THE LINDENKOHL CANYON, NJ - The Fisherman
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THE LINDENKOHL CANYON, NJ

This section of hallowed offshore water is named for Adolph Lindenkohl (1833-1904) a 19th Century hydrographer, cartographer, oceanographer, and bathymetrist who served 50 years with the Coast and Geodetic Survey and contributed to the literature on submarine features. The GPS coordinates are listed as 38.48.80, North -73.02.10 West.

The canyon trolling this summer erupted out at the Lindenkohl with 40- to 60-pound yellowfin tuna as battlewagons pulled trolling patterns laden with ballyhoo and spreader bars. It’s a five- to six-hour run from most ports, but well worth it for those like myself that simply have to experience the best bluewater fishing on the East Coast.

Capt. Dave Bender and Jimmy Gahm with Jenny Lee Sportfishing have long touted this area as an ideal locale to steam to. They leave the dock at 11:30 p.m. while most are heading to bed and by cruising at a comfy 18 knots, arrive at the canyon as false light just starts to temp vision.

On the first trip to the Lindy this year, they finished the day keeping seven yellowfin to about 40 pounds and one nice mahi. “The weather was very good as was the fishing, and we had about 15 bites, but only landed the seven tunas as we pulled hooks on a few, ” said Capt Dave, who added, “At one point, we had seven on.” If that doesn’t sound like fun, I don’t know what does.

According to Capt. Dave, the northeast corner has been hot for trolling, but it can get crowded. He has also had great luck chunking the southwest corner as fall approaches. “I used a bathymetric chart to locate some nice structure to find a few small areas that routinely produce,” he said.

Capt Dave also cautioned that, “Just because you caught them on the troll in one spot during the daytime, that doesn’t mean you will catch them at night on the chunk.”

Monitoring sea temp charts and warm core eddies, along with charts for the Lindenkohl is a science only for varsity captains with bluewater experience, but timing it right and taking advantage of the conditions is a recipe for slamming success out at the Lindenkohl.