First Mako, Bluefin Tuna Caught

OCEAN CITY- The offshore fishing season got off to a surprising early start last weekend with the first mako shark and first bluefin tuna of the year reported.

Last Saturday, the “Wrangler,” a private boat out of the Ocean City Fishing Center returned from an early season overnight trip to the Norfolk Canyon with a couple of season firsts, including the first mako of the year. The 133-pounder was the earliest in recent memory.

Last year, the first mako of the season was caught by angler Josh Dolan on the “Nontypical” on May 20, about three weeks later that last weekend’s catch. The “Wrangler” also caught the first bluefin tuna of the season on the same trip, as well as two bluefin releases, one of which measured 75 inches.