Last weekend's striped bass fishing, especially south of Manasquan Inlet, was so bad that it could hardly be anything but better this weekend. Yet, there's reason to expect good action simply because the bunker schools returned this week and many large stripers have been taken by boaters all along the Shore. It doesn't usually happen in the same places or at the same times every day, but there are some good reports most days. Surfcasters usually just watch the action offshore, but they too may get a shot at times when bass drive bunkers to the beach as occurred Tuesday morning at Manasquan. Those stripers are large, but schoolies are also starting to show in the surf -- though that sport has been best at night. Joe Melillo, at Castaways Tackle in Point Pleasant, reports Bob Matthews of Belmar released seven Thursday night in his area while casting plugs and teasers. There are similar reports of schoolies plus a few keepers at night from Grumpy's and Betty & Nick's in Seaside Park. Clam and bunker baits have been producing during the day. Some party boats cancelled Friday trips due to the cold northwest wends, but all will be back at it Saturday with a good forecast. Though cold, that may seem warm next week when the blast of Global Warming from the mid-west hits us. The Golden Eagle from Belmar sailed today and reported stripers up to 25 pounds plus some shorts and bluefish -- but "not enough"  even though bass were marked and seen swirling . They just didn't respond very well to jigs. Capt. Russ Binns of Toms River was bringing a boat up from the south today, and didn't see any bunkers or fish life all along Long Beach Island on his way to Barnegat Inlet. The blackfish season opens on Nov. 16 and runs through Dec. 31 as the bag limit jumps from one to six at the same 15-inch minimum. Winter flounder fishing has been very good from the Belmar Marina bulkheads. Bob Matthews, at Fisherman's Den there, reminds anglers that only two at a 12-inch minimum can be taken. Game wardens have been present, as they should with a stock that's been terribly overfished in recent years. Castaways also reports good flounder fishing in the Point Pleasant Canal area. Blackfish are abundant on the rough bottoms in the canal where I've been enjoying fine sport at slack tides releasing small tog on one-handed spinning tackle with a tiny split shot or egg sinker. I caught one today that had my broken off leader from a previous day in its lip.