264.5 & 201.5 Big-Eyes and almost 20 Yellowfin - Last Minute Weekend Opening

[Canyon Runner]

Well that amazing eddy I wrote about last week finally gave up some love to us rod and reel guys. The commercial guys were putting together decent catches now for a week but today marked the first time almost all the sport boats got in on the action.

Capt. Deane Lambros had the Jackson Hsieh charter out for the Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club Offshore Open and after working the Hudson for most of the day Sunday finally got their bite. Trolling the late afternoon saw a double go down and one pull off after a short fight but the gaff sunk into a fat 72 incher after an hour. Another pulled hook and the day was over with a night that didn't have much except one thing - SQUID!!!!! The first squid we've seen in quantities all year.

Well in the morning the tunas responded and the bite was on in the early morning hours with fish caught on the chunk, troll and jigging and popping. We have our gear dialed up for big-eyes for the tournament so didn't do as well on the yellowfins as other boats but had a ton of shots. Another big-eye was on the menu as well as 5 yellowfin and a bunch missed/lost with close to 20 bites for the trip.

Over on the 48 Viking Capt. Phil Dulanie not fishing the tournament had lighter gear out and only half way through his trip was well into double digits - full report on that tomorrow on his return.

In short - it was like it should be with squid in the lights all night - lots of them.

And with this great fishing we still had 2 guys drop out this weekend so their lost luck is your good fortune. First come, first serve - so call ASAP
732-272-4445
or
adam@canyonrunner.com


If interested - it's $899/person for the open boat and $4,995 for the whole boat since this is a last minute opening.

Now that's a big eye! Beautiful fish and great report!

[Canyon Runner]

Fishing has only improved the last few days with limits of yellowfin becoming common place - our boats are boxed up with yellowifn already and now strictly looking for big-eye - and they only started fishing a few hours ago.

[AndyS]

Crazy sick stuff there !!!

[Jigman13]

I'd love some tips or pointers on how to land a fish like that in an hour. Are the anglers fighting those fish in stand up gear? A chair? 30 lbs of drag? Any insight would be...a revelation lol.

[Canyon Runner]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

I'd love some tips or pointers on how to land a fish like that in an hour. Are the anglers fighting those fish in stand up gear? A chair? 30 lbs of drag? Any insight would be...a revelation lol.

It's all stand-up fishing - we don't have a chair on the boat and haven't for decades - caught 149 big-eyes standing up last year.

It's all about proper technique and a little stamina - it's not about brute strength.

We are using about 25 pounds at strike and will go over strike to 28-30 pounds if needed.