What has happened?

[capt. jakeg]

I have my own ideas, but I wanted to ask you guys- WHERE HAVE THE YELLOWFINS GONE? I know waters are warm, but whats changed? This is the worst tuna season I can ever remember in the mid atlantic and I would like to see what you guys think.

[homewrecker]

I think that we were all laying on the BFins and most of the Yfins snuck past us and are up north somewhere for the most part

[Deep C]

You got me we had em early season in the hudson but I never really heard of the bite going off down south of here. I saw or smelled no tuna at the wmo except bluefins on the way in. There were some up in the block a couple weeks ago but it seems like that has tapered down to a slow pick too...

No clue really. More bait this year than I have seen in a while. good clarity. A touch warm but still in range... If you figure it out let me know...

[JD5652]

We had a YFT bite in early July around the middle grounds, but now even that has slowed down.

I have not heard of anyone being successful in the far east canyons (Atlantis, Hydro, etc) yet this season......but our REAL season is just starting.....hopefully we'll see something worth reporting.

I think the early high water temps and recent lack of hard breaks have somnething to do with it. Bait seems to be very scattered.....

[fat2na.com]

I'd have to wholeheartedly disagree with you. I've been fishing the canyons in the NE since the early 80's and haven't seen year like this in probably 10. The YF fishing from Hattera's to The Tails has been epic, not to mention that there have been more big eyes caught this year than any year I can remember. The thing I find strange though is the absence of albacore. We, as well as boats fishing the same days, have limited on YF. The first few times the average YF were over 75lbs. with smaller fish mixed in. Lately, we've had shots at giant blue marlin, over 800, more than once in a day, all in the deep in near The Dip. I guess everyone has different experiences every year but this year I haven't seen the tuna fishing this good in alot of years. I guess we could just be in the right place at the right time as well but for us this year has, like I said, been epic. The longliners are reporting excellent catches too, maybe you've just been fishing the wrong places, keep going it'll eventually happen, it's bound to if you put in the time with the fishing this good. Just my perspective of my experience so far this year, but remember too, it's still on the early side for the NE canyons.
Good Luck.

[hubris 1]

i think i just suck! i went all the way to north carolina and caught 2 tuna. and the guys acted like they had never seen them before. i agree.........whats up? well, a couple dolphin too but, cmon. i dont even want to kill everything. i just want a bent rod. or at least a look. NOTHING! should i buy a bigger boat, or move it? im headin south eventually. even if its just for the conch chowder.

[seapower]

check out the East side of the stream

[capt. jakeg]

I'm glad to hear someone is catching them. We have had a horrible run of it for over a year now. Normally, we have fish through august here in Virginia, but there hasnt been a "bite" here since june and even that was not a hot bite and was short lived. I could count the yellowfin tunas that were landed at my home port of rudee inlet during the month of july on one hand- by the charter, commercial, and recreational fleet. I also fish out of OI and hatteras in the spring and fall and aside from a few good days of fishing the bite there has been less than dependable at best- even during the spring and the fall when the fishing is supposed to be good.

I was talking to a buddy on the phone today. My friend is a mate on one of the busiest boats in north carolina that sails out of hatteras. Normally this time of year the fishing out of hatteras is not tuna fishing but is somewhat dependable fishing for dolphin, wahoo, and sails.... This boat- a boat that is repeatedly top hook in the fleet day after day- has had 9 trolled bites in the past 7 days.

Conditions have changed here in Virginia and there are good conditons for marlins- basically just the right kind of bait balled up over structure- but the conditions for other fish just arent there. There is a huge lack of flying fish, grass, temp breaks, current breaks... etc and we dont have fish. I am just wondering what has changed to cause there to be no grass, no flying fish, and simply what has happened to cause the 80 degree featureless void we have here off the mid atlantic right now?

Maybe we will have a good fall.

[Double D]

Jake - let me know when you figure it out. Zero tuna bites on my last 2 trips

[hubris 1]

I'm glad to hear someone is catching them. We have had a horrible run of it for over a year now. Normally, we have fish through august here in Virginia, but there hasnt been a "bite" here since june and even that was not a hot bite and was short lived. I could count the yellowfin tunas that were landed at my home port of rudee inlet during the month of july on one hand- by the charter, commercial, and recreational fleet. I also fish out of OI and hatteras in the spring and fall and aside from a few good days of fishing the bite there has been less than dependable at best- even during the spring and the fall when the fishing is supposed to be good.

I was talking to a buddy on the phone today. My friend is a mate on one of the busiest boats in north carolina that sails out of hatteras. Normally this time of year the fishing out of hatteras is not tuna fishing but is somewhat dependable fishing for dolphin, wahoo, and sails.... This boat- a boat that is repeatedly top hook in the fleet day after day- has had 9 trolled bites in the past 7 days.

Conditions have changed here in Virginia and there are good conditons for marlins- basically just the right kind of bait balled up over structure- but the conditions for other fish just arent there. There is a huge lack of flying fish, grass, temp breaks, current breaks... etc and we dont have fish. I am just wondering what has changed to cause there to be no grass, no flying fish, and simply what has happened to cause the 80 degree featureless void we have here off the mid atlantic right now?

Maybe we will have a good fall.

for this, i thought it was me. and it may still be, but at least i can print this and blame global warming!