300 Pound Thresher Shark Hits the Scale at Battle for the Buckle

By Scott Lenox

Posted on June 6th, 2025

It wasn’t the nicest day out there today with intermittent rain pretty much all day long. It was heavy at times, it stopped at times, but it was lingering throughout the day. Thankfully there wasn’t any wind associated with it so it was actually a pretty decent day to be on the water.

The crew of the Rooster took the lead in the Battle for the Buckle Tournament today with this big 300 pound thresher shark. There is one day left to fish the Battle so good luck to anyone that’s got that day left!

Captain Chris Watkowski, mate Ben Harding and the crew of the Spring Mix II had a good day of trolling today when they boxed two bluefin tuna and released several others.

Captain Chase Eberle of Chasin’ Tides Charters put his folks on some good fishing today with a lineup of bluefish and some nice sea bass. In the evening it was some big sand tiger shark catch and release action.

Brian Reynolds and Sean Hitchens made a nice showing in the Blues for D.U. Bluefish tournament today catching fish that landed them in first and second place currently. Big Bird Cropper rounds out the top three.

Brian Brannan was fishing on the Live Wire in the Thorofare using a Deadly Double with a white Gulp when he landed this nice 21″ keeper flounder.

Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star enjoyed today’s calm conditions and put his folks on some nice sea bass up to 19.5″.

Resurrected from a forecast of doom and gloom running many days, suddenly today we were to have calm winds and a gentle, moderately long period swell making for a fine day.

Well mercy, indeed it was.

Helped by Greg when the kids couldn’t quite muster the muscle, Peyton & Logan from JP’s gang dropped today’s blocks, loose this time, at Crystal Ann Brinker’s Memorial Reef. I have a plan and need a foundation – loose for a dozen or more drops should do.

Patience.

Want to try pyramids atop a foundation of loose block.

Hand-built reefs take time.

Sure didn’t last long but I spoiled my anglers right out of the gate. Owing a small patch of rock I’d found not long ago – and I do mean small, maybe just 40 or 60 blocks worth of natural footprint – and loaded with fish that had likely never seen a baited hook; my anglers caught cbass to 19.5 inches our first drop.

They were fat sons of guns too.

Hard drop to repeat!

Slogged away at em the rest of the day. Caught more nice ones

..but not that nice

..and not that many.

Jayminy!

Now, the fish pool was pretty light today. Couple folks said they wouldn’t play with JP aboard – “He always catches the biggest!”

Yup.

His was that first-drop jumbo..

They could have at least played the raffle.

Greg, doubtless making use of his emergency reef builder’s karma, was first into double digits. JP was close behind.

Incredibly calm day.. Forecast changes like this are why I rarely cancel a trip more than 20 hours in advance..

Have sent a new Fish Report out. Had a couple days booked out for a fun overnighter. While Monday looks perfect (for what the forecast is worth!) Tuesday sure doesn’t. I made Monday a long-long cbass trip – 6 to 4 (more likely 5:30 to whenever we get in..) for $180.

Have lots of room Sat/Sun/Mon – Forecast is fantastic!!!

See Fish Report sign up at morningstarfishing.com if unfamiliar with booking a spot.

Barge with LNG tank headed for Bishopville – skinny water for that rig!!

Cheers

Monty