Offshore 8 Hours Deep Water Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Target mahimahi and sea bass beyond 15mile offshore watersEighthour charter accommodates four guests maximum capacityProfessional trolling and wreck fishing techniques provided
When you're ready to get serious about fishing, it's time to head beyond that 15-mile mark where the real action lives. This 8-hour offshore adventure with Babu Sport Fishing Charters puts you right in the heart of the deep blue, where trophy fish cruise and every cast could be the one. We're talking about waters where the continental shelf drops off, currents collide, and fish stack up like nowhere else along the coast. With just 4 anglers max, you'll have plenty of room to work and won't be fighting for rail space when that bluefin comes up hot on the spread.
Your day starts early – we're talking first light departure to make the most of those prime feeding windows. The ride out takes about an hour depending on conditions, giving you time to rig up and game plan while watching the shoreline fade behind us. Once we hit our fishing grounds, it's all business. We'll be working structure, temperature breaks, and current edges where baitfish concentrate and predators follow. The boat's equipped with top-shelf electronics to mark fish and find the productive water, plus all the heavy tackle you'll need to handle whatever comes up from the depths. Captain Babu knows these waters like his backyard and isn't shy about moving around to stay on the bite.
We fish two main ways out here – trolling the water column and dropping down to the wrecks and structure. When we're trolling, we'll spread out a mix of ballyhoo, cedar plugs, and diving plugs to cover different depths and attract everything from mahi cruising the surface to tunas working the thermocline. The key is speed control and reading the water – when we see birds working or debris lines, that's where we focus our efforts. For bottom fishing, we anchor up on productive wrecks and structure where sea bass, cod, and other bottom dwellers stack up thick. Heavy jigs and fresh bait get down through the current, and when these fish bite, they don't mess around. You'll be working 8 to 12-ounce sinkers in 150+ feet of water, so come ready to put some muscle into it.
Atlantic Bonito are the speed demons of the offshore scene, showing up in good numbers during their fall migration. These fish average 3-8 pounds but fight way above their weight class, making blistering runs that'll test your drag settings. They school up tight and when you find them, the action can be non-stop. Best time is September through November when they're pushing south, and they'll absolutely destroy small spoons and cedar plugs trolled at 6-8 knots.
Atlantic Mackerel might not be the biggest fish in the ocean, but they're pure fun on light tackle and make excellent strip baits for bigger predators. They show up in massive schools during spring and fall, and when they're around, you can load the cooler quickly. These fish respond well to small jigs and sabiki rigs, and they're perfect for keeping kids busy while you wait for the bigger players to show up.
Atlantic Cod are the bread and butter of offshore bottom fishing, especially during cooler months from November through March. These fish average 5-15 pounds but can push 30+ pounds when you find the right structure. They're excellent table fare and fight with that typical cod headshake that lets you know exactly what's on the other end. Fresh clams, sea worms, and cut bait work best, and they'll usually be hanging tight to bottom structure in 100-200 feet of water.
Bluefin Tuna are the ultimate prize fish – the ones that make your knees shake and your reel scream. These giants can range from schoolie size up to true giants pushing 200+ pounds, and when one crashes your spread, everything else stops mattering. Peak season runs June through October, and they'll hit everything from live bunker to trolled spreads. Fair warning – landing a decent bluefin is a team effort and might take an hour or more of serious work.
Black Sea Bass are the most reliable bottom dwellers we target, with solid populations year-round and excellent table quality. They average 2-5 pounds but can reach 8+ pounds on the better wrecks. These fish are structure-oriented and respond well to jigs, squid strips, and sea worms fished right on the bottom. They're perfect for filling out the cooler and great for anglers who want consistent action while waiting for the trophy fish to bite.
Eight hours offshore gives you a real shot at the fish of a lifetime while putting together a solid mixed bag for the dinner table. We're not talking about a quick half-day trip where you barely get warmed up – this is the full offshore experience that serious anglers dream about. The 4-person limit means personalized attention and plenty of room to fish comfortably, whether you're battling a bluefin or working the bottom for sea bass. Captain Babu's been running these waters for years and knows where to find the fish when they're biting. Don't let another season slip by wondering what's out there beyond the horizon – book your offshore adventure today and find out what you've been missing.
Sarda SardaAtlantic Bonito are fast, aggressive members of the tuna family that average 8-12 pounds and can hit 40 mph when chasing baitfish. These silver speedsters with dark stripes travel in large schools and feed right on the surface, making them easy to spot when birds are diving. You'll find them in our offshore waters during warmer months, usually mid-water rather than deep. While they're not great eating in the US, they put up a fantastic fight with blistering runs that'll test your drag. Once you locate a feeding school, they'll hit almost any lure you throw - but here's the trick: troll fast-moving plastic lures or metal jigs when it's windy. When they're feeding, work quickly because the school can disappear as fast as it showed up.
Gadus MorhuaAtlantic Cod are bottom-dwelling heavyweights that can reach 80+ pounds, though most run 10-30 pounds in our waters. You'll recognize them by the barbel under their chin and distinctive white lateral line. These fish prefer rocky or sandy bottoms in 100-400 feet of water, especially around structure and wrecks where they hunt crabs and smaller fish. Best fishing happens during cooler months when they're more active. Cod are prized for their sweet, flaky white meat - some of the best eating fish in the ocean. They're not flashy fighters but they're heavy pullers that test your tackle. My go-to setup is a stout rod with 16oz sinkers to stay on bottom in the current. Fresh clams, squid strips, or chrome diamond jigs work well, but keep your bait right on the deck where they feed.
Scomber ScombrusAtlantic Mackerel are sleek, blue-green fish with wavy black stripes that rarely get bigger than a foot but make up for size with numbers. These pelagic schoolers travel in massive groups - sometimes stretching for miles - and are most active during daylight hours in summer when they move closer to shore. You'll find them in mid-water around our offshore grounds, feeding on copepods and small baitfish. Guests love them because they're fast, aggressive biters and excellent table fare with healthy omega-3s. Light tackle works best since they're quick and agile swimmers. Pro tip: when you find one, you've found hundreds, so have multiple rigs ready. Small shiny lures or simple bait rigs work great, and don't be surprised if bigger predators show up to crash the party.
Centropristis StriataBlack Sea Bass are chunky, hard-fighting bottom dwellers that typically run 1-4 pounds, though trophy fish can hit 8+ pounds around deeper wrecks and rocky structure. These guys love hanging around anything on the bottom - old shipwrecks, rocky ledges, and artificial reefs in 60-150 feet of water. Prime time is late spring through summer when they move closer to shore to spawn. They're popular because they fight harder than their size suggests and make excellent table fare with firm, sweet meat. You'll find the bigger males in deeper water with better structure. My advice: use a two-hook bottom rig with squid or clam strips, but don't let them get back into the wreck once hooked. Keep steady pressure and crank them up quick - they'll wrap you around structure if you give them slack.
Thunnus ThynnusBluefin Tuna are the ultimate offshore prize - massive, powerful fish averaging 200-400 pounds that can dive 3,300 feet and hit 43 mph. These torpedo-shaped giants prefer deep, open water beyond the continental shelf and are most active during dawn and dusk when they hunt mackerel and herring. Peak season runs late spring through fall when water temps are right. Guests target them for the epic fight - think screaming runs and deep dives that can last hours - plus they're the most valuable fish in the sea for sushi. You need heavy tackle and a strong back for these battles. Here's what works: troll fresh herring or mackerel at varying depths until you mark fish, then switch to chunking with live bait. Once hooked, settle in for a marathon - these fish don't give up easy.
Brigantine, NJ