This was one of those days when the often fussy NY/NJ Bight bluefish were turned on and bit all day. The Golden Eagle from Belmar also reported a single bonito among the mostly small choppers that topped out at a 5-pounder. That boat will be on its weekly Exotics trip tomorrow, but back after blues on Wednesday.

Fluke anglers have one last opportunity to enter the JCAA Heavy Hitters Tournament as per Paul Haertel’s post: JCAA HEAVY HITTERS FLUKE TOURNAMENT 8/4-8/7 Last call – For details and to sign up online go to www.jcaa.org Last minute entries will also be taken via phone. Call Paul at 973-943-8201 or Linda at 609-618-2925. Win 25K for the largest fluke over 12 lbs. caught on Sunday 8/7!

The weather looks good again with southwest winds at 10 knots.

Capt. John McMurry said he never saw so many boats on the tuna grounds, but the jig and popper bites still remained good.

The most surprising report I saw on Facebook today was from Ian Scott Devlin who had news of some Atlantic mackerel in Long Island Sound. He had caught some from 12-18 inches last month by jigging a mackerel rig in 60-foot depths and is now catching a few tinkers while fishing for snapper blues.

That species used to be the most abundant during the annual spawning run up the coast from Virginia every spring before the Soviet and other foreign fleets devastated the stocks prior to the 200-mile limit. They did come back until NOAA Fisheries disregarded advice from the Mid-Atlantic Council and scientists by allowing high foreign allocations. However, it’s been decades since we’ve seen any of the huge migrations that sometimes spread into the Sound.

It must be noted that these are not the mackerel being reported by bluefishing boats. Those a smaller warm water chub mackerel.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar picked at small to medium blues today with most on bait rather than jigs and poppers. Chub mackerel fishing was also slow, possibly because two “giggantic” sharks stayed around the boat at anchor. Some sea bass and fluke were added.

Capt. Ron Santee reported Frank Miller Sr. held onto his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands monthly pool winning fluke of 7.4 pounds though his son outfished him with five “nice” fluke. It didn’t look good for Miller when Grant Dietz hooked up to a big fish — but it turned out to be a 39-inch cobia!

The weather looks good again as it will be east at just 5-10 knots with a chance of showers.

The Golden Eagle from Belmer reported reading blues this morning, but only catching a few until the 5–8-pounders came up later in the trip to chase bunkers and also hit Run-Off poppers.The boat added some keeper fluke and sea bass.

Capt. Ron Santee had a charter for the Brian Benevento memorial trip on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. He reported lots of short action along with a nice mix of keeper fluke and sea bass. The pool fluke was 23 inches. Tomorrow’s open trip will be the last shot for anglers to take the monthly pool money.

Vinny D’Anton Said he couldn’t find the Monmouth County surf peanut bunkers yesterday morning, but still caught one small striper on a Chug Bug and saw some adult bunkers further out.

The forecast is for a northeast wind, but at only 5-10 knots.

The off-and-on NY/NJ Bight bluefishing was on this morning when the Golden Eagle from Belmar ran further offshore and found several areas of 6-8-pounders that responded to Run-Off poppers — though some were also boated on jigs. They finished up with some sea bass and fluke.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio of Blue Runner from Point Pleasant had an unusual report as follows: “Anthony and Shane had Dave Duensing and his crew plus Chris Messick out for a trip to the edge .. started off with a good Tilefish bite and a few Mahis .. got on troll looking for Tuna and found a slow bite initially. Eventually they found the Yellowfin and put a 6 man limit in the box .. in the midst of the trip we blew a steering line and with a lot of effort and working together to figure things out, Anthony was able to replace the line with a spare and finish out the trip successfully and safely. I can’t say it enough .. if it’s something you can replace while offshore, carry a spare. Great job team and thanks guys for being patient while we got fixed up and back to a great bite.”

Capt. Dave DeGennaro got word of that tuna bite, and has changed Saturday’s open Barnegat Ridge run with his Hi Flier from Barnegat to offshore yellowfins from 3 a.m. to 4 p.m. – and plans to do the same on Monday. Call him at 732 330-5674.

The marine forecast for Saturday looks great with west winds at 5-10 knots before going northwest after midnight.

The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands is chartered on Saturday., but will be open on Sunday as anglers have a chance to take the monthly pool from Herb Miller’s 5 13/16-pounder. Friday’s fluking was good as the high hook caught five, and a 6-pound, 5-ouncer was boated along with several from 3 to 5 pounds.

Capt. Ron Santee had a positive report on fluking from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands as action was good on the first couple of drifts — and a new monthly leader was boated. Herb Miller was he previous leader at 5.13 pounds — and he was the one who jumped the lead to 7 1/4 pounds.

Miss Belmar Princess reported a tough day with blues that wouldn’t bite. They filled in with chub mackerel and some sea bass.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar also had a hard time with blues. though some came up on bunker schools in the afternoon and hit Run-Off poppers. That boat is chartered on Friday.

The marine forecast is for west winds at 5-10 knots before going southwest at10-15 in the afternoon.

Today is the deadline for the JCAA Heavy Hitters Fluke Tournament which has been written up in recent blogs.

Bluefish continue to frustrate NY/NJ Bight with just brief bursts of activity. The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a pick of 5-7-pound blues on their first drift, but then had to move offshore for long drifts that produced chub mackerel plus some sea bass and fluke. A few blackfish had to be released.

The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant had some action with 4-8-pound blues until 9:30 before picking some sea bass.

Capt. Ron Santee was unable to get on any long productive drifts, but at least there were some large fluke of 5.5, 4.9 and 4.4 pounds along with several in the 3-pound class. His Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands is chartered on Saturday.

The forecast is for north winds at 5-10 knots before going southeast in the afternoon.

Vinny D’Anton reports small peanut bunkers are back into the Monmouth County surf the cold water upwelling. He caught a few small stripers plugging, and saw some Spanish mackerel

jumping.

Jake Many caught this red drum while casting with his Uncle Chuck at the salt ponds in Hilton Head, South Carolina

Though a few boaters have hit it just right on the inshore grounds, tuna fishing has been quite spotty recently.

The recent Jimmy Johnson Qest for the Ring Tournament out of Atlantic City produced some great catches, but the 80-boat fleet struggled to average even a single reportable catch or release per day. Capt. Chris De Stefano joined the crew on Frank Criscola’s Crisdel out of Brielle Yacht Club recently for a canyon run that didn’t produce even a hit in a full day of trolling. He blames that on a lack of “good” water and bait. The tuna bite has been better closer to shore to the east though not consistent there in a lot of boat traffic.

Monday’s Exotics trip on the Golden Eagle from Belmar resulted in just one dolphin boated plus several sharks fought. A few lost fish may have been tuna, but the real problem may have been the poor weather. They will try again every Monday.

The forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 before dropping to 5-10 knots by late morning. There’s a chance of morning showers and afternoon thunderstorms.

Miss Belmar Princess reported bluefish didn’t bite well this morning, but it’s usually possible to load up on chub mackerel.

Paul Haertel urges anglers to join the 7^th  Jersey Coast Anglers Association Heavy Hitters Fluke Tournament. Win $25,00 in our doormat fluke category plus $9,000 in cash prizes based on just 150 entrants. 1^st to 5^th place prizes based weight of a single fluke. Calcuttas for 1 fluke, 3 fluke total and sea bass. Ten weigh-in stations from Sandy Hook to Cape May. You pick your one day to fish. $150 per boat (up to 6 anglers/people) by 7/28 or $175 per boat after.

Eric Kerber with a colorful N.J. cobia

Rhode Island health officials have noted a surprising number of smooth puffer catches this summer, and are warning fishermen to discard that potentially toxic species.

What are those warm water fish doing so far north? Actually, the same thing happened several summers ago of the N.J. Shore. It’s not unusual for southern species to migrate up to the NY/NJ-Bight or even to Cape Cod in the summer, but the secret to a brief abundance may be found in the following description in Vic Dunaway’s Sport Fish of the Atlantic: “Basically an offshore fish that’s caught by anglers only when it comes to beaches, or into bays, at unpredictable times.”

Dunaway noted under food value “Provides more meat and just as good as other puffers

but should be cleaned with care.”

When I started saltwater fishing on the south shore of Long Island in the 1950s, the most abundant species was the blowfish (northern puffer). Most people didn’t eat them then, but my Italian uncles were well aware they were good-eating long before “chicken of the sea” became a fish store favorite. I learned how to clean them by cutting through the skin just behind the head and pulling out the “tail ” meat while discarding the rest of the fish — including the toxic and intact guts.

I had read about the Japanese dish fugu had to be prepared by a specially trained chef in order to avoid toxic consequences when eaten. I wondered how that could be accomplished before becoming aware that the fish was a puffer — and I was performing the same feat of cleaning without cutting into the toxic organs. I could have made my fortune in Japan cleaning blowfish!

Smooth puffers have smooth skins and are usually much larger than other puffers. They are strong fighters, and in some areas are called rabbitfish. I caught my personal record of 19 1/2 inches this winter in St. Lucie Inlet on a jig and shrimp.

Paul Haertel of the JCAA got back to fishing after a heart operation by fishing on a friend’s boat in Barnegat Inlet. While he couldn’t keep up in fluking, a live spot intended for a big fluke produced a 22-pound striper that was released.

Paul is running the JCAA Heavy Hitters Fluke Tournament — and reminds anglers that the last day for the $150 early entry is July 28.

August 4-7^th  Jersey Coast Anglers Association Heavy Hitters Fluke Tournament. Win $25,00 in our doormat fluke category plus $9,000 in cash prizes based on just 150 entrants. 1^st to 5^th place prizes based weight of a single fluke. Calcuttas for 1 fluke, 3 fluke total and sea bass. Ten weigh-in stations from Sandy Hook to Cape May. You pick your one day to fish. $150 per boat (up to 6 anglers/people) by 7/28 or $175 per boat after 7/28.  Visit www.jcaa.org to register online or print an application, see our FB page, or call 973-943-8201 for more details.

The Mimi VI from Point Pleasant has openings on this Tuesday’s bottom fishing trip at 6:30 a.m. Some of the winter flounders caught on those trips are larger than most fluke. Call 732 370-8019 for reservations.

Capt. Ralph Leyrer is taking individual reservations for Tuesday tuna trips on his Last Lady. Call 732 988-8907.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported very good bluefish jigging today, and some were 5 to 10 pounds. A few keeper fluke were also boated.

Small craft warnings are up through Tuesday morning. Southwest winds at 15-20-knots plus gusts to 25 are forecast along with afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

That forecast is enough to convince Capt. Ron Santee to cancel Monday’s fluke trip with his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands. He actually had better fluking today, with a few fares bagging three and a 4 5/16-pound pool winner — but the southwest wind will make his best spots unfishable.

A 13.5-foot hammerhead shark that may have weighed over1,000 pounds was tagged and released yesterday off Hilton Head, South Carolina. That fish was far above the S,C, state record, but Capt. Chip Michalove of Outcast Sport Fishing decided to release it out of respect for its old age. That was a good decision because it was fought by multiple fishermen and certainly not a legitimate sportfishing catch by IGFA standards.

The Jamaica from Brielle had an offshore shot of small blues before chumming up chub mackerel and adding some sea bass. A few sharks were also fought. Carl Metzger Jr. of Lresport, Pa. won the pool with a 4-pound sea bass.

Capt. Ron Santee reports fluking was tough in a lack of breeze and current though some fares on his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands released over 20 shorts. The high hook caught four legal fluke — and there was also a 3-pound sea bass.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar picked at 2-3-pound blues before getting chub mackerel started while adding some blues on the mackerel baits.

Sunday’s forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots before going south at 15-20 in the afternoon.