An email on July 1, 2026, from a father about a son, a school of “channel bass” (aka redfish) and a former Philadelphia Eagle.
I thought you’d appreciate the incredible red drum run we stumbled onto the other day. It was literally an acre of the biggest bull reds I’ve ever seen. They stayed balled up in a tight pod, and for nearly two hours we caught and released fish after fish until our arms were completely worn out. I’ve been fishing a long time, and it was one of the most unbelievable sights I’ve ever witnessed.
What made the day even more special was that former Philadelphia Eagle Freddie “4th and 26th” Mitchell was fishing with us. Freddie has become good friends with my son over the past few years and joins us whenever he gets the chance. He absolutely loves fishing, and it was really cool that he got to experience a bite like this.
The day almost never happened. We had planned to head offshore for tuna, on our boat Tricks-of-the-Trade being run by James (Bluewater Bites) but the weather wasn’t going to cooperate. On top of that, James had just finished a double-overnight canyon trip in the Atlantis two days earlier and then immediately ran another private trip to Spencer Canyon, and an another trip planned the following day, so everyone was ready for an easier day.
We started flounder fishing until a buddy called and said he was saw whales and birds over an inshore ridge they ran across the day before. James decided to put the flounder gear away and go take a look about 15 miles away. When we arrived, there were only a handful of birds, but what really caught our attention was what looked like an acre of “bronze white water.” At first we thought it was a massive school of cobia, but within seconds we realized it was an enormous pod of giant red drum.
Four anglers, including Mahlon Whitmire and Gary Tretina, all made casts with spinning rods…and all four hooked up instantly.
For the next couple of hours, the action never stopped. It was nonstop sight-casting and topwater excitement with giant bull reds crashing baits. None of us could believe what we were seeing, and the craziest part was that we had the entire school to ourselves. There wasn’t another boat in sight.
A little background on my son, James Stenella IV – he just turned 20 in May, but he has experience on the water far beyond his years. He’s been fishing offshore since he was 4 years old, and over the past few years he’s essentially been working full-time in the offshore charter industry while building time toward his captain’s license.
Along the way he’s been fortunate to fish and work alongside some of the area’s best captains, including Jeff Warford , Mark DeBlasio, Deane Lambros, Matt Salko and, of course, his father. They’ve all taken him under their wing and helped him gain invaluable experience. James fishes year-round, following the seasons from New Jersey’s offshore tuna grounds, to the Outer Banks chasing giant bluefin, and then to Marathon, FL where he runs offshore boats during the winter.
My son is also working to build his own brand, Bluewater Bites. Keep an eye on James Stenella IV as he continues to make a name for himself in the New Jersey fishing community. With his experience, work ethic and passion for the sport, this young up-and-coming captain has an exciting future ahead of him.
Plenty more is to come from James and Bluewater Bites, and this unforgettable day of bull red drum fishing may be only the beginning. As for Mitchell of course, everyone loves FredEx!
