24-Hour Canyon Charter - Point Pleasant, NJ
Nothing beats the rush of heading out to the deep canyons where the big fish live. This private 24-hour charter takes you and up to five buddies straight to the prime offshore grounds up to 100 miles from Point Pleasant Beach. Captain David Riback knows these waters like the back of his hand, and when you're targeting trophy tuna, mahi, and even swordfish in the canyons, experience matters. This isn't your typical half-day trip – we're talking about a serious fishing adventure that puts you on the fish when they're most active.
What to Expect on the Water
Your adventure kicks off at 1:00 PM from Point Pleasant, giving you the perfect launch time to reach the productive canyon edges by evening. This seasonal trip runs from April 15 through December 15, hitting the sweet spot when pelagic species are most active in our local waters. The beauty of a 24-hour trip is you get to fish the prime bite times – evening, night, and dawn – when the big predators come up to feed. You can even extend to 30 hours if the bite is hot and you want to maximize your time on the fish. With a private charter, there's no sharing space with strangers or waiting for other anglers to figure out their gear. It's just your crew and the captain working together to put fish in the boat.
Canyon Fishing Techniques
Captain David runs a variety of proven techniques depending on conditions and target species. High-speed trolling with spreader bars and ballyhoo is deadly for tuna and mahi when they're up and feeding. Once we mark fish on the sonar, we'll switch to chunking or live bait fishing to get them fired up. Night fishing brings out the swordfish, and there's nothing quite like dropping a squid bait down 1,500 feet and waiting for that telltale tap. The boat is rigged with outriggers, downriggers, and all the heavy tackle you need for canyon fishing. Circle hooks and 50-80 pound class gear are standard, but Captain David adjusts the setup based on what we're seeing out there. The canyons create upwelling that brings baitfish to the surface, and that's where the food chain really comes alive.
What Anglers Are Saying
"Captain David Riback and Purple Jet Sport Fishing exceeded our expectations! His professionalism and dedication to customer satisfaction made for an enjoyable day. We caught more fish than we anticipated. A must-try in Point Pleasant Beach!" - Michael
"Our family had a wonderful experience with Purple Jet Sport Fishing and Captain David Riback. He was patient, knowledgeable, and made the trip enjoyable for everyone. We caught some great fish and made lasting memories." - James
"A fantastic fishing trip with Purple Jet Sport Fishing and Captain David Riback! His professionalism and dedication to customer satisfaction made for a memorable experience. We caught plenty of fish and had a blast. Can't wait to go again!" - Megan
Species You'll Want to Hook
Mahi Mahi are absolute crowd pleasers and one of the most reliable species in our local canyons from late spring through fall. These fish are pure gold when they're feeding under debris lines or around floating sargassum. They hit hard, jump like crazy, and taste amazing on the dinner table. Most of our mahi run 10-25 pounds, but don't be surprised if a bull over 40 pounds crashes the party. They travel in schools, so when you find one, you'll usually find more. The best action happens from June through September when water temperatures are in the mid-70s.
Shortfin Mako Sharks are the ultimate adrenaline rush for any angler. These are the fastest sharks in the ocean, hitting 45+ mph when they're fired up. Our local makos average 100-200 pounds, and they'll test every inch of your drag system. They're most active from late spring through early fall, and the best fishing happens when we're chunking for tuna. Makos have no problem following a blood trail right up to the boat, and when one decides to eat your bait, you better hold on tight. The jumps are absolutely spectacular – these fish can clear the water by 15 feet or more.
Bigeye Tuna are the heavy hitters of the tuna family in our waters. These deep-water specialists can handle the cold, nutrient-rich water that upwells along the canyon edges. Most of our bigeyes range from 50-150 pounds, making them serious tackle busters. They're most active during low-light periods – dawn, dusk, and nighttime – which is perfect for our 24-hour format. Bigeyes have huge eyes adapted for deep-water hunting, and they'll often feed at depths of 500+ feet during the day before moving shallow at night.
Yellowfin Tuna are the speed demons that every offshore angler wants to tangle with. Our local yellowfins typically run 30-80 pounds, with occasional giants pushing 100+. They're incredibly strong for their size and will make blistering runs that test your endurance. The best yellowfin action happens from July through October when water temperatures are prime. These fish are perfect for high-speed trolling, and when they hit a ballyhoo at 8 knots, the rod just about gets ripped out of your hands.
Albacore Tuna might be the smallest tuna species we target, but they make up for it with sheer numbers and fighting spirit. These 15-40 pound fish travel in massive schools and provide non-stop action when you find them. They're most abundant from late summer through fall, and they're absolutely perfect for lighter tackle fishing. Albacore are also fantastic table fare – many consider them the best-eating tuna species. When the