Someone Just Say It! - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

Billfish715 · #1 07-08-2017, 11:49 PM

Okay, I'll say it. Fluke fishing stinks! That's saying it nicely. The size and numbers are pathetic! The fluke we caught in the ocean were not even close to being "almost keepers". We fished today in the same areas as the big boats. When they first target sea bass and then look for fluke, there is a problem. Thank goodness for sea bass! The boats were in need of customers. Compared to July Saturdays over the past years, very few people were fishing. The PB's should have been railed! They weren't. Even the mosquito fleets that fish places like The TC, Ammo Pier, Reach, Knoll, Channels, Mud, Scotland etc.etc. were missing. What does it say about the bay when boats from the back of the bay are fishing in the ocean " down the beach"?

I feel upset for the captains who have to be disappointed about the fishing and yet try to be optimistic and try to get customers to have faith. Who needs quotas? At this rate, we'll never come close to overfishing our quota. There are fish around, especially in localized spots, but as for a " spread" of fish, well, that isn't the case. Will it stop me from trying? No! Will it limit my trips? Yes! I'm sure many people have come to that conclusion already.

If the fluke fishing stinks, just say it. Then, start the debate about why.

Fluken-Around · #2 07-09-2017, 08:10 AM

I live in pa and usually make a trip once a week on my kayak to fish for fluke. This year I have been down twice! I don't need to limit out every time I go I just enjoy catching but when your not even catching a 2 hour ride, tolls, gas etc unfortunately doesn't make it worth it anymore. I have a bunch of buddies that are in same boat. I hate to say that cause I want to support the cause but just can't justify the expenses. Especially when wife is use to seeing you filling up the freezer she starts wondering what your doing when your gone for 12 hours!