EO Northeast Report
Sept. 6, 2009 - Non-closure of sea bass and porgies season
By Chris GatleyEditor's note: Capt. Chris Gatley can be found with his fishing clients chasing striped bass in front of the Statue of Liberty, or heading offshore to the Atlantic Ocean canyons off the NJ/NY coast for tuna. His articles on cutting-edge fishing techniques can be found in The Fisherman Magazine, and he's a regular presenter at key sports shows during the winter months (when he's not pursuing whatever he can find in East Coast rivers).
The big news coming out of the Northeast this week is the Non Closure of the sea bass and porgies season. Earlier this week, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) looked at the possibility of closing the sea bass and porgy fishing for the rest of the year.
"This is a temporary win for recreational fishermen plus the charter boats and tackle shops that target these fish" said Capt. Al Ristori of Sheri Berri Charters, a decades long voice for all recreational anglers in the Northeast.
Virginia proposed a closure on Sept. 30 due to projections that the yearly quota will be overfished. That proposal was seconded by Pat Kurkul, Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), but was defeated by a vote of 7 to 4.
That might not be the final word as NMFS could take emergency action to close federal waters to fishing for those species. However, N.J. ASMFC Commissioner Tom Fote said that process takes some time.
Unfortunately, "Catching too many seabass and porgies this year as the season remains open will certainly have all of us paying the devil in 2010 with tougher regulations," Ristori said.
The bluefin tuna bite still remains the hottest bite along the northeast coast; if you could get out. Moderate East and Northeast winds hit the Mid Atlantic and New York region this past week, making fishing tough.
Anglers in New England are still catching bluefin ranging from 100-300 pounds daily and within eyesight of land. As you move down the coast, Block Island and southward into New Jersey is still seeing an unbelievable bite, plus yellowfin tuna are mixed in.
Fishing any lump from 12 miles offshore and as far off the coast as 60 miles is producing pelagic fish up to 200 pounds. Look for life and start fishing. Jigs and bait are taking most fish, but the chunk bite yielded some yellowfin in the canyons over the tail end of the week.
Anglers on the chunk are cutting small pieces of butterfish or sardines and laying out a slick. Whole sardines, live squid and butterfish are deployed into that slick and fooling these savvy tuna.
Our offshore anglers leave the dock midday and hit the grounds 90 miles out about four hours later. Prior to dark, boats troll spreader bars, ballyhoo, daisy chains and other types of lures looking for yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna and marlin.
The overnight hours see boats either drifting or anchoring while chunking. Some guys deep drop swordfish baits while some just target yellowfin tuna.
As daylight approaches, most boats go back on the troll looking for a couple extra fish before calling it a day and heading back to the barn on a 24-hour journey.
The most prolific fish off our immediate coast is the speedy "little tunny" or false albacore. Although these fish do not eat well, they are dynamite to catch on fly rods and light tackle. These fish are weary, fast and plentiful. I like to use a 7-weight fly rod outfitted with an intermediate line.
As in any of my fishing, I use fluorocarbon leader to increase my odds. When targeting false albacore with fly rods, having a good drag system on your fly reel makes or breaks a catch. Spin casters typically outfit 4000 series reels such as a Shimano Stradic with either 10-pound monofilament or 15-pound Power Pro.
For the ultimate in light tackle feel, I place this reel on a Teramar 7-foot, 6-inch rod. The tip is fast enough to pitch a live peanut bunker if needed and makes my customers feel like they are in the fight of their life once hooked up.
When targeting false albacore, I offer two sets of rods. One set of rods are equipped with Power Pro while the other set of rods is outfitted with monofilament. When fish are skittish due to bluebird skies or boat traffic, I use Power Pro as it helps my customers cast further.
However, most situations allow me to use 10-pound Gamma monofilament. In all of my false albacore fishing, I use 6-12 pound fluorocarbon leader. The brighter the day, the longer and lighter the leader.
Right now, Long Island Sound, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard as well the southern shores of Long Island, New Jersey and Delaware have catchable numbers of false albacore. Long rodders should mimic sand eels or glass minnows with their patterns. Small clouser minnows and deceivers replicate this forage well.
On my charter boat, The Ardent Angler, my go-to pattern is a sparsely tied clouser minnow with a pink belly and chartreuse back. For my clients, this fly has been a home run!
Spin casters may want to try a Deadly Dick spoon. Another great option is to cast net plenty of peanut bunker in the 2-4 inch range and chum the false albacore to your boat. Chumming with live peanut bunker is a fun way to fish for these speedsters, especially when kids are on board.
