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Northeaster impacts tournaments

Yesterday’s deluge and today’s northeaster will change everything in the fluke contests scheduled for this weekend. Dave Lilly reported that the Grandpa Savino Fluke Tournament out of Great Kills has been postponed to Sunday, but any change at the Leonardo Fire Company’s Fluke Masters will have to be discussed at the upcoming captains meeting. In any case, changes in strategy due to rough waters or bottom conditions will have to be altered for a winning catch.

A small craft advisory is up for 20-30 knot winds from Moriches to Fire Island this evening.

Capt. Ron Santee had to make some moves yesterday with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands before finding bigger fluke. :Anthony Pepe had the Hot hand landing a double limit on some quality fish. 8 customers all had their three and then some by days end. Lot’s of quality Fluke once again.

The high-light of the day goes to Kelly Riley who on the last day of the Monthly pool pulled out a beauty at 7 pounds 12 ounces along with his 3 keepers to take the daily & montly pools! Congrads to another awesome customer for always hanging in there. Kudo’s to Herb who held on to the end for 2nd place with his 6.13.

The Big Mohawk had an epic day of fluking this week.

Big Mohawk limits on fluke

More and bigger fluke have been the norm recent;y, and that was the case this week when the Big Mohawk from Belmar reported a boat limit of fluke. That’s a rarity on a large party boat with anglers of varying skills, but illustrates how much that fishery has improved.

.The report in yesterday’s blog about fluking on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands was actually the Tuesday report which I ‘d already used that day.

The NY/NJ Bight forecast is a poor one as small craft warnings go up at 8 p.m. and through tomorrow with northeast winds at 20-30 knots.

Fluking hitting a peak

Capt. Ron Santee reported another good day of fluke fishing with many large fish taken from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands as follows:” Good bite today on some quality keeper Fluke!

Fish are getting fatter each day as the weeks are clicking by. Several limits and then some once again with Patrick leading the catching with 6 beauties and taking pool with a 4 pounds 7 ounce fish.

Herb just missed by an ounce with his 4 pound 6 ounces fish but he still leads in the monthly. Over $1200 if you can beat a 6 pound 8 ounce Fluke by the end of Thursday. 

The Capt. Cal 2 from Belmar had a similar report from yesterday as the pool fish was over 6 pounds, and the high hook caught four keepers among over 40 fluke.****

The forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for west winds at 10-15 knots before going east with gusts to 20 in the afternoon.

N.J. surf stripers remain scarce.

Vinny D’Anton reports the usual pick of summer school stripers in the N.J. surf continues to be a total blank as even the most skilled anglers haven’t been able to pick at them. Vinny gets an occasional blast on his Chug Bug from a big bluefish, and it’s fortunate that fluke fishing continues to hold up in the Monmouth County surf.

The Jamaica from Brielle reports bonito fishing is underway, and they are sailing daily at 7:30 am. for them along with some ling, blues, sea bass and chub mackerel.

**** The forecast is for west winds at 5 knots.

Fluke tournaments coming to an end

The fluke tournament season is almost over, but two big ones are on the line Saturday,

The Leonardo Fire Company runs its 28th annual Fluke Masters Tournament with a five-fluke total format. Call Dennis Smith at 732 546-0395 for info.

The Staten Island Tuna Club runs the Grandpa Savino Memorial out of Great Kills for the largest fluke.

Capt. Ron Santee reported no wind or drift today, but still ended up with a good fluke catch. “Pool fish came down to two fish, one at 6.2 the winner at 6.4 caught by Gary. Herb Miller is still in the lead with his 6 pound 10 ounce fish. 3 days left for the Monthly pool now at $1200. Back at it in the AM.”

Fisher Price IV fluke

The NY/NJ Bight forecast is for southwest winds at only 5-10 knots.

Fluking surprise — a cobia

Capt. Frank Masseria has been into large fluke all week with his Vitamin Sea from Port Monmouth, but was hardly prepared for the “fluke” bite that turned out to be the first cobia I’ve heard of so far this season in NY/NJ Bight. Frank said it weighed 30 pounds.

Capt. Ron Santee said the weather scared off some customers, but the day worked out well for his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as large fluke were common. “June benson landed the first beauty at 5 pounds 14 ounces. John Hrubic had the next one at 6 pounds 6 ounces taking the daily pool and just missing the new leader on the Monthly by a few ounces. High hook landed 7 beauties, several customers with their three, all quality Fish.

Only 4 trips left on the Monthly pool which is over $1,200. Weather looks good all week, don’t miss the bite!”

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The forecast is for northwest winds at a mere 5 knots before going southwest in the afternoon.

Larger fluke starting to show

It’s been a long time coming, but bigger fluke are starting to dominate catches in NY/NJ Bight. Capt. Ron Santee reported a new leader in the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands monthly pool yesterday as a 6 11/16-pound fluke was boated by Herb Miller. See photo below.

Tony Trigg came over to N.J. with a friend to boat the first doormat I’ve heard of so far to win the recent Sandy Hook Bay Anglers Tournament with an 11-pounder that was then released to provide other anglers a shot at such a thrill.

Fluking was tougher today for a charter on the Fishermen as the wind came up early and shut down the bite.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar hasn’t found bluefish lately, but their anglers are catching some keeper fluke along with the one jumbo sea bass now allowed in N.J.

Capt. Ralph Leyrer is back into triggerfish with his Last Lady from Belmar along with boat limits of sea bass.

: The forecast is for south winds at just 5-10 knots.

What a difference a day makes

Capt. Ron Santee had tough fluking Tuesday in rough conditions, but Wednesday was the opposite with flat calm and steady fluking. That continued today on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as Gary Karcher led the way by catching four over 18 inches including the 4.7-pound pool winner.

The forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots.

Fluking improves when weather is right

Capt. Frank Masseria reports fluking about as good as it gets from his Vitamin Sea out of Port Monmouth Marina, with enough keepers among loads of shorts.

Tuesday was tougher for the Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands due to rough seas.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar hasn’t found bluefish this week, but is picking fluke and sea bass on the drift. That boat is chartered tomorrow.

**** The forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for southwest winds at 5-10 knots before gusting to 25 in the afternoon.