Tropical Storm Jose sent big swells crashing on our shores, and kept boaters in port since the weekend with the result that only one ocean fishing report was received on the first day of fall-- though that was a very good one as the Golden Eagle from Belmar got into jumbo bluefish up to 20 pounds. It was only a "pick" on both Run-Off Hammer jigs and bait, but provides hope for an ocean run of giant blues ranging up to near-record sizes such as we experienced a couple of years ago. Blues have been scarce all summer, and those that were caught in chum slicks were small. Hopefully, there will also be a return to the variety chumming that was producing a mix of bonito, little tunny and chub mackerel prior to the storm. Porgy fishing was also very good for bottom fishermen, and should resume once the swells decrease. Swells often disturb the bottom and turn off the bite especially in shallow waters, but blackfish and triggerfish were also hitting readily up to last weekend. Brielle dentist Pat Donnelly  made a trip Sunday on his Shanakee from Point Pleasant for anything he could catch, and was surprised at he volume of small bonito he trolled on Shark River Reef before bottom fishing in deeper waters ro lessen the effect of the swells for a pick of ling and winter flounder. Boaters who trolled beyond the reef got into little tunny rather than bonito. At Brielle, the Jamaica has room on a limited reservation trip for little tunny and bonito on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 732 528-5014.  The Paramount has scheduled trips to offshore ling wrecks 30 to 40 miles offshore on Wednesday Sept. 27 plus Oct. 4 and 18. The $85 trips run from 4:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and require a reservation by calling 732 528-2117.   The Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands had good jigging Sunday in Raritan Bay for 3-to-5-pound blues, and will be doing that Sunday plus future weekends until stripers arrive for a switch to daily trips. Those not fishing can take in the N.J. Boat Show & Expo at First Energy Park in Lakewood. There will be 25 dealers displaying at the show which opens Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and continues through Sunday. Albacore trolling was very good in Hudson Canyon last weekend, but the canyon fleet will have to start from scratch if they can get out this weekend. Surfcasters have been facing into a surf much better suited for surfboards. This is the time of year when millet should be dropping out of rivers and bays to attract stripers that will then usually respond to poppers for the most exciting surfcasting of the year. Since mullet tend to run right along the drop-off, it's important to work your cast right up to the sand as it's not unusual to get hit at that point. The most exciting striper strike I ever got was at this time as the bass jumped straight up out of the water like a mako shark just a few feet from me before doing a somersault to crash on the Tactical Anglers Bomb Jr. popper. Though it's too early for the migratory run with water temperatures still in the seventies, the local bass should be turning on as soon as the seas calm and clear a bit -- if that happens before the effects of Hurricane Maria get too close next week. Point Pleasant Canal provided a refuge from the weather with plenty of blackfish to be caught. Green crabs had been hard to come by, but Joe Melillo has them back in stock at Castaways Tackle in Point Pleasant, and I used some for light tackle sport with short tog up to 14 1/2 inches. On Sunday I also saw a red drum caught by an angler using crab. That redfish was the same 22 inches as one I released a few weeks ago, but with a heavier body. It was followed in by a big bluefish, as was one of my tog. Yet, I only had one hit on a 6-inch Tsunami Shad while casting this week. Capt. Stan Zagleski will continue his blackfish trips at 7 a.m. this weekend on Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands even though they are basically catch-and-release except for the one tog that can be retained at present plus triggerfish. Jim Hutchinson Sr. reports for the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association that Capt. Ray Lopez had non-stop bonito trolling action on Miss Liane as the party caught over 40, but only kept 16.  Capt. Gary Dugan put his party on Irish Jig into drop and reel bottom fishing even though lots of big sea bass had to be released. They were able to keep a good catch of triggerfish, porgies and snapper blues.  Hutchinson notes "Captain Fran Verdi who runs the "Francesca Marie" says fishing has not stopped. Currently he is chasing blackfish, triggers, porgies, inshore bonito, and false albacore. He is keeping an eye to the future as he is anxious to see the start of striped bass season."