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Big dolphin as Quest winds up

Though the site is a mess, it appears that there were some significant changes during the last day of Jmmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring out of Atlantic City and Ocean City, Maryland.

A worthy dolphin was boated by Jersey Nutz when they weighed a 50.7-pounder to beat their previous leader of just 21.8 pounds. They also edged MJ’s in the Box of bigeyes category and had the largest at 135,5pounds.

Though the 510-pound blue marlin by Floor Reel was the feature of the contest, it was Polarizer that won the points category. The totals for 63 teams fishing three out of five days were releases of 7 blue marlin plus 75 whites while 50 yellowfin tuna and 13 dolphin were weighed. No wahoo were entered.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar couldn’t find any bluefish yesterday, but did well with sea bass, ling and fluke.

Quest concludes today

The Quest for the Ring Tournament out of Atlantic City concludes today with many categories up for grabs. The only weighed billfish has been the 510-pound blue marlin boated by Floor Reel, Polarizer has a slight lead on them in total points.

Relatively few dolphin have been caught, and none have been near the usual size required. Jersey Nutz is leading at just 21.8 pounds. That boat is also a close second to MJ’s in bigeye tuna.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar didn’t find bluefish yesterday, but everyone jigged the one jumbo sea bass presently allowed in N.J., and they added some fluke during the day.

Bigeyes battle in Quest

Jersey Nutz and MJ’s are into bigeye tuna to lead at the Quest for the Ring Tournament out of Atlantic City. Jersey Nutz barely leads with a 135.5-pounder over a 133.4-pounder. Lots of yellowfins and dolphin are being weighed, but nothing so far looks big enough to end up in the money.

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Big blue marlin leads Quest

A 510-pound blue marlin was boated by Floor Reel yesterday to lead the Quest for the Ring Tournament out of Atlantic City. I’ve had problems downloading results. but the Day 2 catch seemed to include releases of 7 blue marlin and 53 whites plus weigh-ins of 24 yellowfin tuna, a 103.5-pound bigeye on No Limit, and 10 dolphin.

LidoBogan reports services for Captain Dale Steinert will be this Sunday from 5-8 p.m at Orender Funeral Home in Manasquan. His dedication to our industry and guiding presence will be forever missed. Dale was a regular skipper on the Jamaica from Brielle.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar picked at some bluefish yesterday before jigging a jumbo sea bass by each angler — and then adding some fluke and ling.

Yellowfins featured as Quest for the Ring starts

Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring got underway Monday out of Atlantic City with a showing of yellowfin tuna, though none were likely to be contenders in that big money contest.

The first day’s total was 25 white marlin releases along with three blue marlin while 18 yellowfins and six dolphin were weighed.

Dave Lilly will be trying to turn his luck around Saturday in the Raritan Bay Anglers Fluke Tournament’ That fluke pro says this has been the worst start to a fluke season he’s ever seen. Lilly has been everywhere from the bay to 80-foot depths without finding any concentrations of keeper-size fluke. Limit catches which have always been routine are now the exception rather than the rule. and his largest so far was only a 6-pounder. Along with short fluke, there are also lots of sea bass offshore.

Sorry about no blog last night when I was having computer issues again.

Quest for the Ring fishing starts Monday

Coach Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Tournament starts Monday out of Atlantic City along with a southern weigh-in port at Ocean City, Maryland.

Recent offshore reports have been very good for yellowfin and bigeye tuna, though white marlin are just getting started in the northern canyons.

Sorry for no blog last night as I had a computer problem.

Capt. Ron Santee reports his Saturday fluking on the Fishermen from Atlantic City was the thrd day in a row when the bite slowed after the change in tide. The re were some limits, and the pool went to George Layaly with a 4.8-pounder.

The inshore marine forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for southeast winds at just 5-10 knots with a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

8-pounder;

Dream Boat Challenge off to a good start

The 2025 Dream Boat Challenge is well underway, but the Steiger Craft 21-foot center console with a 150-hp Yamaha and all the equipment an angler needs is still fair game for all subscribers to The Fisherman magazine.

Thomas Luciano o is listed in the July issue as the leader with 21 points based on his weakfish leader at 7.98 pounds plus a sixth-place porgy.

Rashawn Williams is second with the only doormat fluke so far at 13.06 pounds. The 15-pound minimum for bluefish hasn’t been breached so far– and the same applies to black sea bass at a 4-pound minimum and blackfish at 7 pounds – though the largest of the latter species will almost surely be caught in the fall.

There are many other valuable prizes in that contest, including a second- place trip to Tropic Star Lodge in Panama.

The sea robin leader is a 3.40-pounder, and a 2.78- pound porgy leads that category.

Capt. Ron Santee reports he had to power drift at first during yesterday’s Fluke trip with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. However, a few fares limited and the pool winner weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces.

Striped bass have remained scarce in the N.J. surf. Vinny D’Anton reports he gets an occasional hit on his Chug Bug from a bluefish – one of which was an 8-pounder.

The marine forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for northeast winds at 5-10 knots plus patchy fog.

Triggerfish turn on in North Jersey

The first triggerfish report I’ve received was ab good one from Capt. Ralph Leyer of Last Lady at Belmar. He got his usual catch of ling and sea bass, but also filled a box with triggers, Ralph will how concentrate on that sporty species.

The forecast is for east winds at just 5-10 knots with some fog.

Happy 91 Percy

Still mating for Capt. Vinny Vetere on Staten Island, Percy Wentworth is a real Superman who celebrated his 91st birthday yesterday. He’s even better known for his Percy castnets which are used by practically every charter skipper in the Metro N.Y.N.J. area. Percy has instructed many anglers in cast netting over the years. I suspect he can still open that net better than the young bucks.

The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands had better fluking again yesterday, topped by a 4-pound. 5-ouncer.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio reported a tougher day of yellowfin tuna fishing. though he still ended up with a decent catch on the July 6-7 trip of Water Proof from Point Pleasant.

The forecast is for south winds at 5-10 knots plus a chance of showers.