SeafoodCharters
05-13-2008, 11:40 AM
Two charters tested the waters for striped bass on Saturday with Seafood Fishing Charters. We clammed Barnegat Bay, clammed the ocean and trolled the ocean, but no stripers turned up. Another charter is slated for this coming weekend and we will look for stripers, and maybe the fish will finally turn on by then. But 2- to 3-pound bluefish were trolled on the bay. Loads of dog sharks, more dogs than I ever saw, bit the clam baits in the 49- to 50-degree ocean. Seafood will keep trolling for blues in the bay and looking for stripers in the bay and ocean, and fishing for big, tiderunner weakfish on the bay might also be mixed in. Soft plastic lures tossed in the early mornings will sometimes get attention from the trout. Fluke charters will begin when fluke season opens May 24. Tuna charters are now starting to be booked, and reserving preferred dates is a good idea. Seafood’s boat makes it to the tuna grounds probably quicker than any other charter in the state. The 33-foot HydraSports features three 250 h.p. engines, cruises at 45 m.p.h., tops out at 60 m.p.h. and arrives at the canyons in 2 hours in fair seas. Anglers can spend more time fishing than traveling. Space is also available on a two-day, open-boat trip that will compete in the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club Tournament. Boats in the tournament are allowed to fish two days from July 30 to August 2. Last year’s purse was $365,000, and 20 percent of any winnings go to the crew on the trip, but the rest goes to the anglers.