Monster Ledge NJ

[Aaron210]

I am looking to make my first run out to Monster Ledge this summer. I was looking for some more information about the area and any tips for starting for Tuna and Mahi Mahi and Wahoo. I am also interested in running out my first time with a buddy boat if anyone is interested let me know. I am running a 23' Robalo center console 250 four stroke out of Shark River Inlet NJ.

[wyldbillnj]

I made that run few times from Sandy hook on my 32 CC. Not bad

[Down The Hatch]

Been there a couple of times in a center console 22 footer looking for sharks. Pick the right day, and it's a nice trip. Never did catch any there, but always had fun. Just pick the best day and enjoy

[Gerry Zagorski]

Monster will be a 21 run for you and with your size boat you’ll need to pick your days. Best to start early and come home before the afternoon winds pick up which could make for a nasty ride home. Bluefin Tuna are hit and miss and Mahi are fairly consistent once the water temps rise into the mid 70s . Your best bet for Mahi is going to be working and trolling the Lobster post and the last few seasons there have been more pots on the western side of the Mudhole and the monster is on the east. If you want to target Mahi, I’d head out to the Shark River Reef which is just inside western edge of the Mudhole and run the pots north of there.

Here’s a post specific to small boats and Mahi https://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98114

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by wyldbillnj

I made that run few times from Sandy hook on my 32 CC. Not bad

32" cc or a 23' no comparison.Pick you day and make sure you know what you are doing with electronics. Discretion is the better part of valor.

[wyldbillnj]

Agreed Sal. With a smaller boat like yours Aaron...you may want to team up with someone and make it a 2 boat deal. Work together as a team and you also have the safety of a buddy out there.

[Reel Class]

I have literally never seen a wahoo near the Monster Ledge and that's in several decades experience. Tunas, specifically bluefins, yes, and sharks, but not many wahoos haha.

The one key out there is having clean water - it's quite a bit INSHORE from the chicken and hudson so getting that super clean water in there is tough, but there are years where it does get inside to places like the ledge.

So in terms of pelagics I'd say your best shot at any would be schoolie bluefins, sharks, and mahi when the water warms around the pots.

[CaptMarc]

Aaron, how much fuel do you hold and what is your range?

[tunajoe]

I've been all over the dam ocean in a SEAWORTHY 23' - SeaCraft. All 23's are not the same. Do you have a kicker just in case you loose your main screw? Life raft? Good electronics? If everything is in place you can make a run much further than that. Traveled from Monster, to Glory to Chicken all in a 23'. Has to be a good day and the right type of 23'.
Caught plenty of tuna, many many sharks, mahi, out there. Be safe. Know you boat and know the seas!

[wyldbillnj]

We had a day out there...south winds kicked up some and a tanker came along offshore that cast a huge wake. Well, the combo of the 2 did not make for a safe situation so we called it a day and headed in before what looked like a 10 ft wave came at us.

Situations like that you have to be careful out there...no matter the size of the boat.