The south wind had the desired effect as predicted in last night's blog. and both stripers and blues cooperated to the south. The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported most fares were able to limit on bass by jigging Krocs, swim shads and Run-Off Hammer jigs. Miss Belmar Princess reported over 60 stripers board, including a boat limit of slots - while some fares added five to six big blues.  Surfcasting started off slowly, but I heard of a couple of shorts caught blind casting at Normandy Beach. Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park reported some small bass were hitting lures, but didn't have any weigh-ins. Vinny D'Anton of Wall fished from Point Pleasant north before finally hooking three stripers under 18 inches in Monmouth County on a Tsunami Sand Eel. Yet, when he returned in the afternoon there was a better bite that included a released 31-incher among eight bass. Jay Amberg reported the Sea Girt surf was dead in the morning, and there was no bait -- but he saw gannets crashing the surface offshore. Blackfish responded to the much-diminished swell by pleasing most  anglers on the Ocean Explorer from Belmar. Both jigs and sinker rigs worked, though most of the action was in the bow all day. Striper fishing was a different story to the north. Capt. Rob Semkewyc reported from his Sea Hunter out of Atlantic Highlands as follows: "Frustrating day today. No lack of bird life. It actually looked good at times. The fish were swirling at times, but they would not stay put. They were very wild. They would come up for 30 seconds and disappear. I was running around like a nut from patch to patch.We landed two stripers and lost a couple. I was going to give it up for the year, but at the end of the day they showed up between the channels. There was a ton of birds, good readings and lots of bait. We couldn't catch em, but they were there. I am going to give it one more shot on Sunday. It will be do or die. If we catch I will keep fishing and if we don't I will close up shop till spring. Tomorrow is going to blow a Gale -- NW winds with gusts to 35, so we will stay dockside. Sunday's weather looks good." Posted by Captain Rob at 4:02 PM