NY/NJ Bight isn’t the only place where bluefish have been generally scarce this summer. Mike Monte reports from the island that with a tournament coming up, there are very few blues around — and most of those are very small. Fortunately, the bonito run has been very good — and little tunny just moved in with a solid showing. Sand eels are the attraction.
After enjoying three days of good fluking after the storm swell dropped out, Capt. Ron Santee was surprised by fluking he described as a grind aboard his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands Sunday. The ocean was nice. and a 5 13/16-pounder took the pool.
The Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club’s Offshore Open is over, but I haven’t been able to download anything from their site all week.
Capt. Chris DeStefano was in the crew on Crisdel as they boated a 151-pound bigeye during an overnighter, but noted that they only finished fourth. Trolling was good, but there hasn’t been a good night chunking bite as yet.
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The forecast is for northeast winds at 10 knots before switching to east in the afternoon
Dave Lilly found out that flukers drifting closer nshore down the beach this morning were catching mostly shorts, and decided to run Blake Daniel’s boat offshore to a favorite spot. That worked out just fine for a four angler limit catch up to 6 pounds.
The marine forecast for Moday is for northeast winds at 10-15 knots.
Capt. Ron Santee was picking at fluke yesterday on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands when the unexpected happened. “Kelly Bachovchin fishing with her dad and a long time customer put her $10 in the Monthly pool this morning and was glad she did! Kelly hooked into a beauty at 9 pounds 11 ounces tying Mark for our Monthly pool!! Fish was 27 1/2 inches long and fat. “
Johnny Calamari reports the”albies” are in. That’s a reference to little tunny which are probably our best fighting inshore game fish.
Vinny D’Anton finally saw a small striper caught in the Monmouth County surf yesterday morning — and he also lost one on his Chug Bug at the same time. That was actually the best action in some time except for the reliable fluke.
Anglers are mourning the loss of two familiar faces this week. Flip Pallot (1942-2025) was one of the pioneers in TV fishing shows with his Walkers Cay Chronicles. He was also a regular at sportsman’s shows, and a skilled guide in southern waters.
Grumpy was actually Tom Hanson, and founder of Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park,New Jersey. He had to work hard in order to maintain his gruffappearance because he actually was happy to help anglers achieve success — especially kids.
Bluefish have been scarce along the Jersey Shore, but the Queen Mary from Point Pleasant worked hard yesterday to put together a catch ranging from 1 to 9 pounds along with a few bonito. Sea bass, porgies and chub mackerel were also caught — and little tunny were spotted.
Vinny D’Anton reported that even small blues left the Monmouth County surf after the big swells — though fluke remain abundant.
Capt. Mark DeBlasioof Blue Runner from Point Pleasant reported tuna cooperated in their latest contest
Though he had to work hard for them, Capt. Mark DeBlasio got off to a good start in the Manasquan River Tuna Tournament
“LUE RUNNER Aug 25-26
MRMTC TOURNEY
Got back out with Rob Lane and crew for our shot at the Manasquan River Tournament. Slow fishing but found a few good bites. Bigeyes went 206.1 and 99 lbs. Yellowfin was a true stud at 121.9 lbs .. Longfin for the non Bigeye stringer at 41.6 lbs. Had some fun with a Blue Marlin release followed by a White release yesterday morning ..
Now we are sitting ducks with some great local boats looking to knock us off the board over the next few days. Tournament ends Saturday ..”
Capt. Ron Santee was frustrated Tuesday by the lack of drift and resulting few bites for fluke anglers on his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands. A 4-pounder took the pool.
The forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for southwest winds at 5 knots before increasing to 10-15 in the afternoon plus gusts to 20.
Even a runner-up check in the MidAtlantic can be impressive as MJ’S can attest to
White marlin action was never better as the MidAtlantic finished up its battle with a hurricane in order to get fishing days in. Yet, the featured white marlin category didn’t change Saturday as large bigeyes were finally encountered.
Capt. Cookie Murray, whose father Ed was a mentor of mine and one of the all-time great Long Island big game skippers, was at the wheel of Torta as it arrived with a 185-pound bigeye to blow past the 103-pounder that had Lit Up in first during the week. Even then, MJ’S recovered from a “horrible” summer of bigeye trolling due to favorite areas being beyond tournament limits, as Nichael Yocco weighed a 173-pound bigeye.
A second blue marlin large enough to be weighed was boated by Bar South. though that 617-pounder was still short of the 804-pounder which Reel Toy had been leading with.
Luna Sea didn’t have much to worry about during the last day as their 94-pound wahoo stood up, and Sushi’s 35-pound dolphin was also a clear winner.
Canyon Lady had the biggest win with their 75-pound white marlin at $975,363. Tail Chaser’s second place white of 71 pounds was still worth $394,144. Reel Toy received $ 76,219 for its 804-poundblue — and Torta won $329,751 for their tuna.
Catch records were set for white marlin with 761 released while seven were weighed. Blue marlin releases were 24 plus the two weighed.
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The forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for north winds at 10 knots before shifting to west in the afternoon.
Capt. Mark DeBlasio of Water Proof from Point Plesant reports targeting of bigeye tuna has been productive along with the usual yellowfins and plenty of dolphin.
Capt. Ron Santee expects a big improvement in fluking from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands with the switch to west winds as the big swell drops out. Though the weekend was tough, there was a 6 11/16-pound fluke boated Saturday.
The forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for northwest winds at just 5-10 knots before switching to southwest in the afternoon.
The very large bigeye tuna that usually win big in the MidAtlantic Tournament out of Cape May plus Ocean City, Maryland finally showed up as the contest ended yesterday. Lit Up had been leading in tuna at just 103 pounds before Torta arrived with a 185-pounder and MJ’s added a 173-pounder. Floor Reel had a 101 pound entry to move ahead of Blue Runner’s 99-pounder. However, Blue Runner ran away with the tuna points competition by totaling 253.
The big fish of the day was a 617-pound blue marlin on Bar South, though that was short of the 804-pound leader posted earlier this week by Reel Toy.
There was no change in the big money white marlin division which is topped by a 75-pounder on Canyon Lady while Tail Chaser was third at 71 pounds. Sushi had a 35-pounder to win in dolphin over 26-pounders by Reel Joy and Mikes Low Budget. Luna Sea had little to worry about in wahoo after boating a 94-pounder. Jenny Poo had started the week with a 60-pounder and finished second — ahead of Lady Faye at 26 pounds.
Michael Jordan doesn’t win at everything he touches as his Catch 23 lost its most points lead and finished third at 2250 — behind Krazy Salts with the same and Max Bet at 2550. Taylor Jean took white marlin points with 450, and Bar South had 304.25. to win he blue marlin points title.
The Monday forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for southwest winds at just 5-10 knots.
The hurricane didn’t get far enough away to provide fishable conditions offshore yesterday for the MidAtlantic, as noted by Jeff Merrill:
Though several hundred miles offshore, the massive size of Hurricane Erin as she churns her way up the coast had a direct impact on the fleet today and as such none of the 114 boats in the tournament sailed on Day Four. The weather looks to improve somewhat tomorrow but it remains to be seen if fishable conditions return.
To recap the standings after Day Four the white marlin category is still lead by Stone Harbor, New Jersey’s Jamie Diller aboard his Canyon Lady with the 75-pounder weighed on Day Three. Pocomoke, Maryland’s Jimmy Hahn is in second place with the 71-pounder weighed from his Tail Chaser on Day One. Third place remains vacant. It’s worth noting through Day Four of the tournament 428 white marlin have been released by the fleet of 114 boats. That’s an impressive number considering no boats sailed on two of the first four available fishing days!
The blue marlin leader is Chad Meeks of Joppa, Maryland aboard his Reel Toy with an 804-pounder weighed on Day Three. Second and third place remain vacant. Though 19 blue marlin have been caught it’s been tough to find one that meets the tournament’s minimum length of 102” thus 18 of those caught have been released.
Nick Neary’s Lit Up from Curtis Bay, Maryland is still atop the tuna category with his 103-pound big eye. Second place is still held by Matt Weber on his Max Bet from Vero Beach, Florida with a 97-pound yellowfin. Joe Miele’s Manasquan, New Jersey-based Blue Runner remains in third place with a 96-pound yellowfin. All three current tuna category leading fish were weighed on Day One.
Scott Abeel’s Luna Sea from Stuart, Florida is atop the leaderboard in the wahoo division with his 94-pounder weighed on Day Three. Ocean City, Maryland’s Bobby Pastorius aboard his Jenny Poo is still in second place with his 60-pounder weighed on Day One. Darrin Brown of Glenelg, Maryland aboard his Catchin’ Grief remains in third place with a 23-pound ‘hoo, also weighed on Day One.
The dolphin leader is Charley Pereira and his Nags Head, North Carolina-based Sushi with a 35-pounder weighed on Day Three. John Gudelsky of Singer Island on his Reel Joy remains in second place with his 26-pounder, also weighed on Day Three. John Schwab of Fanwood New Jersey and his Pegasus sits in third place with a 22-pounder weighed on Day One.
In the point categories Michael Jordan’s Catch 23 from Hobe Sound, Florida has the most points in the white marlin category with 1350 points for 18 white marlin released. Matt Weber’s Max Bet from Vero Beach, Florida is in second place, also with 1350 points and 18 white marlin released. Third place is currently held by Stone Harbor’s Jamie Diller and his Canyon Lady with 1050 points for 13 white marlin released and the 75-pounder weighed. Ties in point totals are broken based on time of catch.
The blue marlin category has Ed Dunn’s D.A. Sea from Grasonville, Maryland in the lead with 300 points for two blue marlin released. North Palm Beach, Florida’s Ken Hager aboard his Taylor Jean is in second place with 300 points, also for two blue marlin released. Rob Carmichael of Riviera Beach, Florida aboard his Lights Out is in third place with 300 points, also for two blue marlin released. Here again, point total ties are broken based on time of catch.
Joe Miele’s Blue Runner from Manasquan, New Jersey has the tuna category lead with 156 points. Second place currently belongs to Nick Neary and his Lit Up from Curtis Bay, Maryland with 51.5 points. Matt Weber’s Max Bet from Vero Beach, Florida is in third place with 48.5 points.
Michael Jordan’s Catch 23 currently has the most points overall lead with 1350 points.Though several hundred miles offshore, the massive size of Hurricane Erin as she churns her way up the coast had a direct impact on the fleet today and as such none of the 114 boats in the tournament sailed on Day Four. The weather looks to improve somewhat tomorrow but it remains to be seen if fishable conditions return.
To recap the standings after Day Four the white marlin category is still lead by Stone Harbor, New Jersey’s Jamie Diller aboard his Canyon Lady with the 75-pounder weighed on Day Three. Pocomoke, Maryland’s Jimmy Hahn is in second place with the 71-pounder weighed from his Tail Chaser on Day One. Third place remains vacant. It’s worth noting through Day Four of the tournament 428 white marlin have been released by the fleet of 114 boats. That’s an impressive number considering no boats sailed on two of the first four available fishing days!
The blue marlin leader is Chad Meeks of Joppa, Maryland aboard his Reel Toy with an 804-pounder weighed on Day Three. Second and third place remain vacant. Though 19 blue marlin have been caught it’s been tough to find one that meets the tournament’s minimum length of 102” thus 18 of those caught have been released.
Nick Neary’s Lit Up from Curtis Bay, Maryland is still atop the tuna category with his 103-pound big eye. Second place is still held by Matt Weber on his Max Bet from Vero Beach, Florida with a 97-pound yellowfin. Joe Miele’s Manasquan, New Jersey-based Blue Runner remains in third place with a 96-pound yellowfin. All three current tuna category leading fish were weighed on Day One.
Scott Abeel’s Luna Sea from Stuart, Florida is atop the leaderboard in the wahoo division with his 94-pounder weighed on Day Three. Ocean City, Maryland’s Bobby Pastorius aboard his Jenny Poo is still in second place with his 60-pounder weighed on Day One. Darrin Brown of Glenelg, Maryland aboard his Catchin’ Grief remains in third place with a 23-pound ‘hoo, also weighed on Day One.
The dolphin leader is Charley Pereira and his Nags Head, North Carolina-based Sushi with a 35-pounder weighed on Day Three. John Gudelsky of Singer Island on his Reel Joy remains in second place with his 26-pounder, also weighed on Day Three. John Schwab of Fanwood New Jersey and his Pegasus sits in third place with a 22-pounder weighed on Day One.
In the point categories Michael Jordan’s Catch 23 from Hobe Sound, Florida has the most points in the white marlin category with 1350 points for 18 white marlin released. Matt Weber’s Max Bet from Vero Beach, Florida is in second place, also with 1350 points and 18 white marlin released. Third place is currently held by Stone Harbor’s Jamie Diller and his Canyon Lady with 1050 points for 13 white marlin released and the 75-pounder weighed. Ties in point totals are broken based on time of catch.
The blue marlin category has Ed Dunn’s D.A. Sea from Grasonville, Maryland in the lead with 300 points for two blue marlin released. North Palm Beach, Florida’s Ken Hager aboard his Taylor Jean is in second place with 300 points, also for two blue marlin released. Rob Carmichael of Riviera Beach, Florida aboard his Lights Out is in third place with 300 points, also for two blue marlin released. Here again, point total ties are broken based on time of catch.
Joe Miele’s Blue Runner from Manasquan, New Jersey has the tuna category lead with 156 points. Second place currently belongs to Nick Neary and his Lit Up from Curtis Bay, Maryland with 51.5 points. Matt Weber’s Max Bet from Vero Beach, Florida is in third place with 48.5 points.
Michael Jordan’s Catch 23 currently has the most points overall lead with 1350 points.
The big swell should be dropping out, and the NY/NJ Bight marine forecast for Sunday is southwest at 5-10 knots with a chance of showers.
Tight Lines 