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Captain's Focus

There's lots of good fishing on tap for Memorial Day weekend, yet many anglers will be trying to avoid the very best of it as jumbo bluefish have been historically abundant in many areas. The "good old days" couldn't touch what we have available to us almost every day now. Fishermen seeking striped bass will be doing everything possible to get away from the choppers, but the availability of outsized blues is a unique opportunity which was emphasized Wednesday when I watched Nathan Mc Intosh (9) from Painted Post, N.Y. graduating from sunfish right up to 10-pound blues in Raritan Bay while chunking from Sheri Berri out of Baker's Marina on the Bay at Highlands.  Though I started like Nathan with sunfish as a kid, it was from a bicycle with a cane pole at a pond in Merrick, Long Island. My graduation was to saltwater snapper blues from local docks, and the only larger fish were an occasional eel or toadfish. Despite the abundance of snappers, there were virtually no adult bluefish in those days -- and the possibility of ever fighting a 10-pound game fish was so far in the future as to be only a dream. It was many years later that bluefish started reappearing, and getting bigger every year. Yet, there was still a prediction of a seven-year bluefish cycle. Though there have been a few down years, the bluefish "cycle" has been going on for decades. Now it's not only possible, but very likely, that even a party boat trip in protected Raritan Bay will result in a battle for a youngster that will always be remembered. Though we take it for granted, that sort of action won't be available forever- so take advantage of the opportunity. The Raritan Bay bluefishing has been so good that Capt. Rob Semkewyc hasn't switched to fluke with his Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands. Though bait works best at times, it was all jig fishing Wednesday, and he didn't even have to look for the blues Thursday as they popped up in front of the boat. The average size is 10-to-12 pounds, but a few 5-to-7-pounders that could be lifted aboard were mixed in Wednesday.  The ocean fishery for Shore party boats has been similar, with "all you want" catches on both jigs and topwater lures. Despite the current abundance, there's always the possibility of a return to scarcity -- and there's never an excuse for wasting a valuable resource. Don't gaff blues that won't be retained for food. Fluking has gotten off to a good start in Raritan Bay. Capt. Stan Zagleski even reported the first limit of the season when Tony Status of Old Bridge had five in his bag early in Sunday's trip aboard Elaine B II from Bahrs in Highlands. Zagleski also posted the largest fluke reported to this column when Jim Talcott of Highlands boated a 9-pound, 1-ounce near-doormat Wednesday. The Prowler 5 from Atlantic Highlands has also been doing very well with fluke in areas close to the dock. Pool winners are in the 5-to-6-pound class. The Magic Hours trips are being switched to fluking from 3:30 to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Memorial Day weekend is usually the time when striper fishing breaks open in the ocean. Some big bass have been caught from bunker schools, though there hasn't been any consistency to it as yet. Tony Arcabascio of Bayvile said bunkers are abundant, but not in tight schools out of Barnegat Inlet so far. Successful boaters get their bites before daylight. On the other hand, trolling bunker spoons produces very large stripers out in 60 feet where there are no bait or fish marks. Trolling has also been an early bite the last two days. Arcabascio left too late Thursday morning, with his Maja and only managed one 36-pounder that hit a Tony Maja #4 green bunker spoon for Anthony O'Donnell of Brick. Capt. Dave De Gennaro has continued to put his customers on Hi Flier from Barnegat into big blues on poppers in Barnegat Bay, but also finally managed to get out of the inlet last Friday afternoon to troll a 38-pound striper on a white #4 Tony Maja bunker spoon for Gary Paulino of Absecon  - and also a 30-pounder. He's also clamming a few bass up to 20 pounds at the mouth of Oyster Creek Channel. The Queen Mary from Point Pleasant found some life on Sunday's Magic Hours livelining trip with a few stripers up to a 45-pounder, and had a few more Tuesday evening to 38 pounds. Daytime jigging for blues was slower than normal on Wednesday, but back to hot fishing Thursday. The Jamaica from Brielle had good bluefish jigging up to 13 pounds on Thursday, and is taking reservations for a magic hours livelining trip on June 1. Call 800 979-3370. I made Vinny D'Anton of Shark River Hills a hero while rushing out the Wednesday daily blog (nj.com/shore/blogs/fishing) by crediting him with a 36 1/2-pound bluefish from the Bradley Beach surf. Rather than a world record catch, it was "merely" an impressive 36 1/2-incher. The sea bass season opened on Monday with some very good fishing, The Ocean Explorer from Belmar reported some limit catches the first two days. Bob Matthews, at Fisherman's Den in Belmar Marina, also noted that blowfish have moved into Shark River. He weighed a 46-pound striper trolled off Long Branch by Steve Germann of Freehold. Matthews noted that fluking has been better in the river than the ocean The Canyon Runner from Point Pleasant kicked off canyon fishing with a bluefin tuna catch in Lindenkohl Canyon last Friday. The waters there were only 61 to 63 degrees, and still not warm enough for yellowfins, but fine for 35-to-50-pound bluefins that hit 9-inch Canyon Runner spreader bars. Three were boated and three released along with 15 little tunny. The first mako shark of the season was a 110-pounder that hit a trolled plug. Seaside Park tackle shops reported surf fishing for bluefish remains very good, especially on bunker, while more stripers are also being beached.  It was a sad week in some ways as Jimmy Morenz, of Miss Take 2 fame, passed away at 77, and Dick Nelson , former president of the Metropolitan Outdoor Press Association, left us at 76. Capt. John Kolias reported it was all bluefish for the Mike Mc Aleer party Wednesday on his Reel Fun from Twin Lights Marina in Highlands. Gene Graman of Middletown put Jerry Mc Menamy into a 30-pound striper in the Hudson River from That's It Too on Wednesday morning before the bluefish took over. Chris Klemm hit it right that morning in the Hudson with NJ Keys as the party caught seven bass there and added three more at Flynn's Knoll. Dan Walsh of Ewing had a 39-pounder.

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