The NY Dept. of Environmental Protection passed along the following information about a change in cod regulations:
The Atlantic Cod fishing regulations have been updated to match federal fishing regulations. Starting today, June 12, 2024, the minimum size length has been updated from 21 inches to 23 inches, the possession limit has been decreased from 10 fish per day to 5 fish per day, and the open season has been shortened from all year to September 1 – May 31.
Capt. Ron Santee Jr. ended up well with today’s sea bass fishing, but it wasn’t easy as the southerly wind dropped the water temperature and slowed the bite everywhere he went.
The forecast is for north winds at 10-15 knots before dropping to 5-10in the afternoon –which should change that problem.
As noted in this morning’s blog, there’s actually one more day left in the Big Rock, I’ll do a blog on today’s results after the scales close tonight.
There are 116 boats fishing today in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament out of Morehead City, N.C. while 186 took a lay day.
I mistakenly thought Friday was the last day as is the case with the upcoming white marlin tournaments, but it turns out that Big Rock has a sixth day on Saturday. Therefore, everything is still in play. Yesterday’s seas were reported as being “sporty”, and fishing was poor. However, the multitude of Calcuttas provides good shots every day at thousands of dollars in daily awards.
The 66th Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament at Morehead City concludes Friday as entrants with a fishing day left in the week-long contest vie for million-dollar pay-outs.
At this point Game Time is sitting pretty with their 516-pound blue marlin that could be worth $1.876,725.
Day 4 was a poor one as 56 boats managed only 12 billfish releases consisting of 8 blues, 3 whites and 1 sail. The scales were still open as this was written, and I’ll add a blog tonight if anything changes.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar reports “We picked SEA BASS today on all drifts and drops and some were better than others. There was PLENTY OF ACTION along with NICE KEEPER SEA BASS and some anglers had their limit. We also had a few small BLUEFISH on board and a showing of LING and WHITING. “
Capt. Ron Santee Jr. of the Fishermen at Atlantic Highlands reported “Good fishing right off the bat once again today……
Nice Big Sea Bass and a couple dozen ling on the first drop. Made a few drops in the area catching until the South wind came up. Bite slowed so we looked else-where and found another good bite to finish out the day.
Pete took the pool with a 3 1/2-lb. sea bass.”
The forecast remains good with 10-15 knot southwest winds, before going south at 15-20 plus gusts to 25 in the afternoon.
If you are still looking for a last minute gift for your favorite angler, a membership to the International Game Fish Association would be a perfect choice that can be made with just a phone call or e-mail.
That will bring the latest issue of World Record Fishes, which weighs more than most of the fish I catch, plus newsletters and special ublications while also allowing the angler to check out records in a vast array of species and line classes that may provide an opportunity to seek the prestige of joining the greats of the sport with a world record fish.
N.Y.C, skipper John McMurry has found the early bluefin tuna concentration “First things first… Yeah, the tuna are here, and Captain Darren is running an open boat tomorrow and needs heads ($600pp). Hit me or Darren up ASAP if ya wanna go. Second, I ran my first tuna trip of the year yesterday. Man, there was a crazy amount of life (whales, dolphin, birds etc.) pretty much everywhere we looked. HUGE aggregations of sandeels. We had to run kinda far before we found any tuna on’em tho. Once we got on’em, broke off one giant (on a @RonZ)… Damn near spooled us before I could light the boat off and chaser her down. One of those fish you know pretty quickly you’d have little chance of landing. Then another on a popper before we put it together and landed one about 65”. T’was an EPIC strike. Fish absolutely destroyed the old reliable Madd Mantis Cherry Pop, coming damn near outta the water to grab it. We left’em biting, as we know it was pretty unlikely we’d find an under, and we had a LONG ride home. Purdy good start I gotta say, and it should just get better. Got a lotta availability for the rest of June. Hit us up of ya wanna go! ONE MORE CAST CHARTERS/ NYCTUNA.COM“
{‘ll do a blog tonight with updates on the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament after the scales close.
The NY/NJ Bight forecast is for southwest winds at just 5-10 knots before increasing to 15-20 plus gusts to 25 in the afternoon.
Though there was no change in the blue marlin standings since my earlier blog, there was a big change in the dolphin category which was slow to fill in. SECOTEN had looked secure with a 45.6 pounder, but Ava A boated a 46.2 pound dolphin.
Tuna have also been scarce, but Dugga Boy caught a a 171.1-pounder that was a yellowfin, rather than the usual bigeye. Yellowfins that size are scarce in the Atlantic though common in the Pacific.
The wahoo category remains wide open, though Reel E Bugging pulled ahead of Wolverine with a 28.8-pound entry.
The Day 1billfish totals for 171 boats were 35 blue marlin, 10 sailfish, and 6 white marlin.
There’s plenty of time for weigh-ins at the Big Rock Tournament at Morehead City, but two have already been recorded. Builder’s Choice moved into third at at 431.8, and Maggie had a 414.2. Game Time remains first at 516, just ahead of Release with a 504-pounder.
The first big dolphin has been weighed by Secoten at 45.6 pounds. with C-Student next at 23 pounds. The wahoo leader is Wolverine at just 23.4 pounds. I’ll add a blog tonight with additional weigh-ins.
Capt. Ron Santee Jr. had to travel a bit with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands to put together a good catch of sea bass.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar got into some bluefish on jigs before the same lures worked best as they drifted for sea bass.
The forecast is for west winds at just 5 knots before going south in the afternoon.
As noted in yesterday’s blog, Rom Whitaker was on his way in with a blue marlin which turned out to be a 504-pounder — only to be knocked back to second when Game Time arrived with a 516-pound blue. Yet, Whitaker had a good consolation prize as winner of the Fabulous Fisherman division which included carry-over money from last year when there was no 500-pounder weighed. As a result, they got a $1.7 million check and don’t have to sweat out a lead. In addition, there could be more money ahead if they hold up for second or third.
With good weather, 171 of the203-boat field fished the opener.
The only other catch that’s likely to stand up was a 155.1 pound tuna by Trashman.
There are 271 boats out today, and I’ll have an update this evening.
The 66th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament is underway at Morehead City, N.C. — and a blue is already on the way to the scales.
Veteran skipper Rom Whittaker boated the blue on his Release. If everything goes well with communications from the tournament, Ill add a blog tonight.
The Big Rock has 3302 boats entered, with a purse of $7.5 million.
The NY/NJ Bight forecast is for northeast winds at just 5-10 knots.
Who needs a million dollar yacht to catch a huge billfish? Check out the following:
Local kayak angler Tyler O’Neill caught a swordfish from kayak while jigging in the Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament in Pompano Beach, Florida. With a heart of gold, the swordfish was released due to unknown size limit and lacking an HMS permit. A true angler with respect for our marine laws! Tyler, congratulations on your epic catch! A once-in-a-lifetime catch that will be talked about for many years to come.
Capt. John Contello reports yesterday’s striped bass action on his Just Sayin in NYNJ Bight produced exceptionally large releases as follows:
“Absolute Units this morning!! Several fish over 50” a dozen over 40” One of them around 54lbs. A lot of personal bests broken today
The Golden Eagle from Belmar was able to make long drifts today before the wind got too strong. Lots of sea bass hitting, though shorts dominated. Some ling and whiting also.
The forecast remains good with west winds at 10 knots before going southwest in the afternoon.
Tight Lines 