Big Rock and MRMTC Bluefin Open getting started

The offshore season is upon us already, with two of the traditional ones getting started.

The 65th Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament starts Monday in Morehead City, N.C., while the Manasquan River Marlin& Tuna Club Bluefin Tuna Open kicked off today.

The Manhattan Cup got favorable weather conditions yesterday, but no results have been reported.

Fine sea bass fishing continues off the Jersey Shore. The Golden Eagle from Belmar was able to make long drifts which produced many limits plus a showing of fluke.

Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park weighed in a surf fluke at 3.36 pounds after being taken on Gulp by customer Bob.

The Connecticut state record fluke may have been boated this week. Bill Proulx weighed the 32 5/8-incher in Hilyer’s Tackle at 15,30 pounds..

Sunday’s forecast is for south winds at 5-10 knots before increasing to 10-15 plus gusts to 20 in the afternoon.

Vinny D’Anton faced very low water conditions early in the morning but made long casts with a Super Strike popper to catch a couple of stripers in the 22-inch class before switching to sand fleas.

Mike Monte called from Nantucket to report the island is surrounded by stripers from 25 to 35 inches that are even being caught in the harbor. The action is on small swimming plugs.

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