New Record Albacore caught in New Jersey
Eugene L. 12.13.22
Have your tuna canning gear ready, we got another state-record catch of Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) this year out of the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States Eastern Seaboard. Back in September, I covered the first record-breaking Albacore tuna catch that came out of Maryland. That first tuna came in at 77 lbs and replaced a 2004 record. This new catch out of New Jersey was caught by Matthew Florio and came in at 78lb., 2.4oz. This new record catch beats the previous record of 38 years from 1984 by 3.4 ounces.
The new record catch happened back in October but was recently certified by New Jersey Fish and Wildlife. Mr. Florio caught this fish while canyon fishing aboard the Luna Sea at the east elbow of the Hudson Canyon about 100 miles from shore. Mr. Florio was chunking butterfish for tuna when he hooked up on his record albacore catch. He landed the fish on a Kevin Bogan 30 Stand Up rod and a Penn 30 reel with 60-pound monofilament. This new state record Albacore Tuna measured 48 3/8 inches in length and had a girth of 37 inches around its widest point.
A big congrats to Mr. Florio for a monster catch. To see other records from New Jersey to either see what you are up against and see if your fish has got a chance check out these links below.
For reference to those unfamiliar with tuna fishing. chunking is a common technique used all over for targeting tunas. Butterfish are a very popular choice, which are cut into 4 to 6 pieces you create a chum slick of butterfish pieces that drift back in the current. The chunks of butterfish create a scent and oil slick that can draw in the tuna and keep them there. As you throw chunks out behind the boat in an even interval to keep the fish there, you drift out a chunk of butterfish that you have hidden your hook. You have to make sure to feed out the line so there is no resistance to the drift of your bait.
