Mahi

[Waresthefish]

I don't often get a chance to fish for mahi on my own boat since I own a single engine 21 foot center console. But the fish were close enough today. I had two of my sons and their friend and we headed northeast from Manasquan inlet until we reached lobster pots. We hopped a couple but quickly found a floating log. Threw the peanuts and jigged the bucktails and immediately had a fish on. After a few runs from the boat my son eventually landed a nice 15 pound fish. There was a pretty large school of fish hanging by this log so we continued throwing hooks baited with peanuts and jigs for a pretty long time. We hooked two more but they broke off. The fish became very wise and our first fish would be our last for the day. We stayed with the log since we could see the fish all over under the boat. At times many went airborne putting on a spectacular show. Yes it was frustrating not boating anymore of these fish but I think we all appreciated seeing these fish in their full glory. The water was very clean. I know my kids will remember this for a lifetime. We did troll some with no luck getting more mahi but did boat a very nice false albacore.

[stugots]

Nice! Next time trying dipping down to lighter leader and bury the hook inside the peanuts

[Jigman13]

Were you using fluoro leader and burying the hooks in your baits?

Also. We typically hook one on a stout set up, tire it out and keep it hooked up boatside until everyone else hooks up.

Strange you only plucked one. Throw spearing, peanuts and/or killies. They get super competitive when food is in the water...

[AndyS]

Great report and nice Mahi !

[Gerry Zagorski]

Sounds like you had a good trip and were treated to a great show. We were out once and same thing... We saw several nice bulls but couldn't get them to eat. We through everything at them, live Peanuts, spearing, jigs, metal and nothing...... It was very frustrating and it was later suggested here by Freddy from Andrea's toy to try a surface popper which is now one of the lures I always have at ready.

Was doing some reading and seems like this is a good fall back when nothing else works and it's great for prospecting as well... It's the first thing many will throw from a distance before moving in and throwing bait. The poppers do create a commotion like nothing else and can draw fish in from a good distance. Throw it out past the pots and rip it back fast... As mentioned above if you do hook up, leave it in the water, throw some bait and you'll often hold the fish and get them in the mood.

I've also found that after a while the fish get wise and it's time to move on to other pots....

Glad you and the boys got the opportunity to get in on this great fishery and hopefully they stick around for us to get a few more shots at them.

[Tomm24]

Yesterday when they got wise to the bait we used a clark spoon and a deadly Dick tipped with squid. The squid made a big difference and not a very fast retrieve

[stugots]

Or the other alternative is to purchase a spear gun 🤙

[jmurr711]

Sounds like you had a good trip and were treated to a great show. We were out once and same thing... We saw several nice bulls but couldn't get them to eat. We through everything at them, live Peanuts, spearing, jigs, metal and nothing...... It was very frustrating and it was later suggested here by Freddy from Andrea's toy to try a surface popper which is now one of the lures I always have at ready.

Was doing some reading and seems like this is a good fall back when nothing else works and it's great for prospecting as well... It's the first thing many will throw from a distance before moving in and throwing bait. The poppers do create a commotion like nothing else and can draw fish in from a good distance. Throw it out past the pots and rip it back fast... As mentioned above if you do hook up, leave it in the water, throw some bait and you'll often hold the fish and get them in the mood.

I've also found that after a while the fish get wise and it's time to move on to other pots....

Glad you and the boys got the opportunity to get in on this great fishery and hopefully they stick around for us to get a few more shots at them.

talking your advice for mahi is like taking my advice for dieting

[Gerry Zagorski]

talking your advice for mahi is like taking my advice for dieting

Now that's funny stuff rit der.... I don't care who you are