Even 20 footers are welcomed to the fleet on a good weather day. Some anglers wait literally days or weeks for the weather to be good enough to make the run.
Off Sandy Hook, NJ, the tuna fleet of recreational anglers makes that run on a regular basis. Lots of tuna are caught, but lots of anglers get skunked as well.
This fishing is not for everyone. First, the distance offshore requires some type of seaworthy boat. The tackle required is heavy – 80 pound class or bigger – and expensive.
But, the reward can be awesome. Take a 500 pound bluefin tuna back to the dock and someone will be waiting there to pay upwards of $10 a pound for your fish. That’s quite a hefty profit! Sort of pays for the trip and the tackle all at once!
Even small boats can catch and boat a big tuna. One small boat brought a750 pound monster alongside that was hauled aboard with a block and tackle. Most anglers use a tuna board – one that will hang over the side of the boat and be tilted into the boat once the tuna is on the board. This tilt-and-slide method works for most tunas, but not for one at 750 pounds!
Boom or bust – that’s the way tuna angling can be in the northeast. You either score a nice tuna, or you burn a lot of fuel and come home empty handed. But – the reward is worth the effort in my opinion.
