The fireworks weren’t just in the sky this past week—there was plenty of action offshore as well. With great weather over the holiday stretch, a lot of boats were able to slip away from cookouts and family barbecues to capitalize on improving conditions and a solid bite. From bluefin blowups off the Cape to canyon hauls of bigeye and yellowfin, this week’s offshore scene delivered across the board.
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Cape Cod & Stellwagen Bank
While the Cape hasn’t quite fired on all cylinders yet, there are promising signs. Captain Bob out of Seacoast, NH reported sporadic bluefin tuna feeds behind the Isle of Shoals, keyed in on pogies. Fish were marking but tight-lipped, although surface temps have crept up to 64°F and should help settle them onto the ledges soon.
Joe from Fisherman’s Outfitter in Gloucester echoed similar observations. Jumpers have been spotted near the 120T line on the run out to the Giant Grounds, with fish in the 200-400 lb range. Confidence is building for a strong commercial bite. Stellwagen Bank and Jeffreys Ledge are loaded with bait and porbeagle sharks—always a good warmup for the tuna season ahead.
South of the Cape & Canyons
Connor at Monahan’s Marine reported a rare and impressive catch—a broadbill swordfish on the troll, landed by Captain Steve Fernandez. The West Atlantis and Hydrographers canyons have been consistent with bigeye and large yellowfin in the mix. The bite has ranged from 45-lb yellowfin to 180-lb bigeye, with action peaking around the 70–72°F breaks.
Kevin Gould noted continued bigeye success in the canyons but said inshore day-trip spots like Coxes and Tuna Ridge have all the life—whales, birds, bait—but so far, no tuna. Out east, giants dominate, with smaller bluefin scattered and tough to target. Poorbeagles are again prevalent from Chatham to Stellwagen.
Block Island
Captain Chris from Keeping It Real Sport Fishing (New London, CT) confirmed that bluefin have found the bait south of Block Island. He’s seeing consistent fish in the 40-60 lb range, with a few overs. Purple and green 6″ squid wide tracker bars have been doing the trick, and he’s optimistic for a continued buildup.
Joe “Joe Baggs” D’Agostino saw jig-and-pop bites materialize west of Butterfish. Notably, he mentioned a strange trend: for the last three years, long-cast jigs outperform sleek jigs west of Butterfish Hole, while sleek jigs dominate to the east. He also hyped an active popper bite—spread-out fish with less pressure are responding aggressively to surface presentations.
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Long Island South Shore
Will King (@willie_fish) described the past two weeks as wild, with acres of foaming bluefin in the 30–50 lb range pushing into inshore waters. These fish were balling sand eels and blitzing Panama-style, giving anglers unforgettable topwater action on light tackle.
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Mid-Atlantic & Canyon Runner Report
The Canyon Runner Team offered a comprehensive breakdown:
- Off North Carolina: Yellowfin and bigeye catches are strong and spreading north.
- Washington Canyon: Solid bigeye and yellowfin fishing on a 1.5° break around 100 fathoms.
- Baltimore to Wilmington: 30–40 fathom lumps produced consistent tuna.
- Toms to Hendrickson Canyons: A large body of bluefin and yellowfin parked up; fishing was excellent around life-rich zones with whales and birds.
- Hudson Canyon: Some bigeye and tilefish, with a temperature break holding promise.
- South of Montauk: Giants and larger bluefin were caught around Habs and Ranger.
- West Atlantis: The epicenter of the bigeye bite, with some giants and a handful of yellowfin, though the latter were scarce.
There’s also a possible new eddy developing east of Hydrographers, which could fire up in the coming days.
Tournament Season Kicks Off
The Oak Bluffs Bluewater Classic begins this week, with boats eligible to depart Sunday, July 13 at 8 PM. The tourney is raising funds for the Dion Foundation and offers a chance to qualify for the 2025 Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica. Expect a full recap in next week’s report.
Angler Highlights
- Ty from Kona Sportfishing battled bluefin solo east of P-town in 600–700 feet of water. After a couple heartbreaks, he landed one and lost another in a Nat Geo-style topwater feed.
- Joe Bags landed fish on jigs and poppers—reminding us that dedicated surface efforts pay off, even when fish aren’t showing.
- Capt. Glenn Pennel and Chris Ritman out of New Jersey released a 75-lb white marlin near the Monster Ledge and added a mahi to their tally.
- A 38-lb wahoo was caught out of Ocean City, MD by the crew of Bad Habit Sportfishing.
Final Word
From the Carolinas to Cape Cod, the offshore bite is heating up. With surface temps on the rise and signs of bait and big fish in all the right places, now’s the time to stay locked in. Whether you’re targeting giants on bait or chasing topwater chaos, be ready—tuna season is here.
Got a catch report? Send it in—we’ll keep the community informed.
Stay safe, fish hard, and check your drag.
– Cheech, On The Water