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.

Every boat with a fishing day left will be fishing tomorrow as the MidAtlantic winds up with the day added to make up for the hurricane. No lead is safe at this point, though Luna Sea should feel comfortable with its 94-pound wahoo.

The tuna category may be a target as the 103-pound leader by Lit Up isn’t as large as usually required.

The tournament record was set in 1993 by the Dinardi brothers on their Absolut-ly from Brielle Yacht Club. Bernard and Drew were among the nicest people I’ve known, and devoted to each other. Though only weekend anglers they didn’t hesitate to compete with the best professional skippers on the coast and trolled into a barrage of large bigeyes to become one of the top winners — though the rewards then were quite modest. The largest of those bigeyes was a remarkable 254 pounds.

Boaters who braved the hurricane on Day 3 of the MidAtlantic managed to shake up the leaderboard. That was especially the case for Reel Toy with the first weighable blue marlin at 804 pounds plus a second place 26-pound dolphin.

Quite a few white marlin were released, but Canyon Lady weighed one at 75 pounds to take over first place in the featured category.

There was a big change in wahoo as Luna Sea weighed a 94-pounder that may be hard to beat. Jenny Poo had looked good at 60 pounds on Day 1.

Lit Up holds the tuna lead at 103 pounds over Max Bet at 97 pounds — while Blue Runner holds the next spots at 96 and 56 pounds.

Sushi weighed a 35-pound dolphin to take over first.

No boats fished today, but the fleet will be back out through Saturday if the seas cooperate.

Hopefully the seas will settle before the MidAtlantic 500 concludes on Saturday, but snglers will be trying whenever they can get out. A note in Facebook claimed 73 boats were out today after none tried yesterday. The Polarizer sent a video of trolling in rough seas for a few bites.I’ll report in tomorrow’s blog about the Day 3 results.

Northeast winds have also been tough on fluke fishing in the ocean as big swells are a problem in that fishery.

The great white marlin bite to the north continued with release counts up to 11 for Canyon Lady. Michael Jordan’s Catch 23 was leading the points competition with 900.

In the featured white marlin category, there was an entry by Tail Chaser of a spearfish or roundscale marlin which is considered a white for scoring purposes. Since it made the 69-inch minimum, it was weighed at 71 pounds — above the 69-pound minimum.

The leading tuna was a 103-pound bigeye on Lit Up, while Blue Runner out of Pt. Pleasant. and Max Bet each had a 96-pound yellowfin. Jenny Poo boated a 60-pound wahoo, and Catchin’ Grief added a 22-pounder. Pegasus leads in dolphin at 22 pounds.

Despite Hurricane Erin and a small craft advisory. the MidAtlantic 500 is underway with108 boats fishing today before seas get even worse.

AA small craft advisory went up today right through Thursday, but most of the boats entered in the MidAtlantic 500 can handle that. Inlets will be particularly dangerous in large swells, and small boaters should avoid returning on the outgoing tide.

White marlin fishing had just exploded during the Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club’s White Marlin Invitational. A photo of the winners follows:

The Viking 68 ran an overnight trip which produced releases of two blue marlin and 44 whites.

Doormat fluke have been rare this year, but the Norma K II from Point Pleasant reported one of 10.12 pounds on the boat scale during the Aug. 16 trip.

The former president of Viking Boats has passed away at 97.He was also an ardent conservationist who realized the importance of representation in Washington and helped in the founding of the Recreational Fishing Alliance.

Capt. Ron Santee had to keep moving his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands due to today’s traffc. “Crazy short action with Dave B landing over 30 fish without a keeper!!! Several customers did well with the keepers including Shawn Pearl who landed 4 beauties and a handful of guys with their three some with 2. Pool fish went 4 pounds 9 ounces.” Santee will pass on tomorrow due to the northeast wind forecast.

Though Hurricane Erin appears to be on path to go far offshore, its effects will impact the beginning of the MidAtlantic 500 which has added Saturday as one of the three days boats may select for fishing.

The Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club will present winners of their White Marlin VIvitational with their prizes at tonight;’s Awards Dinner.

Sunday’s forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for west winds at 5-10 knots before increasing to 20 in the afternoon

After white marlin fishing was tough in the big White Marlin Open, the following Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club White Marlin Invitational set a record when Shark Byte released 30 whites in a day — and many other boats weren’t far behind in the points race. Bigeye tuna also cooperated in the two days out of four contest which concludes tonight. I’ll have the results tomorrow.

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Next up is the MidAtlantic which may have to deal with a weather problem during the Aug. 17-22 period.

The forecast for tomorrow in NY/NJ Bight is for east winds at 5-10 knots.

There were 37 boats fishing for a purse of $574,780 today in the Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club’s White Marlin Invitational, but Shark Byte is in good shape with a record 30 releases in two days. Tuna were also cooperating as a record 115.3-pound yellowfin tuna was boated yesterday on Gray Fox, and there was also a 156-pound bigeye.

Capt. Frank Masseria said fluking on his Vitamin Sea from Port Monmouth was red hot with hundreds caught including lots of keepers.

Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands realized conditions weren’t right at the areas where fluking was good yesterday, so he made a run which worked out well. A 6 1/8-pounder took over the monthly fluke lead. That boat is chartered Saturday.

The forecast for NY/NJ Bight is for east winds at 10 knots with a chance of showers.