Closure of the Black Sea Bass

Closure of the Black Sea Bass

NOAA announced today the temporary closure of the black sea bass recreational fishery in federal waters north of Cape Hatteras, N.C., for 180 days in response to recent landings data that showed recreational fishermen may catch more than double their annual quota by the end of the year. The closure will commence Monday, October 5, 2009. Landings data and scientific analyses show recreational fishermen have reached their quota and could exceed their 1.14 million pound harvest limit by as much as 84 to 225 percent if the recreational fishery is not closed. An independent body of federal and university scientists recently determined that the black sea bass stock has been rebuilt. However, both the scientists and the Science and Statistical Committee of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council have cautioned against increasing fishing of this stock for several reasons, including the complex and poorly understood reproductive cycle, and limited information on life span and important habitats for this species. The Council recommends catch limits for black sea bass in federal waters. NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Read More on Closure of Black Seabass Fishing

NJ Surf Fishing Report | 9/25

NJ Surf Fishing Report | 9/25

Written by Steve Adams A.O.K. Tackle

Friday, 25 September 2009

The surf scene is beginning to take shape in New Jersey.  Finger mullet and other baitfish have started to make the move out of the bays and inlets and are moving down the shoreline.  False albacore are still raoming our waterways,making their speedy moves in and out of the surfline.  Sandy Hook saw some decent albie action each morning but northern Ocean County and Southern Monmouth county had periods of good action too.  Sometimes the fish are there,but the signs are not.  My friends this week told me that when the birds were working the bait and the water was exploding with albies.  When you don't see classic blitzes, look for the flash of a fishes side to indicate where the albies are moving.  Blind casting at dawn and dusk can has reward the dedicated angler with a fish or two but let's face it; we all want the blitz.  Thin metals,with a flash of green on the sides or in the bucktail works very well reeled very fast!   Further to the south, kingfish and small bluefish are in the wash. Small high-low rigs tipped with bloodworm or Fishbites are great for the kingfish.  Keeper sized striped bass have been caught along the beachfronts, especially around Monmouth County.  Not many,but those willing to put in the time are getting rewarded. Cut baits such as bunker,and clam baits are a Jersey shore tradition in the fall.

Read more Nj Surf Fishing Reports

 

Canyon Tuna Fishing

Tuna-Tic Sportfishing - Chicken Canyon

Canyon Tuna Fishing -Tuna-Tic Sport Fishing [Video]

New State Record Pike Caught

 NJ State Record Pike

The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that John Viglione of Ringwood made his way onto the state record fish list recently by landing a new state record Northern Pike. John was fishing in Pompton Lake, Passaic County when he reeled in the 30 pound, 8.5 ounce fish, eclipsing the old record caught 32 years ago in Spruce Run Reservoir by 6.5 ounces.
John was retrieving his line after the 13th cast in the early morning hours of September 7, when the line suddenly stopped. He initially thought it was snagged, but it kept moving in a very heavy manner. Perhaps a snapping turtle had gotten ahold of his bait?
That question was answered quickly, as after fifteen tense minutes - that included a spectacular "tail walk" by the fish - a new state record Northern Pike was landed and in the books.
John was using a Daiwa spinning reel spooled with 8-lb. test Ande line and a Shakespeare 6' 6" pole. For bait he had on a swivel and a Blue Fox Vibrax spinner.
The new record pike measured 46 inches in length and had a girth of 22.25 inches.

Record Breaking 624 lb. Mako Shark

Record Breaking 624 lb. Mako Shark

Written by Capt. Chris Gatley : ESPNOutdoors.com

The hurricane missed the east coast but something big blew in at the hands of Capt. Taylor Sears. Winds pushed 50 on the mainland as Hurricane Bill passed Cape Cod, and that was far enough away to not affect fishing. Sears took advantage several days later, landing a huge mako shark while tuna fishing. Sears, of Mass Bay Guides in Scituate, Mass., successfully caught a 624-pound mako shark, which would have been a record for male makos had it not been harpooned. Sears and mate Capt. Tom King met their paying fare at 5 a.m. Thursday and steamed toward Provincetown, Mass., in hopes of rounding the Cape to their tuna grounds. Fifteen miles into their 18-mile journey, the port oil pump went down. Sears' only remedy was to add oil every few hours. The crew then decided to set up on Stellwagen Bank, a popular tuna ground. Sears deployed several rods, including one outfitted with a Kite and tipped with a menhaden moss bunker baitfish, referred to in New England as a pogy. Kite fishing is gaining popularity here as the kite enables an angler to dangle live bait at the water's surface, tantalizing gamefish lurking below. This kite rod took its first tuna strike, and the father of the charter was first on the fish. After a 45-minute battle, an estimated 65-inch bluefin tuna weighing roughly 170 pounds popped to the surface with a big mako shark chomping on it. "I yelled like a little girl," Sears said, "Yelling mako! Mako!" Read More

IBSP Fall Striper Fishing

IBSP Fall Striper Fishing

Jason DeCarlo thought he would take the day off to meet up with some friends from PA Thursday. As the plans fell through, He decided to fish instead with his buddy Tom.  They stopped at Betty & Nicks for some bait and were on their way.  Jason said,"John wasn't proud of his stock of clams, but they took some from the bottom of the bin anyway".  The boys headed in to the park and were on the sand around 11:30am. Jason and Tom fished the outgoing tide with high being around 7:20 this morning.  There was a lot of wood on the beach that washed up.  They parked next to a chunk that was about 100+ lbs. 100 yards North of the Judge's Shack.  Water temp. was around 72 with a steady breeze from the North/NorthEast.  Deadsticked 2 rods with clam and bunker holding decently with 6 oz, they hooked up with a short dogfish, and a sea robin fairly quick.  Jason then casted out with double clam on a hi-lo rig and went to get the second going when the 10' rod doubled over and started taking the spike with it.  He Picked up the rod and BANG!, hook set, drag sucking.  Tom and Jason looked at each other knowing there was something nice on the other end of the braid.  Jason got the drag set and started reeling in.  Jason said "My rod was bending like I've never seen it bend before. A lot of WOOT WOOTING was going on during the fight.  A good 5 minutes later and my first Striped Bass ever was escorted onto the sand!  Grabbed my tape after showing my catch proudly to a passer-by.........38".  After a good 3 minutes of fist pumping and five slapping, ol' stripey hit the cooler." Jason left Tommy on the beach and proceeded to weigh in at Betty & Nicks.  In he walked with his cooler and said "...Clams seem fine to me!"  John threw the fish on the scale, 15 Lbs. 7 oz......Shot a video, and back to the beach he went.  They finished the day off with a few more birds and dogs, and called it a day.

 Butterfly Jigging
Butterfly Jigging For Tuna : With Capt Chris Gatley.

In This Video Capt. Chris explains how he likes to Jig for Tuna with the Butterfly Jig.