135-Pound Bluefin Tuna Caught in Raritan Bay in a tin boat

[george]

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 industry with the necessary permits, spotted the bluefin tuna near the beach. Setting off from his dock at Pleasure Bay Yacht Basin in Oceanport shortly after sunrise, he was equipped with an 80-pound class tuna rod, reel, and Ron-Z lures, ready for a long shot at a big catch.

The journey to the tip of Sandy Hook is approximately 8 to 9 miles, prompting Nosti to stop at Bahrs Landing in Highlands to refuel his 12-gallon tank.

While on the bay side of the rip, Nosti’s reel began to hum. The bluefin, once hooked, towed him and his boat several miles toward the ocean. The Jon boat provided enough drag for Nosti to steadily gain line until he could bring the fish alongside and gaff it.

 

[george]

It is a crazy story.

 

[jpd]

I just saw that on Yahoo....what a great picture.

Nosti, who works in the charter industry and has a permit for such fish, had seen the bluefin in tight to the beach and left from his dock slip at Pleasure Bay Yacht Basin in Oceanport after sunrise to try to get one. He was outfitted with an 80-pound class tuna rod and reel and some Ron-Z lures. He called it "a shot in the dark."

It's about an 8 or 9 mile ride from the marina to the tip of Sandy Hook, so Nosti said he stopped at Bahrs Landing in Highlands to fuel up his 12-gallon tank. Then he was off to area known as the Rip, where the bay and ocean currents collide.

Nosti said the water temperature Wednesday morning was 75 degrees and there were a ton of bluefish and small baitfish in the Rip, which most likely explains the presence of the much larger bluefin tuna. It did not take long for one of the bluefin to be lured by the flashy jig darting in and out of the water and make a run at it.

Nosti said he was on the bay side of the rip when the reel started to hum. Once hooked up, the bluefin towed him for a couple of miles toward the ocean. As the fish pulled, the Jon boat acted as drag with Nosti gaining line until he had the big fish boat side where he could gaff it.

On his way in, Evan Bremner at Pleasure Bay Yacht Club snapped a picture of Nosti in the boat with the big tuna.

The bluefin haven popping up in several locales and fishing grounds from the beach out to the Chicken Canyon and some of the wrecks even further east. Fishermen's Headquarters in Ship Bottom reported one even washed up in the surf on Long Beach Island. It's reminiscent of the stories the old salts tell of horse mackerel, or giant tuna, shredding the pound nets set up in the surf.

Capt. Chris Dos Santos of the Sea Owl got one on Wednesday as well. He took a ride to test out the new fuel injection line he installed before a scheduled tuna charter he had on Thursday. He checked a few inshore spots before running about 90 minutes from Manasquan Inlet. He said the area was loaded with sandeels.

He trolled ballyhoo through the bait and soon the rod was screaming with a runaway 200-pound bluefin tuna. The fish was decked and Dos Santos spent the rest of Wednesday handing out tuna steaks.

 

[Pangaroo]

12 gallon fuel tank in a tiny boat like that ? My 25 Panga Boat with 50 HP has a 9 gallon tank and I have enough fuel for 3 full day bay trips.
This week I'm going out 2 or 3 miles out of Jones Inlet to troll for Bonito, Spanish Mackerel , Bluefish, I'll troll 2 rods rigged with daisy chains of 4 inch plastic squids for Bluefins and 2 rods for the smaller fish. Heard there's a lot of Mahi Mahi out there. Hope it's nice clear water /maybe even Blue water if I'm lucky. Hey if they caught Bluefin in Raritan Bay , they might be right off the beach off the Island.

 

[cany]

View attachment 82799
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 industry with the necessary permits, spotted the bluefin tuna near the beach. Setting off from his dock at Pleasure Bay Yacht Basin in Oceanport shortly after sunrise, he was equipped with an 80-pound class tuna rod, reel, and Ron-Z lures, ready for a long shot at a big catch.

The journey to the tip of Sandy Hook is approximately 8 to 9 miles, prompting Nosti to stop at Bahrs Landing in Highlands to refuel his 12-gallon tank.

While on the bay side of the rip, Nosti’s reel began to hum. The bluefin, once hooked, towed him and his boat several miles toward the ocean. The Jon boat provided enough drag for Nosti to steadily gain line until he could bring the fish alongside and gaff it.

WOW IS ALL I CAN SAY

 

[Chinacat]

Saw it elsewhere with lots of discussion and legitimate questions of the authenticity of it

 

[cany]

Saw it elsewhere with lots of discussion and legitimate questions of the authenticity of it

Photo shopped skiff?

 

[Chinacat]

Photo shopped skiff?

Along those lines, yes
If legit, its awesome though

 

[cany]

Along those lines, yes
If legit, its awesome though

I was thinking the same doesent look like a swiveling rod holder