Best & Worst Winds 4 Ocean Fluking

[fish4fun]

Most half day party boat captains sailing out of AH will not venture in to the ocean to fluke unless the winds are just right. What is the best wind and why? What is the worst wind and why?

[SaltLife1980]

WEST is BEST

[Reel Class]

Everything depends on conditions that are created by that wind.

Typically the WORST winds to fluke in are east, southeast, northeast, and straight south. Each of those winds and the severity of them can really hamper the fishing.

I've found any wind generated from the west is usually better for fluking but it depends on how hard it's blowing; also a north wind kind of falls into this category.

So on days when there's little to no wind, any wind will do to create movement. I don't care if it's south, east, west, whatever, a light wind in ANY direction is good. It's when it picks up you feel the effects.

A hard south or southeast wind will make the ocean rough, dirty the water, and make it cooler. Terrible for fluking especially if it's sustained. Hard easterly or northeasterly winds will create rough conditions and a very fast drift, while warming the water a bit. Even a hard westerly wind has its drawbacks, because if it really blows, the drift will be VERY fast even in on the beach where it's calm.

Down here, we really just look at wind but if we have a hard north or south current, which is common, that can affect where we fish. For the boats that fish up around the hook, they also have to deal with current. On days where the wind blows against the current, you'll have no drift which is a wind vs. tide. Sometimes if you have a hard west wind with an incoming tide through the morning, the bay will be choppy and there will be literally no drift, and the same goes for an outgoing vs. an east wind.

So again, it all has to do with what conditions are created by that particular wind. Good wind apps help, like windguru and fishweather.

[Reel Class]

And one more thing, it's usually a 45 minute ride or so from the dock in AH to GOOD fluking areas in the ocean so that immediately takes away ~ 2 hours of the trip due to the longer ride so they want to maximize your time fishing, not going for a boat ride.

If you want to fish the ocean, go on one of the 3/4 day boats!

[Gerry Zagorski]

And old fishing poem that in general rings pretty true

Winds out of the west, fishing is best
Winds out of the south, it blows the bait in their mouths
Winds out of the east, fishing is least
Winds out the the north, do not for forth

In general, anything with a W in it is best like W, SW or NW, anything with an E in it less favorable like E, NE or SE

I would say NE is probably the worst direction of all since it is totally opposite of our predominant wind direction which in the summer is SW. NE usually means we have unsettled weather in the area.

As mentioned above, if the winds are light (10 knots or less) the direction doesn't matter as much... The exception to that rule is NE because as mentioned above it usually means unsettled weather and even at 10 Knots a NE breeze will make the ocean pretty uncomfortable.

The other and perhaps more important factor is comparing and contrasting the currents and tides to the wind direction... Read more on that here
http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97528

Having said all this, the best time to go fishing is whenever you can... I've had days with not so favorable conditions where we've done well and days with very favorable conditions where we've done poorly. Sure you can weather watch and try cherry pick your days but if you do that, your going to be on land a lot and there are methods and spots to overcome less favorable conditions that experienced captains use daily to overcome them.

[bulletbob]

At least you guys can get winds from all directions.. Here in the Finger lakes, the winds blow hard on a daily basis due north or south.. They never quarter, and if they change direction they just switch north south.. In 27 years here, I have never seen a west or east wind on the lakes, regardess of the wind direction on land.... Another thing is the winds are typically stronger in the morning at first light, thats the norm..In my salt water days, when I lived on Raritan bay, it was generally the opposite more often...

Fluke fishing can be troublesome some years when that wind stays cranked up out of the south most days for weeks on end.. Shuts the fish off,,, Years ago we had great fall fluke fishing in Sept Oct when the wind was usually out of the N NW more often than S, but alas, you know what happened to that fishery.... bob

[Capt John]

Everything depends on conditions that are created by that wind.

Typically the WORST winds to fluke in are east, southeast, northeast, and straight south. Each of those winds and the severity of them can really hamper the fishing.

I've found any wind generated from the west is usually better for fluking but it depends on how hard it's blowing; also a north wind kind of falls into this category.

So on days when there's little to no wind, any wind will do to create movement. I don't care if it's south, east, west, whatever, a light wind in ANY direction is good. It's when it picks up you feel the effects.

A hard south or southeast wind will make the ocean rough, dirty the water, and make it cooler. Terrible for fluking especially if it's sustained. Hard easterly or northeasterly winds will create rough conditions and a very fast drift, while warming the water a bit. Even a hard westerly wind has its drawbacks, because if it really blows, the drift will be VERY fast even in on the beach where it's calm.

Down here, we really just look at wind but if we have a hard north or south current, which is common, that can affect where we fish. For the boats that fish up around the hook, they also have to deal with current. On days where the wind blows against the current, you'll have no drift which is a wind vs. tide. Sometimes if you have a hard west wind with an incoming tide through the morning, the bay will be choppy and there will be literally no drift, and the same goes for an outgoing vs. an east wind.

So again, it all has to do with what conditions are created by that particular wind. Good wind apps help, like windguru and fishweather.

As Capt. Allen has stated, it's all about "conditions". For Fluke fishing I generally love outgoing current (Sandy Hook area) with any light wind out of the west quadrant. East winds and I'm looking for another day. Ditto with south winds, but a light north wind is doable.

A good mariner (fisherman) will know the "conditions" a few days in advance of his trip and judge accordingly wether to go or not for fluke. Same goes for Gerry's post below....CONDITIONS dictate a good day or a stinker.

[fish4fun]

And one more thing, it's usually a 45 minute ride or so from the dock in AH to GOOD fluking areas in the ocean so that immediately takes away ~ 2 hours of the trip due to the longer ride so they want to maximize your time fishing, not going for a boat ride.

If you want to fish the ocean, go on one of the 3/4 day boats!

First, I want to thank everyone for your response. It definitely cleared things up concerning wind direction. I have no choice but to take the afternoon trip on one of our 1/2 day sponsor boats due to the distance I need to travel and my inability to get up that early. I've been in the ocean on both sponsor boats and the one non-sponsor boat and I accept the lost fishing time due to traveling but I must say "it's worth it when the fish are on". It's unfortunate that the bay isn't as productive as it once was. I have been doing this for over 20 years and I have witnessed a steady decline of quality fish in our bay. Why? Well that topic has been covered here many times. All I'm looking for is fish coming over the rail and not having to be thrown back.

[Skolmann]

. It's unfortunate that the bay isn't as productive as it once was. I have been jdoing this for over 20 years and I have witnessed a steady decline of quality fish in our bay. Why? Well that topic has been covered here many times. All I'm looking for is fish coming over the rail and not having to be thrown back.

For your future reference, although it might be late in the fluke season (& I’ll slightly amend this statement in a second)-you might consider fishing the magic hour trips on the Misty Morn (whom I still believe is a sight sponsor) especially in late-spring thru early July. I limited out on several of these trips this year (& have in past years too) fishing in the back of the bay.

Last year around this time, I did very well on these trips fishing live snappers/peanut bunker-hopefully that bite will develop again this year

[Detour66]

I have found that as long as the wind isn't blowing too hard and say you are getting 1kt drift or slightly less wind direction does't matter all that much. Wind against the tide is NG even if it's a slider. Best if the wind is in the direction of the current/tide. But if it's 12kts or more pretty much what the other posts are saying about wind direction hold's true. That's mho! Tight lines.

[WhaleFart]

Dont matter to me as long as its under 12mph at peak.

[AndyS]

August.

[dales529]

August.
Andy with all due respect as you have proven time and again what a stand up steward of our waters you ARE!
I am not sure what I hope happens first, either you get a new job or August ends LOL

[Gerry Zagorski]

First, I want to thank everyone for your response. It definitely cleared things up concerning wind direction. I have no choice but to take the afternoon trip on one of our 1/2 day sponsor boats due to the distance I need to travel and my inability to get up that early. I've been in the ocean on both sponsor boats and the one non-sponsor boat and I accept the lost fishing time due to traveling but I must say "it's worth it when the fish are on". It's unfortunate that the bay isn't as productive as it once was. I have been doing this for over 20 years and I have witnessed a steady decline of quality fish in our bay. Why? Well that topic has been covered here many times. All I'm looking for is fish coming over the rail and not having to be thrown back.

Like was mentioned above, don't give up on the bay entirely since it has it's moments early and late in the season.. Early in the season it gives up more consistent Fluking then the ocean. And, towards then end of the season when Fluke are leaving to go offshore they gather up and use the deep channels like Ambrose and Sandy Hook as their exit highway out of the bay.

Not to mention, the largest Fluke ever caught on our boat which was likely in the mid thirteens, was caught practically within spitting distance off the tip of the hook in September http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74035

[Duffman]

Andy with all due respect as you have proven time and again what a stand up steward of our waters you ARE!
I am not sure what I hope happens first, either you get a new job or August ends LOL

X2 X3 X4......:p

I was also unaware August was a wind direction