Flying Tiger catches 350 pound blue marlin in Toms Canyon
It has been a stifling hot start to September with the heat wave and another blue marlin battle on rod and reel.
The heat could break this weekend with some passing thunderstorms. The conditions otherwise should be okay with light breezes out of the south and small seas in the forecast.
The Flying Tiger was in the Toms Canyon last Saturday fishing in the Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club's offshore open. The water was a nice blue color and 77 degrees but the Sargasso weeds were trouble all day, as the weed lines had broken up and the spreader bars kept grabbing clumps.
One of the ballyhoo on a circle hook managed to elude the weeds and draw a strike from an estimated 350-pound blue marlin, according to the boat crew. The noble fish gave them the windshield wiper look, when it shook its bill back and forth out of the water before diving deep. That was the only look they got of the fish until Trey Brehm had it leadered by the side of the boat. Nelson Zumbana was in the fighting chair on the reel with the fish. The fish was released.
More: False albacore hit inshore, more could be on the way
A lot of yellowfin tuna hit the deck from the bite that is occurring about 60 to 70 miles offshore. The fish are starting to hit the sardine and butterfish chunks, though captains are still bringing the trolling outfits.
Closer to shore, the bluefish are providing plenty of fight along the rocky Monmouth coastline. The party boats had steady action all week with blues that were for the most part running a few pounds but there was the occasional 10-pounder in the schools. There were also a number of bonito reeled in and a few more false albacore.
Capt. Rich Falcone on the Golden Eagle said the readings were good right on the surface Wednesday and they were able to hold the fish on for nice long drifts. All the fish were landed on metal jigs.
While the ocean was calm once you got off the beach, the surf was very strong with some powerful rip currents. Surf fishermen are on the lookout now for blitzing fish. Quite a few bonito and Spanish mackerel along with some false albacore were landed on Long Beach Island, according to Fisherman's Headquarters in Ship Bottom.
I was at the Brooklyn Avenue beach in Sea Girt on Labor Day and there must have been a sand crab spawn because there were millions of tiny sand crabs the size of Tic-Tacs in the wash.
What's biting: get the latest fishing reports here
Speaking of surf fishing, the Barrier Island Beach Brawl surf fishing tournament run by Nick Honachefsky, the host of Saltwater Underground, will return next month on Oct. 6 and 7. Sign-ups are available at Playa Bowls and the Crab Claw Inn in Lavallette.
The fluke boats brought in some quality fish this week. The drift wasn't always there, especially on the small pieces, forcing some captains to power drift those spots. The Jamaica II out of Brielle had a 7.6-pound fluke in the net on Wednesday, which for now is the big fish for the month of September on the boat.
Capt. Ron Kish on the Capt. Cal II also had a fluke landed that was just shy of seven pounds. Starting Monday he is sailing all-day fluke for the final weeks of the season, which wraps up Sept. 27.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ fishing: Flying Tiger's crew battles big blue marlin in Toms Canyon
