Posted on July 11, 2019 Fluke tournaments this weekend This weekend is a big one for fluke tournaments in the Raritan Bay area. Most have captains meetings Friday evening, but those wishing to fish Saturday’s Raritan Bay Anglers Fluke Tournament must check in at 8 tonight at the Moose Lodge in Perth Amboy. Visit raritanbayanglersclub.org for details. The two-day Sandy Hook Bay Anglers contest over the weekend has a captains meeting at 7 p.m. Friday in the Senior Citizens Building at Atlantic Highlands Marina, which is the site for weigh-ins. Call 732-787-4008 — or visit sandyhookbayanglers.com An active or retired military member, or a first responder, can fish a free canyon tuna trip ton the 60-foot Ritchie with Canyon Runner Charters tomorrow.  It’s last minute, but a great opportunity for a qualified person who can leave tomorrow afternoon for an overnighter. The Canyon Runner also has three open boat spots for Friday to Saturday. Call 732 272-4445. At Atlantic Highlands, Capt. Rob Semkewyc of the Sea Hunter reports Wednesday was his poorest trip for keepers in over a week though there were lots of shorts. It was quite different today as the third drift produced at least 150 fluke, with one in 30 being legal. The south wind then came up to create too fast a drift which didn’t stop the shorts but killed the keeper bite. Harry Vogt of the Salt Water Anglers of Bergen County won Wednesday’s pool on the Fishermen with a 4.15-pound fluke. Phil Fischer says the Shrewsbury and Naversink rivers are loaded with small peanut bunkers and snappers which are attracting fluke. Tank Matraxia and his Lyndhurst crew fished with their friend Carmine there a couple of days ago for lots of short fluke action but also four keepers. Tank also caught a couple of sea robins when they made a drift just outside in the bay. The Forked River Tuna Club will run their 26th annual Ladies Tournament for both fluke and “junk fish” on Saturday.  The anglers meeting will be held Friday in the club at 7 p.m. Call 609 618-2925  or visit forkedrivertunaclub.com for info. I got into a good bite when I started casting a Chug Bug in Shark River this morning, and caught a blue of about 5 pounds on my third cast. I added two more blues before the topwater bite turned off. A switch to a “bluefish proof” Z Man Swimmerz jig then instead produced two school stripers before everything went dead in beautiful waters but with no sign of bait. Vinny D’Anton tried the beaches with no success. Capt. Jim Freda of Shore Catch at Point Pleasant reports an “epic” mid-range bluefin trip on Wednesday that produced 23 bluefins up to a jigged 51-incher.