Bluefin
It was a slow week on the Cape Cod tuna grounds by all accounts. I gave the waters off the back side a look-see on Saturday, and witnessed two boats hook up – one on live bait, one on the troll – but we never found any marks to drop our jigs to or any breaking fish to cast our lures at. Things were looking better as of Thursday, however.
In the morning, Dan from the Hook Up in Orleans, MA reported that Captain Eric had connected with one tuna briefly east of Chatham and Captain Rich had landed a 69-incher. While in the process of writing this report, I got an email from Captain Terry Nugent talking about a massive school of bluefin Captain Sean Ruge located “off the map.” The fish were on small bait and very finicky, but finding them is the first step to another fantastic tuna season. Hopefully those tuna will find their way onto the map before too long and the craziness will begin.
Chicken Canyon is holding the best bluefin action in the New York Bight, with fish in the 50- to 100-pound range coming on the troll.
Sharks
New Jersey is having an excellent shark season with plenty of makos being taken, according to Dave Arbeitman at the Reel Seat in Brielle. Inshore, sometimes right on the beach, threshers are slashing up the bunker schools. Some absolute monsters have been weighed in, including a 605-pounder. There was also a swimmer-scaring specimen was taken within a mile of the LBI beaches. That one weighed 226 pounds.
Canyons
Some bigger bluefin have come out of the Hudson Canyon recently. The yellowfin are being caught from the Hudson to the Wilmington, and prime water temperatures have even brought some early billfish to the party.
Best Bets for the Weekend
It all sounds good from where I sit. Makos on midshore structures, bluefin in Chicken Canyon or East of Chatham or marlin and yellowfin at the edge. If you do target bluefin, just keep in mind that it’s mostly been a troll bite. Even so, packing along some jigging and popping rods is always a good idea if the opportunity presents itself.