Fluke fishing the rivers

[bulletbob]

I now have 2 small aluminum boats that i hope to use this year in the rivers... a 14 ft w a 6 horse, and a 10 foot jon boat with a 2 hp ..
I some know big boat guys will think its crazy using a 10 footer, but those little flat bottom jon boats are super stable and very safe if you watch what you are doing, and use proper precautions..
Over the years I have caught fluke in the Navesink, Shrewsbury, Shark and Manasquan rivers, but would like to maximize my limited chances for a few keepers this year.. My range will be pretty limited with these boats as you can see.. I also have an 15 foot glass "whaler style" hull with a 30, and an 18 foot starcraft with a 100 hp, but these are much heavier to tow, and at these long distancesI would prefer not to take them .
If you guys were using small tin boats and were limited to the rivers, would you expect your best chances for a few keeps to come from the Shark, Shrewsbury, or Manasquan??.. I know Shrewsbury/Navesink gets a good early run, and some decent size fish too, but they seem to leave really quickly, and most years they slow down early.. Those fish head for the Hook and beyond, and leave those rivers to the crabbers and snapper fishermen...
I have caught some nice fluke in the Shark river, but I just don't have the confidence there...
I see a lot of fluke caught in the manasquan, even by guys fooling around on the bottom boats while at the dock waiting to leave.. I don't really now the manasquan that well, but for some reason, I feel the fluke go "in and out" of the inlet there, if that makes any sense.. It doesn't seem to get "cleaned out" of keepers as easily as the Shark river... Always seems to be some keepers there, even later in the season, if the boat traffic isn't fierce. [Mondays].. anyway, my question is this.. If you were going to use a small slow boat, in the more sheltered areas of the coastal NJ rivers, which one would you say is the best bet?... Not asking for "hotspots' . just wondering which river the good knowledgeable fishermen here would concentrate thier limited time, and limited range on... PM would be fine if you would rather not answer here..
personally, I am thinking, Shrewsbury/Navesink early, and then Manasqaun after say, mid July.. Any opinions would be well appreciated... bob

[tautog]

Squan was quite good from July thru October. I had plenty of shorebound keepers and know of a number of 5-9lbers caught in boats.

[snapperbluefish101]

I would go to the a Shark River first. You need to launch very early and be fishing before everyone else gets there. Best places are parts of the main channel edges near the tennis courts and down all the way to the 71 bridge. You can fish beyond the 71 bridge to the ocean too but I would do it only do it on the warm water outgoing.

As for the squan, you will have less of a crowd but it is a bigger body of water with more spots to work, so it might take a while to find a spot loaded with fluke. If you go there from the opening to two weeks into the season roughly, I would fish the openings of the PPC on both ends, the barnegat bay side and point pleasant side. I would also fish near the cock robin party boat near treasure island and work that area down to the channel marker by the beginning of the inlet and sea wall. I would recommend as well fishing from the voyager's dock all the way down past the NK3 through Ken's landing into the cove by drifting under the broadway basin bridge. Lastly for the squan spots, in the need to get away from the packs of boats near the Inlet, fish the main channel from the railroad bridge and work the edges all the way down under the RT. 35 bridge to the big Jamaica's dock. That's is one of he best spots the manisquan has early in the season. Again fish the outgoing for the best results.

Hope this helps!

SNAPPERHEAD

[Skolmann]

I've always done well fluke fishing in and around the Oceanic Bridge on the Navesink from mid May until Father's Day. By mid June, I like fishing the Manasquan.

I pretty much stick to bucktailing or using a jighead both tipped with GULP for my river fluke fishing. I like using a 6' spinning rod matched with an appropriate sized reel spooled with #10 braid.

Took a #7.5 fluke this past summer in 5' of water in the Manasquan.

[HDMarc]

As for the squan, you will have less of a crowd but it is a bigger body of water with more spots to work, so it might take a while to find a spot loaded with fluke. If you go there from the opening to two weeks into the season roughly, I would fish the openings of the PPC on both ends, the barnegat bay side and point pleasant side. I would also fish near the cock robin party boat near treasure island and work that area down to the channel marker by the beginning of the inlet and sea wall. I would recommend as well fishing from the voyager's dock all the way down past the NK3 through Ken's landing into the cove by drifting under the broadway basin bridge. Lastly for the squan spots, in the need to get away from the packs of boats near the Inlet, fish the main channel from the railroad bridge and work the edges all the way down under the RT. 35 bridge to the big Jamaica's dock. That's is one of he best spots the manisquan has early in the season. Again fish the outgoing for the best results.

Hope this helps!

SNAPPERHEAD

I agree with Snapperhead, I see a lot of kayak fishermen fishing in all the areas he mentioned so I would say it's a safe bet you'll be fine there with any of your boats mentioned. There is also the added benefit that you can stop in at the Wharfside and grab a burger and a couple of cold ones for lunch;)

[NoWorries]

Manasquan River is my local favorite. We get a good run early when the season opens in May and some years there are good catches into mid summer. This fishing usually slows down in the heat of summer but picks up as the mullet run and snappers gather in the river for their departure in September. There are few if any public access points for trailer boat access with adequate parking in the high use season (summer). Especially for you with a very small outboard that would be close to the fishing. I use my kayak in the Manasquan as there are at least 3 or more spots close to the action for kayakers only. If you car top this may also work for you. All of the areas mentioned Shark River, Navesink have good fluking and will offer some good opportunities. The flat bottom 10' boat that you mention is probably best in areas where boat traffic and currents are at a minimum. The 14' v bottom will get the job done nicely but 6hp is kinda small with the currents in some of the river situations. The inlets offer some fine opportunities for keeper fluke. After Labor Day till the season closes is my favorite time to fish for fluke from the inlet walls. If you can stay in Sept for an extended period like a long weekend or a few days during the week you'll catch your share of keeper fluke. Also June can offer similar opportunities but it's definitely more expensive to stay over.

[mlp1986]

I wouldn't be able to tell you which is best, but i can def agree with the guys above me who have caught keeper sized fluke out of the manasquan river. From the inlet, through the canal, and down to the route 70 bridge. June through early September. I can't really tell you much about the other locations you mentioned.

[broken bobber]

i wouldnt overlook the Keyport area, the channel leading out from the back to in and around the moored sailboats..... also MANY nooks and crannys along the shore from Keyport to Belford which is easy doable on a good day in your 14 ftr...... i have fished the shrews from the old broken Clam Hut all the way back to bouy 36 and have had good success in certain areas at certain times, of coarse during the week with less traffic is better

[bulletbob]

i wouldnt overlook the Keyport area, the channel leading out from the back to in and around the moored sailboats..... also MANY nooks and crannys along the shore from Keyport to Belford which is easy doable on a good day in your 14 ftr...... i have fished the shrews from the old broken Clam Hut all the way back to bouy 36 and have had good success in certain areas at certain times, of coarse during the week with less traffic is better

yes bb, I lived in Union Beach back in the 80's and am familiar with Keyport...

A nice forum member PM'd me about a very interesting area close to Keyport as well, that made perfect sense, and I had never thought about it...
I drive a school bus and am off for 2 months during summer.. I will never be on the water in NJ on a weekend.. mondays and tuesdays at 5 am, off the water by 11 most likely.. Keyport is also a little closer than Shark or Manasquan.. bob