Offshore Sea Bass Report & Giant Mako - big Jamaica Brielle

[bigjamaica]

Giant Sea Bass & Giant Mako Report

We only have one giant sea bass trips left for the season, sailing Monday night at 11:00PM.

Offshore Fishing has been good, to very good on our trips with the catch consisting of giant sea bass, jumbo porgies, blue fish, cod, pollock and even a giant 475+Lb Mako.

Recent pool winners were:
Peter Seabrook from Kings Park NY with a 6.5 Lb Sea Bass,
Mohammad Bhuiyan from Greenbelt, MD with a 6Lb Sea Bass
Enyin Chen from Brooklyn NY with a 7 lb Pollock
Nick Zaffarese from Clifton NJ with a 10 lb Pollock.

Joe Welsh from Hopatcong New Jersey not only caught his limit of giant sea bass but, also a 475 lb plus Mako!

Sea Bass season closes after December 31 but the big Jamaica will continue to sail during the winter.

COD SPECIALS
It looks like a good run of cod fish is developing in the 20 to 40 mile range from Brielle. There are several areas where cod are being caught are being caught on wrecks, rocks, and reefs. Hopefully, this will keep up, as this will be the first near-shore cod run we have had in a long time. The Big Jamaica will be running Cod Specials.
Keep an eye on our website, Facebook page, or call the office at 732-528-5014 for updates.

Giant Mako
We were fishing about 75 miles offshore today, catching sea bass. A number of lines were bitten off, which we assumed were blue fish. Joe Welsh is one of the best sea bass fishermen I've met, and also a regular on the Jamaica. Joe was fishing in his usual spot in the bow.
He was reeling in his line and had a small dogfish hooked. All of a sudden the giant Mako swam up and grabbed it.
Joe was fighting the fish until he walked about halfway down the boat when the mako came within gaffing range.
That's when the real battle began. Once the second and third gaff were sunk into the Mako it went berserk. By the time the tail rope was on the shark, three gaff hooks were straightened out, and two other gaff poles practically exploded!

In addition to good numbers of sea bass many people went home with mako steaks after this trip.

[Jigman13]

Holy crap! That's a monster!

[Duffman]

Holy $hit that’s a beast!!!!!

It inhaled a doggy on his cbass rig. So I’m guessing he fought and landed the mako on a mono hi lo rig? That’s absolutely incredible!!

[Ryelof]

So who won the pool?

















































































































































:)

[bigjamaica]

Haha, The Mako could not win because we did not have anyone tall enough to carry it around the boat on the balance scale.
Actually, the only fish eligible for the pool on the offshore wreck trips are cod, pollock, ling, hake, sea bass, and porgies

[AndyS]

Cool stuff !!

[Merle31483]

That's SICK!!!!!

[Brewlugger]

Awesome catch. Gotta give your mates props for hitting that green fish with a straight gaff, that takes some balls.

[Bent Rod]

Giant Sea Bass & Giant Mako Report

We only have one giant sea bass trips left for the season, sailing Monday night at 11:00PM.

Offshore Fishing has been good, to very good on our trips with the catch consisting of giant sea bass, jumbo porgies, blue fish, cod, pollock and even a giant 475+Lb Mako.

Recent pool winners were:
Peter Seabrook from Kings Park NY with a 6.5 Lb Sea Bass,
Mohammad Bhuiyan from Greenbelt, MD with a 6Lb Sea Bass
Enyin Chen from Brooklyn NY with a 7 lb Pollock
Nick Zaffarese from Clifton NJ with a 10 lb Pollock.

Joe Welsh from Hopatcong New Jersey not only caught his limit of giant sea bass but, also a 475 lb plus Mako!

Sea Bass season closes after December 31 but the big Jamaica will continue to sail during the winter.

COD SPECIALS
It looks like a good run of cod fish is developing in the 20 to 40 mile range from Brielle. There are several areas where cod are being caught are being caught on wrecks, rocks, and reefs. Hopefully, this will keep up, as this will be the first near-shore cod run we have had in a long time. The Big Jamaica will be running Cod Specials.
Keep an eye on our website, Facebook page, or call the office at 732-528-5014 for updates.

Giant Mako
We were fishing about 75 miles offshore today, catching sea bass. A number of lines were bitten off, which we assumed were blue fish. Joe Welsh is one of the best sea bass fishermen I've met, and also a regular on the Jamaica. Joe was fishing in his usual spot in the bow.
He was reeling in his line and had a small dogfish hooked. All of a sudden the giant Mako swam up and grabbed it.
Joe was fighting the fish until he walked about halfway down the boat when the mako came within gaffing range.
That's when the real battle began. Once the second and third gaff were sunk into the Mako it went berserk. By the time the tail rope was on the shark, three gaff hooks were straightened out, and two other gaff poles practically exploded!

In addition to good numbers of sea bass many people went home with mako steaks after this trip.

That's unbelievable , Great job !

[Grady2]

very nice captain and crew.thats the coolest thing about off shore you never no. hey howard i remember an old rifle took a mako back in the day ou t for tuna. maybe run in to you in florida again.happy new year year to all

[hammer4reel]

That’s a trip I’m sure has great memories burned into all those on board that day for a lifetime .
Very cool

[Krablips]

Nice. Fantastic angling. Catch of a lifetime. Does anyone know what gear he was using? (line weight, rig, etc...). With a catch like that I may be experimenting with some different gear and bait come Mako Mania this upcoming summer. That could have won some big bucks during a tournament.

[Ry609]

Well that's friggen awesome! Seriously impressive if that was caught on sea bass tackle

[capt74]

No more Mako Mania . Its now Tuna Mania

[bunkatabunka]

so let me get this straight... a 475 pound Mako was landed on a sea bass setup used to land < 5 lb fish, with no steel, and probably a 5/0 or smaller hook? How long did this take to land? what was this set up exactly / why is the IGFA not involved at this point, or is it? If this is real, why are we not making a bigger deal about it? this should be in the newspaper lol

[porgylber]

so let me get this straight... a 475 pound Mako was landed on a sea bass setup used to land < 5 lb fish, with no steel, and probably a 5/0 or smaller hook? How long did this take to land? what was this set up exactly / why is the IGFA not involved at this point, or is it? If this is real, why are we not making a bigger deal about it? this should be in the newspaper lol

You’re right. Folks have been strangely quiet about this. I read somewhere that the angler was using 60 lb braid. Which makes little sense if targeting sea bass. But no mention of the tackle/rod used. We need for the angler to step forward!

[a-baum]

You’re right. Folks have been strangely quiet about this. I read somewhere that the angler was using 60 lb braid. Which makes little sense if targeting sea bass. But no mention of the tackle/rod used. We need for the angler to step forward!
When I go out on party boats, I typically rig up with 50lb or 60lb braid with a mono topshot. I thought that was a pretty standard rig out there on the deep wrecks. You never know when you might get into a big atlantic halibut, or a fat cod or something. I find nothing odd about 60# braid.

[Gerry Zagorski]

You’re right. Folks have been strangely quiet about this. I read somewhere that the angler was using 60 lb braid. Which makes little sense if targeting sea bass. But no mention of the tackle/rod used. We need for the angler to step forward!

I'm using 65 pound braid on all my set ups and so are a lot of others. Not sure but I would bet from some of the descriptions I've read that this shark didn't even know it was hooked. It likely swam next to the boat and they sunk a gaff in it. We all know what happens when you gaff a green Mako... The shark completely flipped out, they sunk a few more gaffs in and apparently bent a bunch of gaffs in the process of tiring this beast out so they could safely board it.

[bulletbob]

I'm using 65 pound braid on all my set ups and so are a lot of others. Not sure but I would bet from some of the descriptions I've read that this shark didn't even know it was hooked. It likely swam next to the boat and they sunk a gaff in it. We all know what happens when you gaff a green Mako... The shark completely flipped out, they sunk a few more gaffs in and apparently bent a bunch of gaffs in the process of tiring this beast out so they could safely board it.

I was going to post something similar, but figured it might look like I was denigrating the angler.. By no means..

It just makes sense that there was no way this fish was fought standing up, no gimbal belt on a bottom fishing hi low rig for any length of time.. The fish would have simply broken or straightened the hooks, or popped a knot somewhere in the rig in short order.. a 75 pound mako, maybe.. 400+ pounder? no chance.
It had to have been gaffed[ multiple gaffs I would think] shortly after it was hooked, and never got much of a chance to really get going.. That being said, still an amazing accomplishment the likes of which I I have never seen on a plain old bottom rod and rig, and probably never will . Kudos to the angler that caught it, as well as the captain and crew for the fishing experience of a lifetime for all involved. bob

[dakota560]

so let me get this straight... a 475 pound Mako was landed on a sea bass setup used to land < 5 lb fish, with no steel, and probably a 5/0 or smaller hook? How long did this take to land? what was this set up exactly / why is the IGFA not involved at this point, or is it? If this is real, why are we not making a bigger deal about it? this should be in the newspaper lol

First of all I know Joe and he's a great guy. Lot of people on this board probably know of him but haven't connected the dots.

7 years ago my son and I hooked a 400+ mako which we fought on a 50TW with 80lb mono and 325 cable leader for 2 1/12 hours before the big girl ate through the cable.

IGFA has very specific rules when it comes to record catch designation. Using the boat for any type assistance (including resting the rod on the rail), having more than one angler on the rod, shooting the fish and possibly using 5 gaffs to assist in the catch would probably all be reasons for disqualification as a state or world record catch. Not suggesting any of that happened, just not every day you see a whale caught on an ugly stick.

Using 65 lb braid for deep water trips is very common place. As Gerry mentioned I would imagine Joe reeled up the dog fish. mako followed and grabbed the dog, not the line. I would venture to say Joe might have put his reel in free spool as any pressure would have pulled the shark out of the mako's mouth, cut the dog in half or the mako would have felt pressure and went ballistic. Gessing mako just continued swimming down the side of the boat or around the boat not realizing anything out of the ordinary.

Question is from a boat that sits 10 feet off the water how do you gaff a mako with gaffs that are typically straight gaffs made of bamboo and control a fish that size. Anyone who has ever tried gaffing a mako knows what I'm talking about. Original post didn't say a fly gaff was used. A mako half that size would go nuts, that fish would be uncontrollable. You have to get a tail rope on that fish before it can be controlled and I'm not sure how that happens with a fish that size from a party boat using probably at max 50 lb mono leader and straight gaffs.

However it was accomplished it's one hell of a feat and one hell of a story. I'm sure everything was done legally but I would suspect the manner it was caught would be a violation of IGFA standards otherwise to the poster who asked you would be seeing more news about the catch not to mention the money involved to the lucky angler from the manufacturers of the equipment he was using including the rod, reel, line, swivels and hooks.

Joe that's an amazing catch and more amazing story.....congratulations! Hope you brought home some steaks and pictures otherwise Laurie would never believe that story!

[dakota560]

Just spoke to Joe to get the story. Absolutely amazing. As the Capt mentioned, Joe was fishing the bow. Was reeling in a dogfish and actually had the dog out of the water when the mako came half way out of the water itself trying to grab it with jaws wide open. Said it was the most remarkable thing he's ever seen.

He dropped the dog fish back in and the mako turned right on it and grabbed it. Was using your conventional high low sea bass rig. The mako t-boned the dogfish from the side so the line was never touched and the other hook not in the dog fish's mouth swung around and became embedded in the mako's head. Talk about skills!

Anyhow mako probably never realized it was hooked and started swimming down the side of the boat. Joe followed it down while mates scrambled for gaffs. By the time he was two thirds of the way down the side, the mako changed course and started swimming away from the boat. Obviously he couldn't stop it and thought he was going to be spooled so Joe applied more pressure and the mako turned around headed straight back to the boat where the mates were waiting. Stayed up top and still with Joe's rig in it's head. Came up to the boat when 5 gaffs were sunk in it. Moments later fish went into a roll and 5 broken gaffs! Captain was up top handing down more gaffs and 5 more went in and they miraculously managed to get a tail rope around the shark. Pretty amazing story to put it mildly and great job by angler, crew and Captain.

Surprisingly enough, the fish ended up being a large male, not a female. Usually makos that size are females but this was a male and loaded with sea bass! A few years back another big mako was taken in a similar manner on an offshore sea bass trip. Makes you wonder if some of these larger fish stop or stage on these deep water wrecks during the winter because of the life they attract once tuna move south.

Either way, Joe, Capt. and crew congratulations on the catch of a lifetime and thanks for sharing your story on the site! Offshore trips on the Jamaica are now marketed as giant sea bass, cod, porgies, ling, hake and makos! Fresh clams and live dog fish supplied!

[bulletbob]

Just spoke to Joe to get the story. Absolutely amazing. As the Capt mentioned, Joe was fishing the bow. Was reeling in a dogfish and actually had the dog out of the water when the mako came half way out of the water itself trying to grab it with jaws wide open. Said it was the most remarkable thing he's ever seen.

He dropped the dog fish back in and the mako turned right on it and grabbed it. Was using your conventional high low sea bass rig. The mako t-boned the dogfish from the side so the line was never touched and the other hook not in the dog fish's mouth swung around and became embedded in the mako's head. Talk about skills!

Anyhow mako probably never realized it was hooked and started swimming down the side of the boat. Joe followed it down while mates scrambled for gaffs. By the time he was two thirds of the way down the side, the mako changed course and started swimming away from the boat. Obviously he couldn't stop it and thought he was going to be spooled so Joe applied more pressure and the mako turned around headed straight back to the boat where the mates were waiting. Stayed up top and still with Joe's rig in it's head. Came up to the boat when 5 gaffs were sunk in it. Moments later fish went into a roll and 5 broken gaffs! Captain was up top handing down more gaffs and 5 more went in and they miraculously managed to get a tail rope around the shark. Pretty amazing story to put it mildly and great job by angler, crew and Captain.

Surprisingly enough, the fish ended up being a large male, not a female. Usually makos that size are females but this was a male and loaded with sea bass! A few years back another big mako was taken in a similar manner on an offshore sea bass trip. Makes you wonder if some of these larger fish stop or stage on these deep water wrecks during the winter because of the life they attract once tuna move south.

Either way, Joe, Capt. and crew congratulations on the catch of a lifetime and thanks for sharing your story on the site! Offshore trips on the Jamaica are now marketed as giant sea bass, cod, porgies, ling, hake and makos! Fresh clams and live dog fish supplied!

Its ironic isn't it?.. Some guys have fished for mako's multiple times, without ever hooking one, and would be thrilled to catch a 200 pounder on proper tackle.. That would be the catch of a lifetime for most of us..
Yet this one is caught on a sea bass hi/lo rig, by a guy fishing on a party boat.... pretty cool... bob

[Brewlugger]

Surprised to hear it was a Male. The biggest Mako I have ever dealt with took about 30 seconds from hookup to gaff. It was a unique feeling of trepidation reaching out to her and upon sticking her there was immediately numerous level 10 safety issues, foremost being jumping into the cockpit. I don't fish for shark anymore.

[dakota560]

Brew Joe said the guy who weighed it has weighed many large makos and it was the largest male he's ever seen. 30 seconds start to finish with a mako, you're a braver and better angler than me for sure.

Bob I guess as the saying goes "when you're least expected" applies. Still can't believe they landed that after such a short fight with bamboo straight gaffs from a party boat with nothing more than a sea bass rig guiding it to the boat.

Just an incredible story and incredible fish. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

[Brewlugger]

Brew Joe said the guy who weighed it has weighed many large makos and it was the largest male he's ever seen. 30 seconds start to finish with a mako, you're a braver and better angler than me for sure.

Bob I guess as the saying goes "when you're least expected" applies. Still can't believe they landed that after such a short fight with bamboo straight gaffs from a party boat with nothing more than a sea bass rig guiding it to the boat.

Just an incredible story and incredible fish. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
I just wanted to point out that it is not unusual for a Mako to give you a shot early on Tom. As far as brave goes my shorts were in a knot when I gaffed that fish and I still clearly remember thinking what the hell am I doing when I leaned over to hit her. The mates that hit that fish with straight gaffs are the brave ones for sure.

[bigfishy]

Funny thing....we've had little guys go completely ape chit fer a while and have also had same size fizz almost roll over and let us pet there belly....the new regs make a keeper a much rarer speciman....but there's a lot more to it...EVERY fish iz different,especially with that specie....
Gr8 catch ,howEVER it happened!!!!

[tautog]

I had a giant bluefin that dressed 367 on a partyboat on ling tackle in the late 90s. 30lb mono and 2/0 hooks. Fish did not know it was hooked and was looking around the boat for another snack. Got to close to the surface and was hit with 3 gaffs. I would assume the mako made a similar mistake.

[bulletbob]

I had a giant bluefin that dressed 367 on a partyboat on ling tackle in the late 90s. 30lb mono and 2/0 hooks. Fish did not know it was hooked and was looking around the boat for another snack. Got to close to the surface and was hit with 3 gaffs. I would assume the mako made a similar mistake.

YIKES.. Did the fish actually grab the bait that was on the hook, whatever it was, or get snagged, or did it grab a hooked Ling maybe???.. Thats pretty wild... I guess the party boat crews see this sort of thing a lot more than the rest of us, because they were Johnny on the spot and knew exactly what to do, and reacted faster than the fish did.. bob

[tautog]

Back then it was 2 bluefin per man. There were enough ling that we sat on one spot for 4 hours most trips. People did not care if ling fell off the hook and a nice slick would start. After about 2 hrs the schoolie bluefin would show most trips. That one was much bigger than expected and did not wait for me to get out the tuna gear. Even my tuna gear was only 50lb mono as most fish were under 50lbs.

[Chrisper4694]

WOW! that's an incredibly impressive catch!!!

although...I'm more impressed to see Joe smiling! been going to dow's for 10 years and i've never seen that before hahahaha

[bunker dunker]

good for Joe.he should have got a whole body mount and hung it in the shop!!!