Tight Lines

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) sadly reports the passing of the great Mike Levitt. “Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mike moved with his family to Atlantic City, New Jersey, at the age of eight. He graduated second in his class from Pennsylvania Military Prep School before attending Dickinson College. An early experience in his father’s real estate business sparked an entrepreneurial drive that would shape his life. Together with business partner Jack Soble, Mike built a real estate development company that eventually merged with US Homes, then the nation’s leading homebuilder. He went on to establish The Michaels Organization, which grew into the largest owner of affordable housing in the United States.

While building his business empire, Mike developed an equally profound passion for fishing. Long before Cairns, Australia, became recognized as one of the world’s premier destinations for giant black marlin, Mike was among the pioneering anglers who helped showcase the fishery’s potential, landing his first grander in October 1977. A champion of light-tackle angling, he earned 15 IGFA World Records, four of which still stand today, including his legendary 737-pound, 7-ounce black marlin caught on 20-pound line class tackle, recognized among Sport Fishing magazine’s Top 100 Saltwater Records of All Time.

In 1996, Mike was elected to the IGFA Board of Trustees and, in 2000, became the organization’s fourth Chairman. He spearheaded the “Into the 21st Century” campaign that led to the construction of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum and World Fishing Headquarters in Dania Beach, Florida. Among his most visible and enduring gifts to the IGFA is “Sword Dance,” the iconic 24-foot stainless steel swordfish sculpture by Kent Ullberg that welcomes visitors to IGFA headquarters, commissioned and personally funded by Mike.

In 2012, his son Dennis established the Michael J. Levitt Scholarship Fund, which has since sent more than 300 young anglers to IGFA Fishing Camp.

Michael J. Levitt’s legacy will last forever

Though the weather was a problem, Capt. mark DeBlasio reported another great trolling trip on his Blue Runner.

“BLUE RUNNER June 23-24

Back out for another overnighter .. got set out around 2:30pm and went 1 for 2 on Yellowfin pretty quick. Thought it would be game on but the fish had other plans. Very slow afternoon, seeing fish on sonar but they were not cooperative. Finally had a big bite around 5:30pm .. a nice 80” Giant Bluefin we released. Picked a few more Yellowfin before dark but it was pretty lackluster. Got set up on drift at dark and hung a jig in outrigger .. while setting out first bait outrigger comes down hard and we release another Giant Bluefin in the 80-85” class. Both Giants coming on 30 class reels. Shortly after, thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind came on so we basically went up sea : down sea the rest of the night .. in the AM things picked up a bit. First shot was Bluefins 43-49”, catching 4. Yellowfins got going after that and we ended up with 17 or so, keeping 9 and releasing the rest. In the midst of the yellowfins biting, we had 2 big bites and assumed Giant Bluefins again. Pulled one off and got other one on leader and was surprised to see a nice Bigeye. Despite preparing for a release we are able to get a gaff in the bigeye and land it. Fish went around 220 lbsBLUE RUNNER June 23-24

Back out for another overnighter .. got set out around 2:30pm and went 1 for 2 on Yellowfin pretty quick. Thought it would be game on but the fish had other plans. Very slow afternoon, seeing fish on sonar but they were not cooperative. Finally had a big bite around 5:30pm .. a nice 80” Giant Bluefin we released. Picked a few more Yellowfin before dark but it was pretty lackluster. Got set up on drift at dark and hung a jig in outrigger .. while setting out first bait outrigger comes down hard and we release another Giant Bluefin in the 80-85” class. Both Giants coming on 30 class reels. Shortly after, thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind came on so we basically went up sea : down sea the rest of the night .. in the AM things picked up a bit. First shot was Bluefins 43-49”, catching 4. Yellowfins got going after that and we ended up with 17 or so, keeping 9 and releasing the rest. In the midst of the yellowfins biting, we had 2 big bites and assumed Giant Bluefins again. Pulled one off and got other one on leader and was surprised to see a nice Bigeye. Despite preparing for a release we are able to get a gaff in the bigeye and land it. Fish went around 220 lbsBLUE RUNNER June 23-24

Back out for another overnighter .. got set out around 2:30pm and went 1 for 2 on Yellowfin pretty quick. Thought it would be game on but the fish had other plans. Very slow afternoon, seeing fish on sonar but they were not cooperative. Finally had a big bite around 5:30pm .. a nice 80” Giant Bluefin we released. Picked a few more Yellowfin before dark but it was pretty lackluster. Got set up on drift at dark and hung a jig in outrigger .. while setting out first bait outrigger comes down hard and we release another Giant Bluefin in the 80-85” class. Both Giants coming on 30 class reels. Shortly after, thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind came on so we basically went up sea : down sea the rest of the night .. in the AM things picked up a bit. First shot was Bluefins 43-49”, catching 4. Yellowfins got going after that and we ended up with 17 or so, keeping 9 and releasing the rest. In the midst of the yellowfins biting, we had 2 big bites and assumed Giant Bluefins again. Pulled one off and got other one on leader and was surprised to see a nice Bigeye. Despite preparing for a release we are able to get a gaff in the bigeye and land it. Fish went around 220 lbsBLUE RUNNER June 23-24

Back out for another overnighter .. got set out around 2:30pm and went 1 for 2 on Yellowfin pretty quick. Thought it would be game on but the fish had other plans. Very slow afternoon, seeing fish on sonar but they were not cooperative. Finally had a big bite around 5:30pm .. a nice 80” Giant Bluefin we released. Picked a few more Yellowfin before dark but it was pretty lackluster. Got set up on drift at dark and hung a jig in outrigger .. while setting out first bait outrigger comes down hard and we release another Giant Bluefin in the 80-85” class. Both Giants coming on 30 class reels. Shortly after, thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind came on so we basically went up sea : down sea the rest of the night .. in the AM things picked up a bit. First shot was Bluefins 43-49”, catching 4. Yellowfins got going after that and we ended up with 17 or so, keeping 9 and releasing the rest. In the midst of the yellowfins biting, we had 2 big bites and assumed Giant Bluefins again. Pulled one off and got other one on leader and was surprised to see a nice Bigeye. Despite preparing for a release we are able to get a gaff in the bigeye and land it. Fish went around 220 lbsBLUE RUNNER June 23-24

Back out for another overnighter .. got set out around 2:30pm and went 1 for 2 on Yellowfin pretty quick. Thought it would be game on but the fish had other plans. Very slow afternoon, seeing fish on sonar but they were not cooperative. Finally had a big bite around 5:30pm .. a nice 80” Giant Bluefin we released. Picked a few more Yellowfin before dark but it was pretty lackluster. Got set up on drift at dark and hung a jig in outrigger .. while setting out first bait outrigger comes down hard and we release another Giant Bluefin in the 80-85” class. Both Giants coming on 30 class reels. Shortly after, thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind came on so we basically went up sea : down sea the rest of the night .. in the AM things picked up a bit. First shot was Bluefins 43-49”, catching 4. Yellowfins got going after that and we ended up with 17 or so, keeping 9 and releasing the rest. In the midst of the yellowfins biting, we had 2 big bites and assumed Giant Bluefins again. Pulled one off and got other one on leader and was surprised to see a nice Bigeye. Despite preparing for a release we are able to get a gaff in the bigeye and land it. Fish went around 220 lbsBLUE RUNNER June 23-24

Back out for another overnighter .. got set out around 2:30pm and went 1 for 2 on Yellowfin pretty quick. Thought it would be game on but the fish had other plans. Very slow afternoon, seeing fish on sonar but they were not cooperative. Finally had a big bite around 5:30pm .. a nice 80” Giant Bluefin we released. Picked a few more Yellowfin before dark but it was pretty lackluster. Got set up on drift at dark and hung a jig in outrigger .. while setting out first bait outrigger comes down hard and we release another Giant Bluefin in the 80-85” class. Both Giants coming on 30 class reels. Shortly after, thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind came on so we basically went up sea : down sea the rest of the night .. in the AM things picked up a bit. First shot was Bluefins 43-49”, catching 4. Yellowfins got going after that and we ended up with 17 or so, keeping 9 and releasing the rest. In the midst of the yellowfins biting, we had 2 big bites and assumed Giant Bluefins again. Pulled one off and got other one on leader and was surprised to see a nice Bigeye. Despite preparing for a release we are able to get a gaff in the bigeye and land it. Fish went around 220 lbsBLUE RUNNER June 23-24

Back out for another overnighter .. got set out around 2:30pm and went 1 for 2 on Yellowfin pretty quick. Thought it would be game on but the fish had other plans. Very slow afternoon, seeing fish on sonar but they were not cooperative. Finally had a big bite around 5:30pm .. a nice 80” Giant Bluefin we released. Picked a few more Yellowfin before dark but it was pretty lackluster. Got set up on drift at dark and hung a jig in outrigger .. while setting out first bait outrigger comes down hard and we release another Giant Bluefin in the 80-85” class. Both Giants coming on 30 class reels. Shortly after, thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind came on so we basically went up sea : down sea the rest of the night .. in the AM things picked up a bit. First shot was Bluefins 43-49”, catching 4. Yellowfins got going after that and we ended up with 17 or so, keeping 9 and releasing the rest. In the midst of the yellowfins biting, we had 2 big bites and assumed Giant Bluefins again. Pulled one off and got other one on leader and was surprised to see a nice Bigeye. Despite preparing for a release we are able to get a gaff in the bigeye and land it. Fish went around 220 lbsBLUE RUNNER June 23-24

Back out for another overnighter .. got set out around 2:30pm and went 1 for 2 on Yellowfin pretty quick. Thought it would be game on but the fish had other plans. Very slow afternoon, seeing fish on sonar but they were not cooperative. Finally had a big bite around 5:30pm .. a nice 80” Giant Bluefin we released. Picked a few more Yellowfin before dark but it was pretty lackluster. Got set up on drift at dark and hung a jig in outrigger .. while setting out first bait outrigger comes down hard and we release another Giant Bluefin in the 80-85” class. Both Giants coming on 30 class reels. Shortly after, thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind came on so we basically went up sea : down sea the rest of the night .. in the AM things picked up a bit. First shot was Bluefins 43-49”, catching 4. Yellowfins got going after that and we ended up with 17 or so, keeping 9 and releasing the rest. In the midst of the yellowfins biting, we had 2 big bites and assumed Giant Bluefins again. Pulled one off and got other one on leader and was surprised to see a nice Bigeye. Despite preparing for a release we are able to get a gaff in the bigeye and land it. Fish went around 220 lbsBLUE RUNNER June 23-24

Back out for another overnighter .. got set out around 2:30pm and went 1 for 2 on Yellowfin pretty quick. Thought it would be game on but the fish had other plans. Very slow afternoon, seeing fish on sonar but they were not cooperative. Finally had a big bite around 5:30pm .. a nice 80” Giant Bluefin we released. Picked a few more Yellowfin before dark but it was pretty lackluster. Got set up on drift at dark and hung a jig in outrigger .. while setting out first bait outrigger comes down hard and we release another Giant Bluefin in the 80-85” class. Both Giants coming on 30 class reels. Shortly after, thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind came on so we basically went up sea : down sea the rest of the night .. in the AM things picked up a bit. First shot was Bluefins 43-49”, catching 4. Yellowfins got going after that and we ended up with 17 or so, keeping 9 and releasing the rest. In the midst of the yellowfins biting, we had 2 big bites and assumed Giant Bluefins again. Pulled one off and got other one on leader and was surprised to see a nice Bigeye. Despite preparing for a release we are able to get a gaff in the bigeye and land it. Fish went around 220 lbs

The Golden Eagle ffom Belmar reported not only a good pick of ling plus the targeted sea bass, but also even a cod while small blues also milled around on the surface.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio reports from Blue Runner as follows”

Capt. Mark reports from Blue Runner on the June 13-14 trip with yellowfin limits plus 1 for 3 on bigeyes while releasing all bluefins.

The Fishermmen from Atlatic Highlands had better fluking today as per”along with Mark and Jay with their three and then some. Jay also took the pool with a just under 3 pound fish.

Better short action also. Still not easy though as these guys worked it hard all day. Gulp worked the best. Weather looks great for Fathers day tomorrow, take dad fishing!! .

7:30-2:30pm Daily. Open Boat, No Reservations. Fare is $along with Mark and Jay with their three and then some. Jay also took the pool with a just under 3 pound fish.

Better short action also. Still not easy though as these guys worked it hard all day. Gulp worked the best. Weather looks great for Fathers day tomorrow, take dad fishing!! .

7:30-2:30pm Daily. Open Boat, No Reservations. Fare is $along with Mark and Jay with their three and then some. Jay also took the pool with a just under 3 pound fish.

Better short action also. Still not easy though as these guys worked it hard all day. Gulp worked the best. Weather looks great for Fathers day tomorrow, take dad fishing!! .

7:30-2:30pm Daily. Open Boat, No Reservations. Fare is $along with Mark and Jay with their three and then some. Jay also took the pool with a just under 3 pound fish.

Better short action also. Still not easy though as these guys worked it hard all day. Gulp worked the best. Weather looks great for Fathers day tomorrow, take dad fishing!! .

7:30-2:30pm Daily. Open Boat, No Reservations. Fare is $

I’m taking a Father’s Day break. Be baxk Monday.

Just as I have done in the past, I repeat my suggestion of AFTCO clothing as a perfect gift. The shorts wear like iron, and are so comfortable that I virtually live in them.

Add some Guy Harvey shirts and you have a well dressed angler.

Capt. Mark DeBlasioof Blue Runner from Point Pleasant reports the Tom Britt party had non-stop trolling actio that produced 45 yellowfins, 25 bluefins and his one Trophy giant bluefin allowed for the year.

Capt. Ron Santee awitched to fluking on a charter aboard his Fishermen and found it to be improved since before he switched to sea bass. The high hook bagged four. Starting Friday that’s what he will be doing.

Fishermen switches to fluke

Capt. Ron Santee has seen enough of sea bass that mark but won’t bite As of Friday he will switchto fluke with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands that is chartered tomorred tomorrow.