NJ fishing: Cutlassfish strike off Jersey Shore coast - Asbury Park Press

The Atlantic cutlassfish, or as most fishermen call them ribbon fish, are out and about, flashing their slender, silvery-blue bodies and rows of razor teeth. At least two were known to be caught by anglers on the party boats this past Wednesday.

One of the catches occurred about 2 ½ miles off Mantoloking Beach on the Jamaica II, said Capt. Ryan Bogan. The boat was drifting for fluke, and doing pretty good, when a three-foot long ribbon fish decided to crash the scene. The fish was hooked and landed by Matt Kiernan. A second ribbon fish of equal size was landed the same day on the Norma K III, which was also out on the fluke grounds.

The cutlass fish is a voracious predator that strikes from a tail-down position, hovering under the surface before rising up to shred its prey with its fang-like teeth. They're familiar visitors to New Jersey's coast in the summer, though catches are far and few between.

The season's at that point where anglers are seeing the best variety of fish off the coast, both inshore and offshore. Besides the fish anglers expect to see, there's a lot of migratory fish visiting. Fishermen are doing real good on mahi-mahi on the lobster pots in the Mud Hole and Chicken Canyon. The bonito and false albacore are in, though the latter hasn't made many splashes in last few days. The bonito have been popping in and out of the surf and are also being caught by the boats mackerel fishing.

Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park said another cobia fish was brought in from the surf, the second of the year down by them. It seems, at least in the last couple of years, that more cobia have been finding the Jersey Shore. This one measured 46 inches and was caught on a bunker chunk in the early evening. The shop was already closed so the anglers, Kevin Shannon and his son, couldn't get an official weight on it.

Anglers keep swinging in the porgies and sea bass on the Dauntless party boat. The catch gets a little varied day-by-day. Some days the boat gets on a patch of triggerfish. Fluke, winter flounder, codfish and blackfish are also finding the hooks. Capt. William Egerter Jr. has had the boat mostly up by the rocky bottom along the northern Monmouth County coastline.

Fishing report:Tripletail fish caught off a New Jersey lobster pot

The fluke remain aggressive as the late summer water is warm and there is ample bait available. The Fishmonger II charter boat has been on their tails since the season began. Wednesday was the best of the season though, said Capt. Jerry Postorino, as they keep outdoing themselves. All 13 anglers on board had a limit catch. Postorino said at one point it was like drop and reel sea bass fishing the fluke were so quick to the baits. Fisherman will have light breezes to work with this weekend out on the fluke ground, according to NOAA's marine forecast.

What's biting:Get the latest fishing reports here

For the kids, the pufferish, or blowfish, are thick as thieves in Barnegat Bay. Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had a report of one small boater catching 44 in an hour fishing in six-feet of water on the west side of the bay. The snapper blues are also out hitting small Kastmasters or spearing baits, but not at the breakneck pace of the blowfish. They can be caught from most of any dock in the rivers and bays.

When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.