After more than a month hiatus, the bluefin returned to the inshore waters off New Jersey. The Shore Catch guides found big numbers of smaller bluefin that covered up trolling spreads.
Trolling is the name of the game off Cape Cod as well. Trolling spreader bars and weightless soft-plastic stickbaits is also catching tuna on Stellwagen Bank and Peaked Hill Bar. Captain Eric Stewart has stayed on the bluefin since last week, and had a double-digit day with tuna between 39 and 61 inches beyond the Regal Sword. Dan at the Hook Up in Orleans said it took a three-hour ride to get to the fish, but once they found them, the action was close to nonstop on spreader bars. Eric and Dan are hoping this week’s winds will push the bluefin a little closer.
Big bluefin tuna are following around draggers and picking off the discards from Cape Cod Bay to George’s Bank. Erudite anglers are in the wash trolling and livelining whiting and picking off giants. Those looking for something a little less taxing on their tackle, should check out Stellwagen, a mass of schoolie-sized tuna have moved onto the bank.
Canyons
Daytime trolling has taken a back seat to overnight chunking this week. Anglers are connecting with many more fish after the sun sets, tuna as well as a surprising number of swordfish.
In the southern canyons, the bite this week seems to be concentrated at the Spencer with many tuna being taken on the chunk and jigging metal.
For offshore headboat action in New Jersey, you may want to take a ride on the Gambler, sailing out of Point Pleasant. Last weekend, the Spencer was the trip. This week – who knows? But Captains Bob and Mike will certainly make sure they put you in the right spot to catch them up. They have been on longfin and yellowfin in the 30- to 60-pound range for the last several trips with a sprinkling of tilefish when the opportunity presents itself. On one trip, the seas were absolutely lit up with mahi with almost the whole boat seeing some sort of action. And the latest reports indicate that the catch should continue for a couple of weeks at the very least. The Helen-H out of Hyannis has also been knocking them dead on the overnight, both tuna and swordfish.
A trip to the edge doesn’t appear to be in the cards for this weekend, however, unless you’ll be going aboard a large headboat. Even so, watch the weather, and if a window opens, go – and don’t forget the swordfish squids.