Millions will be on the line starting tomorrow as Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Tournament gets underway if the offshore weather looks good. I’ll have a blog each night this week to update results after the scales close.
I haven’t been able to find any official results of the weekend Sandy Hook Bay Anglers Club Fluke Tournament, and my phone is still down. Please r-mail reports to me at cristori@aol.com.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar jigged a few blues today, but switched over to ling and sea bass to provide some dinners. A couple of blackfish and all but the one sea bass presently allowed in N.J. were released.
The inshore forecast is for southwest winds at 5-10 knots before increasing to 10-15 plus gusts to 20 in the afternoon.
Jimmy Johnson returns to Atlantic City with his Quest for the Ring offshore contest which gets underway Monday as entrants select three out of five days to fish for over a million dollars. I’ll
update the results each night.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar looked for blues this
morning and found lots of bunkers near the beach–but with no predators in them. They settled for a good pick of ling plus a keeper sea bass for all.
The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands has been into better quality fluke the last two days. Bait has worked best, and it was necessary to power drift today. The pool fluke was over 6 pounds, but the angler wasn’t in the monthly. The Fishermen is chartered on Wednesday,
Capt. Frank Masseria fished on the N.Y. side today with his Vitamin Sea from Keyport, and went for 79 on NY keepers. Lots of NJ keepers were returned, and he was once again checked by the NY DEC.
The Capt. Lou Fleet reports the “Off The Grid 2” OTG2 was EXCELLENT BIG GOLDENS, BIG BARRELFISH & BIG WRECK FISH
OTG 3 (2.5) Day Canyon Tilefish and More is scheduled for:
SEPT 4th 7pm Deparure
SEPT 7th 4am Return
20 Person Limit
$700 per person plus gratuity for crew.
To Reserve Your Spot call 516 623 5823
Due to this trip’s popularity it is not available to be booked online. Call 516 623 5823.”
Monday’s forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots.
My phone is still down. Please send reports to wwwcristori@aol.com
The Fisherman magazine Dream Boat contest is filling in rapidly, but every angler still has a shot at the multitude of prizes which are available only to subscribers. Those prizes range up to a Steiger Craft 21-foot center console with a Yamaha 150 and all accessories. Even those only ending up in the top 10 of each species do very well with prizes.
As of the July issue, the most impressive entry was a 15.2-pound fluke boated by Aldo Paonessa (see below), but there were only two others entered with a minimum of 6 pounds.
Once again, there was no 10-pound pre-spawning weakfish entered. The leader is a 6.5-pounder by Tom Lucas which could stand up until the fall — or all the way.
With the minimum at 4 1/2 pounds, the sea bass division was empty — though that will change when party boats start fishing the offshore wrecks in October. o
Blackfish is also empty at just a 7-pound minimum, but the winner there normally is entered in the fall. The same applies to scup, with the leader being 2.32 pounds. The sea robin lead is 3.25 pounds, and there’s only one bluefish at 15.5 pounds by Frank Shea. The bluefish minimum is 15 pounds, which used to be easy to achieve in the spring. Now it’s hard to find jumbo blues even in the fall.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a steady pick of ling and sea bass today along with a showing of whiting and winter flounder.
The forecast is for northwest winds at just 5 knots — changing to south in the afternoon.
My phone is still dead. If you have news, e-mail to cristori@aol.com
Russell William Binns Sr., a treasured husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on July 9, 2024, surrounded by his family. Born on March 22, 1948, Russell recently celebrated his 56th wedding anniversary with his beloved wife, Marilyn Kupper Binns, whom he began dating when they were teenagers.
He was a devoted father to Russell Jr. and his wife, Pia and Susan and her husband, Stephen Mann. He was a doting grandfather to Isabella and Tyler. He adored his golden retriever, Grady White. He is also survived by his brother, Edward Binns. His family was his pride and joy, and he cherished every moment spent with them.
An avid fisherman, Russell began fishing with his father as soon as he could walk and hold a fishing rod. This passion turned into a career; he became a licensed boat captain and founded Coast Boating School. He won many fishing tournaments throughout the years and was a proud member of the Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club. He could be found fishing on his boat with friends several times a week.
He made friends everywhere he went, and loved entertaining, whether on his boat or while enjoying his very warm pool. He was known for his unique sense of humor, often showing his affection through playful teasing. His laughter and the joy he brought to family gatherings will be deeply missed.
Russell suffered a massive stroke on July 6, and fought bravely until his passing. His memory will live on in the hearts of his family and friends, who will forever remember his sense of humor and as a character who loved deeply and lived life to the fullest.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. His legacy of love, laughter, and dedication to his family and passions will continue to inspire those he left behind.
A Memorial Gathering will be held at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ 07701, on Thursday, July 18, from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Valerie Fund (TheValerieFund.org) which treated his granddaughter Isabella for Leukemia, or Lunch Break (Lunchbreak.org), where his family actively volunteers their time.
Capt. Mark DeBlasio of Blue Runner at Pt. Pleasant ran a friends and family trip this week when weather prevented him from getting as far offshore as he wanted, but still ended up with plenty of boated and released yellowfins plus a 60-pound bluefin.
A small craft advisory is up to late tonight. The forecast is for south winds at 10 knots plus gusts to 20. Seas may be up to 6 feet.
This week’s report from Capt. Mark DeBlasio of the Blue Runner out of Point Pleasant indicates that bigeye tuna have been moving into the canyons after being so scarce that at the first offshore contest of the season that even MJ’s couldn’t catch one at the Big Rock.. Yet, this week’s overnighter produced an exceptional eight bigeyes in addition to a yellowfin limit.
That’s good news for Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Tournament at Atlantic City, which starts with Sunday’s captains meeting at the Golden Nugget before three out of five days fishing starts on Monday. New this year is an optional weigh-in at Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Md. Visit questfortheringac.com for details.
Below is a photo of Capt. Russ Binns, wo passed away from a stroke over the weekend.
Striper fishermen who complain about keeper restrictions should check out South Carolina’s one-day red snapper season in federal waters with a limit of one of any size.
Unfortunately, my phone is still dead.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a tough day in a big ground swell. but picked away at ling and sea bass.
A small craft advisory is up through Late tonight. Friday starts with south winds at 10-15 knots, plus seas up to 6 feet and likely showers.
There was very sad news for me last night as Capt. Russ Binns of Toms River, N.J. passed away. Russ was not only a fishing companion, but Marilyn and he were personal friends of Kathy and I.
Burke Honnold reported that Russ had a stroke at dinner on Saturday and was not given much of a chance to survive before being sent home for hospice care. Burke was able to get him talking, and noted that he could remember every fishing trip they had made before passing away. Russ did it all during his career as a private boat and charter skipper who fished in many tournaments and often was a winner. He was even better known as a boating instructor whose schools produced the certificates private skippers are required to have in N.J.
I particularly remember the early spring morning when my son Mike and I joined Russ to cast poppers for big blues in Barnegat Bay where there wasn’t a sign of activity. Yet. blind casting brought up jumbos on every cast until we were too tired to release any more.
I’ll have word about arrangements as soon as available.
The Queen Mary from Pt. Pleasant had been having great action with small blues until the last trip when jigging produced some blues, bonito, chub mackerel and sea bass plus a 38-inch cobia by Mike Payne which was hooked on a teaser hook that didn’t straighten out.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar opted to anchor in today’s wind. They had a steady pick of ling along with the one sea bass a man now allowed in N.J.
The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands is chartered on Thursday.
Capt. John McMurray of nyctuna.com has been fighting the weather to catch small bluefins, but got into big yellowfins today.
A small craft advisory is up through Thursday evening. The forecast is for south winds at 15-20 knots , plus gusts to 25. Seas may be up to 8 feet, and showers are possible.
Anglers who enjoy competition have lots of choices coming up.
The 42nd annual Sandy Hook Bay Anglers Club Tournament sticks to its two-day format from July 13-14 out of Atlantic Highlands Marina. The captains meeting is at 7 p.m. July 12 in the Senior Citizens Building at the marina. Call 732 787-4008 for info.
Fluke anglers can add a second tournament on Saturday with the Richie Addeo Tournament sponsored by the Staten Island Tuna Club. Call Angelo Pignataro at 917 440-6959.
The 29th annual Point Pleasant Elks Fluke Tournament runs out of there on July 20. Call 732-899-7638,
Jimmy Johnson returns to the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City to distribute over a million dollars to big game anglers with his Quest for the Ring Championship Week from July 14-20. Visit questfor theringac.com
The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported a slower trip today though some small blues were jigged along with lots of chub mackerel.
The forecast is for south winds at 5-10 knots before increasing to 1-15 plus gusts to 20 in the afternoon.
Capt. Mark DeBlasio reported on the July 3-4trip pf his WATER PROOF from Pt. Pleasant as follows:
“WATER PROOF July 3-4
Anthony and Shane had Luigi and crew out and saw great weather and lots of bites. They had a limit of under Bluefins and released a bunch more. They added a nice 66” Bluefin to the box as well as their unders.”
66-inch bluefin tuna on WATER PROOF
Capt. Ron Santee Jr. said today’s fluking on his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands was tough. Among the keepers were two of 4.3 and 4.7 pounds.
The forecast is for south winds at just 5-10 knots before increasing to 10-15 plus gusts to 20 in the afternoon.
My phone is still out. Use my e-mail at cristori@aol.com
Many women have proved they can handle any great game fish a man can, and this IGFA record proves that point;
Dorothea Cassullo was fishing off Montauk, N.Y. when she landed this massive 223.28-kilogram (492-pound, 4-ounce) swordfish. She fought the sword for two hours until the crew of the Dorado, captained by Clarence Fine, were able to bring this record fish aboard. Dorothea then returned to Montauk Yacht Club for an official weight on a certified scale. With this fish she was able to set the IGFA Women’s 24-kg (50 lb) Line Class World Record for the species – a record that has now stood for 65 years.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had good news as 2-pound bluefish were solid from 20-40 feet and jigged on both plain and tailed diamonds as everyone limited. There was also the first showing of chub mackerel on both jigs and bait.
Capt. Ron Santee Jr. had another decent catch of keeper fluke on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, Included were a pool-winning 6.7-pound fluke by Pat, and a 4.7-pounder that took the lead in the monthly pool for Chico.
The forecast is for southeast winds at 5 knots before going to south 5-10 in the afternoon.
I’m having trouble with my phone. Anyone trying to reach me should e-mail me at cristori@aol.com
Tuna fishing off the N.J. coast started well, and continues to improve.
Capt. Mark DeBlasio reports from his Blue Runner out of Point Pleasant: on the July4-5 trip.
Beautiful weather and loads of action for our open boat group. Over 35 Bluefins caught / released plus 4 for 6 on nice Yellowfins. Added a couple of Marlin releases and a Mahi. Really nice to put 11 year old Mason on his first Tuna
Jersey Nutz Sportfishing made a July 4 trip on the 53-footer that produced eight yellowfins, two bigeyes and three bluefins plus a white marlin release — and they still got home for the festivities.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar opted to anchor up due to today’s wind, and had a steady pick of ling and whiting. Everyone also got the one sea bass now allowed in N.J.
The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands had a good day with keeper fluke up to the 4 5/16-pound pool winner. However, some bigger fluke were lost due to not being hooked well in deep waters where heavy sinkers are required. Bring a rod with enough backbone!
A small craft advisory is up through Sunday afternoon, though the forecast sounds fine by morning with west winds at 5 knots before going south in the afternoon.
Tight Lines 