|
.
|
Striped Bass
These beautiful creatures are plentiful in NJ and in our opinion, this is the best place to fish for them. Best season for striped bass in early April into late June and then September into November. Our favorite way to fish is with live bunker, but we also troll, jig, and chunk for these cows. These fish have been caught up to 78 pounds in New Jersey (World Record). These guys put up a huge fight and are great on the dinner table. New Jersey requires them to be at least 28" to keep, w/ a 2 fish per person bag limit (additional bonus tags available)
.
|
|
.
|
Fluke
These flatties are one of the staples of New Jersey fishing. Fluke fishing is a great way to introduce someone to fishing or just to have a relaxing experience on the boat. Fluke are bottom fished and normally caught by drift fishing on the bottom w/ a variety of baits, generically a piece of squid and a sand eel or spearing. The more advanced fisherman looking for a challenge may look to use different combinations, including bucktails. These delicious treats can range in size, and the prize for most fisherman is a fish over 30" regarded as a "doormat." The regulations have recently changed, with a longer season from May 5 to Sept 28, with a minimum size of 17.5" and a bag limit of 5 fish per person.
.
|
|
|
Bluefish
These bad boys are one of the hardest fighting fish for the size out there. Normally known as a nuisance when you are trying to catch a bass, these guys are plentiful in the NJ area all summer. These fish have razor sharp teeth and known to chew through leaders or fingers if you put them close enough. Most bluefish are only caught for shark bait, but there are a lot of people who like to eat them. Usually pretty pungent, there are tricks to make these fish taste as good as bass if you put in the effort. Bluefish can be hooked on almost any bait or jig if they are around. There is no size or bag limit on them
.
|
|
|
Tautog (Blackfish)
These bottom wonders are a great fish to catch in the cooler months. In the wrasse family, these bottom feeders are absolutely delicious to eat. Fishing for them generally requires being firmly anchored on a hotspot, usually over wrecks or rock piles, so fishing with the right captain is even more important! These tricky rock dwellers range in size, usually in the 3-6 pound range, but have been caught up to 25 pounds! Blackfish have odd regulations in NJ, with the following seasons: Jan 1-Feb 28 (4 fish), April 1-April 30 (4 fish), July 27-Aug 31 (1 fish), Oct 18-Nov 15 (1 fish), Nov 16-Dec 31 (4 fish ~ and our favorite season to catch them)
.
|
|
|
Black Sea Bass
A culinary delight, Black Sea Bass are a favorite species for any fisherman and their family. We mainly fish for them inshore, but many angler’s go to deep spots offshore to catch the big ones. Black Sea bass are normally found at the bottom on some type of structure and usually caught along with Fluke, on the same tackle and bait setups on the drift. Each angler can keep up to 25 of these tasty treats as long as they are over 12.5” Black Sea Bass has 2 seasons, from May 19-Oct 14 and Nov 1-Dec 31
.
|
|
|
Cod
Cod are one of the most well known fish in the world. While cod stocks have dropped in the last 25 years, and environmentalist are concerned, cod still remain plentiful in the area. While the fish are smaller size than the past (average 10-25 pounds), cod have been caught up to 100 pounds! (NJ record is 71 pounds) Cod are bottom fish, and are great for eating (ever have a McD's fish-filet?). Cod are generally caught outside of NJ waters (3 miles), and are federally regulated. Cod "can" be caught year round, but best time is the winter and early spring months in our opinion. There is no bag limit for cod, however they must be at least 21" to keep
.
|
|
|
Ling
Also, known as lingcod, red hake, or squirrel hake, ling are always a fun time. The fish are plentiful up and down the coast, inshore and offshore, and are normally targetted along with cod on the bottom. These long, slender fish, are great for eating and can range in size. The world record red hake was just recently caught on a headboat out of Manasquan in the Mudhole, which weighed in at a little over 12 pounds. Ling can be caught year round (especially juveniles inshore), but best time is winter/early spring along w/ cod. There is no bag limit or minimum size for Ling.
.
|
 |
Sharks
The main inshore species of shark we catch are the unique looking Thresher Sharks. These monsters, can be found right near the beach, chasing schools of bunker and other types of bait, even striped bass and bluefish. Thresher’s are known for an exhilarating fight and beautiful jumps from the water in an attempt to shake the hook. Threshers are one the few shark species which people enjoy eating, and we can tell you from experience, they are delicious! As the water warms up, you can even find Mako sharks inshore. Offshore, we fish for a variety of sharks, including Mako’s, Threshers, Hammerhead, and Dusky (Brown) Sharks. In NJ, sharks need to be 54” inches to the fork of the tail to be kept, with a limit of ONE PER VESSEL.
.
|
Offshore Species
|
|
|
.
|
Tuna
.
There are several types of tuna caught off New Jersey, but the main species are bluefin and yellowfin.
Bluefin tuna are the most sought out fish in the world, and have been decimated in terms of their stocks, down 80% since 1970. Bluefin can be caught starting in June from 20 to 50 miles offshore in the “inshore canyons” (Mudhole, Glory Hole, Chicken Canyon, etc). Generally caught on the troll with varying spread of rigs, these monsters are most fun caught on jig when you can find them. Bluefin can reach up to 1500 POUNDS, but generally we catch ones in the 40-100 pound class. Because of the dropping stocks, in 2012, charter boats can only keep ONE "under" fish between 27” and 54” and ONE "over" fish between 54" and 73" PER BOAT PER TRIP. Vessels can keep one “trophy” bluefin over 73” PER YEAR.
.
.
|
 |
.
Yellowfin tuna are generally caught further offshore, usually in the far canyons (Hudson, Spencer, Toms Canyon, etc). Yellowfin and Bluefin are very similar, with a main difference being they stop out in their growth generally around 200 pounds, but can be found up to 400 pounds. During the day we normally troll for YFT with a large spread of many lines. One of our favorite things to do is find a spot at night, anchor up, and start a chunk. Good news for anglers is that because YFT are in more abundance you can keep 3 fish per boat per trip as long as they are over 27”
Bigeye Tuna and Longfin tuna can also be found in the far canyons, which have a 27" minimum size and no bag limit. |
| |
|
