New Jersey & Delaware Bay - New Jersey & Delaware Bay Offshore Fishing Reports

Capt. Craig Angelini and Mike Zajac on the Canyon Runner hit the tip of the Hudson last week and did a number on the bigeye to 270 pounds and tallied six yellowfin as well. They ran out of room and turned around and went home on the fastest overnighter in years, only to find the fleet there again the next day for a bunch of yellowfin and bigeye. “It was some of the best fishing we've seen all year,” said Adam LaRosa. Midshore grounds saw both Little Italy and Triples produce well. Bigger fish inshore and tons of action at the Triples as well.

The young gun Commander Cole at Creekside Outfitters reported good yellowfin and bigeye action in the Hudson, with the former in the 50- to 70-pound class, the latter ranging from 70 to 120 pounds. ChatterLures bars and chains in zucchini and purple at 6.5 to 7 knots the prime box ‘em tack, but there are yellowfin also walloping the sand eel pattern 120-gram Nomad Streaker jig. Mahi from 10 to 20 pounds are being caught around the pots in the Hudson on live and dead peanut bunker.

Tyler from Fisherman’s Headquarters says there is excellent popper and trolling action to be had with loads of 20- to 40-pound bluefin in the 30- to 60-mile range. The 36-inch ChatterLures side tracker bars and the silver 120-gram UVT metal provising the beatdown. He and his crew took a day and trolled the Hudson, bashing yellowfin to 60 pounds that chased 7-knot Superman pattern MagicTail Hoo Heads mated to a medium/large ballyhoo.

“Oh, man, the Hudson really turned on, especially along the eastern wall area,” proclaimed Jason at Fisherman’s Supply in Point. The pink and the zucchini 19- and 36-inch ChatterLures sidetrackers, and also the pink/white Joe Shutes/medium ballyhoo on a 6-knot pace were being pulverized by yellowfin to 90 pounds. Bigeye to 180 pounds were also waxing the same in the same area. Not to be outshone is the jigging mayhem with yellowfin along the eastern’s flats at 300 feet with the pink glow 200-gram Nomad Streaker metal. “They’re spitting up krill and shrimp,” he noted. Blue and white marlin are all over select size ballyhoo at 6 knots at The Bank.

Rod at Jingles Bait & Tackle points to the Chicken Canyon where there is some decent jigging action happening with yellowfin in the 30- to 45-pound range. The hot pink Magic Bay metal is a prime time slayer. Pick the right pot(s) and you’ll find good counts of mahi to 4 pounds that are inhaling chunks of butterfish.

“Lots of yellowfin in the canyons and bluefin mid-range,” says Capt. Cool Ray Lopez onboard Miss Liane Sportfishing Sunday afternoon. Bluefin to 40 pounds and yellowfin to 100 pounds, along with a scattering of bigeye at 100 pounds-plus are being caught on spreader bars and trolled ballyhoo. Yellowfin and bluefin are also banging jigs. Cool Ray says the one mind boggling memorable moment from last week’s two charters was the dumping of a 50...and a crushed ‘n mushed spreader bar eventually swung over the stern. “That,” he emphasized, “was either an Allison yellowfin or a bigger than big bigeye.”

Capt. Ryan aboard Miss Magic Sportfishing told of a 42-inch bluefin that waffled a medium ballyhoo at a 6-knot speed. It was a perfect finale for a trip that started off with a haul of 26 lobsters. The fleet’s tuna trek schedule is underway, with the upcoming three weeks booked. “We’ll have openings starting sometime in August,” he said.

“An offshore score at the local canyons,” enthused Capt. Alan Lee aboard Mushin Sportfishing telling of the box-stuffing yellowfin and bigeye trolling encounters, and the drop and reel action with buster blueline and golden tilefish. He mentioned that other boats he’s in contact with are enjoying stellar bluefin action at 25 to 55 miles. The fish are from ranging from footballs under 47 inches to mediums in the 60-inch class, making for some interesting encounters. Trolling Sterling wide trackers and jigging with Nomad Streakers all effective.

Rich at Southside Marina says the 70-degree water in the Hudson ignited some hot white marlin pursuits to 7-knot speed ballyhoo. The tip of the Hudson is providing decent shots at yellowfin via the bar and chain troll, with the Little Italy coughing out 60- to 64-inch bluefin glomming various RonZ combinations.

“When I say the mid-range areas lit up I mean, they really lit up,” gushed Matt from the Reel Seat, adding that mixed sized bluefin and some bruiser yellowfin in the 70- to 80-pound class out at 55 miles were jumping ugly on 120-gram Shout Lance and Nomad Streaker jigs, with the sand eel and pink colors the crush. Not to overlooked is there here and there surface explosions, with the pink glow 70MM Reel Seat popper igniting many blasts.

“Tuna north to south,” proclaims Chris from Empire Fishing & Tackle, noting the various size bluefin blasts occurring in areas of the Hudson, Chicken, Wilmington, Lindenkohl, and Baltimore, and around the Little Italy, Triple Wrecks and Atlantic Princess. The 36-inch purple and the green ChatterLures side tracker and the 200-gram pink/white streaker jig doing the damage. In the mix are 40- to 60-pound yellowfin that are hitting the same bars and metals and also inhaling chunks of sardines and butterfish.

Justin at Fin-Atics in Ocean City said the winds and conditions most of last week precluded canyon forays, but he’d heard of sporadic encounters with yellowfin in the Wilmington. He’s expecting much more activity as winds subside and more boats head out.

Jeff from Hands Too Bait & Tackle says the Wilmington, Baltimore and Lindenkohl have been reliable for 100- to 200-pound bigeye on the troll. Yellowfin are spread all over, with the 18-inch zucchini Sterling wide tracker especially deadly on a 7-knot pull. The southern canyon lobster pots are producing chicken size to 20-pound mahi. Chunks ‘n pieces are effective, with trolled small ballyhoo putting the bigger ones on ice.

“Better water moved in and the bluefin bite took off,” shared a busy Phil at the Tackle Box in Hazlet Sunday morning, adding that the area of the Little Italy and then from 30 to 50 miles was hosting mega teams of footballs, from freshman to varsity sizes. While trolling bars is picking off a few, it’s Major Craft and OTI metals that is the catalyst for some maniacal smashes, thrashes and hits.