measured 42 inches. got it steaked up for the grill.
Wow!
That's a huge chopper! What'd it weigh?? :)
~A~
Quote from: Aiala on May 17, 2015, 06:11:16 PM
That's a huge chopper! What'd it weigh?? :)
~A~
Hi, Aiala. I generally don't bring my fish to be weighed in mostly because I bleed all my fish right away. I would say it is at least over 20lbs. I should get a buy a boga scale before my next trip out.
That's a big one for sure . If you caught that in the NE around NJ it doesn't surprise me we have been invaded by large blues early killing the spring striper run.
one big blue
Nice choppa! :D
Even small Blues fight like crazy so this must have been great fun. Dominick
Holy Sharkbait Batman! :o Nice Blue.
Those are the blues that cross your eyes when they hit, and when you catch them on the party boats they end up crossing up everyone. Nice one bro, but believe me there are bigger ones out there. Keep on going at it and you will top that one.
Quote from: Reel 224 on May 17, 2015, 11:09:03 PM
Nice one bro, but believe me there are bigger ones out there. Keep on going at it and you will top that one.
The IGFA's current all-tackle record for
Pomatomus Saltatrix is 31 lbs. 12 ounces, although Wikipedia states that they can weigh up to 40 lbs (which I rather doubt.) ::)
http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/pomatom_saltat.htm
~
A~
That is a nice Bluefish. In the Fall and early winter we catch small ones in the surf in S. Florida mostly 10-16 inches. However in the early spring, large schools of big ones like the one you caught are often found well offshore migrating back north. If you are lucky enough to find one of these migrating schools it can be a lot of fun. I don't know why the big ones are never near shore in our area. Nice catch, I would've smoked that one for some dip.
Indeed, it put up a hell of a fight, especially with the current ripping as it was. A lot of big blues were caught that day that were over 30" , but this one had everyone gawking haha. We were all thinking it might have been a big striper. There's got to be bigger ones out there and possibly even a record breaker.
Quote from: Doug on May 17, 2015, 06:33:09 PM
That's a big one for sure . If you caught that in the NE around NJ it doesn't surprise me we have been invaded by large blues early killing the spring striper run.
Yep, it was in NJ., and like you said, lots of big blues. It's all everyone is talking about this year. As far as stripers, I been mostly catching a lot of shorts. I know a couple nice ones caught off the surf at night. What I have been noticing though is the lack of weakfish. I usually start seeing a ton of them around late April.
Quote from: conchydong on May 17, 2015, 11:45:02 PM
That is a nice Bluefish. In the Fall and early winter we catch small ones in the surf in S. Florida mostly 10-16 inches. However in the early spring, large schools of big ones like the one you caught are often found well offshore migrating back north. If you are lucky enough to find one of these migrating schools it can be a lot of fun. I don't know why the big ones are never near shore in our area. Nice catch, I would've smoked that one for some dip.
I'm thinking the bigger ones are less tolerant of warm water. I see the smaller ones that you describe all year round
It's been a crazy spring, one week it's cold at night then next it's hot. Stripers may run later this month who knows, I haven't had the chance to really fish this season yet so I have no idea. I do plan on getting out some time this week. I will say that fishing at night for stripers has always yielded the bigger fish for me, but I don't fish off shore in a boat.
Good Job on that Blue Newport! ;)
Very nice! The Mid-Atlantic has been on FIRE this year with these chopper blues. A true blast to catch. My biggest this year was 39" ended up getting a release citation from DE for it. I only kept a 31" fish this year due to it swallowing my favorite kastmaster, haha. Looks like they've pretty much moved out though, some stragglers behind I've heard but not the big schools anymore (as least in the DE bay area.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks guys, it's been a fun spring. Unfortunately, it's been winding down, but the action lasted for quite a while so I'm happy. The biggest bluefish the local tackle shop weighed in so far was 17.3 lbs and 38". Makes me wish I had it weighed in, oh well. I think I will be taking it easy and do some carp fishing this memorial day weekend, as it around that time where a 45 minute trip to the beach can take 2 or 3 hours.
Newport, nice gator. Beach or boat?? If that's a surf caught blue...that's one helluva fight. Nice fish. Just heard the bass are up on bunker right now. Can't get there...too much work :((
Bob
Hi Mitch, I was casting across the inlet from the sod bank, and the current was really ripping. One of the reasons why I love fishing inlets. I said I wasn't, but I may take a night time drive to the beach and see if I get into any big bass. I just hope the wind calms down then.
It's been so windy on the pier the fishing is almost imposable unless your casting led and cut bait. Really slow for Striper this season here, Blues are kicking the crap out of the bait.
Joe, blues will give you more entertainment, but when I see stripes they do excite me a little more ;D.
Newport, 42" is a nice one, that could probably take the hole hand off if not careful... very nice.
Sal
That is certainly the biggest Jersey tarpon I've seen.
Quote from: mike1010 on May 23, 2015, 03:29:48 PM
That is certainly the biggest Jersey tarpon I've seen.
:D ;D
Those early season fish ( racers, cause the lean and mean ) are hungry and STRONG!! Good thing these fish don't get much bigger than this....we would be on the menu if that were the case !! :o
I have heard of swimmers being bit by Blues in the surf when they were in a feeding frenzy. Blues are a veracious fish and great fighting fish for most anglers. I like catching them at times but not to eat, only because of pollution, especially mercury.....if I spelled that correctly. I didn't mean the car. Got to watch out for the spelling police. ;D Small Blues in the 1# TO 2# Range are the best eating fish and are less likely to have high levels of Mercury in them, what we call snapper Blues here.
I personally like eating anything from the ocean, but these days you have to be careful. :(
I've never eaten one, but they make a great shark bait. ;D
Small snappers make great Fluke bait also.
I mean really good Shark Bait! Elephants eat peanuts. This one just happened to be a fresh Blue.
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag93/darondyer/IMG_25221_zps737fac7d.jpg)
Mako's LOVE bluefish!!!!