It wasn't very big, but it was very welcome! I had a doctors appointment in Neptune this afternoon and with temperatures in the fifties I couldn't resist making an attempt at surfcasting in Sea Girt after it was over -- even though there have been only poor surf reports this week. It was nice on the beach, and the water looked fine despite a significant swell. Casting was no problem either with a west wind gusting to 30 mph at my back, but there were no signs of life until I hooked up on a 6-inch Tsunami Halographic Eel. It was only a 20 1/2-inch striper, but none has ever been more appreciated. Despite the seeming lack of bait in the surf, that bass was in fine shape and heavy for its length. That size striper should have company, but I pounded the waters until the sun was going down without so much as a tap. That was just enough to get me back, as we should be picking away at shorts in the surf every day this month and well into January, though I'm not convinced it's going to happen.