Tuna Trip - Mudhole, NJ

[Basspond]

Skipped work today to take advantage of the nice weather and get out to the area of some good reports of bluefin and yellowfin tuna lately. Also the first offshore trip on the SC.

Apparently the area has been hush hush recently, but that ended today when we arrived to a fleet jigging, chunking, and trolling.

The bite was hot and cold and unfortunately we did not get into any of the bluefin or yellowfin (although apparently the bite heated up on our way home, go figure).

Did manage a few skippies on the jig, albies on the troll, and a nice mahi on a sardine.

Just a beautiful day on the water.



Part of the fleet at the not so secret area



Picture perfect offshore weather, especially in a 20ft SC!



Finally got to try out the riggers, perfect for keeping the spreader bars in clean water



Mahi

[Smitty46]

Nice photos.
Any concern of fuel consumption ,how many gallons does your tank hold.
How long of a run was it, to the Mudhole?

[Basspond]

Any concern of fuel consumption ,how many gallons does your tank hold.
How long of a run was it, to the Mudhole?

Not much concern. I have a 75 gallon tank. I burned 33 or so gallons on this trip and we did 110 miles.

We were about 35-40 miles from the tip of the hook, but only about 20 miles east off the beach. A lot of our mileage to run offshore out of the hook is having to run out the bay around the hook and then southeast.

[Smitty46]

If weather is good I'll try for 17 Fathoms ,that should be about 9 to 10 miles out.Getting used to my new 20FT MA
Thanks for the reply.

[Basspond]

From the reports I've read there should be tons of albies from just off the beach out to as far as you can go.

I used to have a 20 MA with the standard 48 gallon tank. When we'd fish offshore we had a hookup so we could use a 12 gallon poly tank that would hook right before the racor, use that up on the way out, then switch over to the main tank.

[Basspond]

If weather is good I'll try for 17 Fathoms ,that should be about 9 to 10 miles out.Getting used to my new 20FT MA
Thanks for the reply.

Also, I should also note that with my old MA and the standard sized tank, albeit bringing an extra 12, I would fish the Monster Ledge area so don't limit yourself to just 17 fathoms.

[Smitty46]

Thanks!
I'll be out there.
This 20 foot boat does handle the chop pretty well.
My first time wih a SeaCraft

[Michael Vezzosi]

Guys got any room for another 20 MA owner visiting? Thanks. Part II.

[peterb]

I was out in the mudhole today. here is a copy of my report.

Left the dock around 4:30am, and arrived at the "secret" mudhole wreck area 50 miles out around 6:45am. Marked fish pretty quickly. Got an "under" fish while jigging. As I am fighting this fish, two other guys hook up as well. Near the surface, as I am bringing in my fish, I see about six or seven BFT's (including one big "over" fish) following around my fish. Very cool.

Shortly thereafter, my buddy gets another "under" fish on a chunking rod. By this time it is around 8am. That ends up being it for the BFT's for the day. We had a couple of the chunking rods go off, but the hooks got quickly pulled.

Stopped fishing around 12:30pm and got back to the barn around 3pm.

At the "secret" spot I counted 54 boats.

Water was very calm today. I saw a couple of small single engine sleds out there.

Water temp was between 70.9f and 73f.


Peter
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[Basspond]

Peter, sounds like a great time. Were you chunking with sardines? I'm guessing you were on your 23?

Naturally I was away for the weekend and didn't get a chance to get in on that one day weather window. Looking at some pictures on other sites, it was like a lake out there and now it is going to blow for a week straight again...

There sounds like an amazing amount of fish out there. I'm kind of wondering where the yellowfin and bluefin that were inshore moved to, either out there or south?

Part II, I don't know what my work situation is this week and with the forecast I'm not sure when I'll get out next. You can shoot me a PM if you want.