August is here, and the offshore fishing is still on an upward trajectory. We’re kicking off the month with some strong northeast winds and a couple days stuck at the dock, but July closed out on high notes for just about everything from school to giant-size bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye, and billfish.
Mid-Atlantic
Surface temps remain high—off Virginia and Maryland, it’s almost uniformly 80 degrees, making water temp alone a less useful tool for locating fish. Instead, anglers are keying in on chlorophyll breaks and pockets of blue water. A small finger of blue water pushed into the Norfolk to Washington Canyon zone, producing double-digit white marlin bites for several boats. Restless Lady also connected with double-digit yellowfin in that pocket.
Overall, tuna action in the southern canyons has slowed after a solid eight-week run. A few bigeye were caught in the Baltimore overnights, and while scattered yellowfin were reported, most boats working that zone are grinding hard for limited results.
New Jersey/New York
While water color hasn’t been ideal, bait has stacked up west of the Hudson, creating three distinct areas of tuna life: East of the Triple Wrecks, Texas Tower to Chicken Canyon, Coimbra/Virginia/Maidens area
These zones have been consistent for weeks, not because of temperature breaks, but due to massive concentrations of bait. Yellowfin dominate in some areas, with a mix of bluefin as you move north and east.
A small push of cleaner water near the Hudson on Saturday-Sunday produced the first solid canyon yellowfin catches in a while. Several boats on overnighters reported double-digit yellowfin.
Consistent bluefin action is ongoing from the Shark River Reef to Little Italy, with 60- to 75-inch fish. This remains the most accessible tuna opportunity for boats from central Jersey north to Long Island.
Montauk to Massachusetts
The Gully, Tuna Ridge, and surrounding areas off Montauk and Block Island are seeing massive concentrations of school bluefin. On Sunday, over 100 boats packed into the zone, and still, most left with fish.
From the Ranger wrecks to the CIA grounds, schoolies abound, and giant bluefin are mixed in. Jigging is hot, and chunking could turn on any day. If you’re heading out, consider bring flats of bait.
With limited tuna life north of Cape Ann, Massachusetts boats are heading south to Crab Ledge and the Regal Sword for giant tuna.