Canyon Trips

Canyon - Troll Only

Early in the season, we'll leave the dock anywhere from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., looking to arrive at a Canyon for sunrise, often setting up our trolling rods & setting our pattern of baits/lures before dawn! This is about a 16 hour trip.

In general, Yellowfin & Mahi-Mahi fishing starts late June/early July.. We've also been surprised with early season Longfin (Albacore) tuna mixed in. Later in the season, you never really know when the larger Bluefins will show up at the Hudson, Texas Tower & Triple Wreck areas. When coming home from the Hudson early in the season, I've stopped at the Chicken Canyon and Glory Hole many times and scored a great Bluefin catch. We keep our fingers on the pulse of the fishery, and review Water Temperature charts daily, as well as speaking to our 'other' fishing Captains...to insure that we are at the most likely spot for all species to bite!

Chunk-n-Troll Trip

This is your best bet, as we never know when the troll will be better than the chunk once the tuna start eating at night.

In July & August, we'll usually depart Brielle mid-afternoon, leaving ourselves some trolling time before we anchor for the overnite. Many has been the time that we trolled 'till right before sunset and the reels started screaming just as the sun went down! (We call it 'Magic Hour') This leaves us anchoring in the dark, but it's worth it! When it gets darker later in the season, we may leave earlier in the day or save our trolling time for the "next" morning. Later in the season, with longer nights/shorter days, this trip will simply be a longer 'chunk' trip. Weather and water conditions will most like dictate which way I'll go. I want you to enjoy your experience, so I'll make the right choice!

I'll be searching for life (porpoise, whales, birds) and bait (on the fish-finder) when we arrive at the Canyon, and this will determine where we'll set-up for the night. We'll look to set-up near the edge of a Canyon in anywhere from 300-700 feet of water. We will use up to 1800' of anchor line to ascertain that we're safe and sound for the overnight. If we have to move during the night to get to the bite, you can bet we will.

Now, onto the chunking! This type of fishing is the most exciting we experience. We pre-cut up to 150 lbs of bait, bring tons of ice and set sail for the Hudson and Tom Canyons.

When the Tuna are finicky on the troll, we look for the chunk to be successful.

This type of fishing gives you the chance to actually "work" the lines, drifting your "hook-bait" into a chunk slick that we will keep going the entire time. A Yellowfin, Longfin or Bigeye will be following the chunk slick to the boat, and your baited hook will be right in the middle. We've had Tuna come to within three feet of the boat and attack a bait. Imagine, you're fishing 50lb standup gear, the reel starts screaming, you push the drag on the gold Penn International and pick up your pole, standing toe-to-toe with the tughest fighting fish in the ocean!