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

Jake at Creekside Outfitters took a brief but well-earned breather from the blow out Labor Day Weekend tent sale to share that mahi to 10 pounds were masticating live peanuts and NLBN K-tails around the pots, with the Resor surrendering gaffer mahi to 20 pounds on the small and medium/large ballyhoo troll. Yellowfin are on the sardine chunk chow in the Hudson, with the canyon’s eastern wall a dining hall for whole squid-slurping tilefish.

Keith from Fisherman’s Headquarters says the inshore reaches are rowdy with Spanish macks, bonito and false albacore. Epoxy jigs, small bucktails and metals at and around the pots are being pulverized. Bluefin and yellowfin are being trolled in the Hudson with the smashes, thrashes and hits coming to purple spreader bars and also ballyhoo on a 6-knot pull. Golden and blueline tiles are being caught in the canyons on jigs and strip baits.

Jason from Fishermen’s Supply described an overall dismal scenario when it came to the tuna activity: “A big, blue desert,” he sourly quipped, noting that it was a grind to put together a scratchy catch of yellowfin and bluefin out at the Coimbra. He’s figuring a big September nor-easter blow could get things up to speed, with the chunk, jig and troll all coming into play. On the positive side, excellent tilefish action continues in the Hudson. The 350- to 550-foot reach hot for bluelines to 10 pounds; the 550- to 850-depths surrendering goldens to 30 pounds. The glow 500-gram Johnny Jig, whole squid, and salmon belly strips filling the boxes.

Word from Gabriel Tackle is that the Monster Ledge continues a Frankenstein for gaffer mahi and decent counts of blue marlin. Scattered bluefin action continues at the Seaside Lumps and the shipping lanes. Yellowfin being chunked in the usual areas.

Capt. Rich from Jersey Hooker Outfitters points to the pots and flotsam in the Glory Hole and at the Witch’s Chin for reliable shots at mixed size mahi. He notes that live killies continue being the best dorado dance partner, but they’re also obliging epoxy jigs and small chunk bait offerings.

Mushin Sportfishing has been busy racing inshore speedsters then enjoying rip-snorting engagements. False albacore, bonito, Spanish mackerel and football bluefin are being caught trolling and casting on the likes of purple/black Sterling wide trackers, Clark spoons and other assorted metal ordnance. Tons of fast action/light tackle fun...so much so an open boat trip is scheduled for September 21. Call the boat for details.

“Mahi at the Monster Ledge pots. Anywhere from 15 to 35 inches. Lots of fun fishing,” shared Christiano at the Reel Seat. Squid chunks and Hogy Epoxy Jigs are proving mahi masters. It continues a slow pick with yellowfin in the Hudson, the upside being that the southwestern corner is seeing fair shots at 30-pound to near Allison class100-pound ahi. The 19-inch purple, and zucchini Sterling wide tracker bars at 6 knots the naughty. Said canyon area is also rife with golden tiles to double digits that are glomming strip baits and Tilefish Bomb jigs.

“Mixed mahi thick on the inshore pots and at the far end of the Atlantic City Reef,” relayed The Ingredient from Fin-Atics, adding that the Sea Isle Ridge was yielding bluefin from 47 inches and longer on way back ballyhoo at a 6-knot pace. He’d received intel that the Lindenkohl was the locus for encounters with yellowfin to 60 pounds on the ballyhoo and Sterling Tackle wide tracker troll, with plugs like the Nomad Design DTX Minnow poking a few bigeyes.

A high octane Dean at Hands Too Bait & Tackle told of the weed lines and breaks along the middle lumps being red hot for mahi from 10 to 28 pounds that are waxing trolled ballyhoo. Ballyhoo are also busting yellowfin along the 30 Line, with great light tackle rod bending with 2 to 3 pound Spanish mackerel around the local reefs that are pummeling Deadly Dicks, Clark spoons and Hogy Epoxy jigs. Mahi continue being caught on small jigs and pitch baits at area pots.

“Whites (marlin) all week, and more to come for sure,” relayed an enthusiastic Jason from South Jersey Marina, stressing that it’s a 60-pound cookie cutter scenario when it came to the spikefish in, around and south of the Baltimore. A 6-knot track with small and medium ballyhoo the bomb. A monumental congrats to 7-year-old Wyatt Hoffman, son of South Jersey Marina tournament director Aaron Hoffman, who caught a ballyhoo-blasting 250-pound blue marlin. Way to go, Wyatt!