Article by Larry Jock
ANNOUNCEMENT
As a result of the change in bluefin regulations this year, allowing recreational anglers only 1 bluefin per trip measuring between 27" and 59", the Ocean City Tuna Tournament has announced the following changes:
1. Lines in at 7:00 am... lines out at 3:00 pm
2. Boats will only be allowed to weigh 1 bluefin tuna measuring 27" to less than 59" each day.
3. Only bigeye and yellowfin tuna will count in the big money, Added Entry Level "F", $5,000 Pro Jackpot. Bluefins will not count.
4. Minimum weight for tuna will be 25 lbs.
5. Added Entry Level "G" will be a 50/50 charity split with 50% going to the single largest fish and the other 50% going to charity.
You could not have asked for nicer weather then we had in Ocean City this past Independence Day weekend. Offshore waters were bumpy, especially on Sunday, but anglers still threw some nice fish on the dock.
The Canyon Kick-Off was held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On the first day, we saw mostly dolphin arrive at the scales with the “Sea Witch” weighing the only bluefin.
Saturday was a busy day, highlighted by the 106.6 lb. bluefin weighed by the “Jezebel”. The bruiser was caught just south of the Hambone in 74-degree water. Also weighed on Saturday was the 1st place dolphin, weighing 22 lbs., caught on the “Carol’s Teakettle” in Massey’s Canyon. The other highlight of the day was the “Cyntinory” releasing 3 white marlin in 500 fathoms, northeast of the Wilmington Canyon. Their 3 releases won the “Cyntinory” crew 1st place in the Billfish Division.
On Sunday, several changes were made to the leaderboard. The “Second Chance” landed an 81.8 lb. bluefin at the Hot Dog to win 2nd place in the Bluefin Division. The “Billfisher” weighed a 67.6 lb. yellowfin, caught in the Spencer Canyon, and won 1st place in the Yellowfin Division. The last boat to hit the scales was the “Playmate”, who arrived with a 62 lb. yellowfin, also caught in the Spencer Canyon, and won 3rd place in the Yellowfin Division. Both the “Lil’ Man” and the “Reel Joy” each released 2 white marlin to win 2nd and 3rd place in the Billfish Release Division.
Overall, sixty boats competed for over $45,000 in prize money with some quality fish being weighed. Kudos to Amanda, Mark and Sharon from the Marlin Club and Brian Tinkler from Sunset Marina for a well run tournament.
Bluefin Tuna
We saw bluefins being caught all week from boats running out to the triangle made up of the Twin Wrecks, Massey’s Canyon and the Hambone. The “Jezebel” weighed the largest of the week (59-inches, 106.6 lbs.), but several other bluefins over 50-inches were also landed. On Saturday, “The Zipper” returned with a 52-incher caught at the Fingers.
Most of the bluefins were caught on trolled ballyhoo with some hooked on trolled green machines.
Dolphin
A load of dolphin hit the scales during the past week, and especially over the weekend. With the warm weather we have been having, ocean temperatures have risen, resulting in dolphin being hooked as close as 5 miles off the beach. Heck, even an angler on the headboat, “Morning Star” hooked a mahi at the Great Eastern Reef early in the week.
Nearly all of the dolphin were caught by anglers targeting tuna. Catches were recorded at the Sausages, Massey’s Canyon, Poor Man’s Canyon , Chicken Bone and the Wilmington Canyon. I think you get the idea. Dolphin are spread all over our waters and are there for the catchin’.
Yellowfin Tuna
We saw some excellent catches of yellowfin tuna over the weekend. Saturday was the big day with the “Canyon Hunter” returning with 4 yellowfins (35-51 lbs.) from the Poor Man’s Canyon. “Billfisher” weighed a 54 pounder, caught in the Spencer Canyon. “Cyntinory” caught 2 yellowfins (45.2 & 49 lbs.) in the Wilmington Canyon. “Second Chance” weighed 6 yellowfins caught around the Hot Dog and the “Crush Em” boxed 5 yellowfins from deep outside the Wilmington Canyon.
On?Sunday, the best yellowfin catch we saw was the “Billfisher”, returning from the Spencer Canyon with 5 in the box weighing between 49 lbs. and 67.6 lbs. The “Lil’ Man” ended their day with 3 yellowfin caught in the Wilmington Canyon.
White Marlin
Most of the white marlin action was in the northern canyons where the “Reel Joy”, “Cyntinory” and the “Lil’ Man” each released 3 whites around the Wilmington Canyon, and the “Billfisher” released two in the Spencer Canyon. On Sunday, the “Keep Er Wet” returned from an overnight trip with a white marlin and a blue marlin release in the Wilmington Canyon. In addition to keeping a mako and 5 dolphin, they released 4 makos, 2 hammerhead sharks and 3 blue sharks during the trip.
Striped Bass
The striper bite around the South Jetty is definitely not as hot as it was a few weeks ago but anglers are still able to pick at a few while using live spot, peeler crabs, Storm lures and bucktails tipped with Gulp! artificial baits.
Flounder
We saw a lot of flounder this week, highlighted by the “Get Sum” returning with 9 keepers from their afternoon trip. The fish were caught north of the Rt. 50 Bridge in the West Channel. The “Bay Bee” also returned with some nice catches from the bay behind Assateague Island.
The largest flounders we saw this week were the twin 5 lb. 9 oz. flatties caught by Kevin Miga in the East Channel and Jimmy Fields on the outside of the South Jetty. Most of the keepers range in size from 19-inches to 22-inches.
Anglers fishing with live spot, minnows, squid and shiners are doing well, but we have seen a definite increase in the number of flounder being caught on Gulp! artificial baits, especially the Swimming Mullet. Chartreuse seems to be the hot color right now.
Sea Bass
We didn’t see a lot of sea bass come in this week except from anglers fishing on the “Morning Star” and the “Angler”. Captains Monty Hawkins and Chris Mizurak have been having luck at the Great Eastern Reef in addition to other ocean wrecks and reefs. Squid and clams have been the baits of choice when fishing for knotheads.
Upcoming Tournament
The Ocean City Tuna Tournament will be held at the Ocean City Fishing Center from Friday through Sunday. This is always one of the top tournaments of the year with exciting action at the scales. Weigh-ins are from 4:00 to 7:30 each day. With Micky Fin’s restaurant having great views of the scales, grab the family and head on over to get a bite to eat and check out the action.
See you at the scales!
