As boaters started venturing out after Jose's movement well to the east, they found a mixed bag of fishing. I joined Chuck Many of Annandale for an afternoon trip on his Ty Man from Gateway Marina in Highlands with the north wind behind the outgoing tide in the Hudson River. However, the north wind was stronger than expected and the drift was very fast. We still ended up worming and releasing weakfish of 25 1/2 and 26 1/2 inches plus three blues in the 3-ro-4-pound class, a few 12-inch porgies and many tiny sea bass before moving up to the East River where Many quickly released a 31-inch striper. A good bite continued on a short drift after that, though they were all small stripers as the bass release count ended up at 19.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar had good morning jigging for 3-to-4-pound blues on Run-Off Hammer jigs, but it was too nasty to get out to where they found big blues on Thursday. They hope to be able to get out there on Saturday.
The Ocean Explorer from Belmar had to search around before finding good action with porgies, triggerfish and blackfish while many sea bass and some fluke were released.