Tight Lines

It’s occured to me that I’ve never identified the fish you see at the head of my blog every night. It’s the largest Pacific cubera snapper I’ve ever seen — and you may be able to catch it!

It was caught on March 20, 2018 while drifting a large chunk of black skipjack over an underwater peak off Isla Coiba, Panama on a heavy Shimano spinning outfit from a Pesca Panama center console — and released moments after the photo was taken.

I took the length and girth measurements, and by formula the weight came out to 73.58 pounds. That was just a few pounds shy of the IGFA all-tackle world record.

Though the cubera of a lifetime was caught in deep waters, that species provides the most exciting surface strikes on poppers in shallower depths as what looks like a bottom fish explodes through the air to pounce on the fast-moving plug and often breaks off in the rocky bottom before you can turn your reel handle. When they miss the plug, it sounds as if a garage door fell into the water!

If you’d like to take a shot at that cubera, check out pescapanama.com. That conservation-minded operation as adopted a release policy on cuberas even though they are an excellent eating fish at any size.

Thursday’s forecast is for southwest winds at 5-10 knots with a chance of rain.

Fishing in the ocean may be an option as seas are dropping to 3 to 5 feet by Thursday — and tomorrow’s winds are predicted to be just 5-10 knots northeast in NY-NJ Bight.

The Raritan Bay Anglers Club Fisherman’s Flea Market will be held Feb. 5 from 8:30 to 2 in St. Cecelia’s Hall at 45 Ruth Ave., Iselin.

Hi-Mar Striper Club Fishing Flea Market has been set for Feb. 12 at the Port Monmouth VFW from 8 to 2.

Ric Gross said this sailfish (noted in last night’s blog) was his largest. The boat’s beam is 10 feet.

The Mimi VI from Pt. Pleasant will be running open limited blackfish trips by reservation through February. Call 732 370-8019 for info.

Northeast winds are predicted tomorrow at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20.

Ric Gross reports catching his largest sailfish Thursday off Boynton Beach. Will try to get a photo in tomorrow.

Chick Many is back at Hilton Head, S.C. and catching a variety of fresh-and saltwater fish from his salt ponds.

Anything looks good after a blizzard, but it will probably take a couple of days for the bottom to settle and fish to resume biting.

The forecast for Monday is northeast at just 5-10 knots.

While a blizzard pounds the northern coast and southwest Florida braces for possible frost in the morning, anglers can warm up by bidding on fishing trips, tackle and marine art at the IGFA Auction which starts at 8 p.m.

I had this listed at 6 p.m. in last night’s blog, but that’s when the dinner for those signed up begins.

To join the event, you must register at info@IGFA.org.

Needless to say, there will be no ocean fishing for some time along the northern coast as storm warnings are up for gusts to 50 knots plus huge seas.

The 38th annual IGFA Auction starts at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Ritz-Carlton in Ft. Lauderdale. Those frozen into home by the blizzard can enjoy bidding on fishing trips to exotic, and much warmer, locations while everyone can look for bargains in fishing tackle, marine art and many other categories by visiting the IGFA web site,

It’s probably safe to say there will be no fishing in northern areas this weekend as tonight’s gale warning increases to a storm warning Saturday with north winds gusting to 50 knots adding to snow and 5-8-foot seas. It may also be too late to flee south as a record low of 35 is predicted for Ft. Myers on Sunday morning.

The Big Mohawk from Belmar reported beautiful conditions Thursday though blackfishing was picky. Some tog up to a 5-pounder were hooked as one limit was taken.

If you’re planning on fishing for blackfish all winter, there’s an opportunity to get all you can handle for free if you can just transport them from Washington, where the governor has issued an emergency order to exterminate that invasive species which is impacting native shellfish stocks.

Green crabs are native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea, but arrived on this side of the Atlantic by clinging to the bottoms of sailing ships to Cape Cod during the 1800s. They’ve since spread into cold waters everywhere. They’ve become so common that few anglers realize they’re an invasive species\

It seems that the only positive to them is that they make a great bait for tautog. Washington may even supply you with green crabs if you take them away. Amazingly, that crab has managed to thrive in many different climates around the world, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Some very bad weather is on the way, but Friday morning may be good for fishing with west winds at 10 knots plus gusts to 20. A gale warning is up from late Friday to Saturday night. Snow will be on its way. Down in Ft. Myers we’re bracing for temperatures in the 30s this weekend that may break all-time records. What happened to the warm weather promised with climate change?

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar expects to fish for tog in the morning.

A short burst of decent winter weather will be followed by a storm staring Friday night that may become a blizzard.

The northeast wind starts tomorrow at a modest 5-10 knots before becoming south in the afternoon. Friday is similar before the big change that night.

The ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board meets tomorrow at 1:30 in a winter meeting Webinar. They’ll have a lot to consider after a generally good year even though the population numbers aren’t as favorable.

The marine forecast is for northwest winds at 15 knots plus gusts to 20.

Chuck Many ended his winter season for stripers in Virgina recently and needed a N.J. fishing charge which he got with Alex Katyan on the ice.

The frigid weather and rough seas were bad news for blackfishing, but the Big Mohawk finally had a good report today as the bite was good at times and everyone went home with some fish, The forecast also looks good with calming west winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 tomorrow.
Don’t look to the south for warmer weather. There were areas close to Ft. Myers with frost warnings this morning. However, Vinny D’Anton had some good action a few days ago with ladyfish and spotted sea trout at Sarasota on MirrOlures and DOA Shrimp.