Cape May bigeye runs
Bigeye tuna fishing out of Cape May means a run of 60 to 70 miles to the continental shelf, on a 16-hour trip per the 16-hour trip listing. This page covers where Cape May boats run, the canyons they fish, how they fish them, and who else is out there. For the inlet, ramps and marinas, start with the Cape May port guide. For biology and general tactics, see the bigeye tuna species overview.
When bigeye are around Cape May
The port’s bigeye tournament calendar runs from June into July. The School’s Out Tuna Tournament is usually in June, and the July Jackpot and the South Jersey Yacht Sales Offshore Showdown are usually in July. That is a tournament calendar, not a forecast of when the fish show up.
The run and the grounds
Boats pass the same landmarks in the same order: the rips, the reef, the shelf, then the canyons. Chart Contours shows the shelf edge and canyon heads. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Getting off the beach
Cape May Inlet is the way out. Outside it, the Cape May Rips cover the Eph, Prissy Wicks, Somer, North, Gunmount, Round, Overfalls and Middle shoals, with 30 ft listed. The Cape May Artificial Reef sits about 8.5 nautical miles off Cape May. Both are orientation points on the way out and are not bigeye grounds.
The shelf edge at 60 to 70 miles
The offshore continental shelf grounds are 60 to 70 miles from shore, on a 16-hour trip per the 16-hour trip listing. Running out and back inside one 16-hour day sets your fuel plan and your time window, so work the arithmetic for your own boat before you leave the dock.
The canyons
Baltimore Canyon is about 65 miles out per Saltwater Pros. Wilmington, Poorman’s and Spencer are the other canyons Cape May boats fish. For the wider Mid-Atlantic canyon system, see the regional Mid-Atlantic bigeye picture (see also the Atlantic Northeast offshore fishing guide).
| Name | Type | Figure given |
|---|---|---|
| Cape May Rips | Shoals | 30 ft |
| Cape May Artificial Reef | Reef | About 8.5 nm |
| Baltimore Canyon | Canyon | About 65 miles (Saltwater Pros) |
| Wilmington Canyon | Canyon | |
| Poorman’s Canyon | Canyon | |
| Spencer Canyon | Canyon |
How bigeye are fished from Cape May
Three methods are listed for the canyon trip, per the 16-hour trip listing. For general trolling and jigging detail, and for other tunas, see these tuna fishing tactics.
Trolling
Trolling is a listed local method for the canyon trip.
Jigging and deep dropping
Jigging and deep dropping are both listed for the same trip.
Light and heavy tackle
The listing names both light and heavy tackle. Match the choice to your boat and crew.
Who fishes bigeye out of Cape May
Charter captains and tournament teams fish these grounds from the port.
Charters
Common Sense Sportfishing charters lists bigeye tuna. Captain Mark’s 16-hour canyons trip is listed on Captain Experiences, and per that listing he has 56 years of experience.
Tournaments
Three events target bigeye out of Cape May:
- School’s Out Tuna Tournament (usually June)
- July Jackpot (usually July)
- South Jersey Yacht Sales Offshore Showdown (usually July)
FAQ: Bigeye tuna fishing out of Cape May
How far do Cape May boats run for bigeye?
60 to 70 miles to the continental shelf.
How long is a canyon trip from Cape May?
16 hours, per the 16-hour trip listing.
Which canyons do Cape May boats fish?
Baltimore Canyon (about 65 miles per Saltwater Pros), Wilmington, Poorman’s and Spencer.
What methods are used?
Trolling, jigging and deep dropping, on light and heavy tackle, per the 16-hour trip listing.
Which tournaments target bigeye?
The School’s Out Tuna Tournament (usually June), the July Jackpot (usually July) and the South Jersey Yacht Sales Offshore Showdown (usually July).
