Jigs have long been one of the most important basic lures for catching predators of almost any size. and often outfish fresh bait. The following report on Tuesday’s fishing came from the Golden Eagle out of Belmar.: “10/9/24. Beautiful day on the Seabass grounds today. limits all around the boat for today’s light crowd. Started the morning with some jig bites. Doubles headers on teasers and jigs. Lots of bites on bait as well with some nice quality coming up. Wasn’t hot and heavy but plenty of life and good quality to keep ya interested. Open boat Friday weather looks good come on down sailing 6am.”

The forecast is for west winds at a mere 10 knots plus gusts to 20,

With Hurricane Milton on the way, Kathy and I drove from our home in Ft. Myers yesterday to our daughter Cyndi’s home on the east coast at PGA in Palm Beach Gardens,

Being far from the Gulf of Mexico, and on high ground, our home in Ft. Myers should be safe Yet,, Nick Honachefsky urges caution after barely escaping with his life from his home in Normandy Beach during Superstorm Sandy by waiting too long to evacuate. He lost everything. but came back better than ever!

The weather in NY/NJ Bight sounds a lot better as the forecast for tomorrow is for northwest winds at 10-15 knots plus some gusts to 25.

Despite weeks of east winds, stripers haven’t invaded the northern N. J surf as yet — though the switch to northwest winds may change that this week.

Cooler overnight temperatures may be another factor working in the surf angler’s favor,

This the last weekend to enter the Oct. 11-12 Barrier Island Beach Brawl. Go to saltwaterunderground.com

A small craft advisory is up to Tuesday morning. Monday’s forecast is for northwest winds at just 5-10 knots.

After the long stretch of hard east winds in NY/NJ Bight, anglers are getting a real break this weekend.

Tomorrow’s forecast shifts back to the east, though at only 5-10 knots before going southeast in the afternoon. Seas are down to 2-4-feet.

Sea bass are the big attraction, but bottom fishing in general is better with the swells down.

Capt. Ron Santee Jr. sent the following report from today’s bottom fishing trip on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands during good weather: “Found the Bigger Sea Bass today along with a bunch of Bonito, some Triggers, blowfish, a couple Tog and small blues. We did catch some nice porgies but they didn’t bite like yesterday.

WE ARE NOT AVAILABLE TOMORROW (Saturday) We will be back to Open Boat on Sunday.“

Mike Monte reports from Nantucket that bonito are still around. Some little tunny finally arrived for a brief run, but pros only caught a few rather than their usual dozens. The lone charter boat still running caught lots of big stripers, but no mediums. Nantucket took a beating from the weeks of strong east winds — and also got over 8 inches of rain one day.

Dave Lilly took advantage of two straight nice days this week to run his crews over to N.Y. Harbor where they released about 20 big bass to over 40 inches without finding any small enough to even bother measuring to meet the 28-31-inch keeper size.

The first day it took 17 ounces to hold bottom while drifting live eels, and there was a problem with 6-pound blues. The next day the current was lighter and there were no blues.

Lily remarked about the lack of boats on the water which he feels may be due to the gas at $4.95 in Keyport plus $30 for a dozen eels. That makes for an expensive trip especially when it’s unlikely even one striper will be legal.

Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park noted that the wind has finally dropped out and the mullet are still there to attract migrating stripers and blues. There’s a great weather report for the weekend, with northwest winds at 5-10 knots and 2-3-foot seas on Saturday.

Betty & Nick’s Tackle in Seaside Park reports as follows:

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Betty & Nick’s Tackle in Seaside Park reports:”

Every year at the Barrier Island Beach Brawl surf fishing tourney we donate over 60 pounds of fresh fish fillets to feed the homeless and hungry and raise thousands of dollars for St. Jude’s to help children in need. We hope to donate even more this year this October 11/12. Of course the fishing and $35,000 of free gear is fun, but if we can pursue our passion to fish, we can also help those in need. Only 9 days left to sign up! Come join us this year, register at BETTY AND … Nick’s.

I’ve got a problem with my computer, and haven’t been able to bring up a weather forecast or reports except for Facebook. Hopefully, the calm weekend forecast noted yesterday continues.

Weather i NY/NJ Bight has been so bad for so long that it’s hard to believe the forecast of light winds over the weekend — including some west.

A small craft advisory is up until 8 p.m. Thursday’s forecast is for east winds at 5-10 knots before going southeast in the afternoon.

Sea bass fishing opened in N.J. on Tuesday, and the forecast looks perfect for that. That’s even more true for tuna fishing which has been generally very good whenever boats can get offshore.

Mike Monte left a great run of bonito at Nantucket a few weeks ago in hope of getting into the fall mullet run in northern N.J. which normally provides some hot surfcasting for stripers — but all he got was endless east winds for two weeks before returning to Nantucket..

Monte said he was never able to find any mullet in the very rough and dangerous surf which was almost unfishable. He thinks the lack of stripers is due to the mild weather with a lack of low overnight temperatures. Once it gets down to the mid-fifties at night , stripers should start moving in.

Monte also is hoping to find some little tunny back in Nantucket where they have been missing this fall.

A small craft advisory is posted through late tonight in NY/NJ Bight. Tomorrow’s morning forecast is for east winds at 10-15 knots with 4-6-foot seas. A hopeful sign is the prediction of light west winds on Saturday!

The N.J. sea bass season reopens Tuesday and runs through October with a 12.5-inch minimum and a 10-fish bag.

Some party boats are running opening day extended trips by reservation. Be sure to check with your favorite boat about their sailing time so you don’t arrive to find an empty slip.

The weather looks fishable, but not great as east winds continue at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 20 with 4-6-foot seas.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio of the Blue Runner from Point Pleasant managed to get in an overnighter during the week which produced yellowfin and bigeye tuna among lots of short hits.