jersey bluefin

[sportfishingusa]

First off, a lot of time these fish are

1) On the move
and/or
2) Feeding on rainfish

Having said that, they don't move very far off. You'll often see them in 70-90 ft. of water around the wrecks and reefs. Your best bet is to get on the tower while trolling and looking for them pushing.

If they are feeding on rainfish you need to match the hatch, so to speak. Casting with surface plugs on spinning gear with braid is very effective but if they are over 150# that's like spitting in the wind.

I would definitely use fluoro even on the troll. Couple tricks if they are feeding on rainfish.

Slide a drinking straw about 4" long over a hook. Drag it WWWWWWWWB through the school. In other words, set it way the hell back, then sharp turn so your hook goes through the feeding frenzy.

You can also find them underneath bunker sometimes. if thats the case, snag a bunker. Rig a LONNNNNNNGGGG leader of about 20'-30' (yes i know this sucks). At the top of the leader above the barrel, thread a big egg sinker (8 oz.) on there. Do like you do with the rainfish, drag this rig over top of the school, then STOP the boat and let line out. The rig should drop quick to the bottom below the blues. Worst case you'll get yourself a nice big ole bass. Best case, Mr. BFT will be down there.

nice comments jay.. very well said.. your 1000% correct on those.. these fish are pushing off the beach...

some of them are slow moving and can be trolled up offshore... but your best bet is to find them and throw into them of belly the line in the school as stated above..

if anyone wants to give it a go let me know.. my big boat is out of the water and the little boat wont make it that far but if someone has the time and the platform i got the fuel money and the bait!!

[Big Jay]

Also, i would be more than willing to bet you'll find the big guys during the day in the Hudson this time of year.

5 years ago we had mediums-giants there around this time in Nov.

[chumtini]

Or, just look for this. I think I posted some of these before. Some were so intense, everyone hooked up before getting anywhere near the birds. Find the bait and wait for the slack tide.

http://www.chumtini.com/media/Videos/MVI_0465-480.wmv

I know for a fact that giants were mixed with the mediums in this pack (and others). I wasn't kidding when I said bring the kitchen sink. So, be prepared. It's better to have, than to want

-Steve

[wide open]

do not over run the fish. i think that we found em in 65-75ft of water...i think the best bet would be to pick a very clear/sunny day and have your best binoc's aboard...remeber, the birds are going to find em' before you do.

[sportfishingusa]

deadly dicks work fantastic also.. i think they are the number 4 or 5s.. the biggest one they got. put on a new hook and also a new split ring..

i ran them off of a smaller planer on a long long long long long leader and they eat them up!!!!

[Big Jay]

Giant BFT are some of the smartest most FRUSTRATING fish in the sea.

Spring and Fall off NJ they tend to be on the move. I wouldn't turn your nose up at "pushing" fish but whatever you offer them better be tight, clean, and appealing. Pushing fish are the one's you see kinda porpoising. Feeding fish are pretty easy to tell since they just sit there banging up bait, sometimes you have birds, sometimes none at all.

Just to give you an idea, 3 years ago in about July we were short of the Wilmington trolling. We came upon a school of medium/giants (200-500 lb. fish) pushing on the surface. We dragged: feathers, cedars, and finally a hoo right across the noses.

I kid you not...we had a BFT the size of a friggin cow motor up behind a naked swimming hoo. Literally almost "sniff" it. Then faded off the the side back to the school.

Almost as if it looked at it said "Hmmm...this could be good. Oh wait, it's got a hook. Bye"

I think my heart stopped beating.

[Big Jay]

deadly dicks work fantastic also.. i think they are the number 4 or 5s.. the biggest one they got. put on a new hook and also a new split ring..

i ran them off of a smaller planer on a long long long long long leader and they eat them up!!!!

YES! I couldn't think of the name of that lure. They mimic a rainfish perfectly. Believe it or not, another lure that mimics a rainfish real nice.

Old faithful, the Hopkins.

[sportfishingusa]

YES! I couldn't think of the name of that lure. They mimic a rainfish perfectly. Believe it or not, another lure that mimics a rainfish real nice.

Old faithful, the Hopkins.

yeah they work so freakin good is is sickening...

we had some finickey fish two years ago and i took one out with the green sides and put it on a small planer with the bridle set up on 100yd leader and it took about 5 minutes to have a nice fish in the boat!!

[hobie2]

im headed out of IRI on sunday to look for one of these tuna. has anyone been out recently for them?

[3ccc's]

a friend of mine was tog fishing early this week off of atlanic city. he told me he was at a wreck in 65 feet of water and started marking fish 30 feet down so he dropped a ava27 down and caught two school size bft around 30lb along with bluefish
the water was 53degrees.i'm seriously considering setting up a chunk slick on sunday around the east lump.seas are forcasted 2 to 3 feet .how cold is too cold for these tuna.up north guys reported big fish in 54degree water hitting plugs.i guess you don't know untill you try.