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

Jake at Creekside Outfitters is fired up about the hot inshore thresher fishing. He, big brother Cole and some buds made the run to the Shark River Reef and were hooked up within minutes of getting the bunker chum going and baiting with butterflied menhaden Wham! A sickletail estimated at 200 pounds was in the boat within a few minutes via the cranked drag on the 80 outfit manned by Cole. Quick trip. As per floor traffic, it’s all thresher, as bunker chum, bunker and mackerel are vacating the freezers at an alarming rate. On the tuna front, word from regulars is that there is a yellowfin bite happening in the southern canyons and should be underway farther up as better water moves in. It’s the Hudson for excellent opportunities at golden tiles.

Information about recent bluefin and/or yellowfin action was nil from our source at Fisherman’s Headquarters, but the burgeoning interest in threshers is keeping the bunker chum and bunker baits moving out the door. The bite is anywhere from two miles (sometimes closer) and out. Dropping for tiles, particularly goldens, remains at lights out status in the canyons.

“Word on yellowfin this past week has been slow, but for anyone who wants to make the long run, I did hear of some bigger bluefin and bigeye trolling and jigging activity on the flats of the Wilmington and Baltimore,” shared Jason at Fisherman’s Supply who is getting beyond impatient for the yellowfin activity to start, much less show a degree of consistency. Meanwhile, the southwestern corner of the Hudson continues providing epic rod bending with golden tilefish to 30 pounds. Limits the norm, primarily on the 500-gram Major Craft jig mated to strip baits. Thresher thumping happening from the Fingers to the Farms. Sardine and bunker chum the attractants, with whole mackerel making the sickletails make the commitment.

“Nothing on tuna, but the thresher fishing has guys buying chum and bait and heading out when they can,” reported Frank at Gabriel Tackle Company, noting that he was hearing about threshers from 60 pounds up to the 200-pound range being caught. Frank did remember a customer showing him a photo earlier in the week of a yellowfin in the 80-pound class, but would not disclose any info. Tight tuna lips for sure.

Capt. Cool Ray Lopez from Miss Liane Sportfishing is wired, fired and otherwise inspired regarding this week’s 5th Annual Beach Haven Tuna Club Open. He and the crew have the tricked out 32 Carolina Classic ready to go and, with improving water and weather on the way, expect encounters with yellowfin and bluefin. “And bigeye,” Coll Ray reminded. Open dates on his Time for Tuna calendar.

Mushin Sportfishing was not offshore this past week because of a hectic inshore schedule; however, Capt. Alan Lee had intel regarding several boats that ran “waaaay” south. The southern canyons have been producing decent counts of double digit yellowfin catches, with a smattering of bigeye in the mix. “It’s almost strictly a trolling game, but very productive,” he says, adding that better water and the tuna should be accessible for coastal New Jersey boats very soon. In the meantime, the lights out tilefish action continues.

Christiano from the Reel Seat says the inshore grounds are rife with threshers in the 100- to 300-pound class, and they’re being caught on live bunker, live bluefish, and also butterflied mackerel. There’s been a mixed size bluefin bite percolating in the Hudson, with word of a few yellowfin in the 20- to 40-pound class in the mix. It’s a TNT or Joe Shutes troll with medium and select ballyhoo at a 6- to 6.5-knot clip. Blueline and golden tilefish continue being the day savers, with limits of the former to15 pounds and 45 pounds for the latter being caught on jigs and strip baits.

“Yellowfin? Whew. That’s a tough one,” quipped Big John from Fin-Atics when asked about any recent customer tuna trials and tribulations. Here’s the take: trolling bars has lit a scant few at the Cigar, these being in the 35- to 60-pound class, with a couple of guys picking through small yellowfin pockets in the Poorman’s. He’s encouraged with the updated size regs regarding bluefin and hopes it will get more boats out to the bluefin grounds.

“We’re waiting for that big patch of good water to get closer to get the yellowfin going, but I did have word of a customer going five for five on them in the Poorman’s,” said Jeff at Hands Too Bait & Tackle, adding that spreader bars were the ticket. Some bigeye were also being reported in the Poorman’s area. Local canyons still providing top notch golden and blueline tile opportunities on strip baits and jigs. He was pumped regarding the inshore thresher action. “Find the pods, set up and get the bunker chum slick going. Good fishing going on,” he remarked

“Bluefin to the south on the troll inside the Baltimore and Wilmington,” relayed Jason from South Jersey Marina, adding that there was word of bigeye and yellowfin moving in. He’s excited about the improving weather and conditions beginning this week, just in time for the School’s Out Tournament. Three days of fishing, June 18-22. It’s still not too late to sign up, with registrations being accepted at the June 18 Captains meeting, 6 p.m. at the Cape May Marlin and Tuna Club. Entry is $500 per boat. There are four-day trip options and three-day overnight choices.