I’ve long contended that the little tunny is one of the great game fish on a pound for pound basis – and that was emphasized Saturday off St. Lucie Inlet Florida as a couple of them beat up this old fisherman as I was drifting live baits on the artificial reef complex along with Luis Gonzalez. Those tunny pulled me all over my nephew Bob Correlll’s 34-foot Sea Vee center console and pounded into the depths while fighting like fish twice their size. Perhaps my 89-year-old back had something to do with that, but I was very impressed. Little tunny get no respect due to their poor food quality, and have been tagged with such names as false albacore in the north and bonito in the south where they are regarded as bait rather than a great game fish. After those battles, I was happy to come out of them without a sore back, and I’m looking forward to my next shot at them.

Capt. Steven Sr. reported another great overnighter on the Viking Fleet from Montauk. I lost the report in trying to copy it, but it included lots of golden tilefish and a limit of bluelines plus a school bluefin tuna.

Capt. Ron Santee reported a very good sea bass catch on Father’s Day from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands despite cranky conditions. That boat is chartered on Saturday,

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The NY/NJ Bight forecast is for west winds at 5-10 knots with a chance of showers and thunderstorms — which will dominate on Thursday.

Little tunny before release by beat-up old angler

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