Ha, yes.... I've tossed at em before. Exciting and disappointing all at the same time. New fishery to me, but I am getting good at finding them at least
Looking at things, this sunday/monday could be the last small boat Bluefin day.... Don't like the moon phase/tide swing but ocean's looking really flat for you guys....one day window so I'm not sure, but maybe I'll fly up.
We have two simultaneous tournaments starting Friday. Bass during next two weekends, Blue Fin whole month of November. Heard the Blue Fin are starting to chew in shore off Manasquan. What is your opinion of Moon phase on fishing? My buddy in Grand Cayman is a Marine Biologist and he looks at Moon Rise and Moon Set. I don't know if there is a definitive effect on fishing but I'm willing to learn if it produces better catches.
Nice... yeah my brother headed SW from Rockaway, when he saw them so they're there. Your question is a complicated one as it seems to vary by species, but your buddy is correct and that has the most immediate affect on most. (hence "major" and "minor" feeds) and it really is noticeable for most, and this is magnified when one of these also coincides with sunrise/sunset. If there's a "major" at sunrise its usually game on One thing I'm noticing (in my very limited experience) is the bluefins eating on the "slack tide" so days with lower tidal swings = less currents = longer feed times. On the converse, stripers love the current so they'll chow down on the opposite. So I think Stripers will chew this weekend For me here generally the 2 days leading up to the moon (full or new) are best, ESPECIALLY when targeting wahoo.... of course lots of other factors; weather, barometric pressure, etc.... ex we had a front coming through this monday. Guys out on "ledge" crushed billfish and wahoo on sunday...
Question for you guys.... How deep do you generally catch Cod up there? I'm getting together some jigs for a Christmas goodie box for my brother.... what weight slowpitch jigs do you often use? (here I tend to go for 1-1.5 G / per 1' depth) @Cman68
I only catch Cod in the spring when targeting Seabass. So I can’t really advise. Fished for Bass yesterday. Trolled, jigged, snagged bunker and live lined eels and bunker…no love from Mr striper. Fished from Manasqun to Shrewsbury Rocks. Reports were that a few fish were caught. Still mostly cows. Big Bluefin on top breaking water…gonna give that a try today.
By "deep" I meant depth of water Yeah my brother said most the stripers he got last week were around the 48" mark.... Bluefin bite around 2-4pm... good luck
Depends on where you're fishing. North of Cape Cod (Jeffrey's Ledge), the water is pretty deep but man, you can really load up on Cod when they're in season. 200-300ft is pretty much the average along with 1lb lead or 200-300gm jigs or you can go old school with Viking Jigs. My Cod trip coming up is to Coxes Ledge which is southeast of Nantucket and east of Montauk. Water there is a lot shallower. Closer to 100-200ft. 1lb sinker or jigs up to 250gms. Your rule of thumb is correct as far as the weight/depth ratio. If he's bait fishing, your standard Hi/Lo will work. 5/0 hooks, 1lb bank sinkers, 40lb leader (floro or mono) and short branch lines. (6-8") The Striper run is in full swing now. In a week, I'll be fishing Block Is, RI which is east of Montauk for Sea Bass, Porgies, Cod, Ling and if I'm lucky, perhaps a passing Striper or Blue. I will bring SPJ gear on this trip. smallish jigs 100-150gm mostly pink and/or silver and blue to simulate mackerel. For bait? Standard Hi/Lo rig, 4/0-5/0 hooks as I'm not interested in smallish fish. 6-10oz lead, 40lb Flourocarbon leader with 12" branch lines.. The weekend after that will be Coxes Ledge for Cod. Check with "The Fisherman" Mag for info on the LI Sound bite. Hope that helps!
I would guess he'll be fishing the MudHole and nearby areas. Mostly mud bottom and 200ft in most places. About 20mi SSE of Rockaway inlet. No news other than Tuna at the moment. As far as Jigs go, 200-250gm pinkish/silver should get him a bite. Bait might be a better Plan A though. Clams of course. Standard SPJ gear should be fine so gift him 220gm jigs. Throw in a Viking jig just as a Plan C just in case. Water is still kinda warm for Cod.
I'm guessing that area... and maybe the coimbra area if he fishes with my cousin / friends that have bigger boats. But I'm not mailing him clams for Christmas btw... talked to him yesterday... wish I flew up. He said Bluefins were everywhere... "man, I needed your help bro"... had shots but didnt hook up. Did get 1 overslot striper. He was fishing solo from his 17' boat btw.... some super deals if you need 130-160G jigs. I have these in multiple sizes and colors... and they work! https://fishermenssource.com/produc...1&_fid=9ab0e6143&_ss=c&variant=41667676143664
Went out yesterday for Blue Fin. Saw them 2 miles short of separation zone. Trolled hoos. No love from Charlie. At end of day had a reel start to scream. Cleared lines, swapped handle turners 3 times then noticed we had top shot showing up early in the fight? Hooked a 28' Regulator. Asshole was throwing poppers and wrapped our line around his anchor. He unhooked us and took off. Went out again today to troll for Stripers. Sporty for a 25' Grady. Went south inshore off Mantaloking birds working, bunker splashing...no stripers. Picked up some Lobster Bisque and Crab Cakes at Point Lobster and headed home.
Damn. That sucks... happens sometimes (The fishing, not the idiots crossing up your lines.. that's unacceptable) Brother said all the tunas were in the 90-100' range. Said everyone with a boat was on top of each other right off the beach catching stripers... he caught 1 and said "F this" (asses, anchors and elbows) and ran out and saw tuna madness. He was trolling side trackers with no love. Did have one pull off the tail of a RonZ. If it was rough for you, he probably turned around early today
Yeah East South East wind made it bumpy. Just realized I fished 3 days straight without a decent fish. WTF? Hanging up my spurs till next week. Maybe it will turn around...I sound like a typical Jet Fan.
Damn That sucks.... we've all gone through runs like that. it's demoralizing, but the tunas should be headed your way if they were as thick as he claimed yesterday (all sizes... keepers and giants)... current forecast looks good next weekend.
Well.... talked to my brother. He said the same, except his boat is half the size of the one you were on. He was focused on tuna after yesterday.... but he probably just shouldve brought a few striper rods. He was gung-ho for his last day of a month of "stay-cation" before heading back to reality at 4am tommorrow
