Author: Hi Flier

We’re Back from OC,MD. Hi Flier Fishing Bay and Offshore

We just got back from OC,MD yesterday with the Hi Flier. She’s back in Waretown and we are jumping back in to our home base fishing. We did pretty good down there. We didn’t kill it, but we weren’t awful. The weather allowed us to get out four days out of the ten we were there. Attached are the pics of our catch. Steve Spina of Canton, CT with his first ever tuna, a 60 lb bluefin that crushed a rainbow spreader bar. Here’s a few minutes of the end game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhB5RBwXsvA
Anthony Scalea Jr. of Cranford, NJ with a mahi that snatched a flatlined cedar plug. Nick DeGennaro, my son and first mate with his first wahoo, a 31 pounder that smoked a ballyhoo he just learned to rig on the ride out. Steve Ondrof of Rockaway, NJ with his first billfish, a 90 plus pound white marlin that put on endless show of jumps and greyhounding. We counted eight jumps in a row on just one of his ariels. Big thanks to Darren Dorris who gratefully was on board to teach Nick how to rig Joe Shutes with ballyhoo as well as how to maneuver the boat and handle a marlin boatside. I didn’t anticipate a billfish as I had tuna on my brain when making our packing list so I didn’t have any leader gloves. Nick volunteered the sleeves of his sweatshirt and Darren used them as makeshift gloves to bill the fish for a few quick pics and then we revived her until she swam away on her own. A magnificent thing to experience. Had the trip of a lifetime down there with both my boys, Nick 18, and Max 16, working deck while I ran the boat. Max stuck his first fish with a gaff, the 60 lb bluefin. He also did battle with a 150 pound Southern Sting Ray that ate a chunk bait and after 30 minutes he got him close enough for me to cut the leader at his mouth. Nick filled the void of Darren’s departure by taking over the cockpit and rigging all the baits, and they caught fish.
Locally we will be jumping right into grass shrimping and other gourmet baits for weakfish and the mixed bag on light tackle in the back bay. There are also blues and bass to catch in the inlet throwing soft plastics and surface lures. We will also be running offshore in search of tuna and mahi. I have availability this Fri, July 14 for an afternoon trip in the bay and inlet. Sun and Mon, July 16 and 17 I am available for inshore or offshore morning and afternoon. The marine weather looks favorable so if nobody charters those days, I will be running Open Boat trips on Sun and Mon to the 50 to 60 mile bluefin tuna grounds. This is mostly a trolling trip but we will always be armed with jigs and casting gear just in case the opportunity presents itself. $350 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared. Depart at 3AM, return around 12 hours later (probably later). Everything is provided, just bring whatever you want to eat and drink for the time we are out.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com

Hi Flier Update: Monday Tuna and Tues, Wed, Thurs Afternoon Grass Shrimp Weakies

The boat just became available Monday 6/26 for all day tuna or half day bay fishing for weakies, blues, and fluke. The weather report and sea condition are excellent for either. Open Boat or Charter. Sign on as an individual or charter the boat.
I will be offshore from 4AM to 2PM tomorrow (Sun). I will be back in cell range around 2PM to reply to your email, text, or voicemail. You could also get me between 3:30AM and 5AM tomorrow (Sun) before I’m out of cell range if you feel so inclined. 
Also available Tues, Wed, and Thurs afternoons for bay trips, Charter or Open Boat. It looks like I will have live grass shrimp for these dates so we will be targeting weakfish and the mixed bag on ultralite tackle. We could also mix in topwater lures and soft plastics for blues and short stripers in the inlet. 
Capt Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing 

732.330.5674 cell

hiflier.com

Hi Flier: Room for one on our Open Boat Tuna Trip Tomorrow Sun 6/25

We have room for one person tomorrow Sun 6/25 on our Open Boat tuna trip. The fare is $300 and the target is bluefin. Four people total. Recent reports have been really good. The run is about 50 miles. The size is varied. A lot of pint size fish with some bigger ones in the mix. I’m going 20 class! Some 30 class and at least one way back ballyhoo for a shot at a cooler fish. All fish are shared. Call me at 732.330.5674 right up until go time.

Hi Flier Sportfishing 

732.330.5674

hiflier.com

Weakies and more in the Bay. Barnegat Ridge Time!

We had some nice weakfish this week in the bay. 15 to 17 inch fish and then we had some 23 and 24 inch weakies like this one Greg Borras of Wantage, NJ bagged on a live killie meant for a fluke. We did have a pair of nice fluke, too, 19 1/2 and 20 inch fish that were mixed in with the weakies on the east side of Barnegat Bay. We also had a two bad efforts in the same spot, so it’s not like we’re beating them up, but they are quality fish when we get them. The inlet is giving up all size blues for us lately, last night (Wed) we had 3 to 6 pound fish, a pair of 9 and 10 pounders and some short stripers. Those fish are on soft plastics and poppers. Mix in some fluking and it’s a well rounded trip.

Sailing Open Boat or Charter tomorrow (Fri) afternoon, Noon to 5 PM and two trips Saturday, 5AM to 10 AM and then again 10AM to 3PM.

The forecast looks really good for running offshore Sun and Mon so I am running Open Boat or Charter for either inshore or offshore fishing. Maybe Barnegat Ridge…Resor…Fingers….Bonita, Bluefin, Mako? I’m game! Call me for more info.

Capt. Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674 cell

hiflier.com

 

 

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Beat the Heat with Stripers and Blues on the Hi Flier….Sat, Sun, and Mon

Here comes the heat! Looks like warmer temps are forecasted for the weekend and beyond. No better way to beat the heat then swinging for stripers and blues. We will be running combo trips that start with the hunt for big stripers and then end in the bay throwing topwaters for blues. We could also mix in some fluke jigging in the bay. Whatever you guys want to do. Sailing Charter or Open Boat Sat, Sun, and Mon June 10, 11, and 12. Sailing morning and afternoon departures. Charter the boat for your own group or sign on as an individual. There hasn’t been much snag and drop opportunity with the bunker so we are catching the big stripers trolling bunker spoons and Mojos. The upside is they are all huge. 35 to 50 pound fish. Finishing up with some light tackle blues and fluke rounds out the day. $175 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared.

Six hour trips departing at 5AM and Noon each day.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com

Hi Flier 48 pound Striper……Just Now!

Just trolled this 48 pounder on a Green/Chartreuse Maja #4 bunker spoon off of Seaside Park in 63 feet of water. Rich Walton of Pine Grove PA caught him. Here’s the video:

 

Tomorrow (Sun) and Mon mornings are booked but I have both of those afternoons available for charter or Open Boat. Noon to 6PM.

Capt Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674

hiflier.com

Big Stripers Snag and Troll Open Boats on the Hi Flier

The big bass are here. The fish are on the bunker pods for the early morning bite and then the mid day troll gets them out in the deep. We bring it all and change up techniques as conditions dictate. The fish are all big, 25 to 40 plus pound bass. These are the biggest stripers of the season and the bite is in full swing. The bluefish are still in the inlet and bay to complement the action, as well. They are anywhere from 2 to 16 pounds and they are blasting our topwater lures. 
Sailing Open Boat or Charter Friday May 26 Noon to 6PM, Sunday May 28 1PM to 7PM, and Monday (Memorial Day) May 29 6AM to Noon and again from 1PM to 7PM.
$175 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared, everything is provided. You can call right up until “Go time” to see if there’s room. Call to reserve a spot.
Capt Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing 

732.330.5674

hiflier.com

Hi Flier 38 lb Striper on Mojo Today

Here’s Bob Danyluk of Flemington NJ with a 38 pound striper that freight trained that white Mojo hanging out of his mouth. We were trolling in 60 feet of water off of Seaside today. 52 degree water, lots of bunker around.

Here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH-Nhmf8_9I&feature=youtu.be

Going to get interesting. We have room on trips sailing every day targeting these big bass in the ocean and/or the blues in the bay. The weather is mint all week.

Capt. Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674

hiflier.com

Make An Appointment To Catch Your Big Bass. Hi Flier Sportfishing

If you want to get into some big stripers you have to read the weather windows. After the messy rain and wind blows through this weekend, the switch to NW wind is already in the forecast by Sunday/Monday. Followed by low velocity and variable winds on Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri. It looks like from Monday on, it is going to be a nice ocean. This season, that’s half the battle….more like three quarters! Sure, it would be nice to fish the weekend with some bluebird weather but it’s not happening, so you have to “make an appointment” to be in the weather window if you’re going to get your big bass. There are 25 to 40 pound plus fish being taken every day from Seaside to Long Branch a few miles off the beach. There is no snag and drop bite yet, so we need to troll with the heavy artillery. Wireline outfits with bunker spoons and braid rods with Mojos. It’s a very effective “means to an end”. It puts fish on the line, in the boat, and on the table. Pretty soon the bite will transition into snagging bunker early in the morning and then trolling after that but right now it’s all on the troll.
The forecast is not so critical when we are staying in the bay to target the bluefish that are here in good size and numbers. We could target either or both in the same day. Catching them every day on lures and bait. Three to fifteen pound fish.
I still have Monday May 15 afternoon available 1PM to 7PM. I am considering using a vacation day on Tuesday May 16 at my day job to exploit the glaringly beautiful weather that is forecasted. Leave at 6AM and return at Noon or later. Sailing again on Tues afternoon. If I am to book Tuesday, though, I need to know today (Thurs) or tomorrow (Fri) morning the latest so I can put in for it. Keep in mind, if you are on the Tues morning trip and I don’t have the afternoon booked we are going on SAFARI! As far,and as late, as we have to go to put fish in the boat. Thurs May 18, and Fri May 19, sailing at Noon returning around 6PM. That’s all of our availability, the next day we have open is not until Thurs afternoon, May 25.
These dates are available for charter or sign on as an individual and we will make an Open Boat trip. $175 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared. $600 for the whole boat if you charter it with your own group.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com