Big Swordy Caught Inshore - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

Gerry Zagorski · #1 06-11-2022, 09:54 AM

And it was our own Chris G former mate on the party boat Fishermen and his buddy Mike that we’re fishing a small center console out of Atlantic Highlands.

325 pounds and it apparently ate a Bluefish bait that was intended for a Giant Bluefin Tuna.

Nice work Chris and Mike. I’d love for you to share more of the details on this catch of a lifetime.

Who says Sunglass models can’t fish ��

Skolmann · #2 06-11-2022, 10:32 AM

WOW !!!!!!…..great catch.

NoLimit · #3 06-11-2022, 11:58 AM

That’s crazy - they usually don’t get that shallow during the day

Chris G · #4 06-11-2022, 12:33 PM

Haha. This did happen. This is what I posted on Instagram Gerry. Many people also know Mike from working on the Angler for many years.

Well. Never a dull moment. Myself and Captain Mike started the morning trolling around for some reported ghost BFT. After little life, we decided to hit some sea bass wrecks. As we plucked and picked we decided to head further inshore to get set up. On our way, we spotted something on top. At first glance we thought shark, and quickly deployed a live bluefish. The fish became interested and circled the boat. It came along side the boat and we both realized it was a billfish. It grabbed the bait and got a few cranks on it. While still on top, Mike threw the dart before it realized it was even hooked. We fought it on the harpoon line by hand for over an hour before we won. 325# on the scale. No spot burn but we could still see Highlands in the distance. Less than 20 miles off.

Chris G · #5 06-11-2022, 12:34 PM

Having a tough time uploading pics. Stand by

dales529 · #6 06-11-2022, 01:05 PM

Great fish and job Chris. CONGRATS! Must have been a blast

Tuna Tales · #7 06-11-2022, 01:36 PM

Congrats on a catch of a lifetime

Gerry Zagorski · #8 06-11-2022, 01:43 PM

More pics

Gerry Zagorski · #9 06-11-2022, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris G

Haha. This did happen. This is what I posted on Instagram Gerry. Many people also know Mike from working on the Angler for many years.

Well. Never a dull moment. Myself and Captain Mike started the morning trolling around for some reported ghost BFT. After little life, we decided to hit some sea bass wrecks. As we plucked and picked we decided to head further inshore to get set up. On our way, we spotted something on top. At first glance we thought shark, and quickly deployed a live bluefish. The fish became interested and circled the boat. It came along side the boat and we both realized it was a billfish. It grabbed the bait and got a few cranks on it. While still on top, Mike threw the dart before it realized it was even hooked. We fought it on the harpoon line by hand for over an hour before we won. 325# on the scale. No spot burn but we could still see Highlands in the distance. Less than 20 miles off.

The odds of this between the fish being out of place and all the things that could have gone wrong is amazing. The fishing Gods were defiantly smiling on you and Captain Mike.

Papasown · #10 06-12-2022, 08:09 AM

Congrats to you, Chris, and Capt. Mike on this once in a lifetime catch. You both should be strutting around like the biggest roosters in the yard. Thanks for the story and pics.
You did " catch 'em up " for sure. Papa