Tuna Are Tardy
Some of the 18 boats participating in the Shinnecock Marlin and Tuna Club's fishing tournament over the weekend found tuna. Many more did not. The arrival of tuna of any species is still awaited, although schools appear to be coming closer.
The Windy VII took first place with a 44-pound yellowfin. A 36-pound bluefin was hoisted aboard the Frigate to win second-place honors, and a 35-pound albacore captured third place for the Shore.
All the tuna were caught about 40 miles offshore to the west of Shinnecock. Floyd Carrington of the Marlin and Tuna Club said boats that headed east were skunked.
Better Inshore
The Offshore Sports Marina in Montauk reports "excellent, excellent, excellent fishing. The water's alive," Gary Anderson said of the inshore action.
He agreed that offshore was slower. Fishermen working the "tails" of Block Canyon were seeing yellowfin and some big-eye tuna, he said. Bluefin giants have been spotted shouldering the water on the surface after bait, but none were taken last week.
Chuck Mallinson of the Joy Sea charter boat reportedly visited Block Canyon for a two-day trip and returned with only two yellowfin tuna, although the charter tangled with a dusky shark in the 700-pound class. The shark won.
Capt. Rob Aaronson of the Oh Brother found only one yellowfin, and a number of "mushies." The nickname for albacore is a reference to its softer flesh. Tuna fishing continues to be unusually slow.
Off Limits
And, to make matters worse, bluefin will be off limits to a great many fishermen. The National Marine Fisheries Service announced on Tuesday that the "general" category of bluefin fishermen had caught 364 metric tons of their 374-ton, June-through-August quota.
Therefore, the general category will remain closed until Sept. 2. The remainder of the June-through-August quota will be added to the September quota. The general category is a group of Federally licensed, mostly rod-and-reel commercial fishermen who target bluefin tuna.
Fluke continue to take up the slack, at least for sportfishermen. On Tuesday, "T.J." at the Gone Fishing Marina in Montauk put it in perspective: "Fluking is the best it's been in over 10 years," he said.
To The Sporties
"The bite started three weeks ahead of normal, and I have weighed more large fluke - over five pounds - than I have in a long, long time. There's tons of nice fish. Spots for big fluke that were good 10 years ago, like east of outer Shagwong [reef], are good again," T.J. said.
"And I'd be willing to bet that fall run on the south side - Ditch Plain and the Radar Tower - will be good too," he went on.
It was clear, he said, that the commercial draggers' loss has been the recreational fluke fishermen's gain. Regulations have severely limited the amount of fluke that draggers can take.
"It hasn't been economically worth the bigger boats being on the beach," T.J. said, referring to the traditional spring and fall trawl fishery that meets migrating fluke near shore on the south side of the South Fork. "It may not be the best for the commercial guys, but it's definitely best for us," T.J. said.
Paul Dixon of the Sporting Life shop in Wainscott reports that the fly-fishing action in the shallows of Napeague Harbor has slowed considerably because dense clouds of baitfish are keeping striped bass sated. For the past week or so bass have been found in other places, most taken in the afternoon.
Then a big surprise on Aug. 6 and again last Thursday - huge weakfish feeding under bluefish schools. Steve Grossman of East Hampton and Laura Anker Grossman, his spouse, caught at least a dozen weaks on Clauser minnow flies aboard one of Mr. Dixon's boats. "We hooked at least 20," the fly-fishing charterman said. The weakfish all weighed about 10 pounds.
Like his offshore counterparts, Mr. Dixon is waiting for tuna, the albacore and bonito species that offer the marine flycaster the greatest thrills. There are reports of albacore offshore, and alleged sightings in Gardiner's Bay, he said, "but I'll believe it when I hook one."