Tight Lines

One of the great mysteries in fishing is how long it takes for predator fish to attack the same bait or lure which fooled them once before.?

That probably varies greatly with species. Blue sharks may be at the top of the list in learning nothing. I once caught the same blue shark during a single long drift in Butterfish Hole off Montauk using bunker fillets. That happened decades ago when I was one of the first to use center consoles for sharking despite warnings from big boat skippers of impending doom. I was tagging sharks alone on my Mako 21 that day and did have my only problem sharking as I found it hard to believe the same shark had been hooked three times. Thinking maybe another shark with a fresh tag in it might have fooled me, I pulled it close enough to the boat to try to read the tiny tag number — when the blue slapped me on the head with its tail. That knocked my sunglasses into the boat and proved to be a learning experience about not taking chances even with blue sharks!

A freshwater experience in one of my Ft. Myers ponds put a time frame on largemouth bass after I broke off a relatively small bass due to a bad spot in my leader. A week later, in the same pond and the same area of it, I hooked a bass with exactly the same twister tail grub and found my old leader hanging out of its mouth. That worked out well for the bass as it had tried to swallow the lure which had stuck in its throat and prevented it from getting anything else down before I removed both identical lures.

Tuesday morning I fished the same pond which usually provides a few small bass that will hit my 3-inch Z Man DieZel MinnowZ paddletail run across the surface with no weight. After a few small bass hits I saw a wake behind the surface lure and hooked a big bass that started jumping and thrashing on my light spinning tackle. I managed to get her up to the wet shore when she flipped over and made a couple of short runs against the drag before I moved her in again only to have the hook pull.

I returned to the same pond this morning with no expectations, and was shut out until I got to the same area where I had lost the big bass. A blind hit resulted in a big bass jumping, and this time everything went well as I released a 24-inch bucketmouth with a 14-inch girth. It looked exactly like the bass I had a clear view of when it was on the wet shore for a second – and can’t imagine that there could be two such seemingly identical large bass in a pond that small.

Though the weather was fine this morning, Capt. Ron Santee found the Raritan Bay water temperature down to 48 degrees. He had found an early bite of school stripers on bait from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands on Friday, with one angler releasing five. Yet, there was nothing doing this morning until he went further west in the bay to find 51 degrees and a few bass up to 27 inches. He won’t be sailing Sunday due to the weather.

Northeast winds at 15-20 knots are predicted for the morning along with rain. The winds drop to 10-15 in the afternoon before the clearing switch to northwest at night.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar got a good start bottom fishing this morning with lots of short blackfish and some keepers plus ling and out of season sea bass.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had good Friday conditions which produced a few tog limits plus cod. See photo below.

Following is the press release for the Manhattan Cup which is returning after last year’s postponement due to the pandemic.

The Manhattan Cup Charity Striped Bass Tournament, presented by Yamaha Outboards, is scheduled for June 4, 2021 at Liberty Landing Marina and the Liberty House Restaurant in Jersey City, NJ. You can support transitioning combat veterans and striped bass conservation by entering to fish in any of the categories or by making a tax-deductible charitable donation. Visit www.manhattancup.com for details.

The Manhattan Cup is an all-release tournament that encourages tagging of all released fish. All winning fish will be determined by a simple length/girth measurement with photo verification to reduce time out of the water and further improve survivability. Certified measuring devices will be provided. A portion of the revenue generated will be used for satellite tagging striped bass in conjunction with Gray FishTag Research and other programs aimed at conversation through expanding scientific knowledge of these amazing creatures.

The Manhattan Cup brings combat veterans to fish the tournament in a special Warrior Division aboard boats donated by area charter captains, light-tackle guides and anglers. Most are dealing with visible and invisible wounds such as PTSD. In past years this the tournament has introduced numerous vets to the joy of fishing helping some with a difficult readjustment to life after combat, while honoring their service and sacrifice.

If you’ve fished the Manhattan Cup before you know it is a first-class event that includes a pre-fishing breakfast and captain/angler meeting, gourmet box lunches for all, and an awards dinner/BBQ in the shadow of the NYC skyline at the Liberty House Restaurant. All health requirements will be in place for the event to keep participants and personnel a safe environment. Celebrity anglers will be in attendance and we will again honor FDNY hero and warrior MSgt. Christopher J. Raguso, who lost his life during Operation Inherent Resolve, the fight to destroy ISIS, in Syria in 2018. Chris was flying an air force rescue helicopter in support of special forces when his chopper went down in enemy held territory.

There are several ways you can enter or support the event. Captains can donate their boat and services for the day on our website or by calling Capt. Frank Crescitelli. Anglers can enter as a team and fish from their own boats in the Sportsman Division. Angler teams can purchase a professional captain and boat for the day or enter as an individual and be assigned to a charter boat. Can’t fish, but want to help? Make a donation to sponsor one or more warriors. No donation is too small, all are greatly appreciated. Your company can become a tournament sponsor with a product or a cash donation by calling Gary Caputi or John DePersenaire. Dinner tickets will also be available for purchase to non-fishermen who want to honor our heroes and get in on the celebration, raffles, auctions and fun.

The Manhattan Cup Charity Striped Bass Tournament, presented by Yamaha Outboards, is scheduled for June 4, 2021 at Liberty Landing Marina and the Liberty House Restaurant in Jersey City, NJ. You can support transitioning combat veterans and striped bass conservation by entering to fish in any of the categories or by making a tax-deductible charitable donation. Visit www.manhattancup.com for details.

Go to www.manhattancup.com and sign up, donate or purchase tickets. If you have questions call John DePersenaire at the RFA at 609-294-3810, Gary Caputi at 732-740-9982 or Capt. Frank Crescitelli at 917-468-4817.

The Manhattan Cup is underwritten and sponsored by the RFA-Fisheries Conservation Trust and presented by Yamaha Outboards. Sponsors  include Staten Island Yacht Sales, Steigercraft boats, Interlux, Raymarine, Liberty Landing Marina, Black Rifle Coffee, D&R Boat Sales, Fin Chasers TV, Tsunami Awesome Tackle, Bimini Bay, The Fisherman, Alltackle.com, AFW Fishing Brands, Tony Maja Products, Starbrite, Princeton Tec, StormR, Costa del Mar Sunglasses, Pettit, Manhattan2Montauk, Guides Secret lures, Gray Taxidermy, the Recreational Fishing Alliance, AFTCO, ‘Wichcraft, and other companies to be announced at a later date.

Nick Honachefsky is offering a new surf guiding service during which he will show anglers how to fish the barrier islands and Island Beach State Park. For details e-mail Nick at saltwaterunderground @gmail.com

Today’s west wind was fine for surfcasters, but there were no boat reports. However, those west winds should have flattened the ocean in time for Saturday — when the forecast is for west winds at 5-10 knots before becoming south at 10-15 with gusts to 20 in the afternoon. Unfortunately, that will lead to east winds and rain on Sunday.

Capt. Joe Massa not only caught blackfish not far off Long Branch Sunday, but also added cod on his My Three Sons from Morgan Marina.

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Today’s west winds may set up good fishing conditions in NY/NJ Bight for Saturday — before it goes the other way on Sunday.

The marine forecast is for west at 15-20 knots with gusts to 25 on Friday. That drops off to a mere west at 5-10 knots Saturday, and after all the west wind the ocean should be flat. Unfortunately, that all changes on Sunday with a north wind at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25 and rain.

Striper fishing in Raritan Bay has good, though party boats have been having a tough time getting them to hit on jigs and bait. Trollers seem to be doing best, though some charter and private boaters have been getting into a jig bite. The usual live bunker and chunking bite has been spotty — though not for a lack of stripers. Everyone seems to mark them, though they don’t always cooperate. The ocean striper fishery has been suffering the same fate, but that should be turning on any day now. Surfcasters have been finding more stripers, especially when using bloodworms.

Blackfishing has been generally good, but the spring season closes at the end of the month. Sea bass are also showing up in ocean catches, but are still out of season. Black drum have started showing in South Jersey, and the first bluefish have also been caught there. Delaware River shad fishing is well underway. Bluefin tuna are hitting in the canyons. The Canyon Runner from Point Pleasant had been sold out, but one date each in June and July just opened up.

Chuck Many sent this shot of Chris Christiansen with a big striper before release on Ty Man in Raritan Bay.

A gale warning is going up for mariners in NY/NJ Bight at 6:30 p.m. — but it should lead to a calm Saturday.

West winds at 20-25 knots with gusts to 35 are predicted for the morning.

Andreas Toy from Keyport reported good action with large stripers on live bunkers morning after that method wasn’t good yesterday morning.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported Tuesday’s bottom fishing on a nice ocean wasn’t very good though the high hook managed a couple of keeper blackfish along with a dozen shorts. There were also some cod and ling.

Capt. Joe Massa caught this 11-pound tog Sunday off Long Branch on his My Three Sons from Morgan Marina.

Though there had been some rumors of bluefish in South Jersey, Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom actually had a photo of a big one caught yesterday -though with no details.

Capt. Vinny Vetere of Great Kills said there was an early striper bite in Raritan Bay this morning as 12 were trolled on yellow and white spoons before he returned by 10:30.

After some very nice days, there’s a big change coming. Small craft warnings go up before they go to a gale watch Wednesday afternoon. Tomorrow starts with south winds at 15-20 knots with gusts to 25.

At Belmar, the Big Mohawk from Belmar reported lots of short blackfish plus some limits and even cod on Sunday’s trip. The Golden Eagle couldn’t find any stripers today, but bottom fishing for blackfish, ling and cod was good before it got nasty on the ocean. They won’t be be fishing the next two days due to the weather.

Capt. Ron Santee started out this morning with decent striper action on bait until the current ran stronger into the wind. There had been two to three on at a time until then. The high hook caught five, but there was no mention of whether any were keepers. Santee is looking at Friday as the probable next trip.

A few school stripers are now being caught in the Jersey surf along with an occasional keeper. Bloodworms have been most effective.

The shad run on the Delaware River is well underway. Denise Leonard sent the photo below of a 7-pound roe shad released by Allan Krupa of Crosswicks after it hit a flutter spoon. A shad that large could be a big money winner in an upcoming contest.

It was brief and not very descriptive, but Capt. Rob Semkewyc finally had striper action to report in Raritan Bay today with his Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands.

The first decent party boat striper report consisted of shorts up to 26 inches plus several keepers. The Fishermen from that port hadn’t reported when this was written, but Capt. Ron Santee did get into some striper action Sunday with a 28 1/2-inch pool winner and some shorts on bait– including three for a couple of anglers. Scott Leadbeater fished his center console out of that port on Sunday, and wasn’t able to catch bass casting before switching to trolling which produced a variety of bass sizes from 25 inches up to 20 pounds that he released after getting away from the boat traffic.

Chuck Many was out in the bay Sunday afternoon as his crew only tagged and released 10 stripers, but they were all large with three over 30 pounds up to a 41-pounder. That action was on live bunkers and plugs made by Cesar Carranza — including one by Many on his second cast with that lure (see photo).

Capt. Joe Massa and his crew on My Three Sons from Morgan Marina ran down to Long Branch on Sunday to get into lots of short blackfish while boating seven up to an 11-pounder plus two cod. On the way back there were gannets working off Sandy Hook, but they were over dolphins blasting into bunkers. The weather has been perfect, and that lasts into tomorrow with southwest winds at 10-15 knots before the weather turns that night.

There are lots of fish marks in Raritan Bay, and charter boats continue to do well with both shorts and keepers with jigs and by trolling, but the conditions just haven’t been right for party boats.

That problem was summarized today by Capt. Rob Semkewyc of the Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands as follows: ” Frustrating is the best way to describe the fishing. For over a week now we have been seeing lots of stripers on the fish finder but they just won’t eat. The charter boats trolling catch some but that’s not even that good. All you hear on the radio is they are piled up but we can’t catch them. We did get one nice keeper today and a handful of shorts but for what I see we should be crushing them. It could be a early spawn but who can say for sure. We will be back out there tomorrow and hope for the spring run to really get going. See you soon, Capt. Rob”

The Sea Tiger from that port also struggled on its Saturday half-day trips as jigs didn;t work and a switch to bait produced only a few shorts, though one angler caught three. The afternoon was no better.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar also reported some frustration Saturday while catching blackfish as a strong current from the north resulted in a hot bite only in the bow even after re-anchoring. There were lots of shorts, but anglers in the bow also had limits.

Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina reported school stripers are being caught in the surf on lures, clams and bloodworms. Blackfish are available in the inlet. A good local freshwater catch was the 9-pound channel catfish by Stanley Davis.

The weather continues to be great with a forecast for the morning of south breezes at 5-10 knots.

Though the pandemic wiped out the traditional sportsman’s shows, the return of the Manhattan Cup on June 4 is a big step forward on the return to normalcy. Tournament Chairman Gary Caputi notes that everything will be the same as with the last contest. – but bigger and better. I’ll have the details shortly.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had another frustrating morning reading stripers and bait in the ocean while not getting any bites. However, turning to bottom fishing produced two dozen blackfish, a dozen ling and a cod. They also returned 18 sea bass that aren’t in season. They plan to start looking for stripers again at 7:30 tomorrow before bottom fishing if necessary.

The Raritan Bay report from Atlantic Highlands wasn’t as good. Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen said the jig bite wasn’t on, so he went to bait despite a wind against tide situation. On the change of tide at mid-day there was some action with short stripers, though no keepers. Santee noted that he marked small bass in many areas. Bob Matthews of Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina tried the local surf this morning for stripers, but only saw a beautiful sky.

The forecast is great for Sunday with a northwest breeze at 5-10 knots before turning south in the afternoon.

Through party boats and some anglers have been struggling for a keeper, there seem to be plenty of schoolies in Raritan Bay.

Denise Leonard noted that a friend trolled over 20 bass on a shad umbrella rig without a 28-incher among them, but charter skippers such as Jim Freda on Shore Catch and Fred Gamboa of Andreas Toy have been reporting limits daily while casting and trolling shads, small swimmers and Spooks on light tackle. Capt. Vinnie Vetere was also in on that fishing, and will start chartering with his Katfish from Great Kills next week.

Big bass have been another story even though they seem to be available in the bay. Capt. Joe Massa reports bunkers are abundant and he marks many larger stripers on his My Three Sons from Morgan Marina. The bigger bass just don’t seem to be interested in chunks and live baits sometimes — though that will surely change.

This could be the weekend when ocean stripers finally turn on. The Golden Eagle from Belmar will be looking for them again on Saturday and daily after that. They have been seeing some though none have hit so far. A few mackerel were caught on the last trip, and this is the month when those fish used to swim along the Atlantic coast from Virginia to the north by the millions. NOAA Fisheries screwed that up by allowing foreign fleets to load up with “surplus” mackerel despite scientific advice and opposition by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. All we can do now is to hope for a miracle recovery just as was the case after the 200-mile limit was enacted.

The N.J. blackfish fleet will be out this weekend to get in their shots before the season closes at the end of the month. The weather looks great after the small craft advisory ends late tonight. Saturday’s forecast is for northwest winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 25 before dropping out to west at a mere 5-10 knots by early afternoon. Sunday looks perfect with west winds at 5-10 knots.

When I fish with Crazy Alberto Knie in Florida it’s usually exotics that are targeted, such as the colorful and tough-fighting peacock bass. Thanks to Lee Wakefield and Seth Joel for their help and the photo.

NOAA Fisheries

Shortfin Mako 90-day Finding NOAA Fisheries published a 90-day finding on a petition to list the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to designate critical habitat concurrent with the listing.  This finding states that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. The NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources is initiating a status review of the species to determine whether listing under the ESA is warranted. To ensure this status review is comprehensive, the agency is soliciting scientific and commercial information regarding this species.  The deadline for providing scientific and commercial information is June 14.  For more information please go to the NOAA Fisheries website or the Federal Register.Fishery Bulletins and Notices Visit NOAA Fisheries’ Rules & Regulations directory to learn more about recent federal management actions affecting Atlantic highly migratory species. Visit our WebsiteSubscribe to Atlantic HMS News Regulations on recreational mako fishing are already so strict that it’s almost impossible to hold the traditional tournaments for them. Those sharks take so long to mature and produce so few young that it’s always seemed to me to be a miracle that they have managed to survive in the face of ever greater fishing pressure. A small craft advisory is going up at 6 p.m. and continues through late Friday night. The Friday forecast is for northwest winds at 15-20 knots with gusts to 25 and a chance of morning rain — but the weekend looks good. The Big Mohawk from Belmar had poor conditions Wednesday though some blackfish up to about 8 pounds were caught along with a cod.