Underwhelming Fluke Opener?

[Capt. Debbie]

Was out in Raritan Bay Saturday and thought I see everyone bailing fluke all day as season just opened. But didn't see that at all.

The lack of fluke reports on this site bear out the same so so start. Anyone else feel this way?

[Slip It In]

I fished North of Shark River Friday 2 guys and my wife. We managed one 28 inch fluke, about 20 shorts between 15-17 inches, about 5 fluke under 15 inches, 4 small sundials, and 5 sea robins. Water temp was about 53.5

I fished myself and my friend Saturday at the same spots and only picked up 2 fluke under 12 inches, one dog fish, and one sea robin. Water temp was up to 55.8

Disappointing opening season weekend for me. I should have gone for sea bass.


Pete

[bulletbob]

I dunno, perhaps you guys might be expecting a little bit too much, a bit too early .. Its only may.. Seldom is the fluke fishing "hot" this early in the season. guys still catching Ling inshore, Stripers still in the bays,, and water temps in the ocean in the 50's... Give it a few weeks. I would bet the guys that are doing the catching for the most part are fishing the shallower flats and just off the smaller, shallower channels in the bays, and up the rivers a ways, not real close to the ocean where the bottoms are still paved with skates and maybe windowpanes.. In the ocean proper, and the deep channels in Raritan/sandy hook bays, you are still getting pretty cool water..

When the ocean temps are steadily in the 60's, we'll see the bigger numbers... maybe!...... bob

[Fisherman120]

Agreed with Bob. With the exception of the Rivers, early season fluking is anything but hot. Bite will be best at some point in the summer.

[Fortunate Son]

I fished myself and my friend Saturday at the same spots and only picked up 2 fluke under 12 inches, one dog fish, and one sea robin. Water temp was up to 55.8

Disappointing opening season weekend for me. I should have gone for sea bass.


Pete

It was me, I'm just bad luck!

[AndyS]

Go back and read the reports from August. August is THE best month for fluke fishing. Keep a log book.

[FISHGERE]

Costco wild caught flounder 9.99 a pack cleaned ready to fry excellent, fishing has become a fun day on the water.

[Skolmann]

Firsy off, I don’t consider this early to catch fluke, as back in the 90’s my logs show I was consistently catching Raritan/Sandy Hook Bay Fluke in mid April. The thing that is the same between now and then is where I was catching them. In water less than 15’.

[bulletbob]

Firsy off, I don’t consider this early to catch fluke, as back in the 90’s my logs show I was consistently catching Raritan/Sandy Hook Bay Fluke in mid April. The thing that is the same between now and then is where I was catching them. In water less than 15’.

No one said they couldn't be caught.. They can be caught year round actually.. We have all seen them caught in January or even February..

However May typically offers inconsistent fishing in lot of areas... Its shallow bay flats, or a river situation more or less...
The personal fishing logs you alluded to bear his out..

If you can catch fluke with consistency in April, you're a far better fisherman than I;ll ever be,,,, bob
.

[frugalfisherman]

It was pretty good on the Angler Tuesday. I had two at 19 and one a little over 21, but only 3 shorts. The guys who fish hard caught fish. The guys dangling their rods and day dreaming not very good.

[Skolmann]

If you can catch fluke with consistency in April, you're a far better fisherman than I;ll ever be,,,, boba
.

My point was (& maybe it didn’t come across) was that with the fluke season as late as it did some of the previous “early” season fluke spots didn’t produce. For example, Everyone heads right to the Bug Light on the inside of the Hook for the first few days of the season. Sure that was a productive spot when there was no fluke opener or when the opener was in early May but the fish have already moved past there for the most part.

The topography/structure of the one spot where I was able to catch fluke in the second half of April has changed dramatically over the past 20+ years and I doubt it holds many fluke that time of year now