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.
Just got the following from the Viking Fleet at Montauk: “Capt Steven Jr reports another great trip with a full load of Tiles up to 42lbs, Fluke up to 9.8lbs and little bonus of 5 Bluefins. We fished a new area Tile fishing and had an abundance of smaller to medium fish and we spent the later part of the day searching in the deep and found a good shot of fish in the 25-40lb range. Fluking was steady fishing the whole time. We had the tide and everyone had their limit at the end of the day. The next Tile/Fluke trip is 6/10-6/12 and there are a couple spots left. Visit vikingfleet.com for all trip info. Book online or give the office a call at (631)668-5700.6/3-6/5 2 Day TILE/FLUKE trip! #vikingfleet#fishing#fluke#montaukfishing#vikingfivestar#offshorefishing#offshore#goldentile#vikingfleetmontauk#tilefish#Fluke
Capt. Ron Santee Jr. reported a drop-off from yesterday’s good sea bass fishing on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. There seemed to be more ling and whiting than bass in today’s catch. Jigging worked best as he read heavy sand eel concentrations which have moved inshore and the fish are stuffed with them.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a similar report as short sea bass dominated along with some ling and whiting.
The NY/NJ Bight forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 and a chance of showers.
Peacock bass have become very common in Florida, but most of them are concentrated on the east coast. Yet, Crazy Alberto Knie didn’t have to make a three-hour drive from Fort Myers in order to find some for a 4:30 p.m. trip yesterday. It didn’t take long for us to release a half-dozen by casting shiners in a very urban lake where there was no competition except for a water skier.
Congratulations to Capt. John Contello and Matt Calabria on Just Sayin Sportfishing on releasing a 53-inch 51-pound striper in NY/NJ Bight.
The forecast there is for west winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20.
The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant had a boat limit of blues that hit mostly after 10 a.m.
Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park reports surfcasters catching stripers on fresh clam baits.
The Viking Fleet at Montauk sent the following report:
Sun June 2– 2 Day Tile/Fluke
Capt Steven Sr. reports a fantastic offshore trip on the Viking Starship. Our mission for this trip was to seek out large Fluke and Tiles and we definitely succeeded! We started the first leg of the trip loading up on Golden Tiles of all sizes and made our way back Fluking pulling aboard some serious DOORMATS. All around it was a great trip with lots of fish and an even better group of guys. Steve Scanapico from East Moriches had the pool winner for both the Tile and Edible pool with a 34.6 Golden Tilefish and a 16.5 lb Hake! Jon Gossard from Teaneck, NJ had the Fluke pool with a 9.9 lb fish.
We have VERY LIMITED spaces left on our 30 Hour Nantucket Sleigh Ride leaving tomorrow (Thursday, June 6th) at 9 pm, this is one of our last offshore trips for the season! Don’t miss out, call or book online!
The forecast for NY/NJ Bight includes a small craft advisory late tonight. Friday starts with west winds at just 5-10 knots before going southwest 10-15 plus gusts to 20
Capt Steven Sr. reports a fantastic offshore trip on the Viking Starship. Our mission for this trip was to seek out large Fluke and Tiles and we definitely succeeded! We started the first leg of the trip loading up on Golden Tiles of all sizes and made our way back Fluking pulling aboard some serious DOORMATS. All around it was a great trip with lots of fish and an even better group of guys. Steve Scanapico from East Moriches had the pool winner for both the Tile and Edible pool with a 34.6 Golden Tilefish and a 16.5 lb Hake! Jon Gossard from Teaneck, NJ had the Fluke pool with a 9.9 lb fish.
We have VERY LIMITED spaces left on our 30 Hour Nantucket Sleigh Ride leaving tomorrow (Thursday, June 6th) at 9 pm, this is one of our last offshore trips for the season! Don’t miss out, call or book online!
Tight Lines 