Anglers are getting an early Christmas present from NOAA Weather as north winds of only 5 to 10 mph are forecast for the weekend. Capt. Stan Zagleski reported it was windy during Friday's trip with his Elaine B II from Highlands, but there was a decent bite of blackfish. For the first time recently, white-legger crabs outfished green crabs. After having released four short stripers in the Sea Girt surf over the last two evenings, I thought we might have something going. Vinnie D'Anton of Shark River Hills cast lures there this afternoon, and Joe Blaze of Brielle worked his fly rod before I arrived to pound the surf with a 6-inch Tsunami Sand Eel until dark. The surf was beautiful, and air temperatures were comfortable enough in the mid-thirties, but none of us had so much as a bump. Back to page 1!