By far the largest surf bass of the fall that I've heard of was landed before daylight in Island Beach State Park by Frank Stone. The 25 3/4-pounder hit an SP Minnow, and was weighed at Betty & Nick's in Seaside Park. Small blues were also caught there today. I plugged the Bay Head surf this morning without any sign of life, but was pleased to see that the west wind had decreased the big swell. It should be even calmer by tomorrow.  Leif Pettersen took a break from surfcasting to fish the Friday to Saturday Hudson Canyon trip of the Gambler from Point Pleasant. He and his friend, Adam D'Onofrio, each boated a large albacore over 50 pounds -- and Adam lost a 6-foot mako that he had on for 10 minutes with a mono leader. There was a decent bite of yellowfins and albacore from false light to 9 a.m.