The Big Mohawk Fishing Report

Many fishermen consider fishing an integral part of life, devoting hours to learning, honing, and perfecting their craft.

New Jersey conservation officers posing as anglers caught the owner and captain of a Belmar party boat guilty of unlawfully killing undersized summer flounder and filleting them to increase patrons’ chances of landing legal-sized fish, incurring potentially thousands in fines.

Sea Bass

Fishing isn’t simply a pastime; it’s an integral part of their lives. Anglers immerse themselves in this activity, studying it closely, trying different techniques, and honing their skills in search of that following big catch. Their fishing reports show their dedication, which serve as invaluable sources of information and serve both novices and seasoned anglers alike.

Sea bass are tasty, versatile fish found throughout the oceans’ waters – from wrecks and reefs to mussel beds. Spawn occurs from January through July, with females producing between 30,000 and 500,000 eggs throughout their lives. Sea bass feed on crabs, shrimp, worms, small fish, and clams as demersal species, meaning most of their lives are near or below seafloor conditions.

Capt. Pete Sykes from Parker Pete’s has been taking advantage of the excellent sea bass fishing opportunities at Parker Pete’s. His crews have been seeing limits every trip out, and the fish are in top condition; plus, a fantastic white shark pup was seen snacking on one of their charters from their boat! Capt. Sykes believes it was likely looking for something tasty to snack on and didn’t intend any harm against it.

Matt Haeger of The Reel Seat in Brielle reported that things are picking up as we approach Memorial Day weekend. Striped bass have been reported biting at Manasquan Inlet, while bluefish have been plentiful on beaches and bays. Fluking and sea bass fishing have also been good around Reefs and Wrecks.

He noted that the ling and winter flounder bite has also improved, with his customers catching their limit of these tasty creatures on both day and night trips. Open boat trips for these fish have been offered this week on Mimi VI.

Fall blackfish season will officially kick off for both North Shore and South Shore anglers on October 11th and 15th, and our store is fully stocked with everything necessary for successful blackfish fishing expeditions.

Striped Bass

Striped bass is anadromous fish, moving between fresh or brackish water during spring and summer and migrating to sea to spawn in fall – an exciting aspect of fishing that makes Atlantic coast striped bass an integral sport fishery. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission manages striped bass populations.

Anglers typically see an uptick in striped bass fishing during late summer and fall as fish migrate into freshwater to spawn, prompting many striper fishermen to target these fish with baits like bunker and clams for maximum success in landing one of these trophy fish.

Most anglers know that striped bass feeding habits are heavily influenced by tide. Fish are most active during the outgoing portion of the wave as they search for food carried along with it; they are also more likely to feed at night.

As the seasons change and bass migrate southward, their response increases to baits such as jigs, paddle tails, and soft plastic worms.

Striped bass can often chase schools of bonito, bluefish, or sand eels along wide beaches in late fall and winter. They may also be found feasting upon plentiful supplies of sand fleas in back bays.

Are You an Admirer of Striped Bass? Help Maryland Department of Natural Resources Increase Our Understanding By Submitting Fishing Data OnlineUsing our online striped bass recreational harvest survey on our website, record length and whether kept or released fish are supported; this data can be used to understand this fishery better as well as guide management decisions.

Bluefish

Many anglers consider fishing more than just a recreational pastime; for many, it is an integral part of their lives. These folks study fish, learn new methods, and hone their skills to catch as many prized creatures as possible. Be it trophy catch or simply the thrill of the chase, these dedicated individuals share their experiences through fishing reports, which act as treasure troves of knowledge on what it takes to be one of these hardcore fishermen.

Recently, the Canal’s west end has seen an abundance of bluefish that has left anglers excited and lure manufacturers ecstatic. These playful fish can consume twice their body weight in just an hour and readily strike at big pencil poppers or paddle tail soft plastic lures, including big pencil poppers or paddle tail soft plastics with interchangeable/replaceable seats like those offered by Jeff Hogy Thumper series lures.

Although the West end has proven effective at targeting blues, Connor Swartz from Red Top in Buzzards Bay noted that things have been less fruitful on the east side. He’s seen some smaller schoolies and slotfish at this end, but no sign of larger cowfish yet.

Fluke action continues to improve when the bay is free of rainfall showers, according to Captain Peyton Gepp, who reported Dan Mancini catching a 13-pound doormat while jigging with a bucktail near Shark River Inlet on Tuesday.

Yellowfin

Yellowfin tuna are among the most sought-after recreational fish for anglers. Their impressive size and flavor make them desirable targets, providing crucial revenue to coastal economies through large catches that benefit recreational fishing activities while contributing to maintaining Yellowfin Tuna populations ecologically sustainably.

Yellowfin tuna fishing can often be done using trolling. This technique employs a long pole equipped with weighted lures to attract and reel a fish, typically from a boat or shore angler. Magnets used to lure yellowfin tuna vary depending on where they’re fishing, typically featuring bright colors and patterns made from plastic, metal, or rubber that can be trolled using live or dead baits.

These torpedo-shaped fish feature metallic dark blue backs and upper sides with yellow or silver hues on their bellies, distinguishable from other tuna species by the long bright-yellow dorsal and anal fins and finlets on their dorsal fins and anals. Yellowfin tuna have an average lifespan of six or seven years and migrate worldwide, breeding year-round in tropical waters and seasonally in higher latitude waters.

Yellowfin tuna fishing is heavily regulated to maintain sustainable populations. Fishermen must obtain permits and log their catches in logbooks; regulations also exist regarding gear restrictions and specific areas, which help limit bycatch of protected species.

The Pacific yellowfin tuna is an important top predator in marine food chains and essential in maintaining ocean balance. Unfortunately, however, its health can be severely compromised by parasites like protozoans, protozoa (flukes), didymozoidea (tissue flukes), cestoda (tapeworms), monogenea (gillworms), and cestoda (tapeworms). Predatory sharks like Carcharhinus altimus and Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus), as well as large bony fish such as Isistius brasiliensis).

Fishing for yellowfin tuna is a significant economic driver in the Gulf Coast region. Due to its broad appeal and significant revenue potential, many fishing enthusiasts flock to this fishery – helping create an influential tourism industry and contributing to an incredibly vibrant tourism sector.