Fishermen haul in bluefin tuna, sea bass over holiday weekend
There are more tuna steaks to go around after another big catch was brought into Hoffman's Marina over the holiday weekend.
This one however, was not a giant, which is a good sign that indicates there are smaller tuna in the mix. The tuna weighed 228 pounds and was caught by the sport boat Katie L on Saturday.
While the tuna was one of the bigger catches to hit the docks, the most quantity of fish landed had to be the sea bass, which were the target of most of the party boat fleet. It sounds like it was three days of steady drop and reel fishing as many of the boat captains reported anglers with limit catches. Depending on where the boats set up, there were also catches of ling, winter flounder and fluke made.
More: Another giant bluefin tuna landed, second in a week off Jersey coast
Capt. Bobby Quinn of the Ocean Explorer said the fish were aggressive early on Saturday and his anglers dropping jigs down had fish on right from the get go. He said he had fishermen catch their 10-fish limit after a short while of fishing. As far as the conditions went, he said the ocean was flat calm.
The fluke fishing was decent at some locales. Sandy Hook Bay continues to yield some keeper fish but it hasn't been easy. Capt. Hal Hagaman on the Sea Tiger II said one of the spots he was having good success at got cleaned up so he searched the bay for some new areas. He did have one fare make a limit catch of three fish, while other high hooks had two keeper fish.
Jingles Bait & Tackle in Beach Haven had a couple fluke weigh ins from anglers fishing the local surf there. One was caught on bunker bait and weighed over three pounds.
Speaking of the surf, something must have got the black drum riled up because several were weighed in at Grumpy's Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park. The biggest of the bunch was a pound shy of 50 pounds but they ranged in size down to 14 pounds. They were all caught on clams.
More: What's biting: get the latest fishing reports here
The striped bass continue to be brought in. Some of the boats trolling or following bunker have got some fish off the rocky northern Monmouth County coastline. Surf fishermen are doing ok at some locales. Grumpy's weighed in a few and Giglio's Tackle in Sea Bright also a catch report on a metal lip swimmer early on Sunday.
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 fishermen get bluefin tuna, sea bass
