New Jersey Fishing Reports

Bluefin tuna to 200 pounds were boated mid-range, like at the Chicken Canyon and the Triple Wrecks, and yellowfin tuna were sometimes mixed in, said Alex from The Reel Seat in Brielle. The bluefins were trolled on ballyhoos or were hooked on cast plugs like Shimano Orcas or on jigs like Shimano Waxwings. Nothing was really heard about tuna fishing farther from shore at local canyons like the Hudson. A few yellowfins could probably be found there, if a trip ran into them. The number of mahi mahi seemed to begin increasing for the season at places like that. Thresher sharks, a bunch, reportedly roamed 20 to 40 miles from shore.

A bluefin tuna 63 inches, weighing 140 or 150 pounds, was kept and a 58-incher, probably 125 pounds, was released Sunday on the Tin Knocker from Point Pleasant, Capt. John said. The fish were trolled 77 miles from Manasquan Inlet on ballyhoos in green, 72.6-degree water. Porpoises, about the only life spotted, were seen on the fishing grounds on the trip. The boat will get back after bluefins this Sunday.

Yellowfin tuna to 60 pounds were bagged with Mushin Sportfishing from Point Pleasant Beach, “with many more released,” Capt. Alan wrote in an email Saturday. Mako sharks, other sharks and golden and blueline tilefish were also reeled in. This was all on 30-hour, extended trips to Spencer to Poorman’s canyons on trips from Cape May, where Mushin is docked this month to take advantage of the southern tuna fishing. Bluefin tuna also began to bite at inshore lumps south of Cape May, another catch available on the trips. Charters and a limited number of open-boat trips are sailing. Room was available for a trip tomorrow to Sunday, and telephone Mushin to climb aboard.

Barnegat Inlet

From an edited email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the Hi Flier from Barnegat: “We just got back from OC, MD, (on Tuesday for tuna and other big-game fishing) with the Hi Flier. She’s back, and we’re jumping into our home-based fishing. We did pretty good down there. We didn’t kill it, but weren’t awful. The weather allowed us to get out four days out of the 10 we were there.” Dave attached photos from the trip, including a 60-pound bluefin that was Steve Spina from Canton, Conn.’s, first-ever tuna. “(The tuna) crushed a rainbow spreader bar,” Dave wrote. “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhB5RBwXsvA" target="_blank">Here’s a few minutes of the end-game.</a>” The photos also included: Anthony Scalea Jr. from Cranford’s mahi mahi that snatched a flat-lined cedar plug; Dave’s son Nick DeGennaro’s first wahoo, a 31-pounder that smoked a ballyhoo that he learned to rig on the ride out; and Steve Ondrof from Rockaway, N.J.’s, first billfish, a 90-plus-pound white marlin “that put on an endless show of jumps and greyhounding,” Dave wrote. “We counted eight jumps in a row on just one of his aerials. Big thanks to Darren Dorris who gratefully was on board to teach Nick how to rig Joe Shutes with ballyhoos and how to maneuver the boat and handle a marlin boat-side. I didn’t anticipate a billfish, because I had tuna on my brain when making our packing list. So I didn’t have any leader gloves. Nick volunteered the sleeves of his sweatshirt, and Darren used them as makeshift gloves to bill the fish for a few quick pics, and then we revived her until she swam away on her own. A magnificent thing to experience. Had the trip of a lifetime down there with both my boys, Nick, 18, and Max, 16, working deck, while I ran the boat. Max stuck his first fish with a gaff, the 60-pound bluefin. He also did battle with a 150-pound Southern Sting Ray that ate a chunk bait. After 30 minutes, he got him close enough for me to cut the leader at his mouth. Nick filled the void of Darren’s departure by taking over the cockpit and rigging all the baits, and they caught fish. Locally, we’re jumping right into grass shrimping and other gourmet baits for weakfish and the mixed-bag on light tackle (on Barnegat Bay). There are also blues and striped bass to catch in the inlet, throwing soft-plastic and surface lures. We’re also running offshore in search of tuna and mahi.” He was available for inshore fishing this afternoon. “On Sunday and Monday,” he continued in the email, “I’m available for inshore or offshore, morning and afternoon. The marine weather looks favorable, so if nobody charters those days, I’ll run open-boat trips then to the 50- to 60-mile bluefin grounds. This is mostly a trolling trip, but we’ll always be armed with jigs and casting gear in case the opportunity presents itself. Four people max, all fish are shared. Depart at 3 a.m., return 12 hours later (probably later). Everything is provided. Just bring whatever you want to eat and drink for the time we’re out.”

Tuna fishing sounded off and on, said Chris from Bobbie’s Boat Rentals in Barnegat Light. Or maybe that depended on the anglers. Some good fishing for them was reported. Bobbie’s features a complete bait and tackle shop, a fuel dock and small-boat and kayak rentals.

Beach Haven Inlet

The year’s first offshore trip is slated for Tuesday on the June Bug from Beach Haven, Capt. Lindsay said. Heads up: He’s looking for a mate for the boat. If someone, say a young angler, wants to learn the job, he’s also willing to teach. Call him: 609-685-2839.

Great Egg Harbor Inlet

Fishing picked away at yellowfin tuna at canyons on the troll, said Capt. Mike from the Stray Cat from Longport. The fish were nailed at Wilmington Canyon recently. A few bluefin tuna held inshore, like at the offshore edge of the Elephant Trunk. Charters are tuna fishing aboard, and some open-boat trips will sail for the fishing later this summer. Telephone if interested. Twelve-hour charters are fishing for mahi mahi and wahoos along the 30-fathom line. Closer to shore, the boat ran into Spanish mackerel, snapper blues and mahi mahi while returning from bottom-fishing yesterday. That broke wide open -- “all kind of stuff,” he said, and the boat trolls for them this time of year on charters and open trips. Previously, he saw false albacore, bonito and a few snappers at Atlantic City Ridge, and said triggerfish held along buoys, so the water, 73 degrees, was just getting right for southern fish like these.

Last week, yellowfin tuna fishing was decent at Spencer and Baltimore canyons, said Pat from Fin-Atics in Ocean City. Yellowfin fishing seemed to slow a bit currently. Bluefin tuna began to be caught inshore like at the Lobster Claw and the Hot Dog. Most seemed trolled, but some were chunked that were heard about. Tuna at the canyons were all trolled.

Townsend’s Inlet

Four yellowfin tuna to 60 pounds and three mahi mahi were trolled at Wilmington Canyon aboard Monday, said Capt. Joe Hughes from Jersey Cape Guide Service and Sea Isle Bait & Tackle in Sea Isle City. The water, okay-looking, not super blue, not marlin water, was 77 degrees and became 73 when 100 fathoms was crossed. Dolphins, whales and turtles were seen. On the evening before the trip, Joe said tuna fishing seemed to slow down but still produce, and the number of mahi mahi caught was increasing for the season. Keep up with his fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

Cape May Inlet

On the Heavy Hitter from Cape May, fishing went 1 for 2 on bluefin tuna on Dave Titus’s charter Saturday inshore, Capt. George said. The one landed was 50 inches, and both were jigged that were hooked. The trip had anchored and had begun chunking at 5 a.m. when the fish hit 5 minutes later at a spot someone had told George about. Then other boats came piling in, catching none. Heavy Hitter was the first there. The water was bluish-green and 74 degrees, and tuna were marked well. Anglers who fished the spot afterward last weekend went 1 for 2 on the fish whom George knew about. Heavy Hitter’s trip also trolled from Massey’s Canyon to the Hot Dog. Tuna fishing might’ve been somewhat slow around the weekend, maybe because of the full moon. Anglers who fished Wilmington Canyon complained about catches and also rough seas then. George never likes fishing during the full moon, whether for tuna, striped bass or anything. He thought the waning moon this week could help tuna fishing. How long tuna will keep biting within range of Cape May can’t be known. George would like to see them bite all summer. But they were biting now. Telephone if interested.

Tuna trips fished at the canyons on the troll with Fishin’ Fever Sportfishing from Cape May, and the angling was okay, Capt. Tom said. Catches were kind of tough during the recent full moon, but went pretty well aboard. A fair number of 45- to 60-pound yellowfin tuna and a few mahi mahi were bagged. The fishing on the boat had a few shots at white marlin, and had another blue marlin jump into the spread. A previous trip went 1 for 2 on blues, landing a 400-pounder, covered in a previous report here. Inshore tuna fishing sounded like it began to produce, mostly on chunks and jigs. A couple of friends lit into them.

Tuna seemed to be trolled from canyons, said Nick from Hands Too Bait & Tackle in Cape May. They had been located between Wilmington and Spencer canyons. Mahi mahi were mixed in. Tuna were also hooked inshore. Baits stocked include all for offshore.