Tight Lines

The bluefin tuna season is open. and there have been reports of catches already.

There is a small craft warning up through Sunday afternoon in NY/NJ Bight to be upped to a gale warning.

Anglers in NY/NJ Bight don’t have a lot to fish for at this time of year, but they are predicted to have calm weather to try it on Saturday. The marine forecast is for north winds at just 5-10 knots before going to south at 15 knots.

Anglers planning to compete in the Fisherman magazine Dream Boat Challenge must subscribe to that publication, and can do so during the show season while also receiving a Danco Pliers

Capt. Mark DeBlasio reports their winter season in N.C. with Water Proof has been very good as follows: “January, we will doing our winter promo for a 2026 canyon overnight trip. Book before February 1 and get $300 off that trip. Call or text 201 988-5474.

Now for a fishing report .. our commercial season in OBX is moving along nicely. Good weather and solid fishing with a commercial fish landed every day. Good amount of shorts mixed in as well which should be good for our groups that want to jig and pop. More and more fish showing every day .. we have been testing the redesigned Shad Life bugeye head and the new design has been getting a ton of bites. Our biggest fish so far fell to the Wolfpack Tackle Tungsten head. We have some new TN Tackle heads that will be going in the mix here shortly for testing as well.January, we will doing our winter promo for a 2026 canyon overnight trip. Book before F

Now for a fishing report .. our commercial season in OBX is moving along nicely. Good weather and solid fishing with a commercial fish landed every day. Good amount of shorts mixed in as well which should be good for our groups that want to jig and pop. More and more fish showing every day .. we have been testing the redesigned Shad Life bugeye head and the new design has been getting a ton of bites. Our biggest fish so far fell to the Wolfpack Tackle Tungsten head. We have some new TN Tackle heads that will be going in the mix here shortly for testing as well.January, we will doing our winter promo for a 2026 canyon overnight trip. Book before February 1 and get $300 off that trip.

Now for a fishing report .. our commercial season in OBX is moving along nicely. Good weather and solid fishing with a commercial fish landed every day. Good amount of shorts mixed in as well which should be good for our groups that want to jig and pop. More and more fish showing every day .. we have been testing the redesigned Shad Life bugeye head and the new design has been getting a ton of bites. Our biggest fish so far fell to the Wolfpack Tackle Tungsten head. We have some new TN Tackle heads that will be going in the mix here shortly for testing as well.January, we will doing our winter promo for a 2026 canyon overnight trip. Book before February 1 and solid fishing with a commercial fish landed every day. Good amount of shorts mixed in as well which should be good for our groups that want to jig and pop. More and more fish showing every day .. we have been testing the redesigned Shad Life bugeye head and the new design has been getting a ton of bites. Our biggest fish so far fell to the Wolfpack Tackle Tungsten head. We have some new TN Tackle heads that will be going in the mix here shortly for testing as well.January, we will doing our winter promo for a 2026 canyon overnight trip. Book before February 1 and get $300 off that trip.

Now for a fishing report .. our commercial season in OBX is moving along nicely. Good weather and solid fishing with a commercial fish landed every day. Good amount of shorts mixed in as well which should be good for our groups that want to jig and pop. More and more fish showing every day .. we have been testing the redesigned Shad Life bugeye head and the new design has been getting a ton of bites. Our biggest fish so far fell to the Wolfpack Tackle Tungsten head. We have some new TN Tackle heads that will be going in the mix here shortly for testing as well.

The weather forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for south winds at at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 25 in the afternoon. Morning rain is possible.

The Philadelphia Fishing Show has always run at the end of that season, but has been moved this year to this weekend in the Greater Philadelphia Exo Center in Oaks. Pa. from noon Friday through Sunday. Admission is $12 for adults. For info visit phillyfishingshow.com

Vinny D’Anton got off to a good start after arriving at his winter home in Sarasota. He fished at Longboat Key and found the spotted seatrout waiting for him to wade out while casting a Mirrolure Mirradine plug. A hard fighting gafftopsail catfish was also released.

The forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for northwest winds at 10-15 knots before dropping to west at 5-10 in the afternoon.

Raritan Bay Capt. Frank Mihalic drove down to Cape May for great winter blackfishing as follows:

“What a day on Fishing Fever with Capt Tom Daffin doing what he does… Special thanks to Garrett Weir and PhishFinders for putting this group together…and to Lenny for being an Awsome guy. Everybody caught fish all day long…easy boat limit.

Capt Tom got a 10 lb Dandy that was tagged…documented and sent her home.first crab down for me found me on the other end of an 11.5 female that went back happy and healthy…I also had a 7.5 and 2 more 7pounders. Last couple hours was a catch and release game. What a day ! Thanks again guys. Let’s do it again real soon!What a day on Fishing Fever with Capt Tom Daffin doing what he does… Special thanks to Garrett Weir and PhishFinders for putting this group together…and to Lenny for being an Awsome guy. Everybody caught fish all day long…easy boat limit.

Capt Tom got a 10 lb Dandy that was tagged…documented and sent her home.first crab down for me found me on the other end of an 11.5 female that went back happy and healthy…I also had a 7.5 and 2 more 7pounders. Last couple hours was a catch and release game. What a day ! Thanks again guys. Let’s do it again real soon!What a day on Fishing Fever with Capt Tom Daffin doing what he does… Special thanks to Garrett Weir and PhishFinders for putting this group together…and to Lenny for being an Awsome guy. Everybody caught fish all day long…easy boat limit.

Capt Tom got a 10 lb Dandy that was tagged…documented and sent her home.first crab down for me found me on the other end of an 11.5 female that went back happy and healthy…I also had a 7.5 and 2 more 7pounders. Last couple hours was a catch and release game. What a day ! Thanks again guys. Let’s do it again real soon!What a day on Fishing Fever with Capt Tom Daffin doing what he does… Special thanks to Garrett Weir and PhishFinders for putting this group together…and to Lenny for being an Awsome guy. Everybody caught fish all day long…easy boat limit.

Capt Tom got a 10 lb Dandy that was tagged…documented and sent her home.first crab down for me found me on the other end of an 11.5 female that went back happy and healthy…I also had a 7.5 and 2 more 7pounders. Last couple hours was a catch and release game. What a day ! Thanks again guys. Let’s do it again real soon!What a day on Fishing Fever with Capt Tom Daffin doing what he does… Special thanks to Garrett Weir and PhishFinders for putting this group together…and to Lenny for being an Awsome guy. Everybody caught fish all day long…easy boat limit.

Capt Tom got a 10 lb Dandy that was tagged…documented and sent her home.first crab down for me found me on the other end of an 11.5 female that went back happy and healthy…I also had a 7.5 and 2 more 7pounders. Last couple hours was a catch and release game. What a day ! Thanks again guys. Let’s do it again real soon!”

A small craft warning is up in NY/NJ Bight from Wednesday morning to late night. West winds will be 15-20 knots plus gusts to 30 with a slight chance of morning rain.

George Poveromo’s fishing show continues its TV run as follows:

Proudly announcing that our 26th year of World of Saltwater Fishing premiers on the Discovery Channel on Sunday, January 4th at 8:00 a.m. (ET)! We’ll also air on ESPN2 in Q2. Episodes will also post on my YouTube channel: George Poveromo TV. Full schedule here: www.georgepoveromo.com

Proudly announcing that our 26th year of World of Saltwater Fishing premiers on the Discovery Channel on Sunday, January 4th at 8:00 a.m. (ET)! We’ll also air on ESPN2 in Q2. Episodes will also post on my YouTube channel: George Poveromo TV. Full schedule here: www.georgepoveromo.com

Another day of good weather is forecasted for NY/NJ Bight WITH NORTHWEST WINDS AT JUST 5 KNOTS BEFORE GOING SOUTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON.

The Monday forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for northwest winds at a mere 5-18 knots — which is about as calm as it gets. That’s ideal for blackfishing which is a good bet for N.J. party boats such as the Big Mohawk from Belmar.

Bluefin tuna were spotted well into the winter, and anglers are anticipating an early start to the 2026 season.

NOAA Fisheries said it plans to take action as early as possible in 2026 to implement updated bluefin tuna quotas agreed to during the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Federal officials also reminded anglers that strict reporting requirements remain in effect.

Owners of vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat categories must report all bluefin tuna that are retained or discarded dead, as well as all retained billfish and swordfish, within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip.

Additional information on highly migratory species bag limits and reporting requirements is available through NOAA Fisheries.NOAA Fisheries said it plans to take action as early as possible in 2026 to implement updated bluefin tuna quotas agreed to during the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Federal officials also reminded anglers that strict reporting requirements remain in effect.

Owners of vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat categories must report all bluefin tuna that are retained or discarded dead, as well as all retained billfish and swordfish, within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip.

Additional information on highly migratory species bag limits and reporting requirements is available through NOAA Fisheries.NOAA Fisheries said it plans to take action as early as possible in 2026 to implement updated bluefin tuna quotas agreed to during the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Federal officials also reminded anglers that strict reporting requirements remain in effect.

Owners of vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat categories must report all bluefin tuna that are retained or discarded dead, as well as all retained billfish and swordfish, within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip.

Additional information on highly migratory species bag limits and reporting requirements is available through NOAA Fisheries.NOAA Fisheries said it plans to take action as early as possible in 2026 to implement updated bluefin tuna quotas agreed to during the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Federal officials also reminded anglers that strict reporting requirements remain in effect.

Owners of vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat categories must report all bluefin tuna that are retained or discarded dead, as well as all retained billfish and swordfish, within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip.

Additional information on highly migratory species bag limits and reporting requirements is available through NOAA Fisheries.NOAA Fisheries said it plans to take action as early as possible in 2026 to implement updated bluefin tuna quotas agreed to during the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Federal officials also reminded anglers that strict reporting requirements remain in effect.

Owners of vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat categories must report all bluefin tuna that are retained or discarded dead, as well as all retained billfish and swordfish, within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip.

Additional information on highly migratory species bag limits and reporting requirements is available through NOAA Fisheries.NOAA Fisheries said it plans to take action as early as possible in 2026 to implement updated bluefin tuna quotas agreed to during the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Federal officials also remind anglers that strict reporting requirements remain in effect.

Owners of vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat categories must report all bluefin tuna that are retained or discarded dead, as well as all retained billfish and swordfish, within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip.

Additional information on highly migratory species bag limits and reporting requirements is available through NOAA Fisheries.NOAA Fisheries said it plans to take action as early as possible in 2026 to implement updated bluefin tuna quotas agreed to during the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Federal officials also reminded anglers that strict reporting requirements remain in effect.

Owners of vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat categories must report all bluefin tuna that are retained or discarded dead, as well as all retained billfish and swordfish, within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip.

Additional information on highly migratory species bag limits and reporting requirements is available through NOAA Fisheries.NOAA Fisheries said it plans to take action as early as possible in 2026 to implement updated bluefin tuna quotas agreed to during the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Federal officials also reminded anglers that strict reporting requirements remain in effect.

Owners of vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat categories must report all bluefin tuna that are retained or discarded dead, as well as all retained billfish and swordfish, within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip.

Additional information on highly migratory species bag limits and reporting requirements is available through NOAA Fisheries.NOAA Fisheries said it plans to take action as early as possible in 2026 to implement updated bluefin tuna quotas agreed to during the 2025 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Federal officials also reminded anglers that strict reporting requirements remain in effect.

Owners of vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat categories must report all bluefin tuna that are retained or discarded dead, as well as all retained b

illfish and swordfish, within 24 hours of landing or the end of each trip.

Additional information on highly migratory species bag limits and reporting requirements is available through NOAA Fisheries.

Sunday’s forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for northwest winds at 10-15 knots.

Saturday may actually be a nice day for fishing with the wind forecast down to northwest at just 10-15 knots in NY/NJ Bight Some snow is possible in the evening.

Blackfishing may be the best bet at present, and being able to present a crab bait on the bottom without it being yanked up with every big wave improves chances of fooling the wary tautog.

Though cod may be uncounted, blackfish remain the most likely target for N.J. party boats. The Big Mohawk from Belmar is planning to seek them in the morning. The gale warning comes down at 6 p.m. ,and the forecast in NY/NJ Bight Improves to northwest at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25.