This week’s blog about a 5-foot tarpon being caught in Nantucket has to be corrected.. It came from Mike Monte of Nantucket, but he was reporting something he’d heard from Mashpee on Cape Cod. I hope I didn’t cause overcrowding on the ferry by Yankee tarpon seekers.

Bill Venezia is the new monthly pool leader on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. He boated a 9-pounder today. Capt. Ron Santee said the drift was very fast, but those who used lots of lead and worked hard did well. That boat is chartered on Saturday.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had good jigging on the hills today for 2-4-pound blues plus some bonito. Limits were common.

Capt. Ralph Leyrer is a bottom fishing specialist on his Last Lady from Belmar, but he scheduled a tuna trip this week which produced a 50-inch bluefin. Then he got back to his specialty with a big catch of triggerfish. Leyrer has an opening this Wednesday for triggers and porgies.

Jack Ralston fished both half-day trips of the Gambler from Point Pleasant this week, and won the pool each time. His largest fluke was a 23.5-inch, 4.7-pounder.

The Jamaica from Brielle had fine variety fishing Wednesday as blues, sea bass, fluke and chub mackerel were joined by king and Spanish mackerel plus bonito.

The Paramount from that port is starting squid jigging trips at 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday,

A small craft warning is up for Friday. Southwest winds at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 are predicted . Showers and thunderstorms are likely.

The White Marlin Invitational is being contested out of Beach Haven. If there are some outstanding catches weighed, I’ll add a blog after the scales close tonight.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) will hold the fourth annual Women’s Fishing Expo at Connetquot River State Park Preserve on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.“New York is home to some of the world’s best fishing destinations and DEC is proud of the fact that women are a fast-growing segment of the fishing and outdoor recreation community,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “The annual Women’s Fishing Expo gives participants the skills and knowledge to feel confident about getting outdoors and casting a line.” “Fishing is a great way to enjoy the beauty of our great State Parks year-round,” State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said. “We’re glad to work with DEC to offer this Women’s Expo again, which opens up opportunities to learn more about a lifelong sport and make it a family experience or simply a quiet getaway.” “DEC is happy to be partnering with New York State Parks once again to bring back the Women’s Fishing Expo for its fourth year,” DEC Regional Director Cathy Haas said. “These expos are tremendously effective in introducing more women to Long Island’s plentiful fly-fishing opportunities and we look forward to its continuing success this year.” The Women’s Fishing Expo will provide hands-on instruction and experiential learning in a fun and supportive environment. This event will be run primarily by women anglers and fisheries professionals and will also feature women-owned businesses and fishing clubs for networking opportunities. Everyone is welcome to attend, although the event is focused on introducing women and girls to fishing.Expo activities begin at 10 a.m. and are free of charge. Participants will be able to learn about fishing on Long Island and statewide, fishing basics and intermediate fishing skills, basic knots, fly-tying demonstrations, fly-casting instruction, fisheries management information, a trout hatchery tour, marine fishing information, and free fly fishing on the renowned Connetquot River. Fly casting and flyfishing are limited to those aged 14 and older.This is a rain or shine event. Spots are limited, and pre-registration is required. For more information, or to register, call the DEC’s I FISH NY Program at (631) 444-0283, or email fwfish1@dec.ny.gov with the subject title ‘Women’s Fishing Expo.’A vehicle use fee of $8 will be in effect. Parking is free for Empire Passport holders. The 2023 Empire Passport can be purchased for $80 at State Parks offices, or online at the New York State Parks website.For information about freshwater fishing on Long Island, call the DEC Bureau of Fisheries at (631) 444-0283, e-mail fwfish1@dec.ny.gov or visit DEC’s website.In 2022, 19.8 million women went fishing in the U.S., a 40-percent increase over the past decade according to the latest annual Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) Special Report on Fishing. This is the highest number the group has recorded since participation tracking began in 2007. Overall, women make up 36 percent of fishing participants, according to the report.New York State has expanded recreational opportunities of residents and tourists, positioning New York as a recreation destination, connecting communities to State lands, and improving the quality of life. The NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative is an effort to improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women and to boost tourism activities throughout the state. This includes streamlining fishing and hunting licenses, reducing license fees, improving access for fishing, and increasing hunting opportunities. In support of this initiative, $10 million in NY Works funding was dedicated to fish hatchery repairs and 50 new land and water access projects such as boat launches, hunting blinds, trails, and parking areas.To further encourage fishing, DEC and partners hold free clinics throughout the state and offer Free Fishing Days since 1991 to allow all people the opportunity to sample the incredible fishing New York has to offer. For a current schedule, visit the DEC website. The site will be updated as new events are added throughout the year.

\

Yesterday’s blog featured a sheepshead just a little bit lost in Raritan Bay, but Mike Monte easily topped that one with a report of a five-foot tarpon caught in the Nantucket surf. The surprised angler was fishing a chunk of bluefish for sharks.

Closure: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category (Commercial) Fishery

FISHERY: General Category Bluefin Tuna

CLOSED: August 17, 2023, 11:30 pm – August 31, 2023

REASON FOR CLOSURE:

Based on the best available landings information, the 355.4 mt quota is projected to be reached and exceeded shortly

PERMITS AFFECTED:

Atlantic Tunas General category permitted vessels and highly migratory species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for bluefin tuna.

Commercial fishermen aboard vessels with an Atlantic Tunas General category or HMS
Charter/Headboat permit may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna from 11:30 p.m., August 17, 2023 through August 31, 2023. Previously-designated restricted-fishing days (RFDs) for the rest of the June through August time period will be waived when this closure takes effect.

RECREATIONAL: Not affected by this

The Bolden Eagle from Belmar had very good jigging for 2-4-pound blues on their first two drifts, and then continued to pick as everyone limited while adding some large bonito.

Thursday’s forecast is for southeast winds at 5-10 knots with a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon.

The Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club’s 54th White Marlin Invitational is underway –and I should have some results tomorrow. Crisdel was last year’s big winner with a 194.3-pound bigeye.

Catching a fish species where it doesn’t “belong” is always a memorable experience, but doing it twice is really a long shot.

I was casting for weakfish with Capt. Joe Massa from his My Three Sons out of Morgan Marina on Sept. 9, 2013 when we were running out of sand worms and I decided to try a Gulp Jerk Shad on my jig head — soon hooking up with a much tougher fish. When I first saw it, I thought it might be a juvenile black drum, but a Florida angler was with us and immediately identified it as a sheepshead. That 20-inch fish weighed 7 pounds on my scale before being released. I thought that would be my sheepshead personal record for a long time, but got lucky again in 2018 when I hooked a 23-inch 9 1/4-pounder while drifting sandworms for weakfish at the Verrazano Bridge with Chuck Many.

Massa was releasing blackfish yesterday on rough bottom in the bay when an 18-inch sheepshead hit his jig tipped with crab. He released that beautiful surprise catch, though sheepshead are a very good eating fish.

Gerardo Ciriello with big sheepshead from Cape Fear

Most anglers consider sheepshead to be a Florida fish, but they are actually common in N.J. from the south jetty of Barnegat Inlet to Cape May.

The forecast is for northeast winds at just 5-10 knots — changing to southeast in the afternoon.

Capt. Ron Santee said a 6 a.m. downpour kept many anglers away, but those who got aboard the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands were happy with catches of fluke up to 5 1/2 pounds.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had jigging limits of small blues plus some larger bonito up to an estimated 8-pounder by Ron Bara. Most fares also had their single sea bass allowed at this time.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported several bonito yesterday, but today there was a real bite as their anglers caught up to 10 of the 3-5-pounders along with limits of small blues and the one sea bass a man presently allowed.

Adam La Rosa of the Canyon Runner advises anglers who would like to experience the thrill of tournament fishing may be able to do so at a reasonable cost by joining a party on the Restless Lady 2. Call them for details at 302 382-8422. Adam says the Canyon Runner has an unusual opening for the MRMTC Offshore Open from Aug. 29-Sept. 2. Call him at 732 272-4445.

The forecast is for southwest winds at 10-15 knots. Showers are likely.

Chuck Many has been off the radar lately, but before heading back down to Hilton Head he fished a local pond to release a nice bass.

Fisher PriceIV sent this after winning the tournament.

The captains meeting for the 46th annual Ocean City Marlin & Tuna Club is today as fishing runs from Monday to Saturday.

The Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club runs its 54th annual White Marlin Invitational from Aug. 16-19. Visit thewmit.com for details.

The BIG ONE, The MidAtlantic, runs out of Cape May from Aug. 20-25. Contact South Jersey Tournaments at 609 884-0177 or visit southjerseytournaments.com for info.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar got into small blues off the beaches this morning, and also drifted some fluke and sea bass — but had some additional good news as several 4-pound bonito were caught.

The forecast is for northwest winds at a mere 5 knots before turning south in the afternoon.

After the 400-boat field failed to hook a marlin big enough to weigh all week, Floor Reel came through with a worthy winner on the last day as John Ols won $ 6.2 million for a 640.5-pound blue marlin. There was some confusion at first as Skirt Chaser brought in a white marlin of the proper length only to watch it weighed at 67.5 pounds — below the additional 70-pound minimum. Then a blue marlin was submitted by another boat, but was two inches short of the minimum.

As the WMO notes “The blue marlin from the Floor Real left no doubt when it was measured at 118” in the boat before electrifying the crowd while tipping the scales at 640.5 pounds. It proved to be the only qualifying billfish and wins most of the money for both white and blue marlin. The $6.2 million won sets a new world record for the catch of a fish, breaking the previous world record of $4.45 million won in last year’s Open by Jeremy Duffie for his 77.5-pound white marlin.

Two new millionaires were minted in the tuna categories. Ro Sham Bo out of Ocean City, MD weighed a 215 bigeye tuna caught by Rusty Shriver of Leonardtown, MD. The fish won all $1,700,000 in the $50K winner take all level because no white marlin or blue marlin were caught in that division and all prize money was diverted to the top tuna.”

I’ll have more info after official results are posted.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported plenty of small blues this morning right outside the inlet. When that jigging slowed, they drifted for sea bass and fluke.

Capt. Ron Santee found no wind or drift with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, but managed to put together a fluke catch topped by a new monthly leader as Mr. Kim boated a 7 3/4-pounder. The Fishermen is chartered tomorrow.

The forecast is for southwest winds at just 5-10 knots with possible showers.

Though the White Marlin Open hasn’t put out any official results as yet. I’ll summerize the highlightd.

The long-awaited white marlin finally came to the scales, but Skirt Chasher missed out on over a million dollars when it failed to also meet the minimum weight. Then a blue marlin was brought in, it turned out to be just short of the minimum length.

However, the latter problem was taken care of when Floor Reel brought in a 640.5-pounder fought by John Ols.

The tuna lead changed right away as Reel Tight weighed a 265-pound bigeye tuna.boated by Brian Stewart.

I’ll have all the final results tomorrow,

The 50th anniversary White Marlin Open out of Ocean City, Md. has never before been devoid of a billfish winner, though from 1984 to 1986 there were no qualifying whites. Yet, unless 357 boats fishing their final day come through history will be changed.

It’s not that billfish have been scarce. The release count for the first four days was 431 whites, 34 blues, five sailfish and one spearfish.

The cash allocated to billfish will be moved to the tuna division if there are no qualifying marlin. At present, that would be a bonanza for Fishlik with a projected $1.2 million for a 247.5-pound bigeye. John Zimmerman moved into second yesterday on Game Over with a 221 1/2-pound bigeye. Ro Sham Bo then added a 215-pound bigeye to take over third.

I’ll have an update on today’s results after the scales close tonight.

NY/NJ Bight fluke fishing continues to be very good. Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen at Atlantic Highlands reports “

Had perfect conditions right from the start and the bite was on. Eric had his 3 on the first drift…by days end there were several customers with their 3 and then some.

Ken Peters had his three and took the daily pool and is the new Monthly pool lead with a beauty at 5 pounds 7 ounces. Lots of Great pics tonight as they always tell the story! Get here early in the AM, get your spot 1 Rod only at the rail, when we have our customers, we sail!” That boat is chartered Sunday.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar got into 1-pound blues and then flurries of 2-3-pounders today. Lots of blue were marked, but they were fussy. Some fluke and sea bass were added.

Capt. John McMurray reported lots of yellowfins on poppers and jigs

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

Vinny D’Anton reported small bass and blues have been hitting lures every morning in the Monmouth County surf. He even had a 34-inch bass on a Red Fin this week, but this morning was no good. Fluke remain steady on white Gulp.

Bigeyes were featured again at Day 4 of the White Marlin Open leaving a lot to be determined during Friday’s final day.

The boat name was appropriate as Game Over took over second in tuna with a 221.5-pound bigeye. Ro Sham Bo then added a 215-pound bigeye for third in tuna. Later on, Reel Chaos got in the mix with a 128.5-pound bigeye. Quite a few yellowfin tuna were also weighed.

Everything is up for grabs in what should be a wild finish tomorrow.

Pending the results of today’s weigh-ins, which I’ll be reporting on after the scales close, the 50th Anniversary White Marlin Open out of Ocean City, Md. has had no entries in the two big money categories for white marlin and blue marlin. If that continues, the million- dollar winner will come from the tuna category. At present, that would be Chris Mentlik, who caught a 247.5-pound bigeye tuna yesterday from his Fishlik.

If all this seems familiar, it’s much like what happened at the end last year before Billfisher broke the ice on white marlin with a 77.5-pounder for $4.4 million- and Cabana added a 511-pound blue for $960,000.

The standards are high, as blues have to be 114 inches in order to be weighed. Whites have a double standard, with 70 inches in length plus a 70-pound minimum. There’s also a swordfish category with a 60-inch minimum for which there have been no entries.

The dolphin leader is up to a 31-pounder by Maverick, and wahoo is led by Shooting Star at 57 pounds.

Fortunately, the weather looks fishable on Friday as practically the entire 400-boat fleet will be fishing. The present southwest blow will switch to a light northwest by morning.

Kil Song was testing rods on Montauk fluke aboard the Ebb Tide yesterday.