The Point Pleasant Elks must be breathing a sigh of relief with the National Marine Weather Service forecast showing no winds over 10 knots until Sunday afternoon. Last year’s weather at this time was so windy that the fluke tournament on Saturday had to be postponed — and the outlook for Sunday was no better. As of today, the inshore forecast is for north at 10 knots tomorrow morning, dropping to 5 in the afternoon. Friday starts at 5 knots from the north and shifts to south at the same speed in the afternoon.

Tom Siciliano reports that the 22nd annual Sunshine Foundation Fishing Tournament drew 102 boats last weekend. He notes that “Joe Daunoras and his crew on Quality Time took first place with two fluke weighing a total of 9.75 pounds with fluke of 5.05 and 4.735 pounds.  Second place went to  Charles Ewell on Poppa John with a two fish total of 9.140 pounds.  He also had the largest fluke at 5.97 pounds. Third place went to Gary Dugan on the Irish Jig with two fluke weighing 7.915 pounds.

In the bluefish category it was a lot tougher with only 6 fish weighed in.  Jason Rawa on the KATHLEEN took first place with a two bluefish total of 2.505 pounds.  No one else weighed in two fish that met the 15” minimum size.  Stewart Coyle on the Blu Flu had the largest blue at 1.58 pounds.

The awards ceremony at American Legion Post 493 was enjoyed by all with 100 gift auction prizes. Nobody went away hungry.  A huge thanks to all the volunteers and local businesses who supported this event to raise money for the Southern Ocean County Chapter of the Sunshine Foundation to fulfill the dreams of seriously ill children.  This year it was Teagan from Toms River who was there along with his family to receive his wish of a trip to Disney.”

South Jersey Yacht Sales in Cape May opened the offshore trolling tournament season the weekend before last with their Offshore Showdown that used to be a Viking versus Ocean contest, but is now open to other boats. The results were modest, but promising, as up to three white marlin releases were posted as Team Viking was led to victory by David Johnson with a blue marlin release by his son on JT,

The 50th annual White Marlin Invitational of the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club is underway, and runs through Saturday. I’ll post results as they come in to the first “money” offshore tournament of the season.

John De Bona, of The Fisherman magazine, took his grandchildren fluking at the south end of Point Pleasant Canal this morning, where they enjoyed good action with short fluke on the pier at the end of Bay Avenue. With a 3/8-ounce jig from Castaways Tackle down the block in Point Pleasant and Fishbites he got the kids into a bite that produced five fluke for (Nico Dufkis (6) of Westfield that included one which might have made 18 inches but shook off as John lifted it. Rocco (8) added another short fluke. John said there were lots of crabs being caught there.

Capt. Vinnie Vetere reports striper fishing from his Katfish out of Great Kills has been good. He’s running open tomorrow, and is also available Friday and Sunday.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported decent fishing for bonito, blues and chub mackerel after the early northeast wind settled out.

Leave a comment