After several days of strong northeast winds and high seas, good fishing conditions have returned for the boats and captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association as August approaches its midpoint.
This is just in time for this week’s Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club’s annual White Marlin Invitational Tournament. This tournament is a major occasion for the town, and an event that the captains and junior mates of the BHCFA are involved in. Many of the association’s boats participate, and the junior mates are on call to volunteer their services to help where needed.
Prior to the northeaster, the ocean fluke bite was a strong one with the inshore artificial reefs producing action including many keepers mixed in with the throwbacks. Captain Max Goldman noted he even had anglers catching fluke doubleheaders.
Adding to the fluke there have been good numbers of black sea bass along with a sizeable population of triggerfish.
Captain John Lewis reports the weather dictated fishing the calm bay waters this past week on the “Insatiable.” His anglers boated a variety of fish including croakers, bluefish, black sea bass, sharks, sea robins, and fluke up to 20-inches. He predicts the upcoming weeks will produce the best fishing of the year right through Labor Day.
Captain Dave Wittenborn did some offshore fishing to tune up for the marlin tournament. He had to work to find some tuna, but the mahi-mahi were around in considerable numbers for the Cavise group. In addition to loads of big mahi, they did boat some tuna. Captain Dave remarked “These guys have enough mahi-mahi to feed the neighborhood fish tacos for a few days.”