Another giant bluefin tuna landed, second in a week off Jersey coast
Another giant bluefin tuna was brought in as fishermen are starting to hone in on the brutes. This one weighed 457 pounds on the Hoffman's Marina dock scale, where it was weighed on Wednesday.
Earlier, on Sunday, the crew of the Fish Stix brought one in that measured 82 inches on the tape and just under 300 pounds on the scale. That one was landed on a ballyhoo skirt on the troll in 100 feet of water. The water temp was 57 degrees.
"Last week, it was 80-inch fish. This week they're 90-inch fish, so it seems like a new body of fish moved in. There's also some warm water spinning off the Gulf Stream heading in from the Toms Canyon so things are coming together for tuna fishing," said Jim Sweeney at The Reel Seat in Brielle.
The offshore conditions could be a little sporty for the holiday weekend but manageable for trolling with the forecast calling for a bit of a swell and the wind to shift between the east and north. The gusts shouldn't get over 20 knots though, according to NOAA's forecast.
Closer to shore, sea bass fishing has been about as close to a guarantee as one can get in fishing. Since the spring fishery opened on May 17, it has been drop and reel fishing on most days. About the only question for anglers is what to use, bait or jigs.
Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer said the fish were very aggressive on Tuesday, probably because the sandeels moved in thick and the fish were out and about, crushing the jig and sandeel teasers set up. He said the anglers that were casting the jigs pulled fish in on every cast.
► Tuna run may be here after giant bluefin tuna hits deck
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There's been a little more life to the fluke fishing as the water temp slowly ticks upward. Most of the effort is still being put in on the rivers and bays, and surf anglers are also finding them as they walk the beach for bass and blues.
Scott Thomas at Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park brought in a pair of keeper fluke paddling around Barnegat Bay in his kayak. The heaviest fish was 4.1 pounds. He was dragging Gulp baits and had a number of shorts to dehook and toss back as well.
After filling the box with sea bass before the clock even hit 9 a.m., Capt. Jerry Postorino of the Fish Monger II brought his fishing party into the Manasquan River where they scooped up 11 keeper fluke.
Capt. Tom Buban on the Atlantic Star said at the start of the week that some new fish moved into Sandy Hook Bay. The fishing there has been decent enough for the small crowds showing during the week. He's had an angler or two catch the three-fish limit on most days.
Surf fishermen have been doing okay in several locales. There have been stripers at most spots but for anglers on the Ocean County barrier islands there's also been black drum.
Giglio's Bait & Tackle in Sea Bright said fishermen walking the beach and tossing pencil poppers scored fish in the stretch of beach from Sandy Hook to Monmouth Beach. Wednesday was a good day down in the Seaside to Island Beach State Park area. Grumpy's Tackle had reports of several bass on artificials and clam baits.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ fishing: 457-pound bluefin tuna weighed at Hoffman's Marina
