NJ red hot tuna fishing 8/8/09

[JDL]

The tuna fishing in the past couple of weeks has been red hot. Bluefin tuna have been on the mid range tuna grounds feeding on large schools of sand eels about 40 miles offshore. In addition, the canyons have been holding yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, as well as some blue and white marlin.

Finally got our first tuna trip underway on our boat on 8/8/09. Left dock at about 4:30am for the 2 hr run out to the tuna grounds. Arrived to find a fleet of at least 100-150 boats trolling, jigging, and bait fishing. We decided to troll a little bit away from the fleet. Began setting out the lines and a bluefin quickly inhaled one of the ballyhoo I was freespooling back into the spread. After a short, tough fight, we had a 60lb bluefin on the deck. Fished a little bit longer and ended up catching a skipjack, releasing another 60lb bluefin and pulling the hook on one last tuna.

[PhishingPhanatic]

Great job Justin! Break out the wasabi and the soy sauce...

[permitchaser]

sushi time those things fight

[bolo]

Nice one Justin.

[fixed80]

mako bait nah just kid... good catch there.

[JDL]

mako bait nah just kid... good catch there.

Lol...when I mako fish I just use bluefish

[bolo]

mako bait nah just kid... good catch there.

Lol...when I mako fish I just use bluefish

Can you catch Makos off the beaches were you live Justin?

[JDL]

mako bait nah just kid... good catch there.

Lol...when I mako fish I just use bluefish

Can you catch Makos off the beaches were you live Justin?

Not usually. Not many places where you can. On rare occasion there may be a juvenile inshore but that's it. The main sharks you catch off the beaches are lots of sandbar sharks with the occasional bull in the summer/fall. In the spring, there are large threshers feeding on schools of bunker in close, and may occasionally come within range of a properly placed surf bait.

[bolo]

Thanks Justin.

[Cookinman]

Great Stuff - Looks like a blast