My blog was already published yesterday when Dave Lilly called with the shocking news that Stan Zagleski Jr. had died in Shrewsbury River.

Stan mated on his father’s Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands for many years as they built up a reputation for finding doormat fluke and as experts in wreck fishing. When I was saltwater editor of the Star-Ledger, I enjoyed long phone conversations with Stan Sr. who always referred to his son as “Young Stan”, and was proud of his accomplihments as a scuba diver in the winter as well as on the boat.

Unfortunately, the senior skipper passed away from cancer over the winter, and Stan (54)took over the wheel as the boat’s success continued. What happened yesterday is still a mystery, but from what I can piece together from Police reports and other sources, it appears that Stan was walking around the dock around 10:30 after too few anglers showed up for the daily trip despite beautiful weather. He either triped and fell into the river between the dock and his boat or may have suffered a medical condition which prevented hiim from swimming to safety. There was quite likely a head blow during the fall, but the actual problem hasn’t been determined as yet. Two boaters at Gateway Marina saw him struggling, but didn’t get to him in time.

Pray not only for Stan, but also for Elaine who has lost both of her Stans within months.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar picked away at bluefish from 2 to 5 pounds on long drifts this morning before running off to limit the boat with the two sea bass a man presently allowed, They also had some ling, fluke and Spanish mackerel. There were also sea bass limits on yesterday’s 4:30 p.m. trip.

Dave Lilly had easy limits of good-sized fluke again yesterday despite a roaring current that required 16-ounce sinkers

.At Atatlantic Highlands, fluking was also good yesterday on the Fishermen for both shorts and keepers as a 7 11/16 pound fluke edged a 6 9/16-pounder for the pool.

A northeast wind is forecast for tomorrow — but at only 5 knots.

I’m always happy to answer phone calls, but don’t text. Gill, who was at my garage sale, sent a text which disappeared. Give a call or e-mail cristori@alristoriThoughoptimum seems to have my internet connection fixed, there have been some problems with WordPress — including a paragraph from a previous column that showed up in the middle when I published.

. Boaters have been doing well most of this summer by jigging blues, but the choppers have been fussy lately and now seem to seeking out chum lines which also attract chub mackerel.The Jamaica from Brielle reported limits of both blues up to an 8-pounder and sea bass today along with the chubs.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported a beautiful calm day with blues and sea bass biting along with the chubs, ling and even two big blackfish that had to be released.

Dan Sheehan had exciting, but frustrating, news from Sea Bright where Spanish mackerel were feeding in close on small bait — but would’t hit lures.

I cast in the Mantoloking surf where there was no sign of bait, but released a small striper that hit a Tactical Anglers Crossover popper. Greg Tirpak had caught seven schoolies in that area on Monday. A couple of blues had been caught at Bay Head, but anglers saw Spanish mackerel jumping well beyond range.

There was no further word today of the crazy white marlin that was spotted recently in the Long Beach Island surf and showed up off Mount St. in Bay Head on Monday afternoon.

Ocean fluke fishing has improved. The Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands reported lots of shorts with enough keepers among them as three fares had llimits.

The Big Mohawk from Belmar has been doing very well every day and had an 8-pound pool winner yesterday.

The morning forecast is for northwest winds at 5-10 knots before going southwest in the afternoon.

Cobia are an unusual catch in N.J. , but some are caught every year — and anglers must be aware of the new rules for that species which allow for one 36-inch total length minimum cobia per vessel per day with no seasonal restriction.

Cobia on the surface are often mistaken for a shark, and may hit many types of lures and baits — or can be very fussy. They are fine game fish, and one of the best on the plate.

Bluefish were splashing when the Golden Eagle from Belmar started fishing today, but few could be tempted to hit jigs. Fortunately, sea bass were hitting and everyone caught their two-bass limit while there were also some ling, porgies and triggerfish though the big one got away — a 20-pound dolphin,

The Big Mohawk from Belmar has been doing very well with fluke, and yesterday reported the first North Jersey doormat I’ve heard of — a 10 1/2-pounder.

The Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands had a good day of fluking which included a couple of limits.

Mark Roy covered a lot of ocean yesterday with his Release Me from Raritan Marina, but the mob scene offshore killed the tuna bite.

Chuck Many isn’t finding “monster” stripers for his crews on Tyman from Highlands, but he’s tagging and releasing some very respectible stripers for July.

Yesterday’s surf action south of Manasquan Inlet wasn’t repeated,but I did get my first Spanish mackerel surf report as one was caught at Pt. Pleasant. The last two years they had shown in the surf during June.

There’s thunder outside the window as I write this, but it’s looking better for tomorrow with north winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 before going west at 5-10 in the afternon.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar tried to repeat last week’s successful Exotics trip. but found “hundreds of boats” on the inshore bluefin tuna grounds.

That’s been a problem on weekends, but was a shocker on a weekday. As a result they only caught and lost a few bluefins while also losing a couple of yellowfins — but added some little tunny and bluefish.

Capt. Dave Riback said Sunday’s inshore jigging on his Queen Mary from Pt. Pleasant was horrible as both blues and sea bass wouldn’t hit after all the lightning the night before, but heard that it bounced back today. He reported that the charter boat Purple Jet manged to boat fve bluefins up to 50 pounds today.

Bluefish made a showing this morning in many surf areas south of Manasquan Inlet. Tjere was also the first little tunny in the surf report at Bay Head.

At Atlantic Highlands, the Sea Hunter reported many keepers among the short fluke on Monday, but the smaller fish prevailed during today’s steady action

The Fishermen had several larger fluke Monday, including a season leader for Joe plumber at 9.1 pounds. Bill Ciavanni Jr. almost matched that today with an 8 5/8-pounder.

Alberto Zacchini’s mid-morning family trip from Raritan Marina worked out well as dee waters n the mouth of Raritan Bay produced a pick of mostly keeper fluke when ddrifting conditions were right. His wife Lorena had the hot hand at first as we fished the big Gulp Swimming Mullet. His son Derek, and even I added to the catch as we ended up with nine in the box which were topped by Alberto’s 22-and-22 1/2-inchers

Good weather continues tomorrow with west winds at 5-10 knots,

Watching clips of the historic moon landing in 1969 this morning brought back memories of my first foreign fishing trip as I watchd it on a TV in a Los Angeles hotel room after returning from the Sea of Cortez Fishing Tournament in Baja California, Mexico.

I had recently become director of field testing for Garcia Corp., and I jumped at the opportunity to fish for species I’d only read about. Not knowing much about what I’d be doing, I flew down there with an experimental telescopic boat spinning rod that Ed Haenalt had put together.

Not only did I catch five poosterfish one morning at Rancho Buena Vista, but the biggest one which we kept won the roosterfish trophy at 61.6 pounds. After switching to trolling for billfish, a small blue marlin was raised, but wouldn’t hit the flying fish bait. Going back to the telescopic rod and the live goatfish used inshore, the marlin jumped on it and was possibly the only blue marlin ever to be caught on such a rod when eventually boated. It was only 120 pounds, but was second in the marlin on 20-pound tackle category. I had to lug back two heavy trophies, but that trip developed an appetite for foreign fishing that eventually took me around most of the world — though I never experienced anything as exciting on the way back as watching the moon landing.

Bluefish continued to be fussy this morning for the Golden Eagle from Belmar. but sea bass cooperated along with some ling, congers and fluke.

The Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands had good action with short fluke plus some keepers both days this weekend, though Saturday’s drift was too fast. There were a couple of limits taken today.

The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant had fine bluefin tuna jigging during last Tuesday’s offshore trip. and is looking for a repeat,

Jim Hutchinson Sr.reports for the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association that the StarFish had an unusual trolling catch of four king mackerel at Barnegat Ridge.

Tomorrow’s forecast is for northwest winds at 5-10 knots.

There weren’t many changes during the last day of Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Tournament out of Atlantic City, but the fish of the contest was recorded Friday when Darren Helwig boated a 679-pound blue marlin on Rool Grove. Though there were some releases, that was the only blue which qualified for weighing with the 105-inch minimum length.

The contest paid out over a milion dollars, and Rool Grove earned the biggest chunk at $295,500 David Johnson on Business had the pargest white marlin by just ounces at 73.3 pounds and earned $205,000. There was an explosion of large bigeye tuna during the week. Mike Savino boated a couple on his Texas Tea up to a 227-pounder and won 182,000.

Michael Jordan got off to a great start on his Catch 23, and his crew kept releasing marlin to easily win the Catch and Release category, while Jordan also led early in the week in weighed white marlin at 70 pounds before being edged back to third. Catch 23 ended up with $94,600 — so I guess we won’t have to start a fundraiser for Jordan.

The fine fishing weather continues with a forecast of southwest winds at 10-15 knots — though showers and thunder storms are possible.

The Jamaica from Brielle reported plenty of fish for all on yesterday’s half-night trip. In addition to blues there were chub mackerel, ling, sea bass and even squid, –plus a 10-pound dolphin.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported lots of blues swimmimg around the boat yesterday morning though they were hard to hook. They also caught a few ling, sea bass, triggerfish and fluke.

At Atlantic Highlands, both the Sea Hunter and Fishermen reported lots of short and keeper fluke action Friday. The pool fluke on the latter went 4 5/8 pounds.

With millions on the line, boaters fishing Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Tournament out of Atlantic City are putting in their final day that will surely result in more changes to the final scoreboards when the scales close tonight.

Basketball legand Michael Jordan was dropped back yesterday to third in white marlin on his Catch 23 as Business took the lead at 73.3 pounds over Blood Money at 73.1.

Bigeye tuna were also being trolled in surprisingly good numbers as Staten Island tuna pro Mike Savino took over first on his Texas Tea with a 227-pounder over Kevin Pintuzzi’s 215 on Random Chaos. East Coast Hookers boated almost identical tuna of 210 and 209 pounds to push back the208-pounder on Hubris. MJ’S was next at 198 pounds, while Kelly Lynn had three bruisers up to 181 pounds.

The fish count through Day 3 was 77 white marlin, 9 blue marlin, 26 tuna, 7 dolphin and 1 wahoo,

I’ll have the official results when available over the weekend.

The Jamaica out of Brielle reported very good bluefish jigging yesterday which included a 13-pounder as well as some sea bass, porgies and fluke. Both plain and tubed jigs worked. Half-night bluefish trips are set for Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.



Pro Football Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson is an avid angler who has run a big money fishing tournament in Florida for years. This year he’s expanded north to Atlantic City where his million dollar Quest for the Ring Tournament is based at the Frank Farley Marina and the Golden Nugget.

Fishing got off to a fast start this week with basketball legend Michael Joordan releasing three white marlin to lead his Catch 23 to the lead in the Catch and Release category wth 1150 points over Polorizer with 1000 – and the next day weighed a 70-pound white marlin to take the lead in that rich category from MJ’S 60.5-pounder boated by Brandon Kape. MJ’S,. coming off a great tournament season last year, also had the first day lead in dolphin at 18.1 pounds before getting pushed back to third the next day.



There have been no blue marlin big enough to weigh at the 105-inch minimum so far. but big tuna have cooperated. Bluefins aren’t eligible,but bigeyes quickly filled up the scoreboards. Christopher Conway weighed a 290-pounder from Riptide which dropped Hunter Gutwein on Hubris to second at 208 pounds – ahead of Mike Savino’s 201 on Texas Tea — while Kevin Pintozzi’s 185.3 is down to fourth on Random Chaos.

It’s a little early for trophy dolphin and wahoo with the mahi leader at only 21.4 pounds and no wahoo of at least 15 pounds. Fishing continued today and concludes on Friday, with awards being presented on Saturday.

Paul Baertel of the JCAA was able to stop for a limit of sea bass on the way ofshore from Barnegat on Sunday before running offshore to go 2 for 4 on yellowfin tuna.Don Marantz boated a 30.35-pounder. and Bill Barone a 27.35.



The fine offshore weather continues with light winds into next week. The Friday forecast is for southwest at 10 to 15 knots.T

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a limit of school bluefin tuna plus many releases during Monday’s Inshore Exotics jigging — and then was into 3-7-pound blues on jigs yesterday morning along with sea bass

Capt. Dave DeGennaro of Hi Flier at Barnegat has been jigging 20-40-pound bluefins just 25 to 40 miles offshore, and is running an open trip for them on Saturday. Call 732 330-4674 for details

Pro Football Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson is an avid angler who has run a big money fishing tournament in Florida for years. This year he’s expanded north to Atlantic City where his million dollar Quest for the Ring Tournament is based at the Frank Farley Marina and the Golden Nugget.

Fishing got off to a fast start this week with basketball legend Michael Joordan releasing three white marlin to lead his Catch 23 to the lead in the Catch and Release category wth 1150 points over Polorizer with 1000 – and the next day weighed a 70-pound white marlin to take the lead in that rich category from MJ’S 60.5-pounder boated by Brandon Kape. MJ’S,. coming off a great tournament season last year, also had the first day lead in dolphin at 18.1 pounds before getting pushed back to third the next day.



There have been no blue marlin big enough to weigh at the 105-inch minimum so far. but big tuna have cooperated. Bluefins aren’t eligible,but bigeyes quickly filled up the scoreboards. Christopher Conway weighed a 290-pounder from Riptide which dropped Hunter Gutwein on Hubris to second at 208 pounds – ahead of Mike Savino’s 201 on Texas Tea — while Kevin Pintozzi’s 185.3 is down to fourth on Random Chaos.

It’s a little early for trophy dolphin and wahoo with the mahi leader at only 21.4 pounds and no wahoo of at least 15 pounds. Fishing continued today and concludes on Friday, with awards being presented on Saturday.

Paul Baertel of the JCAA was able to stop for a limit of sea bass on the way ofshore from Barnegat on Sunday before running offshore to go 2 for 4 on yellowfin tuna.Don Marantz boated a 30.35-pounder. and Bill Barone a 27.35.



The fine offshore weather continues with light winds into next week. The Friday forecast is for southwest at 10 to 15 knots.T

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a limit of school bluefin tuna plus many releases during Monday’s Inshore Exotics jigging — and then was into 3-7-pound blues on jigs yesterday morning along with sea bass

Capt. Dave DeGennaro of Hi Flier at Barnegat has been jigging 20-40-pound bluefins just 25 to 40 miles offshore, and is running an open trip for them on Saturday. Call 732 330-4674 for details



• Post
• Block

Status & visibility

VisibilityPublicPublishImmediatelyPost FormatAsideAudioQuoteStandardVideoStick to the top of the blogPending reviewEnable AMPMove to trash

Template

Permalink

Categories

Tags

Featured image

Selecting a featured image is recommended for an optimal user experience.Set featured image

Excerpt

Discussion

Open publish panel

• Post

NotificationsSelecting a featured image is recommended for an optimal user experience.



Pro Football Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson is an avid angler who has run a big money fishing tournament in Florida for years. This year he’s expanded north to Atlantic City where his million dollar Quest for the Ring Tournament is based at the Frank Farley Marina and the Golden Nugget.

Fishing got off to a fast start this week with basketball legend Michael Joordan releasing three white marlin to lead his Catch 23 to the lead in the Catch and Release category wth 1150 points over Polorizer with 1000 – and the next day weighed a 70-pound white marlin to take the lead in that rich category from MJ’S 60.5-pounder boated by Brandon Kape. MJ’S,. coming off a great tournament season last year, also had the first day lead in dolphin at 18.1 pounds before getting pushed back to third the next day.



There have been no blue marlin big enough to weigh at the 105-inch minimum so far. but big tuna have cooperated. Bluefins aren’t eligible,but bigeyes quickly filled up the scoreboards. Christopher Conway weighed a 290-pounder from Riptide which dropped Hunter Gutwein on Hubris to second at 208 pounds – ahead of Mike Savino’s 201 on Texas Tea — while Kevin Pintozzi’s 185.3 is down to fourth on Random Chaos.

It’s a little early for trophy dolphin and wahoo with the mahi leader at only 21.4 pounds and no wahoo of at least 15 pounds. Fishing continued today and concludes on Friday, with awards being presented on Saturday.

Paul Baertel of the JCAA was able to stop for a limit of sea bass on the way ofshore from Barnegat on Sunday before running offshore to go 2 for 4 on yellowfin tuna.Don Marantz boated a 30.35-pounder. and Bill Barone a 27.35.



The fine offshore weather continues with light winds into next week. The Friday forecast is for southwest at 10 to 15 knots.T

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a limit of school bluefin tuna plus many releases during Monday’s Inshore Exotics jigging — and then was into 3-7-pound blues on jigs yesterday morning along with sea bass

Capt. Dave DeGennaro of Hi Flier at Barnegat has been jigging 20-40-pound bluefins just 25 to 40 miles offshore, and is running an open trip for them on Saturday. Call 732 330-4674 for details



• Post
• Block

Status & visibility

VisibilityPublicPublishImmediatelyPost FormatAsideAudioQuoteStandardVideoStick to the top of the blogPending reviewEnable AMPMove to trash

Template

Permalink

Categories

Tags

Featured image

Selecting a featured image is recommended for an optimal user experience.Set featured image

Excerpt

Discussion

Open publish panel

• Post

NotificationsSelecting a featured image is recommended for an optimal user experience.

That title is the best news I have right now as I continie to struggle to stay connected.

A comprehensive blog dome a couple of hours ago wouldn’t publish, and didn’t automatically save. I finally got a response from Optimum. and was assured the problem was fixed — but I’m not betting on that.