by Ray Kerico
Despite nasty conditions during last week’s JCAA state-wide fluke tournament, the crew of the BNR toughed it out to win.
They motored their 23-foot Mako out of Manasquan Inlet, into a building nor’easter in heavy 6- to 8-foot seas, but came up empty at a few of their favorite deep structure spots, 8 to 10 miles off Manasquan. After numerous stops with no fluke boated, Capt. Jeff Crilly ran to one last spot, and the BNR team found fluke. They boated a slew of 4-pound-class fish on Gulp 6-inch Pink Shine Grubs and Live Snappers, 4-ounce Old Man Tackle Box and S & S Rattletail bucktails. In worsening conditions, they decided to make one last drift before heading in. Lou DeRosa hooked and boated a 25-inch, 7.05-pounder, which landed the BNR in First Place. Also on the BNR team was Ray Kerico from Grumpy’s Tackle, Sean Smida and Bob Hryszko.