Fish On •

I t's the time of the year in the Garden State when hunters and anglers get that little extra feeling of anxiety — the lack of sleep the night before an offshore trip. Dreaming of that big eye on the troll, the sword on the chunk or the 40-pound striped bass from the surf. These are just a few of the big-game fish we dream about. It's game time and that goes for all surf, bay and offshore anglers. October is the time when we get reports of bigger and more species of game fish that migrate into our waters.

Along the surf, anglers are just starting to see a few keepers on clams. Most fish are being picked at night on the outgoing tide. The story is the same for most head boats as well. Ocean temps should start cooling down and that will turn on those big trophy bass.

The Norma K and the Big Mohawk have been loading up on porgies and sea bass this week. They will continue to sail daily for porgies and sea bass. Some anglers are bringing crabs to switch up for black fish.

Offshore is finally turning on. I spent the night in Tom's Canyon with the Keith Bush party aboard the Canyon Runner. Tom's Canyon was full of life. Schools of baitfish with whales and porpoises were

as far as the eye could see, and that meant tuna. During the afternoon we picked all big mahimahi, 10 to 20 pounds, and boxed 18 on light tackle. Just before sundown, it busted wide open with four long fin at

55 pounds on the troll. We now had "tuna insurance" for the night. Most boats at this time were hooked up on the troll and the head boats were jigging up fish as well.

Overnight on the chunk was worked hard by the crew and produced nothing, and for most head boats the report was the same. The morning troll proved to be different. With fish on most of the morning, we ended up with 10 more long fins, and these were a bit bigger, in the 60-plus class. Total long fins, 14, and 18 mahimahis. We all filled our freezers for a very long time and left the fish biting. I would say most boats did well last weekend, mostly on the troll or jig. Stay tuned, the overnight chunk could turn on any day.F

ish on.