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NBC Sports
17-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Unlike regionals, Vanderbilt women start strong to take NCAA Championship lead
Vanderbilt opened its NCAA regional a couple weeks ago in 13 over. The Commodores got off to a much better start Friday, shooting 6 under to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California. Oklahoma State sits second at 4 under as the Cowboys, like Vanderbilt, teed off in the morning wave, which consisted of the lower-ranked squads in the 30-team field. Florida also played early and shot even par, where it is tied with top-10 programs Oregon, Texas and Arizona State. 'I thought the girls did a nice job of bringing the momentum that we had the last two rounds in Lexington with us,' said Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen, whose Commodores set a new program low at nationals thanks in large part to 3-under 69s from Ava Merrill and Tillie Claggett. 'It's really nice to take advantage of the morning tee time and get off to a good start. … It's still super early, so we understand there's a lot of golf left, and we just need to embrace the leaderboard and where we're at.' Vanderbilt's five players also combined for just one double bogey or worse. Further down the leaderboard, top-ranked Stanford is tied for 11th at 5 over. The Cardinal, which haven't lost a stroke-play competition since prior to last year's Pac-12 Championship, threw out a 77 from Annika Award finalist Meja Ortengren. No. 4 Florida State, which boasts the top two amateurs in the world in Mirabel Ting and Lottie Woad, shares 16th at 7 over. Ting and Woad shot 2-under 70 and even-par 72, respectively. No. 2 Arkansas and No. 3 South Carolina each opened in 9 over, good only for T-21, while No. 7 Wake Forest is beating just three teams at 16 over. Gamecocks senior Hannah Darling, who was subbed out after an opening 84 at last year's NCAA Championship but bounced back this season to be ranked 12th nationally, shot 82 on Friday and is ahead of just three players. Tennessee's Bailey Davis carded just one bogey while shooting 5-under 67. She leads Texas' Lauren Kim, USC's Catherine Park and LSU's Elsa Svensson.
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Sliders: A tribute to the incomparable Tony Gwynn, who would have turned 65 on Friday
Welcome to Sliders, a weekly in-season MLB column that focuses on both the timely and timeless elements of baseball. The aspiring ballplayer could find it hard to concentrate in class. As a student at San Diego State, Seby Zavala would let his mind wander to his favorite lunchtime hangout, the one that served no food, just wisdom from a professor without peer: Tony Gwynn. Advertisement 'He would sit in the dugout and eat his lunch every day, so I would get out of class and go straight to the dugout, just to talk to him,' said Zavala, a catcher in the majors for parts of the past four seasons. 'To be able to sit there and talk to a Hall of Famer about baseball or life — he didn't care if you asked questions, he just wanted you to have a reason behind it. I would think of questions all day: How can I get better, what don't I understand?' Gwynn, the greatest pure hitter born in the last hundred years, would have turned 65 on Friday. He was the San Diego State baseball coach when he died of salivary gland cancer in 2014, and Zavala is one of three players from his final season who reached the major leagues, with Ty France of the Minnesota Twins and Greg Allen, an outfielder now in the minors with the Chicago Cubs. 'Those guys got to know him on a much closer basis than most,' Tony Gwynn Jr., now a Padres radio analyst, said at Yankee Stadium this week. 'Even though he was sick when they were around him, they still got a piece of him that most people don't get a chance to really experience.' Zavala, who is now in the Boston Red Sox's system, missed one of his college seasons with an injury. Gwynn, who had pioneered video study as a player, made Zavala the team videographer. By the end of the season, Zavala said, he was thinking along with the pitchers, predicting outcomes, unlocking a new vision that would carry him to the majors. 'That's how I learned to read hitters, how to set them up and make them do what I want them to do,' said Zavala, who has played for the White Sox, Diamondbacks and Mariners. 'I look at the game differently because of all the things he taught me. I don't think I'd be here without him.' Zavala, France and a student manager, Cooper Sholder, got tattoos together commemorating Gwynn after he died. In the 11 years since, France said, he has come to appreciate Gwynn's humility and accessibility. 'He did such a great job of humanizing himself, making it seem like he was not 'Mr. Padre' or San Diego's greatest baseball player,' France said. 'He was just Coach Gwynn, and to this day, I still refer to him as Coach Gwynn.' Advertisement Gwynn won eight batting titles in 20 seasons while collecting 3,141 hits. He could have gone 0-for-1,000 after he retired and still hit .305 — higher than the hit king, Pete Rose. Gwynn's .338 career average is the best of anyone who spent his entire career in the integrated major leagues. Wade Boggs and Rod Carew are tied for second, 10 points behind the master. 'He just had a magic bat,' said Ron Darling, the former Mets righty who held Gwynn to a mere .441. 'I gave up two hits to him that bounced, like cricket. Two bullets on balls that bounced.' Gwynn hit .397 (50-for-126) off Greg Maddux and Pedro Martínez, with no strikeouts. John Smoltz fanned him once while giving up a .462 average (30-for-65). Gwynn owned almost everybody: forkballers (Hideo Nomo, .560), knuckleballers (Tom Candiotti, .422), Cy Young Award winners (Doug Drabek, .469), World Series MVPs (Curt Schilling, .390), Leiter brothers (Al and Mark, .452) — on and on and on. The numbers tell a story, and they can always be savored. But as time goes on, fewer active players will have known the man behind them. 'The stats are the stats, but the person — he was always so gracious with his time,' said Padres TV analyst Mark Grant, a former teammate. 'In the old days, guys had their little mail cubbies in the clubhouse. Mine would have a gift certificate from Pizza Hut or something; his would just be stuffed. And he would actually bring shoeboxes of fan mail on the road to catch up on it in his hotel room. He was the whole package.' Late in his life, Gwynn Jr. said, his father could see where the sport was going. Velocity was rising and hitters were increasingly incentivized to choose power over artistry. Today's bat-to-ball specialists, like Luis Arraez and Jacob Wilson, would have warmed his heart. Yet while Gwynn famously served singles the opposite way — 'There's hits all over the field,' France said, repeating a mantra — he was far more than a slap hitter. In the last nine years of his career (1993 to 2001), Gwynn had his typical .356 average and .400 on-base percentage, but also a .500 slugging percentage. He averaged 13 homers a season, almost double his previous rate. In his first game at the old Yankee Stadium, in the 1998 World Series, Gwynn homered off the facing of the third deck. Another hitting wizard from San Diego, Ted Williams, would have been proud. 'That was something I don't know that he would have been capable of doing — or would have been willing to try to do — in the first 10 years of his career,' Gwynn Jr. said. 'He learned that after his conversation with Ted in '92 or '93, telling him that, ultimately, you can have both. 'In order to get them to go out here (outside), which you want, you've got to get them out of here (inside). How are you gonna do that? If you're just inside-outing singles to left, they'll just keep (pitching you in), so you've got to start turning on some of these balls. He realized he didn't have to give up his average or the things that he enjoyed in order to do that.' Williams made a similar point in a 1995 interview with Gwynn and Bob Costas: 'That's where baseball history is made — from the middle in!' Williams was in his late 70s then — he lived to be 83 — and Gwynn said he wished others could have the same opportunity to absorb such wisdom. 'You can learn so much just from talking to people,' said Gwynn, who lived by that credo and passed it on. France, a former All-Star who is now the Twins' regular first baseman, said Gwynn would be 'livid' at the state of modern hitting, especially all the strikeouts. France already has 100 or so more career strikeouts than Gwynn, in roughly 7,000 fewer plate appearances. It wasn't always easy playing for a legend. Advertisement 'I mean, he was just the greatest of all time,' France said. 'Being able to do it for as long as he did, he didn't understand that not all of us are him, and he would get upset and frustrated with us for not being as good as he is. He just held us to such a high standard. 'And while you're going through it, you don't really understand. You're trying to figure out, 'Why is he picking on me so much? Why does he want me to be him, essentially?' But he just wanted the best for you. That was his biggest thing.' The best of Gwynn, on the field and off, was about as special as anything we've ever seen. Happy birthday, Mr. Padre. And thank you. Tim Hill entered the weekend needing two appearances for 400 in his career — a round number, but still more than 400 away from the leader in games pitched by a submarining lefty. Former Yankee Mike Myers made 883 appearances in his 13-year career, the most ever by a low-angled southpaw. 'I've watched a lot of his stuff,' Hill said. 'He's a legend.' Legend — or the stuff of legend, anyway — could also describe Hill, now in the eighth season of a most unlikely career. Hill, 35, has Lynch Syndrome, a hereditary condition that increases the risk of cancer. As a Royals minor leaguer, he missed the 2015 season while fighting Stage 3 colon cancer, the same disease that had taken his father, Jerry, when Hill was in high school. Hill did not enroll in college, but sometimes helped his sister in her job at a warehouse in San Diego. 'We would be playing tape ball in the warehouse and a couple of the guys that played, they told me they had an adult league team,' Hill said. 'We were up in Carlsbad, a little north, and I was like, 'I want to go play with these dudes.' In the beginning, they were funny, they're like, 'Are you sure? It's pretty competitive.' I was like, 'I think I could hang.'' An opponent was impressed and encouraged Hill to try out for a nearby community college. He made it, then transferred to a four-year college in Oklahoma and finally reached pro ball at age 24. Four years later, he was pitching for the Royals. Released last summer by the worst team in baseball, the Chicago White Sox, Hill wound up in the World Series with the Yankees, fearlessly flinging sinker after sinker. He has a 2.34 ERA in 51 games for New York, and recently shared five insights into his distinctive style. Advertisement Act naturally: 'I've always thrown like that, even as a kid. When I get into a powerful position, my torso bends. So, really, my arm angle is not that low, it's that my torso's bent. I can throw a ball overhand, but if I try to throw it hard, I throw it the way I throw it. If you watch me in catch play, that's exactly how I throw a baseball. And then on the mound I might get a little lower, just trying to get down there a little earlier. So I would say, in catch play, I'm maybe close to like four feet (off the ground). And then when I pitch, I'm down to like three.' Defy the conventional: 'At one point (coaches) were like, 'Let's try to make him throw overhand, we think he could throw really hard if he threw overhand.' I was throwing it pretty good from where I was throwing it, but anyways, we did it and it just wasn't good. And my dad was like, 'All right, leave him alone, let him do what he does.' So that was that.' Seize the O'Day: 'A lot of the guys that throw like me, they spin the ball a lot more than I do, so it's a little different. Darren O'Day was the first one I saw that was throwing from down here and throwing four-seam fastballs up. I was in Double A at the time and I was like, 'I think that looks pretty good.' Which is funny, because I don't really do it as much anymore, but it's still in there.' How do you spin a breaking ball from that angle? It's a mystery: 'I haven't really figured that one out, because I don't throw many breaking balls. I throw sinkers and four-seams. I throw sliders too, but it's definitely not my strength.' His infant son just might be a lefty, too: 'I have his right hand tied behind his back right now, so we'll see.' Which pitcher did you see most often as a kid? Not your favorite pitcher; that's different. Who logged the most innings while you watched? For me, it was Kevin Gross. In my formative years as a baseball fan (ages 7 through 18), Gross made the most starts and threw the most innings for my hometown team, the Philadelphia Phillies. He wore K. GROSS on his back because the Phillies — inexplicably, to a kid — had two players with that funny last name (also Greg, a pinch-hitting specialist). A tall righty with curly hair and a mustache, he was a visual cacophony for hitters, elbows angled like a suspension bridge in mid-delivery. He had a tic of rolling his left shoulder after every pitch, flipped a lot of curveballs, and painted wildlife scenes in his spare time. Advertisement 'I wish I was a little better artist when I was a pitcher,' Gross told the Dodgers' team historian, Mark Langill, in 2022. 'It's like artwork, you have to hit corners and be consistent.' At various points in his 15-year career, Gross led his league in five categories, all negative: losses, earned runs, home runs, walks and hit batters. He once served a suspension for having sandpaper in his glove, and he never appeared in the postseason. Even so, Gross had his moments. He pitched in the All-Star Game for the Phillies in 1988 and threw a no-hitter for the Dodgers four years later. On the final day of the 1993 season, his complete-game six-hitter knocked the 103-win Giants out of the playoffs. Later, Gross helped the Rangers win their first division title. He's a useful guy on the Immaculate Grid and fit into four squares last Sunday: Rangers/Dodgers, Rangers/10-win season, Dodgers/no-hitter and no-hitter/10-win season. Basically, Gross took the ball over and over for 15 years and never got hurt. Given the fragile state of modern pitchers, there's a lot to be said for that. There's a famous story about the Yankees' draft room in 1992. As the team considered choices for the sixth overall pick, someone mentioned that Derek Jeter, a high school phenom from Kalamazoo, Mich., might take a scholarship to the University of Michigan. 'He's not going to Michigan,' replied scout Dick Groch. 'He's going to Cooperstown.' Groch was right, of course, though Jeter did take some offseason classes at Michigan as a minor leaguer and has long been an avid fan of the Wolverines. Last Saturday, the school welcomed him as commencement speaker to the class of 2025. 'As of today, all of you have made it further in school than me — as a matter of fact, I think technically I'm still a freshman,' said Jeter, who was given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. 'It is actually a relief, because I started worrying that my kids would get a degree before me — and they are seven, six, three and two. But, let's be fair, I took a slight detour to fulfill my lifelong dream of playing baseball for the New York Yankees.' Advertisement Jeter spoke about overcoming failure, citing the 56 errors he made in his first full season as a pro. He hit on a lot of the usual themes of a graduation speech — dreams, passion, sacrifice — but kept coming back to a central theme: choice, a word he mentioned 16 times in a 16-minute address. 'I challenge you to become champions of hope,' Jeter said, concluding his remarks. 'Believe without a doubt that when given one sliver of a chance, your generation not just can, but will reimagine and reconstruct a better tomorrow for all of us. Young people have always responded to their generation's unique challenges. Following the footsteps of your predecessors, other Michigan alums, step up to the future ahead of you. It is a choice, it's your choice. Go Blue.' (Top photo of Tony Gwynn in 1987: Owen C. Shaw / Getty Images)
The Province
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
Drag performer Jiggly Caliente from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' franchise dies at 44 after hospitalization for infection
Published Apr 27, 2025 • 2 minute read Jiggly Caliente from the cast of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 6" visits the Empire State Building on June 24, 2021, in New York. Photo by Greg Allen / Greg Allen/Invision/AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. NEW YORK — Drag performer Bianca Castro-Arabejo, who was known as reality television star Jiggly Caliente on 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' died Sunday at age 44, days after her family reported hospitalization for a serious infection. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Castro-Arabejo, who became a judge on 'Drag Race Philippines' in 2022, scrapped plans to appear on the upcoming season after a recent hospitalization for a 'severe infection' and a leg amputation surgery, her family said in a statement on her Instagram page. She died early Sunday, her family said in another statement. 'A luminous presence in the worlds of entertainment and advocacy, Jiggly Caliente was celebrated for her infectious energy, fierce wit, and unwavering authenticity,' her family said Sunday. 'She touched countless lives through her artistry, activism, and the genuine connection she fostered with fans around the world.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Castro-Arabejo competed on the fourth season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and later on 'RuPaul's Drag Race Allstars.' 'Her talent, truth, and impact will never be forgotten, and her legacy will continue to slay — always,' said a statement from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' posted on X. 'We're holding her family, friends, and fans close in our hearts during this difficult time.' We are devastated by the passing of Jiggly Caliente, a cherished member of the Drag Race family. Her talent, truth, and impact will never be forgotten, and her legacy will continue to slay—always. We're holding her family, friends, and fans close in our hearts during this… — RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) April 27, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Born in the Philippines, Castro-Arabejo immigrated to New York. She started working in drag about 20 years ago, appearing in competitions and pageants. She noted the influence of her upbringing in her work and its importance for representation in the industry. In 2018, she released a hip-hop album called 'T.H.O.T. Process,' including a track where she raps in Tagalog. During a 2023 episode of reality show 'Bring Back My Girls,' which reunites different performers from the 'Drag Race' franchise, Castro-Arabejo said her work as a judge was important because of her heritage. 'When it comes to my culture, I live and breathe that I am Filipina,' she said. 'I am a proud immigrant woman.' She publicly came out as transgender in 2016 on a podcast, partly because she said she received letters from fans who were struggling with their own gender identities. 'I wanted to come out because I was ready to come out. I have been living as a trans woman for so long, but I just never told the audience and the fans that,' she said in a 2018 Billboard interview. 'I was actually transitioning while I was on the show, I just never talked about it. I didn't want it to be my storyline, because being a trans woman is not what defines me.'
Toronto Sun
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Drag performer Jiggly Caliente from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' franchise dies at 44 after hospitalization for infection
Published Apr 27, 2025 • 2 minute read Jiggly Caliente from the cast of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 6" visits the Empire State Building on June 24, 2021, in New York. Photo by Greg Allen / Greg Allen/Invision/AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. NEW YORK — Drag performer Bianca Castro-Arabejo, who was known as reality television star Jiggly Caliente on 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' died Sunday at age 44, days after her family reported hospitalization for a serious infection. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Castro-Arabejo, who became a judge on 'Drag Race Philippines' in 2022, scrapped plans to appear on the upcoming season after a recent hospitalization for a 'severe infection' and a leg amputation surgery, her family said in a statement on her Instagram page. She died early Sunday, her family said in another statement. 'A luminous presence in the worlds of entertainment and advocacy, Jiggly Caliente was celebrated for her infectious energy, fierce wit, and unwavering authenticity,' her family said Sunday. 'She touched countless lives through her artistry, activism, and the genuine connection she fostered with fans around the world.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Castro-Arabejo competed on the fourth season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and later on 'RuPaul's Drag Race Allstars.' 'Her talent, truth, and impact will never be forgotten, and her legacy will continue to slay — always,' said a statement from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' posted on X. 'We're holding her family, friends, and fans close in our hearts during this difficult time.' We are devastated by the passing of Jiggly Caliente, a cherished member of the Drag Race family. Her talent, truth, and impact will never be forgotten, and her legacy will continue to slay—always. We're holding her family, friends, and fans close in our hearts during this… — RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) April 27, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Born in the Philippines, Castro-Arabejo immigrated to New York. She started working in drag about 20 years ago, appearing in competitions and pageants. She noted the influence of her upbringing in her work and its importance for representation in the industry. In 2018, she released a hip-hop album called 'T.H.O.T. Process,' including a track where she raps in Tagalog. During a 2023 episode of reality show 'Bring Back My Girls,' which reunites different performers from the 'Drag Race' franchise, Castro-Arabejo said her work as a judge was important because of her heritage. 'When it comes to my culture, I live and breathe that I am Filipina,' she said. 'I am a proud immigrant woman.' She publicly came out as transgender in 2016 on a podcast, partly because she said she received letters from fans who were struggling with their own gender identities. 'I wanted to come out because I was ready to come out. I have been living as a trans woman for so long, but I just never told the audience and the fans that,' she said in a 2018 Billboard interview. 'I was actually transitioning while I was on the show, I just never talked about it. I didn't want it to be my storyline, because being a trans woman is not what defines me.' Sports Canada Sunshine Girls Columnists Columnists
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Hard to Top This One.' Fishermen Are Catching Bluefin Tuna Yards from the Beach in the Outer Banks
'Hard to Top This One.' Fishermen Are Catching Bluefin Tuna Yards from the Beach in the Outer Banks Bluefin tuna fishing outer banks shore Updated April 9, 2025: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has shut down bluefin tuna fishing at Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina. A pier spokesperson confirmed to Outdoor Life that a NOAA officer visited Jennette's Tuesday morning. This was after several local anglers had hooked or caught bluefins there, both from the pier and from their personal kayaks, over the weekend. The officer advised pier management that customers could not legally fish for bluefin tuna under federal law. Advertisement 'We were advised to remove all references to the bluefin bite from our social media platforms because it is considered promoting an illegal activity,' Jennette's Pier announced in a Facebook post. Current Atlantic bluefin tuna regulations apply to fishing activities conducted from vessels. There is no specific federal regulation that specifically limits the landing of bluefin tuna from shore, because the species is typically caught well offshore. However, all anglers must comply with federal regulations that govern landing and retention limits for bluefin, and they are required to have the proper licenses, whether the fish are hooked miles or mere yards from the beach. According to NOAA's Code of Federal Regulations: 'It is unlawful for any person or vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to fish for, catch, possess, retain, land, or sell Atlantic highly migratory species without the appropriate valid vessel permit with the appropriate endorsements.' April 7, 2025 8:03PM EDT: Fishing is usually hot on Jennette's Pier this time of year, with anglers hooking plenty of croaker, bluefish, and sizable red drum. But landing deep-sea fish like bluefin tuna there is unheard of. Bluefin don't typically show up 1,000 feet from the sand. But someone apparently forgot to tell the fish that. Advertisement For more than a week now, anglers fishing from Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina, have been hooking sizable bluefin tuna right off the end of the pier — an unprecedented streak that has stunned locals and lit up the Outer Banks fishing community. Seeing them almost within casting distance of the beach is incredibly unusual. But a confluence of conditions — the spring migration, ideal water temperatures, and massive schools of menhaden (also known as bunker) packed tightly to the coast — appears to have drawn the tuna to within spitting distance of the shoreline. Jennette's Pier staff and local anglers have recently confirmed that big menhaden schools in the area. Greg Allen hooked multiple bluefin tuna before he finally landed one from the pier. Photo by Jennette's Pier / Facebook The action kicked off the morning of March 31, when anglers hooked multiple bluefin. Videos from the scene show spinning reels screaming and rods doubled over as anglers tried to keep up with the freight-train strength of a bluefin. Greg Allen was lucky enough to hook up twice. The first one spooled him, and the second broke his line. In the end, nothing more exciting than some shad and small croaker hit the planks that day, according to Jennette's. Advertisement Fighting tuna is addictive, though, and Allen wasn't about to throw in his bait towel. He was lucky enough to hook yet another bluefin while fishing from the pier on Sunday. After a 2-hour 30-minute fight, he managed to wrangle the tuna next to the pier, which is considered a catch. Jennette's Pier staff estimated the fish weighed between 150 and 175 pounds. 'Allen said he 'popped it off' and it swam away,' Jennette's Pier said in its Monday fishing report. On April 4, Stefan Turko of Kitty Hawk landed an impressive 140-pound bluefin from his kayak while fishing off the end of Jennette's. 'I think it's gonna be hard for me to top this one for a long time,' Turko said in a Facebook post. 'Said a prayer on the way out for a safe day, and god blessed me more than I could imagine.' Stefan Turko hooked his 140-pound bluefin from a kayak while fishing off the end of Jennette's. Photo by Oceans East Bait and Tackle / Facebook A man stands next to a fishing pier holding a buefin tuna that is longer than he is tall. Another kayak angler, Aki Min, hooked a 154-pound bluefin just yards off the pier on April 5. After going for a 3-mile ride courtesy of the massive fish, Min landed on the beach with the tuna, which was longer than he is tall, next to Jennette's Pier. Advertisement 'It will be hard to top this one,' Min said in a post. 'Let's all hope the fish stick around for a while, and some more people can get one. And maybe they'll be back in future years, too.' James Carroll from Oceanview, Virginia landed a bluefin tuna from the OBX's Jennette's Pier Monday. Photo by Jennette's Pier / Facebook Jennette's Pier confirmed Monday that another bluefin was hooked and released from the pier. Staff shared footage of James Carroll of Oceanview, Virginia, fighting the fish, as the large bluefin had his reel screaming. Jennette's is a 1,000-foot-long concrete pier located in Nags Head. While water depth at the offshore testing area, which is just over 300 yards from the seaward end of the pier, is approximately 36 feet deep, water depths off the northern and southern sides of the pier only average 10 to 20 feet. The pier is just 10 miles north of Oregon Inlet, where a fleet of charter and recreational fishing boats head each morning to the Gulf Stream some 35 miles offshore to catch tuna. Regulations around bluefin tuna remain strict. Monday's fish was properly released according to federal regulations. Jennette's Pier staff emphasized that anglers cannot legally keep bluefin caught from a pier or the shore. Advertisement 'These fish are usually 30 to 50 miles offshore,' one seasoned OBX angler told Outdoor Life. 'To see them caught right off the beach is insane.' Greg Allen released the bluefin he hooked off Jennette's Pier. Photo by Jennette's Pier / Facebook Atlantic bluefin tuna are the largest of the tuna species. They can grow up to 13 feet and weigh over 2,000 pounds. These deepwater giants live in the western Atlantic and range from Newfoundland to the Gulf of Mexico, where they typically spawn in mid-April. Read Next: The Best Fishing Kayaks If anglers keep hooking these deep-sea bluefins right off the pier, Jennette's could become a tuna hotspot, drawing anglers from up and down the East Coast.
