Offshore Open was the best tournament of the year for bigeyes & dolphin

After a terrible start when there were no bigeye tuna caught at the Big Rock Tournament. those canyon tuna ended up producing strong action as the season went on.

The best of it happened at the concluding Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club’s Offshore Open in which boaters could fish either two day trips or one overnighter during a two-week period. The largest bigeye was boated by The Experience at 256.8 pounds, but the volume was most impressive as Canyon Runner weighed five over 150 pounds including the second place 218.2-pounder – followed by Blue Runner at 215.9 and 215 pounds!

The Yellowfin/Longfin tuna stringer money went to Due Course at 157.7 pounds over jersey Nutz 45 at 149.3 and Clean Livin’ with 145.7 pounds.

Large dolphin had also been relatively scarce at this summer’s contests, but Uncorked quickly turned that around with a 47.3-pounder. Done Deal found second and third place dolphin of 35.9 and 30.6 pounds at the end of the contest and snatched the Mahi Stringer category with 79.6 pounds from Uncorked’s 78.5 pounds. They also took the wahoo category with a 50-pounder — and came up with a 93.2-pound swordfish to edge out Pepper’s 85.7-pounder.

The hot marlin fishing at the MidAtlantic didn’t carry over as Blue Runner won in white marlin releases with just two, while Flying Tiger had the only blue marlin release.

The albacore category was topped by Following Seas at 54.2 pounds.

The forecast is for north winds at just 5 knots before switching to south in the afternoon. With a large southeast swell. inlets remain rough on outgoing tide.

Very good news on bluefishing in NY/NJ Bight as the Golden Eagle from Belmar reported bigger blues dominated for jiggers today. Most of the choppers were from 4-10 pounds, and many anglers limited.