The fall of 2023 has been a banner year for the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association with all the hot action on striped bass. To top things off, one of the captains recently had a trip that resulted in a beautiful tuna catch.
Captain Jonathan Kelly of “LBI Sportfishing” had a charter a few days ago and was fishing just a few miles outside Barnegat Inlet. There were reports of tuna close to shore feeding on the schools of bunker.
It did not take long for Captain Jonathan’s crew to hook up with a fish, and what a fish it was. After a valiant fighting effort, a hefty 170-pound bluefin tuna was brought to the boat. At one point during the fight a 9-year-old boy did a portion of the reeling making him part of the effort.
Captain Jonathan says that considering the current action, he plans to keep his boat in the water until January 1. He can schedule trips after tautog, striped bass, and tuna depending on the angler’s choice.