The fall offshore season usually brings some of the year’s most exciting fishing, with tuna pushing inshore on pogy schools, recreational-class bluefin airing out on halfbeaks, and even the occasional butterfish bite mixing things up. This year, though, effort on the recreational fishery has fallen off sharply with the closure in effect, leaving many charter captains struggling to keep trips on the books. While that midshore scene has been quiet, the canyon bite and giant tuna remain red hot across the region, offering some of the best fishing of the season.
Captain Bob of Seacoast New Hampshire Sportfishing reported the giant bluefin bite picking up around Scantum, Jeffreys Ledge, and the Cove. Instead of a steady migration, fish are showing in windows, with long lulls in between. Blue sharks have been a major issue, forcing anglers to load up on mackerel or whiting before heading out. Pollock have flooded the ledges, making it tough to find haddock or cod. Kite baits have produced a few giants. There were no reports of wreck-size fish this week.
Connor from Monahan’s Marine said he caught the tail end of an epic Veatch bite before the weather shut things down. His crew lost a bigeye on a Nomad plug. He noted that draggers south of Nantucket and the Vineyard continue to hold giants shadowing the fleet. Inside the bay, bites are happening, but heavy boat pressure makes for tough odds on commercial days. From Plymouth to Scituate, the best action has been in 90 to 150 feet, where peanut bunker, pogies, and mackerel are stacking.
The canyon fleet has had few reasons to complain. Tyler Huckemeyer from the Helen H said most trips have been heading home early with limits of yellowfin. The fish are a manageable size class—perfect for mixed-experience groups—and overnight chunking has accounted for the majority of catches. A wahoo in the 60-pound class was a highlight of one recent trip. Tyler also noted the Helen H is hiring experienced first mates, a chance to crew on one of the most consistent canyon boats around.
Closer to shore, Will King (aka Willie Fish) scored a 134-pound Allison yellowfin while hand-feeding peanut bunker to inshore fish. He and others have been limiting out in under an hour on the 40- to 50-mile grounds, with chunking, jigging, and even a bit of topwater action. Jeff Lomonaco confirmed the bite, adding that the chunk bite has been strong, while canyon runs remain excellent with bigeye and yellowfin still stacked up.
Down in New Jersey, Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported headboat trips aboard the Voyager are chunking 40 to 50 tuna per outing, mostly on inshore grounds, with mahi mixed in. That bite has required less running than usual, and both jigging and chunking have been effective.
Captain Ray Jarvis of Salt of the Earth Sportfishing added that nearshore giants are popping on schools of pogies and mackerel, a pattern that can hold right through November. Albies, bones, and blues have exploded inshore for those waiting out weather windows.
From the east end, Captain Chris Oliver of Keeping It Reel Sportfishing ran to the canyons and reported lights-out fishing for both yellowfin and bigeye. At times, his crew couldn’t even count to four before getting bit, with jigs, chunks, and trolled baits all producing. Pink low-UV jigs were the hot ticket.
And finally, the Canyon Runner intel network reports phenomenal fishing from North Carolina to New England. White and blue marlin action off the Mid-Atlantic has been some of the best in a decade, with boats seeing 15 to 30 bites a day and mahi piled in. From Toms to Hudson, the chunk bite for yellowfin has been strong, while the edge from Atlantis to Veatch has produced double-digit bigeye up to 275 pounds. North of the Cape, Crab Ledge, Regal Sword, and Stellwagen are now holding quality giants in the 70- to 95-inch range.