Striped bass are biting right now
Fish On • RON NUZZOLO
The right place at the right time: Capt. Jerry aboard Fish Monger charters from Brielle continues to find trophy bass at twilight. The last week has proven to be unforgettable topwater action for the crew and its patrons.

Capt. Jerry has been putting his charters on some of the best bass action New Jersey has to offer. The crew has been nailing 20- to 40-pound class stripers on bunker and the occasional topwater assaults with plugs, poppers and metals. The Fish Monger hit limits this week and released fish up to 38 pounds. Capt. Jerry continues to spoil his charters making 40-pound trophies look easy.

Capt. Carl aboard Wet Dreams charters from Coves Marina, Highlands, had the pleasure of having the Boiardi family on board to celebrate Robert Boiardi Jr.'s seventh birthday. The girls, mom Wendy and daughter Alexandra, outfished the boys right away, but Robert Jr. came alive fighting fish after fish.

The brother and sister went head to head in a fierce competition. In the end, Robert Jr. counted over 20 fish and Alexandra keeping it close with around 19 fluke. Mom and dad took a back seat and enjoyed every minute watching the two siblings experience what fishing is all about.

Capt. Carl even had a birthday cake waiting at the dock in a cooler for 7-year-old Rob Jr. Capt. Carl runs a private charter and has some great summer rates for the whole family.

From Seaside Park, Capt. Birch aboard Fish Guts charters had the pleasure of having John and Marty, two very experienced anglers, out for a captain combo ocean trip. They guys had a nice pick of quality sea bass with 10 over 17 inches and 35 total keepers.

It was drop and reel and Capt. Birch could not cut bait fast enough to keep up with these guys. After boxing enough tasty fillets of sea bass, the crew headed to the bay for some light tackle fluking. The guys nailed 34 fluke with one 19-inch keeper. The shorts range from 10-inch postage stamps to nice 17.5-inch fish. It will only get better from here so check out Cap. Birch at www.fishgutscharters.com.

Did you know? There are 32 of the top fly and light tackle "sight-casting" fishing champions from across the United States and as far away as Australia, set to converge on Islamorada for the ninth annual Florida Keys Outfitters/IGFA Inshore World Championship, July 7-9. The media has described the event as the "super bowl of inshore fishing."

The field of anglers — 16 in fly and 16 in light tackle — was invited from a variety of 36 qualifying tournaments held in 2008 in the United States, the Bahamas and Australia, to compete in the three-day all-release championship.

They include 26 men and five women from nine states and Australian Peter Politis, winner of the Northern Territory Barramundi Classic. A grand champion will be crowned in each division.

New to the format will be a drawing to pair each angler with a premier Keys guide, fishing all three days as a team for tarpon, bonefish, permit, snook and redfish. A fundraiser and auction for the IGFA will be held at the event. The championship is partnering with ESPN Outdoors and its televised Saltwater Series. Daily tournament coverage will appear on ESPNOutdoors.com and on IGFA.org.

Fish on!