Boaters anxious to get back to striper fishing

Sorry for delay. Word press was giving me problems.

After two days of wind and cold, the fleet is ready to resume striper fishing before the next blast of northeast winds over the weekend.

West winds at just 5-10 knots are forecast for Thursday.

Maren Toleno got into another shot of first light surfcasting in the northern Ocean County surf, and had released seven bass before I arrived — but only caught one after that. I went back at dusk to break the ice with a large schoolie that blasted my Tsunami Sand Eel in the wash. There was also good news for the future as my small fly teaser attracted two 14-inch herring.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar  is ready to get back on the ocean stripers they had before the weather turned. They will be sailing early at 6 a.m. The Big Mohawk from Belmar will run a limited striper trip at 6:30.The Elaine B II from Bahrs in Highlands has been releasing all but one blackfish per man while watching N.Y. boats keeping tog from N.J. grounds. They’ll be able to get back to real blackfishing when the N.J. season reopens on Saturday. The Elaine B. sails daily at 7.

Capt. Hans Kaspersetz reports that his trip to Quepos, Costa Rica was highlighted by grandson Sheldon’s blue marlin release that was illustrated in last night’s blog. Quite a start in big game fishing for an 8-year-old! Grandson Griffen (10)  caught a 30-pound snook while trolling a live herring from Capt. Roy Zapa’s panga’ close to shore, and Hans Kaspersetz Jr. released his first sailfish.