Hard to believe it’s already tuna time again. Last year’s season ran into December with some late-run canyon trips and bluefin taking their time on their way down the coastline, with some still being spotted off New Jersey as late as January.
The bluefin are as far North of the Cape with confirmed catches being made around Martha’s Vineyard. A few bluefin have been stuck by the Shore Catch crew off New Jersey in May as well. Right from the OTW South Jersey Fishing Forecast, Captain Ed Berger Reports:
“Ron at Fisherman’s Supply in Pt. Pleasant reports catches of bluefin at the Glory Hole and the Atlantic Princess on spreaders and green machines.
Team Tackle Direct hit the southern canyons over the past weekend and whomped the yellowfin. A full limit of 35- to 50-pound speedsters were collared and iced with plenty of time left over to try for a mako (without luck) and deep drop for tiles.
The yellowfin bite is on at the Southern Canyons with reports of limits, and a few surprises. The first report of a white marlin hookup, the first report of a big blue marlin hookup, and some mahi on the decks makes you scratch your head a little when you see it is still May. Sea bass fishing is great on the nearby reefs if you want to pick through 10 shorts for every keeper. It seems the ratio gets better the deeper you get. You can fish the City of Atlantis, Poseidon, or Reef Site 11, but you are going to have to jockey with the party boats to get a spot. I’d rather find my own. The drum in the bay seemed to have re-directed their energy from eating to mating as there is lots of booming going on, but not lots of catching. The Delaware side has been a little better, but next week’s moon will tell the true story.”
Lots of anglers will be looking this weekend throughout the Northeast, if the weather is agreeable, which, at the moment, is not looking too likely. Captain Eric Stewart of the Hook Up out of Orleans, MA will be making his maiden voyage to the waters east of Chatham on Friday, June 1, hunting for his first bluefin of the year. Should a window open, the nearshore bluefin grounds, be it the lumps and wrecks off New Jersey and Long Island or Stellwagen Bank off Massachussetts, could cough up an early season tuna. But, if you have the will to make a long run, look for a warm water eddy spinning into the canyons and get out there.
These early-season eddies are often stacked with yellowfin, and experienced crews tally some of their best catches in late May/early June.
As more boats hit the water, we’ll have more to report, so be sure to check out the OTW Offshore Fishing Forecast, updated every Friday.