The Golden Eagle from Belmar had blues on Saturday along with a 50-inch striper that has

to have been among the largest ever caught on a party boat. However, today was quite different as follows:

“The BLUES did not cooperate or show like they did the last couple days. We picked at a few BLUES and had some nice JUMBO SEA BASS and plenty of throwbacks. We also had a mix of LING and JUMBO PORGIES on board along with a dozen nice BLACKFISH that were safely returned.“

Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park reported that black drum showed up in the surf again today along with big blues

The forecast is for SW winds at just 5-10 knots before going south in the afternoon.

Sorry for the late blog. but the party for my 88th birthday at Palm Beach Gardens went into overtime.

Chuck Many said he had one of his tougher days with his Tyman from Atlantic Highlands as his crew released “only” 11 jumbos on live eels. These fish are spawned-out jumbos from the Chesapeake area. As a result. the largest at 52 inches scaled out at only 48 pounds.

The forecast remains good with SW winds at 5-10 knots before going S at 10-15 in the afternoon.

The annual Manhattan Cup to raise money for disabled vets is coming up next Friday at Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City.

Many of the top charter and private boat skippers volunteer their boats which are used to carry anglers to fish for stripers and blues in an all-release format. It usually takes bass of 40-50 pounds to win the top prize, but there are many categories also providing valuable prizes.

The event starts with a big breakfast before the fleet blasts off, and ends with an even bigger dinner before prizes are awarded. For tournament info visit http://www.ManhattanCup.com or call Capt. Frank Crescitelli at 917 468-4817 — or Gary Caputi at 732 740-9982.

Jim Hutchinson Jr. of the Fisherman magazine says there’s no longer any problem with water temperatures in rivers and back bays as the recent hot days have jumped it up as high as 73 degrees and turned on the fluke. On the other hand, a boater checking out Hudson Canyon found 54 degree waters and no life.

The forecast is great, with northwest winds at 5-10 knots before shifting to southwest at 10-15 in the afternoon.

Bluefish are back in the picture. The Golden Eagle from Belmar found them on top this morning as many fares caught limits. They finished up with a pick of sea bass on long drifts.

Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen at Atlantic Highlands reported “Another top 10 day with good fishing once again!

Had a nice pick on some beautiful Sea Bass right from the start, a couple Ling mixed in also. Made a few drops until the current got right then the bite got much better.

Steve (Chaos) had an early limit, a pool winning Cod fish and a would have been Keeper Blackfish all on a jig today. Several other customers had all thier keepers in the coolers also.“

That boat is chartered on Saturday.

Vinny D’Anton is back from Sarasota, and has caught some 5-pound blues in the Monmouth County surf.

Anglers seeking the thrill of fighting a big striper have a perfect opportunity to do so now in NY/NJ Bight rather than having to look forward to the fall as used to be the case.

Chuck Many proves that every time he runs his Tyman from Highlands into the bight.

Lee Wakefield posted the following on Facebook: “Jumbos only on the Tyman! Fun times as always with our good friend Chuck! We had fish from 35-51lbs the other day! “

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Capt. Ron Santee Jr. of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands reports that the “First two drops this morning were drop & reel fishing with double headers and Big keeper Sea Bass.

Conditions were lousy as the current was running into the wind & up to the bow, still the Sea Bass were hungry. Bounced around a few more drops picking away all day. Everyone went home with plenty of meat and Charles took the pool with a nice 4 pound Fluke today.” The Fishermen is chartered on Saturday.

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

Kil Song field tested his new line of very high quality Korean rods today, and reported some hot sea bass action as follows:

“Good sabass jigging on the Patriot out of Falmouth, Cape Cod.

I must have released over 20 keeper sized seabass in 17′ – 19″ class.

I tested 7’6″ JS USA Inshorec Supreme L rod. The rod performed beautifully”

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. reported from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands that it was a beautiful day with t0p ten sea bass fishing -“Made several drops throughout the day finding life every where we fished. Several– bigger fish in the mix with lots of double headers. A couple Fluke and a handful of ling by the end of the day.“

That boat is chartered on Saturday.

At Belmar, the Golden Eagle reported “We had a nice pick on all drops today with some better than others. There was a tremendous amount of short life along with nice-sized KEEPERS onboard.

Everyone went home with SEA BASS!“

Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park weighed a 22-inch , 4.20-pound surf fluke caught by Lou De Fonteny on Gulp.

The forecast is for north winds at 10 knots with a possible thunderstorm.

Though sea bass aren’t piled up on wrecks and rough bottoms as was the case when the NJ season opened, they still present a good opportunity – especially when added to a good showing of ling.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. sent the following report for today on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands.

“Morning started out a little sloppy with all the Wind and Nasty weather yesterday.

Got to the first area read some fish, made two drops and left it with only a couple fish. Ran offshore cought some ling on a couple drops and decided to check out an area we hadn’t fished yet. Took a ride and was glad we did.

First drop we had the Sea Bass biting with double headers and quality fish coming up. When that slowed we made another drop in overtime and got it done.

Art from Lake Hopatcong took the pool with a monster ling, one of the largest I have seen in a long time.

“WE ARE NOT AVAILABLE THIS COMING SATURDAY”

The forecast is good, with west winds at just 5-10 knots before going southwest in the afternoon. There’s a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Every boat fisherman hates dense fog that creates dangerous running conditions and prevents sighting bait schools and working birds. However, if you do get on fish it may be possible to have them to yourself –even on a weekend.

Chris Buchta reports today as follows: “What’s better than fishing for 4 hours , running out of 2 dozen eels and have fish on all the time with doubles and triples, doing it with my girls Hailey Buchta and Jordana Buchta , Kuba Luczynski did good too lol , thanks to Rob Crossley and son Robert for coming and catching jumbos for hours

The dense fog advisory continues until 8 p.m.a A small craft advisory runs from 6 to late tonight.

The forecast is for SW winds at 10-15 knots

Dave Lilly has been waiting for fluke to move into the back of Raritan Bay as they usually do at this time of year — and that fluke pro was finally rewarded today with a limit catch for his crew.

Lilly’s best action was on a mussel bed in 16 feet, and there were few shorts. Both jigs and bait worked.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. was enveloped in fog today, which made the search for hungry sea bass with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands more difficult. Fortunately, he anchored on a good rocky bottom with a lot of ling and some sea bass as everyone went home with dinner. There were also some stray fluke and tautog hooked.

A dense fog advisory is up to 10 a.m. Monday. Then a southeast wind at 10-15 knots comes up before increasing to 15-20 in the afternoon.

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Chuck Many reports that jumbo stripers are continuing to build up in NY/NJ Bight as his Tyman from Highlands tags lots of bass. His report from this this week follows:

“Great two days with Dean Cox, Rich Miller & Beefn Chedda!! Yesterday was definitely one to remember with a crazy consistent bite, at one point going over 3 hours with at least one jumbo hooked up. Biggest went 53 pounds. Look forward to next time!!”

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The forecast is for south winds at just 5-10 knots.

Chris Buchta said it was a typical Saturday with boats everywhere. His solution was to put out the eels and wait out the bass.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported a good sea bass catch on Friday as ling and winter flounder also got in on the act.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. was surprised to find a drop-off in the sea bass bite on his

Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands this morning despite doing a lot of running to try new spots. He hopes it’s just the effect of the full moon.

After the easy fishing that usually occurs at a season opening, it often drops off considerably by the second week. However, the current NJ sea bass run seems to be holding up most days.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. had a picky trip yesterday with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, but headed to a new area today. His report follows:

“Read a bunch of life when we got there, got set up and had a couple handfulls of Big Sea Bass, caught our pool fish there. The tiny porgies took over and the Sea Bass bite turned into the pins.  Left the area and took a ride. Once we got set up again we slugged away the rest of the day on Sea Bass & Ling. The best catch of ling so far which was nice to put in the buckets.  Big Mike took the pool with a beauty Sea Bass.

Here goes my yearly rant…..BRING ICE!!!!! Don’t mind lending a bucket but for Christ sake it was 80 degrees out there today. Your fish are going to cook and become mush. Please add it to your list of things needed! The noodle rods with 8oz, you know how I feel about that by now. Weather Looks Great right through the weekend for a change…Come on down.“

At Belmar, the Golden Eagle ended up Wednesday with many sea bass limits plus ling. flounders and some whiting — along with a real bonus of action with big stripers that had to be released.

The forecast remains great in NY/NJ Bight with northeast winds at only 5 knots which shift to southeast in the afternoon.

It does happen every so often! Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park sent this shot of “Bent rods everywhere” from recent blitzes of big bluefish – and even of black drum on clams.