The Gambler Deep Sea Fishing Boat

09/01/2024

Fluke action was disappointing the last couple days. We caught some fish but not what it should be. Hopefully it will bounce back next day or two.

After Labor day, the Gambler will switch from half-day fluke to 3/4 day fluke, 8AM returning 2:30PM. Check up website for pricing and details.

After September 22nd, the Gambler will be full time offshore fishing for tunas, mahi and other pelagics. A few of these trips still have room. Check out our site.

Our Nite Wreckin' trips will continue Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights Sept 21st.

08/29/2024

Our night trips have seen good fishing. On Thursday nights, we are targeting ling, sea bass and squid. Friday and Saturday nights have been angling more towards bluefish. This past week was steady action on all 3 nights. The blues are mixed sizes from 2 to 8lbs.

Due to high winds we have canceled our THURSDAY night trip but we are eager to get out on FRIDAY and SATURDAY from 7:30-12:30!

08/27/2024

Gambler has had good fluke action most trips recently. Jig fishermen and bait draggers are both catching fish. Getting some limits on both the morning and afternoon trips. A good percentage of keepers netted with pool winners between 5 and 6lbs. Not as many sea bass or ling now but we are seeing occasional bonito, spainish mackerel, bluefish and mahi.

08/22/2024

Fishing had been slow earlier this week but picked up yesterday afternoon and today was pretty good. Not a lot of diversity but nice fluke action with a decent amount of keepers. Just a few keeper sea bass in the mix today. Long range weather forecast is good.

Our exciting night trips will be going tonight, Friday night and Saturday night: Possible catches: Ling, Bluefish, Sea bass, Squid and other exotics as the water is lit up by our powerful underwater lights.

08/16/2024

Gambler has been catching a lot of variety lately. Besides fluke and sea bass, we are catching ling, small blues, big mackerel, mahi-mahi, sea robins other types of fish.

Action has been good most days. You have to pay attention to get the keepers. Joe caught his limit again today. When he noticed that the rental rods were catching on traditional fluke rig and spearing squid combo, he switched out his jig/gulp and started catching more fish. I see this a lot when the water temps are cool on the bottom. Some of our regulars would rather fight than switch --but don't be stubborn-- be ready and willing to adapt.

I am hearing concerns about sea conditions this weekend but it looks like that storm is far offshore. We will have a ground swell but the sets will be far apart.

Gambler is headed out night fishing tonight, tomorrow and Saturday from 7:30 till 12:30.

08/14/2024

The fluke were waiting for us after a four day blow.

Between the weather and a shoaled inlet, we were stuck at the dock for a few days. But when we got back to it on Sunday, the fishing was good. Even with a very slow drift, we managed to catch fluke and some sea bass. A good percentage of keeper sized from both species came over the rails.

This week looks very nice for weather. August is going too fast. Come out with us before it's gone!

No reports from the night trips due to weather but looking forward to the trips this week, Thurs, Friday and Saturday nights.

*All our trips are sailing at reduced capacity for your comfort

*Heated/AC cabin with hot-food galley

*Book on-line or show-up at the dock --if we are not fully booked, we will gladly get you on-board. Suggested to call first at 732-295-7569

*You do not need a fishing license to fish with us --you are covered under the Gambler's registry.

08/09/2024

Friday August 9th and Saturday August 10th trips have been cancelled.

08/06/2024

All trips for Wednesday August 7th and Thursday August 8th are canceled due to weather. Stay dry and safe! We will keep everyone updated as the days progress.

07/29/2024

Nite Wreckin:

GAMBLER had a slow steady pick of ling and sea bass up to 4lbs the last few nights.

Not many blues around but the squid are showing up in better numbers for anyone interested.

The trips at night were beautiful weather.

GAMBLER is the only party boat on the coast that features underhull night lights from stem to stern

07/29/2024

1/2 Day Fluke Improvement:

Gambler's fluke trips have been turning on since Weds or so, as the sea temps jumped up 2 or 3 degrees.

Nice action with a decent showing of keeper fluke.

Some limits coming in.

Pool winners have been between 5 and 6 lbs. Only a couple more days remaining on our monthly fluke derby, with a leader currently holding at just 6.25lbs.

Along with our fluke, we are catching a good amount of keeper sea bass and occasional ling. Some trips have seen some mackerel and small bluefish, too.

Don't let a little rain in the forecast keep you home!

07/23/2024

Night Wreckin:

Gambler's Nite Wreckin' trips were decent this past weekend. A fair showing of ling along with some better sized sea bass. Not too many bluefish this week but we are starting to catch some squid under the lights. Some of the guys landed a dozen ling or more.

I had ling fillets a couple times this week. Definitely and underrated fish to eat. Also known as red hake, the meat is a delicate white. Filleted, skinned, check for any remaining bones by running your finger tips across the fillets, especially around the rig cage area. Rinse fresh fillets in cold water and pat dry.

6 to 8 ling fillets
One shallow dish with all-purpose flour.
One shallow dish with seasoned panko or bread crumbs.
One bowl with 3 beaten eggs
Large skillet with enough oil to cover about a quarter inch deep (avocado, coconut or olive oil)

Heat oil on medium
Dredge fillets through flour, then dip into eggs, then cover with panko.
Heat fillets in oil, checking until each side is golden brown (about 3 mins each side)
Place fillets on paper towels while you make the next batch

Serve with tartar sauce: Mayo, relish (Old bay or horse radish if you like).

I hear people say that you cannot freeze ling fillets but I do not agree. I great way to cook previously frozen ling fillets is to make fish cakes out of them.

07/23/2024

1/2 Day Fluke:

GAMBLER has been fishing many diverse areas this past week: Offshore, inshore, hills and bumps, North and South, hard bottom and sandy bottom. We catch some keepers, short fluke, sea bass and ling most every area. The amount of keepers is still not what it should be for July. I read a post from a surf fisherman who commented that June was better fishing than this month, and I agree. I spoke to a local diver a couple days ago, who said that all the areas that we have been fishing have plenty of fish on them but that the fish are lethargic due too cool bottom temps. It won't take much for the bottom to warm up a few degrees --and then fluking should get good.

In the mean-time, we are catching some fluke keepers. Ryan Baker was out with us this weekend and won the pool with a 6.25lber. Some good sized sea bass are around, along with a few ling.

Just to note: When the fluke are sluggish, consider dragging bait traditionally with a squid/spearing combo. Using a longer leader and dropping the bait back for a 10-count on the initial bite, giving the fish time to eat, before setting the hook. Anthony has been out with us regularly and catches a lot of fluke this way, even when the fishing is slow.

07/15/2024

Gambler's half day trips are catching some fluke, sea bass and ling. The fluke have been 15 to 1 keeper. Still waiting for the fluke action to pick up. We are catching some keeper sea bass and the ling have been helping us put fish in the coolers.

We missed our Thurs and Fri night wreck trips due to weather. Saturday night was a pick of nicer sized ling, a few sea bass. Not many bluefish this time.

I had ling fillets a couple times this week. Definitely and underrated fish to eat. Also known as red hake, the meat is a delicate white. Filleted, skinned, check for any remaining bones by running your finger tips across the fillets, especially around the rig cage area. Rinse fresh fillets in cold water and pat dry.

6 to 8 ling fillets
One shallow dish with all-purpose flour.
One shallow dish with seasoned panko or bread crumbs.
One bowl with 3 beaten eggs
Large skillet with enough oil to cover about a quarter inch deep (avocado, coconut or olive oil)

Heat oil on medium
Dredge fillets through flour, then dip into eggs, then cover with panko.
Heat fillets in oil, checking until each side is golden brown (about 3 mins each side)
Place fillets on paper towels while you make the next batch

Serve with tartar sauce: Mayo, relish (Old bay or horse radish if you like).

I hear people say that you cannot freeze ling fillets but I do not agree. I great way to cook previously frozen ling fillets is to make fish cakes out of them.

*All our trips are sailing at reduced capacity for your comfort

*Heated/AC cabin with hot-food galley

*Book on-line or show-up at the dock --if we are not fully booked, we will gladly get you on-board. Suggested to call first at 732-295-7569

*You do not need a fishing license to fish with us --you are covered under the Gambler's registry.

07/09/2024

Fluke Report: Fluking has been more miss than hit the last few days. We seem to be able to catch some short fluke everywhere we stop the boat but pulling keepers has been a challenge. We are catching some keepers --just not what it should be --yet. It'll happen.

Yesterday afternoon had an uptick with keepers. A handful of bigger sea bass come in occasionally.

I haven't noticed any particular method working better than another. We have been working the inshore, offshore, rough bottoms and hills and lumps.

Night Report: Gambler had a pretty good night on Saturday. Some big ling coming over the rails. It was decent fishing considering the bumpy conditions.We started catching Ling right away. Sharpies caught 10 or 15. As the night progressed the chum and underwater lights drew in some bait and Blue fish. The Blue fish had lots of small mackerel in their stomachs. A piece of butter fish on a plain hook or a small Ava style jig cast into the dark did the trick. The seas did lay down some for the last hour or so. Looking forward to this weekend.

We are going Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights

07/02/2024

Gambler has been catching some good sized ling recently. Fish are constantly moving and you really never know what you might catch or see under our powerful under-water lights.

Possibilities are ling and sea bass, bluefish, squid, cod, flounder and others.

We are scheduled nights every Thursday Friday and Saturday, leaving at 7:30 PM and returning by 12:30 (5-hours)

This Thursday and Friday night look good for weather. Long range report for Saturday is looking a bit dicey right now, but we'll keep an eye on it

07/01/2024

Gambler's fluke trips had been hot and cold this week. We've had some good trips, like Saturday afternoon where we made one drift, catching fluke for an hour and a half straight. Yesterday, we were back in the same area and it was slow fishing. Capt Mike has the boat out this morning and he said plenty of action again. So, the fluke are there, just need for them to be hungry.

Our Nite Wreckin' trips, fishing in the deep have been good on the nights when it's not too windy. Some big ling have been landed and now we can take a few sea bass, too. We have been seeing some small bluefish in the slick but they have been finicky lately.

*All our trips are sailing at reduced capacity for your comfort

*Heated/AC cabin with hot-food galley

*Book on-line or show-up at the dock --if we are not fully booked, we will gladly get you on-board. Suggested to call first at 732-295-7569

*You do not need a fishing license to fish with us --you are covered under the Gambler's registry.

06/27/2024

Fluke fishing has been slow the last couple days. We are catching some shorts and a few keepers. Customers have been foul hooking some of the fluke, which means they are thick enough --but the ones we catch are cold to the touch. There's been a lot of steady South wind over the last 10 days, which causes an upwelling of cold water. Ultimately, the upwelling is a natural, good thing --turning the water over and making it clean, dark aqua-color. But it does make the fish lethargic. Recently, the sea surface temps near the beach have been 55f!

We did have an up-tick this morning during the last couple hours. A few nicer keepers came over the rails along with plenty of smaller fish. A handful of bigger ling are coming in, too, as well as some out of season sea bass.

Our regular, Neil was out with us on Tuesday and won the pool and is currently the monthly fluke derby leader with a 5.5lber.

I believe we just need a couple days straight of the wind blowing in a different direction to get these fishing biting again.

The Gambler is headed out tonight and tomorrow night for ling and whatever else might take our baits. Tomorrow night weather looks good. Saturday is questionable.

06/25/2024

This weekend the fluke fishing was pretty tough. As hot as it was on land, the ocean water was cooled by an up-welling from steady Southerly winds.

This morning, the fluke turned onto feed mode and the fishing was okay on the Gambler. plenty of shorts and some keeper sized flukes were netted. 3 fluke this morning were over 4 lbs.

The Gambler's Nite Wreckin' trips this weekend were hindered by high winds and high seas. The guys that could manage it caught some good sized, good eating ling. But it was tricky fishing for others.

06/21/2024

Gambler had good fluke fishing yesterday. Plenty of shorts with some keepers mixed in up to 4-1/2 lbs.

This weekend, the Gambler will be night fishing on the rough bottoms out to 20 miles. We will be targeting ling and bluefish on the same grounds. The boat is headed out tonight.

*All our trips are sailing at reduced capacity for your comfort

*Heated/AC cabin with hot-food galley

*Book on-line or show-up at the dock --if we are not fully booked, we will gladly get you on-board. Suggested to call first at 732-295-7569

*You do not need a fishing license to fish with us --you are covered under the Gambler's registry.

06/19/2024

Gambler's fluke fishing was pretty good during the week, but kinda slow this weekend.

A few of our fisherman put limit fluke catches together Weds and Thursday. Fluke up to almost 5 pounds.

The sea bass bite has died down --but they are there-- I can read them on our machines. Maybe spawning? Or some other reason. This weekend the conditions were not great, with current against wind, but we still caught a few. Other fish that we have been seeing besides sea bass on our fluke drifts: Small bluefish, ling, bonito, sea robins and sand sharks.

With the south winds predicted for the next few days, we'll probably drift the hills and lumps.

Gambler's night trip Friday was slow --passing storms had riled up the seas.

Saturday night was decent on ling and the last hour or so, small 1 - 2lb blues showed up in the chum slick and guys that tried for them caught some.

Headed out Thursday, Friday and Sat night all summer. Gambler has the speed to go where we need to go and her under water lights draw all kinds of sea creatures from a great distance.

We will be anchoring over structure at night for the best opportunity to catch multiple species of fish. In a week or two, we should start catching squid under the lights. too!

*All our trips are sailing at reduced capacity for your comfort

*Air Conditioned cabin with hot-food galley

*Book on-line or show-up at the dock --if we are not fully booked, we will gladly get you on-board. Suggested to call first at 732-295-7569

06/11/2024

Gambler had good fluke action on Sunday with a decent amount of keepers up to 4lbs. Not as many sea bass or ling but fluke fishing keeps getting better. It looks like we'll have some wind Friday so we may need to anchor, but the rest of the week looks good for drifting.

Gambler will transition from 3/4 day fluke and sea bass to 1/2 days, starting this weekend.

Our night trips this past weekend were slow. Caught some sea bass, ling and small bluefish but not good just yet.

Gambler's last 10 hour sea bass trip caught some big sea bass and nicer ling but you really had to work at it --the fishing was not as good as last week.

*All our trips are sailing at reduced capacity for your comfort

*Heated/AC cabin with hot-food galley

*Book on-line or show-up at the dock --if we are not fully booked, we will gladly get you on-board. Suggested to call first at 732-295-7569

06/07/2024

Gambler was out today, working West to East, stopping on rocky hills and rough bottom, 60 to 110ft. We caught a few sea bass, ling and fluke every spot, but it was disappointing. Mostly short sea bass and fluke. But it was a beautiful day. Will try some different areas tomorrow.

Earlier, during the week we have seen better numbers of keeper sea bass and some keeper fluke.

Our final Tilefish trip of the season was not all we had hoped for. We caught a few, including a big Blueline that was ounces away from a state record but the numbers and sizes where not like previous trips. We had strong current against the wind, which did not help our cause. But, overall, it was a great Tilefish season.

Gambler is headed out this weekend on her night trips, targeting sea bass, ling, blues and whatever else decides to bite our lines on the wrecks and rocks in the deep.

One more of our 10 hour sea bass trips is scheduled for Monday, leaving at 6AM. Last weeks was very good on sea bass and some ling. Guys using jigs did best. There is still plenty of room on our Monday 10 hour --just call or sign-up on line.

*All our trips are sailing at reduced capacity for your comfort

*Heated/AC cabin with hot-food galley

*Book on-line or show-up at the dock --if we are not fully booked, we will gladly get you on-board. Suggested to call first at 732-295-7569

06/04/2024

Gambler was out on a 10 hour sea bass trip yesterday. We caught a good bunch of keepers along with some ling. As the day went on, sandeels moved into the area and some of the guys and gals did really well jigging. At the end of the day, we had a terrific whale show.

Over the weekend, on our 8AM till 2:30PM, the Gambler was drifting over ruff hills and mussel beds. We had plenty of action on fluke but the ratio was about 10 to 1, shorts to keepers. We are seeing more fluke all the time. Bruce was out with us on Saturday --he caught two keeper fluke and won the pool with a 4.0lber.

Our final offshore tilefish trip of the spring season will head out late tonight. We have been catching some really big ones out there and the weather looks ideal. There are still 6 spots available and we only take 24 passengers for your comfort. If you have are interested and have questions on this trip (or any of our trips) Please call 732-295-7569.

06/02/2024

05/30/2024

Gambler was out this morning with a small group of guys. Decided to drift for fluke and sea bass. Conditions were pretty good all day. But fishing was kinda slow. We caught some keeper sea bass, some short fluke, a couple keeper fluke and a couple ling. A little disappointing.

Going to try some different areas tomorrow. Plenty of room available.

Saturday Night will be our first night trip of the season. We will target sea bass, ling and other bottom fish. Looks like it should be a beautiful night.

The whole weekend looks like decent weather.

On Monday, Gambler will run a special, 10 hour sea bass trip.

Check out our website for any of these trips --or our offshore tilefish trip, which leaves Tuesday night, returning Weds late.

05/30/2024

Gambler was off on the tile grounds again, fishing the deep waters.

We started out a bit shallower, where we had caught some big bluelines in the past, but only landed a couple this time.

Moved further East, into the deeper. We caught some tiles but had current against the wind, which made the fishing somewhat less productive. The boat did not drift as well or cover a lot of ground. We did catch some nice goldens. Most were 10 to 20lbs plus some bigger, including two over 45lbs.

Edwin O. was out with us again and caught 3 up to 20+ lbs. Richie Wheels was out for his first time Tiling and caught 3 up to 15lbs.

Gambler has one more trip, leaving the night of June 4th. The long range forecast is good and there are still spots available.

Gambler has a limited amount of premium rental gear available. Call for details.

05/28/2024

Remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice 🇺🇸

05/27/2024

Gambler continues to bring home good catches of sea bass and ling. Some good sized fish in the mix. Not many fluke yet but I believe we will start seeing more soon as the water comes up a degree or two.

No trip tomorrow, as we will be on an offshore tilefish trip, targeting Golden and blueline tilefish.

Other than that, fishing every day, 8AM till 2:30 PM

Gambler's Nite Wreckin' Trips start June 1st and run Thurs, Fri and Saturday, 7:30 till 12:30

*All our trips are sailing at reduced capacity for your comfort

*Heated/AC cabin with hot-food galley

*Book on-line or show-up at the dock --if we are not fully booked, we will gladly get you on-board. Suggested to call first at 732-295-7569

05/27/2024

Gambler has had good sea bass fishing this week. Not a lot of fluke yet. Mostly we have been anchoring, rather than drifting. But we are prepared to do either. Besides sea bass, into the 3lb range, we have been getting good catches of ling most trips.

We are looking forward to getting into some good fluking but the water is still a couple degrees too cool.

Gambler is scheduled to make a tilefish trip, leaving tomorrow night, so we will not be sea bass on Tuesday. One last tilefish trips leaves the night of June 4th.

*All our trips are sailing at reduced capacity for your comfort

*Heated/AC cabin with hot-food galley

*Book on-line or show-up at the dock --if we are not fully booked, we will gladly get you on-board. Suggested to call first at 732-295-7569

05/17/2024

TILEFISH UPDATE- NEW DATE ADDED

Gambler had a couple very good days on the tilefish grounds this month. The goldens ranged in size from 12lbs to 50+ pounds. The bait used didn't seem to matter --as long as it stayed on the hooks. We mostly used whole squids and squid strips but also employed strips of bluefish and sandsharks that were caught while we were out there.

Some of the guys used their own set-ups, others rented gear from us.

Next one is leaving on the 27th (which may be full as of this posting).

We are adding a final for this spring, leaving Tues night, June 4th.

These trips are very weather contingent.

If you are interested, please check out our website.