The most consistent surf bite in the northern N.J. surf in recent years has been on sand fleas. but that hasn’t been the case so far. Vinny D’Anton has caught only a few small stripers on the fleas so far, and other pros have had the same problem. There hasn’t been any bait in the surf, but that should only make the abundant fleas more attractive to them.

There was a better report from Betty & Nick’s Fishing Club in Seaside Park where Mickey Melchionado reported “Found some bass locally this morning from 4 am til 6 am on SP Minnow. Bursting with sand fleas. Once the sun was up it crapped out, but had great action for awhile!’

A small craft advisory is up from Sunday morning to late night. South winds at 15-20 knots increase to 20-25 plus gusts to 30 in the afternoon.

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The following report from Sushi Sportfishing details the surprising action encountered right after the recent Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament out of Morehead City. N.C.:

“Our first day of fishing after the Big Rock tournament started slow then the giants went nuts on the mahi in the weedlines. We made a pass and got a beautiful double header short rigger bite resulting in 93 & 95 inch fish. The 95 incher dressed 422 lb.”

Hopefully, those giants are working their way north to NY/NJ Bight. That’s the first time I’ve heard of giants feeding on dolphin.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. sent the following fluke report from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands: “Had action right off the bat with short life & some keepers mixed in. Worked the area for a couple hours till after the tide change. Tried a couple deeper drops but it was NG with the cold water.

Found another area to work and finished out the day with a bunch of Happy customers fishing in the Natural Air Conditioner. 

Pool Fish went 5 pounds, several guys with two and a couple with 3 by days end. Bucktail guys had 25-30 fish, mostly shorts today. Back at it in the AM.“

The Golden Eagle from Belmar couldn’t find any blues this morning, so they switched to fluking which improved during the day as some limits were taken.

The forecast is for south winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20.

There is a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms.

The Fisherman magazine reports progress in its Dream Boat Challange as follows:

“Ya never know when you’ll catch big fish like this but only Fisherman Magazine subscribers can enter fish in The Fisherman 2024 Dream Boat Fishing Challenge. Our season long Region wide, multi-species fishing point gathering competition to win a new Steiger Craft Boat with Yamaha Outboard and many more prizes.

Here’s Aldo Paonessa’s 15.2lb 32inch fluke he caught off the Jersey coast and weighed in at True World Tackle this doormat was caught on a Berkley Fishing Gulp!”

Capt. John McMurry broke the ice on yellowfin tuna yesterday when one hit a Madd Mantis popper. That fish came in easier than expected, but almost destroyed the boat when it hit the deck.

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Capt. Ron Santee Jr. got off to a good start fluking yesterday with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as a 4.11- pounder won the pool and a 4 1/4-pounder was the first entry in the monthly pool. However, it was a different story today as follows:

“Bit of a grind today….

Fished a bunch of area’s from shallow to deeper water and good rocky bottom. Found a few keepers and some shorts but the bite just never got right. Fish we did catch, even in the shallow water were Ice cold.

We snagged several which tells me they were not ready to feed. Super Dave took the pool with a nice 4 pound 4 ounce Fluke. Back at it tomorrow.“

The forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20. There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio reported as follows about yesterday’s trip with his Blue Runner from Point Pleasant.

“Back out with Bob Sullivan and crew .. always fun fishing with this 3 man crew and this trip did not disappoint. Found a pick of Yellowfins, going 8 for 11 and saw the Bluefins mixing in, catching 4 out of 5. We kept a nice 160lb class fish. This morning we had a double header Bigeye bite and boated both. Great way to wrap up an already good trip .. Sterling Tackle did most of the damage on this one.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported”The BLUES did not cooperate for us this morning so we ended up picking at the SEA BASS. We had NICE KEEPER SEA BASS with plenty of throwbacks. There were a number of FLUKE along with a few LING in the mix.

The forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20.

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While the big fish picture at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament out of Morehead City, N.C. was clear when the contest d ended Saturday — and a couple of million-dollar winners were later mentioned here since then, some additional results have been reported.

Though I only followed the big fish competition, some of the big winners made out because they placed their bets into pricy levels. For instance, Builder’s Choice was only third with a 431.8-pound blue marlin, but ended up winning that winner take all level prize for $1,479,000. They also added some other substantial rewards in other levels.

Though Ava D wasn’t among the biggest winners, their 46.2-pound dolphin, the pay-off of $603.500 was amazing for a dolphin.

Small bluefish were in the picture yesterday as the Golden Eagle from Belmar reported everyone limited early. It was just the opposite yesterday for the Queen Mary from Point Pleasant which had to wait for hours and make a long run to produce fast jigging with choppers up to 4 pounds.

Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park reported blues hitting metal lures in the inlet that morning.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. finished up his sea bass season today with the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as follows: “Had much better action today on keeper Sea Bass.

The South wind did come up in the afternoon but it never got as nasty as the past two days. Everyone went home with fish for dinner.

Now it’s time to change it up! Fluke fishing starting tomorrow Wednesday and every day there after.“

The forecast is for southwest winds at 5-10 knots before going to 10-15 south plus gusts to 20 in the afternoon.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio of Waterproof reported on the first northern N.J. offshore

trip as follows: “Anthony and Shane got out for their first offshore trip of the year with Frank Minutillo and crew. The guys saw some Yellowfin action and our first Wahoo of the year. They topped off with some nice Golden Tilefish .. beautiful weather made for a nice trip”

Waterproof has offshore open boat trips set for July 5-6 and Sept. 19-20.

Mark (201) 988-5475 call or text. www.bluerunner.fishing

Scroll down for Waterproof photos.

The forecast is for west winds at 5 knots before going south in the afternoon.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. of the Fishermen at Atlantic Highlands reports “Much better morning start today just before the change of tide.

Had action both anchored and drifting, caught a couple nice keeper Fluke and a few shorts to add to the Sea Bass along with a few ling. Lenny took the pool with a 4 pound Fluke.

South wind came up and it started to get ugly like yesterday, made the bite tough. Last bottom trip tomorrow, we start Fluke fishing on Wednesday.

Sailing everyday 7:30am-2:30pm. Open Boat, No Reservations“

As noted in my last blog, the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament ended in exciting fashion. as contenders had to swat it out as Pipe Down didn’t get back with the last blue until about 7 p.m.

That blue weighed 425.1 pounds and ended up fourth in blue marlin. That left Game Time from West Palm Beach at the top with an opening day 516-pounder — and a pay-out of over $1.8 million.

The tournament was supposed have all results available today, but I haven’t fund them so far. I’ll try again tomorrow.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr.of the Fishermen at Atlantic Highlands reported that of all days it had to be Father’s Day for the sea bass fishing to take a big drop in poor conditions.

The forecast is for west winds at 10 knots before going south in the afternoon.

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It’s all over but the shouting at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament out of Morehead City.

After a rough Friday with poor fishing, there were three blues brought in during the afternoon that all fell short of the minimum requirements and were disqualified. However, Builders Choice still had to wait for Pipe Dream to weigh-in around 7 p.m. before being assured of a big payout for third. Pipe Dream’s blue weighed 425.1 pounds.

Game Time retained first at 536 pounds. Release held on to second with a 504-pounder that had already paid-out over a million by winning the Fabulous Fisherman category for the first blue over 500 pounds. Builder’s Choice got rich with a fourth place 431.8-pounder in fourth.

Seas were a lot better than on Friday, and the fishing was much improved. I’ll do a blog on the results and pay-offs in the morning.

Happy Father’s Day.

N.J. fluke pro Dave Lilly was celebrating his 19th fluke tournament win well before noon today and with hours left in the Frank Thomas Memorial Tournament at Baker’s Marina in Highlands. He figured he was in pretty good shape with an 11.1-pound doormat to be matched with a 5.9-pounder to cover the various Calcutters. The four-man team on a 25-foot Release all limited and released other keepers while drifting offshore.. Dave’s son Jeremy was aboard along with Bryne Farmer, and Tony Olewynski ho hooked the doormat.

The Viking Fleet at Montauk reports on the Mon. June 10- 4 Day Offshore Jigaholic trip:

Capt. Steven Sr. reports an outstanding 4 Day Offshore Jigging trip. What we call our “Jigaholics” trip he called “Tileholics” with an impressive showing of beautiful large Golden Tile Fish. We saw the largest Tile fish coming up on the jigs on this trip, but we were lock and load from start to finish, with fishing half-days everyday. Dwayne Sherard took home the pool winning Tile fish with a 42.6 pounder. Nathenial Johnson took home the second prize Tile pool with a 37.5 lb fish and won the pool for the largest edible with a 14 lb. hake.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. reported “Had a nice group of early Fathers day folks out with us on this beautiful day today.

Slugged away on every drop we fished with action on shorts & keeper Sea Bass along with several fluke.

Anthony had 4 Fluke and lost a beauty at the boat trying to lift it!! Another 3 pound Sea Bass took the pool beating out a 18 1/2 inch Fluke. Weather looks great for Fathers day, we will be bottom fishing.

The forecast is for northeast winds at 10-15 knots before dropping to southeast 5-10 in the afternoon.

The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament is finishing up today. I’ll have a report after the scales close.

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Though 115 boats fished the Big Rock on Friday, there was very little caught. Even the releases amounted to only 14 blue marlin and 3 white marlin. One day to go!