Tuna run may be here after giant bluefin tuna hits deck
Word is quickly spreading through the pipeline of a giant bluefin tuna landed this weekend in 100 feet of water.
The tuna have been local since at least April said Capt. Kris Black of the Fish Stix, a triple-engine center consul. Black said he's been putting in time, trying to get the fish to bite without any luck despite reading them. However, he and his crew of Ian Bonham, Jeff Paetzold and Bill Young finally broke through on Sunday, when they wrestled in an 82-inch giant.
Black said they were trolling 57-degree water. The big tuna struck a Joe Shute ballyhoo skirt. The fish was weighed at Brielle Yacht Club, where despite the length weighed a little under 300 pounds.
The last few years has seen a pretty good spring bluefin fishery. This landing perhaps is the signal of the start of another run. It comes just a couple of weeks before Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club's 5th annual Bluefin Open, which will be fished June 7-11. The Captain's Meeting is June 5th at the Pig & Parrot on the river in Brielle.
Last year the tournament, which is the first big game contest of the season here, paid out $162K with over 80 boat entries ranging from 19 feet to 80 feet.
It was a bit groggy on Saturday with rain coming down in buckets at times. A lot of the party boats still went out for sea bass and the catch was pretty good. Capt. Howard Bogan Jr. on the 125-foot Jamaica said most people easily got their limit of 10 fish, plus some ling.
Sunday was just as good. Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer said his fares that used jigs seemed to have the advantage over bait, as far as the speed in which they landed their catch. By the end of the day, it didn't seem to matter as the anglers using bait caught up. Quinn observed some fluke come over the rail, as well.
There are some big, gator bluefish swimming in Barnegat Bay. Grumpy's Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park weighed in a 15-pound bluefish on Friday for an angler who was fishing with bait from a dock. Grumpy's also weighed in several striped bass over the weekend, a couple of which were from anglers returning from fishing the Governor's Cup surf contest at Island Beach State Park, which was Sunday. Salted clams seemed to have the fish's number.
There was a 44-inch striped bass caught and released at Monmouth Beach on clams, said Mike Pento at Giglio's Bait & Tackle in Sea Bright. The surf fishing has been okay on that stretch of beach up to Sandy Hook. Surf fishermen have been getting opportunities for bass and the blues have been coming in and out of the surf periodically. Pento said the boaters are doing better, about a mile off the beach trolling the rocks for bass.
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: Tuna weighed at Brielle Yacht Club just under 300 pounds
