Flounder Royale Has 56 Boats and Over $37,000 and We've Got Heels n Reels and Marlins for Mason Day 1 Standings

By Scott Lenox

Posted on July 30th, 2026

I just got finished with our online Captain’s Meeting for the 2nd Annual Flounder Royale Flounder Tournament and now it’s fishing report time. I am very happy to report that this year’s Flounder Royale has 56 boats competing for over $37,000 in prize money and we could not be more excited. The weather looks great for the weekend and teams seem very excited to get out and put some flatties in the boat. Scales will be open at Bahia Marina from 4 – 8 PM Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1 and then from 4 – 7 PM on Sunday, August 2. Good luck to everyone fishing this year’s Flounder Royale and thank you for joining us!!

Today was day 1 of the Ocean City Marlin Club’s Heels & Reels Ladies Tournament and here are your leaders. Thanks to the OCMC for the pics

1st Place Billfish Release: Wrecker 4 Whites & 1 Blue for 550 Points

2nd Place Billfish Release: Pumpin Hard (1) 4 Whites for 400 Points

3rd Place Billfish Release: Luci Bri (1) 1 White, 1 Sail, & 1 Blue for 350 Points

1st – 3rd Place Dolphin (Mahi): Second Wind with a 27.6 lb., 22.6 lb, & 21 lb

No Tunas weighed

Today was also day 1 of the Marlins for Mason billfish release tournament to benefit the Dravet Foundation. Here’s who’s leading after the first day.

The crew of Boss Hogg with Captain Alex Beane had a fantastic day in the deep with two blue marlin releases, four white marlin and a pile of mahi.

Captain Mark Hoos of the MARLI had this crew busy catching 9 0f 9 bluefin tuna on today’s trip.

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Captain Shawn Gibson of Wound Tight put these two anglers on white marlin releases on today’s trip.

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Captain Kane Bounds and his crews on Fish Bound have been absolutely murdering the flounder with limits on every trip. Afternoon trips are enjoying some flounder and some triggerfish as well.

Captain Jason Mumford of Lucky Break had a great day for his anglers with some very nice sheepshead from the south jetty and some nice keeper flounder to 23″.

Captain Tony Battista of Saltwater Adventures had some great fishing on today’s trips with some very nice keeper flounder for his happy anglers.

Anglers fishing on Chasin’ Tides Charters with Captain Chase Eberle have had awesome fishing with bluefins offshore, bluefish and mackerel inshore and flounder in the back bays.

Randy Mentzer of Mentzer Custom Trailers practiced for the Flounder Royale today and put some nice keeper flounder in the box.

Captain Chris Mizurak of the Angler reported sloppy conditions this morning, but a nice catch of sea bass and flounder with some triggerfish and even a lookdown fish by the end of the day.

Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star had another day with the mahi on today’s trip to the rip

A screen-check in the morning showed a changed forecast. Would be a repeat of yesterday it seemed.

As Dave & Jim sent our blocks by the stern rail to join thousands of others, I was seeing more whitecaps than I’d care for.

Thinking of the 25/30 NW we had yesterday morning, I had mates Donny & Joe hastily get ready for a sea bass/fluke drop – an inshore safety stop to see if the wind would fall out.

So help me, as we were anchoring it dropped a good 5 knots.

Action was great – Keepers?

Ah well.. A few anyway.

With significantly fewer whitecaps within my vista, we soon pulled anchor and headed to where I’d first seen mahi this year–which was also where I’d seen the most.

And, as is the nature of fishing, today found none!

Rats..

Water didn’t look as good, temp down a smidge; wasn’t feeling it.

Had to punt – paddle even further with my $5.90 a gallon diesel..

Was worth it. Next stop was what folks came for – mahi mayhem.

Wish it had lasted. By 11:30 the bite had flatlined. Lot more fuel, lot more spots – pressed into overtime – wind picked back up to middle/upper teens – precious few fish in way of reward.

At my last spot I saw an enormous school of IDK what. Didn’t look like sea bass, tuna or squid. There were lots of em and moving right along too. Seriously. I’ve never seen such before. Didn’t have presence of mind to snap a pic. A mystery..

Sea bass & fluke tomorrow/Sat. Been seeing good signs.

Mahi again T/W/T next week.

Cheers,

Monty