Watch the weather this week. If you had planned on going offshore, Hurricane Leslie may have other ideas. The fishing has been good, so keep your fingers crossed that it holds on after the storm passes.
New England Offshore
Trolling is still getting it done for 40-to 55-inch bluefin east of Chatham. Eric Stewart of the Hook Up found fish at the Sword on Thursday and landed 9 tuna in a single day earlier in the week. There was no word of any giants caught. Cape Cod Bay has yet to see football tuna in any significant numbers, but over the next couple weeks, there should be an influx of these fish.
Yellowfin tuna have been caught inside the canyons this week south of Noman’s Island. It’s been sporadic but the fish are there. Small bluefin are popping up at the Claw, and tons of mahi are hanging just south of Nomans Island off Martha’s Vineyard.
The New England canyons are fishing very well. Big yellowfin, 70- to 90-pounders are being caught according to Eric at CMS in New Bedford. Todd at Falmouth Bait and Tackle recommended Oceanographers Canyon.
New York/New Jersey Offshore
The tuna bite has been spotty, although the appearance of the most big eye tuna in recent history at least has us chomping at the bit a little. There was a “crazy” white marlin bite going on for a couple weeks that stopped deader than dead with the big moon last week and water moving off to the south.
At Julian’s Bait and Tackle, Joe told me that while the weather this week hasn’t been prime, the fishing remains strong. The northern canyons have been alive with activity this week. George Conway and Captain Scott recently came in with several yellow fin and a couple of 150 class big eye tuna. Trolling spreads with ballyhoo put them in the fish.
When I spoke with Derek at the Reel Seat this week, he told me that the big eyes have resurfaced in the northern canyons, with top action coming out of the Hudson. There have also been nice catches of yellowfin tuna on the night chunk and these are the big yellows. Sixty- to eighty-pound class fish were raising flags all last weekend. White and Blue Marlin also were cause for celebration in most of the boats trolling them up. Ballyhoo spreads were working just fine.
Max at Pride Bait and Tackle has been on the fish of late, coming in last weekend with a flags flying for 4 big eye tuna, 1 white and 1 blue marlin.
Ron at Fisherman’s Supply Co reported a really decent bite of yellowfin out near the 100-Square that he hopes holds past the storm