Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands has been fluking every day when fishing is possible though conditions have rarely been favorable as the days run out. East winds and big swells have reduced catches to a pick and most fluke seem to have already started their long run to offshore spawning grounds.

There may be some hope for Friday as northwest winds at 5-10 knots are in the forecast before switching to southwest in the afternoon.

NYYC Capt. John McMurry reported another great yellowfin tuna bite to the east with most being very large and hitting jigs.

Jim Hutchinson Jr. reports only about 10 0 anglers showed up yesterday evening at the Stafford Township Striped Bass public hearing which was the first in N.J. Not only are big reductions possible, but there’s even a no targeting proposal that would eliminate catch and release fishing.

The northeast winds continue, with 5-10 knots predicted.

Vinny D’Anton reports small blues have been saving the day for northern N.J. surfcasters as east winds blow day after day and the surf remains rough. No striped bass have been hooked even as the mullet run started and now there are also schools of peanut bunkers.

Though some boaters have been into little tunny, Vinny hasn’t seen them in the Monmouth County surf so far. Fishing for fluke in the surf had been good, but has become tougher in the rough surf.

Water temperatures remain high, and the fall striper migration is far in the future.

The forecast is for more of the same — small craft warnings for northeast winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25. Showers are likely.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio of Blue Runner from Point Pleasant reported sharks were brutal during his last trip offshore, but they managed to work around them for a good catch, while adding lots of dolphin.

Capt. Ron Santee didn’t see any improvement in Sunday’s fluking from his Fishermen out of Atlantic Highlands. Check with him before coming down the next two days since the weather forecast is marginal due to east winds at 10-15 knots pplus gusts to 20.

A Rhode Island state record tautog of 22 pounds, 5.28 ounces was boated recently by Vinny Simms Jr. while fishing with Capt. Robert Kerry Taylor of Newport Sportfishing Charters.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio of Blue Runner from Point Pleasant got offshore again and eventually found the bigeye tuna he was looking for as his party managed to get each one in the box.

Capt. Ron Santee didn’t like yesterday’s swell as he fished for fluke with his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, but he was impressed with the “tropical” looking waters as some fluke were picked up to a pool winner at 5.8 pounds. Fluking remained poor today though a 7-pounder made one angler very happy.

The offshore tournament season in NY/NJ Bight has concluded except for one being planned by the Beborah Hospital Foundation . Call lenny at 732 351-8363 for details.

The Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club’s Offshore Open was the last contest on the Jersey Shore, and it ended with exciting bigeye tuna catches. Great Escape II weighed a 206.6-pounder to edge out a206.1 on Blue Runner and a 200.2 on The Right Place. Override had a 71.8-pound albacore to win the longfin division. White marlin fishing remained excellent for those who concentrated on them as Big Deal won with 14 releases.

The final report from the MidAtlantic was 761 white marlin released plus 7 weighed. There were 24 blue marlin releases plus 2 weighed. Other species over minimum sizes were 21 tuna, 11 wahoo and 18 dolphin.

******

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

There are only a few days a year when virtually everyone remembers where they were when an major event occurred– and the World Trade Cennter attack is one of them.

I had joined Capt. Bob Pisano for a giant tuna attempt on a wreck located not very far from the city even though we had to beat our way out in a gusty northwest wind. We weren’t fishing very long before there was word on the marine radio about a plane hitting the World Trade Tower We assumed that must be a small plane, and had no concept of what had actually happened because the northwester was blowing the smoke close to the ground. Pisano didn’t feel right about continuing to fish, but we never saw any smoke almost until returning to Belmar.

A small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight, but drops to 10-15 knots east in the morning.

Vinny D’Anton reports small blues are back in the Monmouth County surf — and a cobia was spotted there.

The Viking Fleet from Montauk reported another great extended trip which provided a boat limit of yellowfin tuna that were primarily caught by jigging.

Meanwhile, the white marlin canyon bite continues as the Viking 82 demo boat released an amazing 64 white marlin during an overnighter.

A small craft advisory is up in NY/NJ Bight for northeast winds from 15-20 knots plus higher gusts.

NYC Capt. John McMurray says yesterday’s yellowfin tuna bite to the east was red hot as they pushed bunkers to the surface. Jigs did the job on tuna that were almost all over 80 pounds — though they surprisingly wouldn’t hit poppers.

Betty & Nick’s Fishing Club at Seaside Park had some good news for surfcasters as there was a bite of blues and fluke on SP Minnows — an dictation that the mullet run is on!

Unfortunately. a small craft advisory is up through tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow starts with northeast winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25 in NY/NJ Bight.