HANGING OFFSHORE FOR THE EVENING BITE

[RUGGERDUDE]

Thanks for the input!

Will

[thetackletrap]

If we plan on fishing night bite we generaly run in the afternoon to reach our general destination before sunset. We then will troll for the last couple hours and into the dark because believe or not the fish still eat the troll in the night. This is prime time to decide where you are going to stay at night, and figure out whether you're going to drift or tie up to a pot, etc. The troll results will also help you to see if your are marking bait and or fish.
The night bite in NJ is generaly for sharking in the earlier months and then leads into tuna (YFT and Longfins) longer into the summer months, July and August. This will last well into September and even into October further south.

As of recent our best bites have been just at sunrise and just before sunset, but there always seems to be something happening, so it is well worth taking an overnight adventure, but some risk is involved. If I were to go in a smaller boat during the summer I would look for at least a three day window where there is no fronts in the forecast. And yes there is always a chance of thunderstorms. So if you are in an open boat you must be prepared for the weather. Usually these small storms are short lived and can be avoidable but not always, especially at night. Most of the time they will just pick up the surf but it is short lived, Hopefully. You have to take your time and remember there is no race at night. Practice and practice. I would not suggest running to the canyons at night for your first time. Become comfortable with your boat at night. Make short runs at first and take someone with you that has experience. And definately do not run at night if you haven't been in the areas before.
Once you become comfortable with your boat at night, then I would highly suggest dabbing into the night bite. It is a different world out there at night. Sometimes you yield your best catched at night, and other times its just a dead sea. But the experience is where its at. I get a rush everytime I'm out there. Not being able to see whats around, and being able to hear every little noise. Your senses change and adopt to your surrounding, and they give you a real feeling for nature. I can tell you one thing though. I would not want to be out there with no boat. That could be one hell of a frightning situation. To many big critters and a big feeling of lost and emptiness! No way Jose!!

[AhiSlayer]

Yokwe!
Catchin Marlin ,ahi and ono all day trolling then pulling up for some deep dropping or chunkin giant big eye tuna or drifting for sharks or swords all night. nah, not fer me. I'll go home and watch tv. maybe that Norm guy'll be on.

ARE YOU CRAZY!!!

FISH EVERY FRIGGEN SECOND OF YER LIFE YER LITTLE WOMAN ALLOWS!!!

Slayer

[billfish76]

Many times I have left the dock at the normal 6AM and trolled all day, then slide inshore to where the chunkers are getting ready to leave, drift for a little. For us the bite normally gets good after the charter boats leave and we have limited out a couple of times ina hour or so. we rarely stay long enough to run it the complete dark. We are normally hitting the inlet or in the slip at that point. As for the storms, just watch your radar and keep an eye on them. In OC Ive seen them just offshore but never gave us a problem. Plus they are normally small and dont last long. There were a few nights that we were catching fish but seeing more, and it was a beautiful night so we stayed and were in the canyons trolling when the other guys were leaving the dock. If you have never done it youve got to. Just like others have said you would be amaized at what you see out there with no one or nothing in site, just pitch black.

[Overboard]

I am really looking forward to trying an overnight trip. If nothing else just for the experience so many has talked about. Now what type of plans can one use in case of emergency? Should I contact the coast guard prior to going out?

Overboard

[Double D]

I am really looking forward to trying an overnight trip. If nothing else just for the experience so many has talked about. Now what type of plans can one use in case of emergency? Should I contact the coast guard prior to going out?

Overboard

It's always a good idea to file a float plan with somebody, day or night. I don't think the coast guard offers this service. Probably the best thing for your first few times is to fish with a buddy boat.

Off NJ when the tuna bite is on, the canyons are lit up like small cities. It's the 70 miles of darkness between the dropoff and home that can be eerie.

A typical late season canyon run for us goes like this: Leave the dock around 11 am, arrive at our destination and troll till dark. Hopefully we have found the fish or bait by then so we know where to set up. Chunk all night (if you haven't done this, you need to try. Some crazy things come up to the boat at night).

On a good night (more often than not), we have our fill by dawn, so we just cook up a hot breakfast as the sun peeks over the horizon and head to the barn. If not, we will set up on the troll again.

Early in the season, the chunking may not be worthwhile, so we will leave the inlet at midnight, run 12 knots to be set up on the troll at first light. This is quite common, and it is usually easy to find someone to run with. However quite a few sets of running gear (and worse) have been lost doing this.

Fishing and running at night increases the stakes, safety and vigilance have to be priority #1 at all times (not that they aren't during the day). Take a night charter before trying it yourself.

[Squidnation]

I'm not a big fan of running at night but my best bite has been in the evenign sunset.

[eppefour]

I think the evening troll is very productive. In the summer it seems to dran longfin albacore in the Jersey canyons. I hate running in the dark. I had to come home 80 miles in the dark 1 time when the weather turned bad unexpectedly. Cant always trust NOAA. I talked to a guy last week who clipped a container in the dark. Fortunatly he only lost a trim tab. I wouldn't even consider it without radar. You need to see things like tugs. A few years ago a small boat ran between the tug and tow. The tug never knew it. The found the boats wreckage floating in the morning.

[TommyTuna]

If you are in Bigeye territory on or off the 100 the best bite is sunup and sunset on the troll. My biggest came at dawn - 180#, not a monster but what a battle.

[Overboard]

I have gained a great deal of knowledge from this post. Hope anyone else that has had an interest in the evening bite did as well. Look forward to those twlight sights and sounds of the evening/night out on the water. For those that has had the pleasure please share your adventure.

Thanks.....

Overboard