New England Offshore Fishing Report

The reports of bluefin tuna this week were mixed. The Hook-Up in Orleans reported a slow week, mentioning just one 50-inch fish caught trolling east of Chatham. Captain Bobby Rice of Reel Deal Charters had a banner day early this week on Cape Cod when he picked up two tuna on the troll and then capped it off with one on the jig.

Captain Terry Nugent of Riptide Charters tracked down some surface-feeding schools of football bluefin, catching them on tackle more suited to striped bass. These fish haven’t been abundant in New England waters for several years now, but hopefully that is about to change. Several Rhode Island fishermen have had the same reports of small bluefin feeding on the surface.

The canyons are still hot, reported Tom at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay. Longfin albacore, white marlin, swordfish and bigeye tuna hitting well.

Kerry from J&B Tackle in Niantic, CT reported that the bigeye tuna bite that has been going strong for a few weeks now at the canyons continues to do so. Kerry believes it to be one of the steadiest and overall best bigeye bites he can remember. Longfin and yellowfin also continue to make an appearance out around the canyons but with much less consistency than the bigeye.

New York/New Jersey Offshore Fishing Report

Off southern New Jersey, the 20 and 30 fathom line are producing nice Bluefin, yellowfin and mahi on both the troll and the chunk.

John at Fin-Atic’s Marine Supply said while the offshore reports have been quiet because of the ongoing MA500, there have been some nice catches recorded in the Carteret and Berkeley.

Captain Jeffery Hoffberger of St. Judith Charters in Atlantic City has been with their 66-foot Viking and are fishing the Mid Atlantic 500. Right now, they have several White Marlin to their credit but none yet on the leader board. That’s ok, there is still a day left and all you need is one to make it all worth the while. The Captain tells me that they have been fishing the Toms and Carteret and have been on the fish, just not the big one.

Those shooting for bluefin have been doing well, but the fish seem to have spread out a little. Small spreader bars and cedar plugs are working over lumps that are holding sand eels around the 35 fathom line off the Northern New Jersey coast.