Tuna boats corral yellowfin tuna in deep blue water 70 miles offshore
There was some really blue, flat calm water about 70 miles southeast of Manasquan Inlet where a few of the tuna boats were lined up on Tuesday, drawn in by schools of yellowfin tuna that had just swam into the area.
Capt. Howard Bogan Jr. on the Jamaica party boat, which steamed out the night before, said the bite started for them at sunrise. At one point he was able to put the boat on one long drift where schools of tuna kept swimming under the boat. A few times they were visible in their chunk slick, but for the most part the fish stayed deep.
The bite wasn't steady, but he said they'd get one or two on, sometimes three or four on at time. They were all yellowfin tuna, as a few new bodies of fish have moved into the offshore grounds. They were running between 50 to 70 pounds and hit bait, jigs and a few hit up top on poppers.
The mackerel and bluefish are schooling on the southeastern edges of the Mud Hole. That's where the Golden Eagle party boat was fishing on Wednesday. Capt. Rich Falcone said they picked away at the macks for the entire trip but the blues would come and go. At times there would be a good amount under the boat, but it was tough to hold them. His fares that dropped down to the bottom had little problem catching their one sea bass that is the current bag limit. One angler also reeled in a silver eel that was easily an arms length long.
More: Pompano strikes at Island Beach State Park, pufferfish in the bay
The nets were busy this week with the fluke out on the ocean, in areas like the Red Church of Long Branch. A lot of the for-hire captains spoke of anglers with limit catches of three keepers. The fishing was not easy at times. Capt. Ron Kish on the Capt. Cal II out of Belmar said fishermen should bring plenty of jigs, Gulp and sinkers, as some of the grounds they're fishing are sticky.
The fluke are also being plucked from most beach locales. Surf guys are flipping bucktails with teasers, or jig-heads tipped with plastics to lure the fish in. The fish are using jetty groins for coverage.
The sheepshead are biting in Barnegat Inlet and in the Long Beach Island surf. Fisherman's Headquarters in Ship Bottom had a report of catch of one that went a couple of pounds and was caught on sand fleas, or sand crabs as some call them, for bait. The shop said the fish are just starting to bite around the island.
More: What's biting: Get the latest fishing reports here
The cownose rays are back in the surf. A number of them were spotted by bathers as they glided in knee-high deep water at Island Beach State Park.
The blue claw crabs pick is getting better. The Hawkes family, visiting from Naples, Florida, landed three-quarters of a bushel in a few hours on the Barnegat Bay near the mouth of the Cedar Creek, according to Trixie's Landing in Bayville.
In the freshwater, there was a nice catch of large pickerel at Waretown Lake. The fish was caught with a crappie magnet, according to Creekside Outfitters.
More: Deep-sea fishing off the Jersey Shore is memorable adventure for kids, adults
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: Tuna boats corral yellowfin tuna 70 miles offshore
