Southern NJ Bluefin Bonanza

peterb · #1 08-29-2008, 01:31 PM

Looks like the best year in decades for large BFT's in NJ.

Went out to the Lobster Claw (about 50 miles due east of Atlantic City) on Wednesday. Anchored up at 5:45am, and started to chunk. The first fish was on shortly after 6am. Took 1 hour+ to land this 59" long & 38" girth fattie (weighed 130 pounds) on a system 30.

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Over the remainder of the morning we landed 4 more fish (55" to 62" long BFT's). Also, we lost 5 fish (including two white marlins). Out of the 11 bites 6 were on hammered diamond jigs (of which I was on the rod for 5 out of the 6 jig fish). What a blast.

Peter

Capt Chuck · #2 08-29-2008, 02:29 PM

Outstanding Peter!!!

peterb · #3 08-29-2008, 03:58 PM

Thanks Chuck.

One of the white's hit a big diamond jog like a bolt of lightning. When the fish first surfaced and my friends started screaming, " holy cr__, it's a white marlin", all I could think of was your 400+ pound beast from earlier this year.

Just like your fish, these fish pulled us all over the place. Thank god for the fishability of the center console. All the fish were boated on the bow (stay away from those nasty engines).

Peter

gofastsandman · #4 08-29-2008, 06:19 PM

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Very encouraging to see that your fishery is not what some had feared. Watching the purse seiners wreak total decimation in the Med Sea is just sickening.
You had a monster day

GFS

peterb · #5 08-29-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Very encouraging to see that your fishery is not what some had feared. Watching the purse seiners wreak total decimation in the Med Sea is just sickening.
You had a monster day GFS

Everything that I read suggests that the BFT fishery is still in a very bad state. Up here no one is taking this for granted, other than some people who now want to keep more than one 47" to 73" fish. For me one fish like this per boat is fine. I had no problem letting that one last fish (a 62"er) go.

Personally, I think that we have had a great run because we got a lot of bait out there and the water was very cold for most of the summer.

Whatever the reason is I am very grateful and am treating like we will never see this again.

Michael Vezzosi · #6 08-29-2008, 10:42 PM

Peter, Right On! Nice job. Part II.

How are the Stripe-ed Bass? Be up 9-06-08.