Labor Day weekend delivered exactly what the club hoped for — a tournament, a tight leaderboard, and a 5-pound fluke that set the bar on day one.
Monday, Sept. 1 — Fred T fished Axel and called it a grind. The same area that gave up 50 shorts the week before was devoid of life. He found short fish on the Mantoloking Pipe and one 20-inch keeper, then moved east and turned up more shorts but nothing special. No head boats on Axel all day. Lou C was out the day before with Bob Morrow — one keeper each, another tough grind. They saw the red Monger working late, around 3:30, and figured it was a slow one for him too.
Wednesday, Sept. 3 — Chris J reported the ocean laying down nice ahead of the tournament. Fred T lined up his crew for Thursday: Frank R, Lou C, and Greg J.
Thursday, Sept. 4 — Four members fished the opening day of the MFC Labor Day fluke tournament. Word came in from Capt. Truex mid-morning that a weighable fish was headed for the scales, and the Dar-Lynn came in that afternoon with a full card. Lou C set the bar with a 5-pound even, backed it with a 3 7/8, Fred T weighed 3 1/8, and Frank R put up 2 3/4. A good day by any measure.
Friday, Sept. 5 — Brian F checked in to take the Sea Robin lead with a released 10-incher. By his own account it “fought like it was 11 inches.”
Sunday, Sept. 7 — Chris J got three anglers out on the closing day and fished hard for it. They worked the same ground the Friday crew had, then pushed out further and found a good drift — about seven shorts at the first stop, then another seven shorts and two fat keepers on the push out, and roughly ten more shorts over the next three drifts. It was snotty, blowing hard out of the north until it finally laid down around one. Brian F hit a few spots the same day and had all shorts, though he did have a small mola mola turn up under the boat.
Final tournament results: Lou C first at 5 lbs, Lou C second at 3 7/8, Fred T third at 3 1/8, and Fred T taking the Sea Robin division at 13 1/4 inches. No land-based fish were submitted, so the winnings were split evenly across the top three. Thanks to Chris J for organizing it.