Capt. John Contello reports a jumbo bass trip of a lifetime on his Just Sayin from Keyport as over 30 from pounds and up to a 50-incher were released.

Vinny D’Anton broke the ice on stripers this season by releasing two 20-inchers that hit his Chug Bug in the Monmouth County surf. He also saw a bass of about 32 inches that was caught on a metal lip swimmer in the still chilly 58 degree surf. There was one big school of adult bunkers after another outside the bar with only one whale on them. Boaters ran right past those bunker schools.

**

The forecast is for west winds at 5-10 knots before going south in the afternoon. There’s a chance of showers.

“

Capt. Ron Santee reports from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands as follows:”Awesome day on the ocean with non-stop life and a great group of Fishermen Regulars!

Bait worked better than the jigs today for what ever reason and we had several beauties going for the pool.

Ralph took the pool with a beautiful 3 pound Sea Bass. A few ling in the mix and some Tog. Everyone went home with plenty for dinner, the guys were still cutting an hour after we docked!

Weather looks good for the next few days.”

***********

Monday’s forecast is for northwest winds at a mere 5-10 knots before going southwest in the afternoon

This 70-pound black grouper was caught by Zachary D. Willis on a live pinfish at Big Rock before being weighed at Chasin Tails Tackle in Atlantic Beach. N.C.

John Bushell Jr. reports from Betty & Nick’s Tackle in Seaside Park that despite cabbage in Barnegat Inlet and too many boats, anglers have been doing better casting metal to blues there than in a rough surf.

Capt. Ron Santee only had to make one stop with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands on Friday for good sea bass action plus some large ling.

Sunday’s weather looks ideal with a forecast of west winds at 10-15 knots.

Chuck Many reports there was no slacking of the jumbo struper bite in NY/NJ Bight on Tuesday as Alex, Felipe and Mike released many from Tyman out of Highlands once again as the search for a 60 continues

*******************************

There are also lots of school stripers in Raritan Bay, while N.J. anglers are enjoying sea bass fishing along with some ling on wrecks and rough bottoms offshore. Fluke fishing is decent when conditions are good.

A small craft advisory is up from 8 p.m. through late night. Saturday starts with west winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25.

Vinny D’Anton said it felt like winter along the Monmouth County Shore today, and he didn’t get any reports from surfcasters. However, the surf should settle tomorrow with a forecast of west winds at just 5-10 knots plus a chance of showers.

Andreas Toy reports “Updates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summerUpdates on the 39ST for remainder of season- Did our last trip in Raritan Bay with Brian Priest, landing half dozen fish in short order, even though the fog was thick decided to stretch her legs and ran out looking for inshore tuna, fog finally lifted and saw 1 feed, casts didnt hit the mark and never saw them again.

Made the move with the 39ST this week back to Point Pleasant, took my dad along, goal was to target trophies down the beach, he landed a nice 48 incher. We will be offering combo seabass/Trophy striper trips for next few weeks. Then strictly offshore for the rest of the season. The 31FA will remain in Perth Amboy for stripers and fluke for the summer.”

Striper fishing has been great in NY/NJ Bight, but tomorrow doesn’t look good with NE winds at 20-25 knots plus gusts to 30. Add in thunderstorms in the morning and rain in the afternoon.

Long before Chuck Many became the most successful trophy private striper skipper in NY/NJ Bight, he first mastered the art of musky fishing in northern waters, and hosts many of the best musky anglers every summer on his Tyman from Highlands for stripers even larger than the muskies they specialize in. Many hosted the “Musky Royalty” last week as they enjoyed releasing lots of big bass despite having to deal with waters rougher than what they are used to.

Capt. Frank Masseria only had trouble finding keeper stripers with his Vitamin Sea from Leonardo. He reports “Can’t complain about today’s catch unless you were looking to eat striped bass for dinner.

Shane and crew caught 34” and up to 45” fish today. Honestly only one squeezed by at 31”.

Lots of fun and some great memories once again. Great group that I look forward to fishing with every season.

We caught and released another Sturgeon also.

We have open spots left both Saturday and Sunday. …”

*****

The forecast in NY/NJ Bight is for east winds at 10-15 knots before increasing to 20 in the afternoon. Rain is likely.

This is about the time N.J. surf stripers are attracted to sand fleas, but it didn’t happen last week after Vinny D’Anton returned from Florida. He gave the Monmouth County surf a good try without a hit. The good news was that Vinny was able to rake lots of the bugs. The lack of action may have been due to an upwelling drop in temperature to 58 degrees. That fishing should turn on any day.

The forecast is for northwest winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 before dropping to 5 knots in the afternoon.

All reports about yesterday’s N.J. sea bass opening day were positive. Anglers had to work through lots of shorts, but some had limits, and there were also some ling.

Capt. Ron Santee said jiggers did well aboard his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, but a simple two-hook bottom rig with bait worked as well.

The Raritan Bay striper run continues in high gear. Capt. Frank Masseria reported yet another quick full boat limit and many releases from his Vitamin Sea out of Leonardo this morning.

** A small craft advisory is up through Monday afternoon. However, the15-20-knot northwest winds forecast are often fishable under the northern Jersey hills.

It didn’t take long for the first report of the sea bass season in N.J. to come in as Capt. Ralph Leyrer noted the following about his morning trip with Last Lady from Belmar.

“Good fishing today for opening day sea bass . Lots of quality fish to 17 1/2 inches on our AM trip. Open and Charter dates on lastladyfishing.com “

Since most wrecks and rough bottoms had been lightly fished, good action is practically assured at this time.

Kil Song didn’t expect as many short fluke as the day before when he fished aboard the Osprey from Port Jefferson again today, but he released even more with 45 — and added two keepers instead of just one.

****

A small craft advisory is up from Sunday morning to afternoon. The forecast is for west winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25.