Sorry for the delay. Was hoping to get a report from the Flukemasters Tournament, but nothing so far.
At Belmar, the Big Mohawk had a decent pick of fluke until they lost the drift in the afternoon. There were some limits, and the pool fluke was about 6 pounds.
The Golden Eagle reported getting into big porgies as well as bluefish and even little tunny.
the forecast is for northeast winds at just 5-10 knots before going southeast in the afternoon.
Michael Caruso, president of The Fisherman. reports Tanaku Lodge at Elfin Cove. Alaska is loaded with fish that all seem to be big!
One of the world’s biggest offshore tournaments is coming up this week as the White Marlin Open at Ocean City, Maryland runs its 50th event from Aug. 7-11. Fishing starts Monday with an even bigger purse for high rollers as $50,000 will get you into a winner take all division for the biggest white marlin. Last year there were 408 boats entered in the WMO competing for a purse of $8.6 million.
NYC Capt. John Mc Murry reports yellowfin tuna are well within range and bigger than ever. He estimated the 63-incher shown to be 125-150 pounds. Poppers have been most effective– and you can imagine what a thrill it is to get a surface strike from a fish like that! Fortunately, the relatively shallow depths to the east are in the angler’s favor. Years ago, I hooked a 170-pounder off Panama on a popper that went down to the “bottomless” depths of the Pacific and tied me up on spinning tackle for 5 1/2 hours.
The forecast for Saturday is great with northwest winds at just 5-10 knots.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had a charter today and stayed closer to shore for a pick of sea bass and fluke . That boat’s Exotics trip on Monday has been postponed, so they will be making their daily bluefish trips instead.
Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park reports Spanish mackerel are showing up for surfcasters.
Not only is it Shark Week on TV, but the August issue of The Fisherman includes my article “Why is the public falling in love with sharks? Check that out to get both sides of the story.
The grand champion of the 2023 Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship is the highly experienced team fishing aboard Builder’s Choice, composed of Capt. Brent Gaskill, angler-owner Harris Huddle, Meredith Huddle, Eli Blake, Nathan Newlin, David Herbst, Robert Cowan and Rick Scheper. Fishing aboard their 64-foot Jarrett Bay, the team released 16 blue marlin and five white marlin for a total of 8,500 points during the three-tournament series. The team was awarded champion’s trophies, VanMark Jewelry championship rings, a lavish prize package, the first-place check for $49,500, and an invitation to the Costa Offshore World Championship. Builder’s Choice collected a total of $149,500 in cash awards throughout the tournament season.
The inshore bluefin run continues to be impressive. Shore Catch has been boating those 55 to 68-inch tuna regularly. Mate James Tafaro shows off a typical bluefin
Joe Tomaszewski also got into that action on his boat with this 54-incher:
Fisher Price IV from Highlands put the Bob Dennis party into a 59-inch bluefin while also releasing a 48-incher.
That boat has an opening for fluke on Saturday from 6-2. Call 732 861-3394.
TheThursday forecast is for southwest winds at just 5-10 knots before going south at 15-20 with gusts to 25 in the afternoon.
Kil Song warmed up for giant tuna fishing in Cape Cod Bay yesterday with this yellowfin from Westport, Massachusetts — but lost two giants estimated at 300-400 and over 550 pounds with Jimmy the Greek this morning.
The up-and-down fluke fishing which has been the norm this season took a break Tuesday as Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands reported a second straight days of excellent action with many limits. That boat is chartered Wednesday, but will be back on its daily schedule Thursday,
Port-A-Bella won theHUK Big Fish Classic last week at Ocean City, Maryland by boating a 228.5-pound bigeye tuna worth $224,205 in the 69-boat, $740,900 purse contest.
Reel One added a 171-pound bigeye . and Black Irish had a 130-pound swordfish during the event. Take Em won the dolphin division at only 15.5 pounds. No Slack weighed an impressive 99-pound yellowfin which was leading in tuna until the last day.
Max DeGennaro fought this bluefin tuna from Capt. Dave DeGennaro’s Hi Flier out of Barnegat.
Capt. Frank Masseria had his family out for a fine catch of fluke this week. His Vitamin Sea from Keyport is available on Friday. Call 917 439-6448.
Wednesday’s forecast is for northeast winds at only 5-10 knots before going southeast in the afternoon.
The porgy season in New Jersey opened today with a limit of 30 at a 10-inch minimum through the rest of the year.
At Belmar, the Big Mohawk had tough morning fluke fishing due to a 20 mph north wind, but ended up with some limits as conditions improved.
The Golden eagle only picked at small blues today after hitting large quantities yesterday. Some sea bass and fluke were added.
Capt. Joe Massa of My Three Sons at Morgan Marina is best known as a striper and fluke pro, but he ran down the beach yesterday to fish on a lump loaded with squid which produced a 54-inch bluefin on relatively light tackle for him. Best of all, he also ended up jigging lots of calimari!
As noted in yesterday’s blog. Dave Lilly’s team came down to the weigh-in for the Holiday Bay Beach Club Fluke Tournament to be the big winner. but Sue Misak claimed a second place — and she’s better-looking!
Capt, John Contello reported yesterday as follows: “Very good Fluke fishing today once again! Joey and crew of experienced anglers fished hard from start to finish. Boxed our 6 man limit of 18 keepers and released another dozen Fluke over 18 inches!! Scales was high hook with a triple limit of 9 keepers himself! (Orl) Great fishing with a great crew. Having a lot of fun down here. Tuna fishing was no good today after the madness they had yesterday. That’s how it goes, everyday is different. Back at it again soon. Thanks guys! #justsayinsportfishing #justsayintackle #sharpie”
At Belmar. the Golden Eagle fished inshore yesterday to catch sea bass and fluke. including some keepers. The Big Mohawk had slower fluking yesterday, but that fishing was better today.
Capt. Ron Santee had two productive fluke charters over the weekend, and found some bigger fish today on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as a 7 7/16-pounder barely missed the monthly pool — and many over 3 pounds were boated. That boat is chartered Wednesday.
The Wizz did it again! Since weigh-ins by car were acceptable in the Holliday Beach Club Fluke Tournament, Dave Lilly’s team was able to fish their familiar and productive NY/NJ Bight waters before driving to Creekside Outfitters in Waretown to sweep everything in the contest– starting with Nick LaViola’s 9.5-pounder They added 6-and-5 1/2-pounders while releasing many 3-4-pound fluke despite wind against current conditions in the depths of Ambrose Channel.
Lilly said they ended up fishing with 16 ounces in order to hold bottom in 105 feet at the time the big fluke turned on to jigs and Gulp for the seventeenth win of his tournament career.
Dave Lully’s son Jeremy holds Nick La Viola’s 9.5-pounder plus a 6 as his father’s team weighed in at Waretown
As the annual JCAA statewide fluke tournament illustrates, the top 10 at northern Jersey ports are much larger than those at southern ports.
Striped bass are still a target in the N.Y. Harbor area. Capt. Joe Massa has not only been targeting them at times, but also released a 46-incher while drifting Gulp for fluke.
apt.
Chris Hendo with one of the many large stripers still being caught from Capt. Vinny Vetere’s Katfish out of Great Kills.
Gen Wong with a NY/NJ Bight fluke
The cold front this morning was a negative for the school stripers and small blues that had been hitting plugs for Vinny D’Anton in the Monmouth County surf. Yet that was no problem at all for the fluke as there was a hit on every cast with Gulp — though none were keepers.
Monday’s forecast is for northwest winds at just 5-10 knots before going west in the afternoon.
The Big Fish Classic has 69 boats fishing for a purse of $746,000 out of Ocean City , Maryland. With the offshore forecast for Monday looking good, most boaters are expected to start their overnighters tomorrow.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro will be running open with his Hi Flier from Barnegat to the 20-mile tuna spot from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow and Monday. A big bluefin tuna was lost after a two-hour fight on Tuesday, but Matt Dlugosz of Berkeley Hts., NJ. boated a 45-inch. 30-pound cobia. Call Dave at 732 330-5674 for reservations.
The forecast is for north winds at 10 knots before going northeast 5-10 in the afternoon.
Jim Hutchinson Sr. reports:
Recent hot temperatures show it is mid-summer in Beach Haven, making a fishing trip on the water aboard one of the boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association a cooling activity.
Add in the excitement of fishing and the chance to bring home a fresh fish dinner, it becomes a winning situation all the way around. Summer flounder fishing continues to dominate the inshore fishing scene with more yellowfin tuna showing up in the canyons.
The party boat “Miss Beach Haven” has been scoring well on both fluke and black sea bass with the best action at the Little Egg Reef. Although most trips have seen crowds, they advise there are seats available for future trips.
Captain Gary Dugan on the “Irish Jig” reported tough fishing on a recent trip but his hard-working group managed black sea bass, a 21-inch fluke, and a big cownose ray caught by Derrick along with numerous released fish.
Captain Connor Smilon of “FishHawk Charters” had a 2-hour afternoon trip with returning clients Krystal and Rob that turned into a 3-hour trip due to constant action. They finished with over twenty short fish and two keeper fluke to 21-inches.”
Sean Worrell boated an amberjack of about 40 pounds today while fishing a live threadfin herring from Bob Correll’s new Sea Vee 32 out of Hutchinson Island, Florida along with Luis Gonzalez and me.
Fluke pro Dave Lilly has been impressed with this year’s fluke fishing as every trip has produced lots of action even if the big ones he’s seeking don’t always cooperate. He only had one angler with him a couple of days ago as his offshore spots produced 40 fluke.
The Big Mohawk from Belmar reported another good day of fluking with a bunch of limits and a pool fish of about 6 pounds today.
The forecast is for southwest winds at 5-10 knots before increasing to 10-15 plus gusts to 20 in the afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms are possible.
Vinny D’Anton continues to enjoy a good bit of action with small stripers and blues which are hitting both poppers and swimming plugs in the Monmouth County surf where small peanut bunkers are providing the attraction. A couple of mornings ago there was a 26-inch striper included.
Capt. John Contello has been doing well with fluke on his Just Saying from Highlands.
Capt. Ken Zwirko was back before breakfast this week with this bluefin
Jersey Coast Anglers Association Heavy Hitters Fluke Tournament 8/3 – 8/6 Once again, JCAA is running its Heavy Hitters Fluke Tournament for four days, 8/3-8/6. We realize that not everyone can fish two, three, or four days so to be fair to everyone, each boat will be limited to fishing only one day. However, each entrant will be able to choose the day they fish. We are hopeful that we will have nice weather on at least one of those days. We have made some significant adjustments to our rules. It is most important to read the rules pertaining to the doormat fluke category where you can win $25,000., as the names the Captain and crew members must be provided to SCA promotions by 9 PM on 8/4. Of course, that is only for those who designate Saturday, 8/5 as their fishing day. There is no special entry fee for the doormat fluke category. We also lowered the entrance fee with hope that we will attract more participants. As we did last year, prizes will be based on the weight of the single largest fluke. We would prefer to use a 3 fluke total but did this because New Jersey only allows one fish over 18”, which means 3 different anglers would have to catch a larger fluke to be competitive. Some of our entrants fish with only one or two anglers. However, we will still have 1 fluke and 3 fluke Calcuttas for those who want to compete in that more skilled category. We will also have sea bass Calcuttas. We plan on paying out about 50% of the entrance fees minus the cost of the doormat fluke category insurance for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes. The entry fee per boat is $150 after 7/26 for up to 6 anglers/people per boat. Visit www.jcaa.org to register online or to print an application or for complete details.
Capt. Ron Santee is glad he made a move to the ocean on Wednesday with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands as large fluke cooperated. Lou Lauria started off with a personal best of 7 5/16 pounds which was just short of the monthly leader that only held up until Richie Gringo boated an 8 1/16-pounder.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had jumbo sea bass action in the Mud Hole today, but the chub mackerel and bluefish they read in the slick weren’t hitting.
The weather looks a lot better tomorrow, with a west wind at just 5-10 knots — shifting to south in the afternoon.
Atlantic yellowfin tuna caught on his boat from Brielle — 69 inches – 178 pounds
Tight Lines 