NEW YORK

Point Lookout

Cod fishing improved quite a bit on the party boat Captain Al, Capt. Tom Weiss said. Trips sailed a couple of times this past week between rough weather, and only nine anglers climbed aboard Thursday, but they decked more than 50 keeper cod to 20 pounds. Most cod on trips were clammed, but a few anglers jigged for the fish and caught. Mackerel and herring were mixed in on trips. The Captain Al is this site's closest Long Island cod boat to New Jersey. Trips run 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. See More Info. Call: 516-623-2248.

VIRGINIA

Virginia Beach

A gale weathered out the weekly party boat trip to Norfolk Canyon on Saturday with Rudee Inlet Charters, Capt. Skip Feller. But the long-range forecast looks good for this Saturday’s trip. The last trip cleaned up on blueline tilefish, covered in the last report. The fishing was “as good as we’ve seen,” Skip said in the report. Out-of-season sea bass were mixed in and tossed back, and too many people were aboard for the trip to fish deeper for catches like golden tilefish. But sometimes the trips fish deeper. Sixteen-hour trips are sailing to Norfolk Canyon every Saturday from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. for catches including blueline tilefish, golden tiles, black belly rosefish, wreckfish and groupers. Call: 757-422-5700 or 757-425-3400. Visit Web Site.

Fishing for striped bass started to slow down because of strong winds, a report on Virginia Beach Fishing Center’s Web site said by Thursday. Many trips had been weathered out last week by then, but the stripers that were docked were large. Two 50-pounders, a 48-pouner, three 46-pounders and four from 40 to 45 pounds were the citation stripers at the marina that day. Quality over quantity, the report said. On Friday three bluefin tuna were weighed in: a 279-pounder, a 146-pounder and a 129-pounder. Two bluefins 68 and 69 inches were reported released that day. “It’s hard to imagine that these enormous fish are not even 2 miles off the beach,” the report said. Most boats that day sailed for tuna, and only a few stripers were seen at the marina then. Four bluefins 137 pounds to 321 pounds and one striper 43 pounds were checked in Saturday. The fleet was mostly weathered out Sunday. On Monday no reports about tuna rolled in, but captains saw large schools of bait, so they expected tuna would return. They did. By this morning, a crew from one boat checked in a 144-pounder, reporting hooking many more. Some boats were still out fishing when this report was posted. Visit Web Site.

NORTH CAROLINA

Oregon Inlet

Boaters from Oregon Inlet Fishing Center mostly caught and released bluefin tuna, Denise MacNamara said. On Friday four boats sailed, and bluefins were released on three, and the other brought back a 62-incher. Two mahi mahi were also bagged on one. On Saturday three boats ran, and one returned with a 62-inch bluefin, and another released one. Striped bass were yet to arrive, and waters were 50 degrees, warm for the arrival. The rockfish remained in Virginia. Yellowfin tuna fishing usually turns on in late February and in March for the marina’s boaters. Visit Web Site.

Hatteras

Oregon Inlet

Boaters from Oregon Inlet Fishing Center mostly caught and released bluefin tuna, Denise MacNamara said. On Friday four boats sailed, and bluefins were released on three, and the other brought back a 62-incher. Two mahi mahi were also bagged on one. On Saturday three boats ran, and one returned with a 62-inch bluefin, and another released one. Striped bass were yet to arrive, and waters were 50 degrees, warm for the arrival. The rockfish remained in Virginia. Yellowfin tuna fishing usually turns on in late February and in March for the marina’s boaters. Visit Web Site.

FLORIDA

Islamorada

Sailfish, lots of king mackerel and occasional blackfin tuna, wahoos and mahi mahi were trolled with Sea Horse Charters, Capt. Rick Rodriguez said. Trips set out a trolling spread to catch the variety of fish, covering different depths, using different baits for the different fish, dragging the baits along the offshore edge of the reef, a few miles from shore. Sailfish could be hooked on different trolled live baits like ballyhoos, goggleyes or threadfin herring. Sailfishing wasn’t bad and wasn’t good. Anglers had to be in the right place at the right time, but trips got their shots at sails. It took a little work. The kings could be taken on trolled de-boned ballyhoos but also on live baits fished deep. They’re not picky, and live speedos clocked the bigger ones. Bottom fishing aboard could pump in fish like yellowtail snappers and mutton snappers. The weather was beautiful with 75- to 80-degree days and light winds. “It’s the place to be right now, I suppose,” Rick said. Call: 305-664-5020. Visit Web Site.

A big push of king mackerel finally arrived, said Capt. Ben Loy from the party boat Miss Islamorada. The winter migration served up 20 to 80 boated every day on the vessel, depending on the number of people aboard. Anglers could keep two, and usually 30 anglers, a decent crowd, fished on deck per day.  Trips concentrated on the kingfish while the fish were in, and targeting them takes effort that doesn’t leave time to fish for other species on trips. Once hooked, the macks zip around the boat on a wild run. Anglers hooked them on flashy lures like spoons or diamond jigs or on dead ballyhoos. Before the kings moved in, trips mostly fished for yellowtail snappers. When rough weather kept the snappers from biting, trips honed in on porgies and hogfish that respond better in cooler weather. The weather lately was calm, with highs in the 80s and lows in the 70s. Later this week is supposed to be windier. Visit Web Site.

Costa Rica

Lost Suenos

Sailfishing was strong every day on the Dream Girl, averaging 6 to 10 caught and released per trip this past week, Capt. Pete Wagner said in an e-mail. Pete, who charters on the Hyper Striper from Highlands, New Jersey, the rest of the year, charters in winter on the Dream Girl from Costa Rica. Ten sailfish to 120 pounds were caught and released Monday with Anthony Monaco’s party from New Jersey. A 40-pound bull dorado was also cracked. If anglers are looking to get away, e-mail Pete about a Costa Rica fishing adventure, he said. Visit Web Site.

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