AS THE DAY WENT ON AND THE SWELL WENT AWAY, THE FISHING PICKED UP. MONDAY LOOKS LIKE THE BEST OF THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

The Golden Eagle from Belmar has maintenance scheduled the next two days, but will try to get out for mackerel or cod later in the week. The first few were reported in Raritan Bay before the water got dirty, but they should be biting again on clams this week.

Bad weather kept the fleet in port during today's opening of the blackfish season, but the forecast for Sunday is good. Though most party boats will be seeking blackfish, the Golden Eagle from Belmar will be searching for the elusive mackerel -- with cod as the alternative.

A report from the Tackle Box in Hazlet arrived too late for the Friday column with news of stripers hitting clams as Raritan Bay waters have warmed up after falling to 34 degrees earlier in the week. They did get out last Saturday, but waters were too cold at that time and fishing was poor.

When I called a few years ago to question that listing, they conceded that they were using an outdated assessment though the coastal run had disappeared and even the big commercial boats were hardly catching any mackerel far offshore. His daughter, Natalie, was aboard Monday as they had hits every cast with live pilchards to Spanish mackerel and ladyfish, but could only manage a couple of small redfish (red drum) from among lots of non-biters.