Following is a press release with results from the Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament:

Main Attraction Takes Top Honors at The 29th Annual
Cheeca Lodge & Spa Presidential Sailfish Tournament
73 anglers fishing on 19 boats released 82 sailfish
over gripping two-day competition

ISLAMORADA, FL (Jan. 30, 2019) – Cheeca Lodge & Spa’s 29th Annual Presidential Sailfish Tournament, the third leg of the Florida Keys’ Gold Cup Series, hosted 73 competitive anglers this past weekend in the sportfishing capital of the world. Clinching first place,Team Main Attraction earned overall champion honors releasing a total of ten sailfish. Team members included Mark Busch, Clint Rodamer, Daniel Roberts and Shelby Bentley, all from Marathon, FL. Outstanding Captain and Mate Awards went to Main Attraction Captain Marty Lewis and Mates Clint Rodamer and Danny Lombardo.

We were honored to host this esteemed tournament and thrilled with the impressive competitive spirit this year’s showcase brought. We appreciate the tremendous support of our anglers and sponsors, and are proud to be part of the Florida Keys Gold Cup,” says Bob LaCasse, General Manager of Cheeca Lodge & Spa.“

Overall 50 sailfish were released on the first day of the tournament and 32 were released on the second day, for a total of 114 hookups and 82 releases by 73 anglers on 19 boats.

The Grand Champion Angler Award, sponsored by Caribee Boat Sales and Marina, went to Mike Varney of Key Largo, FL, on The Indigenous captained by Travis Dickens for five releases.

The Top Lady Angler Award sponsored by Blue Marlin Jewelry went to Michelle Espinosa of Miami, FL, for five releases onboard the Remix captained by JC Cleare of Miami. The Top Lady Angler Award is dedicated to the memory of Jay Anna and Kenny Cohan, beloved members of the Islamorada community.

Second Place went to Team HellReyzer led by Captain Ryan Alexander of Cutler Bay, FL. HellReyzer released ten sailfish with anglers Rey Acosta, Travis Upchurch, Jorge Corzo, Mike Acosta of Pinecrest, FL. Team Indigenous earned Third Place honors. Captain Travis Dickens of Islamorada, FL, and anglers Wade Stafford of Merritt Island, FL; Coleman Wherly of Melbourne, FL; Mike Varney of Key Largo, FL; and Wade Stafford of Merritt Island, FL; Coleman Wherly of Melbourne, FL; Mike Varney of Key Largo, FL; and Mark Toledo of Ft. Lauderdale, FL released nine sailfish.

 

 

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It appears that the Sunday and Monday blogs I thought had been published never did appear. Therefore, I’ll repeat that information as there may mot be much more fishing coming up with small craft warnings today to be followed on Wednesday by gale warnings with gusts up to 45 knots in the afternoon. Bitter cold temperatures and perhaps some snow are also in the picture.

The Canyon Runner from Point Pleasant has been enjoying great giant tune fishing while operating out of Oregon Inlet, N.C. for the winter trolling. There latest and largest catch was a 115-inch giant that had a cored weight of 706 pounds. apt. Deane Lambros used a formula to place the total weight at from 868 to 893 pounds. They also had their first bigeye of the year on that trip plus a yellowfin. A 106-inch was caught Friday, — and a 90-incher was boated Sunday along with a wahoo.

 

The Canyon Runner Seminar on Saturday in Atlantic City is almost sold out. That must for offshore anglers can try calling Adam La Rosa at 732 842-6825 for a possible ticket.

The Big Jamaica from Brielle had another successful porgy trip to the offshore wrecks where those fish were read 40-50 feet thick on the fishfinder. There was also some variety with a few ling, white hake and pollock plus lots of mackerel for those that wanted to jig them. Earl Speer of Forked River won the pool with a 8-pound pollock, and Rob Fusiek from Cape May was second with a 4.5-pound ling. That trip will be repeated Saturday, and the Jamaica may get a break again as only a 5-10 knot northwest wind is forecast for that day. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations.

The Canyon Runner from Point Pleasant caught their largest giant tuna during winter fisheries out of Oregon Inlet with a 115-incher during a trip run by Capt. Deane Lambros that also produced their first bigeye of the winter and a yellowfin. The big fish weighed 706 pounds cored out. By formula that would bring the full weight to 868 to 893 pounds. They’ve had at least one giant each day since starting their winter fishery. There was a 106-incher last week — and 90-incher Sunday plus a wahoo.

Only 15 tickets are left for Saturday’s Canyon Runner Seminar in Atlantic City that includes breakfast, beer and a chance at thousands of dollars in door prizes for a $125 a ticket. Call Adam La Rosa at 732 842-6825.

As noted yesterday, the Jamaica from Brielle had another very good porgy trip Saturday on offshore wrecks. At times those fish marked 40 to 50 feet thick on the fishfinder. There was some variety as the pool went to an 8-pound pollock caught by Earl Sp

eer of Forked River, while Rob Fusiek from Cape May was second with a 4.5-pound ling.  There were also a few white hake and whiting, while who wanted them could jig plenty of mackerel. That trip will be repeated this Saturday. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported a nice day Saturday with only a pick of blackfish. Sunday was lumpy with a big SE swell plus a south wind. There was lots of life on bottom, but it was mostly bergalls with just a few tog.

The weather doesn’t look good after the 10-15-knot southeast to start Tuesday, as that increases to 15-20 by afternoon, Wednesday’s forecast is for 20-25 west with gusts to 40 — and very cold.

The Jamaica from Brielle loaded up on big porgies during the weekly Saturday offshore trip and added some variety. Details tomorrow.

Monday’s weather may be fishable, but it doesn’t look good after Tuesday afternoon.

Though conditions looked to be good today, there were no reports from the blackfish party boats. It should still be fishable in the morning with south winds at 10-15 knots — before increasing to 15-20 southwest  in the afternoon,

The New York Boat Show concludes on Sunday, as does the Fly Fishing Show at N.J. Convention Center in Edison. See last night’s blog foe details.

Though the Maine Weather Forecast increased Saturday’s wind a bit, it’s still at a modest 10-15 knots from the west before dropping to 5-10 in the afternoon. Today’s west winds up to 25 knots should reduce the big swell that was on the ocean yesterday as a result of the south storm.

That should set up a good day for the Jamaica from Brielle to fish the far offshore wrecks for large porgies. It will be cold at the dock, but should be comfortable offshore as water temperatures are higher out there, The Saturday trip leaves at 1 a.m. tonight, and reservations are required. Call 732 528-5014.

 

At Belmar, the Ocean Explorer will resume blackfishing that was good before the storm — and the Big Mohawk will be doing likewise at 7 a.m.

The N.Y Boat Show runs at the Convention Center through Sunday as does the Fly Fishing Show at the N.J. Convention Center in Edison. Admission to the Fly Show is $18 except for youngsters 6-12 who pay $5. Scouts in uniform and military with I.D. pay $10.  Capt Jim Freda of Shore Catch Charters provides a seminar on N.J. Stripers on the Fly at 4:45 today and 1:30 Saturday. His partner, Capt. Gene Quigley, does the same at 12:15 Sunday.

The New Jersey Beach Buggy Association holds its Fishing Flea Market Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Toms River H.S. South.

Grace Correll of Bay Head almost caught a sailfish this week while fishing with my nephew Todd Correll on his Viking 70 out of Fort Lauderdale. A doubleheader was hooked up, but the lines tangled and both broke off. One of Todd’s friends released a sail, and they also had some other shots while kite fishing. Grace got her start in offshore game fishing when she caught her first yellowfin tuna while on a vacation trip to Costa Rica last year after graduating from Lehigh University where she excelled in soccer.

Capt. Charlie Fornabio reports his season has gotten off to a good start in the Sebastian, Florida area with a run of pompano and sea trout. That light tackle action in protected waters allows him to fish even during most windy days, though he did postpone a trip last week due to “unbearable” 50 degree temperatures.  Charlie grew up in the Belmar area, and returns briefly every spring and fall to surf cast for stripers. Unfortunately, this fall only produced small bass as he never caught one over 25 inches. He’s looking forward to the Feb. 1 opening of the snook season in Florida. Contact him at 772 360-7647.

Though Bud’N Mary’s Marina in Islamorada was almost wiped out by the hurricane two years ago, Richard Stanczyk says it was rebuilt bigger and better. Richard pioneered daytime swordfishing in the Florida Keys, and his son Nick has become the hottest skipper in the area for that sport. His other son, Rick, is a famed flats and tarpon guide who’s been enjoying better flats fishing this winter since the red tide problem further up in the Gulf of Mexico seems to have driven more snook, redfish, sea trout and black drum to them. Call the marina at 800 742-7945.

 

It certainly feels like fishing time this afternoon as it’s in the fifties at Toms River — and going up in the evening rather than down. Unfortunately, there’s also south winds and rain is on the way. Small craft warnings are up, and there will be a gale watch tomorrow as the 25-30 knot south wind gusts to 40 later on along with rain. Clearing west winds on Friday will blow at 15-20 knots with gusts to 25. However, Saturday continues to look good with west winds at 5-10 knots. It should be fine for the Jamaica’s offshore wrecks porgy trip that day which sails from Brielle at 1 a.m. Friday night. Reservations are required. Call 732 528-5014.

The Big Mohawk from Belmar is already looking forward to blackfishing at 7 a.m. over the weekend. That fishing was good on their last trip.

Nick Honachefsky was offshore last week  with Capt. Fred Gamboa (left) on his Andrea’s Toy from Keyport as they did very well with tog on deeper wrecks despite the cold while doing an Saltwater Underground video.

Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park reports that the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association will be running their Fishing Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Toms River South High School.

 

The New York Boat Show opens tomorrow at the Convention Center and runs through Sunday.

The Fly Fishing Show runs from Jan. 25-27 at the N.J. Convention Center in Edison.

Though the southwest wind is predicted to moderate in the morning, there are gusts to 30 knots forecast in the afternoon. However. Saturday is looking good.

The Canyon Runner is catching giants up to 600 pounds out of Oregon Inlet, N.C., and only has a few openings down there this season. They also have a few tickets left for the Feb. 2 Seminar at Atlantic City. Call Adam La Rosa at 732 842-6825.

Vinny D’Anton has had a slow start to shore fishing in the Sarasota, Fl.  area, but broke through this afternoon by catching sea trout, ladyfish and a pompano on a DOA Shrimp.

I didn’t think a blog was necessary last night with gale-force winds whistling outside the windows. Those warnings were continued into tonight along with freezing spray and very low late afternoon tides. Bob Correll walked the Bay Head beach this afternoon and reported ice on the beach with very low waters.

It drops to 15-20 knots with gusts to 30 from the northwest tomorrow before diminishing to 5-10 in the afternoon, Unfortunately, it switches to southwest at 15-20 with gusts to 30 on Wednesday.

Saturday was one of those rare calm mid-winter days, and that enabled the Big Jamaica from Brielle to get in another day of hot porgy fishing on the offshore wrecks. The pool winner was a 6-pound haddock, a very rare catch south of New England. Sammy Sin from Brooklyn, boated the haddock. Telmo Marques from Silver Spring, Md. took second with a hefty 3.75-pound ling. Some mackerel and white hake were also caught.  The Jamaica will run that trip every Saturday, leaving at 1 a.m. Friday night. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported blackfish were chewing Saturday, and limits were “easy”.

Needless to say, with a winter storm and gale warnings for winds up to 40 knots, there will be no fishing Sunday. However, if you can get there, Striper Day is being held on Long Island at Ward Melville H.S. in East Setauket from 8;30-2;30. Admission is $15, and the first 500 receive a goody bag. Seminars go on all day.

As predicted yesterday, the morning was fishable, and the Big Mohawk from Belmar reported improved blackfishing with some limits and an 8 1/2-pound pool winner.