[FredyFluke]

I am seeing reports on the board about guys being "bluefinned out" and "finding all the school BFT you want" at the Butterfish Hole.
Having spent some time fishing there myself 2 weeks ago, and talking to guys around Montauk, it's been a few weeks since the schoolies moved east.
Did they move back west, or another body of fish move in ?? What gives ??
I would be intrested to know if anyone on this board caught BFT at the Butterfish hole since Jul27 ??
I am thinking of a run to Tails Aug1 but hear no good reports, and I figure if all these BFT reports are true I will hang close, and try for some schoolies...(save some $$ on fuel).
Thanks in advance for the reply.

 

[618732]

I agree

I don't know where these reports come from. I have not heard a report other than a single here or there from Butterfish since last Tuesday. I think the Dump is as close as your going to have what I consider "good" action.

 

[MakoMike]

Fredy,
I heard that the RI based boats have been doing very well at the dump fingers.

 

[615657]

Just yesterday, I saw a boat come in to Pt. Judith with a good catch of rats. They told me they hit them at first light at the dump. Other people I talked to said that there is nothing out there but bluefish tearing up the spread.

 

[FredyFluke]

that' what I'm saying

Tks guys. This is just what I have been hearing. Some guys hitting them East by the Dump & The Fingers, singles here and there by the area of the Suffolk, but not Butterfish Hole 18-20 NM SSE Montauk ??
Unless they moved the Buttfish Hole and did'nt tell me.
I know a lot of those Montauk day boats fish the area of BFH and was hoping one of the Capt's would chime in...
Singles here and there are not even worth the effort to run to the dump unless they are 50lbs+
Rather go fluking...

 

[MakoMike]

Fredy,
the guys I talked to said there were all sizes of fish from rats to 100+ pounders. They also said it was a wide open bite, fish hitting all day and almost everyone limited out. Plenty of small bait in the water. If you go bring some very small trolling lures, or even bait.

 

[PDR]

BFT

The offshore forum of flyfishsaltwaters.com usually has some timely reports from the Dump and East. Mainly CC based fishermen, but helpful to those sailing from Montauk.

FWIW, the only thing we found in the Butterfish Hole two weeks ago was a ton of monster bluefish. Saw tuna jumping on the way back - 9nm S from the point, but I think everything is east by now.

 

[tunatamer]

Freddy

Caught a bunch in Butterfish a few weeks ago but haven't been out there since(dirty water).I'm hearing different stories from people that their still there and then I hear good things about the dump and east.Hopefully I can get a clear temp chart today,as I have not gotten one since 7/23 because of clouds.If the fish at the Dump have some size to them it's worth the run.Can't seem to get any over 40 pounds yet this year!

 

[FredyFluke]

thanks guys

I guess there are some schoolies working the usual areas around the 20-25 fthm curve, between Shinne**** and The Point. This would explain the reports of action in BFH. They are there every year. Hard to hook up sometimes cause they are feeding on such small fry.
MakoMike, first time I am hearing about 100+ lb fish.
How small we talking on that bait ?? Could they tell you what they were ?? When I think small I think TC100's and 4 in Zuckers. That sound about right ?
I have not heard anyone hook up with bait yet...you ?? Only ask as I see you mentioned it...
tuna...no good chart sets in about a week for me either. But have to think with last weeks NE-E blow that some cool water got into the area of the dump. I would guess there are some strong temp breaks (65-70)in the fingers area about now. I'm going to check the sst charts after I get off here. Most likely point the bow east this weekend from what I'm hearing.
tks guys

 

[MakoMike]

Fred,
They guys said the baot was 2-3 inches long, they didn't know exactly what it was. If it were me, I would troll 3 inch hex heads of differnt colors as well as the little zuckers and find out what works. From the way they gusy descibed it, they couldn't hold the fish, had to keep chasing tham, that's why I thought bait might be worth a try. If you could hold one school of the right sized fish around the boat you cuuld limit out in no time.
BTW- Talked to another guy this morning who claims to have done well n BFT on the eat side of the hole, around Jenny's horn. Good luck!

 

[KILSONG]

My friends went to the Butterfish Hole with a charter boat from Montauk and got seven small bluefin tuna (three didn't make size-limit) upto 30 lbs on troll today (07-31-02)

 

[616325]

LIMIT on Bluefin

I wanted to remind all you crazy tuna fishermen that there is a FOUR FISH per vessel 27-73" limit on Bluefin tuna. Please remember this when you are out maxing out on fish getting all nutty with your stories and catches. These fish are barely on their way back from the brink of disaster and need a break.

 

[sawbelly]

Go to
http://www.clearlight.com/~tyrone/00163.html
This site has latest reports on Montauk and northeast for offshore reports (mostly Tuna). Guys from CT, RI, Mass and Montauk. Not much from NJ or western LI.
Tight lines, Jim

 

[KILSONG]

Bluefinmark,

If you got mad because of my report, I apologize for making you confused. Out of seven bluefin, they kept four and released three because they didn't make minimum size limit. I have caught bluefin tuna with many charter boat captains from Massachusetts to North Carolina. Every captain I met abide by the regulation. For the reader, I feel how many hook-up you have is more important than how many you keep.

Fishhawk( charterboat) from Hyannis, MA trolled east of Chatham (45 miles from Hyannisport) today (08-02-02) and got a 100 lbs bluefin and dropped a 150 lbs just before gaffing. The captain said he saw many commercial boats released bluefin tuna because they did not make size limit of 73 inches. He said the average tuna they catch over there are between 80 - 200 lbs.

In Delaware, the Hotdog still produces bluefin, but the majority tuna caught are yellowfin. I have an unconfirmed report that a 500 lbs giant bluefin was caught near the Hotdog area a few days ago. The Massey's Canyon is hot for bluefin now. But a captain I know told me that he expect bluefin leave soon the area because of high water temperature.

k song

 

[616325]

No problem on the report, I understood what you meant. Last year so many people were bragging about all the bluefin they were catching big and small there was no way everyone was following regs. That or they were a bunch of story tellers. Keep up the good work. There are plenty of giants on Jefferies and Old Scantum right now for all you northern fishermen. They are taking chunks and live herring.

 

[paulh]

fished the butterfish hole on my friends boat out of shinne**** on thurs. there were all the bluefin you wanted (to catch). sizes ranged from 10-35 lbs. we caught a bunch, kept a few, then went sharking (1 tiny mako)

 

[621652]

i fished both mon tues this week at the butterfish hole allitle west 700 square had asteady pick of small bluefin birds and green machine nobig fish seen or herd on radio did hear there were some bigger fish sat sun prior shark fished both days in the afternoon no fish to speak of

 

[621652]

i fished both mon tues this week at the butterfish hole allitle west 700 square had asteady pick of small bluefin birds and green machine nobig fish seen or herd on radio did hear there were some bigger fish sat sun prior shark fished both days in the afternoon no fish to speak of

 

[621908]

Fished butterfish hole yesterday.Dead all over.We did get a late start but not even a hit.Trolled through for one hour,nothing then drifted butterfish for the next 4 hrs and still nothing.Hearing some fish being caught on the dip over the radio

 

[FredyFluke]

Well I did it again

Why, I cannot say, but we wasted more gas, precious offshore time, and a nice weather window looking for BFT in the HOLE again on Sunday. Seems the bite was off again, with very few boats hooking up. We found 1 pod of fish on the serface at about 8:30 am and worked them for about an hour when it was clear they had lock jaw. Moved on and spent the rest of the day looking at temps in the high 70's (78 at one point), nice water in a lot of places, and a few pods of bait, but no more BFT. Found some (small) mahi on a few pots that kept us busy for a while, but otherwise nothing doing. Nice day out on the LAKE anyway....but started to get too hot after noon so ran home early and tied up by 2. Time is a- wasting, no more HOLE for this crew.
Heard rumors of a few EYEBALLS...
Anyone care to let us poor slobs in on that one ??