We dealt with choppy seas, but found lots of black sea bass on the wrecks. Also pulled up a tog which was promptly released. Would have been easier fishing if the swells were smaller, but overall, a successful opening day.

There was a nice ling bite in the evening at the rock mountain on the eastern side of the Axel Carlson. After the fluke bite went cold a few miles north, we moved to the Axel to see wat we could find. Aside from the ling, we also hooked into a cownose ray that nearly stripped the line off the reel. Capped the evening off with a gorgeous sunset over the coast as we headed back to the inlet.

The remnants of the hurricane left a question mark as to what we could expect for the fluke bite. We took a run up to Shrewsbury Rocks and weren't disappointed. Three keeper fluke and three keeper sea bass... Plus multiple keeper size releases. The day was topped off with a 24" doormat.

Plenty of fluke are still biting in the Manasquan with the high tide and waning moon. Saw a ton of action on the north side of the channel between the #6 and #8 markers. We saw action on all drifts except for the final one after dark. No keepers, but average size was between 13 and 16 inches. Fun on medium tackle.

The Squan was producing nice fluke west of the 35 bridge. Jackson and his dad hauled in a combined 19 fish including this 19" keeper. Most fish ranged in the 15-17" range, but the rod kept bending. The breeze was brisk, but the drift was steady at 1 - 1.5 MPH. Most fish hit the small, 4" white GULP swimming mullets.

On our evening charter last night, 8 year old Mia hooked into a 19" fluke, while her 6 year old brother Lou reeled in several shorties as well as a porgy on the west side of the Route 35 bridge. A gorgeous evening with live tunes carrying over the water courtesy of "The E Street Shuffle" playing at The Patio Bar on the bank. One of those summer nights that will be hard to beat!