The unseasonably warm weather seemed to turn on both surf stripers and fishermen. Bob Matthews, at Fisherman's Den in Belmar Marina, said there was a big turnout of surfcasters in Ocean County waters this morning, and they found lots of small stripers hitting a variety of lures. Some anglers released 10 to 15 bass. There was a similar report from Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park.
The Elaine B. had a second straight day of decent blackfishing in mild conditions. There had been some limits Friday, but many fares caught four or five keepers today along with lots of shorts.