Unusual Saltwater Catches

[Billfish715]

I posted a request for confirmation of a few bonito having been caught recently at Sandy Hook. It got me wondering about other unusual catches of exotic or "lost" fish along the NJ coast. How many are caught and never reported? Maybe you caught a sturgeon or like Capt. Fred Coles did years ago just off the beach in Sea Bright, a tarpon.

Please let us know about your unusual catches from this year no matter how strange they are. Maybe it was a winter flounder in the bay in mid August. Maybe it was a pollack on an umbrella rig or a houndfish on a feather. The types of fish and methods used to catch them are endless. Please feel free to share your experiences with us.

Any instances of banded rudder fish catches should be posted on another thread.

[Skolmann]

My son caught a 5-6” sennet while snapper fishing in Keyport 15 years ago.

[MudCat08]

I've caught a couple of odd visitors among snapper schools in early Fall. Yellowtail Scad and baby Jack crevalle included.

[AndyS]

NJ state record cobia- 87 lbs.

NJ state record sailfish- 43 lbs.

NJ state record spotted sea trout- 11 lbs.

NJ state record king mackerel- 54 lbs.

*** Retired Categories ***

Barracuda- 27 lbs.

Tarpon- 53 lbs.

[Billfish715]

Originally Posted by Skolmann

My son caught a 5-6” sennet while snapper fishing in Keyport 15 years ago.

Do you mean like this one?

[tjd24]

Jack Crevalle on a Kastmaster while fishing for snappers in NY Harbor a few years ago.

Striped Burrfish off Sea Bright seawall while fluke fishing.

Lizard fish off Hoffman's Dock Pt Pleasant while snapper fishing many years ago.

Bonito today off Norton Point while jigging 3-5 lb blues.

[Skolmann]

Originally Posted by Billfish715

Do you mean like this one?

Can’t recall the exact coloration/makings but it looks like and is related to the barracuda.

[june181901]

80% of a sturgeon washed up on the northern part of Sea Bright beach Saturday.

[makosnax]

Caught a look down in my cast net years ago in South Amboy

[Pauls1976]

I personally caught a Barracuda and multiple Blackfin tuna a few years ago, a buddy of mine caught a Sailfish, another caught a Tripletail and always seem to know of a few houndfish caught each year. I have seen various fingerlings of grouper and jacks caught in seine and cast nets in the backwaters. With the right conditions and bait migrations, it is easy to understand the “strange” catches, right place, right time and anything is possible.