After two days of hot surfcasting to the south, there were lots of anglers on beaches from Island Beach State Park to Lavallette -- though most were disappointed. Tommy Cox made the ride worthwhile by catching two 15-pound bass in a row on a popper in Lavallette around first light, but that was it as there was no bait in that area. I joined John Green in his beach buggy, and we checked the beaches down to Seaside without seeing a thing caught after he had many shots on CJ wood poppers to big bass the previous two days.  There were some boats working on a school of bunkers not too far offshore, and we saw one bass of about 36 inches netted. Yet, everything quieted own and those bunkers were never pushed anywhere near shore. None of the whales that had been putting on a show Monday showed up either.  Grumpy's Tackle reported there was an early bite in the park, but they had no weigh-ins. At Belmar, Miss Belmar Princess reported a slow pick of blues and a few stripers after hitting 30-to-40-pound stripers yesterday. The Golden Eagle reported picking on jumbo blues and bass, primarily on bait. Raritan Bay stripers didn't respond well to the weather. Ironically, Capt. Rob Semkewyc of the Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands said the problem seemed to be very clear waters as stripers sometimes were swimming around the boat but wouldn't hit anything. Capt. Ron Santee, of the Fishermen from that port, noted he had tough fishing on Monday -- and that Tuesday was somewhat better as his fares caught a few keepers and some shorts. Santee finished up drifting eels for a couple of bass -- a technique which has been working on the night trips.