(June 7, 2013) Anglers will head offshore in search of mako and thresher sharks and bluefish during the 17th annual Mako Mania Shark Tournament, which starts today, Friday, and concludes Sunday.

The Mako Mania event, presented by Bahia Marina Tournaments, is the first major offshore fishing tournament of the season.

It was a cold winter and cool spring in Ocean City and anglers are ready for warm weather and the 2013 tournament fishing season to get under way.

The first mako of the season, a 138-pounder, was caught on May 10 by Wayne Mull aboard the Restless Lady. A number of makos have been boated since.

“Mako fishing has been pretty good,” Mako Mania co-organizer Earl Conley said last week. “I hear there’s lots of bluefish. If there’s lots of bait, there will be lots of [makos].”