A time for sharks

June used to be prime time for sharking off the N.J. Shore, with several big tournaments being run at that time. However, with the protections recently applied to makos, interest in the poor man’s big game fishing has subsided.

Thus, I was surprised to find that Andreas Toy from Point Plesant had a charter out on Sunday that hooked up on a thresher which was lost when it landed on the line during a jump. They also fought a mako to boatside for the required release.

These days it’s often a better shot to fish around bunker schools inshore which are a big attraction for threshers which are frequently hooked by anglers fishing live bunkers for stripers — and even by fluke fishermen.

Sea bass remain abundant during the last days of the N.J. season. The Big Mohawk from Belmar reported a 32-man limit by 10 a.m., which gave them time to run inshore and pick through short fluke before coming up with 15 keepers.

The forecast is for south winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20. Showers are possible in the morning, and thunderstorms in the late afternoon.

The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament is underway at Morehead City, N.C., with 271 boats and a purse of $5.8 million.