The reason why I hate Fluking so much

[Blackfish Doug]

Got up at 4:30 trying to catch the Angler but had stomach issues I had to wait for the immodium to kick in. By the time I left the house it was too late to catch the Angler so I headed down to Belmar to hit the OE got there & it was chartered I looked at the Capt. Cal it was too packed. At this time not too many choices left I headed down to AH & fished a NS EB. I had a field day with the shorts 25 & got 1 lonely keeper in terrible fishing conditions. Not for lack of effort by the Capt & crew this was just a day I should have gone back home. Not many keepers were caught on the boat either just bad conditions when I thought they would be great today. It's been 2 years since I made any type of effort to fish for Fluke from a party boat. The only good thing I could say is I didn't loose a bucktail which is a rarity for me. I guess I'm going to have to wait another 2 years for my next attempt.

[NJ Dave]

Fluke fish up in Montauk one time and you would wonder why anyone does it in NJ.
The short to keeper ratio here is absurd and the short fist survivalafter release is pathetic when most float away.
Yea the sh*t is going to fly but that is my NJ opinion
Carry on...

[1captainron]

Got up at 4:30 trying to catch the Angler but had stomach issues I had to wait for the immodium to kick in. By the time I left the house it was too late to catch the Angler so I headed down to Belmar to hit the OE got there & it was chartered I looked at the Capt. Cal it was too packed. At this time not too many choices left I headed down to AH & fished a NS EB. I had a field day with the shorts 25 & got 1 lonely keeper in terrible fishing conditions. Not for lack of effort by the Capt & crew this was just a day I should have gone back home. Not many keepers were caught on the boat either just bad conditions when I thought they would be great today. It's been 2 years since I made any type of effort to fish for Fluke from a party boat. The only good thing I could say is I didn't loose a bucktail which is a rarity for me. I guess I'm going to have to wait another 2 years for my next attempt.
What am I..Chopped liver Doug? We sail at 7:30am, could have saved you a trip to the South and we weren't Chartered or Packed.

[BugEye Chris]

Those who can't do teach
Those who can't catch blackfish fluke

[Blackfish Doug]

Fluke fish up in Montauk one time and you would wonder why anyone does it in NJ.
The short to keeper ratio here is absurd and the short fist survivalafter release is pathetic when most float away.
Yea the sh*t is going to fly but that is my NJ opinion
Carry on...

I used to be a Pin Hooker in Montauk during the 60's,70's 80's & 90's I know everything there is to know about Montauk. The travel time to Montauk & back is murder. I was there 4 weeks ago first time in about 7 years I could have flown to California quicker then driving home from there. Plus Montauk is no guarantee I still keep friends who fish there every week. The week I went all we got was 7 keeper fluke in brutal conditions on a private boat. This person is extremely good when it comes to Fluking over 40 years of fishing up there. If I go to Montuk again it wont be for Fluke I would much rather go to Hyannis Ma if I wanted Fluke fish.

[Blackfish Doug]

What am I..Chopped liver Doug? We sail at 7:30am, could have saved you a trip to the South and we weren't Chartered or Packed.

Ron by the time I got to the AH bridge it was 7:25 I know I would never had made it. I would have loved to fish with you again it was my attention to try to make it to your boat but I just could not catch the lights right on 36.

[bulletbob]

Well Doug.. I really do understand,but can only empathize so much.. I have gone fluking twice this year once on a PACKED head boat, and once on my own boat and have caught 2 bare keepers, one each trip.. Once for each 450 mile round trip, and well over $ 100 each time.. $250 and about 20 hours drive time for a total of 2 keepers this year.. Fluking has not been good for me for many years.. I never have the right stuff, as I can't get it here, and don't know what to pick up once I am at the shore.. Last party boat trip most keepers were caught on massive 6-8 ounce pink/white jigs with big huge pink shine Gulp, none of which I had.. I was surrounded by guys that had limits and released probably twice as many as they kept, and even shorts wouldn't hit my chartreuse 4 in Gulp/ 2 oz Spro.. I was ready to slit my wrists.. So, yeah, I can dig the frustration, and wanting the water to cool off and for Tog season to start... bob

[Capt Sal]

[QUOTE=NJ Dave;458201]Fluke fish up in Montauk one time and you would wonder why anyone does it in NJ.
The short to keeper ratio here is absurd and the short fist survivalafter release is pathetic when most float away.
Yea the sh*t is going to fly but that is my NJ opinion
Carry on...[/QUReal nice post.I thought it was NJ fishing. Everyone likes to go on vacation and that is a ride. It is not heaven and some people can't afford it.I live in Florida now and i can tell you we catch fish here. I can also tell you the fishing in Jersey is world class. We don't have stripers and very few fluke. The tuna fishing here is not that good either .Our blues are one pound and would be eaten by Jersey blues. I also fish Louisiana with my son who is a capt. there. The snapper fishing for mangroves is world class just like the stripers in New Jersey. Jersey is world famous for salt water fishing. Just my opinion after living and fishing in Jerey for over 60 years.:eek:

[Joey Dah Fish]

Full boat limit on Monger today up to 11.4 lbs

[dakota560]

JDF you beat me to it. Look at Fish Mongers report today, guys are simply amazing. Fluke after the waves of fish come in from the east get picked over pretty quickly. Not unusual on a full moon to have huge new bodies of fish arrive and a week later they're mopped up and spread out. Fisherman and Angler routinely post impressive catches, guys have been doing it for years and know where to fish. Find the bait and you'll find the fish. As the season progresses, look for areas not easily hit by commercial guys who can work an area and pick it clean in a day or two. Fish are moving constantly, won't be long before they'll be concentrating and feeding heavy preparing for their journey back out east. Same cycles every year but maybe different locations. No insult to party boats but they have to worry about all patrons on board, not just about landing the big one. They don't always have the luxury private boats have in targeting small pieces with large crowds. They sail every day with different levels of experience on board and you have to try keeping everyone happy, it's a tough challenge and grind every day for these guys. I give them a huge amount of credit. I agree with BD, Montauk is a piece of heaven but getting there and back can be a pita. I think people get spoiled with the internet seeing reports from other areas around the country for certain species of fish. But overall, there's not too many places that offer the variety and quality of fishing, both salt and fresh water, that NJ does. Sometimes you just have to fine tune your game.

[Joey Dah Fish]

They in deed deserve credit. It's hard to put your clients on fish day after day especially the large boats. Good luck to all and stay with it

[Gerry Zagorski]

No doubt some of the best fishing in the county or perhaps even the world here in NJ... Sure there are several places that excel for a certain species at a certain time of the year, but most can't ccmpare to the overall diversity of our fishery.

We are also spoiled with the quality of the charter and party boats and bait and tackle stores in our area.

I love to travel and fish different places but greatful to live in here in NJ and enjoy the seasons and all the different fisheries we have.

[Joey Dah Fish]

No doubt some of the best fishing in the county or perhaps even the world here in NJ... Sure there are several places that excel for a certain species at a certain time of the year, but most can't ccmpare to the overall diversity of our fishery.

We are also spoiled with the quality of the charter and party boats and bait and tackle stores in our area.

I love to travel and fish different places but greatful to live in here in NJ and enjoy the seasons and all the different fisheries we have.

Amen to that FF

[FISHGERE]

Doug its joe, i will call you just bought a 20 foot center in the lot at atlantic highlands, if we dont catch fluke will catch a buzz.

[Blackfish Doug]

Doug its joe, i will call you just bought a 20 foot center in the lot at atlantic highlands, if we dont catch fluke will catch a buzz.

Thanks Joe for the offer but I really like winter Flounder,Ling, Sea Bass & Cod with the occasional Codfish etc. I love fishing the deep. Being I moved to Lakewood, Atlantic Highlands is a bit of a trip for me I'm only less then 15 mins. to the Paramount or 20 mins. to the Belmar fleet. I just missed seeing some of the people I used to fish with on the Angler or the Fisherman. I really don't like 1/2 day fishing too short a day for me & doing 2 1/2 day trips are just too long a day for me otherwise I would have gone to PP. I really miss boats like the Atomic 9 AM all day fishing as well as the Chief 10 AM all day fishing. Those boats really carried very well most of their customers liked fishing them because they worked very well around their daily work life schedules. You can still schedule a early Dr appointment & make the boat also get the kids the school or schedule a early office meeting etc. I work on a Golf Course we just seen a major spike in the tee times from 9AM to 10 AM We did some research asking why they liked those times & their answers are what I just mentioned above. Maybe if your Party Boat business is not doing well maybe your missing what your customer base is looking for. Fall is the time of the year when the kids go back to school & people go back to work & still try to fit some RR into their busy life.

[hammer4reel]

Doug, in all honesty this may have been one of the best all around fluke years in awhile.
The number of fish we are catching weekly has been great, and the fish we are catching are quality fish not shorts.

All about being in the right place at the time they want to chew.
we have had tides where you couldnt buy a hit.
Then as the tide changed the fish chewed their heads off and was drop and real fishing.

[frugalfisherman]

Should have gone a little farther south to Brielle Doug. That's where we catch fluke.

[bunker dunker]

2x what hammer said.i fish a sponsor pb in point for fluke and have been catching keepers just about every trip.this year has been a very good year for me with fluke and the keepers we are catching are good fish.

[Capt Sal]

Doug, in all honesty this may have been one of the best all around fluke years in awhile.
The number of fish we are catching weekly has been great, and the fish we are catching are quality fish not shorts.

All about being in the right place at the time they want to chew.
we have had tides where you couldnt buy a hit.
Then as the tide changed the fish chewed their heads off and was drop and real fishing.

Kind of like killing big bucks with the bow. Is it luck when you do it year after year? Same with fluking. Easy is not always the most productive.I also ran a head boat out of Sewaren. Not easy to keep everyone happy but we always did our best.

[reason162]

Doug, in all honesty this may have been one of the best all around fluke years in awhile.

I'd say it's been the best fluking in RB in at least 4 seasons, if not more.

I wasn't expecting much, this year being my first on the kayak...but the quantity and quality was astounding.

[MVP]

As Gerry Said we have some of the best fishing right here in NJ.
I travel all over the place in search of DD Blackfish and Fluke. Sometimes i wonder if it is worth the time and crazy expense. When i look back i have caught all my personal best fish right here in NJ. Have had an unreal season fluke fishing up in RI and MA this year. Did my first fluke trip in NJ on the Monger and it was lights out as we had a boat limit of for 12 of us + 2 mates and Capt. Real nice fish to up to over 11 pounds not to mention alot action with the shorts.

Probably do not ever have to leave NJ to put some great catches together as we have a great fishery and Capts right in our backyard with many of them being sponsors. Looking back it is more the experience of fishing with some of the best anglers who are also in search of their personal best and the experiences we share on our road trips. When you put in the time and catch that fish of a lifetime it makes things all worth it. That is what i keep telling myself

[Blackfish Doug]

I wanted to fish up North yesterday & I wanted to fish with either George or Ron. I should never ran to Belmar in the first place my mistake otherwise I would have made Ron's boat easily. It's not often that I will be fishing up that way especially for Fluke. But 25 shorts & 1 decent sized keeper still is not too bad anyway you look at it. Bruce I know about how you guys do in Brielle but I was looking for a 3/4 or full day trip. I can't stand those 1/2 day trips I won't go back on the 2nd trip. I feel all your paying for is the ride out & ride back & your limited to where you can fish. I can't ever remember doing good on a half day trip for anything. 99% of the time when I fish on a 1/2 day boat all I come home with is Ice & less bucktails which is what I expect to do anyway. I'm heading up to RI in 2 weeks hoping for a good mixed bag with all their seasons open. Dan I know your 100% right but for right now I won't bother to try it again for a few more years. The next time I get the urge to try it again I may try the inlet I know I can catch plenty of seaweed there LOL.

[hammer4reel]

Kind of like killing big bucks with the bow. Is it luck when you do it year after year? Same with fluking. Easy is not always the most productive.I also ran a head boat out of Sewaren. Not easy to keep everyone happy but we always did our best.


they are about the same scenario .
all about location and ambush points LOL

[Capt Joe]

http://grocery.coupondivas.com/cvs-sale-puffs-tissues-6

;):)

[Blackfish Doug]

Make a little negativity post & my post was negativity about myself & how I would make out & not how everyone else did. Maybe I should make a ambush post about myself which what thought my original post was about to begin with. I guess the tidy puff man missed that one you got to come up with something better then that it was a very weak comeback. I post 99% positive posts ask some of the Captains how well their boats do the next day after reading my posts. This post has over 2300 views I guess people like to read what I have to say even if they don't agree with it. I like reading the reports like limits & some only caught shorts & some only caught some sun those Captains have B*lls. This is becoming the new No Go Zone for any fishing report that's not positive.

[Capt. Lou]

I personally feel that NJ fluking & Capts that fish for same day in day out R certainly as good as any out of state Capts .
Main difference in my opinion is that outta state less competition & racking up big catches easier however the guys that fish in NJ waters & still catch well day after day have to really work at it with fierce competition everywhere .
Hats off !!
I enjoy trying different fisheries but I personally would never put our local,fishery down & charter frequently in NJ waters . :cool:

[Capt Joe]

" I can't stand those 1/2 day trips I won't go back on the 2nd trip. I feel all your paying for is the ride out & ride back & your limited to where you can fish. I can't ever remember doing good on a half day trip for anything. 99% of the time when I fish on a 1/2 day boat all I come home with is Ice & less bucktails......."

Nope...certainly no negativity there.
Like that better than the tissues? :):)

[SaltLife1980]

What am I..Chopped liver Doug? We sail at 7:30am, could have saved you a trip to the South and we weren't Chartered or Packed.

Yeah. First mistake was not just jumping on the Fishermen.

[Blackfish Doug]

" I can't stand those 1/2 day trips I won't go back on the 2nd trip. I feel all your paying for is the ride out & ride back & your limited to where you can fish. I can't ever remember doing good on a half day trip for anything. 99% of the time when I fish on a 1/2 day boat all I come home with is Ice & less bucktails......."

Nope...certainly no negativity there.
Like that better than the tissues? :):)

If your going to point out my ambush points why don't you use all of them I guess it's not to your advantage.

Make a little negativity post & my post was negativity about myself & how I would make out & not how everyone else did. Maybe I should make a ambush post about myself which what thought my original post was about to begin with.

In no way do I think half day boats don't catch fish I know they do. Plus I do think they do very good with their limitations. I wished I had fished with Bobby on the Gambler a sponsor boat that day. His report would have read we did great today which he did btw but Blackfish Doug got his triple SSS crown shorts,skates & Sea Robbins LOL I'm the mush of half day fishing.Plus I do think NJ Fluking is very good there's not a week that goes by where I don't read about or see a DD fish posted somewhere. I rather stay here & fish then to pay the tolls,gas & wear & tear on the vehicle.

I only wished that port had a full day or 3/4 day trip that day & I would have been there. It seems to me the 1 day a week that they do it the boat carry's quite well.

[pcheesesteak]

Yeah. First mistake was not just jumping on the Fishermen.

Am I the only skeptic here, skeptical of the catches that are posted online by the party boats? I do a fair amount of fluke fishing in Raritan bay, and always keep an eye on the party boats to see what they are doing.

Then the next day you read about all the big fluke they caught, replete with pictures.

[shakes head]

[hartattack]

Am I the only skeptic here... [shakes head]

As a 7-post Rookie, I have 2 things to say to 'ya:
1- Welcome to the site
2- Never doubt Captain Ron Santee Jr, the hardest working captain & caring member of the AH fleet - his reports are as honest as they come :)

It's been a great fluke season. And if the AH boats can't get 'em in the bay the Ocean channels are nearby & productive, that's why Doug regrets not hittin' The Fishermen - - - Catch 'em up !

[Blind Archer]

Hey Doug, this is the " other " Doug from Freehold. I sent you a PM

[Uncle Nicky]

Am I the only skeptic here, skeptical of the catches that are posted online by the party boats? I do a fair amount of fluke fishing in Raritan bay, and always keep an eye on the party boats to see what they are doing.

Then the next day you read about all the big fluke they caught, replete with pictures.

[shakes head]

Not the only skeptical one here, by a long shot. But this site is like being at work, if you get caught complaining about the management, you get a reprimand and a warning. :rolleyes: