Following is Jeff Merrill’s report on the first day of fishing in the MidAtlantic out of Cape May, N.J. and Ocean City, Maryland.

“The remnants of Hurricane Ernesto had moved far north and offshore but left behind a swell that made conditions offshore a bit sporty for the 88 boats that gave it a go on Day One. MidAtlantic event staff worked late into the night tallying calcutta entries and the unofficial purse is set at over $5.7 million with a field of 198 boats. The scales at Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey and Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland were busy shortly after the evening’s weigh-in session got underway at 5 PM. The white marlin category currently has a 74-pounder atop the leaderboard for Trappe, Maryland’s Mark Murphy aboard his Leslie Ann for angler Mike Bradley. Wayne Franks of Royersford, Pennsylvania aboard his Wayne’s World is currently in second place with a 67-pounder for angler Fred Tuttle. Third place remains vacant.

The other big news of the day came in the tuna division where all three places were filled today. Currently Steven Pilipauskis of Harwood, Maryland aboard his Reel Tight took the early lead in the category after weighing a 180-pound big eye for angler Nick Marcinkowski. Val Fichera’s Warden Pass is in second place with a 174-pound big eye for angler Frank Rao. Third place currently belongs to Dan Fabri and his Cape May, New Jersey-based El Jefe with a 57-pound yellowfin. No qualifying blue marlin, dolphin or wahoo were weighed on Day One.

Some of the boats with significant billfish releases today include David Reeve’s Pachanga with four white marlin and two blue marlin let go. Matthew Weber’s Max Bet released seven white marlin while Charles Moore’s Mama Who and Jeff Crabtree’s Pipe Down each released six white marlin. Martin Judge aboard his Judge and Michael Jordan’s Catch 23 each released five white marlin today. Pat Healey’s Viking 82 released three white marlin. John Gudelsky’s Reel Joy released two blue marlin and one white marlin.”

In addition, frequent tournament winner Billfisher boated a blue marlin that was long enough to be weighed, but failed to make the 400-pound minimum weight.

Millions will be on the line as fishing in the MidAtlantic Tournament gets underway today.

The biggest money is in white marlin for which there’s both a minimum length of 69 inches and 65 pounds to weigh in. Blue marlin must be at least 102 inches. Tuna start at 50 pounds, while dolphin and wahoo have to be at least 10 pounds.

Boaters can choose any three of the five days for fishing. I’ll forward Jeff Merrill’s daily updates when received.

The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant had a tuna trip last week which produced a few yellowfins plus others lost. Jigging inshore for small blues has been consistent — as has it’s been for the Golden Eagle from Belmar.

Striper pro Chuck Many reports “With the sloppy ocean, mixed it up with Cesar Carranza and decided to catch some bait (Spot & Croaker) & then feed them to some hungry Bass. Fun day!!! The great bait bite was definitely a highlight!! Got to thank Tackle Box Fishing Co. for the Lugworms!! They were fire for Spot, Croaker & and few weakfish.”

A small craft advisory is up for northwest winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 and seas up to 6 feet.

With Ernesto heading far to the northeast, the biggest and best of Atlantic coast offshore fishing tournaments looks to be in good shape for this week’s fishing.

The captains meeting for the MidAtlantic in Cape May, N.J. is ongoing as this was written, but 164 boats were already signed up before that.

This contest is very professionally summarized every night by Jeff Merrill, and I’ll pass that report along each night.

A small craft advisory is up through late Monday night, but that seems to be primarily about large seas. The forecast is for only southwest winds at 5-10 knots though seas could be up to 8 feet –which can create dangerous conditions at inlets. Try to avoid returning to inlets toward the end of the outgoing tide.

Chuck Many reports “Went out Sunday with Alex Katyan & Chrisper Fishin for a day of No Fish Shaming! Goal was to see if we could catch a dozen Species. Funny thing is once you’re trying to catch them, they suddenly become an endangered species!! Was really fun and the Excitement of a double header Skate/Sea Robin or a Whistle Fish Oyster Cracker was unmatched. Ended with 13 Species, which sets a high bar for our next outing. Species were: Striped Bass, Porgy, Dogfish, Sea Bass, Fluke, Bluefish, Chub Mackerel, Skate, Spot, Croaker, Oyster Cracker, Grunt, Sea Robin.”

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All reactions:

99Frank Mihalic, Gen Wong and 97 othersWent out Sunday with Alex Katyan & Chrisper Fishin for a day of No Fish Shaming! Goal was to see if we could catch a dozen Species. Funny thing is once you’re trying to catch them, they suddenly become an endangered species!! Was really fun and the Excitement of a double header Skate/Sea Robin or a Whistle Fish Oyster Cracker was unmatched. Ended with 13 Species, which sets a high bar for our next outing. Species were: Striped Bass, Porgy, Dogfish, Sea Bass, Fluke, Bluefish, Chub Mackerel, Skate, Spot, Croaker, Oyster Cracker, Grunt, Sea Robin.

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Striper pro Chuck Many took a day this week to see how many different species his crew could catch from His Tyman out of Highlands ,but followed that with a tuna trip that ended with an empty spinning reel. As he noted, “This is what happens when you take a knife to a gun fight.”

NYC Capt. John McMurray says there are so many school bluefins within his range that they can be counted on — though much bigger ones keep jumping on the lighter tackle which usually results in a break-off after a long fight.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. had a new monthly fluke leader for the third time this week during Friday’s trip on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. Frank not only caught six keeper-size fluke, but topped his catch with an 8 13/16-pounder. Due to lack of drift, Ron had to work the throttles all day — though that worked out well by being able to work small spots.

The White Marlin Invitational ended yesterday. There’s not much info on their site, but it appears that Fishin’ Fever maintained it’s first day catch which included bigeyes of 204.5 and 175.5 pounds. Other tuna caught were under 60 pounds. Business led in White Marlin release points.

A small craft advisory is up through late Sunday night. That is primarily due to the large swell with seas of 4-8-feet. The forecast is for southeast winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 and possible showers or thunderstorms.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a great day jigging 2-4-[pound blues plus spme bomito.

Anglers wishing to limit out on small blues by jigging had no problem doing so today on the Golden Eagle from Belmar. Diamond jigs were just fine as the choppers hit deep when not on top. Some bonito were added.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. got off to a good start with fluke on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands before having to pick away when he lost the tide. Many anglers had limits. That boat is chartered on Saturday,

Fishin’ Fever weighed a 203.5-pound bigeye tuna during yesterday’s opening of the Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club’s 55th White Marlin Invitational. Some other tuna were weighed, but the site is such a mess that I have no idea who’s leading in what.

More good weather is forecast with west winds iat 5 knots n the morning before gusting to 20 in the afternoon.

The Mimi VI from Point Pleasant may have room on Sunday’s fluke and bottom fishing open trip. Call 732 370-9019.

Capt. Mark De Blasio of the Blue Runner from Point Pleasant reported “Had Justin Lewis and crew out yesterday. Left later than usual and started off with some Mahi fishing. Around 5pm set out the Tuna gear and quickly had a single bite that resulted in a nice Bigeye on deck. Set back out and shortly afterwards had a nice mark and looked back and saw a Wolfpack of Bigeyes fighting with each other to eat everything behind the boat. Came tight on 5 which was a challenge with a 4 man crew. Managed to get all 5 boat side and killed 3. With 4 nice Bigeyes in the box the guys said point her home. We could have stayed and loaded up on them as they were chewing.”s

Bob Correll reports that he trolled barely out of sight of the Shore yesterday on Mike Heaney’s October Sky out of Manasquan Inlet as Mike Mercurio joined in the trolling catch of five bluefin tuna in the 30-35-pound class. A small boat in the fleet north of Little Italy had a much larger tuna on, but it was eventually lost. Some tuna were also jigged, but that was best very early.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. had a new monthly pool leader yesterday on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as Scott Scuderi boated a 5 13/16-pound fluke. However, that didn’t make it past today as Wade Ryerson caught a 6 9/16-pounder. Several other large fluke were also added.

The forecast remains excellent with 5-10 knot winds from the west and then southwest as showers and thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon.

The 54th White Marlin Invitational, run by the Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club, holds their captains meeting tonight before starting fishing tomorrow as entrants select two out of three days to run offshore.

The inshore weather forecast is fine, with west winds at 5-10 knots before going southwest in the afternoon.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a charter last night that produced lots of 2-4-pound blues on jigs.

There was good fishing reported today for both fluke and bluefish in fine weather which is forecast to continue.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. reports from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands as follows: “A very nice bounce back on the fishing today. Had action all day long with a nice mix of fish.

Several customers had their three, a couple guys had double limits and some with just a couple fish. Some nice Sea Bass in the mix along with a bunch of Mac’s! Beautiful weather, nice calm ocean doesn’t get any better than that!

John Weins took todays pool with a nice 4.8 pound Fluke along with his 3.

Weather looks great all week and we are NOT AVAILABLE THIS SATURDAY. I had to reschedule last Saturdays trip due to the weather. OtherA very nice bounce back on the fishing today. Had action all day long with a nice mix of fish.

John Weins took todays pool with a nice 4.8 pound Fluke along with his 3.“

Weather looks great all week.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a good start with 4-8-pound blues on jigs as some anglers limited and added their one sea bass.

Following is the last release from the White Marlin Open out of Ocean City, Maryland with results from their 51st annual tournament which ended on Saturday.

The 51st Annual White Marlin Open has concluded, marking another thrilling chapter in the world’s largest offshore billfish tournament. Despite rough weather conditions that extended the tournament by an extra day, 318 boats competed for a share of the $8.59 million prize pool, bringing in five impressive billfish to the scales and delivering unforgettable moments on the water.

This year’s tournament will be remembered for the incredible appearance of huge blue marlin and bigeye tuna in Ocean City, dominating the leaderboard. The historic first-place blue marlin secured its spot as one of the top five heaviest in WMO history.

Leaderboard Recap

In the White Marlin category, Ven Poole from Raleigh, NC, aboard the boat Waste Knot, secured the top spot with a 77.50-pound catch, earning an impressive $3,699,630.67. Just behind, Noah McVicker from Ocean City, MD, fishing on the Billfisher, landed a 76.00-pound white marlin, taking home $1,797,119.13.

The Blue Marlin division saw a stunning 897.50-pound catch by Lance Blakemore of Horseheads, NY, on the Stone Cutter, which earned him $520,374.07. Close behind, Phil Key from Millers Island, MD, aboard Moore Bills, brought in an 894.00-pound blue marlin, winning $410,936.89. Rounding out the top three was Hershel Martin of Montross, VA, on Bobojo, with a 789.50-pound blue marlin that earned $112,704.77.

In the Tuna category, Rob Jones from Cincinnati, OH, fishing on the Blue Runner, dominated with a 220.50-pound catch, securing $1,007,012.32. Jeff Green from Cape May, NJ, aboard Warden Pass, claimed second place with a 193.50-pound tuna, earning $154,751.27, while Dante Soriente of Little Egg Harbor, NJ, on MJ’s, also caught a 193.50-pound tuna, taking home $148,250.85.

The Wahoo category was led by Ian Horowitz from North Wales, PA, who landed a 70.00-pound wahoo aboard American Lady, winning $66,094.09.

In the Dolphin category, Patrick Field from Stuart, FL, aboard Catch 23, took first place with a 32.50-pound dolphin, earning $64,094.09, followed by Andy Geldmacher of Westminster, MD, on Double Nickel, with a 31.00-pound catch, earning $2,409.09.

Top Boats & Anglers

In the Billfish Points Division Bobojo claimed the top spot among boats with 1,033 points, followed by Sequel with 980 points, and Taylor Jean and Catch 23 each finishing strong with 770 points.

In the Release category, Sequel topped the leaderboard with 980 points, while Taylor Jean and Bobojo followed closely behind with 770 points each. 

Hershel Martin, aboard the Bobojo, was crowned the WMO Grand Champion, leading the tournament with an outstanding performance and 753.17 points. In the female angler division, Kelly Weber on MaxBet claimed the top spot, followed by Heather Jaworski on Judge and Jackie Tenuto on Sequel.

For a complete list of stadings and payouts by boat, visit the official White Marlin Open website.

As the tournament wraps up, the White Marlin Open continues to set the bar for competitive offshore fishing, celebrating the spirit of the sport and the community that supports it.