Saltwater action for bluefin tuna is hot right now at the Jersey shore

This 77-inch bluefin tuna was caught last week and reported by Tak Waterman at B&T Tackle Shop out of Long Branch, NJ. Contributed photo

Summer fishing is firing on all cylinders across the Mid-Atlantic and Jersey shore say the folks at On the Water Magazine. Fluke fishing continues to improve from New Jersey through Long Island while striped bass remain catchable during key tide changes with offshore crews finding increased success with tuna and pelagics. Meanwhile, reefs are producing sea bass and triggerfish, while Chesapeake anglers are enjoying a diverse inshore bite.

*Gary Carr at Keyport Bait and Tackle, says crabbing is in full swing at the Keyport waterfront while fluke and snappers are being caught off the piers and bulkheads. Croakers and spot are still around while bluefin tuna action is improving as they seem to be moving closer to shore. 

*Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet, reports lots of fluke on the local reefs and good crabbing around Keyport and in local rivers. 

*Joe Julian Jr at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands, also reported loads of fluke being caught but a dearth of keepers. Draggers, he said, are scooping up everything and bear some responsibility for the shortage of legal fish. There is, however, plenty of bait in the bay and lots of snappers off Leonardo. 

*Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright, said fluke fishing in the surf is decent with plenty of short action and occasional keepers. There’s also trigger fish at the Shrewsbury Rocks and good crabbing in Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers. There’s also a lot of interest in night shark fishing by younger anglers. 

*Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch, said fluking has slowed but he spotted plenty of fish around the jetties. As for tuna, Gleason said recreational and giant bluefin are around with a random yellowfin mixed in with the bluefin. Jigs and popping plugs are working well for tuna. 

*Stanley Gola at the Reel Seat in Brielle, said fluke action has been very good on the offshore reefs from the Rattlesnake to the Axel Carlson. He reported bluefin tuna are close and five miles from shore. Yellowfin and bigeye tuna are in the Hudson Canyon and tile fishing has been good.
 
*Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach, said fluking has been good in the Manasquan River with lots of shorts but more keepers as well. Anglers are having success with the Q8 Bullet jerk shad. There’re still stripers in the river at night. He added that fluke fishing has been good at the Axel Carlson Reef while bluefin are biting at the Klondike and the southern lumps with jigs, stickbaits and popping plugs catching fish. 

FRESHWATER FISHING

The best local bite during these dog days of summer are largemouth bass at Mauch Chunk and Leaser lakes. If you don’t mind wading out at bit, Ontelaunee Reservoir in Berks County has been a productive bite for bass on swim baits and weedless lures in the weeds.

​Up the Pocono area, Pecks Pond is always a favorite as is Shohola. I remember some years ago latching onto a huge snapping turtle at Shohola on of all things, a yellow spinner bait. Not wanting my hand bit by its head that was as large as a man’s hand, I cut the line as the turtle got close to me. It would have made delicious snapper soup though. 

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