From Sandy Hook beach to Seaside Park, anglers are finding bass along the surf. Bass and big blues invaded the Navesink this week along with a good mix of weakfish. Bass were taken up to 22 pounds on clam and bunker.
Romer Shoals was also a hot spot this week with a few dozen boats working hard for trophy bass. Mostly shorts were caught this week, with few keepers for the table. Bass were seen blitzing bait on the surface early in the week, and that rumor attracted some big crowds over the weekend. The season is just getting started and anglers are hopeful that the fall run will produce big fish.
Aboard the Fish Monger from Brielle, Capt. Jerry stayed busy and kept patrons on a bounty of over 70 sea bass and 30-plus porgies. Capt. Jerry will continue to work the bottom until the bass bite is solid.
Offshore, the canyons remain spotty. The overnight chunk has been producing little, if any, tuna. Yellowfin tuna remains MIA; however, longfin tuna have been hitting on the troll at daybreak, relieving the stress. Anglers are getting spooked by the lack of reports and the cost involved to fish offshore.
From Point Pleasant, the Gambler, Voyager and Sea Devil have been reporting a few swordfish and sharks at night with mahi mahi picking up the slack on the troll. The next few weeks will be a true test to see if the yellowfin shows up at all.