Last week, a fisherman landed a sheepshead that was a few ounces shy of record in Raritan Bay . Now a northern pufferfish was just landed in Barnegat Bay that could set a new angling benchmark once the paperwork is complete.
In the world of small fish, Capt. Dave DeGennaro caught a giant of a northern pufferfish in Barnegat Bay that is a potential new I nternational Game Fish Association rod and reel record .
The season for pufferfish, or blowfish as many call them, got off to a late start this year. DeGennaro said the fish didn't really show until early September but since then the fishery has been paying off as an amusing target for his small fishing parties and bay anglers in general.
This year the run has had some pretty big fish in it. Last weekend, DeGennaro landed one that was 1 pound, 2 ounces on the scale at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown, one ounce bigger than the current IGFA record. But he topped that on Oct. 2, with a 1-pound, 6-ounce blowfish. DeGennaro, who puts a great deal of effort into grass shrimping for weakfish, said he was out for the record on Wednesday, using small winter flounder hooks and traditional clam chum to rile the blowfish up.
More: Big sheepshead caught in Raritan Bay, just shy of record
Wednesday's fish was again certified on the Creekside Outfitters scale and DeGennaro has begun the paperwork with the IGFA. While DeGennaro's fish may be 5 ounces heavier than the IGFA's current rod and reel record of 1 pound, 1 ounce, it is not the biggest blowfish ever to be caught in New Jersey waters. That record was set in 1987 in Delaware Bay and stands at 1 pound, 14 ounces. New Jersey Fish and Game, however, has since retired the blowfish category.
Sea Bass opener
As expected, the sea bass are ripe for the picking on the inshore hard bottom. The catches on day one of the fall season on Oct. 1 were good all around. The boats were fishing around 80 foot water depths. Day 2 of the season was hampered by a wind swept up ocean, but that is a variable that fishermen shouldn't have to contend with this weekend, as the wind started to putter out on Thursday. The breezes should be light over the weekend, according to NOAA's coastal forecast.
More: What's biting: get the latest fishing reports here
Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer party fishing boat out of Belmar said his high hooks caught their limits of 10 seas bass and were throwing fish back on opening day. They were catching a lot more than just sea bass. He observed some dinner plate-size porgies come over the rail, plus some grunting triggerfish.
The Golden Eagle party boat targeted bluefish on Wednesday. According to Capt. Rich Falcone's report, they picked at small blues for most of the day. Falcone said the readings were good but they weren't cooperating.
Surf fishermen caught some blues and striped bass this week but it was not easy going. The surf was quite frothy from the waves rolling in one after another. A lot of water was being pushed around and 6 ounces of weight or more was needed to hold bottom. However, a lot of times, the surf run of striped bass gets going after a few days of northeast wind. There are already some bass in the surf now. Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park reported a catch on Wednesday from one of their regulars who was tossing a VooDoo shad.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Giant pufferfish caught in Barnegat Bay could be new fishing record
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