135-Pound Bluefin Tuna Caught in Raritan Bay in a tin boat
Raritan Bay, NJ – A remarkable bluefin tuna catch has surprised the local fishing community. On Wednesday, Steve Nosti of Holmdel landed a 135-pound bluefin tuna, a rare sight in Raritan Bay, while navigating his 12-foot aluminum Jon boat, the Silver Bullet. Nosti, a professional in the charter...
nyangler.com
This confession came after Nosti's claims were published on APP.com and shared widely across fishing community social media accounts. Recently, more information has surfaced, further discrediting Nosti's story. The Asbury Park Press has also learned that a conservation officer from the state Department of Environmental Protection is investigating the alleged catch, which requires a Highly Migratory Species permit to land.
The recreational fishing community, including charter boat captains, tackle shop owners, anglers, advocacy groups, and trade organizations, has reacted negatively to Nosti's claim. Paul Haertel, an officer in the Jersey Coast Angler's Association, commented, "This was a hoax that he took way too far. He should have never taken it to the press. Most people wished it was a true story."
On July 24, Nosti posted on several Facebook fishing community pages, claiming he caught a bluefin tuna in the Sandy Hook Rip. He included two photos and a short video of the fish in his boat.
Nosti told the Asbury Park Press that he was fishing on his day off from an established charter company. He said he used his 12-foot aluminum Jon boat to catch the fish, as he had seen tuna in that area on a previous outing.
The Press interviewed Nosti twice and confirmed his catch through texts. Nosti also granted permission to use his images. Another individual, Evan Bremner from Pleasure Bay Yacht Club, took photos of the catch but did not witness it. The Bremner family owns the yacht club, but it is unclear if Bremner and Nosti had any prior association.
The Press published Nosti's account on July 25, both online and in print. Afterward, many members of the fishing community informed the Press that they believed Nosti had fabricated the story.
On July 26, Nosti posted a "Fake News" graphic and a message on Facebook stating his story was a joke. The post was removed on Monday night.
Jim Hutchinson Jr., managing editor of The Fisherman Magazine, criticized Nosti's actions, saying, "Lying to a reporter to perpetuate a joke is, in my opinion, a criminal attack on media itself." He added that verifying such claims can be challenging for reporters, and the joke undermined their efforts.
Catching a bluefin tuna in Raritan Bay would have been historic, as it is rare for big game tuna species to be found in that area. Typically, bluefin tuna are the only species that come inshore off the coast of New Jersey, while yellowfin and longfin tuna remain in deepwater canyons and wrecks 60 miles offshore. Sightings of bluefin tuna on inshore reefs within four miles of the coast are more common in the late fall and early winter.
