and was the New Big pool leader that is until Brother Mark Hooked into his Monster at 8 pounds 1 ounce!”

There was a surprising lack of reports today. The Monday forecast is for southeast winds at 5-10 knots.

My blog earlier this afternoon contained Jeff Merrill’s wrap-up of the MidAtlantic. While that was attracting attention, there were some good catches in NY/NJ Bight.

Capt. Joe Massa ran his My Three Sons over to the Rockaways on Friday with a live well full of live bunkers he castnetted — and fed one of them to a bluefin of 80 inches (see photo below) which can’t be retained under the present regulations. Though Massa had never caught a giant before, he had no problem cranking it in from the 50-foot depths with the big game rod in a swiveling rod holder. That commercial method of fighting giants is efficient, but isn’t a sportfishing catch — and doesn’t provide the thrill of actually fighting a giant with a rod. With giants in such shallow waters, it’s possible to use lighter tackle with enough braided line to tackle giants which can’t beat you by going down. I wish I had this opportunity when I was into giant fishing — but at 86 I’ll leave that to the young bucks!

Many southern species move north in late summer, but I never heard of a tripletail in N.J. before. I’ve only fished for them in Florida around channel markers and crab trap buoys, but they’re actually oceanic fish which hang around weed lines and floating debris. That’s where Steve Caponi of Hazlet found one that hit a Tsunami Shad being cast to school dolphin offshore of Highlands. Steve weighed the 17 1/2-incher in at the Tackle Box in Hazlet at 3 1/2 pounds. Though the state doesn’t have a record for the species, Steve is submitting it for such a designation.