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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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...

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]

Originally Posted by 1captainron

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.

[Joey Dah Fish]

Full boat limit on Monger today up to 11.4 lbs

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.