The hot temperatures are heating up the big game fishing in the Northeast. From Cape Cod to Cape May, anglers looking to tangle with fish heavier than 100 pounds have some great options just a boat ride away.
Off New Jersey, the usual sharking spots are filling in with bluefish, which is bringing in the makos. Makos to 190 pounds were weighed in at New Jersey marinas this past week. Bluefish fillets have been the hot bait. Good spots have been the fingers, the 28-mile Wreck and the Cigar. No word on the inshore thresher shark bite, surprisingly, but with bunker all over New Jersey’s nearshore waters, packing along a heavy conventional setup would be a wise move for any anglers chasing bass under the bunker schools.
On Cape Cod, the bluefin tuna have arrived, and they are big. Boats trolling spreader bars are catching fish in the 75- to 80-inch range, and many fish north of the 400-pound mark have been checked in already. Dan from the Hook Up in Orleans, Massachusetts caught his first giant east of Chatham this week by trolling a black splash bar. The fish took two hours to subdue on 50-pound-class stand-up gear, and tipped the scales at 270 pounds.
There is plenty of bait both east of Chatham and on Stellwagen to make the big schools of tuna happy when they arrive, which many anglers expect to be very soon.
The seas look okay for anglers considering a run to the edge over the weekend. Check a reliable SST site to make a plan. White marlin are mixed in with yellowfin in the southern canyons and big yellowfin are mixed in with bluefin in the Hudson, according to a report from Canyon Runner sportfishing. The Canyon Runner crew is making their first run to the bluewater tomorrow, and they have high hopes on connecting with tuna.
Best Bets for the Weekend
For New Jersey anglers, it’s time for sharks. Head to the midshore structures with plenty of chum and some fresh bluefish fillets and work on bringing a big, acrobatic mako to the back of the boat.
An early bluefin tuna foray for Massachusetts anglers could turn up a giant off the backside of the Cape.
If you don’t mind being one of the first to give it a shot, the canyons are reportedly holding fish if you are brave enough to make an exploratory mission.
Good work kevin. The off shore is good on my blackberry. Thank u
Ths new fishing forcast is awful , the old web site was awesome compared to this. No imfo wher to go no comment from bait shop. Sorry juts want some imfo, on the water get it together before you lose customers.
Good report greatly appreciated !