Fishing column 6-16-14
Most people are familiar with tuna, I would bet most people
have eaten tuna salad sandwiches, or eaten tuna at a sushi restaurant. One of
the most popular shows on the National Geographic channel is Wicked Tuna. That
show has shown the general public the beauty and power of the Bluefin Tuna.
I wonder how many people realize that tuna fishing can be very
good in the waters off of NJ. Yellowfin,
Bluefin, BigEye, and Albacore tuna can all be landed in the Mid-Atlantic
region. Tuna as a species are some of
the fastest and largest growing predators in the ocean. The Bluefin Tuna can achieve giant status and
reach nearly 10ft in length and weights over 1000lbs!
Normally we see Bluefin arrive in the waters off of NJ in
mid to late April depending on the water temperatures. They are voracious
feeders and are looking for large concentrations of food. The first wave is
usually the largest and they rarely stay in our waters. They have a one track
mind and are moving to summering grounds where there are higher concentrations
of bait to maintain the calories they need for their massive size. The first really good tuna fishing comes when
an eddy breaks off of the Gulf Stream and brings the warm nutrient rich waters
into the canyons. This usually brings in
a mixture of Bluefin and Yellowfin. Trolling in the canyon edges around these
temperature breaks is the most common way of targeting these fish. Trolling dead ballyhoo, cedar plugs, green
machines, spreader bars and various other lures from 5-9 knots is typical. Last summer we had one of the best Big Eye
Tuna seasons in recent memory. Big Eyes are notorious for coming in schools and
decimating the trolling spread of many an angler. They are one of the most
challenging of the tuna to catch; they reach sizes up to 400lb and are very
powerful.
Tuna fishing is highly regulated by the national marine
fisheries and bringing the wrong fish to the dock can result in very expensive
fines. So, before you go looking for tuna, first make sure you have your Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) permit current and on the boat. It is very easy to
obtain, just go to https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/PermitList.asp.
The current regulations are as follows:
Bluefin tuna- 1 school BFT (27 to <47") + 1 large
school/small medium BFT (47-<73")
Yellowfin tuna- 3/person/day or trip. The minimum size for
yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27" curved fork lengt3/person/day or trip.
There are no recreational limits for Big Eye, Skipjack, or Albacore
tunas.
The next thing is to make sure you identify the fish you
catch properly. It can be very tough to
distinguish tuna especially when they are in the 30-70lb range. Here are a
couple of helpful tips to identify the fish.
The pectoral fins on a Bluefin are short and end well before
the origin of the second dorsal fin.
Yellowfin have narrower pectoral fins that reach beyond the
origin of the second dorsal but not beyond the base.
Big Eyes have stockier bodies, as well as the pectoral fin
is thicker and it reaches the origin of the second dorsal fin. There are more
keys to identifying these fish. Stop by
your local tackle shop and I am sure they will explain in more detail.
Margate
Robin Scott of Ray Scott’s Dock in Margate reported:
“Hot, hotter, hottest! Flounder fishing continues to pick up
steam as anglers hit the
Margate Bay to ply their favorite techniques. Father’s Day
weekend conditions were the
most favorable in anyone’s memory with sunshine, cool
breezes, no flying insects and
flounder aplenty. The dock’s Captain Ed Giacomucci led the
Margate Slatkin family
team to victory with three flounder, one over four pounds.
Bill Mendenhall and buddies
Skip and Angelo from Downingtown, cleaned out the bay with
eight keepers, two over
four and a half pounds. Bill has been a regular in Margate
for over forty years. Ryan
and Cole Klein of Ventnor caught their Dad Dan a nineteen
and a half inch flounder for
dinner as Meghan Lelli of Chester boated a nineteen inch
flattie for her dad. Ten year
old Nick Dimeo, a student at Slaybaugh in EHT landed a 22ʼ
inch flounder for his dad
Dougʼs Father Day dinner. One can only imagine the fish tales
at school Monday
morning! Jon McNicholʼs of Philadelphia demonstrated how
well his dad taught him to
fish by his buddy Mike Dorrisʼ and his four fish bounty.
Courtney Blunt of Egg Harbor
City and Vance Ellis of Marlton were high catch on their
Deck Boat trip with three
beastly flounder, two of them at four three quarter pounds.
Fatherʼs Day perfection was
the name of the game on the bay behind Margate!”
Jessica Obermeyer of The Jessie O Fishing Fleet sent over:
“Jessie O' Fish N' Fun has continued to reel in generous
size fluke up to the 6.11 pound range. Lots of fish weighing in & winning
pools are averaging 3 1/2 pounds. Pools winners for the week include George
Erskin of Somers Point, Frank Lacey of Ocean City, NJ, Tony Turtzo of
Villas,Tony Lee of Somerdale, NJ, Grace Donahue from Cherry Hill, NJ &
Kevin Smith from Cherry Hill, NJ. In addition to fluke we have been picking up
Blues in the 4-5 pound range. The Fish N Fun sails twice daily in the back bay
for flounder at 8am & 1pm.
Ocean City
Bill Wiggins at Finatics, said that the water temps are
climbing, hitting the mid 60’s along the beaches and approaching the 70’s in
the back. He said the fluke fishing is still good around Ship Channel, with the
temps rising look to deeper water 12-15ft.
The best baits are minnows and/or Gulp on a1-1.5oz bucktail. There are
still stripers out front but they are on smaller side. Bill, said that the
higher temps make the bigger fish less active.
Weakfishing is still good at night. His tip of the week, float
bloodworms on a float rig around 9th street bridge.
Sea Isle
Mike Cunningham, Sea Isle Bait and Tackle,” Fishing was a
little tuff this weekend with the strong tides from the full moon and the
steady winds but anglers where able to some success. The flounder are starting to bite in the
ocean TI reef and OC reef both produced some nice flounder. Keepers where taken
in the bay but the wind mad drifting difficult.
Had a customer come in Friday with a nice blue fin and mako from the
cigar. also have a customer fish the
deep water reef for sea bass said it was kind of a slow pick but ended up
with 8 fish per man all L and XL fish
they also had a cod over 30 pounds and one that was just a keeper. Surf action
was slow wildly scattered stripers and king fish. Some nice weak fish and stripers under the
lights at night, small swimming plugs and soft plastics are working best.”
Avalon
Tammy Carbohn, Avalon Hodge Podge Bait and Tackle, “Fluke,
Fluke and more Fluke… Of all the fluke we weighed in this week, the largest was
caught by a 13 year old named Peter Campagna (pic) from Lancaster, PA. His fish
measured 24” & weighed in at 5.66# caught using Gulp shrimp behind Stone
Harbor, NJ. Other inshore catches included bluefish, weakfish, kingfish &
croakers! These fish were caught a variety of baits and lures. Finally the off
shore tuna bite was hit or miss at best when the boats could get to the fishing
grounds. Tim Kroh reported 10 bluefin trolling ballys at the Lindenhol canyon.”
Wildwood
Cathy Algard, Sterling Harbor Bait and Tackle, “Fishing
season is in full swing right now with many choices for anglers from inshore to
offshore. Back bay boat and kayak anglers are still catching flounder up to 5
pounds with an occasional trophy weakfish. Jason Bailey of Conshohocken, PA
checked in with a 5 pound 11 ounce weakfish caught on a Pink Glow Fin S while
fishing the back bays on George Danley’s boat “Liquid Asset” out of Wildwood.
Patrick Latham and son Carson of Ewing, NJ landed two nice Father’s Day fluke
while first time kayak fishing on a Hobie Mirage Outfitter kayak near
Richardson Channel. There are still plenty of schoolie stripers in the back
bays hitting on top water plugs, and the Northeast winds late in the week
really turned them on! Surf reports were quiet this week, except we did hear of
few kingfish being caught. Good catches of kingfish, flounder and weakfish have
been reported from the ferry lanes. Offshore, at Reef Site 11 and the Old
Grounds when the weather permitted, fluke fishing has been excellent with
spearing or mackerel strips being the bait of choice. Scott Wheeler and crew of
Wenonah, NJ had a nice catch of flounder up to 5 pounds while fishing Reef Site
11 on his boat “Big Bone” out of Wildwood. Citgo Ed of Erma, NJ stopped in and
reported where not to go; he reported no action at the Wildwood Reef. Seabass
action is good on the wrecks along the 20 Fathom line. Offshore, shark fishing
remains excellent with many mako sharks, brown sharks, threshers and blue
sharks being caught. In the canyons, both yellowfin and bluefin tuna action
remains good with a spattering of mahi-mahi in the mix. Crabby Jack gives the
crabbing 4 Claws this week, and said big bright moon shone down from the sky
and made for good catches of crabs!”
Sterling Harbor’s 21st Annual Duke of Fluke Tournament is
scheduled for Saturday, July 12th! Call the shop at 609-729-1425 for more information!
Cape May
Rusty Ziegler, Off the Hook Bait and Tackle, “Flounder
fishing is heating up on our offshore structure. The local wrecks and reefs
some nice flatties. Bucktails with strip baits, gulp, spearing and/or smelts
are the baits of choice. The back bays
from Cape May to Avalon are still producing as well. Spearing, minnows & Gulp rigged with a
bucktail or a jighead from ¼ oz to 1 oz is best. The Tuna bite in the Canyons is getting
good. The Poormans is he hot spot for
now. 40-60 lb yellowfin, some Bluefin
mixed in. Trolling Ballyhoos behind
witches and Joe Shutes are the hot rigs.
The weakfish bite along our Jetties is still good (if you are the early
bird) using bucktails and jigs. Guys are
catching them on bloods and shedders throughout the day. The weather has made it tough for boats
targeting drum. The westerly wind has
kept most at the dock but the boats that have fished saw fish; not huge numbers
on the deck, but fish are being caught.
The drums are there but seem to be in breeding mode.”
Off The Hook just announced, The 1st Annual Cape
May Flounder Tournament, to be held on July31st-Aug2nd, please call
the shop for details. 609-884-0444
Matt Slobodjian from Jim’s Bait and Tackle, “This week we
are getting better reports on Fluke fishing. Some of the local boats have tried
Del. Reef Site #11 and have had some half decent catches. Other guys have run
to the Old Grounds and have had double digit catches. Fran Carter of Upper
Township took his crew of 4 to the Old Grounds and brought home 13 fish to
6.4lb. John Cranston of Belleville NJ also fished the Old Grounds and managed
to boat 9 nice Fluke. The Throwback ratio from both guys seemed to be around
4:1. There are some fish at the Cape May Reef the fish are hanging close to
structure at all three places, short drifts work best.
The Drumfish are still biting in the 20ft Slough off of
North Cape May. Some days are slower than others usually due to water
conditions and wind but double digit catches are still happening for some of
the local charter boats. Bait will become a little harder to get as anglers
start to fish for other species so call your local tackle store to check the
availability ahead of time.
The Striped Bass bite has slowed down on the beaches, a few
were caught this week but the water temp. Has brought things to a crawl. The
best time to target Bass now would be early morning or at night around the rock
piles.
The offshore bite continues to be good this week the water
moved into the Poorman's canyon and the Yellowfins were there. Water also moved
into the Wilmington but the fish weren't as cooperative there. However good
catches of Dolphin were reported on the pots.
The Bluefin are starting to show up on the Lumps around the
20-30 fathoms range on the troll. The fish we saw were in the 20-40lb. class
but I'm sure the larger fish will be mixed in, if not now very soon.”
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Some nice fluke from Ray Scott's dock
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