Though it didn’t seem as windy as predicted, there was enough for Miss Belmar Princess to cancel it’s trip. The Big Mohawk from Belmar did report decent sea bass fishing that included limits.

There are two spots left tonight on an offshore tuna trip of the Jamaica from Brielle which sails at 9 p.m. The fare is $335. Call 732 528-5014 for this last minute opportunity.

Frank Criscola’s Crisdel from Brielle Yacht Club had a good trip to the Hudson on the weekend as the overnighter produced a wahoo of about 70 pounds. a bigeye around 170 pounds and albacore before Capt. George Steller put the crew into a 100-pound swordfish.

The wind is supposed to drop out and only 5-10 knots from the west is predicted. The surf should be flat.

Weather permitting, most N.J. party boats will be fishing tomorrow for sea bass which opens for the rest of the month with the same 12 1/2-inch minimum, but a 10 fish bag limit. Most will be sailing limited trips, and may have different sailing times. Be sure to call for reservations.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar released many fat sea bass today, but their fares were happy with the medium to large blues they jigged. They went east of the reef and also saw tuna and little tunny out there.

Bob Matthews says he’s all geared up for sea bass at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina. He noted that the Golden Eagle had blues to over 15 pounds today. Large kingfish are being caught in Shark River. but surfcasting has been slow lately.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. started catching porgies this morning on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands before the wind came on hard and it went downhill from there. As a result he won’t be fishing tomorrow in all the wind.

Today is the deadline to sign up for this weekend’s Barrier Island Beach Brawl at http://www.saltwater underground/shop.

A gale warning is up tonight with southwest gusts to 40 knots, but it switches in the morning to northwest 15-20 plus gusts to 25 knots.

The amazing run of yellowfin tuna continues in the Triple Wrecks area. Capt. Lou Grazioso said some days are tougher than others, but most trips are successful. Most encouraging is the volume of sand eels in tuna stomachs. Earlier in the run the tuna were stuffed with only the chunks being provided by anglers, but now there’s natural bait to keep them in the area.

Grazioso reported that one of his friends was pleasantly surprised to catch a large white marlin that hit a bait dropped to bottom.

Unfortunately for that sport, we’re in for some windy weather. There’s a small craft warning up through tomorrow — to be followed by a gale watch. Wednesday starts with southwest winds at 15-20 knots with gusts to 30.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar canceled tomorrow’s tuna trip, but added a new 18-hour trip next Tuesday at 11 p.m. They caught some bluefish on jigs today.

Bottom fishing in N.J. ocean waters now features porgies along with a few triggerfish and the one blackfish presently allowed — plus sea bass that have to be released. However, all that will change on Oct. 8 when the N.J. sea bass fishery reopens. Check with your favorite skipper as special limited trips may be scheduled for the first few trips.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported a very good Saturday night trip for 3-8-pound blues on both bait and jigs. However, today’s day trip was again slow. They saw a lot of blues, had to work for every one. There were a few larger blues up to over 10 pounds among the mostly small to medium choppers. They also caught some 5-7-pound little tunny.

There’s another light wind forecast for tomorrow. Let’s hope they are right this time. Today’s forecast was for northeast at 5-10 knots, but when I checked the surf at Bay Head it seemed as if they should have written 5 plus 10 because the flags were straight out. Monday’s forecast is again NE 5-10, but with a chance of morning showers.

In addition to Betty & Nick’s. you can also sign up for next weekend’s Barrier Island Beach Brawl at Grumpy’s Tackle, Gabriel Tackle, Fisherman’s Supply and Charlie’s Tackle.

After party boats enjoyed very good ocean jigging for 2-pound blues yesterday, it was just the opposite today.

Miss Belmar Princess reported only a few were jigged during a frustrating day in good conditions. Surprisingly, there were quite a few short weakfish caught.

The Big Mohawk from Belmar got back to bottom fishing yesterday, and had the expected action with porgies and triggerfish — but everyone also had their one fish tog limit.

Nick Honachefsky has been loading up on small blues the last two days in the the Seaside area surf. There are a few to 4 pounds among the cocktails which are taking mullet rigs — but also hit on shad lures and teasers. Nick finished up blackfishing off Elberon today. and caught some along with a conger and a tropical pinfish.

Nick’s Barrier Islands Beach Brawl is coming up next weekend. It’s necessary to sign up right away at http://www.saltwaterunderground.com/shop — or in person at Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park.

Light winds continue on Sunday with southeast breezes at 5-10 knots before shifting to east in the afternoon.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had another good catch of 1-4-pound bluefish today along with some bonito and little tunny. They were quickly into catch-and-release mode, and it was all on jigs.

The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant did another Thursday bonito/little tunny trip that was once again a bust. Capt. Dave Riback may switch Tuesday’s bonito /little tunny trip unless he hears some good info about the species sought.

There’s an open boat opportunity to fish the canyons or the yellowfin tuna grounds both days this weekend on Capt. Chris De Gennaro’s Hi Flier from Barnegat. The cost is $450 with a maximum. of four anglers. Call him at 732 330-5674.

The weather looks good with northwest winds at just 5-10 knots before going west in the afternoon. Sunday starts with the same 5-10 knots but northeast until switching to southeast in the afternoon.

There was no lack of bluefish today for N.J. party boats as the Golden Eagle from Belmar reported a boat limit was jigged. They also had some bonito, and saw a little tunny. Those blues were on the small side, but some days bigger blues are mixed in.

Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar Marina reports small blues, porgies and kingfish are in Shark River. The bottom fish are hitting worms and small pieces of clam. Bob is most impressed by the yellowfin tuna run at the Triple Wrecks where the Golden Eagle boated 54 during this week’s trip.

The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant also scored with those tuna up to 80 pounds on their final Tuna Tuesday trip of the year.

Great weather continues with a Friday forecast of northwest at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 that should settle and clear the surf somewhat.

The small quota of billfish allowed to be landed by recreational fishermen in Atlantic Ocean waters has been filled, and all blue marlin, white marlin and roundscale marlin must be released for the rest of the year. That restriction doesn’t apply to Atlantic sailfish. The Gulf of Mexico and U.S. portion of the Caribbean Sea are included.

Small craft warnings are up for gusty southwest winds this evening, but by morning they are down to 10-15 knots. The outlook through the weekend is very good.

Time is running out to sign up for the Barrier Islands Beach Brawl on Oct. 9-10. Sign up online at http://www.saltwaterunderground.com/shop.

Even with hundreds of boats often in the Triple Wrecks area, the yellowfin tuna fishery has been holding up, though there are a few days when those fish turn off. Meanwhile., the canyon fishing has been the best in decades with lots of yellowfins plus frequent bigeyes and the best showing of albacore in years.

The Canyon Runner from Point Pleasant has been sold out for months, but they are now adding some dates in October with some of their former captains with their own boats. Call 732 272-4445 for info.

At Belmar, the Golden Eagle reported a very good yellowfin trip on Monday with many limits up to 80 pounds and no one shut out –while twice as many tuna were lost. They’ve added another such 18-hour trip that will sail at 11 p.m. Oct. 17.

Miss Belmar Princess picked away at mostly 2-pound blues today with some limit catches.

The Jamaica from Brielle has been doing well om their tuna trips except for Saturday when the yellowfins had “lockjaw”. Yet, the next day 50-70-pounders turned on again. They’ve added another such trip for Sunday Oct. 11. Call 732 528-5014. There will also be limited bonito and bluefish trips at 7 a.m. Thursday and Friday.

Capt. Dave De Gennaro has been doing well with weakfish and other small game in his grass shrimp chum on days he can’t get out offshore for yellowfins with his Hi Flier from Barnegat — or to Barnegat Rudge for little tunny and bonito.

A gale warning is up this evening for south gusts to 30 knots. but by morning that’s down to west at 15-20 with gusts to 30 that should knock down the rough surf.