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.

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.