Welcome to Offshore Observations Drift Report.

A weekly newsletter to keep you in the loop on offshore (and inshore) fishing in the Northeast.

2024 Offshore Season Begins

Hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend and took a moment to honor our fallen warriors.

With a flat forecast and water temps nudging the upper 50s, several anglers made the trip to the edge this weekend, on patrol for early-season tuna. While tuna action was minimal, many reported abundant life, including whales and birds throughout Hudson and West Atlantis. There were also several reports of large tilefish.

Gulf Stream Look

A very warm corner south of Hudson looks ripe for an eddy, potentially setting up opportunities in the Hudson-Block Canyon area in the coming weeks.

Additionally, turbulence south of Welker could bring another setup to the edge soon.

Midshore water temperatures are warming along with air temps, but the midshore fog suggests a flush of warmer water streaming in from the south. Sporadic reports of whales, bait (mackerel), and birds from the Dump to Nomans have trickled in. With a bit more warm water from the southeast, we should see consistent bluefin action.

Perhaps most importantly, look at all that very hot water hannging out out there. The stream appears live and well this spring.

Tech Talk

With the season about to get hot and heavy, lets have a quick chat about terminal tackle for our tuna jigging setups.

When choosing terminal tackle for tuna jigging setups, focus on strength and reliability. Opt for high-quality fluorocarbon leaders, typically in the 80-130 lb range, to withstand abrasion and reduced visability. Solid, heavy-duty split rings and ball-bearing swivels ensure smooth lure action and prevent line twists. Use strong, sharp assist hooks, ideally rigged with heavy-duty Dyneema or Kevlar, to secure your catch. ALways connect the assist hooks directy to the split ring or swivel.

An important detail that many miss is leader and knot stretching at the beginning of each day, and for each new leader. Attach you jig to a stern or bow cleat, then walk out as much line as the length of you boat allows. Tighten the drag past strike and heavily flex the rod against the line. This will stretch your leader and validate that your knots are good. While leader stretch is less important for jigs than live0bait/chunking, it is good practice and ensures a quality line connection.

NOAA Shenanigans

The latest rulings from NOAA regarding bluefin tuna have stirred quite a bit of chatter in the fishing community. For the upcoming season, recreational limits have been adjusted from a meager one fish (under 72") per vessel to the more familiar two fish between 27-54" and one fish between 54"-72". This adjustment, albeit late, has alleviated some anxieties among anglers. However, the General/CHB (Charter Head Boat) category has seen a bump to three fish over 72" per day, a move that raises questions about quota sustainability given the high abundance of bluefin in the Northeast. Meanwhile, the angler category trophy fish slot closed on May 1, sparking debate. Many wonder why, amid hints from scientists about record bluefin numbers, the trophy class remains restricted while commercial categories expand. This inconsistency has led to frustrations, with calls for allowing recreational anglers their once-a-year trophy catch to preserve more quota for commercial fishermen. The NOAA's approach to bluefin management continues to balance conservation with the diverse interests of the fishing community.

Catch 'em up!