It took a while for Tank Matraxia's party to get into stripers today with Capt. Kevin Cole, but persistence paid off. The intermittent showers predicted turned out to be steady in the morning, and Matraxia got so soaked through that he opted to head  back to Keyport, drive to a K-Mart for all new dry clothing plus rain gear -- and then return to Brown's Marina for an afternoon trip on Cole's Parker along with Emil Pavalac of Rutherford, Dennis Tarnoski from Byrum and I. Capt. Lou Grazioso also joined us. By that time, wind had driven the rain away -- but we had a bumpy ride out. Fortunately, the wind dropped out and the rain stayed away as Cole and Grazioso steered us into stripers on live bunkers at the mouth of the bay where they'd had big trips on Sunday.  We had to work for them, but it was exciting fishing as about 15 bass from 20 to 33 pounds were caught-- including five tagged by Matraxia with ALS tags.  I also released the lone bluefish. Cole is working with Down Deep Sportfishing Charters, running open trips for stripers, fluke and bottom fishing daily out of Brown's as well as charters. For reservations call 609 689-8631. The skippers watched a Coast Guard rescue on Sunday in Ambrose Channel as a small charter boat broke down and dropped anchor off the channel. Unfortunately, wakes from passing ships pulled the anchor free and they drifted toward a tanker that struck a glancing blow. The anglers had jumped overboard, and were rescued as Coast Guard helicopters were out there quickly. Capt. Derick Bielitz, of Fisher Price from Highlands towed the boat into port, where it was re-started.     Capt. Stan Zagleski worked Raritan Bay today with his Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands to put John Shaffren of Newark into his personal-best fluke - 9.4-pound near-doormat.