Since the Raritan Bay bluefish run fell apart on Sunday, there have only been reports of some cocktail blues in the ocean, but there was a big change today. The Jamaica from Brielle had caught a mix of the small blues plus mackerel to the southeast on Thursday, but that was very slow this morning before there was a call from Capt. Ed Yates of the Hunter from Barnegat who ran across blues on the way offshore for bottom fishing. The Jamaica steamed south for an hour to get into hot jigging as everyone limited and released other blues. There was no mention of the sizes. It was a beautiful day offshore, but that's not good for drifting fluke. Yet, the Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported some fares caught a keeper or two plus sea bass. Capt. Stan Zagleski said he fished a different area for fluke on Thursday, and came up with a most unusual boat limit on Elaine B II from Bahrs in Highlands. The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported limits of sea bass (two per man) up to 3 1/2 to 4 pounds plus some fluke up to 3 to 4 pounds -- and ling. The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant reported similar bottom fishing. Bob Correll of Bay Head cast a Gulp Shrimp on a jig into his local surf Thursday morning and was surprised to come up with two small stripers. I gave that area a try with the Gulp 4-inch Swimming Mullet and the Sand Eel, but only caught a 3-inch snapper that was one of many making short work of my Gulp. I was surprised to encounter snappers in the surf this early. The Mimi VI will be sailing open for bottom fishing on Monday at 7 a.m. from Point Pleasant Beach. Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park reported night shark fishing from the beaches is producing more brown sharks. Cownose rays are also abundant. Joe Melillo is enthused about the blackfishing in Point Pleasant Canal, and he has green crabs in stock at Castaways Tackle in Point Pleasant.