Good Fishing Before The Wind Blows

By Scott Lenox

Posted on July 20th, 2026

It was a pretty slick calm day out in the ocean today, but that won’t be the case for the next couple. Some boats are already cancelling for tomorrow and probably Wednesday with the hope to get out on the ocean again on Thursday.

Captain Chris Watkowski and his crew on the Spring Mix II had a great day offshore today with a bluefin tuna that weighed in at 79 pounds and 40 mahi with the largest weighing in at 26 pounds. There were also another handful of 20 pound fish.

Captain Chase Eberle of Chasin’ Tides Charters had a good day for his anglers with bluefin tuna from offshore and catch and release rockfish action from the bay.

Aiden Burns caught one of just a few wahoo that we’ve seen this year so far when he landed this nice 44.6 pound fish while fishing on the Luci Bri with Captain Howard Lynch during the OC Marlin Club’s Kid’s Classic Tournament.

Captain Dave Caffrey of On the Run Charters had a nice day for his anglers fishing ocean structure with several keeper flounder going in the box.

Captain Chris Mizurak of the Angler reported that sea bass were pretty finicky today, but flounder bit well and some folks saw limits of four fish.

Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star enjoyed the flat seas today and his anglers enjoyed some mahi and sea bass fishing

What a glorious morning to be on the Mid-Atlantic. Light northerlies had brought cooler temps – I actually ran the duckblind heater in the wheelhouse til sunup – and our Canadian wildfire haze had lifted. Seas were negligible; would soon become slick as glass.

On our way home from reconnaissance yesterday I’d seen a school of tuna in an old-time nearshore spot – one of Capt Bill Duncan’s favorites, in fact. Couldn’t wait to get back at em today.

But, of course, didn’t see any at all. We did try.

Even trolled into an astounding fleet. Donny and I wondered if the Jackspot had looked like that in the 1960s/70s when nearshore marlin were in their heyday. Man were there a lot of boats.

Amid all that traffic the first three mahi stops were a bust.

We kept paddling..

Sure is a pretty sight. I do enjoy seeing a school of mahi in angler’s lines. Better still when they bite

..and some did.

At one spot an inshore jumbo followed Donny’s line in before turning its nose up at our meager offerings.

All told? Dinner is about all. Two apiece for most. A handful of sea bass. Mike took the mahi pool..

Left early – stayed a bit late.

Looks like Thursday before we get another chance at em.

Cheers,

Monty