As noted in my earlier blog, trolling seemed to be the best bet Wednesday in Raritan Bay. Gene Graman of Middletown couldn't get bunkers early in the morning, and that might have worked out for the best as he trolled Stretch plugs in the middle of the bay for a striper limit on That's It from Twin Lights Marina in Highlands. It was just the opposite for Tank Matraxia and Marty Gras from Lyndhurst with Don Alonzo from Point Pleasant and your reporter with Capt. Kevin Cole on his Parker from Brown's Marina in Keyport. Cole got down at 4 a.m. to ensure catching a supply of bunkers, but the only thing we caught on them was my small skate as we chunked on Round Shoal. I cast the Tsunami Deep Shad there from time to time, and hooked a striper just a hair shy of 28 inches that received an ALS tag from Matraxia. As the ebb tide started running, we got off the anchor to troll Stretch plugs. While Cole cleaned up the stern, Matraxia took the wheel  and we quickly boated two stripers while dropping another. It got tougher after that, but we later added a larger striper before heading in early.  One of the bass had a whole bunker in her stomach. Most of the bait fishing reports we got were modest compared to what the fishing had been. Capt. Rob Semkowyc, on the Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands, said he only had a pick of bass that hit clams best -- rather than bunker which worked better for him the previous day.