anything happening with winter flounder?

[WhaleFart]

Got Thursday and Friday off...not sure if i should hop a party boat for bottom fishing, or give it a shot for winter flounder. I haven't heard anything from any sources so seeing if anyone has heard if they are biting yet. I actually looked at my half ass fishing log and in 2012 I crushed the flounder (caught over 25) on March 14th from land in Barnegat bay and MI. But then again that was a very warm winter, way warmer then this and stupid luck.

WF

[coltsfan61]

Funny you should ask,in off Thursday Friday too. Thinking about some flounder fishing off the docks in sea bright.

Anybody hear of any life

[WhaleFart]

I mean they have to be there, i see the water temps in the bay at peak is around 48-50 depending on where you are looking. good luck up in sea bright!

[CubasFinest12]

Fished Monday Tuesday and Wednesday in the back off keyport and in shark river got skunked all 3 days. Spoke to a couple of guys when I was in keyport and they showed me a nice flounder but said there wasn't much going on. After the heat the past 2 days, and a perfect timing outgoing tide who knows hopefully they begin to chew soon

[Mark215]

I tried a few different spots yesterday and today. I asked around to the folks that were there before me and they had nothing happening. I tried and didn't have any bites. Sinker seem pretty cold still.

[Harpoon]

If you catch two keeper cod you are having a banner day right now. But then again it's drop and reel for spines

[NoLimit]

I am going to wait for an afternoon high tide on a sunny day and that should happen within the next week. I went out last week and fished the Shrewsbury and Neversink but got skunked despite chumming heavy. Water temp was 43-44

[WhaleFart]

So wanted to report back.

in all my efforts, i got the big old skunk two days straight and trying multiple locations. I did however have a schoolie bass spit the hook when i was about to lift him over the bulk head, got him while messing around with a gulp jerk shad fishing near a back bay bridge. Ill be back at it the 1st week of April...back to nyc for now, i hope the women are biting better then the flounder this weekend. :D

Blurp,
WF

[Ismellfishy]

My buddy Rich and I had to swing by the belmar area so we decided to grab a rental from fishermans den. I'm proud to say we were the FIRST rental of the year!! well the company was good, the chum was heavy, and the air was nice.........anndddd we pulled a rabbit out of a hat and got one nice 15+ fattt winter flounder. also saw a yakker get a small one. this thing threw up pieces of worm all over the cooler so they seem to be feeding...at least this one. there's at least a few to be had!!!

-Drew

[shawn_nj]

Skunked on Shrewsbury. Chummed heavy on the outgoing yesterday.... nothing, but did see some bait fish getting chased by something. Soon enough.

[NoLimit]

Shawn,


Thanks for the report - it should have been good with the high tide in afternoon. Are they still coming up the rivers?

[shawn_nj]

Shawn,


Thanks for the report - it should have been good with the high tide in afternoon. Are they still coming up the rivers?


That's what I would have thought as well... but the water did still feel pretty cold. Going to try again tomorrow afternoon's outgoing.

[kpfish]

Got em down in Barnegate Bay last weekend.

[teddysclaw]

Do u know of any boat rental spots near Barnegat where u got those?

[FieldTester]

Nice flatties photo.
We use to have pics like that in Moriches much later in the season.
I see things are very very different down your way.

[kpfish]

Do u know of any boat rental spots near Barnegat where u got those?

I dont think there are any. There is a free boat launch down at the south end of the point canal. That pretty much puts you right in the area.

[teddysclaw]

Dang. Starck's landing closed down huh. I tried calling them, but no one answered. Figures :/

[shawn_nj]

Went out on the shrewsbury again today around noon for the outgoing even though it was cloudy and cold. Chummed clams and bunker heavily for 3hrs, but skunked again. Was using bloods. Only good news is that the minnows were out in full force enjoying the slick....

[Dino]

Got em down in Barnegate Bay last weekend.

for the winnn!!!

[kpfish]

Wish I could say we did it again.
One fish in the nippy overcast today.

[NoLimit]

Wish I could say we did it again.
One fish in the nippy overcast today.

Ouch - was it the different tide or do you think they are moving out? I remember in the 70's and 80's they were really on the move outside during the last week of March.

[kpfish]

My guess is the overcast and the dropping pressure with the front approaching.
Need that sunshine to get em going.
They usually stick around until the blues start moving in.

[hammer4reel]

A few friends of mine did real well fishing from shore in the back i=of the Raritan bay this week.

They fished a light rod while striper fishing, and without chum caught over a dozen each. returning all fish to swim another day.
fish were in very shallow water