The cownose rays are here! Surfcasters are getting involved in the fights of their lives, and those not pay ing attention to rods in holders may be watching them heading out to sea. I didn't see any signs this morning when I started casting for fluke at Bay Head, but it wasn't long before my 1/8-ounce Storm Searchbait jig was being pulled to the east. I knew what I had immediately, and was hoping it wasn't too big for the capacity of my Canyon 350 spin teel. The 7-foot Bogey custom spinning rod had plenty of backbone to handle anything I might hook in the surf, and I just had to move along the beach while pulling the ray closer. They always panic when fought into shallow water, and I've found the best bet is to wait for a bigger wave to give the final pull that will throw them up on the sand. This one looked to be about 40 pounds before being released 20 minutes later. Though they look like skates, their wings are entirely different.  Rather than being a gourmet's delight, ray wings have reddish meat that's more like veal than fish. NOAA has come up with some recipes that can be googled, but the best bet after a long fight is a release. I didn't even have the first ray release at Castaways Tackle in Point Pleasant, as Randy, another regular there, had hooked up south of me after seeing rays chasing bait on the surface. Joe Melillo weighed in a 7 1/2-pound fluke caught in the ocean by Bill Mc Crystal of Point Pleasant. He got a green crab shipment, and had word of good blackfishing in Point Pleasant Canal. Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park reported that cownose rays are in FULL FORCE.It's been mostly small fluke in the surf, but Lou De Fonteny had a 22.5-inch, 3.4-pounder Saturday. The Jamaica from Brielle had another good tilefish trip on Monday with some limits, many golden tiles over 15 pounds, a 25-pound pool winner for Mike Xenakis -- and a few rosefish,. They sail again for tiles at 10 p.m. Sunday by reservation. Call 732 528-5014. The Golden Eagle from Belmar has given up on the Raritan Bay blues that hit so well on Saturday. They're making a run to the east in search of big blues tomorrow. Today's trip was good for sea bass, ling and some fluke. The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant got into cocktail blues and chub mackerel yesterday, and anglers using light spinning tackle did very well with small blues today. Capt. Dave De Gennaro is back in Barnegat with his Hi-Flier  after spending two weeks chasing tuna out of Ocean City. Maryland. Among the highlights of that trip were a 31-pound wahoo, his first, for young Nick De Gennaro; a white marlin of about 80 pounds for Steve Ondorf of Rockaway (his first billfish); and a dolphin by Anthony Scalea of Cranford. Max De Gennaro (16) gaffed his first large fish, a 60-pound bluefin, and hooked a 150-pound southern stingray on a chunk that he fought for 30 minutes before his father released it. Capt. Stan Zagleski had some good news about fluking today as everyone went home with dinner from Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands. Everyone got dinner today July 18, 2017