Keri Mauger of Mohnton, Pa. not only won the bluefish adult female division of Sunday’s Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament at Island Beach State Park, but her 36-inch chopper was also the longest fish of the tournament and won her the Governor’s Cup.

Following are the complete results as supplied by the NJ DEP:

2018 GSFT RESULTS

 

Child Categories

BLACK DRUM

 

Child Male:

Second Place: Shane Stimon, Hamilton NJ – 20 4/8”

First Place: Dylan Pelle, Little Falls NJ – 23”

 

 

Teen Categories

BLUEFISH

 

Teen Male:

Third Place: Aiden “AJ” Elmore, Galloway NJ – 28 4/8”

Second Place: Eric Mayers, Cranbury NJ – 29”

First Place: Anthony Pedone, Toms River – 30 1/8”

 

 

Adult Categories

 

BLACK DRUM

Adult Male:

First Place: Vincent Dimarco, Delran NJ – 23 4/8”

 

 

 

STRIPED BASS

 

 

Adult Female:

First Place: Alyssa Dimarco, Delran NJ – 29 6/8”

 

Adult Male:

Third Place: Bobby Barranger, Forked River NJ – 31”

Second Place: Ralph Amato, Toms River NJ – 31 4/8”

First Place: Gary Grimm, Chester NJ – 33 2/8”

 

 

BLUEFISH

 

Adult Male:

Third Place: Al DiMartino, Clifton NJ – 34 4/8”

Second Place: Bob Shoremount, Oxford NJ – 34 6/8”

First Place: Dan Damato, Forked River NJ – 35 4/8”

 

Adult Female:

Third Place: Pam McGee, Newton NJ – 25” (time caught 8:57am)

Second Place: Juanita Ormazabal, Cockeysville MD – 31”

First Place: Keri Mauger, Mohnton PA – 36”

 

 

 

GOVERNOR’S CUP WINNER

 

Keri Mauger, Mohnton PA – 36” Bluefish

 

 

HIGH SCHOOL TEAM

 

Third Place: Delaware Valley Regional H.S. – 23 1/8” Bluefish

Second Place: Toms River High School North – 30 1/8” Bluefish

First Place: Toms River High School South – 35 4/8” Bluefish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of fish caught

 

 

BLUEFISH

 

Adult Male: 30

 

Adult Female: 8

 

Teen Male: 7

 

 

Total Bluefish: 45

 

 

 

STRIPED BASS

 

Adult Male: 5

 

Adult Female: 1

 

Total Striped Bass: 6

 

 

 

BLACK DRUM

 

Adult Male: 1

 

Child Male: 2

 

 

Total Black Drum: 3

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL FISH CAUGHT: 54

 

 

As noted in last night’s blog, striped bass fishing has been spotty lately along the N.J. Shore, but when Chuck Many’s first choice of seeking the potentially largest stripers off the Shore from Sandy Hook to the south didn’t work out, he quickly changed direction with Ty Man from Gateway Marina in Highlands to the Hudson River. The current there was boiling, and we got a lot of light bites — but  Many feels the river is a best bet for a 30-pounder. He guaranteed that we would catch bass despite the current that required 10-ounce sinkers.

Once again, Many was proven right as I reeled fast on a light hit to set my circle hook on a fish moving toward me.  It took quite a while trying to gain line on that fish fighting into the current, especially when it opened its mouth. Eventually Many was able to use his extra-large net to scoop up a bass that weighed 34 pounds on his certified Boga Grip before releasing the female still heavy with eggs.

Alex Katyan of Annandale, Paul Kiatski from Port Monmouth. Rob Rommel of Highlands, Many and I only picked at bass from 29 inches up to about 15 pounds after that. We ended up drifting live bunkers at the mouth of Raritan Bay where trollers had been doing well, but we only had a few hits despite good marks — and brought the release count up to 13 bass while finishing a short day (by Many’s standards) in rain at Shrewsbury River.

Capt. Rob Semkewyc said it was a ghost town at Atlantic Highlands this morning as anglers were scared off by the rain forecast even though the wind was only 5-10 mph.  He didn’t get out with his Sea Hunter even though big bass had been boated the last two trips.

.Chuck Many with a 38-pound striper released last week south of Sandy Hook on a live bunkerC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other bass that Rob Rommel of Highlands, Paul Kiatski from Annandale, Ale

Striped bass catches haven’t been up to what we have come to expect in May so far, but bigger fish are becoming more common — and there are finally some blues in the ocean to fill in the holes.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar jigged a few blues early before moving to where they had seen stripers on top Sunday. Only two were boated, but one was a 46-incher. The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant reported good morning jigging for blues.

Tom Fote of Toms River had a charter with Capt. Fletcher Chayes today on his Two Rivers Charters from Highlands. Fote said they had stripers hitting live bunkers on top both in the ocean and bay, but Eleanor Bohanek caught the only bass of about 14 pounds.

Capt. Vinny Vetere said it was too rough Saturday off Sandy Hook to fish there, so  he burned a lot of fuel in his Katfish out of Great Kills to troll his Ho-Jo’s in L.I. Sound between Stepping Stones and Execution Rocks Lighthouses for a good striper catch — and did the same thing Sunday.

Though Sunday’s weather was good for the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament at Island Beach State Park, Capt. Jim Freda said the southwest wind made for tough fishing as he only saw a few blues caught. The D.E. P. hasn’t posted results. and even a call didn’t produce them.

Freda tried trolling for stripers with Shore Catch from Point Pleasant  off Manasquan Inlet when he returned, but never had a hit on bunker spoons or Mo-Jo’s.  Freda released a bass of about 38 pounds Thursday on a Tony Maja bunker spoon.  Bud Mc Arthur of Brick joined a  friend today for a run up to Asbury Park and then down to Seaside. No bunker schools were spotted, and they never had a hit trolling. He only saw a couple of blues trolled among boats to the south where the water was 55 to 57 degrees, .

Capt. Rob Semkewyc said Sunday’s bait fishing for stripers from his Sea Hunter out of Atlantic Highlands was slow, but they picked some bass including a 33-pounder. Bass came up in the afternoon, but most of those hooked broke off. Monday produced a better bite on bait, including two 30-pounders that tied for the pool.

 

 

 

Jersey Shore party boats that have been struggling to catch stripers up in Raritan Bay got some good news today when bluefish finally turned on in ocean waters.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar caught 3-to-5-pounders on jigs, and they also had a keeper striped bass — though there were more rolling on the surface.  The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant also got into blues up to 8 pounds. I got a second hand report that blues were being caught in Manaasquan Inlet this morning, but after checking the inlet many times and having seen only one blue caught during the last few weeks,  I went upriver this morning and released a 25-inch blue that was my only hit on a large pencil popper. Another angler there had released a 10-pouder just as I arrived, and then fought what looked like a 15-pounder almost to shore before the lure popped out.

There was lots of excitement aboard the Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands when Lynn Fair boated a 36-pound striper. Capt. Ron Santee said there was good action at anchor with shorts and some keepers

At Brielle, the Jamaica is leaving at 10 p.m. for a two day tilefish trip. Some spots are open on the $360 trip. Call 732 528-5014.

Capt. Ryan Bogan says sea bass fishing has been good on Jamaica II except for a spotty opening day. The sea bass are averaging 2 to 4 pounds, and there are also some ling and a few cod. Wes Shourt of Manahawkin had a sea bass limit plus four ling and a cod, while James Carter of Newark limited on bass to 3 1/2 pounds along with five ling and two cod. The Jamaica II is sailing from 7: a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until switching to half-days on June 2.

Jim Louro of Spring Lake is hoping the local surf will be clear and fishable in the morning. He fished the backwaters Saturday to catch a 25 1/2-inch striper on a 4-inch Tsunami Shad, and Frank Manzi added a 3-to-4-pound blue on the same lure — but there were no hits today,

There were no results from the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament at IBSP, but I’ll post them as soon as they become available.

Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park reported more blues showed in the surf Saturday afternoon. Two blues were weighed in Sunday morning. Kyle Kleme had a 38-incher on an SP Minnow that weighed 11.95 pounds, but Matt Miccio’s 37-incher on bunker was actually a pound heavier.

 

 

 

 

The Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament will be contested Sunday at Island Beach State Park.  Those not pre-registered can register at 5:30a.m. in Pavilion 2, before the fishing hours of 6:30 to 1. There will be lots of prizes in many categories — especially for children. Action should also be good for those using clam or bunker for bait.  Visit NJFish and Wildlife.com/gsft.htm for details.

Manasquan River bluefish cooperated this morning for Capt. Jim Freda’s Shore Catch Charters party. He said it was mostly 3-to-4-pounders off the mouth of the canal, but he found some bigger blues hitting SP Minnows in other areas. Fly fishermen were also able to score.

Bob Correll of Bay Head and I cast for blues in the river from his Boston Whaler late in the afternoon. We picked a few on swimming plugs before trying small poppers just before the evening rain started. That was a much more interesting way to catch the 3-to-4-pounders we located.

As noted in last night’s blog, the Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands was one of the few party boats planning to sail into the forecast of rain and some wind. Capt. Rob Semkewyc was surprised to get enough fares to sail, and striper action was decent on one drop with shorts and some keepers up to a 19-pounder. However, the action died for the wet, but happy, anglers when the tide slacked at 12:30.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar cancelled today, but will be back out in the morning for stripers — while also prepared to switch to sea bass if necessary. It’s likely that the better forecast for Sunday will result in all party boats sailing.

 

The long-awaited ocean fishing for migrating striped bass is finally getting underway off the Jersey Shore, but the weather is putting a crimp in that fishery. Most party and charter boats cancelled today due to a forecast of northeast winds gusting to 30 mph. Yet, there wasn’t a bit of wind early in the morning. The wind did come through late in the morning, but boaters could have had a good early shot if the forecast had been on target. Though Saturday’s forecast isn’t as bad, there’s still more rain expected — and many party boats have  cancelled in advance. Be sure to check with your favorite skipper before coming down.  The Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands will be shaping up tomorrow, and it’s likely that everyone will sail Sunday/.

Capt. Tom Savastano got a report that stripers were being hooked on snagged bunkers right outside Manasquan Inlet Thursday evening.  Bob Matthews reported from Fisherman’s Den in Belmar that trolling, bunkers and shad lures have been working on the ocean stripers the last few days for those putting up with the rain.  He noted that Skylarker, Parker Pete, and Striper Sniper have all had catches of 30-to-40-pound stripers. The biggest so far is 42 1/2-pounder by Steve Germann of Freehold.  Surf and shore fishermen have also caught a few decent bass. Scotty Pullen had 17-and-14-pounders — while Payton Gepp weighed an 11 1/4-pounder.

The Staten Island Tuna Club Striped Bass Tournament was postponed a week due to small craft warnings. It will be run  next Friday to Saturday with a $100 per boat entry. For information call Robert Ludwig at 201 538-5252.

Sea bass are being caught, but a lack of reports indicates that the very cold bottom temperatures may be holding that fishery back a bit.

The 27th annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament is being held Sunday at Island Beach State Park. Fishing hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. I’ll have more about that tomorrow. For details visit http://www.NJFishandWilflife.com/gsft.htm.

Sunday’s fishing conditions look good, and there should be lots of action on clams and bunker. Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park weighed eight bass Thursday; though all were between 29 and 33 inches except for a 41-inch , 22.98-pounder by on bunker by Todd Updike. 

This 58.10-pound striper caught on a bunker chunk at Sandy Hook last month by John Callahan gives surfcasters something to shoot for.

After a fine winter and spring in N.C. , the Canyon Runner from Point Pleasant opened up the northern canyon season this week with a flurry.

Captains Phil Dulanie and Charlie Vander Beck got the John De Rosa and sons party out to the edge by 2 p.m., and they soon had three rods hooked up. It was over an hour before  they were finished fighting what turned out to be a 50-pound bluefin and two 150-pounders.  They added a 35-pounder trolling before setting up for the night chumming. The constant blue shark bite they expected didn’t develop. Instead, they hooked a 40-pound bluefin before finishing up the night with a real battle as a 68-inch bluefin of close to 250 pounds fought for over an hour. The morning troll produced a bluefin in the 100-pound class before the southwest wind came up hard and they ran back to Point Pleasant.

The spring that started out cold, but fishable, has become warmer but a lot wetter. Capt. Rob Semkewyc didn’t have enough fares to sail with his Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands. That was too bad, because Capt. Vinnie Vetere of Katfish Charters from Great Kills said he had his best day of the year in Raritan Bay.  Big bass were on the surface, and live bunkers produced steady action with bass mostly in the upper 20s — but up to a 42-pounder. When the bait was gone, Vetere switched to trolling his Ho-Jo’s and kept catching as they ended up with about 30 releases.

Capt. Joe Massa took a neighbor out for just a few hours Wednesday morning on his My Three Sons from Morgan Marina and has able to net bunkers in the back of the bay that were turned into six stripers in the same area.

Unfortunately, there’s a forecast of northeast winds gusting to 30 mph for tomorrow.The Sea Hunter has cancelled, as has the Golden Eagle from Belmar. It’s not official yet, but the Staten Island Tuna Club Striper Tournament will probably be postponed a week.

At Seaside Park, Grumpy’s Tackle reported a good showing of blues in the surf yesterday along with bass — especially on bait in the evening.  There was a 35-inch blue on a SP Minnow that registered 11.3 pounds on the scale. Vin Nolan Sr. used the same lure to fool a 34-inch striper that weighed 12.5 pounds.

There was no repeat of the surf bluefish blitz around high tide for Jim Gates of Bay Head at his local beach, but he did get one before I arrived to turn off the bite.

Joe Melillo, at Castaways Tackle in Point Pleasant, said cocktail blues are hitting at times in Pt. Pleasant Canal. Kettle Creek paddletails are best, but Melillo says they’re also turning on to metal.

Spring bluefishing has gotten off to a slow start, but there was a hopeful sign this afternoon when Jim Gates of Bay Head got into them in his local surf.  Gates had been on the beach early in the morning and caught a short striper. However, the blues turned on when Gates returned as the tide started ebbing. He was unhooking his 14th chopper when I arrived and cast a dark cloud over the surf. I did hook up on my second cast with a large pencil popper, but that fish came off right away — and  there was nothing else caught.

The fish I saw was a medium, but Gates said he had also released a 12-pounder.  The surf was getting rough, and the rain steady when I left. It wasn’t much, but at least we now know that it’s worthwhile to cast for blues in the ocean.  They showed just a day later than two years ago when there was a blitz of jumbos at Point Pleasant the day after Mother’s Day.  I had been on the beach before sun-up when a couple of big whales  were  cruising along only a couple of hundred feet off the shore. The dreary day kept most anglers home, and no party boat reports were posted.

Capt. Stan Zagleski said yesterday’s sea bass opening on his Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands started slowly as the first spot he tied was dead. After that he got into a mix of short and keeper sea bass plus two cod and out-of-season blackfish. Zagleski had been diving last week and found the bottom temperature was just 44 degrees in depths of 80 feet.

At Seaside Park, Grumpy’s Tackle weighed a 38-inch 18.8-pound striper that “Russ” caught on his last piece of bunker in the surf. Betty & Nick’s reported a 28 1/4-pound striper taken on bunker in Island Beach State Park, where the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament will be contested on Sunday.

The 29-pound striper below was weighed last week at The Tackle Box in Hazlet after Jim Schaublin of Stockholm landed it at Sandy Hook while fishing with clams.

 

Everyone knew the sea bass season in New Jersey was set to open today after the Marine Fisheries Council voted for regulations pre-approved by the ASMFC last month. All that remained was for the DEP commissioner to sign off on those regs, but one angler called me this morning to say that hadn’t happened — and he didn’t know if the season was really open. I checked the NJ DEP through the internet, and couldn’t find anything about sea bass before making a call which was returned this afternoon informing me that the commissioner had signed off on the sea bass (and fluke) regs yesterday. If you can find them, it’s legal to catch 10 at a 12 1/2-inch minimum through June 22.

Though I had no boat reports, Bob Matthews, at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina, reported the Big Mohawk, Ocean Explorer and Capt. Cal all had good sea bass catches. That wasn’t the case with Bud Mc Arthur of Brick who fished with Capt. Niff on Audrey Sue from Brick as they worked a wreck and rock piles inshore and offshore to catch only a few short sea bass. The surface water temperatures were from 54 to 55 degrees everywhere they went, and there wasn’t even much bergall life on bottom. Party boats were fishing well off the beach.  They finished up with some striper trolling, and only marked a little bait.

Yet, there may be some good news on the overdue ocean stripers. The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported catching three bass over 20 pounds and up to a 30-pounder on jigs and crocs while losing another on a beautiful day at sea. Though not specified, that indicated the big bass were caught in the ocean rather than Raritan Bay where the fleet has had to fish for any shot at a striper.

Capt. Rob Semkewyc said fishing in the bay was about the same as yesterday on his Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands with good short action and a few keepers.

Capt. Vinnie Vetere netted a load of bunkers and had good action right away before it dropped off to a pick on his Katfish from Great Kills. He then tried other areas on his way back to Raritan Bay to no avail.

At Seaside Park, Grumpy’s Tackle weighed the first striper caught by 9-year-old Alex Taleot — a 29-inch, 8.4-pounder on clam in the surf. There was also an 11-pound blue on bunker from a dock, and small bass in the surf on bait. A keeper bass was reported to have been released on a bucktail.  Betty & Nick’s reported that a young angler from Toms River  North H.S. caught small bass in the surf plus a black drum.

I spent some time fishing locally and protecting my lures from any fish that might have been in Manasquan River, the Bay Head surf and Point Pleasant Canal.

James  Prillo caught his first striper during his first boat ride last week — with Capt. Frank  Masseria on Vitamin Sea from Keyport

 

 

 

 

The New Jersey sea bass season opens Tuesday, giving bottom fishing party boats a target for the first time since the tautog season closed at the end of April.  Some will be leaving earlier or running extended trips. For instance, the Jamaica from Brielle has Sea Bass Marathon trips from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. though Thursday by reservation — 732-528-5014.

At Belmar, the Golden Eagle will continue to seek stripers — but will switch during the day to sea bass if the stripers don’t cooperate. The Big Mohawk is sailing for sea bass at 6 a.m.. Call 732 974-9606 to determine if they have any spots open.

Capt. Stan Zagleski has switched his Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands to sea bass daily at 7 a.m. until fluke opens on May 25.

Striper fishing was better today in Raritan Bay, as shorts provided action while some keepers were added. Capt. Ron Santee said anglers on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands had to wait for the outgoing tide before the bass turned on to clams. A 16-pounder took the pool.

The Tackle Box in Hazlet weighed 29-pound striper for Jim Schaublin of Stockholm who said he had a hot bite on clams at Sandy Hook.

At Seaside Park, Grumpy’s Tackle reported a good Sunday with mostly small bass in the surf on bait while blues are building up in the bay. Miguel Serrano cast an SP Minnow from a local dock to catch a 31.5-inch, 8.85-pound chopper.  Surf stripers of 15.5 pounds on clam and 12.8 pounds on bunker were also weighed yesterday.

Jeff Merrill of South Plainfield took his son Steve plus Bob Lake of Brick put on his Boyz Toy in Manasquan River this morning as they cast plugs and metal to scratch out three blues around Treasure Island in about three hours. Merrill said other boaters were also picking, but he didn’t see anything caught by shore casters in the still cool 55 degree waters from the end of the ebb to the start of the flood.

There was a pick of cocktail blues in Point Pleasant Canal this morning on small lures. I cast briefly to release one on a 4-inch Tsunami Shad which it engulfed, requiring me to put a finger in over the gills in order to get to the bend of the hook and back it out.