3.5 weeks of surf Fluke: Report(s)-6/15-7/9

[snapperbluefish101]

Well had a lot of time to fish da surf for about the last 3 and 1/2 weeks and it has been good fishing for the flatties in my area. Most of the keepers were caught in Elberon, with just 1 other keeper in Deal and the other at Shark River Inlet. Most of the keeper fish were between 18-19.5", with my best being 20.5 inches.

If any of you guys have time, but don't always want to hit a Party or Charter boats, fish the jetties and groins for fluke, you will fill the freezer if you put in the effort.

I am still looking for that big 22-23" and bigger fish. I will find one eventually!

Lots of meat in da freezer! I kept the Fluke racks for crab bait, and when all said and done, I counted somewhere between 14-16 racks in the freezer. Not bad for the surf, no?

I will get some pictures up. They say it all! Go give it a try. Elberon/Deal Jetties is one of the best areas, while they are still around....:confused:

SNAPPERHEAD

[Mike M]

Sounds like you are enjoying you're summer. Keep up the good work and keep the reports coming.
Fluke fishing in the surf is on my list of things to do this year.:)

[kurtisb]

Good job Ben. Been waiting for your report. Keep it up.

[MVP]

Very Nice report. What has been most effective for you with the fluke in the surf

[Reelman73088]

This year is the first year I've really targeted fluke from shore and its been a pretty good summer so far. I've strictly been fishing Shark River inlet for the past month or so and Ive managed at least one keeper and a lot of shorts on every trip except one so far. That one was this past Monday and I think the storm passing by to the east really chilled the water close to the beach because my sinkers were very chilly and the few fish I caught were really small. Hoping this hot weather warms the water back up and the fishing should pick back up. I'm still chasing that allusive big flattie too my biggest to date is 20.5". I've really grown to appreciate fishing from shore this year, besides the fluke there's been a bluefish or two scattered on most trips too which is always fun on lighter gear.

[howardrf]

Thanks for report. Could you tell what kind of rigs and bait. I know it changes, but overall info. appreciated.

[bunker dunker]

way to go Ben.Save me a few

[bulletbob]

I always fished a lot from shore.. The emphasis on this site is private boat/party boat/charter boat fishing, and thats fine, but as the OP has shown with his wonderful report , shore fishing is often under rated.
There are always fluke withing casting distance of the shoreline, and yes always a few keepers here and there.. Its also cheap to do.. No ramp fees, boat gas, not even bait if you have a few bucktails or twisters...

Blues often show , and its a blast.. I MISS that kind of fishing so much living here in NY state..
I have 4 boats of different sizes, but have always had some of my best action just fishing from shore.. My personal bests on Walleye, LMB, Landlocked Salmon, Yellow Perch, Channel Cat, Pickerel, have all been caught walking the shoreline..

If ever again I am fortunate enough to live within a reasonable distance of salt water[I am HOPING!!], I would do exactly as the OP has been doing... Enjoying much of my fishing while standing on solid footing, instead of always hitting the launch or crowded head boats blowing wads of dough... Shoreline fluke and tog fishing was always a favorite of mine.. Of course in those days you could keep anything you caught, and there was always plenty to go around... I enjoyed this surf report!!!... bob

[kmaty]

Oh noooo! He said land toggin!!!! Now you have my panties in a bunch! Cant wait for october!

Great report man people always underestimate the surf always produce after a little foot work for sure!

[O'Connor]

When I lived in NJ I was a member of a surf fishing club(still a member) and we had an annual tournament for the largest fluke. It was an open tournament that could be won on private, party or charter boat etc. A year or two before I moved out of the state the fluke that won the annual trophy was 10.7 lbs. This fish was caught from the shore on a live herring by my friend Chris Brand. We have some very good fisherman in the club that pound the offshore northern rocks for fluke all summer, but this fish held on to win. Chris Hueth of the Big Mohawk and other captains are members. We all had a good laugh when this trophy was presented. Certainly not representative of what you will catch every year, but it does show it is possible. Great report. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

[snapperbluefish101]

Here is some of the proof... I will try to add a few more if I get a moment. As you can see, one of the days I brought a school friend and he caught the keeper instead of me....

The picture of the two fluke on the cooler shows the bigger 20.5" one to the top of the smaller one. Again, I wanna beat that one!

Oh, in case you guys were wondering, the fish have had pretty much nothing but Calico Crabs (Mostly Hard Shell to my surprise) in there stomachs, with a few large sandfleas and actually a few baby asian shore crabs thrown in their gut as well!

SNAPPERHEAD

[snapperbluefish101]

Good job Ben. Been waiting for your report. Keep it up.

Thanks Kurt! I will probably see you on a Party Boat or Charter trip eventually in the furture!

Ben

[kmaty]

Berkley isrunning a open tourney for surf end of august

[snapperbluefish101]

Thanks for report. Could you tell what kind of rigs and bait. I know it changes, but overall info. appreciated.

The rig is simple. 34" long. 30lb leader. Make a snell with a 4/0-5/0 octopus hook. 12" above from the snell tie a 1.5" dropper for the sinker. From there, make a dropper 4" long 12" above the the sinker dropper, which will be paired with a big 6/0-7/0 gami octopus and later with a big 6" Gulp Nuke Chicken grub when arriving at the beach.;) I have been using the fluke sides as strip bait for the bottom hook. It's a good combo!

If want a pic, I will be more than happy to post one of the rig!

SNAPPERHEAD