Record rain after an unending northeaster has virtually shut down saltwater fishing in NYNJ Bight except for those persevering in backwater areas which have remained clear. Unfortunately, there’s still no sign of the roaring northwest wind needed to clear up this situation.

There is finally a mention of west in a future forecast, though it’s only for a light west wind on Tuesday.

In the meantime, there are small craft warnings through Sunday evening. It will be northeast in the morning at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25 along with 5-8-foot seas and more rain.

The N,J, sea bass season opens on Sunday. and the Jamaica from Brielle has switched from tuna fishing on rough offshore seas to a 9-hour sea bass fishing trip in calmer waters. Call 732 528-5014 for reservations on the 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. sailing.

Ian Scott Devlin with the sporty and good-eating Atlantic bonito.

Striped bass fishermen, and especially those who would like to become successful striper anglers, should be sure to take in the seminar being presented Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Tackle Box at Hazlet by New Jersey’s most prominent striper pro. Chuck Many.

Chuck is one of the most dedicated striper fisherman I’ve met in decades of fishing for that species from North Carolina to Maine. The results he’s achieved aboard his Tyman from Highlands include many tournament victories and an American Striper Association Angler of the Year designation — all while releasing even those bass weighed in for contests. However, quite unlike most striper pros, Many is happy to share his expertise and techniques with others who want to become better striper anglers.

There will be plenty of stripers to be caught after the lengthy period of northeasters which should get the fall migration started. Some big bass were caught in Raritan Bay at the beginning of the storm, and that bite should resume as waters clear.

Unfortunately, there’s still no forecast of a calming northwest blow. However, at least the northeaster has backed off to a small craft advisory through Saturday evening with diminishing seas. The Friday forecast is for northeast at 20-25 knots with gusts to 30 plus rain and 5-8-foot seas. By Saturday, it starts at northeast 15-20 with gusts to 25 plus 4-6-foot seas and only a chance of rain.

Hopefully, by Sunday’s opening of the N.J. sea bass season there will be decent conditions for that fishery. The Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands expects to get started again that day.

Capt. Frank Masseria is putting together an open boat live bait striper trip for Sunday on his Vitamin Sea from Keyport, Call 917 439-6448 for reservations.

Adam LaRosa says his Canyon Runner from Point Pleasant has a few open dates into mid-October to finish the offshore season with yellowfin chunking that’s been very productive. Call him at 732 272-4445.

The Hudson River Fisherman’s Assn. has postponed their Fly Fishing Derby scheduled for Saturday at Sandy Hook until further notice.

New Jersey has taken action to bring state regulations into complience with those in federal waters. Thus, cod must be at least 23 inches long during seasons from May 1-31, and Sept. 1 to Dec, 31. The bag limit is five.

The summer flounder season in NJ waters ended in rough seas today as the Ocean Explorer from Belmar had to cancel a last day Marathon trip when the ocean remained “wild” last night rather than dropping down to a manageable big swell condition. The only good news is that the sea bass season opens on Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 31 with a bag limit of 10 at a 12.5-inch minimum.

The longest lasting northeaster anyone can remember continues with small craft warnings for northeast winds at 15-20 knots on Thursday along with 4-6-foot seas and likely afternoon showers. There’s still no change to calming west winds in future forecasts.

Nick Honachefsky reminds us there are less than 10 days left to sign up for the Barrier Island Beach Brawl! – by which time the northeaster may finally stop blowing!

The Oct. 6/7 – 2 day surf fishing tourney features $25,000 worth of free fishing tackle rod/reel/gear door prizes, plus cash prizes for15 eligible species- with Striper PHOTO/Release only.

Nick emphasizes that registration gets you a $50 FREE Goody Bag just for signing up! You can’t go wrong by getting into this fun-fishing contest. Sign up at local tackle shops, or visit saltwaterunderground/barrierislandbeachbrawl.com.

Everyone I’ve talked to agrees that they’ve before seen such a long,unrelenting northeaster. Mike Monte says the surf is filthy, and infishable. He thinks it will take several days of northwest winds to clear it up, but there’s nothing of that sort in upcoming forecasts.

The gale warning comes down at 6 p.m., before shifting to a small craft advisory through late tonight. Wednesday starts with northeast winds at 15-20 knots plus gusts to 25 — and 5-8-foot seas.

The Ocean Explorer from Belmar has been planning a season–ending fluke trip for Wednesday in hopes that the wind will back off enough for them to fish deep water rocks and wrecks in search of a fluke that could be worth over $5,000 for those joining the seasonal and monthly pools as well as the daily. An 8-pounder presently leads in those pools. Those interested can text 848 565-0519 for info and a reservation.

A fond memory from Mel Deak. Whitey and Jimmy Morenz ran Miss Take II out of Highlands for many years for stripers, weakfish and blue. That 60-foot party boat was built in 1952.

The northeaster just keeps coming, and with big waves crashing the beaches surfcasters must be alert to the dangers posed by backwashes.

It’s possible for N.J. surfcasters to cast into a pretty stiff northeaster in search of that first striped bass blitz of the fall, but the greatest danger isn’t the big waves coming at you — but rather the backwash as all that water pours back down the beach and can easily sweep your legs out from under you.

Falling down in the surf line can be a killer, especially at this time of year when there are few people on the beaches. Getting back up as the waves keep coming is no sure thing even for veteran anglers. Unless you carry a walking staff, your rod butt may be all you have to work with under the circumstances — especially if your waders have taken in water. Using a strap across your wader top is a good idea on lonely beaches even if you don’t plan to wade beyond the wash.

The northeaster just keeps coming, with no sign of a calming northwest blow. A gale warning is up through Tuesday afternoon with northeast winds at 25-30 knots plus seas up to 9 feet in a south swell. Inlets will be rough, and there’s a chance of rain.

The N.J. fluke season closes after Sept. 27, which may not make any difference unless the weather improves.

NYC Capt. John McMurry says it hasn’t been a good year for big dolphin during his tuna trips, but this one caught before the storm was an exception.

At least the gale watch is gone, and it’s down to a small craft advisory for tomorrow. However, northeast winds of 20-25 knots plus gusts to 35 continue to the afternoon. Add in some showers, and that makes a good day to stay home. Vinny D’Anton reports the surf is a mess, and it may require a change in wind direction to take care of that problem.

Capt. Vinnie Vetere of Katfish at Great Kills sent the following report about Friday’s fishing:

“”We went out 5 am in the dark to get an early jump before the blow. We found the fish chewing.

Most fish were overs up to 41lbs.

We were only able to keep the boat limit of 6. We fished eels as we had no time to look for bunker. By 10:30 the wind came up to 35mph and the waves crested at 4 feet.  We got home just before the wind blew the house away.  You were right again.  Always fish for big bass just before a big east blow.”

Vetere hopes to be out there again on Tuesday.

Paddy Sciortino of The tackle Box in Hazlet also got into big stripers by fishing live eels at night in Raritan Bay just before the storm.

The gale watch comes down tonight after northeast winds gust up to 40 knots. East winds continue Sunday at 20-25 knots with gusts to 35 and showers.

The IGFA starts its 2023 Tournament Series Online Auction at 8 a.m. Sunday. Check in with the IGFA for a preview of all the tackle, art, trips, etc. that will be up for grabs.

Capt. Ron Santee got a real surprise today when he tried to sneak in a last fluke trip on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands before the weekend gale watch.

Fish usually bite readily before a storm, but that wasn’t the case at all today as Capt. Ron Santee tried several spots without putting a single keeper on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. The ocean was getting nasty, so Santee gave out passes for a future trip and headed in early.

Mike Monte of Nantucket has been catching stripers over 16 inches during a short period after dawn from Monmouth County beaches. Yesterday morning he had a 30-incher on a popper, while another angler beached a 31-incher. The northeaster will probably kill that action, but fall storms can produce for those willing to take a beating if the waters remain clear.

Tomorrow looks like another very fishable day, and anglers should take advantage of it in face of a weekend gale warning.

At Belmar, the Golden Eagle reported a slow start before bluefishing broke open in the afternoon. There was whitewaterfishing on the 3-to-8-pound blues with diamond jigs, and some anglers added fluke limits off bottom.

The best fluke fishing of the season has been going on since last week, but the weekend weather could put that to an end. Capt. Ron Santee said it was tougher today, but still did well on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. Seve and Big Tom boated successive fluke of 8.4 and 7.11 pounds. Santee is fishing tomorrow since the wind isn’t predicted to come on until the afternoon.

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Fisher Prce IV eports a fine tripecent day on the bluefin grounds for Mike and friends landing 2 overs taking out at 55” and 59”. Thank you guys for fishing hard. We will have the boat back up in Highlands and hope to start bass fishing end of the week. We will also be available for tuna charters as long as they are around. Call or text 732-861-3394 for info and reservations.

All reactions:

88Joe Tomaszewski, Chuck Tyman Manny and 86 others

It’s not often that fluke fishing is a sure thing, but that’s the way its been this week. Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen at Atlantic Highlands summed up today as follows:”

Another awesome Fluke fishing day. I said yesterday it would be a perfect 10 and we didn’t disappoint !

Joe & George had their limit on the first drift, by day’s end many had their three and then some on quality Fluke from 3-4 pounds….Dennis took the pool with a beauty at 7 pounds.

Too many names to list tonight so I’ll just post the pics. Tomorrow is another 10 plus day, Friday is looking good, the weekend, I’ll let you know tomorrow or Friday. Don’t miss this awesome end of the year Bite! Kinda like the end of the year sale.

Paid our dues for a couple months with the up’s and down’s, now we have been blessed. See you in the AM 7:30-3:00pm “

The Golden Eagle from Belmar had fine jigging for small blues that produced a quick boat limit before switching to fluke as some limits of the flatfish were added.

That weekend warning is in sharp contrast to tomorrow when it looks perfect again with 5-10-knot north winds. Gusty northeast winds are in the weekend forecast.

There was also good news from the Monmouth County surf as Mike Monte arrived from Nantucket to catch stripers in the 16-inch plus size the last two mornings on a Chug Bug. Mullet are the current surf attraction.

Chuck Many reports a hot yellowfin tuna bite yesterday on the Critter Catcher