Wherever you’re planning to fish for fluke this weekend, from the Raritan Bay down 130 miles of New Jersey coast line, to the Delaware Bay, there’s a chance for you and your crew to add a little cash and prizes to the day’s catch! It’s tournament season once again in the New Jersey, Delaware Bay region, and with more significant summer flounder catches from the deeper channels and inshore reefs, wrecks and snags, the timing is perfect.
In South Jersey this week, Gerry Vessels from the Wildwood Fishing & Boating Expo presents the 4th Annual Doormat Derby this Saturday, July 11. This one-day summer flounder tournament is being hosted by Off the Hook located at Hinch Marina in Cape May. Get details at Off the Hook, by calling Gerard J Vessels at 609-377-1617, or by visiting the Doormat Derby Facebook page.
Just up the coast a bit the all-volunteer Southern Ocean County Chapter of the Sunshine Foundation is hosting its 29th Annual Fishing Tournament and Family Fun Day on July 11. The captains meeting is Friday, July 10 at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Post #493 in Little Egg Harbor Township. Saturday tournament anglers will fish for fluke or bluefish in the morning, then join families for BBQ, music, and fun at the American Legion. For details go to sunshinefoundation.org.
By early to mid-July, the doormats should be on the prowl in northern waters, with two different, long-standing fluke tournaments being run out of Raritan Bay ports this weekend. On Saturday, July 11 you have the Raritan Bay Anglers Club 36th Annual Fluke Tournament, with Captains meeting on Thursday, July 9 and tournament weigh-ins at Perth Amboy Harborside Marina and Twin Lights Marina in Highlands. Details and registration form at raritanbayanglersfishingclub.com.
The Sandy Hook Bay Anglers will also be hosting their 44th Annual Two-Day Fluke Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12. Captain’s meeting is 7 p.m. on July 10 at the Senior Citizens Building in Atlantic Highlands Harbor. Call 732-787-4008 or visit sandyhookbayanglers.org.
For the lady anglers exclusively, this Saturday, July 11 the Forked River Tuna Club will host their 33rd Annual Ladies Catch of the Day Fishing Tournament. Presented by the Women’s Club of the Forked River Tuna Club, the angler’s meeting is July 10 at 7 p.m. at the Forked River Tuna Club clubhouse located at 18 Bay Avenue in Forked River. For a $30 entrance fee, lady anglers will fish for fluke and sea bass on Saturday. For details, call Linda Haertel at 609-618-2925 or go to ForkedRiverTunaClub.com.
Good luck to all those tournament anglers this week!
