4* Species taken by charter boat fishermen 



Because of the angling methods used by charter boat fishermen, 

 the fish taken by this type of fishing are predominantly pelagic 

 (surface) species. The following species are those usually caught 

 —in season— by charter boat patrons i albacore, Thunnus germo 

 (Lac^pe^e)j false albacore, Euthynnus alletteratus (Rafinesque) ; 

 bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus); bonito, Sarda sarda 

 (Bloch)j mackerel. Scomber scombrus (Linnaeus); skipjack, 

 Katsuwonus pelamis (Lizmaeus') ; striped bass, Rocous saxatilis 

 (Walbaum) i and tunia Thnnnue thynnus (LinnaeusJ^ S? these, tuna 

 is the species most commonly sought, which because of its "fight" 

 and sits, may give the angler the prestige of winning a prise in 

 one of the many tuna tournaments and fishing contests that are 

 sponsored each year* 



5» The fishing grounds 



Hew York and New Jersey charter boats, in following schools of 

 surface feeding fish, cover a considerable area in the Middle Atlantic 

 Bight known as the *Mud Hole.* This nsoae has been applied to a 

 vaguely defined region in the upper end of the Old Hudson River Gorge. 

 Its center is approximately 6 miles east-southeast of Scotland 

 Lightship. The "Mud Hole* is famous as a tuna fishing area. Tuna 

 are also taken (in the Middle Atlantic Bight) off Fire Island Inlet, 

 east of Ambrose Lightship, in the vicinity of Barnegat Lightship, 

 off Atlantic City, and occasionally as far south as Cape May, and 

 east as far as Montaiik Point in vai^ng quantities depending upon 

 the season and the abundance of the species. During the 1948 sports 

 fishing season, large numbers of school t\nia (8 to 65 pounds) were 

 taken approximately 60 miles east of Brielle. 



The charter boat fishery for albacore, bluefish, bonito, 

 mackerel, skipjack, and striped bass also is not confined to definite 

 areas within the Middle Atlantic Bight. None of these species except 

 mackerel occasionally, are year-round inhabitants of the area but 

 are caught by New York and New Jersey charter boats during their 

 seasonal migrations, so that fishing grounds where these species are 

 caught depends on the time and variation of the migratory pattern. 



Some species, especially the striped bass, frequent shoal areas, 

 rooky ledges, and the surf along sandy beaches. Because of this, 

 there is a localized fishery for this species. 



