Posted on May 16th, 2026
Well it got real, real windy this afternoon, but before that it was a pretty beautiful day and there were lots of fish caught…..including the first bluefin tuna, the first yellowfin tuna and the first mahi of the season.
There is some very pretty water pushed into the Washington Canyon area right now and today was a great day for some boats to head out there and see if there was any more life in it. The first blue marlin of the season was caught on May 14th so I figured it was just a matter of time before some other pelagics were captured. The first yellowfin tuna of the season came by way of the private boat TomCat with Captain Tommy Perry at the helm. Paul Hignutt, Leelyn Hignutt and Mike Fair joined Captain Tommy on today’s trip where they boxed three yellowfin tuna and several very nice mahi to over 20 pounds. Captain Tommy also had a white marlin hooked for a short time, but that fish spit the hook and left a bunch of promotional cash on the table. Congrats!
The crew of the Split Bill with Captain Casey Anderson out of Fisherman’s Marina found 73 degree water and the first bluefin tuna of the season in the same area of the Washington Canyon as TomCat this morning. Split Bill also found some very nice mahi, a yellowfin tuna, some tilefish and some nice sea bass.
Captain Jason Mumford of Lucky Break Charters fished a couple of trips in the OC Inlet where he put his anglers on several keeper flounder, a nice sheepshead and a slot keeper rockfish.
Anglers fishing on board the Miss Kathleen out of Bahia Marina found slow sea bass fishing with just a few keepers going in the box. This bonus keeper flounder was a nice surprise.
Captain Chris Mizurak of the Angler reported slowish sea bass fishing, but there were some keepers to be had for anglers that stayed at the rail. Water is still a little chilly, but warming up every day.
Kyle McConnell reported in on some Deadly Tackle fishing with the kids this afternoon. They caught some bluefish on the Thing a Ma Jig and some flounder and another bluefish on Deadly Doubles. Thanks guys!
Mitch Peck fished the final day of MD tautog season yesterday and landed this 17″ keeper outside the south jetty.
Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star had slowish sea bass fishing today as well, but there were some nice fish that ended up in coolers.
Strange.. Almost as if I’d done this before: you know, carrying a group of fully engaged anglers sort of day.
With the Morning Star rebuild and repower behind me, maybe this sort of day will become ‘normal’ instead of feeling like something from my past.
Splendid weather to start, we were soon at our block drop where Sarah, Leo & Kelly deployed an 18 block unit plus a pyramid on Capt Bob Gowar’s Memorial Reef before pressing on
..and on.
Water’s a bit chilly yet.
Keep paddling.
Today’s crew, rounded up by my friend Dave Sikorski of MD CCA, were all about maximizing their catch’s flavor by using the “Ike Jime” (‘eekay geemae’) method of preparation. (YouTube search if unfamiliar – loads of videos) A first for me, I had no idea how it would play out — I just hoped sea bass would chew so we could watch it happen.
And they did.
Seemed pretty basic to start – exsanguation (bleeding such as we often do) in seawater followed by immersion in ice – makes a delicious fish.
Removing spinal fluid didn’t go so well. Sea bass didn’t seem to lend themselves to it. It’s part of the plan with larger fish.
I think the biggest difference with Ike Jime is what happens when they come out of the cooler and go into the fridge.
Fins off, body cavity clean clean clean: fish are aged – quite some while by the pros. Imagine eating rockfish raw ten days old.
Yup.
Wasn’t the best bite today. Hoping for better tomorrow!
Cheers,
Monty
