Small striped bass remained active in the surf last January almost to the end of the month, so it should be no surprise that Bob Matthews reported from Fisherman's Den in Belmar Marina that surfcasters did well the last two days in Monmouth County waters. Matthews reports that flyfishing pro Bill Massey released 15 during that period from local beaches. Matthews noted that the blackfish being caught from party boats at the marina are much bigger. Betty & Nick's in Seaside Park actually weighed a keeper bass today, though at just 8 3/4 pounds the bass beached at Island Beach State Park by Brett Brounstein must have barely made it. I'm looking forward to getting at those bass when I return from Florida tomorrow -- just in time for a deep freeze. The shore fishing Luis Gonzalez of Homestead, Fl. and I enjoyed with Crazy Alberto Knie of Tactical Anglers at a Fort Myers-area pass into the Gulf of Mexico this morning will be missed as we picked away at spotted sea trout up to 19 1/2 inches and ladyfish on 4-pound spinning tackle. A light but steady rain fell from shortly after we started at 5:30, but at least it was warm. There was no news on mackerel today, as the Golden Eagle from Belmar cancelled their trip due to the weather forecast. Capt. Stan Zagleski, of the Elaine B. from Highlands, only needed two drops on Saturday to put together a catch of blackfish. There was lots of action with shorts in a southwest breeze plus enough keepers up to an 8-pounder by Bob Rydziewsky of Newark -- who also caught the first legal cod on the Elaine B. this season.