Fluke Jigging question // Sea Bass report

[JusGlase]

Hey guys,

Quick question for you. I just started fishing this area after having been fishing on the end of long island for the past 8 years. I have a 28' Pursuit CC. I dock in Highlands. Have been using fluke rigs all week with spearing/squid, not a touch! Did this around the channels in the sandy hook area. Should I be going out in the ocean for fluke yet? Tried Gulp too. I see those of you using bucktails are doing well. Can you share with me the type and what you tip it with?

Yesterday headed out to the farms area. Tons of small sea bass. Is there another area you can recommend? Thank you for the help.

[frugalfisherman]

Fluking hasn't been good at the Highlands so it isn't you. Try going up the rivers where the water is warmer. A lot of the standard sea bass areas have been picked clean of bigger bass. You could try deeper water but you still have to pick threw the shorts.

[Keystonefisher]

Angler had been fishing by the naval pier as soon as you leave the harbor. Last week we found them in the area of the knoll and the SH channel. Easiest way I found to get in the ball park is to watch the party boats; slide in that area and find your own areas of relief away from the fleet. That at least gives you a starting point. Spearing and meat were definitely the ticket last week. Active jigging seemed to work better for us than just dragging. Tight lines!!

[WaltNJ]

Ocean side has been decent as well closer to the beach. I started using the "Wonder Rig" this year, and looking around at other boats...we did better than most!

We used live killies and left the hook on the bucktail. Got fish on both. Ran out of killies for the first time ever. Used Gulp in place of the killies and kept on catching.

Good luck!

[JusGlase]

Thanks so much for the help. I fished again today went out to the farms area roughly 80 feet of water caught a bunch of sea bass but only two keepers. What is the wonder rig? Was thinking of hitting the sandy hook reef tomorrow. Couldn't believe I saw two draggers this morning in about 10 feet of water right around the tip of the hook. Also interesting about the sea bass--spearif worked better than anything. Yesterday sea bass wouldn't touch the clams, today a little bit. Really trying to find the flatties!

[SaltLife1980]

I have been doing decent using gulp tipped with one spearing jigging. I tried squid 2 times and didnt get a touch. Its probably bc they are not feeding on them yet. More and more bait is starting to show up so its going to get better! 2oz jig with a bear hook teaser 8in above is my go to set up.

[Dupes]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1B5LSRmrHz0

Wonder Rig