Bluefin tuna?

[ChumDumpster]

What's the deal here in jersey during the late fall early winter for the bft? Do people chase them ? Do they come in somewhat close? I only have a 24' walkaround so I'm limited as to where I can go

[Garone Custom Rods]

Yes quite often they are within sight of the beach. Fish can range from small footballs to true 500+ giants. It's run and gun sight casting much like fall bass fishing often is but the tackle is scaled up.

[ChumDumpster]

Wow that's pretty amazing I'm definitely going to keep the boat in the water...any time frame usually?

[Jigman13]

Now until the new yr

[Capt Joe]

Wow that's pretty amazing I'm definitely going to keep the boat in the water...any time frame usually?

If you catch a Bluefin(in your boat) between now and Jan 1st a non sponser in Brielle will donate $500 to your favorite charity in your name. ;)

[Garone Custom Rods]

Wow that's pretty amazing I'm definitely going to keep the boat in the water...any time frame usually?

It isnt an easy thing to do, but I know guys who have caught.

[ChumDumpster]

Why is it so difficult?

[Tunarun]

Why is it so difficult?
Capt Joe, Be Kind if you respond. lol Dennis

[bulletbob]

Why is it so difficult?
Mainly because we have killed and eaten most of them... The BFT population has been decimated w.. People WANT their sushi and sashimi, don't care what it costs or how badly eating endangers tuna population.. BFT are now extinct in some very large areas where they were once common, most notably the Black Sea.. IMHO its time to class them as endangered and stop ALL fishing for them until populations can stabilize.. It won't happen.. There are MANY fishermen that would gladly catch the last wild BFT in the worlds oceans, and sell it for $5,000 a pound so millionaires in Asia could sit down and enjoy the last BFT sushi ever to be eaten, at a million dollars a plate.... We really need to start exhibiting some self control on these fish and certain other species[Patagonian Toothfish].. They are disappearing fast, mostly into the mouths of the well heeled... bob

[wwm12]

A few years ago we fished down by Shrewsbury Rocks on Thanksgiving Day and had 100's of 30-40lbs bft around us. We weren't 200 yards off shore. We threw everything but the kitchen sink and couldn't get them to bite. We did however catch a BUNCH of bass!

Hope you can find them and post some pictures!

[Garone Custom Rods]

Mainly because we have killed and eaten most of them... The BFT population has been decimated w.. People WANT their sushi and sashimi, don't care what it costs or how badly eating endangers tuna population.. BFT are now extinct in some very large areas where they were once common, most notably the Black Sea.. IMHO its time to class them as endangered and stop ALL fishing for them until populations can stabilize.. It won't happen.. There are MANY fishermen that would gladly catch the last wild BFT in the worlds oceans, and sell it for $5,000 a pound so millionaires in Asia could sit down and enjoy the last BFT sushi ever to be eaten, at a million dollars a plate.... We really need to start exhibiting some self control on these fish and certain other species[Patagonian Toothfish].. They are disappearing fast, mostly into the mouths of the well heeled... bob

Imo I disagree. Stocks might not be what they used to be but there are a lot of Bluefin in thw western North Atlantic. We don't have the giant fishery we used to because there are no whiting left in our area to hold the big fish. The reason they are so hard to catch this time of year is that they are moving very fast most of the time feeding on very offer small bait or not at all. During the summer months the small to medium bluefin often settle on lumps and other structure.

[Blind Squirrel]

IMHO its time to class them as endangered and stop ALL fishing for them until populations can stabilize.. It won't happen..
The problem with regulating pelagic species is that foreign fleets aren't subject to U.S. jurisdiction. If they can't get BFT, etc. in U.S. waters, they'll still over-fish them in international or their own waters.

[Capt Sal]

Imo I disagree. Stocks might not be what they used to be but there are a lot of Bluefin in thw western North Atlantic. We don't have the giant fishery we used to because there are no whiting left in our area to hold the big fish. The reason they are so hard to catch this time of year is that they are moving very fast most of the time feeding on very offer small bait or not at all. During the summer months the small to medium bluefin often settle on lumps and other structure.

This fishery is a mere image of what it was 40 years ago.The reason there so hard to catch is there not there.Letting people like the chosen few on Wicked Tuna kill giant breeders and sell them to Japan is a crime.I am not trying to stirr the pot and have no idea of your age.I am in my mid sixties and i am judging the fishery from my own experience.When i war 20 years old we could catch tuna at the BA buoy.I hear alot of people crying on this site when someone kills a cow striper but not multiple giant tuna.

[bulletbob]

Imo I disagree. Stocks might not be what they used to be but there are a lot of Bluefin in thw western North Atlantic. We don't have the giant fishery we used to because there are no whiting left in our area to hold the big fish. The reason they are so hard to catch this time of year is that they are moving very fast most of the time feeding on very offer small bait or not at all. During the summer months the small to medium bluefin often settle on lumps and other structure.

I of course respect your opinion.. Let me just say that I was speaking about BFT on a world wide basis.. Yes there are still some left in the western atlantic, but that population is a small remnant of what it was.. There was once a good fishery for them in NJ... It has been decimated. The demand for all bft worldwide is staggering, and the sad part is its simply to satisfy the unrelenting and unreasonable demand for a "luxury food".. There are not going to feed the poor masses... They are thinly sliced up to be eaten raw, for a lot of money... We can do a better.. I am NOT big into regulation , but these particular fish do need a break for a while... bob

[Capt. Lou]

Even in the very best Tuna seasons mid sixties thru mid eighties this supposed migration of bluefin was a smoke dream in the sense it rarely happened & when it did it was around this time .
We caught once on Intel early eighties & had five blue fins between 150 & 300 # LB's ! All taken inshore of northern MH on drift & chunk in a NE that was blowing pretty good .
U almost had to be present when it happened & lucky enough to get a shot !
I know many have put in time & I also know there were a few fish caught from time to time but to address this a a run , more like a quick inshore migration if it happens at all.
Years back some die hards would chunk to very late in season, some in vicinity of SR.
None of this compared to MH fishing which terminated in mid eighties for Giants in the SE section of the MH !
As I recall there was MH fish , in vicinity of butterfish hole @ Montauk that also ended about this time .
I landed the very last Gt taken in the now defunct USATT , it's really a shame sine they were thick from NS south to R MH .
In NS on slack water u could walk across their backs from boat to boat they were that thick !
I agree with Sal on his point but an easy way to end this is to eliminate the export of these fish to Japan , this puts a price on their head , the rest we all know no sense belaboring this point .:mad:
https://www.facebook.com/kil.song.7/photos#

[Dino]

Chum, the bluefin are moving south this time of year, but the route they take can be anywhere from the edge of the shelf right into the beach. So finding them is very tough. your best bet is to wait for reliable information that the gannets are diving on bait 5-10 miles off the beach. thats usually the sweet spot. if they are on herring, I would use the stickbait called "baby runboh" by smith.. or similiar. if they are eating sandeels it can be very, very difficult to get a bite.

[Flukinator]

Honestly, finding them is the easy part this time of year. The bigger ones, and more actively feeding ones, tend to be offshore from now through early next year. The smaller ones, and fast-movers...you'll likely see at least one or two jumping clear out of the water if you go bottom fishing between now and then. They're around more often than not, and can be anywhere from 100 yards off the beach to the Mud Hole, and you can pretty much head out and keep eyes open for birds, bait, slicks, or fish free-jumping, and at some point you'll probably see a school. They will pass through areas with more bait, but they will never been holding anywhere...so they can be miles apart from one day to the next.

The difficulty is in getting them to hit something. They're not here to feed, they're literally just passing through. So you know how many cars drive on the Turnpike every day? And you know the vast majority of them aren't stopping at the rest stops for a meal? Your chances are kinda like that. You have to REALLY match the hatch, which is generally smaller bait fish. And you have to be prepared for a lot of "run and gun" with a lot more frustration when the fish don't even acknowledge your existence.

The reason not that many people pursue them is there are much cheaper, warmer ways to get pissed off and spend hundreds of dollars :o

[Dino]

also if you really want to go technical you can hang a live bunker or bluefish from a kite. i know a few guys that have caught that way inshore off NJ in november. as flukinator said that is a lot of effort though.. better to just go to obx for a weekend