Tight Lines

The Golden Eagle from Belmar started the week with a canyon tuna trip described as follows:

“The boat just returned from a GOOD TUNA TRIP and they brought some fish back with them!

They caught nice YELLOWFIN TUNA ranging from 30 to 60 pounds, and also lost some. Most everyone on board got to fight a YELLOWFIN and some had as many as two in the boat. They also caught 5 or 6 BLUEFIN but since BLUEFIN season is currently closed, they were safely released. Some SKIPJACKS made it into the mix as well.“

Tomorrow’s forecast hhas resulted in cancellation of the daily bluefish trip.

The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands reported good bottom fishing yesterday for sea bass and large porgies.

Gen Wong fished aboard Tagged Fish from Highlands yester for lock-and0load sea bass action as limits were the rule.

The odds of catching a swordfish from great depths in daytime seemed impossible not many years ago, but Capt. Nick Stanczyk has proven otherwise out of Bud’N Mary’s Marina in Islamorada, Florida Keys.

 ·Islamorada ·

Epic trip yesterday on the 47’ Freeman! It was my Dads first time on the boat and by the end of the day we caught 13

 ·Islamorada ·

A couple were kept and the rest released.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar returned from a good canyon trip tuna trip today. More about that tomorrow when they will be seeking blues.

The marine forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots before going south at 15 in the afternoon.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio of Water Proof from Point Pleasant found no lack of tuna for chunking on the latest trip as noted: “Anthony had Rick Lorfing and crew out for an all out chunk crush job .. best bite of the year was how it was described to me .. needless to say they caught their limit and had plenty more releases. Overnight they lost a Sword and wrapped up with some Mahi in the morning .

Capt. Ron Santee reported non-stop bottom action today for the Old Bridge Fire & Rescue charter with big sea bass and porgies on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had another good Saturday night trip with limit bluefish catches mostly on bait along with some sea bass.

The marine weather forecast remains good with southwest winds at 5-10 knots before going south at 15 with gusts to 20 in the afternoon.

Capt. Ron Santee was happy to find the ocean swell gone this morning as the LA Design party on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands loaded up with jumbo porgies before sea bass turned on with the change of tide. He’s chartered again on Sunday, but returns to daily bottom fishing Monday.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar found blues that readily hit diamond jigs along with a showing of bonito and triggerfish. Some anglers limited on blues and then again with sea bass. Most of the blues were 2-5 pounds, with a few up to 8 pounds.

The marine forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for west winds at a mere 5 knots before changing to south in the afternoon.

Nick Honachefsky’s 7th annual Barrier Beach Surf Brawl on Columbus Day weekend must be entered by this weekend to be eligible for the many prizes available to even those who don’t catch a fish. Nick has once again accumulated a tremendous volume of fishing tackle that will not only go to winners in categories for all popular surf species as well as in drawings. Last year’s event distributed over $35.000 in prizes and contributed $12.000 to St. Judes. Many of the fish caught were contributed to the Food Pantry. Entry forms are available at area tackle shops, or you can enter online at http://www.saltwaterunderground.com.

With the N.J. sea bass season open, the party boat fleet should be very busy this weekend. Anglers are advised to arrive well before sailing time in order to avoid being left at the dock.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar may have room left on their Oct. 5 canyon tuna trip.

The marine forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for west winds at 10-15 knots before dropping to 10 in the afternoon.

The New Jersey sea bass season reopened Oct. 1 and continues through the rest of the year with a 12 1/2-inch minimum and bag limit of 10 until Nov. 1 when it increases to 15.

Due to poor weather conditions, Capt. Ron Santee moved his first sea bass trip on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands back to Friday, Due to rescheduled blown out charters, he’s also unavailable this weekend before returning to daily sea bass trips.

The Saturday forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for west winds at just 10-15 knots though seas up to 5 feet continue.

The best may be yet to come for anglers entered in the Fisherman magazine Dream Boat Challenge. October is a prime time for several species involved in that contest which is open to subscribers and extends to Nov. 15.

As of the Sept. issue, Rashawn Williams was leading for the rigged Steiger Craft 21 center console with 150-hp Yamaha with 17 points earned with entries of a winning 13.06-pound fluke and a fourth-place 2.41-pound porgy. However there were no entries at all for bluefish and blackfish.

That will change in October when party boats start making trips to far offshore wrecks where sea bass over the 4-pound minimum should be abundant while tautog exceeding 7 pounds are a target inshore.

Bluefish used to be biggest in the fall, but when a spring run of 15-pounders developed the minimum was increased to 15 pounds. However, the huge spring blues have stopped appearing.

Blues in the teens should be available on the sea bass wrecks, but the 15 pound minimum may be a problem. Those wrecks also often have plenty of porgies over the 2-pound minimum. Surprisingly, they occasionally produce weakfish well over the minimum of 5 pounds.

There are lots of fishing tackle prizes for all of the species, and the overall second place prize is a trip to Tropic Star Lodge in Panama.

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The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported mostly fussy bluefish ranging from 2 to 10 pounds yesterday as both plain and tailed diamond jigs worked and a few anglers limited.

The marine forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for northeast winds at 20-25 knots before dropping to 10-15 in the afternoon. Seas may range up to 13 feet, and there’s a small craft advisory up through Wednesday.

Small bluefish seem to be building up and providing good jigging at times.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a very good Saturday night trip which provided a boat limit of blues as well as many releases of choppers along with out-of-season sea bass. It was a different story the next morning as the marks were there, but the blues were fussy. Some fares did limit as plain 3-ounce diamond jigs worked best.

Capt. Dave Riback reported yesterday for his Queen Mary boats at Point Pleasant as follows:

“
09/28/2025

Lots of searching for Capt Cole paid off!  Started where we left off Saturday AM & PM.  Lots of Sea Bass & Porgy on the spots but the Blues &  Bones had mostly moved on.  Cole took advantage of a nice day with a nice crowd, many of which were avid fisherman, to go searching.  Many spots had some but not enough for more that a drift or two. Pick 5-20 fish then move to the next area of structure.  Finally, towards noon a piece that was holding lots of life made the day. Limits of Blues and many Bonito and some Alby too! Nice mix to  spice the catch of Blues.  Monday looks best!  Tuesday is canceled due to lack of participation. Sea Bass opens Oct 1, but may be hampered by rough sea conditions Wed & Thursday. Friday both boats are already sold out. Saturday & Sunday next week have plenty of room aboard. The following week, Oct 7- 12 are wide open except Monday the 6th is booked.  See ya aboard for a mix of Sea Bass, Bonito, Blues & Porgy
09/28/2025

09/28/2025

wide open except Monday the 6th is booked.  See ya aboard for a mix of Sea Bass, Bonit

The marine forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for northeast winds at 5-10 knots before blowing up to 25 knots at night as small craft warnings will go up through Wednesday.

After recently suffering a massive heart attack in the Everglades, Crazy Alberto Knie is on the mend, and spending some time at home. He’s got a lot more treatment ahead, but things are looking up!

Capt. Frank Masseria made his first striper trip of the fall with his Vitamin Sea from Port Monmouth a successful one with bass up to 35 pounds — and expects to see even bigger bass after the next northeaster.

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The marine forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for northeast winds at 10 knots before shifting to east in the afternoon.

The following report from Capt. Mark DeBlasio of Blue Runner at Point Pleasant sums up the offshore bite in a few words.

“Absolutely savage bite today for our open boat crew .. fish to 110lbs. Weather was beautiful and we were on our way home before 9am .. as good as it gets !

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