Tight Lines

A Friday evening trip with Chuck Many on his Ty Man from Gateway Marina in Highlands started well as Capt. Hans Kaspersetz hooked a rod bender on his light rod that turned out to be about a 6-pound worm-eating bluefish. I then got the right hit on sandworms drifted in Shrewsbury River, and had a good tussle with a 30-inch striper before it was released.

Chuck had to run the boat in order for us to make a proper presentation in the strong current, but Hans and I each only released a short bass before we dropped Hans off at the dock. I stuck it out with Chuck as he checked several areas, but the marks we recorded just didn’t turn into hits. I finally hooked a 26-incher upriver, but we were drifting so fast that it felt like I was trolling that bass on the surface while reeling it in.  It’s hard to believe that stripers could pass up juicy sandworms drifting past them, but I’ve seen the same thing happen on other occasions. A gusty and cool northwest wind didn’t help, but we were treated to the sight of decorated boats participating in the Festival of Lights

There was some good news on the fluke front today. Capt. Ron Santee said he had a perfect drift all day, and it turned out to be one of the top ten trips of the year so far on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. Several fares limited, and others bagged two fluke. June Benson boated a 7.4-pound fluke. There was also a showing of big sea bass.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar only picked on bluefish with jigs, but added chub mackerel on bait plus some sea bass. They have postponed Tuesday’s 16-hour tuna trip due to the forecast for that day. It will be run on Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Vinny D’Anton didn’t get any good news on stripers from Monmouth County beaches this morning, while he tried Shark River which also disappointed.

Joe Melillo, at Castaways Tackle in Point Pleasant reported that he and some shop regulars caught cocktail blues, Spanish mackerel and fluke in the local surf before the sun got high. Small metals and teasers did the job.

I took a shot at Spring Lake where those fishing before I arrived said they were bothered by snappers. They were gone when I started popping, but I did get one solid hit before heading for breakfast,

Scott Leadbeater fished his 20-foot Aquasport out of Atlantic Highlands yesterday along with Tim Moger of Belmar as they scratched out two legal fluke among some shorts off the Nay Pier and in Chapel Hill Channel in good drifting conditions with the west wind and outgoing tide. A move to Flynn’s Knoll produced two more keepers on the mussel beds.

Monday’s forecast is for west winds at 5-10 knots before becoming 10-15 with gusts to 25 in the afternoon.

The 46th White Marlin Open at Ocean City, Md. ended up yesterday with a record total of white marlin.

It’s refreshing to see a species in such good abundance at the same time we’re facing tough restrictions on most species and a virtual disappearance of such once abundant fisheries as Atlantic mackerel, winter flounder and NY/NJ Bight silver hake (whiting).

The previous record was 1358 in 2016, but the unofficial total as of Friday night was 1429 whites released plus 30  weighed in for a total of 1459.

There were also 46 blue marlin released and just the one winner boated. There were 13 sailfish and two spearfish released, while tuna fishing was slow with just 18 boated and one release reported. That also applied to dolphin until a Friday surge brought the count up to 20 weighed and one release. The nine wahoo boated were in the normal range, and the only shark was Greg Robinson’s 277.5-poumd mako on Polorizer that was worth $225,000 because it was in the Big Fish Calcutta.

The earlier blog today summarized the unofficial results, and the WMO promises official results shortly which I’ll pass along.

Good weather continues tomorrow with winds of 5-10 knots northwest , becoming west in the afternoon.

The Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands reported somewhat more keeper fluke and sea bass in beautiful weather today. One angler had a fluke limit.

A few school stripers fell for poppers on Monmouth County beaches this morning, and there was also a showing of cocktail blues. Lots of Spanish mackerel were spotted jumping far out of range.

The million-dollar mark was well passed by two boats in the White Marlin Open which ended last night in Ocean City, Maryland.$1.5 million Tommy Hinkle was the winner with a 79.5-pound white on Fish Whistle which made him the first to win the WMO twice. He did that  this time in the Small Boat Division, and took home $1,500,000.

Nathan Walker had taken the lead right away with a 74-pounder on Chasin Tail, but wasn’t in all the Calcuttas and took a big hit revenue for second place though $135,000 is still a good week’s work. It was Michael Wagner on the third place Backlash who got the other $1.5 million prize for a 73.5-pounder.

Only one blue marlin met the 114-inch minimum for weighing, and Craig Dickerson swept the category on his Haulin N Ballin with a 465.5-pounder for $900,000.

Frank Criscola barely missed out on a million, but was happy to settle for $940,000 on his Crisdel from Brielle Yacht Club as Russel Garufi reeled in a 201-pound bigeye to win the tuna division.

There were lots of changes the last day in dolphin and wahoo as Play Mate won $18,000 for a 41-pound dolphin, and Give It Away took $16,000 for a huge 91-pound wahoo,

I’ll have a complete list of major prize winners and other details in my blog this evening.

There was some confusion with the Marlin Cam, but it appears all the big money leaders held their places while there was a massive turnover in dolphin and wahoo. I’ll double check everything and add a blog in the morning.

As this is being written, boats have just concluded fishing in the canyons before making the long run back to Ocean City, Md. for the final weigh-in to determine how the White Marlin Open purse of $6, 143,000 will be split up.

As noted in last night’s late blog, there was a dramatic change in the biggest money division of the contest as Jimmy Hinkle brought a 79.5-pound white marlin to the scale on Fish Whistle. He was a winner in 2008 and is entered in the Small Boat Division which builds his prospective earnings up to $1,460,000. Nathan Walker on Chasin Tail led from the first day with a 74-pound white. Though the huge pay-off was denied, he should be able to make it home with $135,000.  The third place Backlash +will provide Michael Wagner with a $1,500,000 award for buying into all the Calcuttas.

Haulin N Ballin has had no competition in blue marlin for their 465.5-pounder and $740,000. Frank Criscola’s Crisdel from Brielle Yacht Club boated a 201-pound bigeye tuna the first day, and I predicted that would be hard to beat. So far that’s been true, and it could be worth 940,000.

Game Changer has been leading the way in dolphin with a 35.5-pounder, and The Natural has made a runaway in wahoo with an 82-pounder.  The shark division doesn’t attract much attention, but 277.5-pound mako on Polorizer is also in the Big Fish Calcutta and could pay off $225,000.

There were 268 boats eligible to fish on the last day.

The species count for Thursday included 38 white marlin released and two boated; one blue marlin released; three tuna boated; and one dolphin brought to the scale.

I’ll have the major winners in my late blog, and all the details as soon as they become available over the weekend.

Phil Fischer reports he dodged thunderstorms in Raritan Bay yesterday, but came up with two legal weakfish up to a 4-pounder plus kingfish and two keeper fluke — but not the porgies which had been plentiful at this time last year.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported very good jigging today for 2-4-pound bluefish plus some sea bass.

Capt. Howard Bogan hasn’t been reporting this week because he was fishing in Ocean City with Nighthawk III. They got a thrill when J.P. Monteverdi fought a 54.5-pound wahoo that tied for third at that time and was the daily winner which could lead to a $16,000 pay-off. He said Wednesday was the only slow day locally for the Big Jamaica 7:30 a.m. daily trips, though bonito have been scarce this week while chub mackerel dominate.

The Monmouth County surf continues to produce a few school stripers on poppers. At least it did for Vinny D’Anton who released two and Frank Manzi who hooked one — though I couldn’t buy a hit among all the surfers enjoying the swells.

Capt. Vinny Vetere said striper fishing in Hudson River was no good today, but he ran to L.I. Sound with his Katfish from Great Kills to limit with bass up to a 46-incher.

Kiss a million goodbye — white marlin leader overturned

After fighting off many challengers, Chasin Tail finally got caught as their quest for a million dollar plus payoff was detoured when Fish Whistle weighed a 79.5-pound white marlin in the White Marlin Open at Ocean City, Md. That leaves Tommy Winkle in the lead for $1,460,000 as the contest concludes Friday. If the leaderboard is correct at 10 p.m., that was today’s only significant change.

After two opening days of great weather and canyon fishing at the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland as most of the fleet sailed, there was a little turn in the weather Wednesday with boats taking a beating returning in the afternoon plus some rain during weigh-ins. Yet. 120 boats used one of their three fishing days. I didn’t do the late blog because there was little movement in the standings.

Graham Ward brought in an unusually large 121-pound yellowfin tuna to match against the bigeyes, and Reeldiculous took over fourth in tuna that could be worth $100,000 because that boat is in the small boat division. Nighthawk III weighed a fine 54.5-pound wahoo, but that’s well short of the 82-pound leader by The Natural.

The species count for Day 3 was 227 white marlin released plus two that made the 68-inch  minimum for weighing  but fell short of the leaders,  — plus six released blue marlin, the first two spearfish of the contest, one sailfish, and one each wahoo, tuna, and dolphin weighed.

The tournament record for whites is 1,358 set in 2016 when there were similar water conditions. There were 103 boats out today, and the rest of the fleet of 404 will be using their last day tomorrow. Check for my late blog if there are any significant weigh-ins.

The Monmouth County surf has been producing some school stripers recently. I gave that a shot this morning and was pleased to release three bass of 20 1/2,  24 and 24 1/2 inches on a small Gibbs popper while casting around surfers enjoying the fairly large swell. Nothing wild, but I’m always delighted with any striper on a popper in August. Frank Manzi reported a couple more surf schoolies today, and Vinny D’Anton released a few in Shark River.  The regulars at Bay Head said they had some cocktail blues up to 12 inches plus short weakfish early — but there were no signs of Spanish mackerel.

Capt. Joe Massa decided to make the long run from Morgan Marina to the mid-range grounds for bluefin tuna on Sunday, along with Jim Peters, A.J. Orlando and Dave Rubek on his My Three Sons. They had their best luck in the afternoon as a 52-incher was jigged, and Massa cast a big popper to tuna breaking around cownose rays to get into a 1 1/3-hour battle on spinning tackle with a very fat 46-incher.  The trip ended up totaling 164 miles.

Capt. Jim Freda has been getting into those tuna consistently with his Shore Catch out of Manasquan Inlet. He says both “overs” and “unders” can be jigged off bottom in 140-160 feet with jigs of 80-120 grams. A visitor from San Diego jigged a 54-incher last week.

The wind is predicted to shift to the northwest on Friday at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20.  Saturday is looking ideal with west winds at 10-15 knots.

There’s usually not a lot of difference between large white marlin, and every one meeting the minimum length to be weighed becomes a  heartstopper for the leaders at the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Md. as a few ounces may mean millions of dollars.

The crew of Chasin Tail has led since Day 1 with a  74-pound white that’s currently worth $1,450,000, but they had to sweat out nine weigh-ins yesterday. Backlash barely missed catching up to them by eight ounces as they took over second at 73.5 pounds. Ironically, their fish is worth even more at $1.5 million as they are in more Calcuttas. The big loser was the previous second place boat, Reel Chaos, which dropped out of the big money when Cricket took over third with a 71-pounder currently worth $89,000.

I had some trouble with my late blog last night, but the feature of it was the weigh-in of the first blue marlin by Haulin N Ballin at 465.5 pounds. That blue would be worth $740,000 if it stands up,

Though Crisdel wasn’t challenged for first in tuna with their 201-pound bigeye worth $940,000, the relatively small tuna in second and third were moved out as Mjolnir boated a 145.5 -pound tuna and The Right Place was close behind at 135 pounds.

Game Changer leads in dolphin at 35.5 pounds, but Viking 72 moved into second with a 33-pounder. The Natural is way ahead in wahoo at 82 pounds, though Keepin It Reel took over second a 61.5 pounds.

The species count for Day 2 was again impressive with billfish. There were 473 whites released and nine boated for a total of 482 whites by the 335 boats that fished. There were also 23 blue marlin released in addition to the one weighed. Most interesting was the seven sailfish released after only one the first day. Sailfish are a rarity in the canyons. The other species landed were in modest numbers with just four tuna, three dolphin and one wahoo. That may be because leaderboads were filled and boaters didn’t bother weighing much smaller fish.

After most of the fleet sailed during the first two days with perfect weather, I figured few would do so today in order to save a day for the end of the contest. Yet, 120 boats headed out into a forecast of possible storms late in the day.  I’ll summarize the results later tonight.

Others seem to be having a hard time catching big fluke, but it’s been no problem for John Letizia. As noted in last week’s blog, he ran his boat out of Manasquan Inlet to the north to just miss doormat status with a 9 3/4-pound fluke. Yesterday he waited until his target  had lunch — and it weighed 10 pounds, 6 ounces as a true doormat.

Capt. Vinnie Vetere of Katfish from Great Kills said striper fishing was tough Tuesday, though one near 30 pounds was caught. He noted that jumbo porgies have moved into waters off the Rockaway jetty, and took his party there to load up on scup to 15.5 inches.

Bob Matthews from Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina reported better ocean fluking. The Ocean Explorer had a 10-pound, 5-ounce doormat last week along with 7-and8-pounders.  There are some keepers in the river for his rentals along with lots of shorts.  The surf has some small blues and stripers plus lots of kingfish. The mid-range grounds continue to produce bluefin tuna up to over 100 pounds with regularity.

The Monmouth County surf was good to Frank Manzi this morning as he caught four bass up to a rare legal 29-incher that was also released. Vinny D’Anton and I fished Shark River which looked good, but was dead. Just before leaving, with a thunder storm coming, Vinny caught a 26-inch bass on a Chug Bug  — and then I got the skunk off on my last cast as a fat 22-inch bass hit a Band of Anglers Spin Dart plastic.

Joe Melillo reports from Castaways Tackle in Point Pleasant that the local surf came alive again with early morning cocktail blues plus some fluke, Spanish mackerel and small weakfish. Use small lures of an ounce or less.

Though there wereseveral changes on Day 2 of the White Marlin Open at Ocean City, Md., all the leaders survived. The first blue marlin eligible for weighing was a 465.5pounder on Haulin N Balln.

Two whites fell just short of first, but took over the next two spots with a 73.5-pounder on Backlash, and a 71 on Cricket. Viking 72 took over second in dolphin with a 33-pounder, and Right Hook moved to fourth with a 28.5-pounder.

Frank Criscola’s Crisdel from Brielle Yacht Club had to wait in a long line to weigh-in their bigeye tuna yesterday evening at the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland, but the wait was worthwhile as Russ Garufi’s catch took over first in tuna by a mile at 201 pounds. That put Crisdel in line for $940,000. The only tuna even close to it was then weighed at 101 pounds for Chuck Metz on Theresa Jean.

Though bigeyes get much bigger, it’s not easy to come up with such a fish during the few days of a tournament, and while fishing under IGFA rules. Crisdel boated a 265-pounder about a week ago after a very long fight on 50-pound,

The information in the final blog last night was wrong except for the white marlin. I waited an hour after the scales closed to get the day’s final results, but the tournament hadn’t updated their leaderboards.

The tuna board going into today had Bar South third at 77.5 pounds, followed by M.R, Ducks at 72 and Eastbound at 69 pounds. There was no dolphin leaderboard at all last night, but Game Changer has the lead at 35.5 pounds, followed by Ditchdigger Too at 30.5 pounds and Top Notch at 27 pounds. Rather than no wahoo, there were enough to fill the board. The Natural had a 82-pounder that was the sixth largest in the 46 years of the WMO. That’s going to be a tough one to beat! Camecelin is second at 54.5 pounds, and Sweetums has third with a 50.5-pounder. There were no blue marlin big enough to weigh, but a 277.5-pound mako shark was weighed by Greg Robinson on Polerizer. That division doesn’t pay much, but the mako leads the Big Fish Calcutta worth $225,000.

As noted last night, there are two white marlin weighed for the biggest pay-offs — with Chasin Tail first at 74 pounds and Reel Chaos at 70 pounds.

There were lots of whites released the first day, with the count at 415 plus eight long enough to be brought to the scales. There were 17 blue marlin releases. Fish brought to the scales included eight tuna, eight dolphin, four wahoo and one shark. However, there were 389 of the 404 boats fishing yesterday. Today there are 335 boats fishing, which means there won’t be as many boats fishing the last two days as is normally the case.  I’ll try to get today’s “really final” results for a later blog after the scales close at 9:15.

There was a little flurry of striper action yesterday morning when the tide turned in at Shark River as I switched to a Tsunami Sand Eel since there didn’t appear to be any blues around — and caught two 23-inch bass while losing another I later added a smaller bass on the way out, Vinny D’Anton had the turn timed for 7:15 this morning, and we waited around for it. I released a 25-inch striper right at 7:15, but there was no blitz, I added a 20-incher, and Vinny caught a 24-incher on a Chug Bug before everyone left. Vinny had caught five smaller bass early, when I caught the only blue — a 4-pounder on a Z Man Swimmerez.

Both Tommy Cox and Frank Manzi did as well working Monmouth County beaches this morning despite the very low tides.

Dan Brodzinski once again proved that it pays to have a rod with you any time you go to the beach. He took his wife to Sandy Hook for a beach supper Sunday evening, but waded out in the shallow water to catch a short fluke. He then saw something move aand switched to his Tin Teaser to get hit by what turned out to be a cownose ray of about 40 pounds which he fought for an hour before getting it close enough to cut off.

There’s a small craft advisory posted for Wednesday morning to night, with seas building to 4-6 feet. South winds at 10-15 knots in the morning increase to 15-20 with gusts to 25 in the afternoon — when there’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported catching blues and bonito on jigs this morning before switching to chub mackerel sea bass and ling later.

Capt. Vinny Vetere said weekend striper fishing was tough, and he had to work hard to cover his striper guarantee on Katfish from Great Kills.