The Garden State Outdoor Sports Show kicks off the winter sportsman's show season as it returns to the N. J. Expo Center in Raritan Center, Edison from Thursday to Sunday. I'll be doing one at noon Saturday on striper fishing from both boat and shore in Raritan Bay and along the northern Shore.

There appears to be a brief period of fishable weather, and there should be some anglers taking advantage of it Sunday. The water temperature offshore is down to 40 to 41 degrees -- which should be fine for mackerel.

Following is Friday's column as submitted SL1-3-14RISTORI FOR FRIDAYHUGE BLUEFISH WERE A 2013 HIGHLIGHTby Al RistoriPart Two of the 2013 fishing year review As noted last Friday in Part One of the 2013 review from my fishing log, my first surf striper attempt of the season produced a 28-incher on May 6. I never had a hit at Point Pleasant and Sea Girt on New Years Day morning, and Jerry Lasko did the same morning and evening at Bay Head and Belmar -- though he met fly rod pro Bill Massey of Wall at Belmar where he'd caught a 28-inch bass that morning.

They'll be sailing for cod every Saturday all winter at 3 a. m. Keep in mind the fact that the sea bass season closes on Jan. 1. The fee is 10 for a shot at a 300 Grumpy gift card.

It was just a start, but a huge improvement over the first trip on Friday, as the Golden Eagle from Belmar picked some mackerel and herring while searching from Scotland to 17 Fathoms. Capt. Jimmy Elliott said anglers working hard at the gigging managed about a dozen mackerel and about as many herring.