Tak Waterman in Long Branch shared this photo of Rob Radlof (left) and Gerard Faccone with the 104-inch bluefin tuna caught this past week on spinning gear. Photo by Kyle Arcomono.
Tuna fever gripped Monmouth and Ocean counties this past week.
Giant bluefin popped up close to shore about a week ago and the boats quickly got on the fish. Some very big tuna were caught on the troll, popping plugs, and stick baits.
The story of the week was the 104-inch behemoth caught by Rob Radlof and Gerard Faccone on spinning gear.
NOAA Fisheries determined that the quota for trophy bluefin, 73 inches and above, has been met and the angling category was closed on Tuesday night at 11:30 p.m. and will stay closed through Dec. 31.
Top 4 Bluefish Lures
Metal Lures
Metal jigs are a go-to bluefish lure. The most recognized styles for these lures are Kastmasters, Deadly Dicks, Hopkins, diamond jigs, and spoons. These heavier lures can cut through a strong wind and are great in tough or good weather.
Metal lures are durable, and their solid metal bodies can take a beating from bluefish. They can be skipped along the water’s surface on a clear day or in a blitz. They can also be fished below the surface with incremental twitches and pauses to produce more action, or they can be jigged off the bottom. These lures are also great for surfcasting, especially the larger lures, because of how far they can be thrown in inclement weather.
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