Last weekend’s fluke tournaments in northern N.J. produced lots of quality fish but none big enough to run away from the crowd.

The Raritan Bay Anglers Tournament on Saturday was won by Mike Mangual at 7.6 pounds over Jake Linder’s 7-pounder. However. it was Daniel Nykforuk in third place at 6.95 pounds who turned out to be the weekend’s big winner as he was also in the Sandy Hook Bay Anglers contest where his fish weighed 7.11 pounds — and was the winner. Joe Rilley was next there at 6.82 pounds, ahead of Bill Distaso at 6.02 pounds.

Fluke pro Dave Lilly fished aboard Brian Farmer’s boat as they limited both days and released many other keepers while hooking hardly any shorts. They just couldn’tget that one bigger fish, though a nearby angler who wasn’t entered boated a 9-pound fluke. They did make it into the seventh and last money position with a 4.95-pound fluke. There was also a big surprise when a 26-inch cod ate a whole squid.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar will be back to jigging bluefish tomorrow, but today’s jigging was for school bluefin tuna as they had a boat limit and released at least 15 more.

The Jamaica from Brielle will be chummining and chunking an area for bluefish from Wednesday to Friday where they also expect to catch bonito and little tunny — and where some bluefins have been spotted.

Chuck Many avoided the Monday evening storms to get into hot striper action with his Tyman from Highlands. There was a period when doubleheaders were hooked on every drift.

I’m still having a problem staying connected — and hoping for the best.

Though fluking was pretty good over the weekend. there were no really large fluke entered in the Raritan Bay Anglers contest on Saturday or the two-day Sandy Hook Bay Anglers affair. I’m still struggling to get this blog out as I keep losing the connection and haven’t been able to get any help from Optimum despite hours on the phone. Hopefully, I’ll have those contest results tomorrow.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported a return to good bluefish jigging today. and added some sea bass.

The Mimi from Pt. Pleasant has room on tomorrow’s limited bottom fishing trip.

ing today, and added some sea bass.

I wasn’t able to connect with AOL yesterdsy evening, and have only been on-and-off today. As a result. I’m trying to get something out ASAP. Hope to have the fluke contest results tomorrow.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar found that bluefish were still very fussy in the large swell and strong current. Those whostayed at the rail and worked their jigs still managed a five blue limit. Not surprisingly, sea bass fishing was also tougher under those circumstances, though some were able to add the two allowed as a by-catch during the summer in N.J. waters. This fishing should improve as the ocean settles. Tonight’s. southeast blow is predicted to drop to south at 5-10 knots. Showers are possible.

Capt. Jim Freda ran his Shore Catch out of Manasquan Inlet very early in order to start jigging on the bluefin grounds at 5:30. His crew tripled up with unders right away and added two king mackerel while losing a large tuna that was cut off by another boat.

hick any took a break for somq freshwater fishing, but also got back on stripers one evening earl in the week on Tyman from Highlands.

As noted in yesterday’s blog, I’m running a garage sale in the morning at my home — 1552 Osprey Ct; , Manasquan Park, NJ 08736; The hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. , and there is a wide selection of tackle and accessories for most types of fishing –ranging from ultra lght to giant tuna rods selling for just $20. If tjere’s enough interest, I may add Sunday morning hours. . Call me at 732 757-5531, or e-mail cristori@aol.com

I’ll also have my surfcasting book for sale, and some old and new fishing magazines can be picked up at no charge.

Elsa eliminated fishing today, but the weather looks good tomorrow with northwest winds at 5-10 knots.

Chuck Many is usually pictured with fish that have stripes, but he also catches big fish in fresh waters as with yesterday’s carp.

Kathy and I are downsizing homes, and I have to sell off a lot of fishing tackle and accessories to prepare for less space. As a result, I’m running a garage sale at 1552 Osprey Ct. in Manasquan Park (Wall) N.J . on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Almost everything must go, and there are such bargains as giant tuna rods at $20. Lots of rods are available along with some reels and many lures from freshwater to big game. Some household items will be displayed and everything is available — including the house. For info call me at 732 757-5531 — or e-mail cristori@aol.com

I’ll also have my surfcasting book for sale plus many fishing magazines that anglers may be interested in which are free for the taking.

Though I never got any notice of them, I found out that the Raritan Bay Anglers Fluke Tournament is set to run on Saturday — as is the Sandy Hook Bay Anglers Fluke Tournament over the weekend. Though tomorrow looks like a total washout from Tropical Storm Elsa, Saturday should be much better. The forecast for Friday is north winds at 15-20 knots with gusts to 30 before going southwest in the afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms are also in the mix, but party boats expect to be sailing again on Saturday.

Doug Rusch with a hefty fluke on his boat out of Manasquan Inlet.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar has had decent jigging for blues from 2 to 8 pounds plus some sea bass and fluke the last two days. Those who work at it mange limits.

The Monmouth County surf has been quiet recently, but i did manage two small stripers Wednesday morning on sand fleas while Vinny D’Anton added another. I just did some casting this morning and scratched out a small bass on a purple Band of Anglers Dart Spin.

-Off-shore tuna fishing is at a summer peak, with good catches from both the canyons and lumps not too far offshre.Thursday’s forecast is for south winds at just 5-10 knots before it increases to 10-15 plus gusts to 25 and possible thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Capt. Jim Freda postponed his charter yesterday due to the forecast, but his son Tommy talked him into trying the nearby lumps where they jigged nine bluefins up to 45 inches.

Paul Haertel of the JCAA ran out to the canyons yesterday where his crew quikly trolled yellowfins up to a 41-pounder and released a large white marlin.

,Bob Correll and Zac Eisenbrey joined Mike Heaney of Bay Head on his 40-foot Cabo ,October Sky; in Lindenkohl Canyon for a hot yellowfin tolling bite at dawn yesterday.The rest of the trip out there wasn’t as productive, and a missed swordfish bite was the only overnight activity.

The Canyon Runner from Point Pleasant reported the bigeye trolling bite of a lifetime as follows:

Capt. Mark DeCabia whad the trip of a lifetime – maybe the best ever big-eye trip on record for a sport fishing boat with 37 big-eyes on the Rebel with Owner Mike Tucci in one overnighter. Capt Mark just wanted to pass along the following in his own words – and with what they accomplished it’s worth the read: From Capt. Mark……….”I’ve waited a long time to have the opportunity to pull off an amazing day and feat with my crew and could not have done it without them. After getting located on a few piles it was a slow pick with still very good fishing under most circumstances, then for some reason it really turned on. What made this different from any other day on the edge is that it lasted 8hrs straight without a break. If you put 6 rods out you hooked 6, we even put 1 rod out just so everyone could rest for a second. But without having all the time and prep that is done during the winter things wouldn’t have gone as smooth. Catching 37 bigeyes and big daytime sword is something ill never forget it was right day, right time, right crew which made it successful.”

Gotta Go Got on ‘Em Too! Capt. Mark DeCabia and Owner Mike Tucci’s bite were instrumental in putting our hardest fishing Member in the Coaching Service into one of his best trips of his career and as a Member. When Capt. Mark was in the middle of his epic bite Member John Levitt on the “Gotta Go” (who did 30+ canyon trips last year and has already done 12 canyon trips this year) found out through the service and was ready to drop everything – and did drop everything – grabbed his crew – and ran offshore. And as such – nailed 9 of his own big-eyes plus a ton of other fish – way to go John and the Gotta Go Team!

Small craft warnings are in effect through late tonight,with severe thunderstorms up to 10 p.m. However, the morning forecast is for just 5-10 knot southwest winds before becoming 5-15 with gusts to 20 in the afternoon.

The surf was down this morning, but there was still good whitewater cnditions for sand flea fishing. I missed a good hit on my first cast, but was waiting for a hit on the second hook when I became aware of some slack line. It turned out that the bass was actually hooked and had run into the beach. Circle hooks often make up for dumb anglers! I only added one other release, and Vinny D’Anton added another, with all in the 24-25-inch class. Unfortunately, I must have forgotten to put my sand spike in the car at Spring Lake the day before. If anyone should find a long plastic sand spilke colored international orange, I’d like to get it back as I must have had that for about half a century!

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported another good bluefish jigging trip this morning with 3-8-pounders for a boat limit plus some sea bass.

The offshore photos below are duplicatesCapt. Ron Santee reported much better fluking today on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands.There were four limit catches. and the pool fluke weighed 6 3/16 pounds.

The offshore photos below are duplicates that I couldn’t delete

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After a tough trip Saturday in rain and rough seas, northern N.J. Shore bluefishing bounced back to the limit action boaters have become used to.recently. The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported a hot jigging bite until the tide changed today around 10:30, by which time they had a boat limit and were releasing while also adding some fluke and sea bass. The blues ranged from 2 to 8 pounds. Unfortunately, there’s been no further mention of Spanish mackerel which were being picked at a few weeks ago.Those bluefish must be happy with the bait offshore, because they haven’t been providing much surf action. Indeed, there wasn’t much to be caught in the Monmouth County surf this morning. Those casting lures did nothing, and though the whitewater conditions looked good for sand flea fishing, Vinny D’Anton got the only hit –and that small striper got off. Jim Louro switched to fluke and released a couple of shorts on a Band of Anglers bucktail jig and Gulp combo.

Southwest winds at 10-15 knots are forecast for the morning before increasing to 15-20 in the afternoon.

Capt. Rob Semkwyc weighed his largest fluke of the season on the Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands when Tom Salerno boated an 8 5/8-pounder this weekend. There had been lots of shorts action, but that dropped off today as some 4-and-5-pounders hit.

The Big Mohawk from Belmar reported picky ocean fluking on Sunday, but they did have a good catch with favorable conditions on July 1.

Most boaters didn’t sail yesterday due to the northeast forecast and the Golden Eagle from Belmar reported “The sea conditions were really tough yesterday. There was heavy rain most of the day out there and everybody was wet and cold but those that stayed at the rail caught fish. There were plenty of readings and plenty of fish around but you had to stand out in the rain all day to catch them. ”

I haven’t received today’s report before heading to a holiday party, but suspect it will be a lot better. Though the Monmouth County surf was rough this morning, and lure fishermen weren’t getting hits, it was fishable with sand fleas. I managed three school striper releases.though the largest was only a 26-incher which surpised me by surfacing upon getting hooked. Vinny D’Anton had one release. but two other hits failed to hook up on the circle hooks that usually do the job.

Tomorrow;s forecast looks good with southeast winds at 5-10 knots and three-foot seas.

The striped bass migration has passed by NY/NJ Bight, but that doesn;t mean there are no stripers left in the area.

Chuck Many proved tht point Friday when he put his nephews Lukas and Jake into 17 released bass on Tyman from Highlands despite having to fight through smooth dogfish at times.

Today’s weather forecast pretty much shut down fishing, but small craft warnings qre going down this evening — and Sunday starts with northwest winds at just 5-10 knots before going southwest in the afternoon. There’s a chance of showers.

The Jamaica from Brielle had good bluefishing yesterday and continues those 7:30 a.m. trips. It’s all been on jgs and teasers. Jeff Huick of Jamesburg won the pool with an 8-pounder. The Jamaica has a few openings on tuna trips at 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations. They’ve heard of both blufins and yellowfins being taken short of the canyons.

The Canyon Runner from Point Pleasant has a discounted spot on its July 6-7 canyon overnighter. Call 732 330-5674 to grab it at $1600

Capt. Dave DeGennaro has his Hi Flier from Barnegat for charter or individual anglers on Sunday and Monday. Barnegat Ridge for bonito or the Reasor for bluefins are among the possibilities. Call 732 330-5674.