After a tough summer for canyon tuna fishing, it now appears that yellowfin tuna have finally settled into Hudson Canyon along with the albacore that are providing action most days for trollers.
The Gambler from Point Pleasant reported the last canyon trip produced a good bite just before and after sunrise for 30-to-70-pound yellowfins plus a few 30-to-40-pound albacore. Most fares had a tuna, and some caught two. For reservations on upcoming trips call 732 295-7569.
The Canyon Runner from Point Pleasant has been limiting out on yellowfins during most recent canyon trips, and is rapidly filling in charters through next week after extending their canyon season. The Saturday to Sunday overnighter with Capt. Phil Dulanie started slowly with only one albacore on the troll, but the Tom Williamson party ended up catching yellowfins which hit primarily after 7 a.m. for a 15-yellowfin limit plus two albacore. Adam La Rosa also reported that other boats were into that fishing -- and Dr. Gerard Eichman boated a 262-pound bigeye tuna on Lucky Irishman.
At Belmar, the Golden Eagle had a slow start with the jumbo blues, but ended up with a good catch to 19 pounds plus a couple of little tunny. Miss Belmar Princess reported a good catch of jumbo blues along with some porgies.
At Point Pleasant, the Queen Mary reported very good bluefishing after a "terrible" Sunday.
Joe Melillo, at Castaway's Tackle saw an improvement in surfcasting. Bob Longo of Brick weighed in a 13 1/2-pound striper from Bay Head. John Letizia of Brick boated an 11 1/2 -pound striper in Manasquan River. Harold Dean clammed a 9 3/4-pound bass at Bay Head. Jerry Lasko of Point Pleasant hooked 22 blackfish in Point Pleasant Canal.
At Atlantic Highlands, Capt. Rob Semkewyc only had 10 anglers aboard his Sea Hunter, but they all boated stripers in the 28-to-32-inch class, and some added a slot bass from 26 to 27.5 inches.
Capt. Ron Santee only had a pick of porgies on his Fishermen, but still decided to put off the Wednesday switch to stripers. He's been releasing lots of sea bass, and that season opens Saturday.
Capt. Stan Zagleski was pleased with the blackfishing his regulars on Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands enjoyed over the weekend even though they could only keep one. As a result, he'll be doing the same thing on Wednesday.
Tony Arcabascio of Bayville got confirmation of the striped bass trolling bite off Island Beach State Park on his Tony Maja bunker spoons. In addition to 30-pounders, one local boat weighed a 47-pound bass.
Schools of bunkers were located around the three-mile state line off Monmouth County over the weekend, and big bass were with them. Boaters are subject to big fines if they retain stripers of any size in federal waters.
Though there's still a large swell, the surf was much more fishable this morning. I hooked one fish on a Tactical Anglers Bomb Jr. popper at Spring Lake-- but it got off after pulling a few feet from a tight drag.
Allen Riley of South Plainfield tried the Monmouth Beach surf at dawn, but found no fish or bait. He later got a report from Frank Huza of Aberdeen who walked to the tip of Sandy Hook to catch hickory shad non-stop before little tunny showed at 8 a.m. He released two small tunny on 1-ounce metals - a Tsunami Epoxy jig, and a Mann-O-Lure in hammered silver. Loads of rainfish and peanut bunkers were passing by.
