Fall Bluefin trolling New Jersey?

[MAKO19]

OK guys. I have been reading a lot lately about amazing top water Bluefin action off of RI. and Mass. right now as well as what we all know will be going down off NC. within the next 2 months or so but what about the middle grounds (NJ)? It doesn't seem like anyone tries it and I am guessing this is due to the phenomenal Striper fishing we have here from Nov-Jan. I however, am thinking about putting in a serious effort this fall for the Bluefin here off of NJ but I wanted to do a little research first. Some things I have found very similar about both the northern and southern areas is that all the fish are being caught in very inshore locations (within site of the beach). Another similarity is the water temperatures these fish are being found in which are relatively the same this far inshore especially during the later fall months. I am seeing high 50's the most common temperature. This however, is probably irrelevant and bait is probably the key in finding the fish.

Now since we all know what bait/lures to use as well as speed and lure position lets focus more on bait and bottom structure. Now here are my questions:

What I am unfamiliar with is what types of bottom structure are the northern and southern guys fishing?

Any particular depth or structure you guys look for?

What is the primary bait the fish are chasing? I am guessing bunker.

There is a bank here off of NJ that is always loaded with Stripers as well as Bunker and people are always seeing Bluefin breaking water there and few have even been caught but most of the time no one can get them to bite. Now this may be the shear fact that nobody out there is ready for tuna to show up and do not have the proper gear on board. I have also heard that these fish are on the move and rarely bite when "migrating." Is this true? It seems like the breaking fish people are seeing down here is the same thing that is going on up north right now except the northern guys are actually getting bites with the top water plugs. I find it hard to believe that a fish wouldn't bite my Ilander/Horse set-up if proper positioned in or near the school of breaking fish.

I will leave this thread at this for now since there is a lot to digest here and I am curious to hear what everyone has to say.

[sportfishingusa]

they are there.. november is a really good time for them.. the hudson normally fills up with some big fish heading south.. we have seen some 200-400 lbers come out of there in the past several years.. not going to find any draggers out there but maybe some squid boats if they are still around..

the weather is the main problem.. and the run hoping you can find some is also a problem.. people dont want to spend the money.

i dont think i would bother going offshore and trolling. i would leave the night before and just chunk all night and all day long. use butters, sardine, squid, and whatever else you want to use. the fish will be there this week until like the middle of november and getting progressively larger throughout the month.

if you want to make the trip and need a crew i can probably scrounge a few up or hook you up with someone who will take you out of barnegat light..

either way i think it is worth a shot.. and if you can score.. like you said. come in and go striper fishing.. haha

[hobie2]

I went out to the Masseys Canyon area last Nov 28th out of IRI in search of these fish. we chunked for a while with no luck and then just drove around looking for more life. we found a school traveling south (probably 100-200lb fish) on the surface but they wouldnt take any baits we put out. they were moving pretty fast...

[sportfishingusa]

I went out to the Masseys Canyon area last Nov 28th out of IRI in search of these fish. we chunked for a while with no luck and then just drove around looking for more life. we found a school traveling south (probably 100-200lb fish) on the surface but they wouldnt take any baits we put out. they were moving pretty fast...

try large snag hooks!! they tend to stick!! haha

[Toona]

I would be interested in taking a shot too.. I've been thinking the exact same thing Mako. Curious to see what others think...

[hedjug]

I fish for stripers every year around thanksgiving out of OC MD. Last year was fairly warm & everyday I would see the boats running offshore... turns out the BFT were thick as all get out at the Jackspot, just 20 miles off the coast. This year, I will have all the stuff ready to go.

Can't see why NJ would be any different at the 20fa line...

[MAKO19]

I fish for stripers every year around thanksgiving out of OC MD. Last year was fairly warm & everyday I would see the boats running offshore... turns out the BFT were thick as all get out at the Jackspot, just 20 miles off the coast. This year, I will have all the stuff ready to go.

Can't see why NJ would be any different at the 20fa line...

Good stuff!! That is very encouraging. Keep it coming fellas!!

[whitey]

Do not waste your time trying to troll the fish on the surface. They will be moving to the south very fast and are hard to get to eat bigger baits on the troll. You will have better luck casting to them with small swimming plugs or surface poppers.

[neilinov]

I went out to the Masseys Canyon area last Nov 28th out of IRI in search of these fish. we chunked for a while with no luck and then just drove around looking for more life. we found a school traveling south (probably 100-200lb fish) on the surface but they wouldnt take any baits we put out. they were moving pretty fast...

You over ran them last year. We were catching them from A buoy out to the light ship down to the Fenwick shoals. We'd bluefin in the morning, catch a hog and then come in in the afternoon and striper fish inside the fence.

The thing that worked best was to troll until you found the schools bustin water slide up next to them and cast plugs to them.

[bigfish4me]

we caught this one in the carteret canyon on halloween weekend a few years back....had 3 of em on at once and stayed on this one for about 3 hrs