Another disappointing week for bass anglers

It seems that everyone has the bluefish blues. The Raritan Bay is producing very few, if any, keeper bass. This time last year you could not miss catching a trophy bass.

Bass are being caught but they are few and far between. Bunker are plentiful in the bay if you get them early before Great Kills Harbor is jammed upwith 50 boats clogging the entrance. If you can't find bunker, then expect to pay $20 per dozen, on average.

Capt. Ron on the Fisherman from Atlantic Highlands reported another tough week for bass but plenty of bluefish being caught from 5 to 15 pounds.

Capt.Dave reported the same with bluefish keeping anglers busy and hopes of trophy bass turning on. The bay is loaded with spearing, rain fish and bunker, so where are all the bass? Fluke are showing in the Raritan Reach but keepers are hard to find.

Bluefish continue to dominate the shoreline from Sandy Hook to Barnegat Bay, and that's always a good thing. From Barnegat Light,Capt. Steve Purul fromReel Fantasea Charters reported a banner week of top water action.

Enormous schools of adult bunker continue to migrate into Barnegat coastal waters, bringing trophy striped bass and monsteralligator blues up to 15 pounds. The big schools are also attracting dolphins and whales and occasional thresher sharks being sighted. Regular Jay Simmons was out bringing his clients, Jerry and Mike from Seafood Distributors of Rio Grande, to experience some bunker school fishing.

Stripers are hard to come by, but the huge school of 10- to 15-pound jumbo blues was more than willing to devour live-lined bunker and keeping the guys busy.