Jersey Shore fishing report: Record sheepshead speared, king mackerel bested
A sheepshead just over 13 pounds that was speared by a free diver in July has been confirmed as a new state record by New Jersey Fish and Wildlife.
The diver, Dan Street, speared the fish free diving in the ocean off a boat on July 15. Street, who lives in Hainesport, didn't want to disclose the secret spot but said he and his friends dive wrecks down to 60 feet of water all along the New Jersey coast.
The total weight of the record fish was 13 pounds, three ounces and it bested the previous sheepshead record in the spearfishing category by 11 ounces. Street said he caught it with a spear gun. His friends had others that day, including an 11 pounder on a pole spear as they hit the sheepshead jackpot.
The marine forecast is calling for strong breezes accompanied by a sizable swell heading into the weekend. The wind could reach a top speed of 30 knot gusts out of the northwest on Friday with seas climbing to eight feet. If the forecast holds, the winds will start diminishing after midnight on Friday. Several for-hire captains canceled Friday's trips but remained optimistic that the weekend will be salvageable.
More:Fishing report: False albacore swim all the way back into Barnegat Bay
The bluefishing was very good on Wednesday, said Capt. Rich Falcone on the Golden Eagle party boat. He was up along the northern Monmouth County coastline working a few miles off the beach. He said the blues were biting right from the start and he was able to make long drifts with the fish. The action was steady around the boat and anglers were limited out. He said poppers were the most effective tackle.
Capt. Dave Riback on the Queen Mary party boat, who was on the blues too, had a nice King Mackerel in the mix. The fish hit a plain AVA jig size 017. A couple of his fares also reeled in Spanish mackerel.
Capt. William Egerter Jr. on the Dauntless party boat continues to rock hop in the Shrewsbury area. HIs main target has been the porgies which has been steady. But any given day his fares are reeling in blackfish and fluke, blues and mackerel. He had a few triggerfish hit this week as those fish have popped up again.
More:What's biting: get the latest fishing reports here
The tuna fishing is red hot. Fishermen's Supply Co. in Point Pleasant Beach said in the last week a lot of bigeye tuna were brought in from the canyons. Capt. Howard Bogan Jr. on the Big Jamaica said they had their best tuna fishing of the season on a Tuesday into Wednesday overnighter. Bogan said the boat limited out on yellowfin up to 100 pounds. The fish bit during the daylight hours went he first set up and were steadily coming to the lines throughout the night. His fares were floating baits or dropping jigs on the tuna.
There may be some rip currents in the surf over the weekend which could make it a bit of challenge to set a bait. The fluke are almost a guarantee to be biting to the end of the season in the wash. Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park had a surf-caught fluke weighed in on Wednesday. Giglio's Tackle in Sea Bright said the blues have been in and out of the surf all week. The shop also had a customer report a catch of a striped bass from the beach on an outcast swimmer.
Speaking of surf fishing, the 4th annual Saltwater Underground Barrier Island Beach Brawl, run by Nick Honachefsky, is set for Oct. 7 & 8. Anglers can sign up Saltwater Underground's website, local tackle shops, or Playa Bowls and Crabs Claw Inn in Lavallette.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore fishing: Sheepshead, king mackerel caught
